It is somewhat difficult to determine the exact theological orientation of Wesel. Ullmann claims him as a "reformer before the Reformation", but, while he mastered the formal principle of
Protestantism, that
scripture is the sole rule of
faith, it is more than doubtful that he had that experimental view of the doctrines of grace which lay at the basis of
Reformation theology. He held that
Christ is men's righteousness in so far as they are guided by the
Holy Ghost, and the love towards
God is shed abroad in their hearts, which clearly shows that he held the
medieval idea that justification is an habitual grace implanted in men by the gracious act of God. He seems, however, to have protested against certain medieval ecclesiastical ideas which he held to be excrescences erroneously grafted on
Christian faith and practice. He objected to the whole system of
indulgences; he denied the
infallibility of the church, on the ground, that the church contains within it
sinners as well as
saints; he insisted that
papal authority could be upheld only when the pope remained true to the evangel; and he held that a sharp distinction ought to be drawn between ecclesiastical sentences and punishments, and the judgments of God. Johann also held that God chooses some people to salvation, and believed in a
church invisible. ==Literature==