Wesley Corpus

A Disavowal of Persecuting Papists Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 10 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- I HAvE read a Tract lately sent me, and will now give my free thoughts upon the subject. I set out early in life with an utter abhorrence of persecu tion in every form, and a full conviction that every man has a right to worship God according to his own conscience. Accordingly, more than fifty years ago, I preached on those words, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of: For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And I preached on the same text, in London, the 5th of last November. And this I extend to members of the Church of Rome, as well as to all other men. I agree not only that many of these in former ages were good men, (as Thomas à Kempis, Francis Sales, and the Mar quis de Renty,) but that many of them are so at this day. I believe, I know some Roman Catholics who sincerely love both God and their neighbour, and who steadily endeavour to do unto every one as they wish him to do unto them. But I cannot say this is a general case; nay, I am fully convinced it is not. The generality of Roman Catholics, wherever I have been, are of the same principles, and the same spirit, with their forefathers. And, indeed, if they had the same principles, it could not be doubted but they would be of the same practice too, if opportunity should serve. These principles openly avowed by their forefathers of priestly absolution, Papal indulgences, and no faith to be kept with heretics, have never been openly and authoritatively disavowed even unto this day. And until they are, a Roman Catholic, consistent with his principles, cannot be trusted by a Protestant. For the same principles naturally tend to produce the same spirit and the same practice. Very lately, a person seeing many flocking to a place, which she did not know was a Romish chapel, innocently said, “What do all these people want?” and was answered by one of them, with great vehe mence, “We want your blood.