Wesley Corpus

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. 20.) But you say, (1.) “Their knowledge was not an experi mental knowledge.” And how do you prove this? “Because had it been such, they could not have lost it.” You are begging the question again. You say, (2) “Escaping the pollutions of the world signifies no more than an outward reformation.” How prove you that? You aim at no proof at all. But he that will grant it, may. You say, (3) “These persons never had any change wrought upon them. They were no other than dogs and swine, not only before and after, but even while they outwardly abstained from gross enormities.” I grant, that before and after that time, during which they “escaped the pollutions of the world,” (or, as St. Peter words it in his former Epistle, “the corruption that is in the world,”) they might well be termed either “dogs” or “swine,” for their gross enormities. But that they deserved such an appel lation during that time, I cannot grant without some proof. It remains, that those who, by the inward knowledge of Christ, have escaped the pollutions of the world may yet fall back into those pollutions, and perish everlastingly. 74. Sixthly. Those who see the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and who have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, of the witness and the fruits of the Spirit, may nevertheless so fall from God as to perish everlastingly. For thus saith the writer to the Hebrews: “It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (vi. 4-6.) Must not every unprejudiced person see, the expressions here used are so strong and clear, that they cannot, without gross and palpable wresting, be understood of any but true believers?