Wesley Corpus

It may easily be seen that my objections, then, were nearly the same as now. Yet I cannot say my affection ‘was lessened at all, till after September, 1739, when certain men among us began to trouble their brethren, and subvert their souls. However, I cleared the Moravians still, and laid the whole blame on our English brethren. But from November the Ist, I could not but see (unwilling as I was to see them) more and more things which I could in no wise reconcile with the gospel of Christ. And these I have set down with all simplicity, as they occurred in order of time: believing myself indispensably obliged so to do, both in duty to God and man. Yet do I this, because I love them not? God knoweth ; yea, and in part I esteem them still: because I Sept. 1741.} REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 227 verily believe, they have a sincere desire to serve God; because many of them have tasted of his love, and some retain it in simplicity ; because they love one another; because they have so much of the truth of the Gospel, and so far abstain from outward sin ; and, lastly, because their discipline is, in most respects, so truly excellent. ‘“¢ But why then are you bitter against them?” I do not know that I am. Let the impartial reader judge. And if any bitter word has escaped my notice, I here utterly retract it. “ But do not you rail at them?” T hope not. God forbid that I should rail at a Turk, infidel, or heretic. To one who advanced the most dangerous error, I durst say no more than, “The Lord rebuke thee.” But I would point out what those errors were ; and, I trust, in the spirit of meekness.