The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
5. Ye may all be living witnesses of these things: of remission of
sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. _If thou canst believe, all
things are possible to him that believeth. Who among you is there, that
feareth the Lord_, and yet _walketh on in darkness, and hath no light_?
I ask thee in the name of Jesus, believest thou that _his arm is not
shortned at all_? That he is still _mighty to save_? That he is _the
same yesterday, to day, and for ever_? That he hath _now_ power, _on
earth_ to forgive sins? _Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven._
God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven thee. Receive this, _not as the
word of man; but as it is, indeed, the word of God_; and thou art
_justified freely through faith_. Thou shalt be sanctified also through
faith which is in Jesus, and shalt set to thy seal, even thine, that
God _hath_ given unto us _eternal life, and this life is in his Son_.
6. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you; and _suffer ye the
word of exhortation_, even from one the least esteemed in the church.
Your conscience beareth you witness in the Holy Ghost, that these
things are so, _if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
This is eternal life, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom he hath sent._ This experimental knowledge, and this alone, is
true Christianity. He is a Christian, who hath received the Spirit of
Christ. He is not a Christian, who hath not received him. Neither is
it possible to have received him and not know it. For _at that day_[9]
(when he cometh, saith our Lord) _ye shall know, that I am in my Father,
and you in me, and I in you_. This is that _Spirit of Truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.
But ye know him: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you._
7. The world cannot receive him, but utterly reject the promise of
the Father, contradicting and blaspheming. But every spirit which
confesseth not this, is not of God. Yea, _this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard, that it should come into the world,
and even now it is in the world_. * He is antichrist whosoever denies
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or that the indwelling Spirit of God
is the common privilege of all believers, the blessing of the gospel,
the unspeakable gift, the universal promise, the criterion of a real
Christian.
8. It nothing helps them to say, “We do not deny the _assistance_ of
God’s Spirit; but only this _inspiration_, this _receiving the Holy
Ghost_, and being _sensible_ of it. It is only this _feeling of the_
Spirit, this being _moved_ by the Spirit, or _filled_ with it, which
we deny to have any place in sound religion.” But in _only denying
this_, you deny the whole scriptures, the whole truth and promise and
testimony of God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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