Wesley Corpus

A Letter to the Author of 'The Enthusiasm of Methodists and Papists Compared' Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 9 (Zondervan) Year: 1750 Author: John Wesley --- SIR 1. In your late pamphlets you have undertaken to prove, that Mr. Whitefield and I are gross enthusiasts; and that our “whole conduct is but a counterpart of the most wild fana ticisms of the most abominable communion in its most corrupt ages.” (Preface, p. 3.) You endeavour to support this charge against us by quota tions from our own writings, compared with quotations from celebrated writers of the Romish communion. 2. It lies upon me to answer for one. But I must not burden you with too long an answer; lest, “for want either of leisure or inclination,” (ibid. p. 5) you should not give this, any more than my other tracts, a reading. In order therefore to spare both you and myself, I shall consider only your First Part; and that as briefly as possible. Accordingly, I shall not meddle with your other quotations; but, leaving them to whom they may concern, shall only examine whether those you have made from my writings prove the charge of enthu Slasm Or InC. This I conceive will be abundantly sufficient to decide the question between you and me. If these do prove the charge, I am cast; if they do not, if they are the words of truth and soberness, it will be an objection of no real weight against sentiments just in themselves, though they should also be found in the writings of Papists; yea, of Mahometans or Pagans. * Thus translated by Boscawen : “Now hear what briefly I reply.”-EDIT. 3. Let the eight pages you borrow stand as they are. I pre sume they will do neither good nor harm. In the tenth you say, “The Methodists act on the same plan with the Papists; not, perhaps, from compact and design; but a similar con figuration and texture of brain, or the fumes of imagination, producing similar effects.