Wesley Corpus

12. “A vast number of sluts had taken possession of the preaching-houses,” (No; the preaching-houses were not in question,) “and female servants, by courtesy called maids,” (civil and kind ! But neither were servants in question,) “are * “Behold the token "-EDIT. filthy slovens in their persons, dress, and manoeuvres.” (See, Mr. Hill understands French !) “So Mr. John gives the public to understand.” (No, not Mr. John, but Mr. Hill. He goes on:) “And how is this mighty grievance to be redressed? ‘Why, says this Solomon in a cassock,” (Is not that witty?) “‘sluts are to be kept out, by not letting them in.’” (Imposture Detected, p. 12.) And is all this wit bestowed upon three poor lines? The words are just these:-- “Q. Complaint is made that sluts spoil our houses. How then can we prevent this? “A. Let no known slut live in any of them.” (Minutes.) What a colour does Mr. Hill put upon this ! But, meantime, where is conscience? Where is honour? 13. “He denies the doctrines of the Church of England;” (page 13;) that is, absolute predestination. Mr. Sellon has abundantly proved, that this is no doctrine of the Church of England. When Mr. Hill has answered his arguments, I will give him some more. The objections against lay Preachers (which come ill from Mr. Hill) I have largely answered in the “Third Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion.” But I know not that any lay Preachers in connexion with me, either baptize children, or administer the Lord’s supper. I never entreated anything of Bishop Erasmus, who had abundant unexceptionable credentials as to his episcopal character. Nor did he “ever reject any overture” made by me. (Page 14.) Herein Mr. Hill has been misinformed. I deny the fact; let him produce his evidence. The perfection I hold is so far from being contrary to the doctrine of our Church, that it is exactly the same which every Clergyman prays for every Sunday: “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name.” I mean neither more nor less than this. In doctrine, therefore, I do not dissent from the Church of England. 14. However, “he renounces the discipline of the Church.” (Page 15.) This objection too I have answered at large, in my Letters to Dr.