Wesley Corpus

that such a thought ever entered into his mind? The plaih meaning is, We establish both the true sense and the effectual practice of it: We provide for its being both understood and practised in its full extent. “On those who reject the atonement, just severity.” (Page 157.) Was it ever possible for them not to reject it? If not, how is it just to cast them into a lake of fire for not doing what it was impossible they should do? Would it be just (make it your own case) to cast you into hell for not touching heaven with your hand? “Justification is complete the first moment we believe, and is incapable of augmentation.” (Page 159.) Not so: There may be as many degrees in the favour as in the image of God. “St. Paul often mentions a righteousness imputed:” Not a righteousness, never once; but simply, righteousness. “What can this be, but the righteousness of Christ?” (Page 190.) He tells you himself, “To him that believeth on him that justi fieth the ungodly, faith is imputed for righteousness.” (Rom. iv. 5.) “Why is Christ styled Jehovah our Righteousness?” Because we are both justified and sanctified through Him. “My death, the cause of their forgiveness; my righteous mess, the ground of their acceptance.” (Page 191.) How does this agree with page 45?--“To ascribe pardon to Christ's passive, eternal life to his active, righteousness, is fanciful rather than judicious.” “He commends such kinds of beneficence only, as were exer cised to a disciple as such.” (Page 195.) Is not this a slip of the pen? Will not our Lord then commend, and reward eternally, all kinds of beneficence, provided they flowed from a principle of loving faith? yea, that which was exercised to a Samaritan, a Jew, a Turk, or a Heathen? Even these I would not term “transient bubbles,” though they do not procure our justification. “How must our righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees? Not only in being sincere, but in possessing a complete righteousness, even that of Christ.” (Page 197.) Did our Lord mean this? Nothing less. He specifies, in the following parts of his Sermon, the very instances wherein the righteousness of a Christian exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. “He brings this specious hypocrite to the test.” (Page 198.) How does it appear that he was an hypocrite?