[307]. Thus defined by Fletcher in his “Doctrines of Grace and Justice:” “Our salvation is of God; or, There is free grace in God; which, through Christ, freely places all men in a state of temporary redemption, justification, or salvation, according to the various Gospel dispensations, and crowns those who are faithful unto death with an eternal redemption, justification, or salvation.”
His definition of the second Gospel axiom is, “Our damnation is of ourselves: or, There is a free-will in man; by which he may, through the grace freely imparted to him in the day of temporary salvation, work out his own eternal salvation; or he may, through the natural power which angels had to sin in heaven, and our first parents in paradise, choose to sin away the day of temporary salvation. And by thus working out his damnation, he may provoke just wrath, which is the same as despised free grace, to punish him with eternal destruction.”
[308]. As usual, these extracts are made from the original edition, and the italics are Fletcher’s own.
[309]. In a foot-note, Fletcher remarks, “When the Church of England and Mr. Wesley give us particular definitions of faith, it is plain that they consider it according to the Christian dispensation; the privileges of which must be principally insisted upon among Christians.”
[310]. Solifidianism, now a favourite word with Fletcher, is thus defined by him, in his “Fifth Check to Antinomianism:”—“Solifidianism is the doctrine of Solifidians; and the Solifidians are men who, because sinners are justified sola fide, ‘by sole faith,’ in the day of conversion, infer, as Mr. Berridge, that ‘believing is the total term of all salvation,’ and conclude, as Mr. Hill, that the doctrine of final justification by the works of faith in the great day is ‘full of rottenness and deadly poison.’ It is a softer word for Antinomianism.”
[311]. Wesley’s Works, vol. xiii., p. 52.
[312]. Benson’s “Life of Fletcher.”
[313]. Letters, 1791, p. 224.