Wesley Corpus

Ant.--I do. “They bring in the most dangerous kind of Popery, and pervert the pure gospel of Christ, who persuade men, that if they do not submit to the ordinances of the Lord Jesus, he will not confess them before his Father.” And I affirm, “it is better not to practise outward ordinances at all, than to practise them on these gospel-destroying principles, to the ruining of our souls.” Friend.--What scripture do you produce for this? Ant.--I wish you would not build so much upon the letter: It is your letter-learning too makes you talk of inherent righteousness. * Friend.--Do you say then, a believer has no inherent righteousness? Ant.--That I do. I say, “God will save us to the utmost, without any righteousness or holiness of our own.” To look for inherent righteousness, “is to deny the Spirit, and trample under foot the blood of the covenant. Believers have not any inherent righteousness in them. Our righteousness is nothing but the imputation of the righteousness of Christ.” Friend.--Now, I believe that Christ by his Spirit works righteousness in all those to whom faith is imputed for righteousness. Ant.--“By no means; all our righteousness is in Christ. It is wholly imputed, not inherent. We are always righteous in Christ, but never righteous in ourselves.” Friend.--Is not, then, every believer righteous or holy? Ant.--Doubtless; but he is holy in Christ, not in himself. Friend.--Does he not live a holy life; and is he not holy of heart 2 Ant.--Most certainly. Friend.--Is he not, by plain consequence, holy in himself? Ant.--No, no, in Christ only; not holy in himself: He has no holiness at all in himself. Friend.--Has he not in him the love of God, and of his neighbour; yea, the whole image of God? Ant.--He has. But this is not gospel holiness. Friend.--What vain jangling is this ! You cavil at the name, while you allow the whole thing I contend for. You allow, a believer is holy both in heart and life. This is all I mean by inherent righteousness or holiness. Ant.--But I tell you, this is not gospel holiness. Gospel holiness is faith. Friend.--Stand to this, and you still give up the whole cause. For, on your supposition, I argue thus:--Faith is holiness or righteousness: But faith is in every believer: Therefore, holiness or righteousness is in every believer. Ant.--Alas, alas! I pity you.