Wesley Corpus

that they do not spring from the heart? Suppose these were “exalted degrees of strictness,” is your Lordship absolutely assured that we practise them only “to make our way into weak minds and fickle heads?” Where is the proof that these “pretences to greater sanctity,” (as your Lordship is pleased to phrase them,) are mere pretences, and have nothing of reality or sincerity in them? My Lord, this is an accusation of the highest nature. If we are guilty, we are not so much as moral Heathens. We are monsters, not only unworthy of the Christian name, but unfit for human society. It tears up all pretences to the love of God and man; to justice, mercy, or truth. But how is it proved? Or does your Lordship read the heart, and so pass sentence with out any proof at all? O my Lord, ought an accusation of the lowest kind to be thus received, even against the lowest of the people? How much less can this be reconciled with the apos tolical advice to the Bishop of Ephesus: “Against a Presbyter receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses;” and those face to face. When it is thus proved, “them that sin, rebuke before all.” Your Lordship doubtless remembers * I continued this about two years. the words that follow : (How worthy to be written in your heart!) “I charge thee, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” (1 Timothy v. 19-21.) IV. 16. “They mislead the people into an opinion of the high merit of punctual attendances on their performances, to the neglect of the business of their stations.” (Ibid. p. 26.) My Lord, this is not so. You yourself, in this very Charge, have cleared us from one part of this accusation. You have borne us witness, (ibid. p.