Wesley Corpus

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. “I BELIEVE that conversion is an instantaneous work; and that the moment a man is converted, or has living faith in Christ, he is justified: Which faith a man cannot have, with out knowing that he hath it. “Yet I believe he may not know that he is justified (that is, that he has living faith) till a long time after. “I believe, also, that the moment a man is justified he has peace with God. “Which he cannot have without knowing that he has it. “Yet I believe he may not know that he is justified (that is, that he has peace with God) till a long time after. “I believe, when a man is justified he is born of God. “And being born of God, he sinneth not. “Which deliverance from sin he cannot have without knowing it. “Yet I believe he may not know that he is justified (that is, delivered from sin) till a long time after. “Though I believe that others may know that he is justified, by his power over sin, his seriousness, and love of the brethren.” “I BELIEVE that Christ ‘formed in us,’ subordinately to Christ ‘given for us,’ (that is, our own inherent righteousness subordinate to Christ’s merits,) ought to be insisted upon, as necessary to our justification. “And it is just and right that a man should be humble and penitent, and have a broken and contrite heart, (that is, should have Christ formed in him,) before he can expect to be justified. “And that this penitence and contrition is the work of the Holy Ghost. “Yet I believe that all this is nothing towards, and has no influence on, our justification. “Again, I believe that, in order to justification, I must go straight to Christ, with all my ungodliness, and plead nothing else. “Yet I believe that we should not insist upon anything we do or feel, as if it were necessary previous to justification.” 24. “OF THE EFFECTs OF JUSTIFICATION. “I BELIEVE that justification is the same thing as to be born of God.