Wesley Corpus

10, and 19. And that no man can be justified and not know it, appears far ther from the nature of the thing: For faith after repentance is ease after pain, rest after toil, light after darkness. It ap pears also from the immediate, as well as distant, fruits thereof. Q. 6. But may not a man go to heaven without it? A. It does not appear from holy writ that a man who hears the gospel can, (Mark xvi. 16,) whatever a Heathen may do. (Romans ii. 14.) Q. 7. What are the immediate fruits of justifying faith? A. Peace, joy, love, power over all outward sin, and power to keep down inward sin. Q. 8. Does any one believe, who has not the witness in him self, or any longer than he sees, loves, obeys God? * A. We apprehend not; seeing God being the very essence of faith; love and obedience, the inseparable properties of it. Q. 9. What sins are consistent with justifying faith? A. No wilful sin. If a believer wilfully sins, he casts away his faith. Neither is it possible he should have justifying faith again, without previously repenting. Q. 10. Must every believer come into a state of doubt, or fear, or darkness? Will he do so, unless by ignorance, or unfaithfulness? Does God otherwise withdraw himself? A. It is certain, a believer need never again come into con demnation. It seems he need not come into a state of doubt, or fear, or darkness; and that (ordinarily at least) he will not, unless by ignorance or unfaithfulness. Yet it is true, that the first joy does seldom last long; that it is commonly followed by doubts and fears; and that God frequently permits great heaviness before any large manifestation of himself. Q. 11. Are works necessary to the continuance of faith? A. Without doubt; for a man may forfeit the free gift of God, either by sins of omission or commission. Q. 12. Can faith be lost but for want of works? A. It cannot but through disobedience. Q. 13. How is faith “made perfect by works?” A. The more we exert our faith, the more it is increased. “To him that hath, shall be given.” Q. 14. St. Paul says, Abraham was not justified by works; St. James, he was justified by works. Do they not contradict each other? A.