Wesley Corpus

We dreamed of nothing twenty-five years ago, but instructing our pupils in religion and learning, and a few prisoners in the common principles of Christianity. You go on: “They were ambitious of being accounted Missionaries, immediately de legated by Heaven to correct the errors of Bishops and Arch bishops, and reform their abuses; to instruct the Clergy in the true nature of Christianity, and to caution the laity not to venture their souls in any such unhallowed hands as refused to be initiated in all the mysteries of Methodism.” (Pages 20, 21.) Well asserted indeed; but where is the proof of any one of these propositions? I must insist upon this; clear, cogent proof: Else they must be set down for so many glaring falsehoods. 4. “The Church of Rome (to which on so many accounts they were much obliged, and as gratefully returned the obliga tion) taught them to set up for infallible interpreters of Scrip ture.” (Page 54.) Pray on what accounts are we “obliged to the Church of Rome?” And how have we “returned the obligation?” I beg you would please, (1.) To explain this; and, (2.) To prove that we ever yet (whoever taught us) “set up for infallible interpreters of Scripture.” So far from it, that we have over and over declared, in print as well as in public preaching, “We are no more to expect any living man to be infallible than to be omniscient.” (Vol. VI. p. 4.) 5. “As to other extraordinary gifts, influences, and operations of the Holy Ghost, no man who has but once dipped into their Journals, and other ostentatious trash of the same kind, can doubt their looking upon themselves as not coming one whit behind the greatest of the Apostles.” (Methodism Examined, p. 21.) I acquit you, Sir, of ever having “once dipped into that ostentatious trash.” I do not accuse you of having read so much as the titles of my Journals. I say, my Journals; for (as little as you seem to know it) my brother has published none. I therefore look upon this as simple ignorance. You talk thus, because you know no better. You do not know, that in these very Journals I utterly disclaim the “extraordinarygifts of the Spirit,” and all other “influences and operations of the Holy Ghost” than those that are common to all real Christians. THE REV. MIR. DoWNES.