THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD
ENDOWMENT FUND
THE
ENTHUSIASM
O F
METHODISTS
AND
PAPISTS
COMPARED.
In THREE PARTS.
VOL. I.
LONDON,
Printed for J. and P. KNAPTON, in Ludg
M DCC LIV.
.or H Ji
ex
K/
ENTHUSIASM
O F
METHODISTS
AND
PAPISTS
COMPARED.
PART. I.
Thefe Preachers and Mendicant! for fome time
rambled uncontrouled, taking upon them to Confeft
and Preach wherever they came, without the Confent
of the Bijkop, utterly deipifing all Canons and Ecck-
liaftical Rules : And profeffing voluntary Poverty ;,
and Contempt of Riches, wandering like Strollers from
Place to Place, under a Pretence of Piety^ they chouicd
the filly People of their Money.
Howel's View of the Pontificate, pag. 406.
PREFACE.
w/^
SEVERAL excellent Treaties have been
already publifhed againft that Enthujiaftic
and Fanatical Spirit now working in a
Set of pretended Reformers among us, called
Mtibodijls : Which, though they have not
been able to fupprefs it, have effectually
fhewn its evil Nature and Tendency, and (as
the Methodijls themfelves confefs) given fome
Check to its Progrefs. Nor need I any Apo-
logy, if I own a fort of Impulfe and Impref-
Jion upon me, and think myfelf obliged to
to" throw in my Mite towards difcovering the
Delujion of this dangerous and prefumptuous Sect,
It is my principal Dejign, as a Caution to
all Proteftants, to draw a Comparifon between
the wild and pernicious Entbujiafins of fome
of the moft eminent Saints in the Popijh
Communion, and thofe of the Metbodifts in our
swn Country. Blfhop Stillingfleet hath clearly
proved, and fufficiently expofed^ the Fanati-
cifm of the Romijb Church, in his incomparable
Difcourfe concerning their Idolatry ; hath fhewn
to what extravagant Heights it has been car-
ried, how peculiarly encouraged by the Popes ;
hath been the Foundation of their feveral Reli-
gious Orders and Societies, and the Engine for in-
troducing their falfe^ ' Jup'erftitious~ t and idola-
trout
PREFACE.
trous Practice?. More of this Nature will ap-
pear in the following Treatise ; together with
plain and full Evidence^ that our modern Itine-
rant Entbufiajls are treading in their Steps,
and copying their Example ; their whole Con-
duct being but a Counter-part of the moft wild
Fanaticifms of the mojl abominable Communion,
in its moft corrupt Ages.
But as the Spirit of Entbujiafm is always the
fame, operating in much the fame Manner in
all Serfs and ProfeJJions of Religion, and difco-
vering itfelf \njimilar Peculiarities of Notions
and Behaviour; I fhall take the Liberty to pro-
duce firft of all a remarkable Inftance of this
in the Seft of the MontaniJJs ; which arofe to-
wards the latter End of the fecond Century ', be-
fore Popery had a Being, or Cbriftianity an
Eftabltfhment. The Hi/lory of Montanifm was
written by the late learned Dr. Lee, of St.
jfokn's College, Oxford j compiled with great
Diligence and Exa&nefs ; and publifhed with
Dr. Hich's Enthufiafm Exorcifed, in the Year
1709: And herein a large Account is given,
from all the Records of Antiquity, of the Rife,
Progrefs, Difperfion, Pretenfions, and Tenets
of that over-bearing Sefi. And I am much
miftaken, if our Methodifts (though not yet
arrived to the fame Height of Madnefs) may
not here Jit for their Pictures, and be traced in
all their Lineaments.
It is indeed a Misfortune that the Writings
of the Montaivjls arelojl, and never came down
to our Hands ; what Accounts and Extracts
PREFACE.
we have of them being collected from the beft
Hijhrians of thofe Times. But it may be
reckoned a happy Circumjlance, that we have
the mo&Jhining Parts of the Lives, Characters,
Sentiments and Actions of the MethodiJIs from
them/elves, and that too by a Sanction from
Heaven. They have, if they may be credited,
been fo prejjed in Spirit, received fuch Divine
Directions to preach and print, and God has
given them fuch Favour in the Eyes of the Prin-
ter, that the Prefs has crammed the Pub-
lic with their Journals, Letters, and other
Works even to a Surfeit. Without thefe
ConfeJJions from their own Mouths we might
have wanted Evidence for a great Part of our
Charge, and been Strangers to many of their
fanftified Singularities, low Fooleries, and high
Pretenftons.
And yet, for want of Leifure, Opportunity
or Inclination, there are feveral of their Works
which I have never feen. Their Journals are
what I have chiefly confulted and referred to ;
and in my Quotations (which I hope are juji
and fair) have not always taken Notice from
what Edition they are taken. Mr. Wejley's
two firjl Journals are of the fcccnd Edition; all
the reft are, I think, of the fir ft. What few
Citations are made from their CdhBion of Let-
ters (which I confefs I have not perufed, or'
feen) are taken from ' Obfervations on the Con-
* dui of the Methodijls -,' and the Jujlnefs of
thofe References were never, that I know or
believe,
PREFACE.
believe, called in Queftion. Thefe Citations
have only, in the Margin, the Word Letters.
It is certainly Matter of juft Concern, when
Men of a good Underftanding, acquired
Learning, and Knowledge of Scripture, em-
barrafs themfelves and others in fuch chimeri-
cal, but pernicious Projects. One at leaft of
the MethodiJI-Preachers muft be allowed to
have thefe Qualifications for doing real Service
to Religion : And, did not Experience convince
us how ftrangely Men are loft to all Reafon,
as to fome Particulars, wherewith the Head
is touched, who yet can difcourfe, and write,
and aft rationally enough in other Refpefts ; -
one would wonder fuch a Perfon fhould quite
life himfelf, when carried away into the extra-
vagant Freaks of Methodifm.
That. fuch Freaks they are, will eafily ap-
pear. And if in proving it I am fometimes
guilty of a Levity of Exprejfion, it is to be hoped
Ibme Allowance will be made in Confideration
of the Nature of the Subjeft ; it being no eafy
Matter to keep one's Countenance, and be
ileadily fericus, where others are ridiculous. As
true Religion however is the mfft ferious Thing
in the World, I cannot but uncerely lament the
Progrefs of Infidelity and Immorality among us ;
I cannot but earnellly defire and pray for an ef-
fe&ual Reformation of Manners, and Propagation
c-fibe Go/pel, by z\\ fiber and Chrijlian Methods ;
but may venture to foretell, without pretending
to the Spirit of Prophecy, that this Great Work
will never be accompliflnd by an Enthufiajlic
end Fanatical Head. THE
THE
ENTHUSIASM
O F
METHODISTS, c .
SECT. I.
An Extraa from the Hiftory of Montanifm
being what I proposed in the fir ft Place to lay
before the Reader, I have taken care to do it
without any Variation, Tamfure without any
material Variation,/** the Author's own
Words j that I may not be accused of forc-
ing a Likenefs, or warping any Circum-
Jlance^ or Expreflion* to the Difadvantaze of
the Methodifts.
