Wesley Corpus

To themselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers; ” how to “feed the flock of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood l’’ To this end they are all assembled together. And what is the substance of all his instructions?--“Reverend brethren, I charge you all, lift up your voice like a trumpet; and warn and arm and fortify all mankind against a people called Methodists 1” True it is, your Lordship gives them several advices; but all in order to this end. You direct them to “inculcate the excellency of our Liturgy, as a wise, grave, and serious service; ” to “show their people, that a diligent attendance on their business is a serving of God; ” “punctually to per form both the public offices of the Church, and all other pastoral duties; ” and to “engage the esteem of their parishioners by a constant regularity of life.” But all these your Lordship recommends eo nomine, as means to that great end, the arming and fortifying their people against the Moravians or Methodists, and their doctrines. Is it possible ! Could your Lordship discern no other enemies of the gospel of Christ? Are there no other heretics or schismatics on earth, or even within the four seas? Are there no Papists, no Deists in the land? Or are their errors of less importance? Or are their numbers in England less considerable, or less likely to increase? Does it appear, then, that they have lost their zeal for making proselytes? Or are all the people so guarded against them already, that their labour is in vain? Can your Lordship answer these few plain questions, to the satisfaction of your own conscience? Have the Methodists (so called) already monopolized all the sins, as well as errors, in the nation? Is Methodism the only sin, or the only fatal or spreading sin, to be found within the Bills of Mortality? Have two thousand (or more) “ambassadors of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” no other business than to guard, warn, arm, and fortify their people against this O my Lord, if this engrosses their time and strength, (as it must, if they follow your Lordship's instructions,) they will not give an account with joy, either of themselves or of their flock, in that day ! 18.