Wesley Corpus

Fri. 21.--I came to Nottingham. I had long doubted what it was which hindered the work of God here. But upon inquiry the case was plain. So many of the society were either triflers or disorderly walkers, that the blessing of God could not rest upon them; so I made short work, cutting off all such at a stroke, and leaving only that little handful who (as far as could be judged) were really in earnest to save their souls. Sat. 22.--I came to Wednesbury. The Antinomian teachers had laboured hard to destroy this poor people. Sunday, 23.--I talked an hour with the chief of them, Stephen Timmons. I was in doubt whether pride had not made him mad. An uncommon wildness and fierceness in his air, his words, and the whole manner of his behaviour, almost induced me to think God had for a season given him up into the hands of Satan. In the evening I preached at Birmingham. Here another of their pillars, J: Ww d, came to me, and, looking over his shoulder, said, ‘* Don’t think I want to be in your society ; but if you are free to speak to me, you may.” I will set down the conversation, dreadful as it was, in the very manner wherein it passed; that every serious person may see the true picture of Antinomianism full grown; and may know what these men mean by their favourite phrase, of being “ perfect in Christ, not in themselves.” “‘ Do you believe you have nothing to do with the law of God?” “TI have not: I am not under the law: I live by faith.” ‘Have you, as living by faith, a right to every thing in the world?” “T have: all is mine, since Christ is mine.”” ‘ May you then take any thing you will any where? Suppose, out ofa shop, without the consent or knowledge of the owner?” “TI may, if I want it: for it is mine: only I will not give offence.” ‘“ Have you also a right to all the women in the world?” “Yes, if they consent.” ‘ And is not that asin?” “Yes, to him that thinks it is a sin: but not to those whose hearts are free.” The same thing that wretch, Roger Ball, affirmed in Dublin. Surely these are the first-born children of Satan!