2. Let all the servants in our preaching-houses go to church on _Sunday_ morning at least.
3. Let every preacher go always on _Sunday_ morning, and when he can in the afternoon. God will bless those who go on week days too, as often as they have opportunity.
18. Take heed to your doctrine.
We said in 1744, “We have leaned too much toward Calvinism.” Wherein?
1. With regard to _man’s faithfulness_. Our Lord himself taught us to use the expression. And we ought never to be ashamed of it. We ought steadily to assert, on his authority, that if a man is not _faithful in the unrighteous mammon_, God will not _give him the true riches_.
2. With regard to _working for life_. This also our Lord has expresly commanded us. _Labour_――♦ἐργάζεσθε, literally, _work for the meat that endureth to everlasting life_. And in fact every believer, till he comes to glory, works _for_ as well as _from_ life.
♦ “ἐργάζεστθε” replaced with “ἐργάζεσθε”
3. We have received it as a maxim, that “a man is to do nothing, _in order to_ justification:” nothing can be more false. Whoever desires to find favour with God, should _cease from evil, and learn to do well_. Whoever repents, should do _works meet for repentance_. And if this is not _in order_ to find favour, what does he do them for?
Review the whole affair.
1. Who of us is _now_ accepted of God?
He that now believes in Christ, with a loving obedient heart.
2. But who among those that never heard of Christ?
He _that feareth_ God, _and worketh righteousness_, according to the light he has.
3. Is this the same with “he that is sincere?”
Nearly, if not quite.
4. Is not this “salvation by works?”
Not by the _merit_ of works, but _by_ works, as a _condition_.
5. What have we then been disputing about for these thirty years?
I am afraid, _about words_.
6. As to _merit_ itself, of which we have been so dreadfully afraid: we are rewarded, _according to our works_, yea, _because of our works_. How does this differ from _for the sake of our works_? And how differs this from _secundum merita operum_? As our works _deserve_? Can you split this hair? I doubt, I cannot.
7. The grand objection to one of the preceding proportions, is drawn from matter of fact. God does in fact justify those, who by their own confession, neither feared God nor wrought righteousness. Is this an exception to the general rule?
It is a doubt, whether God makes any exception at all. But how are we sure, that the person in question never did fear God and work righteousness? His own saying so is not proof: For we know, how all that are convinced of sin, undervalue themselves in every respect.
8. Does not talking of a _justified_ or a _sanctified state_, tend to mislead men? Almost naturally leading them to trust in what was done in one moment? Whereas we are every hour and every moment pleasing or displeasing to God, _according to our works_? according to the whole of our inward tempers, and our outward behaviour.
19. Lastly, We must needs visit from house to house, were it only to avoid idleness. I am afraid, we are idle still. Do we not loiter away many hours in every week? Try yourselves. Keep a diary of your employment but for a week, and then read it over. Idleness cannot consist with growth in grace. Nay, without exactness in _redeeming time_, it is impossible to retain even the life you received in justification.
The CHARACTER of a METHODIST.
_Not as tho’ I had already attained._
To the READER.
1. SINCE the name first came abroad into the world, many have been at a loss to know what a _Methodist_ is: what are the _principles_ and the _practice_ of those, who are commonly called by that name; and what the _distinguishing marks_ of this sect, _which is every where spoken against_.
2. And it being generally believed, that I was able to give the clearest account of these things (as having been one of the first to whom that name was given, and the person by whom the rest were supposed to be directed) I have been called upon, in all manner of ways, and with the utmost earnestness so to do. I yield at last, to the continued importunity both of friends and enemies: and do now give the clearest account I can, in the presence of the Lord and Judge of heaven and earth, of the _principles_ and _practice_ whereby those who are called _Methodists_, are distinguished from other men.
3. I say _those who are_ called _Methodists_; for let it be well observed, that this is not a name which they take to themselves, but one fixt upon them by way of reproach, without their approbation or consent. It was first given to three or four young men at _Oxford_, by a student of _Christ-Church_: either in allusion to the antient sect of physicians so called (from their teaching, that almost all diseases might be cured by a _specific method_ of diet and exercise) or from their observing a more regular _method_ of study and behaviour, than was usual with those of their age and station.