Wesley Corpus

The falling even by surprise, in such an instance, exposes the sinner to condemnation, both from God and his own conscience. “On the other hand, there may be sudden assaults, which he hardly could foresee, by which he may be borne down, suppose into a degree of anger, or thinking evil of another, with scarce any concurrence of the will. Now, in such a case, the jealous God would undoubtedly show him that he had done foolishly. He would be convinced of having swerved from the perfect law, and consequently grieved with a godly sorrow, and lovingly ashamed before God. Yet need he not come into condemnation. In the midst of that sorrow and shame, he can still say, ‘The Lord is my strength and my song; he is also become my salvation.’” (Page 154.) Now, what can any impartial person think of Mr. H.’s eloquence on this head? What a representation has he given of my doctrine, with regard to infirmities and sins of surprise? Was ever anything more unjust? Was ever anything more cruel? Do I here “lull my readers asleep on the pillow of false security?” Do I “speak in a light manner of sin?” or “make the breach of God's holy law a mere nothing?” What excuse can be made for pouring out all this flood of calumny? Can anything be termed “bearing false witness against our neighbour,” if this is not? Am I indeed a loose casuist? Do any of my writings give countenance to sin? Not so: God knows, Mr. Hill knows, Mr. Romaine, who corrected this tract, knows it well. So does Mr. Madan; yea, so do all who read what I write, unless they wilfully shut their eyes. 15. “Thus have I at length,” says Mr. H., “brought this extraordinary farrago to a conclusion. Not because I could not have found many more inconsistencics.” (Page 142.) Yes, another hundred, such as these. But see a group of them at once: “His extract from Bishop Beveridge is flatly contradicted in his edition of ‘John Goodwin. Again: Goodwin is flatly contradicted by his sermon on ‘The Lord our Righteousness.’ This sermon is contradicted in his ‘Preservative against Unsettled Notions in Religion. This Preservative is itself contradicted by his ‘Abstract from Dr. Preston.