Wesley Corpus

A. Love hopeth all things. We know not how far any of these may fall under the case of invincible ignorance. Q. 4. But what can we say of one of our own society, who dies without it, as J. W., at London? A. It may be an exempt case, if the fact was really so. But we determine nothing. We leave his soul in the hands of Him that made it. Q. 5. Does a man believe any longer than he sees a recon ciled God? A. We conceive not. But we allow there may be infinite degrees in seeing God: Even as many as there are between him who sees the sun when it shines on his eye-lids closed, and him who stands with his eyes wide open in the full blaze of his beams. Q. 6. Does a man believe any longer than he loves God? A. In nowise. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails, without faith working by love. Q. 7. Have we duly considered the case of Cornelius? Was not he in the favour of God, when “his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God:” that is, before he believed in Christ? A. It does seem that he was, in some degree. But we speak not of those who have not heard the gospel. Q. 8. But were those works of his “splendid sins?” A. No; nor were they done without the grace of Christ. Q. 9. How then can we maintain, that all works done before we have a sense of the pardoning love of God are sin, and, as such, an abomination to Him? A. The works of him who has heard the gospel, and does not believe, are not done as God hath “willed and commanded them to be done.” And yet we know not how to say that they are an abomination to the Lord in him who feareth God, and, from that principle, does the best he can. Q. 10. Seeing there is so much difficulty in this subject, can we deal too tenderly with them that oppose us? A. We cannot; unless we were to give up any part of the truth of God. Q. 11. Is a believer constrained to obey God? A. At first he often is. The love of Christ constraineth him.