Wesley Corpus

E. says of the mischievousness of this, and with great plausibility, (page 27,) depends upon an entire mistake, namely, that the Leader of a class acts just like a Romish Priest; and that the inquiries made in a class are of the same kind with those made in auricular confession. It all therefore falls to the ground at once, when it is observed, * “Advice to the People called Methodists.” that there is no resemblance at all, either between the Leader and the Priest, or between the inquiries made by one and by the other. It is true, that the Leader “sees each person once a week, to inquire how their souls prosper;” and that when they meet, “the Leader or Teacher asks each a few questions relating to the present situation of their minds.” So then, that questions are actually asked, yea, and inquiries made, cannot be denied. But what kind of questions or inquiries? None that expose the answerer to any danger; none that they would scruple to answer before Dr. E., or any other person that fears God. 8. “But you form a Church within a Church, whose mem bers in South Britain profess to belong to the Church of England, and those in North Britain to the Church of Scot land; while yet they are inspected and governed by Teachers who are sent, continued, or removed by Mr. W.” (Page 3.) All this is, in a certain sense, very true. But let us see what all this amounts to. “You form a Church within a Church;” that is, you raise up and join together witnesses of real Christianity, not among Mahometans and Pagans, but within a Church by law established. Certainly so. And that Church, if she knew her own interest, would see she is much obliged to us for so doing. “But the Methodists in South Britain profess to belong to the Church of England.” They profess the truth: For they do belong to it; that is, all who did so before the change was wrought, not in their external mode of worship, but in their tempers and lives. “Nay, but those in Scotland profess to belong to the Church of Scotland.” And they likewise profess the truth: For they do belong to it as they did before. And is there any harm in this? “But they are still inspected by Mr. W.