subject, I wrote down the sum of what I had ob-
John Wesley
themselves when they pour themselves with all their waters into the sea.
"When we have received any favor from God we ought to retire, if not into our closets, into our hearts, and say: 'I come, Lord, to restore to Thee what Thou hast given; and I freely relinquish it, to enter again into my own nothingness.
For what is the most perfect creature in heaven or earth in Thy presence but a void capable of being filled with Thee and by Thee, as the air, which is void and dark, is capable of being filled with the light of the sun, who withdraws it every day to restore it the next, there being nothing in the air that either appropriates this light or resists it? O, give me the same facility of receiving and restoring Thy grace and good works! I say thine; for I acknowledge the root from which they spring is in Thee and not in me."
26. In the year 1764, upon a review of the whole subject, I wrote down the sum of what I had observed, in the following short propositions:
"(1) There is such a thing as perfection, for it is again and again mentioned in Scripture.
"(2) It is not so early as justification, for justified persons are to 'go on unto perfection' (Hebrews 6:1).
"(3) It is not so late as death, for Saint Paul speaks of living men that were perfect (Philippians 3:15).
Christian Perfection "(4) It is not absolute. Absolute perfection belongs not to man nor to angels but to God alone.
"(5) It does not make a man infallible; none is infallible while he remains in the body.
"(6) Is it sinless? It is not worth while to contend for a term. It is 'salvation from sin.'
"(7) It is 'perfect love' (I John 4:18). This is the essence of it; its properties, or inseparable fruits, are rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks (I Thessalonians 5:16, etc.).
"(8) It is improvable. It is so far from lying in an indivisible point, from being incapable of increase, that one perfected in love may grow in grace far swifter than he did before.
"(g) It is amissible, capable of being lost, of which we have numerous instances. But we were not thoroughly convinced of this till five or six years ago.
"(10) It is constantly both preceded and followed by gradual work.
"(11) But is it in itself instantaneous or not?
In examining this, let us go on step by step.
"An instantaneous change has been wrought in some believers: none can deny this.
"Since that change they enjoy perfect love; they feel this, and this alone; they 'rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks.' Now, this is all I mean by perfec-
John Wesley
tion, therefore these are witnesses of the perfection which I preach.
""But in some this change was not instantaneous. They did not perceive the instant when it was wrought. It is often difficult to perceive the instant when a man dies, yet there is an instant in which life ceases. And if even sin ceases, there must be a last moment of its existence and a first moment of our deliverance from it.
""But if they have this love now, they will lose it." They may, but they need not. And whether they do or no, they have it now; they now experience what we teach. They now are all love; they now rejoice, pray, and praise without ceasing.
""However, sin is only suspended in them; it is not destroyed.' Call it which you please. They are all love today; and they take no thought for the morrow.
"But this doctrine has been much abused.'
So has that of justification by faith. But that is no reason for giving up either this or any other scriptural doctrine. "When you wash your child,' as one speaks, 'throw away the water, but do not throw away the child'
"But those who think they are saved from sin say they have no need of the merits of Christ.'
They say just the contrary. Their language is:
'Every moment, Lord, I want the merit of Thy death.'