Wesley Corpus

that my brother, who was thought a Student of Christ Church in Oxford, was really a Jesuit? and that while I passed for a Fellow of Lincoln College, I was in fact a Domini can Friar? Even to hint at such absurdities as these is an insult on common sense. 19. We have now done with the argumentative part of your Sermons, and come to the exhortation: “Mark them that cause divisions and offences among you; for they serve not the Lord, but their own bellies.” (Page 18.) Who “serve their own bellies?” the Methodists, or ? Alas, how terribly might this be retorted ! “And by fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Deceive them into what? into the knowledge and love of God! the loving their neighbour as themselves ! the walking in justice, mercy, and truth ! the doing to all as they would be done to ! Felices errore suo l? Would to God all the people of Waterford, rich and poor, yea, all the men, women, and children in the three kingdoms, may be thus deceived ! 20. “Do not credit those who tell you that we must judge of our regeneration by sensible impulses, impressions, ardors, and ecstasies.” (Page 19.) Who tells them so? Not I: Not Mr. Bourke: Not any in connexion with me. Sir, you your self either do or ought to know the contrary. Whether there fore these are, or are not, “signs of the Spirit,” (page 20,) see you to it; it is nothing to me; any more than whether the Spirit does or does not “show itself in groanings and sighings, in fits and starts.” I never affirmed it did: And when you represent me as so doing, you are a sinner against God, and me, and your own soul. 21. If you should see good to write anything more about the Methodists, I beg you would first learn who and what they are. Be so kind as at least to read over my “Journals,” and the “Appeals to Men of Reason and Religion.” Then you will no longer “run” thus “uncertainly,” or “fight as one that beateth the air.” But I would rather hope you will not fight at all. For, whom would you fight with ? If you will fight, it must be with your friends; for such we really are.