ONT4NUS, in his .outward Ap- Page 74,
pearance, had all the Form of Godli-
nefs and Spirituality ; and got the Re- 79.
putation of no mean Sandity, by his Jujlerities
and extraordinary Way of Living. Had a Zeal
for Religion, and would needs fet up for a
mighty Reformer in the Church .- but wanting
Solidity of Judgment, and Coolnefs of Thought,
was driven away by every Impulfe that feL'd
" him ; being tranfported with an immoderate -%
and irregular Zeal, he was po/Tefs'd with a '
" Jlrange Spirit : Many doubting whether it were
P. 77- " a. good Spirit, or a bad one. Hence he fets up
78. Pretenfions to Prophecy and Miracles. Some in-
" deed faw through him, and took him for (what
79. " he afterwards proved to be) zfalfe Prophet,
" and one agitated by a Spirit of Delujlon : and
" thefe oppos'd, and reprov'd him, not haftily,
" but upon fober and mature Deliberation, after
" Trial made of his Spirit, which appear'd very
" much like the Fit of a Frenzy, or dijlemperd
0, Melancholy.
" Others deem'd what the}' faw in Montanus as
the true Effeft of the Holy Gbojl, and were
" hereby lifted up with an extreme Vanity and Con-
" fdence, as if nothing could be greater and higher
ti " than this Difpenfation of Montanus : who, being
" ravifli'd with the Honour of feeing himfelf fo
" efteemed and liftened to, ufed divers Artifices
11 and Stratagems to draw in others, and did fome
84. " fober and fincere Cbrijlians.
" He look'd on the Governors of the Church as
" much degenerated, inverted only with an out-
S8 ward Charafler : he had more of the Spirit
*' than all of them ; and, by virtue of his pre-
" tended extraordinary Miffion, would be exempted
114. " from the Infpeftion of his rightful Supe riors : whofe
" ftanding Rules muft give way to whatever was
*9* " taken for a prophetic Impetus. Montanus, intoxi-
" cated with thefe high Notions, went up and
" down and drew after him feveral religious Melan-
z< '* cholijls. Several of the weaker Sex, excited by
" his high Pretenfions, were feized upon by the
" fame Spirit ; as Prifcitta and Maxitmlla,
g j, ' who no fooner were touch'd by the Power in
f Montanus, but immediately they left their Haf-
I bandi ;
( 3 )
bands ; fancying, that henceforwards they were
to be efpoufed to none but Chriji, eloping from
their Hufbands to follow an infamous Cheat. p.
Hence they fancied themfelves Heavenly Virgins, 94-
efpoufed by Chrijl, who perfonally vifeted them,
converfing with them, as one Friend converfes nvit&
another.
" Thus, led on with a falfe Faith, and pujfd 95.
up beyond, meafure, they fell into fundry
Snares, and eafily miftook the Imaginations of
their own Hearts, or the Suggeftions of the old
Impojlor, for the pure Infpi rations of the Divine
Spirit.
" The fame Spirit fell upon fome of the Men IQZ
alfo,highly efteerrTd, as extraordinarily com-
miifion'd by God to raife up this pretended new I0
Difpenfation : though fome of them were
clearly convinc'd of having been all the while
under the Conduct of a deceiving Spirit, that
had ufurp'd the Name of the Holy Ghoji.
" They divide into Parties, under different Lead-
ers, and continue, under thefe novel and ftrange
Influences, to diflraft unwary Minds. Different
in fundry Points, but all agreeing in Pretences to
Infpiraticn, and an heavenly MtJJion.
" Mont anus begins to fet up his little Affent-
blies : they give forth many good Exhortations
to Holinefs, rigoroufly preffing a Reformation
of Difcipline and Manners ; their Spirit imi-
tates nearly the Properties of the Divine Spirit,
in producing good Works, difcerning the Se-
crets of the Heart, by Infpiration reproving
1 fome prefent for their hidden Faults, with fuch
a Shew of the Life and Spirk of CbriJJianity,
' as made it hard to think all a mere Counterfeit.
B 2 Thefe
Ur
P. 124. tt Thefe new Lights fet up a wrov C/Jmv& :
" fomething doubtful whether they firft feparated
" from the Church, or were forced out. But, with
" a ftrange Air of Confidence, they, or rather thofe
" deluding Spirits which fpoke through them, did
" reproach and vilify the Church, becaufe me
" every where rejected their new Order of Pro-
" phecy.
126. " They are not able to bear with the Deadnefs
" and the Formality of the Catholics, who are only
" the natural or criminal Men ; but themfelves the
1 3 2 - fpiritual : they looked on the Catholics as car-
" nal and outfide Cbrijlians, that had not the true
142. " Tafle of the Spirit : and the Chrijiian Priejlhood
" was undermined by thefe Pretenders to an extra -
" ordinary and unlimited Miffion.
" They were eagerly defirous of Perfecutiotr,
144. " provoking and irritating the Infidels, to draw it
" upon themfelves : but this vain OJientation did
' often in the Hour of Trial moft wretchedly be*
206. " tray itfelf.
146. " By their rigorous Difcipline they brouSht many
" to Defpair : but yet are charg'd by the Catholics
*5 6 ' " with a Morality exceeding loofe and fcandalous,
" painting the Chiefs of this new Order of the In-
" fpird'vfi very black Characters ; which muft de-
" pend on the Fairnefs of the Accounts tranf-
" mitted to us : fuch as making their Markets
" with pretended Revelations and Cwverfations with
" God; fcraping up all they could get under
" the Pretence of Charity, and voluntary Obla-
" tions ; under the Mafk of Godlinefs, defiled
" with Impurities, sV.
5^3. " They diltinguifli'd themfelves by an affefled
" $i*gu!arit\; againft the moil innocent Recreation
' of
( 5 )
" of Mind or Body, againft Games, Sports and
" Plays, Drefs, Furniture, &c.
" But all knew the Pretenfions of the Montanijli, P. 175.
" and that the Foundation of all the Extravagancies
" they run into, was the Pretext of a Divine Spirit
" and Ponuer, extraordinarily, and even <vijlbly, aft-
" ing them. And they took themfelves to be per-
" fefi, having the Perfection or Confummation of
" the Spirit.
" They called themfelves the Inffird, the Pure, aoi.
" the Saints, the Elefl, the dpojtolical : while the
" Orthodox, who could not bear their Prefumption,
" gave them generally other fort of Names, which
" they thought they better deferved.
" Jn the Progrefs of Montanifm they proceeded az4,
" from one Degree to another, never Hopping, or
" knowing where to ftop : Hence, giving them-
" felves cpto the uncertain Dictates andJmpu/fes of
" zf.range Spirit, they were infenfibly led on whi-
" ther they leaft fufpecled : and all manner of
" Extravagancies were committed by them, as if
" they had an exprefs Command for fo doing from
li Heaven, And the Striflnffs of the Motif anift
" Difcipline at firft was the Means of introducing
" the Mafantete* Loofenefe in the end.
" Their Entkufiofm led the Van to, and was , OJ<
" very confident with, Atbtifm, And there is a
fhreud Safpicion, that fome got in among them
" from the very Beginning, and managed the weak
" well-meaning People, who were of no Religion
" themfelves, but put on a Mafk to deceive.
