Wesley Corpus

8. You affirm, sixth: ‘God h not pleased with absurd opinions or ridiculous ceremonies.’ Agreed. But which are they The opinion that God was made man Or the ceremonies of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper 9. You affirm, seventh: ‘That the doing as we would be done by is the rule Christ, the great Author of our holy religion (for whom you have a very peculiar regard), recommends to His disciples; that God has given us passions and appetites; that to use these moderately is right, to indulge them immoderately is wrong.’ Observations undeniably true! ‘Tis much they were never made before. 10. This is the sum of the first testimony you have borne against error. In your second letter you undertake to prove, farther, ‘that the leaders and minority of the members are absolutely enthusiasts’ An enthusiast, you say, is one who implicitly entertains a set of religious principles which cannot be controlled by reason, strictly adhering to his own opinion, and thinking all who differ from him in an absolute state of perdition. Then by your own account I am no enthusiast. For (1) I did not implicitly entertain any set of religious principles. I weighed every principle of Christianity again and again, refusing to take it upon any man's word. (2) I am still willing to be controlled by reason. Bring me stronger reasons for Infidefity than I have for receiving the Christian system, and I will come over to you to-morrow. (3) I do not think all who differ from me in an absolnte state of perdition; I believe many of them are in a state of salvation. Therefore according to your account, I am not an enthusiast. 11. By what arguments do you prove that I am Your first is, ‘I humbly imagine it is indisputable.’ Your second, ‘I never heard it once questioned.’ A third, ‘If the Methodists are not enthusiasts, the word in my opinion has no meaning’ All these I leave to stand in their full force.