Wesley Corpus

42. You add, “How the case stands, in fact, as to the num ber of converts among the Methodists, and real reformation of life to the certain and known duties of the gospel, is matter of difficult determination.” Not at all. What is easier to be deter mined, than, (1.) That A. B. of Exeter, or Tiverton, was for many years a notorious drunkard, common-swearer, or Sab bath-breaker? (2.) That he is not so now; that he is really reformed from drunkenness, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, to sobriety and the other certain and known duties of the gospel? “But from what inquiry” you “can make, there is no reason to think them, for the generality, better than their neighbours.” Better than their neighbours ? Why, are they no worse than their neighbours? Then, what have you been doing all this time? But whether they are better or worse than their neigh bours, they are undeniably better than themselves: I mean, better than they were before they heard this preaching “in the certain and known duties of the gospel.” But you desire us to “consider their black art of calumny; their uncharitableness; their excessive pride and vanity; their scepticism, doubts, and disbelief of God and Christ; their disorderly practices, and contempt of authority; their bitter envying and inveterate broils among themselves; their coolness for good works.” Sir, we will consider all these, when you have proved them. Till then this is mere brutum fulmen.* 43. You proceed: “If we take Mr. Wesley’s own account, it falls very short of any considerable reformation.” You mean, if we take that part of his account which you are pleased to transcribe. Atticam elegantiam 1 + But let any impartial man read my whole aceount, and then judge. However, hence you infer that “the new reformers have made but a slow and slight progress in the reformation of manners.” As a full answer to this I need only transcribe a page or two from the last “Appeal,” pp. 237, 238, &c. : “God begins a glorious work in our land. You set your self against it with your might; to prevent its beginning where it does not yet appear, and to destroy it wherever it does. In part you prevail. You keep many from hearing the word that is able to save their souls.