Wesley Corpus

Law, and a few other mystic writers. Yet I never was “in the way of Mysticism” at all; this is another mistake. Although I did not clearly see that we “are saved by faith” till the year 1738, I then published the sermon on “Sal vation by Faith,” every sentence of which I subscribe to now. 17. But he “was too scrupulous about using the word condition.” (Page 143.) I was so, till I was convinced by Dr. Church, that it was a very innocent word; and one that none of the Reformers, English or foreign, objected to. All this time I leaned towards Calvinism, though more in expression than sentiment. “And now he fairly gives up the necessity of a clear belief of justification by faith alone!” That is, I say, A man may be saved, who is not clear in his judgment concerning it. I do; I dare not “rank Mr. Law, and all his admirers, among the hosts of Diabolonians.” Nay, more: “I have proved that he makes 'man's righteousness the procuring cause of his acceptance with God; and his salvation, from first to last, to depend upon the intrinsic merit of his own unassisted works.” (Page 144.) I think Mr. H. “is now got to his ne plus ultra,” unless he has a mind to prove that Mr. W. is an horse. 18. “I expect you will tell me that I have exposed Mr. W., particularly in the foregoing contrast. That Mr. W. is exposed, I allow; but that I have exposed him, I deny.” Who was it then? Why, “out of his own mouth all that I have brought against him proceeds.” Not so: All that I have wrote, except one sentence out of an hundred and one, is well consistent with itself, provided the words be taken in their plain, natural sense, and one part of them in connexion with the other. But whoever will use Mr. H.’s art of twisting and torturing words, may make them say anything, and extract Pelagianism, Arianism, or anything he pleases, out of anything that can be spoken. By this art, he that cries out against Mr. F.’s art has found, that is, created, above an hundred contradictions in my works, and “could find abundance more.” Ay, five hundred; under his forming hand contradictions spring up as quick as mush rooms.