Wesley Corpus

He alone ascribes this to the ancient Christians, which you in their name ascribe to God. With the same regard to truth you go on: “In those days the power of working miracles” (you should say, the extraordinary gifts) “was committed to none but those who presided in the Church of Christ.” Ipse dixit for that. But I cannot take your word; especially when the Apostles and Evangelists say otherwise. “But, upon the pretended revival of those powers,”--Sir, we do not pretend the revival of them; seeing we shall believe they never were intermitted, till you can prove the contrary, - “we find the administration of them committed, not to those who had the government of the Church, not to the Bishops, the Martyrs, or the principal champions of the Christian cause, but to boys, to women, and, above all, to private and obscure laymen; not only of an inferior, but sometimes also of a bad, character.” Surely, Sir, you talk in your sleep: You could never talk thus, if you had your eyes open, and your understanding about you. “We find the administration of them committed, not to those who had the government of the Church.” No! I thought Cyprian had had the government of the Church at Carthage, and Dionysius at Alexandria! “Not to the Bishops.” Who were these then that were mentioned last? Bishops, or no Bishops? “Not to the Martyrs.” Well, if Cyprian was neither Bishop nor Martyr, I hope you will allow Justin’s claim. “Not to the principal champions of the Christian cause.” And yet you told us, not three pages since, that “these very Fathers were the chief champions of the Christian cause in those days!”--“But to boys, and to women.” I answer: “This is that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel, It shall come to pass, that I will pour out my Spirit, saith the Lord, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy l’--a circumstance which turns this argument full against you, till you openly avow you do not believe those prophecies.