Wesley Corpus

Well, now for the buskins ! Now, spirat tragicum satis '+ “And this is the doctrine which is preached to more than thirty thousand souls, of which Mr. W. has the charge. Then I am sure it is high time, that not only the Calvinist Ministers, but all that wish well to the interest of Protestantism,” (so Mr. S. said before,) “should, in a body, protest against such licentious tenets.” “Blow ye the trumpet in Sion l’” Gird on your armour ! Make ye your selves ready for battle ! Again the trumpet sounds:--A * The only-begotten Son of God.-ED 1 T. + This quotation from Horace is thus translated by Francis : “It breathes the spirit of the tragic scene.”--ED1T. crusadel An holy war! Down with the heretics! But hold ! What spirit are you of ? Are you followers of peace? Then “bring forth your strong reasons; speak the truth in love,” and we are ready to meet you. But really all this talk of my licentious doctrine is a mere copy of Mr. H.’s countenance. He knows, and all in England know, (whoever have heard my name,) that it is not too loose, but too strict, doctrine I am constantly accused of. Therefore, all this bluster, about my superseding the law, has not only no truth, but no colour, no plausibility. And when Mr. H. calls so gravely for Dr. Crisp to “sweep away all my Antinomian rubbish,” shall we laugh or weep? Cuivis facilis rigidi censura cachinni.* Rather let us drop a tear on human infirmity. 27. So much for the First grand argument against perfec tion, that it is “generally received in the Church of Rome.” The Second is: “It was generally received among the ranting Anabaptists in Germany.” (Page 49.) What author of note testifies this? I allow no second-hand authority; but desire to know what German historian of credit has recorded it; and in what page of his works. When this is ascertained, then we may observe, it proves just nothing. A Third argument against perfection is, that “it was main tained by many wild Ranters in London.” Wild enough ! although no stress is to be laid on Mr. H.’s informations concerning them; some of which are altogether false, and the rest imperfect enough. But suppose they were all true, what would follow?