Wesley Corpus

4. You proceed: “Our holy Church doth teach us, that-- by the laver of regeneration in baptism, we are received into the number of the children of God-This is the first part of the new birth.” What is the first part of the new birth P baptism? It is the outward sign of that inward and spiritual grace; but no part of it at all. It is impossible it should be. The outward sign is no more a part of the inward grace than the body is a part of the soul. Or do you mean, that regeneration is a part of the new birth ? Nay, this is the whole of it. Or is it the “laver of regeneration ” which is the first part of it? That cannot be; for you suppose this to be the same with baptism. 5. “The second part, the inward and spiritual grace, is a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness.” What 1 Is the new birth the second part of the new birth? I appre hend it is the first and second part too: And surely nothing could have prevented your seeing this, but the ardour of your spirit, and the impetuosity with which you rush along and trample down all before you. Your manner of writing reminds me of an honest Quaker in Cornwall, whose words I would recommend to your consideration. Being consulted by one of the Friends, whether he should publish a tract which he had read to many in private, he replied, “What! Art thou not content with laying John Wesley on his back, but thou must tread his guts out too?” 6. So much for your account of the new birth. I am, in the Second place, to consider the account you give of “the pretended inspiration” (so you are pleased to term it) “of the Methodists.” “The Holy Ghost sat on the Apostles with cloven tongues as of fire;--and signs and wonders were done by their hands.” ThE REV. M.R. POTTER, 9I (Pages 16, 17, 18.) Wonders indeed! sick by a word, a touch, a shadow !-- For they healed the They spake the dead alive, and living dead.