Wesley Corpus

3. How, then, are we ‘not without law to God, but under the law to Christ?” (1 Cor. ix. 21.) “A. We are without that law; but it does not follow that we are without any law : For God has established another law in its place, even the law of faith: And we are all under this law to God and to Christ; both our Creator and our Redeemer require us to observe it. “Q. 4. Is love the fulfilling of this law? * I mean, it is not the condition either of present or future salvation. “A. Unquestionably it is. The whole law under which we now are, is fulfilled by love. (Rom. xiii. 9, 10.) Faith working or animated by love is all that God now requires of man. He has substituted (not sincerity, but) love, in the room of angelic perfection. “Q. 5. How is ‘love the end of the commandment?” (1 Tim. i. 5.) “A. It is the end of every commandment of God. It is the point aimed at by the whole and every part of the Christian institution. The foundation is faith, purifying the heart; the end love, preserving a good conscience. “Q. 6. What love is this? “A. The loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength; and the loving our neighbour, every man, as ourselves, as our own souls. “Q. 7. What are the fruits or properties of this love? “A. St. Paul informs us at large, love is long-suffering. It suffers all the weaknesses of the children of God, all the wickedness of the children of the world; and that not for a little time only, but as long as God pleases. In all, it sees the hand of God, and willingly submits thereto. Meantime, it is kind. In all, and after all, it suffers, it is soft, mild, tender, benign.