Wesley Corpus

Many allow the former, who cannot allow the latter. “The righteousness which justifies us is already wrought out.” (Page 151.)--A crude, unscriptural expression “It was set on foot, carried on, completed.”--O vain philosophy The plain truth is, Christ lived and “tasted death for every man.” And through the merits of his life and death, every believer is justified. “Whoever perverts so glorious a doctrine shows he never believed.” (Page 152.) Not so. They who “turn back as a dog to the vomit” had once “escaped the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of Christ.” “The goodness of God leadeth to repentance.” (Page 153.) This is unquestionably true. But the nice, metaphysical doctrine of imputed righteousness leads not to repentance, but to licentiousness. “The believer cannot but add to his faith works of righteous ness.” (Page 154.) During his first love, this is often true. But it is not true afterwards, as we know and feel by melan choly experience. “We no longer obey in order to lay the foundation of our final acceptance.” (Page 155.) No.: That foundation is already laid in the merits of Christ. Yet we obey in order to our final acceptance through his merits. And in this sense, by obeying, we “lay a good foundation, that we may attain eternal life.” “‘We establish the law:” We provide for its honour, by the perfect obedience of Christ.” (Page 156.) Can you possibly think St. Paul meant this? that such a thought ever entered into his mind? The plaih meaning is, We establish both the true sense and the effectual practice of it: We provide for its being both understood and practised in its full extent. “On those who reject the atonement, just severity.” (Page 157.) Was it ever possible for them not to reject it? If not, how is it just to cast them into a lake of fire for not doing what it was impossible they should do? Would it be just (make it your own case) to cast you into hell for not touching heaven with your hand? “Justification is complete the first moment we believe, and is incapable of augmentation.” (Page 159.) Not so: There may be as many degrees in the favour as in the image of God. “St. Paul often mentions a righteousness imputed:” Not a righteousness, never once; but simply, righteousness.