Treatise Second Letter On Enthusiasm Of Methodists And Papists
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-second-letter-on-enthusiasm-of-methodists-and-papists-003 |
| Words | 395 |
Above all, how will his bringing the
lewd heathem poets to expose the pure and spiritual love of
God, naturally cause them to look with the same eyes on the
most elevated passages of the inspired writings? What can be
more diverting to them than to apply his yAvicvrukpov eporos,
“bitter-sweet of love,” to many expressions in the Canticles? (On which, undoubtedly, he supposes the Fair Circassian to
be a very just paraphrase 1) “Ay,” say they, “the very case:
‘Stay me with apples; for I am sick of love.’”
7. Probably the Comparer will reply, “No, I do not ridicule
the things themselves; repentance, the new birth, the fight of
faith, or the love of God; all which I know are essential to
religion; but only the folly and the enthusiasm which are
blended with these by the Methodists.” But how poor a pre
tence is this ! Had this really been the case, how carefully
would he have drawn the line under each of these heads,
between the sober religion of a Christian, and the enthusiasm
of a Methodist! But has he done this? Does he take particular
care to show under each what is true, as well as what is false,
religion ? where the former ends and the latter begins? what
are the proper boundaries of each? Your Lordship knows he
does not so much as endeavour it, or take any pains about it;
but indiscriminately pours the flood out of his unclean mouth,
upon all repentance, faith, love, and holiness. 8. Your Lordship will please to observe that I do not here
touch in the least on the merits of the cause. Be the
Methodists what they may, fools, madmen, enthusiasts, knaves,
impostors, Papists, or anything, yet your Lordship perceives
this does not in any degree affect the point in question: Still
it behoves every Christian, nay, every reasonable Heathen, to
consider the subject he is upon, and to take care not to bring
this into contempt, (especially if it be of the last importance,)
however inexcusable or contemptible his opponents may be. 9. This consideration, my Lord, dwelt much upon my mind
when I read the former parts of the Comparison. Iimmediately
saw there was no encountering a buffoon by serious reason and
argument. This would naturally have furnished both him and
his admirers with fresh matter of ridicule.