Wesley Corpus

But does not St. Paul say even of himself, “I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified?” (1 Cor inthians iv. 4.) A. He does not say of himself here, that he was not justified, or that he did not know it; but only, that though he had a conscience void of offence, yet this did not justify him before God. And must not every believer say the same? This, there fore, is wide of the point. Q. 8. But does he not disclaim any such assurance in those words, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling?” (1 Cor. ii. 3.) A. By no means. For these words do not imply any fear either of death or hell. They express only a deep sense of his utter insufficiency for the great work wherein he was engaged. Q. 9. However, does he not exclude Christians in general from such an assurance, when he bids them “work out” their “salvation with fear and trembling?” (Phil. ii. 12.) A. No more than from love; which is always joined with filial fear and reverential trembling. And the same answer is applicable to all those texts which exhort a believer to fear. Q. 10. But does not matter of fact prove, that justifying faith does not necessarily imply assurance? For can you believe that such a person as J. A., or E. V., who have so much integrity, zeal, and fear of God, and walk so unblamably in all things, is void of justifying faith? Can you suppose such as these to be under the wrath and under the curse of God; especially if you add to this, that they are continually long ing, striving, praying for the assurance which they have not? A. This contains the very strength of the cause; and in clines us to think that some of these may be exempt cases. But, however that be, we answer, (1.) It is dangerous to ground a general doctrine on a few particular experiments. (2.) Men may have many good tempers, and a blameless life, (speaking in a loose sense,) by nature and habit, with prevent ing grace; and yet not have faith and the love of God. (3.) It is scarce possible for us to know all the circum stances relating to such persons, so as to judge certainly con cerning them.