Wesley Corpus

What inconveniences would this bring on the person himself, set as a mark for all to shoot at I What a temptation would it be to others, not only to men who knew not God, but to believers themselves ! How hardly would they refrain from idolizing such a person | And yet, how unprofitable to gainsayers | “For if they hear not Moses and the Prophets,” Christ and his Apostles, “neither would they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Q. 13. Suppose one had attained to this, would you advise him to speak of it? A. Not to them who know not God. It would only provoke them to contradict and blaspheme: Nor to any, without some particular reason, without some particular good in view. And then they should have an especial care to avoid all appearance of boasting. Q. 14. Is it a sin, not to believe those who say they have attained? A. By no means, even though they said true. We ought not hastily to believe, but to suspend our judgment, till we have full and strong proof. Q. 15. But are we not apt to have a secret distaste to any who say they are saved from all sin? A. It is very possible we may, and that on several grounds; partly from a concern for the honour of God, and the good of souls, who may be hurt, yea, or turned out of the way, if these are not what they profess; partly from a kind of implicit envy at those who speak of higher attainments than our own; and partly from our slowness and unreadiness of heart to believe the works of God. Q. 16. Does not the harshly preaching perfection tend to bring believers into a kind of bondage, or slavish fear? A. It does: Therefore we should always place it in the most amiable light, so that it may excite only hope, joy, and desire. Q. 17. Why may we not continue in the joy of faith even till we are made perfect? A. Why indeed! since holy grief does not quench this joy; since, even while we are under the cross, while we deeply partake of the sufferings of Christ, we may rejoice with joy unspeakable. Q. 18. Do we not discourage believers from rejoicing ever more? A. We ought not so to do.