_A._ It is very possible we may; and that on several grounds: partly from a concern for the honour of God, and the good of souls who may be hurt, yea, or turned out of the way, if these are not what they profess: partly from a kind of implicit envy at those who speak of higher attainments than our own: and partly from our slowness and unreadiness of heart, to believe the works of God. _Q._ 16. Does not the harshly preaching perfection tend to bring believers into a kind of bondage, or slavish fear? _A._ It does. Therefore we should always place it in the most amiable light, so that it may excite only hope, joy, and desire. _Q._ 17. Why may we not continue in the joy of faith even till we are made perfect? _A._ Why indeed? Since holy grief does not quench this joy: since even while we are under the cross, while we deeply partake of the sufferings of Christ, we may rejoice with joy unspeakable. _Q._ 18. Do we not discourage believers from rejoicing evermore? _A._ We ought not so to do. Let them all their life long, rejoice unto God, so it be with reverence. And even if lightness or pride should mix with their joy, let us not strike at the joy itself (this is the gift of God) but at that lightness or pride, that the evil may cease and the good remain. _Q._ 19. Ought we to be anxiously careful about perfection? Least we should die before we have attained? _A._ In no wise. We ought to be thus _careful for nothing_, neither spiritual nor temporal. _Q._ 20. But ought we not to be _troubled_, on account of the sinful nature which still remains in us? _A._ It is good for us to have a deep sense of this, and to be much ashamed before the Lord. But this should only incite us, the more earnestly to turn unto Christ every moment, and to draw light, and life, and strength from him, that we may go on, conquering and to conquer. And therefore, when the sense of our sin most abounds, the sense of his love should much more abound. _Q._ 21. Will our joy or our trouble increase, as we grow in grace? _A._ Perhaps both. But without doubt our joy in the Lord will increase as our love increases. _Q._ 22. Is not the teaching believers to be continually poring upon their inbred sin, the ready way to make them forget that they were purged from their former sins? _A._ We find by experience, it is; or to make them under-value, and account it a little thing: whereas indeed (though there are still greater gifts behind) this is inexpressibly great and glorious. MINUTES OF SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS, Between the Reverend Messieurs JOHN and CHARLES WESLEY, and Others. JUNE 25, 1744, &c. IT is desired, that all things be considered as in the immediate presence of God: That we may meet with a single eye, and as little children, who have every thing to learn: