Wesley Corpus

Do these words imply “an ardent desire of going to hell?” I do not suppose the going to hell ever entered into his thoughts. Nor has it any place in my notion of disinterested love. How you may understand that term, I know not. But you will prove I have this desire, whether I will or no. You are sure this was my “original meaning,” (page 36,) in the words cited by Mr. Church, “Doom, if thou canst, to endless pain, Or drive me from thy face.” “God’s power or justice,” you say, “must be intended; be cause he speaks of God’s love in the very next lines, “But if thy stronger love constrains, Let me be saved by grace.’” Sir, I will tell you a secret. Those lines are not mine. How ever, I will once more venture to defend them, and to aver, that your consequence is good for nothing: “If this love is spoken of in the latter lines, then it is not in the former.” No! Why not? I take it to be spoken of in both. The plain meaning of which is, “If thou art not love, I am content to perish. But if thou art, let me find the effects thereof; let me be saved by grace.” 16. You next accuse me of maintaining a stoical insensi bility. This objection, also, you borrow from Mr. Church. You ought likewise to have taken notice, that I had answered it, and openly disowned that doctrine; I mean, according to the rules of common justice. But that is not your failing. 17. Part of your thirty-ninth page rums thus: “With respect to all this patient enduring hardships, &c., it has been remarked by learned authors, that ‘some persons, by consti tutional temper, have been fond of bearing the worst that could befal them; that others, from a sturdy humour, and the force of education, have made light of the most exquisite tortures; that when enthusiasm comes in, in aid of this natural or acquired sturdiness, and men fancy they are upon God’s work, and entitled to his rewards, they are immediately all on fire for rushing into sufferings and pain.’” I take knowledge of your having faithfully abridged--your own book, shall I say, or the learned Dr. Middleton’s? But what is it you are endeavouring to prove?