No faith, or little faith

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But how can unbelief be in a believer? That word has two meanings. It means either no faith, or little faith. Either the absence of faith, or the weakness of it. In the first sense, unbelief is not in a believer. In the second sense, it is in all babes. Their faith is commonly mixed with doubt or fear, that is, in this second sense, with unbelief. Why are you fearful, says our Lord, O you of little faith? Again, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? You see that there was unbelief in believers. Little faith, and much unbelief.

1771 text

“But how can unbelief be in a believer?” That word has two meanings. It means either no faith, or little faith; either the absence of faith, or the weakness of it. In the former sense, unbelief is not in a believer: in the latter, it is in all babes. Their faith is commonly mixt with doubt or fear, that is (in the latter sense) with unbelief. Why are ye fearful, says our Lord, O ye of little faith. Again, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? You see here was unbelief in believers: little faith and much unbelief.

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About this text

On 2 Corinthians 5:17: does sin remain in those who are in Christ? Wesley answers that it remains, though it no longer reigns.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 13 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 5:17.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

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