Wesley Corpus

Paul was not ignorant of his character, still he calls him, “Most Noble Festus,” giving him the title of his office; which, indeed, was neither more nor less than saying, “Governor Festus,” or, “King Agrippa.” It is therefore mere superstition to scruple this. And it is, if possible, greater superstition still to scruple saying, you, vous, or ihr, whether to one or more persons, as is the common way of speaking in any country. It is this which fixes the lan guage of every nation. It is this which makes me say you in England, vous in France, and ihr in Germany, rather than thou, tu, or du, rather than av, as, or n N ; which, if we speak strictly, is the only scriptural language; not thou, or thee, any more than you. But the placing religion in such things as these is such egregious trifling, as naturally tends to make all religion stink in the nostrils of Infidels and Heathens. And yet this, by a far greater abuse of words than that you would reform, you call the plain language. O my friend he uses the plain language who speaks the truth from his heart; not he who says thee or thou, and in the meantime will dissemble or flatter, like the rest of the world. “It is not lawful for Christians to kneel, or bow the body, or uncover the head, to any man.” If this is not lawful, then some law of God forbids it. Can you show me that law? If you cannot, then the scrupling this is another plain instance of superstition, not Christianity. “It is not lawful for a Christian to use superfluities in apparel; as neither to use such games, sports, and plays, under the notion of recreations, as are not consistent with gravity and godly fear.” As to both these propositions, there is no difference between Quakerism and Christianity. Only observe, touching the former, that the sin of superfluous apparel lies chiefly in the superfluous expense. To make it therefore a point of conscience to differ from others, as to the shape or colour of your apparel, is mere superstition; let the difference lie in the price, that you may have the more wherewith to clothe them that have none.