270 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
[ 262 ] acter of men, had led many to a virtual rejection of the law of God. Wesley steadfastly opposed the errors of the Antinomian teachers, and showed that this doctrine which led to Antinomianism was contrary to the Scriptures.“ The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”“ This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved; and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all.” 378 The Spirit of God is freely bestowed, to enable every man to lay hold upon the means of salvation. Thus Christ,“ the true Light,”“ lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” 379 Men fail of salvation through their own wilful refusal of the gift of life.
In answer to the claim that at the death of Christ the precepts of the decalogue had been abolished with the ceremonial law, Wesley said:“ The moral law, contained in the ten commandments and enforced by the prophets, He did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken, which‘ stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven.’... This was from the beginning of the world, being‘ written not on tables of stone,’ but on the hearts of all the children of men, when they came out of the hands of the Creator. And however the letters once wrote by the finger of God are now in a great measure defaced by sin, yet can they not wholly be blotted out, while we have any consciousness of good and evil. Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages; as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God, and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.
“‘ I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.’... Without question, His meaning in this place is( consistently with all that goes before
378 Titus 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:3-6. 379 John 1:9.