Wesley Corpus

Secondly. From express texts of Scripture: (1) “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, having renounced (apvnaauevoi) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for--the glorious appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus ii. 11 -14.) (2.) “He hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, - to perform the mercy promised to our fathers; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” (Luke i. 69-75.) Q. 10. Is there any example in Scripture of persons who had attained to this? A. Yes. St. John, and all those of whom he says in his First Epistle, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: Because as he is, so are we in this world.” (iv. 17.) Q. 11. But why are there not more examples of this kind recorded in the New Testament? A. It does not become us to be peremptory in this matter. One reason might possibly be, because the Apostles wrote to the Church while it was in a state of infancy. Therefore they might mention such persons the more sparingly, lest they should give strong meat to babes. Q. 12. Can you show one such example now? Where is he that is thus perfect? A. To some who make this inquiry one might answer, “If I knew one here, I would not tell you. For you do not inquire out of love. You are like Herod. You only seek the young child, to slay it.” But more directly we answer, There are numberless reasons why there should be few (if any indisputable) examples. What inconveniences would this bring on the person himself, set as a mark for all to shoot at I What a temptation would it be to others, not only to men who knew not God, but to believers themselves !