Wesley Corpus

A. It is this: Whether we should expect to be saved from all sin before the article of death. Q. 4. Is there any clear scripture promise of this; that God will save us from all sin P A. There is: “He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.” (Psalm cxxx.8.) This is more largely expressed in the prophecy of Ezekiel: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: From all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses.” (xxxvi. 25, 29.) No promise can be more clear. And to this the Apostle plainly refers in that exhortation: “Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. vii. 1.) Equally clear and express is that ancient promise: “The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deut. xxx. 6) Q. 5. But does any assertion answerable to this occur in the New Testament? A. There does, and that laid down in the plainest terms. So St. John: “For this purpose the Son of God was mani fested, that he might destroy the works of the devil;” (1 Epist. iii. 8;) the works of the devil, without any limitation or restriction: But all sin is the work of the devil. Parallel to which is that assertion of St. Paul: “Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephes. v. 25, 27.) And to the same effect is his assertion in the eighth of the Romans: “God sent his Son--that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Verses 3, 4.) Q. 6. Does the New Testament afford any farther ground for expecting to be saved from all sin 7 A. Undoubtedly it does, both in those prayers and com mands which are equivalent to the strongest assertions. Q. 7. What prayers do you mean? A.