Wesley Corpus

vi. 13, is a war with principalities and powers, but not with flesh and blood.” “But either way, Mr. John is stuck fast in the mire. For in his “Remarks,’ he contradicts his brother; in his Annotations, he contradicts himself; and in his Hymn, he contradicts both bis brother and himself.” Mr. John is not quite stuck fast yet; for this is a mistake from beginning to end. (1) I do not contradict my brother in my “Remarks.” In saying, “I do not subscribe to that expression,” I mean, I do not make it my own; I do not undertake to defend it. Yet neither do I enter the lists against it; it is capable of a sound meaning. (2.) I do not contradict myself in the note; let him prove it that can. (3.) I contradict nobody in the hymn; for it is not mine. Again: “I never said, While one evil thought can rise, I am not born again.” My brother said so once; but he took the words in too high a sense.” I add, and in a sense not warranted by the Bible. And yet I believe, that “real Christians, I mean those perfected in love, are freed from evil or sinful thoughts.” “But is not a babe in Christ born again? Is he not a real Christian?” He is doubtless born again; and in some sense he is a real Christian; but not in the sense above defined. 47. We come now to the additional contradictions whiêh Mr. Hill undertakes to find in my writings. They are already dwindled into one; and I hope to show quickly, this one is none at all. It stands thus:-- “Most express are the words of St. John : “We know, that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.’” “Indeed, it is said, This means only, he doth not commit sin wilfully or habitually.” (Observe. I do not deny the text to mean this; but I deny that it means this only.) As a contradiction to this, Mr. Hill places these words in the opposite column:-- “The Apostle John declares, ‘Whosoever is born of God sinneth not,’ (1.) By any habitual sin; nor, (2.) By any wilful sin.” True; but do I say, the Apostle means this only? Otherwise, here is no contradiction. So, although you have got the gallows ready, you have not turned off old Mordecai yet.