Wesley Collected Works Vol 11
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-wesley-collected-works-vol-11-443 |
| Words | 359 |
Neither let any say that this relates to
justification only, or the cleansing us from the guilt of sin:
First, because this is confounding together what the Apostle
clearly distinguishes, who mentions, first, ‘to forgive us our
sins, and then ‘to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’
Secondly, because this is asserting justification by works, in the
strongest sense possible; it is making all inward, as well as
all outward, holiness, necessarily previous to justification. For
if the cleansing here spoken of is no other than the cleansing
us from the guilt of sin, then we are not cleansed from guilt,
that is, not justified, unless on condition of walking “in the
light, as he is in the light.’ It remains, then, that Christians
are saved in this world from all sin, from all unrighteousness;
that they are now in such a sense perfect, as not to commit
sin, and to be freed from evil thoughts and evil tempers.”
It could not be, but that a discourse of this kind, which
directly contradicted the favourite opinion of many, who were
esteemed by others, and possibly esteemed themselves, some
of the best of Christians, (whereas, if these things were so,
they were not Christians at all,) should give no small offence. Many answers or animadversions, therefore, were expected;
but I was agreeably disappointed. I do not know that any
appeared; so I went quietly on my way. 13. Not long after, I think in the spring, 1741, we
published a second volume of Hymns. As the doctrine was
still much misunderstood, and consequently misrepresented,
I judged it needful to explain yet farther upon the head;
which was done in the preface to it as follows:-
“This great gift of God, the salvation of our souls, is no
other than the image of God fresh stamped on our hearts. It is a
‘renewal of believers in the spirit of their minds, after the like
mess of Him that created them.” God hath now laid “the axe
unto the root of the tree, purifying their hearts by faith, and
‘cleansing all the thoughts of their hearts by the inspiration of
his Holy Spirit.