Treatise Character Of A Methodist
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-character-of-a-methodist-001 |
| Words | 387 |
Come,
and let us look one another in the face. And perhaps some of
you who hate what I am called, may love what I am by the grace
of God; or rather, what “I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
ThE
1. THE distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his
opinions of any sort. His assenting to this or that scheme
of religion, his embracing any particular set of notions, his
espousing the judgment of one man or of another, are all
quite wide of the point. Whosoever, therefore, imagines that
a Methodist is a man of such or such an opinion, is grossly
ignorant of the whole affair; he mistakes the truth totally. We believe, indeed, that “all Scripture is given by the
inspiration of God; ” and herein we are distinguished from
Jews, Turks, and Infidels. We believe the written word of
God to be the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith. and practice; and herein we are fundamentally distinguished
from those of the Romish Church. We believe Christ to be
the eternal, supreme God; and herein we are distinguished
from the Socinians and Arians. But as to all opinions which
do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let
think. So that whatsoever they are, whether right or wrong,
they are no distinguishing marks of a Methodist. 2. Neither are words or phrases of any sort. We do not
place our religion, or any part of it, in being attached to any
peculiar mode of speaking, any quaint or uncommon set of
expressions. The most obvious, easy, common words, wherein
our meaning can be conveyed, we prefer before others, both
on ordinary occasions, and when we speak of the things of
God. We never, therefore, willingly or designedly, deviate
from the most usual way of speaking; unless when we express
scripture truths in scripture words, which, we presume, no
Christian will condemn. Neither do we affect to use any
particular expressions of Scripture more frequently than
others, unless they are such as are more frequently used by
the inspired writers themselves. So that it is as gross an
error, to place the marks of a Methodist in his words, as in
opinions of any sort. 3.