" After an Account how Montanifm afterwards
' was blended and interwo\'en with the moft abo-
" i minable Kerefies ; we come to its Declenfion in
" in the fifth Century, and Extinction in the lixth
B 3 which
(6 )
3 T 7- " which made way for another new pretended D>f-
" penfation, that of Mahomet ; rifmg as out of its
" Afhes, and founded chiefly upon fome Principles
" of Montanifm.
" In the Conclujton, the Author fays, we have
33 s - " feen how a well-meant, but indifcreet Zeal was
" furprized by the cunning Artifices of Satan ; and
" led on from Step to Step, for want of being
" guarded by Humility, till at length it fell into the
" contrary Extreme : How, from an Affectation of
" Spiritual Gifts, the Deceiver eafily infinuated
" himfelf with mod fair Pretences, and led both
" him and his/7/y Women captive.
34*. " They were accounted by the Multitudes that
" were converted to them as the very Apojlles of
" the Lamb ; they expefted nothing lefs than that
" the World mould be brought to own them, and
" that then the new Jerufalem out of Heaven
" mould come down upon Earth.
35(0. " Whether the Enthujiaflic PaJJion be confider'd
" as a Difeafe of the Mind and Spirits, natural or
" fupernatural, or mix's 1 , or as properly pneterna-
" tural ; it appears manifeftly from this Ac-
" count, that it is now the fame as it was then ;
" as much as a Fever is now the fame as it was in
" the Days of Hippocrates.
34.8. " Bu,i any one, through Pride or Vain-glory,
" throw^ "^'jjhnefs or Curiofity, or the like, be
" really accefTory to his own Delufion ; let him
" not feek to caft the Blame upon God ; but be
" content to take all the Shame to himfelf. And,
*' if this fliould not work any Good in the end to
" to him, but he fhould be totally deliverM up to
" the Devices of his o<wn Heart, and the lying In-
" fpiratiotif of treacherous Spirits ; yet it may be a
" Means
( 7 )
" Means ftill of much Good to others, and a Warn-
" ing to take heed, left they be alfo overtaken
" with the fame Temptation."
Thus far this learned Writer ; whofe entire Dif-
courfe deferves well to be perufed by every Perfon,
as a proper Antidote againft the Bane of Enthujiafm .
It cannot indeed be laid, that the Madnefs and Pre-
fumption of our modem Edufiajls come up to the
Montanifts, in all Refpefts, and to fo high a Degree ;
but ftill the Reader may eafily difcern the general
Nature and Effedls of Enthujiafm, and a Confor-
mity, in molt Particulars, between thofe former
Fanatics and our Methodijls and Moravians.
.2. But 'tis time to come to a more dire<ft
Comparifon between Popijh and Methodijlical Enthu-
fiafts. And, if the Reader has fome Account of the
moji wild and extravagant, the mojl ridiculous, Jlrolling,
fanatical, frantic, delirious, and mifchievous of all the
Saints in the Romijh Communion ; he muft confider,
that otherwife the Parallel would not hold ; but
come off lame and defective. They are, however,
Ibme of the moft favourite and magnified Saints
among them, and moft of whom had the Honour
of being canonizd. As, for Inftance, the Seraphic
Father St. Francis, Founder of the Friars Minors,
thought at firft only a well-meaning, but weak En-
thufaji, but afterwards turning out a mere Hypocrite
and Impojlor : St. Dominic, Founder of the Preach-
ing Friars, a Man of more Defign, Ferocity, and
Pride ; the Contriver and Manager of that blefled
Inftrument of Converfion, the Inquifition :
St Ignatius Loyola, that errant fhatter-brain'd viji-
onary Fanatic, Founder of the moft Holy Order of
the Jefuits, profefiedly inftituted to extirpate the
B 4 Reformation:
( 8 )
Reformation : That Mirrour of Perfeflion, ' St. An-
thony of Padua : together with Variety of female
Saints, Catharine of Sienna;, Terefa, Clara, Magdalen
of Pazzi, &c.
I would not be underftood to accufe the Metbo-
dijls direclly of Popery ; though I am perfuaded
they are doing the Papijis Work for them, and agree
with them in ibme of their Principles ; defigning
only to mew how uniformly both aft upon \hefame
Plan, (as far as Enthufiafm can be faid to carry on
any Plan :) their Heads fill'd with much the fame
grand Projefls, driven on in the fame wild Manner ;
and wearing the fame Badge of Peculiarities in their
Tenets : not perhaps from Gompaft and Defign j
but a fimilar Configuration and Texture of Brain,
or the Fumes of Imagination producing fimilar Ef-
fefts.
. 3. From a Commiferation, or Horrour, arifing
from the grievous Corruptions of the World, per-
haps from a real Motive of fmcere Piety, they both
fet out with warm Pretences to a reformation.
Wherein the Papijis ftand at leaft upon an Equality,
if they have not the Advantage ; it being impoflible
for any Methodijl to exceed the ftrong Declarations
of fervent Love to God and Man, of burning Zeal
for the Salvation of Souls, which the Legends of
the Saints afford in Abundance. The ~Metbodijl,
if he pleafeth, mail apply to himfelf the molt
flaming Characters on this Score ; though he mould
' burn with unquenchable Zeal of Love to God and
Man, like St. Francis; or be inilamed, like St.
Ignatius, with a Zeal of promoting God's Honour ;
referring all his Actions and Purpofes to God's
greater
(9 )
greater Ghry : this being his holy Ambition, the Life Jjj*|J
and Soul of all his Adions.' Nor do I believe that ^
any EntbuJiaJI ever fet out otherwife than upon a Sainti.
zealous Pretence of this Godly Nature.
. 4. For the better Advancement of their Pur-
pofes, both commonly begin their Adventures with
Field-preaching. In which Particular, though the
Piaftice of the Methodifts be notorious, it may not
be amifs to produce fome of their own Words ; were
ft only for the fake of the Comparifon.
METHODISTS.
Mr. Whitefield fays, " I never was more accept- 3 Jonra.
able to my Majier, than when I was Handing to P 3*
teach in the open Fields.
I always find I have moft Power, when I fpeak
in the open Air. A Proof this to me, that God is
pleafed with this way of Preaching. ?' *'
Preached at Kennington. But fuch a Sight never
were mine eyes blefled with before .' fifty thou-
fand People, near fourfcore Coaches, a great
Dumber of Horfes ! I find myfelf more and more
under a Neceffity of going out into the Fields. p gtt
I defired to know what Law could be produced
againft my Preaching. In my Opinion there could
be none ; becaufe there never <vcas any fuch thing as
field-preaching before.
A frefh Inroad made into Satan 's Territories by
by Mr. We(ley\ following me in Field-preaching''' p. 5.
And Mr. Seward acquaints us, ' how Whitef.eld
preached from a Balcony, from a Scaffold, from y. ourn .
an Horfe- block." p. 5'
Mr.
Mr. Wejley fays, " Had the Minijier of tie Pa-
rljb preached like nn 4*gel, it had profited them
nothing : For they heard him not. But, when one
came and faid, ' Yonder is a Man preaching on the
Top of the Mountains,' they ran in Droves to
hear. Had it not been for Field- preaching, the,
Uncommcnr.efs of which is the very Circumftance
Appeal* l ^ at recon: " ie}J d s it* ti 16 / mu ft have run on in
p. 119, Error."
PAPISTS.
