Letter 218
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 fulfilll 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 today!
I am, dear Madam,
Your very affectionate servant.
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CCXVIII. — 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; namely, “If it be the professed aim of the Gospel to convince us that Jesus is the Christ: If I, a sinner, am convinced of the reality of this fact, am not I, who believe, authorized 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 authorized 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.