Wesley Corpus

The doctrine of merit. The very foundation of Christianity is, that a man can merit nothing of God; that we are “justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ;” not for any of our works or of our deservings, but by faith in the blood of the covenant. But the Papists hold, that a man may by his works merit or deserve eternal life; and that we are justified, not by faith in Christ alone, but by faith and works together. This doctrine strikes at the root of Christian faith, the only foundation of true religion. 6. Secondly. The doctrine of praying to saints, and worshipping of images. To the Virgin Mary they pray in these words: “O Mother of God, O Queen of heaven, command thy Son to have mercy upon us!” And, “The right use of images,” says the Council of Trent, “is to honour them, by bowing down before them.” (Sess. 25, pars 2.) This doctrine strikes at the root of that great command ment, (which the Papists call part of the first,) “Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them,” that is, not any image whatsoever. It is gross, open, palpable idolatry, such as can neither be denied nor excused; and tends directly to destroy the love of God, which is indeed the first and great commandment. 7. Thirdly. The doctrine of persecution. This has been for many ages a favourite doctrine of the Church of Rome. And the Papists in general still maintain, that all heretics (that is, all who differ from them) ought to be compelled to receive what they call the true faith; to be forced into the Church, or out of the world. Now, this strikes at the root of, and utterly tears up, the second great commandment. It directly tends to bring in blind, bitter zeal; anger, hatred, malice, variance; every temper, word, and work that is just contrary to the loving our neighbour as ourselves. So plain it is, that these grand Popish doctrines of merit, idolatry, and persecution, by destroying both faith, and the love of God and of our neighbour, tend to banish true Christianity out of the world. 8.