Wesley Corpus

Justifying faith implies not only a divine exeyxos, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, but a sure trust and confidence that Christ died for my sins, that he loved me, and gave himself for me. And the moment a penitent sinner thus believes, God pardons and absolves him.” I say, a penitent sinner; because justifying faith cannot exist without previous repentance. “Yet, although both repentance, and the fruits thereof, are in some sense necessary before justification, neither the one nor the other is necessary in the same sense, or in the same degree, with faith. Not in the same degree. For in whatever moment a man believes, (in the Christian sense of the word,) he is justified. But it is not so at whatever moment he repents, or brings forth any, or all, the fruits of repentance. Consequently, none of these are necessary to justification, in the same degree with faith. “Nor in the same sense. For none of these has so direct, immediate a relation to justification as faith. This is proxi mately necessary thereto; repentance remotely, as it is neces sary to faith.” (So the error of the press is to be corrected.) “And the fruits of repentance still more remotely, as they are necessary to the increase or continuance of repentance. And even in this sense, they are only necessary on supposition,-- if there be time and opportunity for them. For in many instances there is not; but God cuts short his work, and faith prevents the fruits of repentance.” 2. Thus far I believe we are nearly agreed. But on those words, “Far other qualifications are required, in order to our standing before God in glory, than were required in order to his giving us faith and pardon; in order to this, nothing is indis pensably required, but repentance, or conviction of sin; but in order to the other, it is indispensably required, that we be fully cleansed from all sin;” you remark, “Here, I apprehend, are two great mistakes: (1) You make too little necessary before pardon. (2.) Too much afterward. You confine repentance within too narrow limits, and extend holiness beyond its just bounds. “First. By repentance you mean only conviction of sin. But this is a very partial account of it.