Wesley Corpus

If then you have no more than this to advance in support of your first charge, you have alleged what you are not able to prove. And the more heavy that allegation is, the more unkind, the more unjust, the more unchristian, the more inhuman, it is to bring it without proof. In support of the Second charge, you say, “Our Saviour declares our works to be the object of hisjudgment. But the Methodist, for the perdition of the souls of his followers, says our works are of no consideration at all.” Who says so? Mr. Whitefield, or my brother, or I? We say the direct contrary. But one of my “anonymous corre spondents says so.” Who is he? How do you know he is a Methodist? For aught appears, he may be another of your allies, a brother to Roger Balls. Three or threescore anonymous correspondents cannot yield one grain of proof, any more than an hundred anonymous remarkers on Theron and Aspasio. Before these can prove what the Methodists hold, you must prove that these are Methodists; either that they are original Methodists, or in connexion with them. Will you say, “If these were not Methodists themselves, they would not defend the Methodists?” I deny the consequence: Men may be far from being Methodists, and yet willing to do the Methodists justice. I have known a Clergyman of note say to another, who had just been preaching a very warm sermon, “Sir, I do not thank you at all for this. I have no acquaint ance with Mr. Whitefield or Mr. Wesley; and I do not agree with them in opinion; but I will have no more railing in my pulpit.” From the principles of the Methodists, you proceed to their practice: “They hunt,” say you, “for extraordinary marks and revelations, whereby to know the state of the soul.” The marks by which I know the state of any soul, are the inward fruit of the Spirit,-love, joy, peace, and meekness, gentleness, good ness, longsuffering, temperance, patience; shown, not by words only, but by the genuine fruit of outward holiness. Again : “They magnify their office beyond the truth, by high pretences to miraculous inspiration.” To this assertion, we have answered over and over, We pretend to no other inspi ration than that which, not only every true gospel Minister, but every real Christian, enjoys.