_A._ All mankind were under the covenant of grace, from the very hour that the original promise was made. If by the covenant of works you mean, that of unsinning obedience made with _Adam_ before the fall: no man, but _Adam_, was ever under the covenant: for it was abolished before _Cain_ was born. Yet it is not so abolished, but that it will stand, in a measure, even to the end of the world, _i. e._ If we _do this_, we shall live; if not, we shall die eternally: if we do well, we shall live with God in glory: if evil, we shall die the second death. For every man shall be judged in that day, and rewarded _according to his works_.
_Q._ 25. What means then, _To him that believeth his faith is counted for righteousness_?
_A._ That God forgives him that is unrighteous as soon as he believes, accepting his faith instead of perfect righteousness. But then observe, universal righteousness follows, though it did not precede faith.
_Q._ 26. But is faith thus _counted to us for righteousness_, at whatsoever time we believe?
_A._ Yes. In whatsoever moment we believe, all our past sins vanish away. They are as though they had never been, and we stand clear in the sight of God.
TUESDAY, _Ten o’Clock_.
MR. _Taylor_ of _Quinton_, and _T. Glascot_, being added, it was inquired,
_Q._ 1. Are not the assurance of faith, the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and the revelation of Christ in us, terms nearly of the same import?
_A._ He that denies one of them, must deny all; they are so closely connected together.
_Q._ 2. Are they ordinarily, where the pure gospel is preached, essential to our acceptance?
_A._ Undoubtedly they are; and as such, to be insisted on, in the strongest terms.
* _Q._ 3. Is not the whole dispute of salvation by faith or by works, a mere _strife of words_?
_A._ In asserting salvation by faith, we mean this; 1. That pardon, (salvation begun) is received by faith, producing works. 2. That holiness (salvation continued) is faith working by love: 3. That heaven (salvation finished) is the reward of this faith.
If you who assert salvation by works, or by faith and works, mean the same thing (understanding by faith, the revelation of Christ in us, by salvation, pardon, holiness, glory) we will not strive with you at all. If you do not, this is not a _strife of words_: but the very vitals, the essence of Christianity is the thing in question.
_Q._ 4. Wherein does occur doctrine now differ from that we preached when at _Oxford_?
_A._ Chiefly in these two points: 1. We then knew nothing of that righteousness of faith, in justification; nor 2. Of the nature of faith itself, as implying consciousness of pardon.
_Q._ 5. May not some degree of the love of God, go before a distinct sense of justification?
_A._ We believe it may.
_Q._ 6. Can any degree of sanctification or holiness?
_A._ Many degrees of outward holiness may: yea, and some degree of meekness, and several other tempers which would be branches of Christian holiness, but that they do not spring from Christian principles. For the abiding love of God cannot spring, but from faith in a pardoning God. And no true Christian holiness can exist, without that love of God for its foundation.
_Q._ 7. Is every man, as soon as he believes, a new creature, sanctified, pure in heart? Has he then a new heart? Does Christ dwell therein? And is he a temple of the Holy Ghost?
_A._ All these things may be affirmed of every believer, in a true sense. Let us not therefore contradict those who maintain it. Why should we contend about words?
Conversation the Fourth.
TUESDAY, _June 16, 1747_.
THE following persons being met at the Foundery:
_John Wesley_, _Charles Wesley_, and _Charles Manning_, vicar of _Hayes_: _Richard Thomas Bateman_, rector of St. _Bartholomew_’s the Great, _Henry Piers_, _Howell Harris_, and _Thomas Hardwick_, It was inquired,
_Q._ 1. Is justifying faith, a divine assurance, that Christ loved _me_ and gave himself for _me_?
_A._ We believe it is.
_Q._ 2. What is the judgment of most of the serious dissenters concerning this?
_A._ They generally allow, that many believers have such an assurance: And
That it is to be desired and prayed for by all:
But then they affirm,
That this is the highest species, or degree of faith:
That it is not the common privilege of believers: consequently, they deny that this is justifying faith, or necessarily implied therein.
_Q._ 3. And are there not strong reasons for their opinion? For instance: If the true believers of old had not this assurance, then it is not necessarily implied in justifying faith:
But the true believers of old had not this assurance.
_A._ _David_, and many more of the believers of old, undeniably had this assurance. But even if the _Jews_ had it not, it would not follow, that this is not implied in _Christian_ faith.
_Q._ 4. But do you not know, that the apostles themselves had it not, till after the day of _Pentecost_?