To the Rev. Mr. F——

St. Ives, September 15, 1762.
Dear Sir, —

“Spectatum satis, ac donatum jam rude quaeris,
Mecaenas, iterum antique me includere ludo 1
Non eadem est aetas, non mens.”*

I have entirely lost my taste for controversy. I have lost my readiness in disputing; and I take this to be a proladential 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

This quotation from Horace is thus translated by Francis: — “Wherefore, Mecjenas, would you ihus engage Your bard, dismissed with honour from the stage, Again to venture in the lists of fame. His youth, his gcniu.s, now no more the same!” — Ed.

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 thfe

little, weak shifts of baffled error?”” Canst not thou be

. content,” as the Quaker said,” to lay J. W. on his back,

“^ but thou must tread his guts out?”

Here are persons exceeding holy and happy; rejoicing evermore, praying always, and in every thing giving thanks; feeling the love of God and man eveiy moment; feeling no pride, or other evil temper. If these are not perfect, that Scriptural word has no meaning. Stop! you must not cavil at that word; you are not wiser than the Holy Ghost. But if you are not, see that you teach perfection too. “But are they not sinners?” Explain the term one way, and I say, Yes; another, and I say, No. “Are they cleansed from all sin?” I believe they are; meaning from all sinful tempers. “But have they then need of Christ?” I believe they have, in the sense and for the reasons above mentioned. Now be this true or false, it is no contradiction: it is consistent with itself; and, I think, consistent with right reason, and the whole oracles of God.

O let you and I go on to perfection! God grant we may

so run as to attain!