Wesley Corpus

You speak much of prepossession and prejudice; beware you are not entangled therein yourselves! Are you not pre judiced against us, because we believe and strenuously defend that system of doctrines which you oppose? Are you not enemies to us, because you take it for granted we are so to you? Nay, God forbid! I once saw one, who, from a plen tiful fortune, was reduced to the lowest extremity. He was lying on a sick bed, in violent pain, without even conveni ent food, or one friend to comfort him : So that when his merciful landlord, to complete all, sent one to take his bed from under him, I was not surprised at his attempt to put an end to so miserable a life. Now, when I saw that poor man weltering in his blood, could I be angry at him ? Surely, no. No more can I at you. I can no more hate than I can envy you. I can only lift up my heart to God for you, (as I did then for him,) and, with silent tears, beseech the Father of Mercies, that he would look on you in your blood, and say unto you, “Live.” 19. “Sir,” said that unhappy man, at my first interview with him, “I scorn to deceive you or any man. You must not tell me of your Bible; for I do not believe one word of it. I know there is a God; and believe he is all in all, the Anima mundi,” the Totam Mens agitans molem, et magnose corpore miscens.t But farther than this I believe not: All is dark; my thought is lost. But I hear,” added he, “you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach * What is it good for?” I replied, “I do preach to as many as desire to hear, every night and morning. You ask, what I would do with them : I would make them virtuous and happy, easy in themselves, and useful to others. Whither would I lead them? To heaven; to God the Judge, the lover of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new cove nant. What religion do I preach?