Wesley Corpus

(Page 117.) “What righteousness shall give us peace at the last day, inherent or imputed?” (Page 127.) Both. Christ died for us and lives in us, “that we may have boldness in the day of judgment.” “That have obtained like precious faith through the righteousness,” the mercy, “of our Lord.” “Seek ye the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” the holiness which springs from God reigning in you. (Letter 5, p. 131.) “Therein is revealed the righteousness of God,” God’s method of justifying sinners. (Page 132.) “We establish the law, as we expect no salvation without a perfect conformity to it, namely, by Christ.” (Page 135.) ls not this a mere quibble? and a quibble which, after all the laboured evasions of Witsius and a thousand more, does totally “make void the law P” But not so does St. Paul teach. According to him, “without holiness,” personal holiness, “no man shall see the Lord;” none who is not himself conformed to the law of God here, “shall see the Lord” in glory. This is the grand, palpable objection to that whole scheme. It directly “makes void the law.” It makes thousands content to live and die “transgressors of the law,” because Christ fulfilled it “for them.” Therefore, though I believe he hath lived and died for me, yet I would speak very tenderly and sparingly of the former, (and never separately from the latter,) even as sparingly as do the Scriptures, for fear of this dreadful consequence. “‘The gift of righteousness’ must signify a righteousness not their own.” (Page 138.) Yes, it signifies the righteous ness or holiness which God gives to, and works in, them. “‘The obedience of one’ is Christ’s actual performance of the whole law.” (Page 139.) So here his passion is fairly left out! Whereas his “becoming obedient unto death,” that is dying for man, is certainly the chief part, if not the whole, which is meant by that expression. “‘That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us; that is, by our representative in our nature.” (Ibid.) Amazing ! But this, you say, “agrees with the tenor of the Apostle’s arguing. For he is demonstrating, we cannot be justified by our own conformity to the law.” No; not here. He is not speaking here of the cause of our justification, but the fruits of it.