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you, in all reason, be accounted (like them) a public enemy of mankind? And indeed such must every one appear, in the eye of unprejudiced reason, who opposes directly or indirectly, the reformation of mankind. By Reformation I mean, the bringing them back (not to this or that system of opinions, or to this or that set of rites and ceremonies, how decent and significant soever; but) to the calm love of God and one another, to a uniform practice of justice, mercy, and truth. With what colour can you lay any claim to humanity, to benevolence, to public spirit, if you can once open your mouth, or stir one finger, against such a reformation as this?

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It is a poor excuse to say, O, but the people are brought into several erroneous opinions." It matters not 'a straw, whether they are or not: (I speak of such opinions as do not touch the foundation) it is scarcely worth while to spend ten words about it. Whether they embrace this religious opinion or that, is no more concern to me, than whether they embrace this or that system of astronomy. Are they brought to holy tempers and holy lives? This is mine, and should be your inquiry; since on this, both social and personal happiness depend: happiness, temporal and eternal. Are they brought to the love of God and the love of their neighbour? Pure religion and undefiled is this, how long then will you darken counsel, by words without knowledge? The plain religion now propagated is Love, And can you oppose this, without being an enemy to mankind?

15. No; nor without being an enemy to your King and Country: especially at such a time as this. For however men of no thought may not see or regard it, or hectoring cowards may brave it out, it is evident to every man of calm reflection, that our nation stands on the very brink of destruction. And why are we thus, but because the cry of our wickedness is gone up to heaven, because we have so exceedingly, abundantly beyond measure, corrupted our ways before the Lord. And because, to all our other abominations we have added, the open fighting against God; the not only rejecting, but even denying, yea, blaspheming

his last offers of mercy; the hindering others who were desirous to close therewith: the despitefully using his messengers, and the variously troubling and oppressing those who did accept of his grace, break off their sins, and turn to him with their whole heart.

16. I cannot but believe, it is chiefly on this account, that God hath now" a controversy with our land." And must not any considerate man be inclined to form the same judgment, if he reviews the state of public affairs, for only a few years last past? I will not enter into particulars, But, in general, can you possibly help observing, that whenever there has been any thing like a public attempt, to suppress this new Sect, (for so it was artfully represented,) another and another public trouble arose. This has been repeated so often, that it is surprising any man of sense can avoid taking notice of it. May we turn at length "to him that smiteth us, hear the rod, and him that appointeth it!" May we "humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God," before the great deep swallow us up!

17. Just now, viz. on the 4th of this instant December, the Reverend Mr. Henry Wickham, one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for the West-Riding of Yorkshire, writes an order,

To the Constable of Keighley, commanding him, "to convey the body of Jonathan Reeves, (whose real crime is, the calling sinners to repentance,) to his Majesty's Gaol and Castle of York; suspected (saith the precept) of being a Spy among us, and a dangerous man to the person and government of his Majesty King George."

God avert the omen! I fear this is no presage either of the repentance or deliverance of our poor nation!

18. If we will not turn and repent, if we will harden our hearts, and acknowledge neither his judgments nor mercies; what remains but the fulfilling of that dreadful word, which God spake by the Prophet Ezekiel; "Son of man, when the land sinneth against me, by trespassing grievously; then will I stretch forth my hand upon it, and break the staff of the bread thereof.-Though these three men,

Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, 'Sword, go through the land:'-Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood: -Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness," ch. xiv. ver. 13, 14, 17, 19, 20.

"Yet behold, therein shall be left a remnant, that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters.—And ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem. And ye shall know that I have not done without cause, all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God," ver. 22, 23.

London, Dec. 18, 1745,

AN

ANSWER

TO THE

Rev. Mr. Church's "Remarks on the Rev. Mr. John

Wesley's last Journal :"

IN A LETTER TO THAT GENTLEMAN.

"Let not him that putteth on his harness, boast himself as he that putteth it off," 1 Kings xx. 11.

REVEREND SIR,

1. MY first desire (and prayer to God) is, That I may live peaceably with all men. My next, That if I must dispute at all, it may be with a man of understanding, Thus far, therefore, I rejoice on the present occasion. I rejoice also in that I have confidence of your sincerity, of your real desire, to promote the glory of God, by peace and goodwill among men. I am likewise thankful to God, for your calm manner of writing; (a few paragraphs excepted :) and yet more for this, That such an opponent should, by writing in such a manner, give me an opportunity of explaining myself on those very heads, whereon I wanted an occasion so to do.

2. I do not want indeed (though perhaps you think I do) to widen the breach between us, or to represent the difference of the doctrines we severally teach, as greater than it really is. So far from it, that I earnestly wish, there were

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none at all; or if there must be some, that it may be as small as possible: being fully persuaded, that could we once agree in doctrines, other differences would soon fall to the ground.

3. In order to contribute, as I am able, to this, it will be my endeavour, to acknowledge what I think you have spoken right, and to answer what I cannot think right as yet, with what brevity and clearness I can. I desire to do this, in as inoffensive a manner, as the nature of the thing will bear; and consistently with that brotherly love, which 1 cannot deny you, without wronging my own soul.

4. You sum up your charge thus: "You have now, Sir, my sentiments-It is impossible for you to put an entire stop, to the enormities of the Moravians, while you still, I. Too much commend these men; II. Hold principles in common with them, from which these enormities naturally follow; and, III. Maintain other errors more than theirs, and are guilty of enthusiasm to the highest degree.”*

I. 1. You, first, charge me with too much commending the Moravians. That the case may be fully understood, I will transcribe the passages which you cite from the Journal concerning them, and then give a general answer.

'She told me, Mr. Molther had advised her, till she received faith, to be still, ceasing from outward works.—In the evening, Mr. Bray was also commending the being still :He likewise spoke largely, of the great danger that attended the doing of outward works, and of the folly of people that keep running about to church and sacrament.'+

'Sund. Nov. 4. Our society met, and continued silent till eight.' 'Sund. June 22. I spoke thus: Eight or nine months ago, certain men arose, who affirmed, that there is no such thing as any means of grace;—and that we ought to leave off these works of the law.'s You (Mr. Molther)

* Remarks, p. 73, 74.

+ Vol. II. p. 5.

+ 4th Journal, Vol. II. p. 5.

§ Vol. II. p. 37.

N. B. The Sentences quoted from the REMARKS, are all distinguished with inverted commas.

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