Wesley Corpus

“To believe this fact, Christ rose from the dead, is faith.” (Page 169.) “Ask a man, Is the gospel true or not? If he holds it to be true, this is faith.” (Page 296.) But is this saving faith? “Yes. Every one that believes the gospel history shall be saved.” (Page 333.) This is flat and plain. And, if it is but true, every devil in hell will be saved. For it is absolutely certain, every one of these believes this fact, --Christ rose from the dead. It is certain, every one of these believes the Gospel history. Therefore this is not saving faith: Neither will every one be saved who believes this fact, --Christ rose from the dead. It follows, that, whatever others do, you know not what faith is. I object, Thirdly, 1. That you yourself “shut up our access to the divine righteousness.” 2. That you vehemently contradict yourself, and do the very thing which you charge upon others. 1. You yourself shut up our access to the divine righteous ness by destroying that repentance which Christ has made the way to it. “Ask men,” you say, “have they sinned or not ? If they know they have, this is conviction. And this is preparation enough for mercy.” Soft casuistry indeed ! He that receives this saying, is never likely either to “repent” or “believe the gospel.” And if he do not, he can have no access to the righteousness of Christ. Yet you strangely affirm, “A careless sinner is in full as hopeful a way as one that is the most deeply convicted.” (Page 292.) How can this be, if that conviction be from God? Where He has begun the work, will He not finish it? Have we not reason to hope this? But in a careless sinner that work is not begun; perhaps, never will be. Again: Whereas our Lord gives a general command, “Seek, and ye shall find;” you say, “Saving faith was never yet sought, or in the remotest manner wished for, by an unbe liever:” (Page 372 :) A proposition as contrary to the whole tenor of Scripture, as to the experience of every true believer. Every one who now believes, knows how he sought and wished for that faith, before he experienced it. It is not true even with regard to your faith, a belief of the Bible.