Wesley Corpus

By this means even a Comparer of Methodists and Papists may blaspheme the great work of God, not only without blame, but with applause; at least from readers of his own stamp. But it is high time, Sir, you should leave your skulking-place. Come out, and let us look each other in the face. I have little leisure, and less inclina tion, for controversy. Yet I promise, if you will set your name to your Third Part, I will answer all that shall concern me, in that, as well as the preceding. Till then I remain, Sir, Your friend and well-wisher, February 1, 1749-50. WHEN you come to relate those “horrid and shocking things,” there may be a danger you are not aware of Even you yourself may fall (as little as you intend or suspect it) into seriousness. And I am afraid, if once you put off your fool’s coat, if you stand naked before cool and sober reason, you yourself may appear as inconsiderable a creature, to use your own phrase, “as if your name was Perronet.” To the AUTHOR OF Ecce iterum Crispinus ! *-JUVENAL. MY LoRD, 1. I was grieved when I read the following words in the Third Part of the “Enthusiasm of Methodists and Papists com pared:”--“A sensible, honestwoman told the Bishop of Exeter, in presence of several witnesses, that Mr. John Wesley came to her house, and questioned her, whether she had “an assur ance of her salvation.’ Her answer was, that ‘she hoped she should be saved, but had no absolute assurance of it.” “Why then, replied he, “you are in hell, you are damned already.” This so terrified the poor woman, who was then with child, that she was grievously afraid of miscarrying, and could not, in a long time, recover her right mind. For this, and the Meth odists asking her to live upon free cost, she determined to admit no more of them into her house. So much is her own account to his Lordship, on whose authority it is here published.” 2. This renewed the concern I felt some time since, when I was informed (in letters which I have still by me) of your * Thus translated by Gifford: “Again Crispinus comes!”-EDIT.