Wesley Corpus

What manner of lives do they lead now? And if you do not find, (1.) That three in four of these were, two years ago, notoriously wicked men; (2.) That the main doc trines they have heard since, were, “Love God and your neigh bour, and carefully keep his commandments;” and, (3.) That they have since exercised themselves herein, and continue so to do;--I say, if you, or any reasonable man, who will be at the pains to inquire, does not find this to be an unquestionable fact, I will openly acknowledge myself an enthusiast, or what soever else you shall please to style me. Only one caution I would give to such an inquirer: Let him not ask the colliers of Coleford, “Were not the generality of you, before you followed these men, serious, regular, well disposed people?” Were you not “offended at the profaneness and debauchery of the age?” And “was it not this disposition which at first made you liable to receive these impressions?” (Second Letter, p. 103.) Because if he talk thus to some of those who do not yet “follow these men,” perhaps he will not live to bring back their answer. 9. But will this, or a thousand such instances as this, “stop the mouths of all adversaries at once?” O'Sir, would one expect such a thought as this in one that had read the Bible? What, if you could convert as many sinners as St. Paul himself?