Wesley Corpus

Shirley’s. I was sitting quietly in my study, on the other side of St. George's channel, when his trumpet gave the alarm. Yet I say again, I am not now sorry for these disputes, though I was sorry. You say, truly, “Mr. W.’s temper has been manifested” hereby. (Page 56.) Let all candid men judge between us, whether Mr. F. and I, on the one hand, or Mr. Hill on the other, has shown more “meekness and lowliness;” and * % ; ; which of us has expressed the greatest heat, and the most cordial contempt of his opponent. Mr. H. adds: “Hereby Mr. Charles Wesley's Calvinism is exposed by Mr. John.” Then that is exposed which never existed; for he never was a Calvinist yet. And “hereby,” Mr. H. says, “the ‘Christian Library’ is given up as nothing.” Mere finesse ! Every one sees my meaning, but those that will not see it: It is nothing to your purpose; it proves nothing of what it is brought to prove. In the same sense I set the word nothing over against the citations from Mr. Baxter and Goodwin. 8. If Mr. Hill says he always was a Calvinist, I have no right to contradict him. But I am sure he was of a widely different temper from that he has shown in his late writings. I allow much to his belief, that, in exposing me to the utmost of his power, he is doing God service. Yet I must needs say, if I were writing against a Turk or a Pagan, I durst not use him as Mr. Hill does me. And if I really am (which will one day appear) employing all my time, and labour, and talents (such as they are) for this single end, that the kingdom of Christ may be set up on earth; then He whom I serve in the gospel of his Son, will not commend him for his present work. 9. But what makes Mr. Hill so warm against me? I still believe it is for this chiefly,--because I am an Arminian, an election-doubter. For, says he, the “good old Preacher places all election-doubters” (that is, those who are not clear in the belief of absolute predestination) “among the numerous hosts of the Diabolonians.