Wesley Corpus

Did you ever read so much as the three first Homilies? I beg of you, Sir, to read these at least, before you write again about the doctrine of the Church of England. And would it not be prudent to read a few of the writings of the Methodists before you undertake a farther confutation of them? At present you know not the men, or their communication. You are as wholly unacquainted both with them and their doctrines, as if you had lived all your days in the islands of Japan, or the deserts of Arabia. You have given a furious assault to you know not whom ; and you have done it, you know not why. You have not hurt me thereby; but you have hurt yourself, perhaps in your cha racter, certainly in your conscience. For this is not doing to others “as you would they should do unto you.” When you grow cool, I trust you will see this clearly; and will no more accuse, in a manner so remote from fairness and candour, Reverend Sir, Your servant for Christ’s sake, To FonMoN CASTLE, August 24, 1758. IN the preface to your Sermon, lately printed, you men tion your having received my former letter, and add, that “if the proofs you have now brought do not satisfy me as to the validity of your former assertions; if I am not yet convinced that such positions are held by people who pass under the denomination of Methodists, and will signify this by a private letter, I shall have a more particular answer.” I desire to live peaceably with all men; and should therefore wish for no more than a private answer to a private letter, did the affair lie be tween you and me. But this is not the case: You have already appealed to the Archbishop, the University, the nation. Before these judges you have advanced a charge of the highest kind, not only against me, but a whole body of people. Before these, therefore, I must either confess the charge, or give in my answer. But you say, “I charge blasphemy, impiety, &c., upon the profession of Methodism in general.