Letter 368

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CCCLXVIII. — To the Rev. Mr. F——.

DEAR SIR, ST. IVES, September 15, 1762.

Spectatum satis, ac donatum jam rude quaeris,

Maecenas, iterum antiquo me includere ludo?

Non eadem est aetas, non mens.

92

I HAVE entirely lost my taste for controversy. I have lost my readiness in disputing; and I take this to be a providential discharge from it. All I can now do with a clear conscience is, not to enter into a formal controversy about the new birth, or justification by faith, any more than Christian perfection, but simply to declare my judgment; and to explain myself as clearly as I can upon any difficulty that may arise concerning it. So far I can go with you, but no farther. I still say, and without any self-contradiction, I know no persons living who are so deeply conscious of their needing Christ both as Prophet, Priest, and King, as those who believe themselves, and whom I believe, to be cleansed from all sin; I mean, from all pride, anger, evil desire, idolatry, and unbelief. These very persons feel more than ever their own ignorance, littleness of grace, coming short of the full mind that was in Christ, and walking less accurately than they might have done after their Divine Pattern; are more convinced of the insufficiency of all they are, have, or do, to bear the eye of God without a Mediator; are more penetrated with the sense of the want of Him than ever they were before.

If Mr. M—— or you say, “that coming short; is sin,” be it so; I contend not. But still I say, “These are they whom I believe to be scripturally perfect. And yet these never felt their want of Christ so deeply and strongly as they do now.” If in saying this I have “fully given up the point,” what would you have more? Is it not enough that I leave you to “boast your superior power against the little, weak shifts of baffled error?” “Canst thou not be content,” as the Quaker said, “to lay J. W. on his back, but thou must tread his guts out?”