Wesley Corpus

1. Before I enter upon the consideration of those objec tions which have been made to the manner of our preaching, I believe it may be satisfactory to some readers, if I relate how I began to preach in this manner: I was ordained Deacon in 1725, and Priest in the year fol lowing. But it was many years after this before I was convinced of the great truths above recited. During all that time I was utterly ignorant of the nature and condition of justification. Sometimes I confounded it with sanctification; (particularly when I was in Georgia;) at other times I had some confused notion about the forgiveness of sins; but then I took it for granted the time of this must be either the hour of death, or the day of judgment, I was equally ignorant of the nature of saving faith; appre hending it to mean no more than a “firm assent to all the propositions contained in the Old and New Testaments.” 2. As soon as, by the great blessing of God, I had a clearer view of these things, I began to declare them to others also. “I believed, and therefore I spake.” Wherever I was now desired to preach, salvation by faith was my only theme. My constant subjects were, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” “Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.” These Iexplained and enforced with all my might, both in every church where I was asked to preach, and occasionally in the religious societies of London and Westminster; to some or other of which I was continually pressed to go by the stewards or other members of them. Things were in this posture, when I was told I must preach no more in this, and this, and another church; the reason was usually added without reserve, “Because you preach such doc trines.” So much the more those who could not hear me there flocked together when I was at any of the societies; where I spoke, more or less, though with much inconvenience, to as many as the room I was in would contain. 3.