Wesley Corpus

p. 330.) “Some of our brethren asserted, (1.) That till they had true faith, they ought to be still ; that is, (as they explained them selves,) to abstain from the means of grace, as they are called, the Lord’s supper in particular. (2.) That the ordinances are not means of grace, there being no other means than Christ.” (Ibid. p. 247.) “I could not agree, either that none has any faith, so long as he is liable to any doubt or fear; or that, till we have it, we ought to abstain from the ordinances of God.” (Ibid.) “Mr. Br--d speaks so slightingly of the means of grace, that many are much grieved to hear him; but others are greatly delighted with him. Ten or fourteen of them meet at our brother Clarke's, with Mr. Molther, and make a mere jest of going to the church or to the sacrament.” (Ibid. p. 255.) “You, Mr. Molther, believe it is impossible for a man to use these means, without trusting in them.” (Ibid. p. 258.) “‘Believers,’ said Mr. Simpson, “are not subject to ordi nances, and unbelievers have nothing to do with them.” (Ibid. p.269.) “‘Believers need not, and unbelievers may not, use them. These do not sin when they abstain from them; but those do sin when they do not abstain.’” (Ibid. p. 277.) “‘For one who is not born of God to read the Scriptures, or to pray, or to communicate, or to do any dutward work, is deadly poison. If he does any of these things, he destroys himself. Mr. Bell earnestly defended this.” (Ibid. p. 281.) “At eight, the society at Nottingham met: I could not but observe that not one who came in used any prayer at all. I looked for one of our Hymn-books; but both that and the Bible were vanished away, and in the room thereof lay the Moravian Hymns and the Count's Sermons.” (Ibid. p. 314.) “One of our English brethren, joined with you, said in his public expounding, ‘As many go to hell by praying as by thieving. Another, ‘I knew one who, leaning over the back of a chair, received a great gift. But he must kneel down to give God thanks: So he lost it immediately; and I know not whether he will ever have it again. And yet another: “You have lost your first joy.