Wesley Corpus

“But they would do well to remember, God is not the author of confusion or of tumult, but of peace.” I trust we do: Nor is there any confusion or tumult at all in our largest congregations; unless at some rare times, when the sons of Belial mix therewith, on purpose to disturb the peace able worshippers of God. “But our Church has provided against this preaching up and down, in the ordination of a Priest, by expressly limiting the exercise of the powers then conferred upon him, to the con gregation where he shall be lawfully appointed thereunto.” I answer, (1.) Your argument proves too much. If it be allowed just as you proposed it, it proves that no Priest has authority, either to preach or minister the sacraments, in any other than his own congregation. (2.) Had the powers conferred been so limited when I was ordained Priest, my ordination would have signified just nothing. For I was not appointed to any congregation at all; but was ordained as a member of that “College of Divines,” (so our statutes express it,) “founded to overturn all heresies, and defend the Catholic faith.” (3.) For many years after I was ordained Priest, this limita tion was never heard of. I heard not one syllable of it, by way of objection, to my preaching up and down in Oxford or Lon don, or the parts adjacent; in Gloucestershire, or Worcester shire; in Lancashire, Yorkshire, or Lincolnshire. Nor did the strictest disciplinarian scruple suffering me to exercise those powers wherever I came. (4.) And in fact, is it not universally allowed, that every Priest, as such, has a power, in virtue of his ordination, either to preach or to administer the sacraments, in any congregation, wherever the Rector or Curate desires his assistance? Does not every one then see through this thin pretence? 9. “The Bishops and Universities indeed have power to grant licenses to Itinerants. But the Church has provided in that case; they are not to preach in any church (Canon 50) till they show their license.” The Church has well provided in that case. But what has that case to do with the case of common Clergymen?