" Peter ef Verona, Mirrour of Sandlity, of the
Holy Order of Friars Preachers, had a divine Talent
in Preaching ; neither Churches, nor Streets, nor
Market-places could contain the great Concourfe
Ribaden. tnat retorted to hear his Sermons. He was the
Lives Hammer and Thunderbolt to break and crufh Here-
Saims 5 *' cs > an< * ma ^ e Inquijitor to punilh and perfecute
Apr. 29. them.
St. Nicolas of NoJafco, one Day as he was recol-
lefted in Prayer, heard a Voice from Heaven,
faying, * This is not the Place, in which I would
have thee to be ; but that thou go forth into the
Field, and treat with Men, to the end that I may
Idem, be glorified in thee.'
Dec. 6. g t> jjntboxy of p a dua was forced to preach in the
open Fields and largcjl Meadmvs, becaufe the People
followed in fuch Numbers, from Cities, Villages,
and Camps, that no Church could contain them.
Idem, They got up before Day, and flock'd to get Places
fibCon* k etimes -~ The Tradefmen all (hut up their Shops,
formitat. till his Sermon was ended. And he was guarded
Fol. 80. by fome flrong and Jl out Men. He was miracu-
loufly heard at two Leagues Diftance.
St.
( II )
St. Ignatius preached in the open Fields, as the
Churches could not hold the Multitudes who flock'd,
feveral Miles, to hear him. Where it was obferved,
as a Thing more than human, that, though he
could not raife his Voice, which was weak, every Orland,
Word of his Sermon was heard by every body above j^ ft '/ ef "
a Quarter of a Mile." No. 116.
[I think, Mr. Whitefeld fpeaks fomewhere of
being heard plainly, at a greater Diftance, and by
above twenty thoufand People.]
Upon this Article I would make acurfory Remark
or two. How comes Mr, Whitefeld to fay, there
was never any fetch thing as Field-preaching before ?
Was it from the mere Vanity of being thought
the Founder of it ? or was he ignorant of the
Pra&ice feveral Years ago, and even in our own
Nation ?
Have not the MethodiJl-Preachers, as well as St.
Anthony, been attended with nfturdy Set of Follow-
ers, as their Guards, armed with Clubs under their
Cloaths, menacing and terrifying fuch as ihould
dare to fpeak lightly of their Apojile? I have heard
it often affirmed. So that Mr. Whlte/leU msy well 3 Journ,
boaft of Preaching with irreftjiible Power, and P* 2 4
flriking all Oppofers dumb. 'Tis plain he feems him-
felf to be aware of this turbulent Spirit, this fight-
ing Enthufiafm, when, idly fuppofing his Enemies
fnould think they did God Service to kill him, he
adds, I dread nothing more than ihefa//e Zeal 4 Journ.
of my Friends in zfuffiering Hour.'' p> u<
Again. 'Tis highly probable, that, if any Paro-
(hialMiniJler mould acquaint his Parijh, &c. that next
Sunday he would preach on yonder Mountain, he
would have a larger Congregation than i& his Church.
But
( 12 )
But would this do any real Good? or could he
juftify the Irregularity ? But Mr. We/ley argues
for thejpecial Advantage of Field-prtaching, on the
very Account of its Irregularity j ' the Uncommon-
nefs being the niery Circunflance that recommends ;>.'
Something inconfijlently ; for he feems to forget what
he had faid, but a Page or two before : " We are
Appeal* n0t f u ff ere d to P reac h i tne Churches ; elfe WC
p. 117! fhould prefer them to any Places whatever."
Mr. Whitefield too ' highly approves of our ex-
4 Journ. cellent Liturgy, would Minifters lend him their
P a 6- 3- Churches, toufeit.'
They are, you fee, never more acceptable to
their Ma/ler than in the Fields. God is pleafed
with this Way of Preaching : They have moft
Power there. But, however, that's no Matter :
They would not mind that : Churches are prefer-
able, if they could get them.
$. 5. After the Methodijls had traduced the Clergy t
as long as they were permitted to do it, in their
own Churches and Pulpits, in order to feduce their
Flocks, and colleft a flaring Rabble ; they fet
about this pious Work of Defamation more heartily
in the Fields. Give me leave to gather fome of
their Flowers on this Occafion, which are publifhed
in their own Journals, 3V.
" Went to St. Paid\, and received the Eleffed
Sacrament" [He might have added, and within
a few Hours undertook the blejfed Office of blacken-
ing the Clergy ; for] " Preached in the Evening at
Kenningtcn Common : God gave me great Power, and
I never opened my Mouth fo freely againft the
Whitf. Letter -learned Clergymen of the Church of England.- *
4 Journ, j fhou!4 not die in Peace, ujjlcfs I bore my Tefti-
mony
( 13 )
m&ny againft them. My Power and Freedom of
Speech increafed daily ; and this Afternoon I was
carried out much againft the Unchriftian Principles
and Practices of the Generality of our Clergy.
If I want to convince Church of England Proteftants,
Imufl prove that the Generality of their Teachers
do not preach, or live up to the Truth, as it is in g j ourn .
Jefus. P a e- 3*-
Woe be unto fuch blind Leaders of the Blind. indwell-
How can you efcape the Damnation of Hell ? ig P a 6-
Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing. Numbers of fuch as JI> Ia<
would tell the People, that a decent, genteel, and
fajhionable Religion is fufficient to carry them to 4 Journ.
Heaven.'" P- 8 -
" The Scribes and Pharifees of this Generation (I Seward's
mean the Learned Rabbi's of the Church of England) J ourn '
will perfecute the Preachers and Followers of our P<
Lord. Our Brother (Whitefeld) expefts to fuffer
many Things, to be fet at nought by the Rabbi's of '
our Church, and perhaps at laft to be kiird by them. Pag. 71.
The Scarlet Whore of Babylon is not more cor-
rupt, either in Principle, or, Praflice, than the
Church of England. A fecond Letter againft the Pag-. 45
Iraytor Archbjjhop Tillotfon. Judas fold his Lord
for thirty Pieces of Silver : The drchbifiop got a
better Price, perhaps thirty Bags of Gold, or more." Pag.6af
For the Abufes of the Clergy from Mr. Wejley
(which are not fo grofs, but more artful) I refer
the Reader to Mr. Church's Farther Remarks,
Pag. 165 1 08.
But what a Wickednefs is it, to throw out fo
much Gall of Bitternefs againft Perfons, whofe chief
Power of doing any Good, and promoting the- common
Salvation, depends upon their Characler ? And
VOL. I. C how
( H)
Jiow much greater, to impute this Mack Art of Ca-
/amy to the Spirit, and Powtr given from God?
$. 6. But, though thefey?r<?/% Predicants have
allured fome itching Ears, and drawn them afide,
by calumniating their proper Pajlors ; they have
Senfe enough to know the Itch will go off, and
their Trade not continue long, unlefs they can pro-
duce fomething novel, or uncommon j what the
wandering Sheep have not been ufed to in their
Churches. Therefore they muft find .out, or rather
revive, fuch Peculiarities, as have formerly attended
Enthujtajims, and are moft likely to captivate the
Vulgar. Hence their affe&ed Phrafes, fantaftical
and unintelligible Notions, vhimfical Striclnefles,
loud Exclamations agakft fome trifling and indif-
ferent Things ; which are Matters of mere Difcre-
tion ; Things innocent, and perhaps fometimes ufe-
ful; and only finful, when caried into Excefs.
