Wesley Corpus

In the six following numbers I am not concerned. The Eighth contains those words from my Second Journal: “The rest of the day we spent in hearing the wonderful work which God is beginning to work all over the earth.” Of this likewise I have spoken at large to Dr. Church and Bishop Gibson. The sum is, it is a great work when one notorious sinner is thoroughly changed in heart and life. It is wonderfully great, when God works this entire change in a large number of people; particularly when it is done in a very short time: But so he hath wrought in Kingswood, Cornwall, Newcastle. It is therefore a truly wonderful work, which God hath now more than begun to work upon earth. I have now, Sir, briefly answered for myself, which, if required, I will do more at large. But I trust it does already appear, to every impartial reader, that of the many and heavy allegations you have brought with an unparalleled bitterness of spirit, and an acrimony of language almost without precedent, you have not yet proved one. How far you are to be com mended for this, (unless by Messrs. Balls and the Monthly 512 LETTER. To Reviewers,) it is not fit for me to judge. Let all lovers of truth, of humanity, and candour, determine. At present, I have no more to add, than that I beseech the Father of everlasting com passion to show more mercy to you, than you have shown to, Reverend Sir, Your servant for Christ's sake, IN your late paper of June 22, I find (among many to the same effect) these words: “Methodists place all merit in faith, and grace, and none in good works. This unwarrantable strange sect of a religion, founded on madness and folly, hold that there is no justification by good works, but by faith and grace only. They hereby banish that divine part of our constitution, reason, and cut off the most essential recommendation to heaven, virtue. “Men who are far gone in their mad principles of religion, suspend the hand of industry, become inactive, and leave all to Providence, without exercising either their heads or hands.