Wesley Corpus

“A. We grant, (1.) That many of those who have died in the faith, yea, the greater part of those we have known, were not perfected in love till a little before their death. (2.) That the term sanctified is continually applied by St. Paul to all that were justified. (3.) That by this term alone, he rarely, if ever, means ‘saved from all sin.” (4.) That, consequently, it is not proper to use it in that sense, without adding the word wholly, entirely, or the like. (5.) That the inspired writers almost continually speak of or to those who were justified, but very rarely of or to those who were wholly sanctified.* (6.) That, consequently, it behoves us to speak almost continually of the state of justification; but more rarely,t “at least in full and explicit terms, concerning entire sanctification.’ “Q. What then is the point where we divide? “A. It is this: Should we expect to be saved from all sin before the article of death? “Q. Is there any clear Scripture promise of this,--that God will save us from all sin? * That is, unto those alone, exclusive of others; but they speak to them. jointly with others, almost continually. + More rarely, I allow ; but yet in some places very frequently, strongly, and explicitly. “A. There is: ‘He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.” ‘(Psalm crxx. 8.) “This is more largely expressed in the prophecy of Ezekiel: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be "clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you: I will also save you from all your uncleannesses.” (xxxvi. 25, 29.) No promise can be more clear. And to this the Apostle plainly refers in that exhortation: ‘Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. vii. 1.) Equally clear and express is that ancient promise: “The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deut. xxx. 6.) “Q. But does any assertion answerable to this occur in the New Testament? “A. There does, and that laid down in the plainest terms. So 1 John iii.