Encounter with Peter Bohler

I met Peter Bohler once more. I had now no objection to what he said of the nature of faith; namely, that it is (to use the words of our Church) "a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God, that through the merits of Christ his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God." Neither could I deny either the happiness or holiness which he described, as frruits of this livingg faith. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the childen of God:" And, "He that believeth hath the witness in himself," fullly convinced me of the former: As "Whatsoever is born of God, doth not commit sin;" and , "Whosoever believeth is born of God," did of the latter. But I could not comprehend what he spoke of as an instantaneous work. I could not understand how this faith should be given in a moment: How a man could at once be thus turned from darkness to light, for sin and misery to righteousness and joy in the Holy Ghost. I searched the scriptures again, touching this very thing, particularly the Acts of the Apostles: But, to my utter astonishment, found scarce any instances there of other than instantaneous conversions; scarce any so slow as that of St. Paul, who was three days in the pangs of the new birth. I had but one retreat left; namely, "Thus, I grant God wrought in the first ages of Christianity; but the times are changed. What reason have I to believe he works in the same manner now?"

From John Wesley's Journal Entry for Saturday 22 April, 1738.

But on Sunday, the 23rd, I was beat out of this retreat too, by the concurring evidence of several living witnesses; who testified, God had thus wrought in themselves; giving them in a moment such a faith in the blood of his Son as translated them out darkness into light, o[ut of sin and fear into holiness and happiness. Here ended my disputing. I could now only cry out, "Lord, help thou my unbelief!"

I asked P. Bohler again, whether I ought not to refrain from teaching others. He said, "No; do not hide in the earth the takent God hath given you."

(This last comment by Boehler to Wesley has been reported elsewhere as, "Preach faith until you have it, then, because you have it, you will preach faith."

From John Wesley's Journal Entry for Sunday 23 April, 1738.



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