Wesley Corpus

“Lastly: Where is the spawn of Moravianism working so strongly as in the children of Methodism?” If you mean the errors of Moravianism, they are not working at all in the generality of the children of Methodism; the Methodists in general being thoroughly apprized of, and fully guarded against, them. So much for your modest assertion, that the Methodists in general are “all together by the ears; ” the very reverse of which is true. They are in general in perfect peace. They enjoy in themselves “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” They are at peace with each other; and, as much as lieth in them, they live peaceably with all men. 37. Your next charge is, that “Methodism has a tendency to undermine morality and good works.” (Section xx. p. 146, &c.) To prove this you assert, (1.) “That the Methodists are trained up to wait in quietness for sudden conversion; whence they are naturally led to neglect the means of salva tion.” This is a mistake all over. For neither are they taught to wait in quietness (if you mean any more than patience by that term) for either sudden or gradual conver sion; neither do they, in fact, neglect the means. So far from it, that they are eminently exact in the use of them. You assert, (2) “The doctrine of assurance of pardon and salvation, present and future, causes a false security, to the neglect of future endeavours.” Blunder upon blunder again. That all Christians have an assurance of future sal vation, is no Methodist doctrine; and an assurance of pre sent pardon is so far from causing negligence, that it is of all others the strongest motive to vigorous endeavours after universal holiness. You assert, (3.) “Impulses and impressions being made the rule of duty, will lead into dangerous errors.” Very true: But the Methodists do not make impulses and impres sions the rule of duty. They totally disclaim any other rule of duty than the written word. You assert, (4.) “A claim of unsinning perfection” (I mean by perfection, the loving God with all our heart) “drives some into frenzies, others into despair.” Sir, I doubt the fact. You assert, (5) “The Moravian Methodists trample down morality, and multitudes of the Wesleyans have been in fected.” The Moravian Methodists 1 You may as well say, the Presbyterian Papists.