Wesley Corpus

In order to be clearly and fully satisfied what the doctrine of the Church of England is, (as it stands opposite to the doc trine of the Antinomians, on the one hand, and to that of justi fication by works, on the other,) Iwill simply set down what oc curs on this head, either in her Liturgy, Articles, or Homilies:-- “Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults: Restore thou them that are penitent, according to thy pro mises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord.” “He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.” “Almighty God, who dost forgive the sins of them that are Penitent, create and makein us new and contrite hearts; that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretched ness, may obtain of thee perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Collect for Ash-Wednesday.) “Almighty God--hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unta him.” (Communion Office.) “Our Lord Jesus Christ hath left power to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him.” (Visitation of the Sick.) “Give him unfeigned repentance and steadfast faith, that his sins may be blotted out.” (Ibid.) “He is a merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners, and is ready to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance.” (Commination Office.) Infants, indeed, our Church supposes to be justified in baptism, although they cannot then either believe or repent. But she expressly requires both repentance and faith in those who come to be baptized when they are of riper years.