And great Zeal is here employed. Accordingly, if
diverfe Particulars, of no great Moment in them-
felves, are here drawn together, 'tis only to dif-
cover that Family-Likenefs, even in the fmalhjl Fea-
tures, which has diftinguifhed the Entbujtajls and
pretended Pietifts of all Ages; particularly thofe now
under Compart/on. It may be fome Trouble to rua
over the whole Bead-roll of the Sainfs Rofary. But
it will appear to confift of ten Ave-Marys to one
Pater-nojier ; i. e. Abundance of Fooleries, in propor-
tion to any fingle Point prtfoable.
$. 7. The firft necej/ary Point for drawing Follow-
ers is to put on a fanQifed Appearance ; by a de-
mure Look, precife Behaviour, in Difcourfe or Si-
knee, Appaid and Food ; and other Marks of ex-
ternal
( is)
ttrnal Piety. For which Reaibn, Mr. Wejltj very
wifely made, and renewed, that noble Refolution,
not willingly to indulge himfelf in the leaft Levity
of Behaviour, or in Laughter, no, not for a Moment ;
to fpeak no Word not tending to the Glory of a Jo urn.
God, and not a tittle of worldly Thingt: Which pag< IC
may ferve to mew what ufeful Members of Society
fuch Perfons would make ; though, from human
Infirmity, the Rc/olver himfelf has fometimes
forgot his Vow. But perhaps he may be pn>-
voked to a more exacl Condudl, when hfr reads,
" how grievoufly \htferaphic Mechtildis difciplined ^ e f * h{
and tortured herfelf for having once fpoke an cap% ,$,
idle Word; and what an heinous Sin me deemed
it to laugh : That not a Word ever fell from St. J" 11 "-
Catharine cf Sienna, that was not religious and
holy: That the Lips of Magdalen of Pazzi
were never opened, but to chant the Fraifes of
God: That a certain Abbot refufed to aflift his Mwul.
Friend in getting his Ox out of a Quagmire, for ofu-' 9 *
Fear of meddling with worldly Things ; and a rou lt.
Monk would not difcover a Thief that ftole a Horfe, " t P '$o*
becaufe then he muft fpeak offecular Matters^ . 4.
As Laughter is a Faculty peculiar to the Human.
Species, the Refolution of a religious Melancholift '
entirely to difcard it, may be reckoned a little
Effay towards putting away the Properties of a
rational Creature.
i 8. At firft the Methods, as a Stcvu cf Hu-
mility, made it a point not to ride, either on Horfe-
back, or in a Coach : Though, occafionally, and
for Conveniency Sake, they have fince thought
proper to deviate from their Rule. " I could no
longer, fays Mr. Whitefield, walk on Foot, as
C 2 u/ual; p. *j
( i6 )
ufual ; but was conftrained to go in a Coach, tir
avoid the Hofannas of the Multitude." Very pro-
fane, unlefs it be a falfe Print for Huzza"*.
Conforrr. So was it one of St. Francis's Rules, " never to
fol. 114, n y ef but only . m Cafes of man jf e fl. Neceffity,
or Infirmity." St. Ignatius. Loyola^ and his meek
Pranc. Society of 'Jefuits, " always walked on Foot;
Tefuit' ant ^ cou ld never be induced to ufe any Sort of
315,357. Carriage. To ufe Chairs and Chariots was a
grievous Sin, and abhorred by the Society."
. 9. Upon the fame Account Jim Cloaths, and
rich Furniture, ftand abfolutely condemned; though
in many Cafes they may be proper and right, as
fuitable to People's Rank, Condition, and Station.
And when the Cynic Diogenes trod difdainfully
upon zfne Carpet ofPlato\, faying, " See how I
trample upon Plato s Pride," the Philojopher juft-
ly anfwered, " But with greater Pride of thy o*wn
Charaft. Mr. Wejley gives us this as the general Cha-
ofaMe- rafter of a Mcthoctift : " He cannot adorn him-
No. Q 'i5'. ^' n an y P feteKce > w ^^ Gc/d, or cojlly Apparel.' 1 ''
Hence he undertook that unfuccefsful Difpute
with a Quaker, " who could not be convinced of
any Harm in coftly Apparel, or Furniture, fo that
g Tourr. ,
p. 58. it were plain.
Conform. " S f - Francis would always wear Apparel of
lol. 49. the cvilejl Sort ; never any Thing that was fumptu-
ous ', that being an Extinction of Grace.' 1 '' "A
Franc. certain Jefuit had fueh Influence on the Ladies t
T'fuk* that they threw away all their vain Garments, and
p. 317. whatever might help to fet off their Beauty."
Bart.Vit. " St. Ignatius, by preaching powerfully againft
Ignatii, j ne Cloaths, made the Women weep, tear their
' HO- j a j r an{ j charnung Faces, and throw away their
vain Ornaments" " Magdalen of Pazzi, when
but a Child, would rejeft all foft and delicate L ; fe>
Cloathing, and wear only what was coarfe and ugly" No. z.
$. 10. But oh! (as a Part, or Confequence of
this) how good, and Saint-like it is, to go dirty y
ragged, and Jlowenly ? And how pioujly did Mr.
Whitefield therefore take Care of the outward
Man ? " My Apparel was mean Thought it un- r Journ.
becoming a Penitent to have powdered Hair : I feftf *
wore Woollen Gloves, a patched Gnu, and dirty
Shoes"
Thus his Predeceflbr in Saintlhip, Ignatius, lov'd Riba<kn.
to appear abroad with old dirty Shoes, us'd no Comb, na * g "
let his Hair clot, and would never pare his Nails?
' A certain Jefuit was fa holy that he had above an j- ranCgr
hundred and fifty Patches upon his Breeches, and Anna!.
proportionably on his other Garments. - Another J e ' uit '
hadalmoft three hundred Patches; and his Gar- 3 "'
ments after his Death were hung up to publick
View, as an Incentive to Imitation? And was there
not a Reafon ? For ' St. Francis found, by certain Confer.
Experience, that the Devils were frighted away by fo1 ' ***"
coarfe rough Garments ; but were animated by foft
Raiment to tempt the Wearers. And Friar Bar-
tbdomeiM hath laid it down as a Rule, that Men
muft have dirty Bodies, if they would have pure
$. ii. Of this Nature likewife is their utter
Condemnation of all Recreation and Diverfion, in
every Kind and Degree. Mr. Whit, fold laments that,
iff his younger Days, ' he was not yet convinc'd
of the abfoliite Vnlavjfulnefs of playing at Cards,
and reading aj&d feeing Plays.'' But afterwards, in
C } his
Pag- 7- his Letter from Mwu Brunswick, he declares, ' that
#0 Recreations, confider'd as fuch, can be innocent?
