Wesley Corpus

“These are well styled by Christ, ‘ravening wolves;” by St. Paul, “grievous wolves, from the mischiefs they do, rending the Church of Christ, and perverting the true sense of the gospel, for their own private ends. They ever did, and to this day do, pretend to extraordinary inspiration.” (Page 8.) Round assertions! Let us consider them one by one: (1.) “These are styled by Christ ‘ravening wolves; by St. Paul, “grievous wolves.’” True; but how does it appear that these names are applicable to the Methodists? Why, they * rend the Church of Christ.” What is the Church of Christ? According to our Article, a Church is “a company of faithful people,” of true believers, who have “the mind that was in Christ,” and “walk as Christ walked.” Who then are the Church of Christ in Waterford? Point them out, Sir, if you know them; and then be pleased to show how the Methodists rend this Church of Christ. You may as justly say they rend the walls or the steeple of the cathedral church. “How ever, they pervert the true sense of the gospel, for their own private ends.” Wherein do they pervert the true sense of the gospel? I have published Notes both on the Gospels and the other Scriptures. But wherein do those Notes pervert the sense? None has yet attempted to show. But for what private ends should I pervert it? For ease or honour? Then I should be sadly disappointed. Or for money? This is the silliest tale of all. You may easily know, if you are willing to know it, that I did not leave Waterford without being some pounds lighter than I was when I came thither. 6. “But they pretend to extraordinary inspiration.” They do not: They expressly disclaim it. I have declared an hun dred times, I suppose ten times in print, that I pretend to no other inspiration than that which is common to all real Chris tians, without which no one can be a Christian at all. “They denounce hell and damnation to all that reject their pretences.” (Page 9.) This is another charge; but it is as groundless as the former; it is without all shadow of truth. You may as well say, The Methodists denounce hell and damnation to all that reject Mahometanism.