The Foundling; or, The Child of ProvidenceChurch, J. (John)
General
The Foundling; or, The Child of Providence
Church, J. (John)
Church, J. (John), approximately 1780-approximately 1825; Clergy -- England -- Biography
The following horrid propositions, which are here transcribed, verbatim,
from Mr. Wesley’s “Minutes of the Year 1770,” fully and incontestibly
demonstrate the more than popish pelagianism of the man. He says—
“Every believer, till he comes to glory, works _for_, as well as
_from_ life. We have received it as a maxim, that a man is to do
nothing in order to justification. Nothing can be more false. As to
_merit_ itself, of which we have been so dreadfully afraid, we are
rewarded according to our works, _i.e._ as our works deserve. All
that are convinced of sin _under-value_ themselves in every respect.
We are every hour and every moment pleasing or displeasing to God,
according to our works, according to the whole of our inward tempers
and outward behaviour.”
If this is not high popery, what is? Mr. John was a professed churchman;
but how the above doctrine stands, with what the doctrinal articles of
that church maintains, I leave you to judge. As they declare, that he
must believe that _no good_ works _can_ be done, in order to
justification, but that we are accounted righteous only for the sake of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
I could quote more from the above pamphlet, but this is a sufficient
specimen of the foundation hope, as expressed by Mr. Wesley, and adhered
to by thousands of his professed followers. What a mercy there are
others who are building on a firmer basis. I bless God that he was
pleased to open my mind to receive the complete perfect work of the dear
Redeemer; that he shewed me it was neither my works nor my faith, (as a
grace, nor as an act) that could justify me before God. I must have a
perfect law-fulfilling righteousness, wrought out by the holy nature and
holy life of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the surety of his church—as
God-man Mediator—to build on any thing_ less_, is building on the sand,
and the dreadful consequences must be—the curse, wrath, and eternal
death. Faith is the eye that sees the sufficiency of his
righteousness—faith is the hand that receives; the vessel, or mind, which
contains it when the Holy Spirit brings it near: but surely there is a
difference between the eye and the object it discovers; between the hand
of the beggar and the alms you put in it; or my coat and the hand that
puts it on me. The Lord brought my soul into liberty on this point, but
I had another struggle in my mind. Soon after this subject had been
clearly and sweetly settled, or rather my soul in the perception of it,
some of the same party harrassed my mind about persevering in holiness,
till I had gained a perfect sinless nature: this was the very thing I
wanted; to get rid of sin, to have it totally eradicated, that I should
never be overcome by sin, in thought, word, or deed. Oh happy state,
this side heaven!—how I did long for it; sin was, and is, my principal
trouble.
“Long time I fought, with groans and tears,
To drive this rebel from my home.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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