Wesley Corpus

A. No: (1) Because they do not speak of the same justifi cation. St. Paul speaks of that justification which was when Abraham was seventy-five years old, above twenty years before Isaac was born; St. James, of that justification which was when he offered up Isaac on the altar. (2.) Because they do not speak of the same works; St. Paul speaking of works that precede faith; St. James, of works that spring from it. Q. 15. In what sense is Adam’s sin imputed to all mankind? A. In Adam all die; that is, (1.) Our bodies then became mortal. (2.) Our souls died; that is, were disunited from God. And hence, (3.) We are all born with a sinful, devilish nature. By reason whereof, (4.) We are children of wrath, liable to death eternal. (Rom. v. 18; Ephes. ii. 3.) Q. 16. In what sense is the righteousness of Christ imputed to all mankind, or to believers? A. We do not find it expressly affirmed in Scripture, that God imputes the righteousness of Christ to any; although we do find that “faith is imputed” to us “for righteousness.” That text, “As by one man’s disobedience all men were made sinners, so by the obedience of One, all were made righteous,” we conceive means, By the merits of Christ, all men are cleared from the guilt of Adam’s actual sin. We conceive farther, that through the obedience and death of Christ, (1.) The bodies of all men become immortal after the ch- ***. 278 MilNUTES OF SOME resurrection. (2.) Their souls receive a capacity of spiritual life. And, (3.) An actual spark or seed thereof. (4.) All believers become children of grace, reconciled to God; and, (5.) Made partakers of the divine nature. Q. 17. Have we not then unawares leaned too much towards Calvinism ? |... We are afraid we have. . 18. Have we not also leaned towards Antinomianism? ... We are afraid we have. . 19. What is Antinomianism? . The doctrine which makes void the law through faith. . 20. What are the main pillars hereof? (1.) That Christ abolished the moral law. (2.) That therefore Christians are not obliged to observe it. (3.) That one branch of Christian liberty is, liberty from obeying the commandments of God.