Wesley Corpus

no conditional or instrumental cause, but faith; is overturning Popery from the foundation ? When will ye understand, that the most destructive of all those errors which Rome, the mother of abominations, hath brought forth, (compared to which transubstantiation, and a hundred more, are “ trifles light as air,’’) is “‘ That we are justified by works ;” or, (to express the same thing a little more decently,) by faith and works. Now, dol preach this? I did for ten years: I was (fundamentally) a Papist, and knew it not. But I do now testify to all, and it is the very point for asserting which J have, to this day, been called in question,) that ‘no good works can be done before justification; none which have not in them the nature of sin.” I have often inquired who are the authors of this report; and have generally found they were either bigoted Dissenters, or (I speak without fear or favour) ministers of our own Church. I have also frequently’ considered, what possible ground or motive they could have thus to speak ; seeing few men in the world have had occasion so clearly and openly to declare their principles as I have done, both by preaching, printing, and conversation, for several years last past: and I can no otherwise think, than that either they spoke thus (to put the most favourable construction upon it) from gross ignorance ; they knew not what Popery was ; they knew not what doctrines those are which the Papists teach; or they wilfully spoke what they knew to be fulse ; probably ‘ thinking” thereby “to do God service.” Now take this to yourselves, whosoever ye are, high or low, Dissenters or Churchmen, clergy or laity, who have advanced this shameless charge ; and digest it how you can.