Wesley Corpus

MR. HILL's REVIEw. 391 56. “Of this may be affirm ed, (what Luther affirms of justification by faith,) that it is articulus stantis vel cadentis ecclesiae, the pillar of that faith of which alone cometh salvation; that faith which unless a man keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he “A pious Churchman who has not clear conceptions of justification by faith may be saved; yea, a Mystic, (Mr. Law, for instance,) who denies justification by faith. If so, the doctrine of justification by faith is not articulus stan tis vel cadentis ecclesiae.” shall perish everlastingly.” It is certain here is a seeming contradiction; but it is not a real one. For these two opposite propositions do not speak of the same thing. The latter speaks of justification by faith; the former, of trusting in the righteousness or merits of Christ; justification by faith is only mentioned incidentally in a parenthesis. Now, although Mr. Law denied justification by faith, he might trust in the merits of Christ. It is this, and this only, that I affirm, (whatever Luther does,) to be articulus stantis vel cadentis ecclesiae. Mr. W. is a Calvinist in the Mr. W. has leaned too much point of justification. toward Calvinism in this Apoint. 57. “I think on justifica tion just as I have done these seven-and-twenty years, and just as Calvin does.” “We have leaned too much toward Calvinism.” (Page 141.) But not in this point; not as to justification by faith. We still agree with him, that the merits of Christ are the cause, faith the condition, of justification. 58. “I have occasionally Goodwin. Nothing. used those expressions, ‘im puted righteousness, the ‘righteousness of Christ, and the like. But I never used them in any other sense than that wherein Calvin does.” 59. “Mr. W. does approve the expression, ‘Why me?’” My brother uses it in an hymn. “Mr. W. does not approve the expression, ‘Why me?’” “Mr. F.says, Mr. W. doubts concerning it.” (Page 140.) This proof halts on both feet. “But why did not Mr. W. strike out of Mr. F.'s manuscript the honourable expres sions concerning himself?” Because he thought them a proper counterbalance to the contumelious expressions of Mr. H. Our sin is imputed to Christ, and Christ’s righteousness to us. 60, 61, 62. “Christian Li brary.” Our sin is not imputed to Christ, nor Christ’s righte ousness to us.