Wesley Corpus

So if there is any contradiction here, it is not I contradict myself, but Isaiah and our Lord that contradict St. Paul.” (Remarks, pages 389, 390.) Mr. Hill replies: “Then a man may do works in order to find favour, and yet such works cannot be called good.” You may call them so, if you please; but be not angry with me, if I do not. I still believe, no good works can be done before justification. Yet I believe, (and that without the least self contradiction,) that final salvation is “by works as a condi tion.” And let any one read over the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew, and deny it if he can. Is Justification by Faith articulus stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiae? 32. In the beginning of the year 1738, I believed it was so. Soon after I found reason to doubt. Since that time I have not varied. “Nay, but in the year 1763 you say, ‘This is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness. A truth this, of which may be affirmed, (what Luther affirms of a truth nearly connected with it, justification by faith,) it is articulus stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiae.* It is certainly the pillar and ground of that faith of which alone cometh salvation.’” (Farrago, page 15.) I answered: “It is certain, here is a seeming contradiction; but it is not a real one; for these two opposite propositions do not speak of the same thing. The latter speaks of justification by faith; the former, of trusting in the righteousness or merits * A doctrine without which there can be no Christian Church. of Christ. (Justification by faith is only mentioned inci. dentally in a parenthesis.) Now, although Mr. Law denied justification by faith, he might trust in the merits of Christ. It is this, and this only, that I affirm (whatever Luther does) to be articulus stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiae.” (Remarks, page 391.) But Mr. Hill thinks, “justification by faith, and by trusting in the merits of Christ, are all one.” (Farrago, page 16.) Be they or not, I still think, “ some may doubt of justification by faith, and yet not perish everlastingly.” Does Mr. Hill judge that such an one cannot be saved? that all Mystics (as well as Mr. Law) go to hell? Both Adam’s Sun and Christ’s Righteousness are imputed.