Wesley Corpus

“But take the affair from the beginning. He began to sus pect rivals in the year thirty-nine; for he says, “Remembering how many that came after me were preferred before me.” The very next words show in what sense. They “had attained unto the law of righteousness; ” I had not. But what has this to do with rivals 7 However, go on : “At this time, December 8, 1739, his opening the Bible afforded him but small relief. He sunk so far in his despondency, as to doubt if God would not lay him aside, and send other labourers into his harvest.” But this was another time. It was June 22; and the occasion of the doubt is expressly mentioned: “I preached, but had no life or spirit in me, and was much in doubt,” on that account. Not on -account of Mr. Whitefield. He did not “now begin to set up for himself.” We were in full union; nor was there the least shadow of rivalry or contention between us. I still sincerely “praise God for his wisdom in giving different talents to differ ent Preachers;” (page 250;) and particularly for his giving Mr. Whitefield the talents which I have not. 6. What farther proof of hypocrisy? Why, “he had given innumerable flirts of contempt in his Journals against human learning.” (Pages 252, 253.) Where? I do not know. Let the passages be cited; else, let me speak for it ever so much, it will prove nothing. “At last he was forced to have recourse to what he had so much scorned, I mean, prudence.” (Page 255.) All a mistake. I hope never to have recourse to false prudence; and true prudence I never scorned. “He might have met Mr. Whitefield half way; but he was too formidable a rival. With a less formidable one he pur sues this way. “I laboured, says he, ‘to convince Mr. Gr--,’” (my assistant, not rival,) “‘that he had not done well, in confuting, as he termed it, the sermon I preached the Sunday before. I asked, Will you meet me half way?” (The words following put my meaning beyond all dispute:) “I will never publicly preach against you. Will not you against me?” Here we see a fair invitation to Mr. Gr-- to play the hypocrite with him.” (Ibid.) Not in the least.