Wesley Corpus

“A. The holiest of men still need Christ, as their Prophet, as ‘the light of the world.” For he does not give them light, but from moment to moment: The instant he withdraws, all is darkness. They still need Christ as their King; for God does not give them a stock of holiness. But unless they receive a supply every moment, nothing but unholiness would remain. They still need Christ as their Priest, to make atonement for their holy things. Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ. “Q. 10. May not, then, the very best of men adopt the dying Martyr's confession: ‘I am in myself nothing but sin, dark ness, hell; but thou art my light, my holiness, my heaven?’ “A. Not exactly. But the best of men may say, ‘Thou art my light, my holiness, my heaven. Through my union with thee, I am full of light, of holiness, and happiness. But if I were left to myself, I should be nothing but sin, darkness, hell.’ “But to proceed: The best of men need Christ as their Priest, their Atonement, their Advocate with the Father; not only as the continuance of their every blessing depends on his death and intercession, but on account of their coming short of the law of love. For every man living does so. You who feel all love, compare yourselves with the preceding description. Weigh yourselves in this balance, and see if you are not wanting in many particulars. “Q. 11. But if all this be consistent with Christian perfec tion, that perfection is not freedom from all sin; seeing ‘sin is the transgression of the law :’ And the perfect transgress the very law they are under. Besides, they need the atone ment of Christ; and he is the atonement of nothing but sin. Is, then, the term sinless perfection, proper? “A. It is not worth disputing about. But observe in what sense the persons in question need the atonement of Christ. They do not need him to reconcile them to God afresh; for they are reconciled. They do not need him to restore the favour of God, but to continue it. He does not procure pardon for them anew, but “ever liveth to make intercession for them;’ and ‘by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb. x.