Wesley Corpus

A Serious Address to the People of England Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 11 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- I would fain lay a few plain considerations before you, before all men of candour and common sense, who are not so totally swallowed up of prejudice as to be incapable of hearing reason. I beg you to weigh the matter calmly; not to be overborne by noisy or wordy men, but to use your own senses, your own eyes and ears, and your own understanding. Do not run away (as many do) with part of a story; but hear the whole, and then judge. Have patience to lay all circumstances together, and then you may form a just judgment. A solemn inquiry was lately made concerning the state of the nation. If such an inquiry were properly made, so that the real state of the nation might be clearly and distinctly shown, it might be attended with excellent consequences. It might enable the legislative power to redress or prevent numerous evils. And it might lead those who conduct public affairs to take the most effectual measures for promoting the solid and lasting welfare of all their fellow-subjects. On the other hand, if such an inquiry were improperly made, and consequently the state of the nation misrepre sented,--if it were represented as far worse than it really is, --exceeding bad consequences might follow. It would naturally tend to disturb, to frighten, to discourage the people. It would tend to depress and sour their spirits, to embitter them against others, and to make them disaffected to His Majesty, and all that act under him. It would make them utterly unthankful to God, for all the blessings that surround them; the ready way to weaken our hands and strengthen the hands of our common enemies. Should not then an inquiry of so important a nature be made with the greatest accuracy? And in order to this, should not the question be stated with all possible exactness? But in a late inquiry, I cannot find that the question was stated at all. The inquirers jumped into the middle of it at once, in defiance of all logic and common sense.