Wesley Corpus

(3.) That heaven (salvation finished) is the reward of this faith. If you who assert salvation by works, or by faith and works, mean the same thing, (understanding by faith, the revelation of Christ in us,--by salvation, pardon, holiness, glory,) we will not strive with you at all. If you do not, this is not a strife of words; but the very vitals, the essence of Christianity is the thing in question. Q. 4. Wherein does our doctrine now differ from that we preached when at Oxford? A. Chiefly in these two points (1.) We then knew nothing of that righteousness of faith, in justification; nor (2.) Of the nature of faith itself, as implying consciousness of pardon. Q. 5. May not some degree of the love of God go before a distinct sense of justification? A. We believe it may.- Q. 6. Can any degree of sanctification or holiness? A. Many degrees of outward holiness may ; yea, and some degree of meekness, and several other tempers which would be branches of Christian holiness, but that they do not spring from Christian principles. For the abiding love of God cannot spring but from faith in a pardoning God. And no true Christian holiness can exist without that love of God for its foundation. Q. 7. Is every man, as soon as he believes, a new creature, sanctified, pure in heart? Has he then a new heart? Does Christ dwell therein 7 And is he a temple of the Holy Ghost? A. All these things may be affirmed of every believer, in a true sense. Let us not therefore contradict those who main tain it. Why should we contend about words? TUEsDAY, June 16th, 1747 THE following persons being met at the Foundery : John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and Charles Manning, Vicar of Hayes; Richard Thomas Bateman, Rector of St. Bartholo mew’s the Great; Henry Piers, Howell Harris, and Thomas Hardwick; it was inquired, Q. 1. Is justifying faith a divine assurance that Christ loved me, and gave himself for me? A. We believe it is. Q. 2. What is the judgment of most of the serious Dissen ters concerning this? A.