Wesley Corpus

So, although you have got the gallows ready, you have not turned off old Mordecai yet. As you so frequently give me that appellation, I for once accept of your favour. 48. “Before I quit this subject,” (of perfection,) “I cannot help expressing my astonishment, that Mr. Wesley should deny that his tenets on that point exactly harmonize with those of the Popish Church; since all the decrees and books that have been published by the Roman Clergy prove this matter beyond a doubt.” I believe you have been told so. But you should not assert it, unless from personal knowledge. “Alexander Ross says so.” What is Alexander Ross? See with your own eyes. “Mr. Hervey too gives an account of Lindenus and Andradius.” Second-hand evidence still. Have you seen them yourself? Otherwise, you ought not to allow their testimony. As to that “most excellent and evangelical work,” as you term it, the Eleven Letters ascribed to Mr. Hervey, Mr. Sellon has abundantly shown, that they are most excellently virulent, scurrilous, and abusive; and full as far from the evangelical spirit, as the Koran of Mahomet. “But Bishop Cowper”--I object to him, beside his being a hot, bitter Calvinist, that he is a dull, heavy, shallow writer. And let him be what he may, all you cite from him is but second-hand authority. “Nay, I refer to the Bishop's own words.” But still, you have only the words at second-hand. In order to know the tenets of the Church of Rome, you must read the Romish authors themselves. Nay, it does not suffice to read their own private authors. They will disown anything we charge them with, unless we can prove it by recurring to their public and authentic records. Such are the “Canones et Decreta Concilii Tridentini.” Such the “Catechismus ad Parochos.” Till you have read these at least, you should never undertake to determine what is, or what is not, Popery. 49. “But as I am now on the subject of Popery, I must make a few animadversions on what Mr. Wesley affirms, ‘I always thought the tenets of the Church of Rome were nearer by half to Mr. Hill's tenets, than to Mr. Wesley’s.” (Page 33.) Nay, give the honour of this to its true author: Mr.