Wesley Corpus

“I know no ground to hope or pray for such immediate reliefs. These things must be represented either as common accidents or as miracles.” I do not throughly understand your terms. What is a common accident? that a sparrow falls to the ground, or something more inconsiderable than the hairs of your head? Is there no medium between accident and miracle? If there be, what is that medium? When we are agreed with regard to these few points, I shall be glad to resume the subject. 6. The fourth instance of my enthusiasm was this, that I “related judgments inflicted on my opposers.” As to Mr. Molther, I must observe once more, that I do believe there was a particular providence in his sickness. But I do not believe, (nor did I design to insinuate,) that it was a judgment for opposing me. You go on: “Again you mention, “as an awful providence, the case of a poor wretch who was last week cursing and blas pheming, and had boasted to many that he would come again on Sunday, and no man should stop his mouth then. Buton Fri day God laid his hand upon him, and on Sunday he was buried.” (Remarks, p. 66.) I answered, “I look on this as a manifest judgment of God on a hardened sinner, for his complicated wickedness.” (Page 410.) You reply, “Add, if you please, “His labouring with all his might to hinder the word of God.” Here therefore is a confessed judgment for his opposition to Vou.” (Second Letter, p. 133.) There is, for his thus opposing with curses and blasphemy. This was part of his complicated wickedness. Here then you “think I plead guilty.” Not of enthusiasm, till you prove this was not “an awful providence.” “Again: ‘One was just going to beat his wife, (which he frequently did,) when God smote him in a moment, so that his hand dropped, and he fell down upon the ground, having no more strength than a new-born child. Have we any warrant either from Scripture, or the common dispensations of provi dence, to interpret misfortunes of this nature as judgments?” (Remarks, p. 67.) I answered, “Can you, Sir, consider this as one of the common dispensations of providence? Have you known a parallel one in your life?