4 Journ. J now b egan to attac k the Dw/ in his Jlrongcjt
p ' 3 ' //<?/<&, and bore TefKmony againft the deteftable
Jb. p. 77. Diverfions of this Generation. Dancers pleafe the
Devil in every Step. Some were very ftrenuous in
what they call'd innscent Diverjtons, but are con-
5 Journ. trary to the whole Tenour of the Gofpel ' : Not only
P- 5*>59 fo many trifling Amufements, but Things which
Ihew that the Heart is wholly alienated from the
Seward's Life of God.'" " I hoped we had demolifhed Satan's
Journ. ftrongeft Hold in Philadelphia, the Dancing-School,
p> 54< AJjemblies, and MuJick-Mettings, thofe Houfes of
Faal"
And what fays th Papijl ? " St. Dominic (who
had fuch Fewer of Adjuration over the Devil, as
to compel him to anfwer truly to all his Queftions)
afked him what was his Opinion concerning the
Place of Recreations ; who anfwer'd, with a loud and
Kibaden fccrnful Laugh, ' All this Place is- my own : for
Aug. 4. here they tell impertinent News, &c? ' St. Ignatius
Bartol. jjy declaiming againft Cards and Dice prevailed upon
Ignat. a- whole Tc<wn to throw them into the River :
p. 140. And there was no more Play there for three Years.'
Our Love of Recreations and Diverfom has indeed
confefledly exceeded all Bounds, and calls loudly
for fonie Rcfrefs. But to break out wildly againft
every Jnftance and Degree of them, is the direft
Way to render our Complaints/ra///?/f and ridiculous..
it has neither Reajon nor Scripture to fupport it.
But Moderation, Reafon, and Scripture are Things
unregarded by Entkuftaf.s, who muft aft in Cha-
racler. They cannot, they dare not, allow any ,
thing that carries the Name or Face of Recreation
and Chearfukefs ; for fear of difperfmg a little cf
tli at
( 19)
that black Bile, that gloomy Humour, which is the
moft ejjential Ingredient in their Religion.
. 12. As to the /*/ Contempt of Money, yott
may fee, if you pleafe, and admire Mr. We/leys
declamatory Rant : " As to Gold and Silver, I count
it Dung and Drofs : I trample it under my Feet. I
efleem it juft as the Mire in the Streets. It muft
indeed pafs through my Hands ; but (hall only pafs
through : it fhall not reft there. None of the ac-
curfed Things mall be found in my Tent, when the ^^^
Lord calleth me hence, tsV." z$.
But even this falls fhort of St. Francis : " He
had fuch a Delegation of Money, that, if by Chance he
found any in the Way, he would not permit him-
felf, or Brethren, fo much as to touch it. Once
the Devil, toenfnare him, laid a Purfe in his Way,
feemingly full of Money. But he, knowing it was a
Devil's Trick, forbids his Companion to take it up j
who ftrongly prefiing to do it for the fake of giving to
the Poor, St. Francis affented : And upon opening the Confer.
Purfe out ftarts the Devil in the Shape of a Serpent, fl- S3-
and fuddenly difappeard, Purfe and all. Hence he
folemnly refolv'd to ftick to Poverty as long as he f i. 217.
liv'd. Money was to him the moft execrable of
Things ; he gave it a hearty Curfe, and fled from it
as from the Devil. Dung, and Money, and Satan
were the fame thing to him. He orders a Friar, f j t 2I g t
who had placed in a Window fome Money col-
lected at the Altar, to- take it in his Mouth, (for the
Rule would not permit to touch it with his Fingers,)
and go out and throw it upon the Dung of an Afs"
St. Jgnatius indeed (as well as the Metkodijh)
' would fometimes condefcend to accept of fome
{mall Pieces of Money, to give to the Poor. But ignatii^
St. pag- 63.
( 20 }
St. Phil, Nerius was fnch a Lover of Poverty, that
he frequently befought Almighty God to bring him
Rlbaden. to ^ at State, as to ftand in need of a Penny, and
p- 369. find no body that would give him one."
The Profeffum of Poverty, as well as Chajlity, is
indeed the common Vow of all the Monajlic Orders j
the Institution of which is call'd the mo/1 perfect
State of Life. But, either by means of papal Re-
laxations and Indulgences, or their own carnal Af-
fections, both thefs Paws are commonly obferv'd
alike. One Confiitution of the Jefuits in particular
is Food, Raiment, and Bed of the vilefl Sort, for
. 3 r. ' their greater fpiritual Proficiency,
.. 13. Another Bait to catch Admirers, and very
common among Entbufiajls, is a reftlefs Impatience
and infatiable Thirft of Travelling, and undertaking
dangerous Voyages, for the Converfion of hfdeh,
together with a declar'd Contempt of all Dangers,
Pains, and Sufferings. They mutt defire, love, and
pray for /'// Ufage, Perfecution, Martyrdom, Death
and Hell.
Accordingly, our Itinerant Metbodifts are fond of
exprefling their Zeal on this Account. Mr. White-
feU fays, " When Letters came from MeJJrs,
Wejleys, and Jngbam, their Fellow-Labourer, their
Accounts fired my Sou/, made me even long to go
abroad for God too : Though too weak in Body,
I felt at times fuch a ftrong Attraction in my. Soul
towards Georgia, that I thought it almoft irrejtji-
ible. The Thoughts of it crowded continu-
ally in upon me. Upon Heading this (Letters from
Farther abroad for more Labourers) my Heart leaped within
e g lin , g s> me, and, as it were, echoed to the C#. Was impa-
n, 18. ' ttent to go abroad."
Mr.
( 21 )
Mr. We/ley fets forth pathetically, and not without
fome Degree of Infult on the regular Minijien who
ftay at Home, ' their Defire of going on in Toil,
in Wearinefs, in Painfulnefs, in Cold and Hunger,
Summer Sun, and Winter Rain and Wind, upon
the naked Head; Perils by Land, Perils by Water ;
hurried away to America, a Readinefs to go to
Abyjfinia or China.'' And much more in the Spirit of
rambling Sufferings, ana Martyrdom.
But all this only mews the natural unfettled Hu-
mour, the rapid Motion of Enthujtajlic Heads. And
we may affure them, that the zealous Impatience, and
real Wanderings and Sufferings of Popijh Fanatics are
by all Accounts greatly fuperior. " Oh ! how many tfe,
times have the Nuns feen their Sifter of Pazzi drunk No ' 5 *
with Zeal for the Converfion of Dinners and Infidels,
run about the Cloyfters and Gardens, and other
Places, bemoaning herfelf that me was not a Man,
to go abroad, and gain erring Souls."
The Wind-mill is indeed in all their Heads. And,
in Tafl, 'tis almoft incredible what Miferieswere en-
dur'd by St. Francis, in his heroic Voyage to convert
the Sultan of Egypt ; in that of St. Anthony into
Africa to convert the Moors, and of St Ignatius to
convert the 'Turks : Exploits much more dangerous
and terrible than a Voyage to the Weft-Indies, &c.
As to their Love of Difgrace ; it muft fairly be
owned, in a great meafure, to be true. Otherwife,
they would never have publijhed that Collection of
their own Fooleries and Faults, extravagant Whim-
fies, and Prefumptions, Pretenfions, &c. in their
Sometimes indeed we find Mr. Wejley bitterly and
feelingly complaining " of the Scoff], both of the
Great Vulgar, and the Small ; Centcmpt and Re-
proach
proach of every Kind; fometimes more than serial
Affronts, ftupid, brutal Violence ; and (in a moft
elegant Style) from the Scum of Cornwall, the Robbie
App. p. f BUfton tmd Barlefton, the Wild-Eenfls of Walfal,
119,136. and the Turnkeys of Newgate." But, at other times,
the Note is changed ; and, with regard to Con-
tempt, Hate, Calumny, Perfection, Sec. " till he
is thus defpifed, no Man is in a State of Salvation.
