Wesley Corpus

Then hear the Church: “Faith is a sure trust which a man hath in God, that his sins are forgiven.” Or, if you are not, whether you hear our Church or no, at least hear the Scrip tures. Hear believing Job, declaring his faith, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” Hear Thomas (when having seen, he believed) crying out, “My Lord and my God!” Hear St. Paul cleasly describing the nature of his faith, “The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Hear (to mention no more) all the believers who were with Paul when he wrote to the Colossians, bearing witness, “We give thanks unto the Father, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (i. 12, 13, 14.) 61. But what need have we of distant witnesses? You have a witness in your own breast. For am I not speaking to one that loves God? How came you then to love him at first? Was it not because you knew that he loved you? Did you, could you, love God at all, till you tasted and saw that he was gracious; that he was merciful to you a sinner? What avails then controversy, or strife of words? Out of thy own mouth ! You own you had no love to God till you was sensi ble of his love to you. And whatever expressions any sinner who loves God uses, to denote God's love to him, you will always upon examination find, that they directly or indirectly imply forgiveness. Pardoning love is still at the root of all. He who was offended is now reconciled. The new song which God puts in every mouth is always to that effect: “O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away. Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he is also become my salvation.” (Isaiah xii. 1, 2.) 62. A confidence then in a pardoning God is essential to saving faith. The forgiveness of sins is one of the first of those unseen things whereof faith is the evidence.