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
6. If it be objected to what has been observed under this and the
preceding head, that St. _John_ speaking to his brethren in the faith,
says, _Ye have an unction from the holy one, and know all things_,
1 John ii. 20. The answer is plain, “Ye know all things that are
needful for your soul’s health.” That the apostle never designed
to extend this farther, that he could not speak it in an absolute
sense, is clear first from hence, that otherwise he would describe the
disciple as _above his master_; seeing Christ himself, as man, knew
not all things.――_Of that hour_, saith he, _knoweth no man, no not the
Son, but the Father only_. It is clear, secondly, from the apostle’s
own words that follow, _These things have I written unto you concerning
them that deceive you_: as well as from his frequently repeated caution,
_Let no man deceive you_; which had been altogether needless, had not
those very persons, who had that unction from the Holy One been liable
not to ignorance only; but to mistake also.
7. Even Christians therefore are not _so_ perfect, as to be free either
from ignorance or error. We may, thirdly, add: nor from infirmities.
Only let us take care to understand this word aright. Only let us not
give that soft title to known sins, as the manner of some is. So, one
man tells us, “Every man has his infirmity, and mine is drunkenness:”
another has the infirmity of uncleanness; another that of taking
God’s holy name in vain. And yet another has the infirmity of calling
his brother, _Thou fool_, or returning _railing for railing_. It is
plain, that all you who thus speak, if ye repent not, shall with your
infirmities, go quick into hell. But I mean hereby, not only those
which are properly termed _bodily infirmities_, but all those inward
or outward imperfections, which are not of a moral nature. Such are
weakness or slowness of understanding, dullness or confusedness of
apprehension, incoherency of thought, irregular quickness or heaviness
of imagination. Such (to mention no more of this kind) is the want of
a ready or retentive memory. Such in another kind are, those which are
commonly in some measure consequent upon these: namely, slowness of
speech, impropriety of language, ungracefulness of pronunciation: to
which one might add a thousand nameless defects, either in conversation
or behaviour. These are the infirmities which are found in the best of
men, in a larger or smaller proportion. And from these none can hope to
be perfectly freed, till the spirit returns to God that gave it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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