The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 03 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 03 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
4. “But is there not a repentance consequent upon, as well as a
repentance previous to, justification? And is it not incumbent on
all that are justified, to be _zealous of good works_? Yea, are not
these so necessary, that if a man willingly neglect them, he cannot
reasonably expect, that he shall ever be sanctified in the full sense,
that is, _perfected in love_? Nay, can he _grow_ at all _in grace, in
the_ loving _knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ_? Yea, can he retain
the grace which God has already given him? Can he continue in the faith
which he has received, or in the favour of God? Do not you yourself
allow all this, and continually assert it? But if this be so, how can
it be said, that faith is the only condition of sanctification?”
5. I do allow all this, and continually maintain it, as the truth
of God. I allow, there is a repentance consequent upon, as well as
a repentance previous to justification. It is incumbent on all that
are justified, to be zealous of good works. And these are so necessary,
that if a man willingly neglect them, he cannot reasonably expect, that
he shall ever be sanctified. He cannot _grow in grace_, in the image
of God, the mind which was in Christ Jesus. Nay, he cannot retain the
grace he has received, he cannot continue in faith, or in the favour
of God.
What is the inference we must draw herefrom? Why, that both repentance,
rightly understood, and the practice of all good works, works of piety,
as well as works of mercy, (now properly so called, since they spring
from faith) are in some sense necessary to sanctification.
6. I say, “Repentance rightly understood.” For this must not be
confounded with the former repentance. The repentance consequent upon
justification is widely different from that which is antecedent to it.
This implies no guilt, no sense of condemnation, no consciousness of
the wrath of God. It does not suppose any doubt of the favour of God,
or any _fear that hath torment_. It is properly a conviction wrought by
the Holy Ghost, of the _sin_ which still _remains_ in our heart, of the
φρόνημα σαρκός· _the carnal mind_, which “does still _remain_,” as our
church speaks, “even in them that are regenerate:” altho’ it does no
longer _reign_, it has not now dominion over them. It is a conviction
of our proneness to evil, of an _heart bent to backsliding_, of the
still-continuing tendency of the _flesh_ to _lust against the spirit_.
Sometimes, unless we continually watch and pray, it lusteth to pride,
sometimes to anger, sometimes to love of the world, love of ease, love
of honour, or love of pleasure more than of God. It is a conviction of
the tendency of our heart to self-will, to atheism, or idolatry: and
above all to unbelief, whereby in a thousand ways, and under a thousand
pretences, we are ever _departing_, more or less, _from the living_ God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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