Wesley Corpus

And let all be done in love and meekness of wisdom, as becomes those who are fighting under one Captain, and who humbly hope they are joint heirs through him of the glory which shall be revealed. I am verily persuaded, that, in the uprightness of your hearts, you defend the decree of unconditional election; even in the same uprightness wherein you reject and abhor that of unconditional reprobation. But consider, I intreat you, whether you are consistent with yourselves; consider, whe ther this election can be separate from reprobation; whether one of them does not imply the other, so that, in holding one, you must hold both. 9. That this was the judgment of those who had the most deeply considered the nature of these decrees, of the Assembly of English and Scotch Divines, of the Reformed Churches both in France and the Low Countries, and of Mr. Calvin himself, appears from their own words, beyond all possibility of contradiction. “Out of the general corruption,” saith the French Church, “he draws those whom he hath elected; leaving the others in the same corruption, according to his immovable decree.” “By the decree of God,” says the Assembly of English and Scotch Divines, “some are predesti nated unto everlasting life, others fore-ordained to everlasting death.” “God hath once for all,” saith Mr. Calvin, “appointed, by an eternal and unchangeable decree, to whom he would give salvation, and whom he would devote to destruction.” (Inst., cap. 3, sec. 7.) Nay, it is observable, Mr. Calvin speaks with utter contempt and disdain of all who endeavour to separate one from the other, who assert election without reprobation. “Many,” says he, “as it were to excuse God, own election, and deny reprobation. But this is quite silly and childish. For election cannot stand without reprobation. Whom God passes by, those he reprobates. It is one and the same thing.” (Inst., l. 3, c. 23, sec. 1.) 10. Perhaps upon deeper consideration, you will find yourself of the same judgment. It may be, you also hold reprobation, though you know it not.