Wesley Corpus

It runs thus: “Saturday, 28. I showed at large, in order to answer those who taught that none but they who are full of faith and the Holy Ghost ought ever to communicate, (1.) That the Lord's supper was ordained by God to be a means of con veying to men either preventing, or justifying, or sanctifying grace, according to their several necessities. (2.) That the per sons for whom it was ordained are all those who know and feel that they want the grace of God, either to restrain them from sin, or to ‘show their sins forgiven, or to ‘renew their souls’ in the image of God. (3.) That inasmuch as we come to his table, not to give him anything, but to receive whatsoever he sees best for us, there is no previous preparation indispensably necessary, but a desire to receive whatsoever he pleases to give. And, (4.) That no fitness is required at the time of communi cating, but a sense of our state, of our utter sinfulness and help lessness; every one who knows he is fit for hell, being just fit to come to Christ, in this, as well as all other ways of his appointment.” (Vol. I. p. 280.) In the Second Letter to Mr. Church, p. 434, I explain myself farther on this head: “I am sorry to find you still affirm, that, with regard to the Lord's supper also, I ‘advance many injudi cious, false, and dangerous things. Such as, (1.) That a man ought to communicate without a sure trust in God’s mercy through Christ.’ (Page 117.) You mark these as my words; but I know them not. (2.) ‘That there is no previous prepa ration indispensably necessary, but a desire to receive whatso ever God pleases to give. But I include abundantly more in that desire, than you seem to apprehend, even a willingness to know and do the whole will of God.