Search -
The Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. John Wesley (Volume 1 )
The Miscellaneous Works of the Rev John Wesley - Volume 1 Author:John Wesley This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828. Excerpt: ... he sorrows of death compass me, and the overflowings of ungodliness, make me afraid. 5. Concerning the gate of religion, (if I may be al... more »lowed so to speak,) the true, Christian, saving faith, we believe it implies abundantly more than an assent to the truth of the Bible. ' Even the devils believe, that Christ was born of a virgin; that he wrought all kinds of miracles; that for our sakes he suffered a most painful death to redeem us from death everlasting. These articles of our faith the very devils believe, and so they believe all that is written in the Old and New Testament. And yet for all this faith, they be but devils. They remain still in their damnable estate, lacking the very true Christian faith. The right and true Christian faith is, Not only to believe that the holy Scriptures and the articles of our faith are true, but also to have a sure! trust and confidence to be saved from everlasting damnation through Christ.' Perhaps it may be expressed more clearly thus: ' A sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God, that by the merits of Christ his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God.' For giving this account of Christian faith, (as well as the preceding account of repentance, both which I have here also purposely described, in the very terms of the Homilies,) I have been again and again, for near these eight years past, accused of enthusiasm: sometimes by those who spoke to my face, either in conversation, or from the pulpit: but more frequently by those who chose to speak in my absence: and not seldom from the press. 1 wait for those who judge this to be enthusiasm, to bring forth their strong reasons. Till then, I must continue to account all these the words of truth and soberness. 6. Religion itself, (I choose to use th...« less