Wesley Corpus

A more dangerous error in the Church of Rome is, the for bidding the Clergy to marry. “Those that are married may not be admitted into orders: Those that are admitted may not marry : And those that, being admitted, do marry, are to be separated.” The Apostle, on the contrary, says, “Marriage is honour able in all;” (Heb. xiii. 4;) and accuses those who “forbid to marry,” of teaching “doctrines of devils.” How lawful it was for the Clergy to marry, his directions concerning it show. (1 Tim. iv. 1, 3.) And how convenient, yea, necessary, in many cases it is, clearly appears from the innumerable mischiefs which have in all ages followed the prohibition of it in the Church of Rome; which so many wise and good men, even of her own communion, have lamented. I have now fairly stated, and calmly considered, most of the particular doctrines of the Church of Rome. Permit me to add a few considerations of a more general nature. That many members of that Church have been holy men, and that many are so now, I firmly believe. But I do not know, if any of them that are dead were more holy than many Protestants who are now with God; yea, than some of our own country, who were very lately removed to Abraham's bosom. To instance only in one : (Whom I mention the rather, because an account of his life is extant :) I do not believe that many of them, of the same age, were more holy than Thomas Walsh. And I doubt if any among them, living now, are more holy than several Protestants now alive. But be this as it may: However, by the tender mercies of God, many members of the Church of Rome have been, and are now, holy men, notwithstanding their principles; yet I fear many of their principles have a natural tendency to undermine holiness; greatly to hinder, if not utterly to destroy, the essential branches of it,-to destroy the love of God, and the love of our neighbour, with all justice, and mercy, and truth. I wish it were possible to lay all prejudice aside, and to consider this calmly and impartially. I begin with the love of God, the fountain of all that holiness without which we cannot see the Lord.