of human corruption upon an ample scale-let the murders and robberies of the western hemisphere, with all their aggravating circumstances, be contemplated-let the vallies of Piedmont teeming with the blood of human victims for their religion, be consulted-Ask the inquisitorial rack, and the holy flames that consumed the flesh of heretics in the the dark ages of popery, what they have to say in favour of human nature-Consult the penal codes of reformed states, and see if you can read there the character of man in power-try if you can discover in these records, whether salvation or destruction are most suitable to his nature-Look at all reformed societies in the beginning-you see them zealous for their principles-magnanimous in danger-patient under suffering-bold in reproving the vices of the age-loud in their complaints of public and private injury-but when the fervor of reformation subsides, human nature appears again in her own proper character-ye Presbyterians of New England witness this truth-ye flew across the Atlantic in pursuit of liberty of conscience; but scarce had you tasted of her sweets in the new world, until in violation of her most sacred injunctions, you stained your hands in the blood of strangers, who in the service of the Prince of peace had left their native country to visit you, and were therefore entitled to your protectionOn the other hand, when both you and the people you persecuted had forgotten your first love, and that Wesley and Whitefield were called to repair the waste places of the protestant churches; how were they opposed and persecuted by many of the

clergy, the gentry, and the mob-Providence it is true raised up friends for them amongst all these classes; but by far the greater part of each, were betrayed by their passions into the greatest excesses against those valuable characters, and would not have permitted them to live, if their power was equal to their malice-But have the Methodists themselves, who by the many excellent principles of their constitution, have contributed to its preservation and enlargement, more than any modern church-have even this useful people wholly escaped the channels of conduct subject to this censure? I fear not— Oh Wesley, if thou wert living at the time, wouldst thou have given thy sanction to the exclusion of seven young men (in one city) from thy church, for eating bread and wine together, in imitation of their Saviour's last supper? Wouldst thou have collected them together as a flock of sheep, and driven them from thy fold, for eating unconsecrated bread? (of whose character it is reported to the honor of him who enlightened thee, that a Roman Catholic woman who had joined thy society, was permitted to enjoy the Eucharist in her own church, without forfeiting the privileges of thine :) Wouldst thou have cut off from the communion of thy church, a man* who travelled for the same purpose for which

Lorenzo Dow, originally a Methodist preacher, in the United States of America-a young man of eccentric character, but of undisputed zeal and integrity-his piety was rendered more conspicuous, by the meekness with which he endured opposition-He waded through a sea of afflictions, but (at the period I knew him) nothing could quench his thirst for the salvation of souls-He travelled through several parts of the Irish

thou thyself didst travel, (the propagation of the gospel) and whose moral character was equal to thine own?—I am inclined to think, that thy word and thy example, would have corresponded with thy doctrine on that subject"Forbid him not"-If he thought it his duty to break through the limits assigned him by the government of the Methodist church, and to publish the glad tidings of the gospel in countries remote from his own, these liberties were also taken by thee, with regard to the church in which thou wert born-but at this side of the reign of universal righteousness, imperfection will attend both religious and irreligious counsels; for counsels are composed of men, and men are frail and imperfect beings; but this is the point I wished to prove, and I think it is proved abundantly, both by the individual and universal history of mankind.*

nation on foot, and covered with sores, abstaining from animal food, and spirituous and fermented liquors, although in a state of great bodily weakness-but it appeared to be his meat and drink, to do the will of Him who sent Him-Although his talents as a preacher, were rather below mediocrity, yet his labors were crowned with considerable success—— -He did not attempt to form any new sect; but labored to enlarge and edify the body, whose religious government had rejected him, and in many instances, exerted its influence to prevent his success-but he believed Methodism was the work of God, and hence no opposition could make him desert its interests-I am informed he has now a property in the United States, which renders him independent of the contributions of his friends, but this circumstance has not produced a cessation of his labors; as it appears from one or two letters of his, to a correspondent in Ireland, that he still continues laboriously engaged in promoting the knowledge and practice of the gospel in his native clime.

The following note which I have met with in Taylor's Millenium, page 81, appears to me applicable to the present subject" I deem it my duty to bear my testimony against persecution in every form and degree; hence I think it my duty

to bear witness, not only against the church of Rome, but against all denominations of Protestants, who have unhappily trod in the steps of the mother of harlots. For the clearer our light is, the more inexcusable we are. When I have disputed with sensible Roman Catholics, and among other reasons I have objected that of persecution; they have readily and smartly retorted upon me the conduct of such as were called Protestants, and whose conduct in that respect, was a very great stain to the reformation-Let every one who professes himself to be a Protestant, remember this, whether he stiles himself a churchman or dissenter, whether his creed be Arminian or Calvinian; yea, let every one who is called a Methodist, attend unto this, whether he is a stickler for the church or any thing else Let him know that the same spirit which would drive away such as may happen to differ from him in form or sentiment only, would drive him out of the world, if it were in his power; and I must confess I should be extremely sorry, that either my life, my liberty, or my property, were at the mercy of such; I am convinced that neither one nor the other, would be long in my own power"This sensible writer having been a Methodist himself, renders his observations the more remarkable.

I

THE WORLD AN HOSPITAL.

Men universally are moral invalids-and the world which they inhabit a large and beautiful hospital-decorated with fruits and flowers-covered with an azure canopywith the sun, moon, and stars, to enlighten it-There is a Physician who walks through this hospital to administer medicine to the patients, some of whom are very obstinate, and will submit to no course of cure which he prescribes; but as his universal practice, is to attend them for a season, and during this period, to try every method to reduce them to reason; you will frequently see patients of this inveterate habit covered with stripes. which the Physician's zeal for their happiness has obliged

him to inflict It is melancholy to tell, that some of these to the last, persevered in rejecting the remedies which he had provided, cursed him in the bitterness of their hearts, for the stripes which he inflicted to reduce their wills, and died in a state of utter enmity to the purest benevolence.

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A second class of patients in this immense hospital, come next under consideration-they also were extremely pertinacious-fond of their disorders, and averse to health-The Physician had with them a vast deal of trouble, before he could prevail on them even to take a of his mixing in their hand; some of them would just taste the contents, then push the cup from them, and decline their heads with every emotion of horrorWith these, the Physician, as I said before, had a vast deal of trouble-but by many tender instances of condescension, and many well timed chastisements; he at length effected the reduction of them all-some having withstood him five years, some ten, and some twenty-These are all now in a course of cure, and acknowledge themselves the willing patients of the best of Physicians-On this account, and on account of the visible marks of old sores upon them, which have been healed, and of several infirmities which are still permitted to bow them down, as instruments to remind them of their long resistance, and to keep them humble; they are frequently reproached by persons of the first class, who are still in a state of probation-These will point deridingly at their old sores; will collect together in groupes, to laugh, mock, and jeer them-will remark their balt-their bent figure, or the languor of their