Being defpifed is abfolutely neceflary to our doing
good in the World. God forbid, that you mould be
3 Journ. ot herwife than generally fcandahus ; I had almoft
57. ? ' faid, univerfally ! "
3 Joum. " Mr. Whitefield rejoices exceedingly at the
pag. 45- Thought, that they mould one Day be fent to Pri-
fon. Refreftied with the News, that the Landlord
would not let us ftay under his Roof; and at the
4 Joum. Sweets of Oppofition ; receiving a Blow from a
pag. 8. Cudgel-player with the utmoft Love" Again, he is
quite in hafte for Perfection, calling upon the DA-
vilio bring it on. " The Hour of Perfecution is
not yet come. I really wonder it comes no falter.
g. a' Satan, nubyjleepejl tbou .?"
Ib. p.z4. Mr. Se*ward " trufts that, for the Brethren's fake,
he could leap into a burning fery Furnace, without
Fear of the Flames, which would ferve as a fiery
Chariot to carry his Soul to God"
The fame Love of Contempt, Abufe, and Injury,
die fame ardent Thirjl after Perfecution and Martyr-
dom, poffeffed their Competitors in propagating true
Religion.
Confer " ^ f> ^ rancis wishes, and gives Orders, that he
fol. 40. may be difgraced by all. He was not able to reft for
the burning Defire of Martyrdom."
Ribaden. " St. Ignatius defired to be mock'd and laugh'd at
p. ?6z. by all j in the Fervour of his Mind, would have
gone
gone about the Streets naked, and like a Fool,
that the Boys of the Town might have made Sport
with him, and thrown Dirt upon him. St. Domi- Ribaden.
nic defired to be contemned, and trampled upon by P- 535-
all the World ; took great Pleafure in vifiting the
Villages, where he was affronted and abufed ;
had a Longing to die for Chrifl by the moft exqui- j^
fite and bitter Pains. St. Anthony moft earneftly 57^.
begged of Almighty God the Favour and Grace of ibid.
Martyrdom." P- 39J
" The zealous Ivlagdalen of Pazzi made a Pro- Life,
tefiation to delight in Contempt, and Confufon, as God N ' **
delights in himfelf. For that Confufion is my Centre,
as God is his own Centre."
" St. Tere/a ftrongly burnt for Martyr Jam & fix Ib. pag.
or /even Years of Age ; and afterwards, for 7 8 M'
many Years, had wifhed, that her whole Life were
full of Sufferings and Perfections." " And the Franc.
Jefuits have, in an efpecial Manner, with great AnnaJ.
Alacrity devoted themfelves (and I wifh they had p * I4 *
never devoted any but themfelves) to the "Flames,
the Sword, or any Specks of Perfection"
'Tis obvious here to remark, how little the
Methodifts know of their own Spirits, and what Dan-
ger they would be in of failing (which may be proved
too in Faff} in a /offering Hour : That they,
who are of fuch an unjleady Temper, and fo often
fall into Fears, Dejefiioni, Defertions, Defpondencies,
Ac. are fome of the laft Men living that ftiould be
fo importunate for expofing themfelves : And
that this Conduct may be well look'd upon as a
falfe OJlentationofTLeal, and high Prefumption in any
of the mo&J?eady Chrijiiatis ; feeing the Lord hath
commanded ' to watch and pray, left ye enter
into Temptation ; to pray that God would not lead
tis into 'Temptation, but deliver us From Evil j and.
when ye are perfecuted in one City, fly unto another.'
. 14. The pious Cruelty of Corporal Severities,
or Mortification by tormenting the Flefh, is another
common Method of gaining a "Reputation for Sanflity :
Such as long and rigorous Fatting., gaming and
flaying the Body with Scourges, and thofe armed
with Rowels and ftiarp Tags, rolling naked in Thorns
and Thirties, fcfr. The Accounts we have of thefe
unnatural Exercifes among Papijb Fanatics are of
that Nature and Degree, as fcarce to be credited, or
exceeded ; or what our own Difciplinarians cannot,
in any tolerable meafure, pretend to come up to.
Something however of this kind we have from their
own Relation.
i Deal. Mr. Whitefield fays of the Metbodifts in general at
fea< Oxford, that ' they kept their Bodies under, even
to an Extreme.' And of himfelf, " Though I fome-
times fell into Senfuality ; I left off eating Fruit,
and the like ; 1 failed twice a Week. In Lent
eat nothing (except on Sunday) but Sage Tea, without
Sugar, and coarfe Bread ; eat the worft Sort of
Food ; conftantly walked out in the Mornings, till
Part of one of my Hands was quite black. This,
with continued Abftinence and inward Conflicts, fo
emaciated my Body, that I could fcarce creep up
feft.' a. Stairs, and was obliged to have a Phyjldan.^
Under fuch an high Principle of Mortification,
Bullar. " St. Bridget refolved to eat nothing but Bread and
vol. i. Water, and (becaufe that was not bitter enough)
zz ^' would needs hold Gentian Root commonly in her
Brev. Mouth. St. Alcantara chofe Woriywtod for his
Rom, Diet. A Francifcan would always dip his Bread in
Worttrwood-nuater. St. Francis of Rome would eat
bitter Herbs without Oil." P-
St. Ignatius was always exercifing fuch kind of
Auflenties, and always dangeroufly ill by them.
He, and many others, brought themfelves to
Death's Door ; and were compelled to have Re-
courfe to Phyfoians and Surgeons.
Mr. We/ley oftentatioufly boafts, ' of bearing
Heat and Cold on the naked Head, Rain and Wind,
Froft and Snow, as fome of their fmallejl Inconve- Laft Ap,
niencies.' And another time he tells us, " Our p> "'*
Bed being wet, I laid me down on the Floor, and
flept found till Morning. And I believe I fliall not
find it needful to go to Bed, as 'tis called, any jaL^o!
more." But his old Friends out ftrip him. St. Ig- *735-
natius ufed no other Bed than a Board, or the bare
Ground; St. Dominic the fame j and fifty others of
the chofen Antichrijlian Saints.
" St. Francis happening once to ufe a Pillow, on
account of Illnefs, the Devil got into his Pillow,
and made him uneafy all Night. But, upon his
ordering the Pillow, with the Devil in it, to be car- Confor.
ried away, he prefently recovered." fol. 53'.
Whether Mr. Wejley has not WoTto Bed fince
that time, others may know as welTal himfelf. But
'tis eafy to forefee, that in fome future Calendar,
or Legend of the Saints, with what Probability it
may be inferted, < Jan. 30, ,735. From this
Day Mr. J. Wejley never went to Bed any more
but always lay on the bare Ground, in Imitation
or the Saints, Ignatius, Francis, &c.'
And, however ridiculous or improbable this may
be thought, I am fully perfuaded that many if
not mojt, of the Stories, with which the Pop/s Re
Hgiou, Romances are fluffed, have been raifed upon a
D ] ightc .
