James Relly (1722–1778) was a Welshman and Methodist minister whose theology inspired John Murray and others. The key idea in Relly’s theology is the belief that humanity has been united to Jesus Christ in such a way that all human beings died with Christ on the cross, thus being made righteous by Christ alone. Faith is a matter of coming to know one’s salvation and not a condition of salvation. The only advantage of the elect over the non-elect here and now is the knowledge of salvation by faith.
In his Epistles, or the Great Salvation Contemplated from 1776 Relly explained his beliefs in 11 short letters.
Download: James Relly – Epistles, or the Great Salvation Contemplated (pdf)