Wesley Corpus

Whitefield charges Mr. Wesley with hold ing universal redemption, and I charge him with holding parti cular redemption. This is the standing charge on either side. And now, Sir, “what are we to think?” Why, that you have not proved one point of this charge against the Methodists. However, you stumble on: “Are these things so? Are they true, or are they not true? If not true, they are grievous calumniators; if true, they are detestable sectarists. Whether true or false, the allegation stands good of their fierce and rancorous quarrels, and mutual heinous accusations.” Sir, has your passion quite extinguished your reason? Have fierceness and rancour left you no understanding? Otherwise, how is it possible you should run on at this senseless, shameless rate? These things are true which Mr. Whitefield and Wes ley object to each other. He holds the decrees; I do not: Yet this does not prove us “detestable sectarists.” And whether these things are true or false, your allegation of our “fierce and rancorous quarrels, and mutual heinous accusations,” cannot stand good, without better proof than you have yet produced. 34. Yet, with the utmost confidence, quasi re bene gesta,” you proceed, “And how stands the matter among their dis ciples? They are all together by the ears, embroiled and broken with unchristian quarrels and confusions.” * As though you had accomplished some mighty affair.-EDIT. How do you prove this? Why thus: “Mr. Wesley's Fourth Journal is mostly taken up in enumerating their wrath, dissensions, and apostasies.” No, Sir, not a tenth part of it; although it gives a full and explicit account of the greatest dissensions which ever were among them. But to come to particulars: You First cite these words, “At Oxford, but a few who had not forsaken them.” My words are, “Monday, October 1, 1738. I rode to Oxford, and found a few who had not yet forsaken the assembling themselves together.” This is your First proof that “the Methodists are all together by the ears.” Your Second is its very twin-brother. “Tuesday, 2. I went to many who once heard the word with joy; but ‘when the sun arose they withered away.’” (Vol. I. p. 227.) Your Third is this: “Many were induced (by the Moravians) to deny the gift of God, and affirm they never had any faith at all.” (Ibid. p.