Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1810 edition. Excerpt: ... MINUTES OF SOME LATE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE REV. MESSRS. WESLEYS, AND OTHERS. CONVERSATION THE FIRST. Monday, June 25, 1744. THE following persons being met at the Foundery, John Wesley; Charles Wesley; John Hodges, rector of Wenvo; Henry Piers, vicar of Bexley; Samuel Taylor, vicar of Quinton; and John Meriton; after some time spent in prayer, the design of our meeting was proposed, namely, to consider, 1. What to teach; 2. How to teach; and, 3. What to do ? i. e. How to regulate our doctrine, discipline, and practice. We began with considering the doctrine of justification: the questions relating to which, with the substance of the answers given thereto, were as follows: Q. 1. What is it to be justified ? A. To be pardoned, and received into God's favour, into such a state, that if we continue therein, we shall be finally saved. Q. 2. Is faith the condition of justification? A. Yes; for every one who believeth not, is condemned; and every one who believes, is justified. Q. 3. But must not repentance and works meet for repentance go before this faith ? A. Without doubt: If by repentance you mean conviction of sin; and by works meet for repentance, obeying God as far as we can, forgiving our brother, leaving off evil, doing good, and using God's ordinances according to the power we have received. Q. 4. What is faith ? A. Faith in general is, a divine, supernatural elenchos of things not seen, i. e. of past, future, or spiritual things: it is a spiritual sight of God and the things of God. First, a sinner is convinced by the Holy Ghost, " Christ loved me, and gave himself for me." This is that faith by which he is justified or pardoned, the moment he receives it. Immediately the same Spirit bears witness, " Thou art pardoned: thou...