Wesley Corpus

(4) Imitate them in this: They readily seize upon any one that is newly convinced or converted. Be diligent to prevent them, and to guard those tender minds against the predestinarian poison. (5.) Answer all their objections, as occasion offers, both in public and private. But take care to do this with all possible sweetness both of look and of accent. (6.) Very frequently, both in public and private, advise our people not to hear them. (7) Make it matter of constant and earnest prayer, that God would stop the plague. Q. 77. We said in 1744, “We have leaned too much toward Calvinism.” Wherein? A. (1.) With regard to man’s faithfulness. Our Lord him self taught us to use the expression: Therefore we ought never to be ashamed of it. We ought steadily to assert upon his authority, that if a man is not “faithful in the unrighteous mammon, God will not give him the true riches.” (2.) With regard to “working for life,” which our Lord expressly commands us to do. “Labour,” epyašeaffe, literally, “work, for the meat that endureth to everlasting life.” And in fact, every believer, till he comes to glory, works for as well as from life. (3.) We have received it as a maxim, that “a man is to do nothing in order to justification.” Nothing can be more false. Whoever desires to find favour with God, should “cease from evil, and learn to do well.” So God himself teaches by the Prophet Isaiah. Whoever repents, should “do works meet for repentance.” And if this is not in order to find favour, what does he do them for ? Once more review the whole affair: (1.) Who of us is now accepted of God? He that now believes in Christ with a loving, obedient heart. (2.) But who among those that never heard of Christ? He that, according to the light he has, “feareth God and worketh righteousness.” (3.) Is this the same with “he that is sincere?” Nearly, if not quite. (4.) Is not this salvation by works? Not by the merit of works, but by works as a condition. (5.) What have we then been disputing about for these thirty years? I am afraid about words, namely, in some of the foregoing instances.