Wesley Corpus

My purpose is, by setting down their names, to make others afraid so to offend. Yet I say still, God forbid that I should rail, either at a Turk, infidel, or heretic. But I will bring to light the actions of such Chris tians, to be a warning to others. And all this I judge to be perfectly consistent with “the spirit of meekness.” (Page 196.) 4. “The Fourth mark is, ‘full of mercy and good fruits.” Let us inquire into the “mercy and good fruits’ of Mr. W.” (Page 198.) (1.) And, First: “He has no mercy on his opposers. They pass with him under no other title, than that of the devil’s ser vants, and the devil’s children.” (Ibid.) This is far from true. Many have opposed and do oppose me still, whom I believe to be children and servants of God. “We have seen him dis patching the principal of these children of the devil, without mercy, to their father.” (Page 199.) No, not one. This has been affirmed over and over, but never proved yet. I fling about no exterminating judgments of God; I call down no fire from heaven. “But it would be for the credit of these new saints, to distinguish between rage and zeal.” That is easily done. Rage is furious fire from hell; zeal is loving fire from heaven. (2.) “If what has been said above does not suffice, turn again to Mr. W.’s Journals: ‘Mr. S., while he was speak ing to the society against my brother and me, was struck raving mad.’” (Page 200.) He was so, before a hundred witnesses; BISHOP OF GLoUCESTER, 185 though I was the last to believe it. “But, it seems, God is at length entreated for him, and has restored him to a sound mind.” And is my relating this fact an instance of “dooming men to perdition?” (3.) “John Haydon cried aloud, ‘Let the world see the just judgment of God.” (Page 201.) He did. But let John Haydon look to that. It was he said so, not I. (4.) “I was informed of an awful providence. A poor wretch, who was here the last week, cursing and blaspheming, and labour ing with all his might to hinder the word of God, had after wards boasted, he would come again on Sunday, and no man should stop his mouth then.