Wesley Corpus

Not that all the Methodists (so called) “were very wicked people before they followed us.” There are those among them, and not a few, who are able to stop the boasting of those that despise them, and to say, “Whereinsoever any of you is bold, I am bold also:” Only they “count all these things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” But these we found, as it were, when we sought them not. We went forth to “seek that which was lost;” (more eminently lost;) “to call” the most flagrant, hardened, desperate “sinners to repentance.” To this end we preached in the Horsefair at Bristol, in Kings wood, in Newcastle; among the colliers in Staffordshire, and the tinners in Cornwall; in Southwark, Wapping, Moorfields, Drury-Lane, at London. Did any man ever pick out such places as these, in order to find “serious, regular, well-disposed peo ple?” How many such might then be in any of them I know not. But this I know, that four in five of those who are now with us were not of that number, but were wallowing in their blood, till God by us said unto them, “Live.” Sir, I willingly put the whole cause on this issue: What are the general consequences of this preaching? Are there more tares or wheat? more “good men destroyed,” (that is the pro per question,) or “wicked men saved?” The last place where we began constant preaching is a part of Wiltshire and Somerset shire, near Bath. Now, let any man inquire at Rhode, Brad ford, Wrexall, or among the colliers at Coleford, (1.) What kind of people were those “before they followed these men?” (2.) What are the main doctrines they have been teaching for this twelvemonth? (3.) What effect have these doctrines upon their followers? What manner of lives do they lead now?