Wesley Corpus

** A man may be fully assured that his sins are forgiven, yet may not be able to tell the day when he received this full assurance ; because it grew up in him by degrees." (Of this also I know a few other instances.) * But from the time this full assurance was confirmed in him, he nevOf lost it." Very true, and, I think, consistent. Neuser's own words are, ** In him 1 found true rest to my soul, being fully assured that all my sins were forgiven. Yet I cannot tell the hour or day when 1 first received that full assurance. For it was not given me at first, neither at once ;" (not in its fulness ;) '* but grew up in me by degrees. And from the time it was confirmed in me, I have never k»t it, having never since doubted, no, not for a moment." *' A man may have a weak faith, at the same time that he has peace widi God, and no unholy desires." A man may be justified who has not a clean heart 28. (II.) Not in the full sense of the word. This I do verily believe ii sound divinity, agreeable both to Scripture and experience. And I believe it is consistent with itself. As to the ** hundred other absurdities which might be fully and fairly made out," it will be time enough to consider them when they are produced. 29. (12, 13.) But whether I have succeeded in attempting to reconcile these things or no, 1 verily think Mr. Tucker has. I desire not a oore consistent account of my prmciples, than ho has himself given in the following words : -- "Our spiritual state should be considered distinctly under each of these views : -- ^1. Before Justification; in which state we may be said to be unable to do any thing acceptable to God ; because then wc can do nothing but come to Christ; which ought not to be considered as doing any thing, bat as supplicating (or waiting) to receive a power of doing for the time to come. " For the preventing grace of God, which is common to all is sufficient to bring us to Christ, though it is not sufficient to carry us any farther till «e are justified.