Wesley Corpus

And I believe it is consistent with itself. As to the “hundred other absurdities which might be fully and fairly made out,” it will be time enough to consider them, when they are produced. 29. (12, 13.) But whether I have succeeded in attempting to reconcile these things or no, I verily think Mr. Tucker has. I desire not a more consistent account of my principles, than he has himself given in the following words: “Our spiritual state should be considered distinctly under each of these views. “1. Before justification; in which state we may be said to be unable to do any thing acceptable to God; because then we can do nothing but come to Christ; which ought not to be considered as doing anything, but as supplicating (or waiting) to receive a power of doing for the time to come. “For the preventing grace of God, which is common to all, is sufficient to bring us to Christ, though it is not sufficient to carry us any further till we are justified. “2. After justification. The moment a man comes to Christ (by faith) he is justified, and born again; that is, he is born again in the imperfect sense, (for there are two [if not more] degrees of regeneration,) and he has power over all the stirrings and motions of sin, but not a total freedom from them. There fore he hath not yet, in the full and proper sense, a new and clean heart. But being exposed to various temptations, he may and will fall again from this condition, if he doth not attain to a more excellent gift.” 3. Sanctification, the last and highest state of perfection in this life. For then are the faithful born again in the full and * “Mr. Charles Wesley,” the note says, “was not persuaded of the truth of the Moravian faith, till some time after his brother's return from Germany.” There is a great mistake in this. I returned not from Germany till Saturday, September 16. Whereas my brother was fully persuaded of the truth of the Moravian faith (so called) on Wednesday, May 3, preceding. The note adds, “This,” that is, justifying faith, “he received but very lately.” This also is a mistake. What he believed to be justifying faith, he received May 21, 1788. (Vol. I. pp. 93, 96.) . perfect sense.