give thanks." He that experiences this, is scripturally perfect. And if you do not, yet you may experience it; you surely will, if you follow hard after it, for the Scripture cannot be broken.

What then does their arguing reprove, who object against Christian Perfection? Absolute or infallible Perfection, I never contended for. Sinless Perfection, I do not contend for, seeing it is not scriptural: a perfection such as enables a person to fulfil the whole law, and so needs not the merits of Christ. I acknowledge no such perfection; I do now, and always did protest against it.

But is there no sin in those who are perfect in love? I believe not: but be that as it may, they feel none, no temper contrary to pure love, while they rejoice, pray, and give thanks, continually. And whether sin is suspended, or extinguished, I will not dispute, it is enough that they feel nothing but love. This, you allow, we should daily press after. And this is all I contend for. O may the Lord give you to taste of it to-day.

I am, dear Madam, your very affectionate Servant,
JOHN WESLEY.

TO MR. HART.

DEAR SIR,

July 11, 1763. ABUNDANCE of business has prevented my writing so soon as I desired and intended, nor have I time now to write so largely as I could wish, and as your openness and frankness would otherwise constrain me to do. But I cannot delay any longer to write a little, lest I should seem to slight your correspondence.

What you before observed is of great importance, viz. "If it be the professed aim of the Gospel to convince us that JESUS is the CHRIST: if 1, a sinner, am convinced of the reality of this fact, am not I, who believe, authorised to expect life, not through any condition, or any act inward or outward performed by me, but singly through the name

which Jesus assumed, which stands for his whole character or merit?" Here is the hinge on which Mr. Sandiman's whole system turns. This is the strength of his cause, and you have proposed it with all the strength and clearness which he himself could devise.

Yet suffer me to offer to your consideration a few queries concerning it. Is every one who is convinced of the reality of this fact, "Jesus is the Christ," a Gospel believer? Is not the devil convinced of the reality of this fact? Is then the devil a Gospel believer? I was convinced of the reality of this fact when I was twelve years old, when I was without God in the world. Was I then a Gospel believer? Was I then a child of God? Was I then in a state of salvation? Again, you say, "I who believe am authorised to expect life, not through any condition or act, inward or outward, performed by me." "I who believe." But cannot you as well expect it without believing? If not, what is believing but a condition? For it is something sine qua non. And what else do you, or I, or any one living, mean by a condition? And is not believing an inward act? What is it else? But you say, "Not performed by me." By whom then? God gives me the power to believe. But does he believe for me? He works faith in me. But still is it not I that believe? And if so, is not believing an inward act performed by me?

Is not then this hypothesis (to wave all other difficulties) contradictory to itself? I have just set down a few hints as they occurred. Wishing you an increase of every blessing, I am, dear Sir, your very affectionate Brother,

JOHN WESLEY,

TO LADY

MY DEAR LADY,

London, June 19, 1771.

MANY years since, I saw, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." I began following after it, and inciting all with whom I had any intercourse to do the

same. Ten years after, God gave me a clearer view than I had before, of the way how to attain this; namely, By faith in the Son of God. And immediately I declared to all, "We are saved from sin, we are made holy, by faith." This I testified in private, in public, in print;—and God confirmed it by a thousand witnesses. I have continued to declare this, for above thirty years. And God hath continued to confirm the word of his grace: but during this time, well nigh all the religious world hath set themselves in array against me, and among the rest, many of my own children, following the example of one of my eldest sons, Mr. W. Their general cry has been, "He is unsound in the faith; he preaches another Gospel!" I answer, Whether it be the same which they preach or not, it is the same which I have preached for above thirty years. This may easily appear from what I have published during that whole term. I instance only in three sermons: that on "Salvation by Faith," printed in the year 1738. That on "The Lord our Righteousness," printed a few years since: and that on Mr. Whitefield's Funeral, printed only some months ago. But it is said, "O but you printed ten lines in August last, which contradict all your other writings." Be not so sure of this. It is probable, at least, that I understand my own meaning as well as you do: and that meaning I have yet again declared in the sermon last referred to. By that, interpret those ten lines, and you will understand them better. Although I should think that any one might see, even without this help, that the lines in question do not refer to the condition of obtaining, but of continuing in the favour of God. But whether the sentiment contained in those lines be right or wrong, and whether it be well or ill expressed, the gospel which I now preach, God does still confirm by new witnesses in every place: perhaps never so much in this kingdom as within these last three months. Now, I argue from glaring, undeniable fact: God cannot bear witness to a lie. The gospel therefore which he confirms, must be true in substance. There may be opinions maintained at the same time which are not exactly true;

and who can be secure from these? Perhaps I thought myself so once: when I was much younger than I am now, I thought myself almost infallible. But I bless God, I know myself better now.

To be short. Such as I am, I love you well. You have one of the first places in my esteem and affection: and you once had some regard for me. But it cannot continue if it depends upon my seeing with your eyes, or on my being in no mistake. What if I was in as many as Mr. Law himself? If you were, I should love you still, provided your heart was still right with God. My dear friend, you seem not to have well learned yet the meaning of those words, which I desire to have continually written upon my heart, "Whosoever doth the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." I am, my dear lady, your affectionate, JOHN WESLEY.

TO THE REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

March 20, 1739.

WOULD you have me speak to you freely? Without any softening or reserve at all? I know you would. And may our loving Saviour speak to your heart, so my labour shall not be in vain. I do not commend you with regard to our brothers S- and C-. But let me speak tenderly. For I am but a little child. I know our Lord has brought good out of their going to you: good to you, and good to them: very much good: and may he increase it a thousand fold, how much soever it be! But is every thing good, my brother, out of which he brings good? I think that does not follow. O my brother, is it well for you or me, to give the least hint of setting up our will or judgment, against that of our whole Society? Was it well, for you once to mention a desire, which they had all solemnly declared they thought unreasonable; was not this abundant cause to drop any design which was not manifestly grounded on a clear command of our Lord? Indeed, my brother, in

this I commend you not. If our brother R or P-, desired any thing, and our other brethren disapproved of it, I cannot but think he ought immediately to let it drop. How much more, ought you or I? They are upon a level with the rest of their brethren. But I trust you and I are not; we are the servants of all. Thus far have I spoken, with fear and trembling, and with many tears. O may our Lord speak the rest; for what shall such a one as I say to a beloved servant of my Lord? O pray that I may see myself a worm and no man. I wish to be your Brother in Jesus Christ. JOHN WESLEY.

TO MRS. S. R.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Whitehaven, June 28, 1766.

FOR some time I have been convinced it was my duty to tell you, what was on my mind. I will do it with all plainness. You may answer or not, as you judge best. Many things I have observed in you which gave me pleasure: some which gave me concern: the former I need not mention: the latter I must, or I should not myself be clear before God. The first of these is something which looks like Pride. You sometimes seem to think too highly of yourself, and (comparatively) to despise others. I will instance in two or three particulars :

1. You appear to be above instruction; I mean, instruction from man. I do not doubt but you are taught of God. But that does not supersede your being taught by man also. I believe there is no saint upon earth, whom God does not teach by man.

2. You appear to think, (I will not affirm you do,) That none understands the doctrine of Sanctification like you. Nay, you sometimes speak as if none understood it besides you: whereas (whether you experience more or less of it than some) I know several, both men and women, who both think and speak, full as scripturally of it as you do: and perhaps more clearly: for there is often something dark and confused in your manner of speaking concerning it.