Wesley Corpus

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. (3.) ‘That no fitness is required at the time of communicating,’ (I recite the whole sentence,) “but a sense of our state, of our utter sinfulness and helplessness; every one who knows he is fit for hell, being just fit to come to Christ, in this, as well as in all other ways of his appointment.” But neither can this sense of our utter sinfulness and helplessness subsist without earnest desires of universal holiness.” And now, what can I say? Had your Lordship never seen this? That is hardly to be imagined. But if you had, how was it possible your Lordship should thus explicitly and solemnly charge me, in the presence of God and all my brethren, (only the person so charged was not present,) with “meaning by those words to set aside self-examination, and repentance for sins past, and resolutions of living better for the time to come, as things no way necessary to make a worthy communicant?” (Charge, p. 18.) If an evidence at the bar should swerve from truth, an equitable judge may place the thing in a true light. But if the judge himself shall bear false witness, where then can we find a remedy? Actual preparation was here entirely out of the question. It might be absolutely and indispensably necessary, for anything I had either said or meant to the contrary: For it was not at all in my thoughts. And the habitual preparation which I had in terms declared to be indispensably necessary was, “a willing mess to know and to do the whole will of God,” and “earnest desires of universal holiness.” Does your Lordship think, this is “meant to set aside all repentance for sins past, and reso lutions of living better for the time to come?” 11. Your Lordship next falls with all your might upon that strange assertion, as you term it, “We come to his table, not to give him anything, but to receive whatsoever he sees best for us.” “Whereas,” says your Lordship, “in the exhortation at the time of receiving, the people are told that they must give most humble and hearty thanks,--and immediately after re ceiving, both Minister and people join in offering and present ing themselves before God.” (Ibid.