Wesley Corpus

Youall agree to defend it, meaning thereby, (as we did from the beginning,) salvation from all sin, by the love of God and man filling our heart. The Papists say, “This cannot be attained, till we have been refined by the fire of purgatory.” The Calvin ists say, “Nay, it will be attained as soon as the soul and body part.” The old Methodists say, “It may be attained before we die: A moment after is too late.” Is it so or not? You are all agreed, we may be saved from all sin before death. The substance then is settled; but, as to the circumstance, is the change gradual or instantaneous? It is both the one and the other. From the moment we are justified, there may be a gradual sanctification, a growing in grace, a daily advance in the knowledge and love of God. And if sin cease before death, there must, in the nature of the thing, be an instan taneous change; there must be a last moment wherein it does exist, and a first moment wherein it does not. “But should we in preaching insist both on one and the other?” Certainly we must insist on the gradual change; and that earnestly and continually. And are there not reasons why we should insist on the instantaneous also? If there be such a blessed change before death, should we not encourage all believers to expect it? and the rather, because constant experience shows, the more earnestly they expect this, the more swiftly and steadily does the gradual work of God go on in their soul; the more watchful they are against all sin, the more careful to grow in grace, the more zealous of good works, and the more punctual. in their attendance on all the ordinances of God. Whereas, just the contrary effects are observed whenever this expectation ceases. They are “saved by hope,” by this hope of a total change, with a gradually increasing salvation. Destroy this hope, and that salvation stands still, or, rather, decreases daily. Therefore whoever would advance the gradual change in believers should strongly insist on the instantaneous. Q. 57. What can be done to increase the work of God in Scotland? A. (1.) Preach abroad as much as possible. (2.) Try every town and village, (3) Visit every member of the society at home. Q. 58.