Wesley Corpus

In every time and place, God accepts him who “lifts up holy hands, without wrath or doubting.” The charge of super stition, therefore, returns upon yourself; for what gross superstition is this, to lay so much stress on an indifferent circumstance, and so little on faith and the love of God! But to proceed: “We confess singing of psalms to be a part of God's worship, and very sweet and refreshful when it proceeds from a true sense of God’s love; but as for formal singing, it has no foundation in Scripture.” In this there is no difference between Quakerism and Christianity. But let it be observed here, that the Quakers in general cannot be excused, if this is true. For if they “confess singing of psalms to be a part of God’s worship,” how dare they either condemn or neglect it? “Silence is a principal part of God’s worship; that is, men's sitting silent together, ceasing from all outwards, from their own words and actings, in the natural will and comprehen sion, and feeling after the inward seed of life.” In this there is a manifest difference between Quakerism and Christianity. This is will-worship, if there be any such thing under heaven. For there is neither command nor example for it in Scripture. Robert Barclay indeed refers to abundance of scriptures to prove it is a command. But as he did not see good to set them down at length, I will take the trouble to transcribe a few of them: “Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.” (Psalm xxvii. 14.) “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently; fret not thyself at him who prosper eth in his way.” “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” (Psalm xxxvii. 7, 34.) “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.” (Prov. xx. 22.) By these one may judge of the rest. But how amazing is this ! What are all these to the point in question? For examples of silent meetings he refers to the five texts following:-- “They were all with one accord in one place.” (Acts ii.