Wesley Corpus

I could wish till then to be at peace with all men; but the will of the Lord be done ! Peace or war, ease or pain, life or death, is good, so I may but “finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” HoxTon-SQUARE, Nov. 16, 1764. EDINBURGH, May, 1766. I HAVE neither time nor inclination to write a formal answer to the Reverend Dr. Erskine's tract. My hope of convincing him is lost; he has drunk in all the spirit of the book he has published. But I owe it to God and his children to say something for myself, when I am attacked in so violent a manner, if haply some may take knowledge, that I also endeavour to “live honestly, and to serve God.” 1. Dr. Erskine says, “An edition of these Letters has been published in London, from the author's own manuscripts, which puts the authenticity of them beyond doubt.” I answer, This is a mistake; impartial men doubt of their authenticity as much as ever. (I mean, not with regard to the Letters in general, but to many particular passages.) And that for two reasons: First, because those passages breathe an acrimony and bitterness which Mr. Hervey in his life-time never showed to any one, and least of all to one he was deeply obliged to. Surely this is not what Dr. E. terms his “scriptural and animated manner.” I hope it was not for this cause that he pronounces this “equal, if not superior, to any one of his controversial pieces published in his life-time.” Indeed, I know of no controversial piece at all which he published in his life-time. His “Dialogues” he no more intended for such, than his “Meditations among the Tombs.” A Second reason for doubting of their authenticity is, that he told his brother, with his dying voice, (I have it under his brother’s own hand,) “I desire my Letters may not be published; because great part of them is written in a short hand which none but myself can read.” 2. But the present question lies, not between me and Mr. Hervey, but between Dr. E. and me.