Wesley Corpus

15. “But how then is God faithful?” I answer, In fulfil ling every promise which he hath made, to all to whom it is made, all who fulfil the condition of that promise. More parti cularly, (1) “God is faithful” in that “he will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear.” (1 Cor. x. 13.) (2) “The Lord is faithful, to establish and keep you from evil;” (if you put your trust in him;) from all the evil which you might otherwise sulfer, through “unreasonable and wicked men.” (2 Thess. iii. 2, 3.) (3) “Quench not the Spirit; hold fast that which is good; abstain from all appearance of evil; and your whole spirit, soul, and body shall be preserved blame less unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thess. v. 19, &c.) (4.) Be not disobedient unto the heavenly calling; and “God is faithful, by whom ye were called, to confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. i. 8, 9.) Yet, notwithstanding all this, unless you fulfil the condition, you cannot attain the promise. “Nay, but are not “all the promises, yea and amen?’” They are firm as the pillars of heaven. Perform the condition, and the promise is sure. Believe, and thou shalt be saved. “But many promises are absolute and unconditional.” In many, the condition is not expressed. But this does not prove, there is none implied. No promises can be expressed in a more absolute form, than those above cited from the eighty-ninth Psalm. And yet we have seen, a condition was implied even there, though none was expressed. 16. “But there is no condition, either expressed or implied, in those words of St. Paul: “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’” (Romans viii. 38. 39.) Suppose there is not, (which will bear a dispute,) yet what will this prove? Just thus much,-that the Apostle was at that time fully persuaded of his own perseverance. And I doubt not, but many believers at this day have the very same persuasion.