Wesley Corpus

20. May not some of them have a testimony from the $pirit, that they shall not finally fall from God? “A. They may. And this persuasion, that neither life nor death shall separate them from Him, far from being hurtful, may in some circumstances be extremely useful. These therefore we should in mowise grieve, but earnestly encourage them to ‘hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast to the end.” “Q. 21. But have any a testimony from the Spirit that they shall never sin? “A. We know not what God may vouchsafe to some particular persons; but we do not find any general state described in Scripture, from which a man cannot draw back to sin. If there were any state wherein this was impossible, it would be that of these who are sanctified, who are ‘fathers in Christ, who rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; but it is not impossible for these to draw back. They who are sanctified, yet may fall and perish. (Heb. x. 29.) Even fathers in Christ need that warning: ‘Love not the world.” (1 John ii. 15.) They who “rejoice, pray, and ‘give thanks without ceasing, may, nevertheless, ‘quench the Spirit.” (1 Thess. v. 16, &c.) Nay, even they who are ‘sealed unto the day of redemption,” may yet “grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” (Ephesians iv. 30.) “Although, therefore, God may give such a witness to some particular persons, yet it is not to be expected by Christians in general; there being no scripture whereon to ground such an expectation. “Q. 22. By what ‘fruit of the Spirit” may we ‘know that we are of God, even in the highest sense? “A. By love, joy, peace, always abiding; by invariable long suffering, patience, resignation; by gentleness, triumphing over all provocation; by goodness, mildness, sweetness, ten derness of spirit; by fidelity, simplicity, godly sincerity; by meekness, calmness, evenness of spirit; by temperance, not. only in food and sleep, but in all things natural and spiritual. “Q. 23. But what great matter is there in this? Have we not all this when we are justified? “A. What, total resignation to the will of God, without any mixture of self-will?' gentleness, without any touch of anger, even the moment we are provoked ? love to God, without the least love to the creature, but in and for God, excluding all pride?