Wesley Corpus

The precise mean ing of the term is, “a new birth unto righteousness,” an in ward change from unholy to holy tempers. You go on : “This grace our Lord here calls, ‘entering into the kingdom of God.’” If so, his assertion is, “Except a man be born again,--he cannot” be born again. Not so. What he says is, Except a man experience this change, he cannot enter into my kingdom. 4. You proceed: “Our holy Church doth teach us, that-- by the laver of regeneration in baptism, we are received into the number of the children of God-This is the first part of the new birth.” What is the first part of the new birth P baptism? It is the outward sign of that inward and spiritual grace; but no part of it at all. It is impossible it should be. The outward sign is no more a part of the inward grace than the body is a part of the soul. Or do you mean, that regeneration is a part of the new birth ? Nay, this is the whole of it. Or is it the “laver of regeneration ” which is the first part of it? That cannot be; for you suppose this to be the same with baptism. 5. “The second part, the inward and spiritual grace, is a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness.” What 1 Is the new birth the second part of the new birth? I appre hend it is the first and second part too: And surely nothing could have prevented your seeing this, but the ardour of your spirit, and the impetuosity with which you rush along and trample down all before you. Your manner of writing reminds me of an honest Quaker in Cornwall, whose words I would recommend to your consideration. Being consulted by one of the Friends, whether he should publish a tract which he had read to many in private, he replied, “What! Art thou not content with laying John Wesley on his back, but thou must tread his guts out too?” 6. So much for your account of the new birth.