Wesley Corpus

The next ran thus: “Again, you say, “I expounded out of the fulness that was given me.’” (Remarks, p. 64.) I answered, “I mean, I had then a fuller, deeper sense of what I spoke than I ordinarily have.” (Page 409.) But if you still think, “it would have been more decent to have said, ‘According to the best of my power and ability, with God’s assistance, I expounded;’” I will say so another time. With regard to the third instance of enthusiasm, youremarked, “If you would not have us look on this as miraculous, there is nothing in it worthy of being related.” (Remarks, p. 64.) I answered, “It may be so. Let it pass, then, as a trifle not worth relating; but still it is no proof of enthusiasm. For I would not have you look upon it as miraculous, but as a signal instance of God’s particular providence.” (Page 409.) How friendly and generous is your reply l--“You seem ashamed of it. I am glad you give this fooling up, and hope for the future you will treat your readers better.” (Second Letter, p. 131.) Sir, I am not ashamed of it; nor shall I ever give this fooling up, till I give up the Bible. I still look upon this “as a signal instance of God’s particular providence.” But “how is this con sistent with yielding it to be a trifle?” (Ibid. p. 132.) My words do not imply, that I yield it so to be. Being urged with the dilemma, “Either this is related as miraculous,” (and then it is enthusiasm,) “ or it is not worth relating; ” I answered, (to avoid drawing the saw of controversy,) “Let it pass, then, as a trifle not worth relating. But still” (if it be a trifle, which I suppose, not grant) “it is no proof of enthusiasm. For I would not have you look upon it as miraculous.” And yet I believe I yielded too much, and what might too much favour your assertion, that “there is a great difference between particular providences and such extraordinary interpo sitions.” Pray, Sir, show me what this difference is. It is a subject that deserves your coolest thoughts. “I know no ground to hope or pray for such immediate reliefs. These things must be represented either as common accidents or as miracles.” I do not throughly understand your terms.