Wesley Corpus

“A. The loving God with all our heart, and mind, and soul. (Deut. vi. 5.) “Q. Does this imply, that all inward sin is taken away? “A. Undoubtedly; or how can we be said to be ‘saved from all our uncleannesses?” (Ezek. xxxvi. 29.)” Our Second Conference began August 1, 1745. The next morning we spoke of sanctification as follows:- “Q. When does inward sanctification begin? “A. In the moment a man is justified. (Yet sin remains in him, yea, the seed of all sin, till he is sanctified through out.) From that time a believer gradually dies to sin, and grows in grace. “Q. Is this ordinarily given till a little before death? “A. It is not, to those who expect it no sooner. “Q. But may we expect it sooner? “A. Why not? For, although we grant, (1.) That the generality of believers, whom we have hitherto known, were not so sanctified till near death; (2.) That few of those to whom St. Paul wrote his Epistles were so at that time; nor, (3.) He himself at the time of writing his former Epistles; yet all this does not prove, that we may not be so to-day. “Q. In what manner should we preach sanctification? “A. Scarce at all to those who are not pressing forward: To those who are, always by way of promise; always drawing, rather than driving.” Our Third Conference began Tuesday, May 13, 1746. In this we carefully read over the Minutes of the two preceding Conferences, to observe whether anything con tained therein might be retrenched or altered on more mature consideration. But we did not see cause to alter in any respect what we had agreed upon before. Our Fourth Conference began on Tuesday, June the 16th, 1747. As several persons were present, who did not believe the doctrine of perfection, we agreed to examine it from the foundation. In order to this, it was asked, “How much is allowed by our brethren who differ from us with regard to entire sanctification ? “A. They grant, (1.) That every one must be entirely sanctified in the article of death. (2.) That till then a believer daily grows in grace, comes nearer and nearer to: perfection. (3.) That we ought to be continually pressing: after it, and to exhort all others so to do. “Q. What do we allow them ? “A.