Wesley Corpus

Does it not demand, that every sense, appetite, and passion, should be perfectly sub ject to reason? Now, is there a man on earth, who can say, ‘I am able by my natural powers to do this?’” (Page 50.) “Even the outward temptations to which man is exposed, are evidently too strong to be effectually and constantly re sisted by his now enfeebled reason and conscience; while at the same time, his will, his appetites, and passions, have a powerful propensity to comply with them.” (Page 51.) “Now, would a just, a wise, and a merciful God have formed intellectual creatures in such awretched state, with powers and capacities so much below their duties, that they break his law daily and continually, and are notable to help it?” (Page 52.) “Should it be said, ‘God cannot require more than we are able to perform: 'You have an answer in your own bosom; for you know and feel God does require this, even by the law he has written in your heart; yet you feel you are not able to perform it, untie or cut the knot how you may. “Should it be said again, “God pities and pardons feeble creatures:” I answer, (1.) According to the covenant of grace, he does, but not according to the law of creation. But, (2) Did God make some of his noblest creatures so feeble in their original state, as continually to offend, and want pardon? Did he give them such a law as should never, never be fulfilled by any one of them? Would a God who adjusts the proportion of all things with the exactest wisdom, give a law to his crea tures so disproportionate to their original powers, that, even in the state of their creation, they are under a necessity of breaking it, and stand in need of daily forgiveness?