Wesley Corpus

“The whole world of believers” (page 148) is an expres sion which never occurs in Scripture, nor has it any coun tenance there: The world, in the inspired writings, being constantly taken either in the universal or in a bad sense; either for the whole of mankind, or for that part of them who know not God. “‘In the Lord shall all the house of Israel be justified.’” (Page 149.) It ought unquestionably to be rendered, “By or through the Lord:” This argument therefore proves nothing. “Ye are complete in him.” The words literally rendered are, “Ye are filled with him.” And the whole passage, as any unprejudiced reader may observe, relates to sanctification, not justification. “They are accepted for Christ's sake; this is justification through imputed righteousness.” (Page 150.) That remains to be proved. Many allow the former, who cannot allow the latter. “The righteousness which justifies us is already wrought out.” (Page 151.)--A crude, unscriptural expression “It was set on foot, carried on, completed.”--O vain philosophy The plain truth is, Christ lived and “tasted death for every man.” And through the merits of his life and death, every believer is justified. “Whoever perverts so glorious a doctrine shows he never believed.” (Page 152.) Not so. They who “turn back as a dog to the vomit” had once “escaped the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of Christ.” 320 PREFACE. To “The goodness of God leadeth to repentance.” (Page 153.) This is unquestionably true. But the nice, metaphysical doctrine of imputed righteousness leads not to repentance, but to licentiousness. “The believer cannot but add to his faith works of righteous ness.” (Page 154.) During his first love, this is often true. But it is not true afterwards, as we know and feel by melan choly experience. “We no longer obey in order to lay the foundation of our final acceptance.” (Page 155.) No.: That foundation is already laid in the merits of Christ. Yet we obey in order to our final acceptance through his merits. And in this sense, by obeying, we “lay a good foundation, that we may attain eternal life.” “‘We establish the law:” We provide for its honour, by the perfect obedience of Christ.” (Page 156.) Can you possibly think St. Paul meant this? that such a thought ever entered into his mind?