Wesley Corpus

But “the honour.” I gain, you think, is even “greater than the profit.” Alas, Sir, I have not generosity enough to relish it. I was always of Juvenal's mind,-- Gloria quantalibet, quid erit, si gloria tantum est ** And especially, while there are so many drawbacks, so many dead flies in the pot of ointment. Sheer honour might taste tolerably well. But there is gall with the honey, and less of the honey than the gall. Pray, Sir, what think you? Have I more honour or dishonour? Do more people praise or blame me? How is it in Cork? may, to go no farther, among your own little circle of acquaintance? Where you hear one commend, do not ten cry out, “Away with such a fellow from the earth ?” Above all, I do not love honour with dry blows. I do not find it will cure broken bones. But perhaps you may think I glory in these. O how should I have gloried, then, if your good * What is glory, without profit too? friends at Dant's Bridge had burnt my person, instead of my effigy | We are here to set religion out of the question. You do not suppose I have anything to do with that. Why, if so, I should rather leave you the honour, and myself sleep in a whole skin. On that supposition I quite agree with the epi grammatist : Virgilii in tumulo, divini premia valis, Erplicat en viridem laurea laeta comam. Qnid te defunctum juvat haec * Felicior olim Sub patulae faqi tegmine vivus eras." 20. Your last charge is, that “I profess myself to be a member of the established Church, and yet act contrary to the commands of my spiritual governors, and stab the Church to the very vitals.” (Page 27.) I answer, (1.) What “spi ritual governor ” has commanded me not to preach in any part of His Majesty’s dominions? I know not one, to this very day, either in England or Ireland. (2) What is it, to “stab the Church to the very vitals?” Why, to deny her fundamental doctrines. And do I, or you, do this?