Wesley Corpus

(2.) When Mr. C., and two other Predestinarians, (these were the persons) affirmed they had heard both my brother and me preach Popery, they meant neither more nor less thereby than the doctrine of universal redemption. “Some connexion between the doctrines of Methodists and Papists hath been shown through this whole Comparison.” Shown / But how? By the same art of wire-drawing and deciphering, which would prove an equal connexion between the Methodists and Mahometans. “Jesuits have often mingled, and been the ringleaders, among our enthusiastic sectaries.” Sir, I am greatly obliged to you for your compliment, as well as for your parallel of Mr. Faithful Commim. And pray, Sir, at what time do you think it was that I first mingled with those enthusiastic sectaries? when I came back from Germany, or when I returned from Georgia, or while I was at Lincoln College? Although the plot itself might be laid before, when I was at Christ Church, or at the Charterhouse school. But “a Jesuit’s or enthusiast's declaring against Popery is no test of their sincerity.” Most sure; nor is a nameless per son’s declaring against Methodism any proof that he is not a Jesuit. I remember well, when a well-dressed man, taking his stand not far from Moorfields, had gathered a large company, and was vehemently asserting, that “those rogues, the Method ists, were all Papists;” till a gentleman coming by, fixed his eye on him, and cried, “Stop that man! I know him person ally; he is a Romish Priest.” I know not that anything remains on this head which bears so much as the face of an argument. So that, of all the charges you have brought, (and truly you have not been sparing) there is not one wherein your proof falls more miserably short than in this, that “the Methodists are advancing Popery.” 49. I have at length gone through your whole performance, weighed whatever you cite from my writings, and shown at large how far those passages are from proving all, or any part, of your charge.