2. With regard to _working for life_. This also our Lord has expresly commanded us. _Labour_――♦ἐργάζεσθε, literally, _work for the meat that endureth to everlasting life_. And in fact every believer, till he comes to glory, works _for_ as well as _from_ life. ♦ “ἐργάζεστθε” replaced with “ἐργάζεσθε” 3. We have received it as a maxim, that “a man is to do nothing, _in order to_ justification:” nothing can be more false. Whoever desires to find favour with God, should _cease from evil, and learn to do well_. Whoever repents, should do _works meet for repentance_. And if this is not _in order_ to find favour, what does he do them for? Review the whole affair. 1. Who of us is _now_ accepted of God? He that now believes in Christ, with a loving obedient heart. 2. But who among those that never heard of Christ? He _that feareth_ God, _and worketh righteousness_, according to the light he has. 3. Is this the same with “he that is sincere?” Nearly, if not quite. 4. Is not this “salvation by works?” Not by the _merit_ of works, but _by_ works, as a _condition_. 5. What have we then been disputing about for these thirty years? I am afraid, _about words_. 6. As to _merit_ itself, of which we have been so dreadfully afraid: we are rewarded, _according to our works_, yea, _because of our works_. How does this differ from _for the sake of our works_? And how differs this from _secundum merita operum_? As our works _deserve_? Can you split this hair? I doubt, I cannot. 7. The grand objection to one of the preceding proportions, is drawn from matter of fact. God does in fact justify those, who by their own confession, neither feared God nor wrought righteousness. Is this an exception to the general rule? It is a doubt, whether God makes any exception at all. But how are we sure, that the person in question never did fear God and work righteousness? His own saying so is not proof: For we know, how all that are convinced of sin, undervalue themselves in every respect. 8. Does not talking of a _justified_ or a _sanctified state_, tend to mislead men? Almost naturally leading them to trust in what was done in one moment? Whereas 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 our outward behaviour. 19. Lastly, We must needs visit from house to house, were it only to avoid idleness. I am afraid, we are idle still. Do we not loiter away many hours in every week? Try yourselves. Keep a diary of your employment but for a week, and then read it over. Idleness cannot consist with growth in grace. Nay, without exactness in _redeeming time_, it is impossible to retain even the life you received in justification. The CHARACTER of a METHODIST. _Not as tho’ I had already attained._ To the READER.