Wesley Corpus

20. (3.) It is true, that “on Wednesday, July 12, the Count spoke to this effect: (1) “Justification is the forgiveness of sins. (2) “The moment a man flies to Christ, he is justified. (3) “And has peace with God, but not always joy. (4) “Nor perhaps may he know he is justified till long after. (5) “For the assurance of it is distinct from justification itself. (6) “But others may know he is justified, by his power over sin, by his seriousness, his love of the brethren, and his hunger and thirst after righteousness; which alone proves the spiritual life to be begun. (7) “To be justified is the same thing as to be born of God: When a man is awakened, he is begotten of God, and his fear, and sorrow, and sense of the wrath of God, are the pangs of the new birth.” It is true also, that I then recollected what P. Böhler had often said on this head, which was to this effect: (1) “When a man has living faith in Christ, then he is justified. (2.) “This is always given in a moment. (3) “And in that moment he has peace with God. (4.) “Which he cannot have without knowing that he has it. (5) “And being ‘born of God, he sinneth not. (6.) “Which deliverance from sin he cannot have without knowing that he has it.” 21. I did not apprehend it possible for any man living to have imagined, that I believed both these accounts; the words whereof I had purposely so ranged, and divided into short sen tences, that the gross, irreconcilable difference between them might be plain to the meanest reader. I cannot therefore but be a little surprised at the strength of that prejudice which could prevent any one’s seeing, that, in opposition to the Count’s opinion, (which in many respects I wholly disapproved of) I quoted the words of one of his own Church, which, if true, overturn it altogether.- 22. I have motning to object to the quotations made in the seventh, eighth, and ninth sections. In the tenth are these words: “Now, since Mr. Wesley went so far to gather such materials together, let us see what was the system (or rather the medley) of principles he had to return with to England.” “OF THE AssuBANCE OF JUSTIFICATION.