Wesley Corpus

“And yet, in spite of all the malice and wisdom and strength, not only of men, but of ‘principalities and powers,” of the ‘rulers of the darkness of this world, of the “wicked spirits in high places, there are thousands found, who are “turned from dumb idols to serve the living and true God.” What a harvest then might we have seen before now, if all who say they are ‘on the Lord’s side, had come, as in all reason they ought, ‘to the help of the Lord against the mighty l’ Yea, had they only not opposed the work of God, had they only refrained from his messengers, might not the trumpet of God have been heard long since in every corner of our land? and thousands of sinners in every county been brought to “fear God and honour the King?’” 44. Without any regard to this, your next assertion is, “That the Methodists are carrying on the work of Popery.” (Section xxi. p. 164, &c.) This also being a charge of a very high nature, I shall particularly consider whatever you advance in defence of it. Your First argument is, “They have a strain of Jesuitical, sophistry, artifice, and craft, evasion, reserve, equivocation, and prevarication.” So you say. But you do not so much as aim at any proof. Your Second argument is, “Mr. Wesley says, where a Methodist was receiving the sacrament, God was pleased to let him see a crucified Saviour.” Sir, Mr. W. does not say this. It is one that occasionally wrote to him. But if he had, what would you infer? that he is a Papist? Where is the consequence? Why, you say, “Was not this as good an argument for transubstantiation, as several produced by the Papists?” Yes, exactly as good as either their arguments o: yours; that is, just good for nothing. Your Third argument runs thus: “We may see in Mr. W.’s writings, that he was once a strict Churchman, but gra dually put on a more catholic spirit, tending at length to Roman Catholic. He rejects any design to convert others from any communion; and consequently not from Popery.” This is half true, (which is something uncommon with you,) and only half false.