Charles Simeon on Common Ground

Zach Terry, friend and pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, KY, made me aware of this in a recent email. In a conversation with John Wesley, well-known Arminian, Charles Simeon tells this story: Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart? Yes, I do indeed. And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ? Yes, solely through Christ. But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works? No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last. Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power? No. What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms? Yes, altogether. And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom? Yes, I have no hope but in Him. Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election, my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree. (Moule, 79f) (This article can be found here.) I think Charles Simeon has left a good example for us all. And give me the latitude to say this. Have you realized that the attacks and charges be laid upon this debate are mostly coming from Arminians? Why is this? Maybe it's because as one youth minister told a student a couple months ago, "Calvinism is poisonous and heretical. It's teaching will ruin your soul." Hmmm . . . need I say anything else? Common ground. Is there any for Arminians? I hope so, but at this point, their issue is not with Calvinists but with the Bible and the Author of it. Charles Simeon's biography was written by Handley Moule. It's ISBN # is 1 85792 3405.