Wesley Corpus

In the evening Mr. Acourt complained, that Mr. Nowers had hindered his going into our society. Mr. Nowers answered, “It was by Mr. C. Wesley’s order.” ‘*What,” said Mr. Acourt, ‘do you refuse admitting a person into your society, only because he differs from you in opinion?” I answered, “* No; but what opinion do you mean?” He said, “* That of election. I hold, a certain number is elected from eternity. And these must and shall be saved. And the rest of mankind must and shall be damned. And many of your society hold the same.” I replied, ‘I never asked whether they hold it orno. Only iet them not trouble others by disputing about it.” He said, « Nay, but I will dispute about it.” ‘What, wherever you come?” “Yes, wherever [ come.” ‘ Why then would you come among us, who you know are of another mind?” ‘ Because you are all wrong, and I am resolved to set you all right.” “I fear your coming with this view, would neither profit you nor us.” He concluded, “ Then I will go and tell all the world, that you and your brother are false prophets. And I tell you, in one fortnight, you will all be in confusion.” Fri, 20.--I mentioned this to our society, and, without entering into the controversy, besought all of them who were weak in the faith. not 186 _ REY. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [June, 1740 to “receive one another to doubtful disputations ;” but simply to follow after holiness, and the things that make for peace. Sun. 22.--Finding there was no time to delay, without utterly destroying the cause of God, I began to execute what I had long designed.--to strike at the root of the grand delusion. Accordingly, from those words of Jeremiah, “Stand ye in the way, ask for the old paths,” I took occasion to give a plain account, both of the work which God had begun among us, and of the manner wherein the enemy had sown his tares among the good seed, to this effect :--