Wesley Corpus

A Farther Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion, Part I Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 8 (Zondervan) Year: 1745 Author: John Wesley --- IN a former treatise I declared, in the plainest manner I could, both my principles and practice; and answered some of the most important, as well as the most common, objections to each. But I have not yet delivered my own soul. I believe it is still incumbent upon me to answer other objections, par ticularly such as have been urged by those who are esteemed religious or reasonable men. These partly relate to the doctrines I teach, partly to my manner of teaching them, and partly to the effects which are sup posed to follow from teaching these doctrines in this manner. I. 1. I will briefly mention what those doctrines are, before I consider the objections against them. Now, all I teach respects either the nature and condition of justification, the nature and condition of salvation, the nature of justifying and saving faith, or the Author of faith and salvation. 2. First: The nature of justification. It sometimes means our acquittal at the last day. (Matt. xii. 37.) But this is alto gether out of the present question; that justification whereof our Articles and Homilies speak, meaning present forgiveness, pardon of sins, and, consequently, acceptance with God; who therein “declares his righteousness” (or mercy, by or) “for the remission of the sins that are past;” saying, “I will be merciful to thy unrighteousness, and thine iniquities I will remember no more.” (Rom. iii. 25; Heb. viii. 12.) I believe the condition of this is faith : (Rom. iv. 5, &c.:) I mean, not only, that without faith we cannot be justified; but, also, that as soon as any one has true faith, in that moment he is justified. Good works follow this faith, but cannot go before it: (Luke vi. 43.) Much less can sanctification, which implies a con timued course of good works, springing from holiness of heart. But it is allowed, that entire sanctification goes before our justification at the last day. (Heb. xii. 14.) It is allowed, also, that repentance, and “fruits meet for repentance,” go before faith. (Mark i. 15; Matthew iii. 8.) Repentance absolutely must go before faith; fruits meet for it, if there be opportunity.