Wesley Corpus

(4) They are not only “cast forth,” but “withered;” consequently, never grafted in again. (5.) They are not only “cast forth and withered,” but also “cast into the fire.” And, (6) “They are burned.” It is not possible for words more strongly to declare that those who are branches of the true vine may finally fall. “But this,” you say, “furnishes an argument for, not against, the persevering of the saints.” Yes, just such an argument for final perseverance, as the above cited words of St. Paul to Timothy. But how do you make it out? “Why thus: There are two sorts of branches in Christ the vine; the one fruitful, the other unfruitful. The one are eternally chosen; and these abide in him, and can never withdraw away.” Nay, this is the very point to be proved. So that you now immediately and directly beg the question. “The other sort of branches are such as are in Christ only by profession; who get into Churches, and so are reckoned in Christ; and these in time wither away. These never had any life, grace, or fruitfulness from him.” Surely you do not offer this by way of argument! You are again taking for granted the very point to be proved. But you will prove that “those are branches in Christ, who never had any life or grace from him, because the Churches of Judea and Thessalonica are said to be in Christ, though every individual member was not savingly in him.” I deny the consequence; which can never be made good, unless you can prove that those very Jews or Thessalonians who never had any life or grace from him are nevertheless said by our Lord to be “branches in him.” It remains, that true believers, who are branches of the true vine, may nevertheless finally fall. 73. Fifthly. Those who so effectually know Christ, as by that knowledge to have escaped the pollutions of the world, may yet fall back into those pollutions, and perish everlastingly. For thus saith the Apostle Peter, “If, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” (the only possible way of escaping them,) “they are entangled again therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” (2 Peter ii.