Wesley Corpus

I myself thus attended them for many years; and yet am conscious to myself, that, during that whole time, I had no more of the love of God than a stone. And I know many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of serious per sons who are ready to testify the same thing.” I subjoined, (1) “We continually exhort all who attend on our preaching, to attend the offices of the Church. And they THE BISHOP OF LoNDON. 489 do pay a more regular attendance there than ever they did before. (2.) Their attending the Church did not, in fact, answer those ends at all till they attended this preaching also. (3.) It is the preaching remission of sins through Jesus Christ which alone answers the true ends of devotion.”- II. 13. “They censure the Clergy,” says your Lordship, “as less zealous than themselves in the several branches of the ministerial function. For this they are undeservedly reproached by these noisy itinerant leaders.” (Charge, pp. 24, 25.) My Lord, I am not conscious to myself of this. I do not willingly compare myself with any man; much less do I re proach my brethren of the Clergy, whether they deserve it or not. But it is needless to add any more on this head than what was said above a year ago:-- “I must explain myself a little on that practice which you so often term “abusing the Clergy.” I have many times great sorrow and heaviness in my heart on account of these my brethren. And this sometimes constrains me to speak to them, in the only way which is now in my power; and sometimes (though rarely) to speak of them; of a few, not all in general. In either case, I take an especial care, (1.) To speak nothing but the truth. (2.) To speak this with all plainness; and, (3.) With love, and in the spirit of meekness. Now, if you will call this abusing, railing, or reviling, you must. But still I dare not refrain from it. I must thus rail, thus abuse sinners of all sorts and degrees, unless I will perish with them.” (Second Letter to Mr. Church, pp. 479, 480.)- III. 14. “They value themselves upon extraordinary strict nesses and severities in life, and such as are beyond what the rules of Christianity require.