GOD’S FREE GRACE IN THE SALVATION OF SINNERS! BY GEOREGE WHITEFIELD

GOD’S FREE GRACE IN THE SALVATION OF SINNERS, PROVED FROM THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL BY GEORGE WHITEFIELD!!!GEORGE WHITEFIELD HAD TO CONFRONT HIS DEAR FRIEND JOHN WESLEY, FOUNDER OF THE METHODISTS CHURCHES ABOUT DENYING GOD’S FREE GRACE(ELECTION) AND EMBRACING MAN’S FREE WILL. BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM GEORGE WHITEFIELD’S LETTER OF REBUKE TO HIS FRIEND JOHN WESLEY. December 24, 1740Very dear brother,God only knows what unspeakable sorrow of heart I have felt on your account since I left England last. Whether it is my infirmity or not, I frankly confess, that Jonah could not go with more reluctance against Nineveh, than I now take pen in hand to write against you. If nature was to speak, I would rather die than do it; and yet if I am faithful to God, and to my own and others' souls, I must not stand neutral any longer. I am very apprehensive that our common adversaries will rejoice to see us differing among ourselves. But what can I say? The children of God are in danger of falling into error. No, indeed numbers have already been misled, whom God has been pleased to work upon by my ministry; and a greater number are still calling aloud upon me to also voice my opinion. I must then show that I know no man after the flesh, and that I have no partiality, James 2:9 any further than is consistent with my duty to my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. This letter, no doubt, will lose me many friends. From such considerations as these, I think it my duty to bear a humble testimony, and to earnestly plead for the truths which I am convinced are clearly revealed in the Word of God. In the defense of it, I must use great plainness of speech, and treat my dearest friends on earth with the greatest simplicity, faithfulness, and freedom, leaving the consequences of all to God.O dear Sir, what kind of reasoning—or rather sophistry—this is! Has not God, who has appointed salvation for a certain number, also appointed the preaching of the Word as a means to bring them to it? Does anyone hold election in any other sense? And if so, how is preaching needless for those who are elected, when the gospel is designated by God himself to be the power of God unto their eternal salvation? Romans 1.16. And since we do not know who are elect and who are reprobate, we are to preach promiscuously to all. For the Word may be useful, even to the non-elect, in restraining them from much wickedness and sin. However, it is enough to excite us to the utmost diligence in preaching and hearing, when we consider that by these means, some—even as many as the Lord has ordained to eternal life—shall certainly be quickened and enabled to believe. And whoever attends to this, especially with reverence and care, who can tell whether he may not be found among that happy number?Second, you say that the doctrine of election and reprobation tends to directly destroy holiness, which is the end of all the ordinances of God. "For" (says the dear mistaken Mr. Wesley) "it wholly takes away those first motives to follow after it, so frequently proposed in Scripture: the hope of future reward and fear of punishment, the hope of Heaven and fear of Hell," etc.I thought that one who carries perfection to such an exalted pitch as dear Mr. Wesley does, would know that a true lover of the Lord Jesus Christ would strive to be holy for the sake of being holy, and work for Christ out of love and gratitude, without any regard for the rewards of Heaven or fear of Hell. You remember, dear Sir, what Scougal says, "Love's a more powerful motive that moves them."Dear Sir, these things should not be so. But I hope the Lord will show you this before you go from here. O how I long for that day! If the Lord should be pleased to make use of this letter for that purpose, it would abundantly rejoice the heart of, dear and honored Sir.Yours affectionate, though unworthy brother and servant in Christ,George Whitefield