264 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
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On his return to England, Wesley, under the instruction of a Moravian preacher, arrived at a clearer understanding of Bible faith. He was convinced that he must renounce all dependence upon his own works for salvation, and must trust wholly to the“ Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” At a meeting of the Moravian society in London, a statement was read from Luther, describing the change which the Spirit of God works in the heart of the believer. As Wesley listened, faith was kindled in his soul.“ I felt my heart strangely warmed,” he says.“ I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation: and an assurance was given me, that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” 373
Through long years of wearisome and comfortless striving,— years of rigorous self-denial, of reproach and humiliation,— Wesley had steadfastly adhered to his one purpose of seeking God. Now he had found Him; and he found that the grace which he had toiled to win by prayers and fasts, by almsdeeds and self-abnegation, was a gift,“ without money, and without price.”
Once established in the faith of Christ, his whole soul burned with the desire to spread everywhere a knowledge of the glorious gospel of God ' s free grace.“ I look upon all the world as my parish,” he said;“ in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.” 374
He continued his strict and self-denying life, not now as the ground, but the result of faith; not the root, but the fruit of holiness. The grace of God in Christ is the foundation of the Christian ' s hope, and that grace will be manifested in obedience. Wesley ' s life was devoted to the preaching of the great truths which he had received,— justification through faith in the atoning blood of Christ, and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit upon
373 Whitehead,“ Life of John Wesley,” p. 52. 374 Idem, p. 74.