Wesley Corpus

I was a little surprised to read in a late publication of yours the following assertions: - 1. Thomas Maxfield was 'some of the firstfruits of Mr. Whitefield's ministry' (page 18). 2. 'When he went abroad, he delivered me and many thousands more into the hands of those he thought he could have trusted them with, and who would have given them back to him again at his return. But, alas! it was not so.' (Ibid.) 'I heard Mr. Whitefield say at the Tabernacle, in the presence of five or six ministers, to Mr. Wesley, a little before he left England for the last time: "I delivered thirty thousand people into the hands of your brother and you when I went abroad. And by the time I came back you had so turned their hearts against me that not three hundred of them would come to hear me." I knew this was true.' (Ibid.) 3. 'I heard Mr. Whitefield say: "When I came back from Georgia, there was no speaking evil of each other. Oh what would I not give or suffer or do to see such times again! But oh that division! that division! What slaughter it has made 'It was doctrine that caused the difference; or, at least, it was so pretended.' (Ibid.) 'He preached a few times in connection with his old friends. But, ah! how soon was the sword of contention drawn!' (Page 19.) 4. 'where can you now find any loving ones of either party They have no more love to each other than Turks.' (Ibid.) 'Read their vile contentions, and the evil characters they give of each other, raking the filthiest ashes to find some black story against their fellow preachers' (page 20). They 'slay with the sword of bitterness, wrath, and envy. Still more their shame is what they have sent out into the world against each other on both sides about five or six years ago, and till this very day.' (Page 21.) To satisfy both friends and foes I propose a few queries' on each of these four heads.