Wesley Corpus

But suppose they were all true, what would follow? Many hearers abusing the doctrines I teach, no more prove that those doctrines are false, than the German Ranters proved that Luther's were so. 28. Is it another argument, that “the monstrous doctrine of perfection turns some of its deluded votaries into monsters? This may be proved from the cases of Bell and Harris; the former of whom prophesied that the world would be at an end the last of February; the latter was seized with raving madness, and died blaspheming in a most dreadful manner.” (Page 44.) It would be strange if George Bell were not brought upon the stage, as he has been an hundred times over. As for * This quotation from Juvenal is thus rendered by Mr. Madan : “The censure of a severe laugh is easy to any one.”-ED1 r. poor Benjamin Harris, I believe, as a punishment for his pride and uncharitableness, God permitted him to be struck in an instant with diabolical madness. But it did not con tinue to his death; he did not die blaspheming. I saw him myself quiet and composed; and be calmly delivered up his soul to God. See another instance: “A friend of mine lately informed me that an eminent Preacher of perfection told him, that he had not sinned for some years, and that the Holy Ghost had descended and sat on him and many others in a visible manner, as he did upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost.” Please to name the man; otherwise an hundred such tales will weigh nothing with men of sense and candour. Behold a Fourth: “Last year I myself conversed with a gentlewoman of such high perfection, that she said, no man could teach her anything, and went to no place of worship for years together: However, she was a scold, and beat her maid.” Perhaps so. And what is that to me? If she is a member of our society, tell me her name; and she will be in it no longer. This is our glorying. It must be, that many members of our society will, from time to time, grow weary of well-doing; yea, that some will fall into sin. But as soon as this appears, they have no more place among us. We regard no man’s person, high or low, rich or poor.