Wesley Corpus

But this doctrine is not only unsupported by Scripture, it is flatly contrary thereto. How will you reconcile it (to instance in a very few) with the following texts?-- “He sent to call them, and they would not come.” (Matt. xxii. 3, &c.) “He could do no mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” (Mark vi. 5, 6.) “There were Pharisees, and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” (Luke v. 17.) Nevertheless, they were not healed in fact, as the words immediately following show. “The Pharisees and Lawyers made void the counsel of God against themselves.” (Luke vii. 30.) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children, and ye would not !” (xiii. 34.) “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit. But there are some of you that believe not.” (John vi. 63, &c.) Therefore, that Spirit did not work irresistibly. “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: As your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts vii. 51.) “Ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life.” (xiii. 46.) “While it is called to-day, harden not your heart. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God.” (Heb. iii. 8, 12.) “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.” (xii. 25.) 83. J do but just give you a specimen of the innumerable scriptures which might be produced on this head. And why will you adhere to an opinion not only unsupported by, but utterly contrary both to, reason and Scripture? Be pleased to observe here also, that you are not to consider the doctrine of irresistible grace by itself, any more than that of unconditional election, or final perseverance; but as it stands in connexion with unconditional reprobation: That millstone which hangs about the neck of your whole hypothesis. Will you say, “I adhere to it, because of its usefulness?” Wherein does that usefulness lie? “It exalts God and debases man.” In what sense does it exalt God? God in himself is exalted above all praise. Your meaning, therefore, I suppose, is this: It displays to others how highly he is exalted in justice, mercy, and truth.