( 26 )
Jlighter foundation. Other Inftances of this Nature
will come afterwards.
But, however that may happen, the dpojlle, I
am fure, condemns, as ufelefe andfuperjlitious, that
et<!>ei<Pi& <rc,jfj.at\ of, the not /paring of the Body. And
it has frequently proved nothing lefs than Self-mur-
tker. But 'tis requifite this voluntary falfe Shew of
Humility mould be fometimes kept up, that common
Gbriftians may be thought to walk according to the
Tlejb ; and the New Reformers alone be prefumed
as Followers of an abftemiout -and fpiritual Life.
. 1 5. To thefe fufferings may be added the
Struggles and Pangs of the Ne<w Birth, almoft
equal to the Torments of Hell, Derelictions, Terrors,
Defpairings, Combats with Satan, sV. Of which
more in the Sequel.
A Word or two at prefent of their Willingnefs,
and ardent Defire to endure Pain and Torment, even
Hell itfelf, for the Lowe of God, and Advancement of
his Glory.
Among fome Enthujiaftical Ranters, Papijlical
Jtfyftics, and others, fuch an exceffive and difinterejled
Love of God has been infifted on, as fhould oblige
us to love him, though we were fure of being
damned-, and even to keep up that Love during the
whole eternal State of Damnation,
As I have been no great Dealer in fuch Authors,
I mall let the Jefuit Nieremberg fpeak for all ; who
makes this a neceffary Confeffion of a true Penitent :
De Ado- " I vvould willingly for the lighted and moft venial
rat.lib.i. Sin fuffer the Torments of Hell, and even for
W P' 8t another's Sin. I dejtre to go to Hell, and be at the
Feet of Lucifer, Judas, &c. But am fo great a Sin-
ner, as to be unworthy even of a Place there. - .
There
There is no perfett Love, or Repentance, unlefs for Lib. 5.
the leaft Sin you are willing to bear the Tortures of ap ' **
Hell."
' Mr. We/ley plainly adopts this Doftrine for his
own, when he fays, " I was furprized to find one * J" r i.
of the mod controverted Queftions in Divinity, dif- P<
interejled Love, decided by a poor old Man, without
Education, or Learning, or any Inftrudlor, but the
Spirit of Gcd. I aflc.ed him what he thought of Pa-
radife ? He faid, To be fure, it is a fine Place.
But I do not mind that. I do not care what Place
I am in. Let God put me where he will, or do
with me what he will, fo I may fet forth his Ho-
nour and Glory."
One might here obferve, how eafy a thing it is
for Perfons, who deem themfelves Favourites of
Heaven, in the Heat of Imagination to talk at this
Rate. But does the DoSrine of AJJurances convince
.. them that they could dwell in Everlajling Burnings,
without Complaining, or any Abatement of the
Love of God? And befides, how idle is it to be
putting an impojfible Cafe; and to fuppofeit conjiflent
with the Glory of God, his e/ential Goodnefs, and
Goodnefs to Mankind, that any true Penitent and true
Lover of God mould finally be condemned to Hell-
torments ?
Mr. Wejley, in that exorbitant Strain,
Doom, if thou can'ft, to endlefs Pains, 4 j ou n
And drive me from thy face, in fine.
feems daringly and prefumptuoufly to bid Defiance
to the Power or Jujiice of God. But in his Answer
to Mr. Church he explains himfelf thus; ".If
D 2 thou
( 28 )
p - 37- then can'ft deny thyfelf, if thou can'ft forget fo be
gracious, if thou can'ft ceafe to be Truth and Love.'''
All thefe amiable Attributes, it feems, muft be for-
feited, if Hea-ven could doom to Punifliment fuch a
precious Soul. But this Explanation of his looks
like Evajion, and could fcarce be his original Mean-
ing : But God's Power, or Jujlice muft be intended ;
becaufe he fpeaks of God's Love, in the very next
Lines, by way o.' Dif.lncJion, or as the oppof.te Al-
ternative :
But, if thy flronger Love conflraifis,
Let me lefav'd by Grace.
$. 1 6. We find other Expreffiom and Notion!,
which imply either a Stcical Ir?fenfel>ility under Pain
and Torture, or elfe a Defer e of them; not the leaft
Defire of having them removed or aJJ'uaged, though
felt in the higheft Degree. As that of Mr. Wejley,
Jcnrn. produced for " an Inftance of that ftrange Truth,
' 5 >51 ' that the Servants of God fuff'er nothing. I dined
with one, who told me, in all Simplicity, ' Sir, I
thought laft Week there could be no fetch Rejiasyou
defcribe, none in the World, wherein we mould b
fo free as not to defere Eafe in Pain. But God has
taught me better. For on Triday and Saturday, when
I was in the ftrongeji Pain, I never once had one
Moment's Defere of Eafe''
Mr. Wejieys having difcourfed of this, and de-
fcribed it to the Perfon concerned, fufficiently fhews
it to have been his Doclripe. Let us fee if i: cannot
be parallelled from the Papacy.
" St. Francis vifited with the moft grievous Suf-
ferings would by no means allow them to be called
palm ; and, throwing hinafelf on the Ground with
a Violence
a Violence that almoft broke his Bones, begs of Bona -
ventnr,
cap, 14.
GWto add to his Sufferings an hundred fold ; v
defires a Continuance and Renewal of Torment,
and even to Defpair and Delerifiion :" At another Conform.
time, however, he is in a quite different Mood ; 4 ,.' 4 '
and his Zeal tempered with Prudence, when a real
and very fenfible Torture was before his Eyes : For,
" being obliged to undergo a Cauterizing for a
Difeafe in his Eyes, he was fo frighted with the
Sight of the red-hot Iron, that he commanded the
Iron, in the name of Chriji, fo to temper its Heat,
that he might faueetly feel the Burning. And, when
the hijfing Iron was plung'd into his tender Flefh, he
cried out exultingly, ' Blefled be God; for, to fay Brev.
the Truth, the burning Fire gave me no Moleftation, F^ C ' ;I - C
nor did any Pain of the Flefh affect me." Ot. 10!
" St. Ignatius felt and experienced the Throes of Bartol.
Regeneration to be as bad as Hell ; and yet is all Vit - T E
on Fire to promote God's Glory, though at the Lofs 2 i^jco
of all the Earth, and even Heaven."
" St. Tcrefa was under great Aridities for twenty- Ribaden.
two Years ; yet never in all that time did it come **' ^'
into her Thoughts to defire more Comfort, and fhe
afked of the Lord, that fhe might never be without
Pain. She even bore the Pangs of the new Birth
for another, a new Convert ; ' who having at her
Perfuafion left certain abominable Sins, but fuch
Temptations ftill remaining, that he knew himfelf
to be in Hell; She befought the Lord to afluage
the Pains of that poor Soul, and that the De*vils y
who were the Caufes of it, might come and tor-
ment her. And fhe fuffered for the Space of a Ibid*
Month the mojl furious andjirange Pains. And we
have "a Pofes I'ull to affure us, that Catharine of
Sienna, was often fo carried beyond herfelf, that, when
D 3 prick'd,
( 30 )
Ballar. prick'd, or beaten, fhe had not the leaft Feiline of
rol. i. tj
t . 291. Pain "
M. Magdalen ofPazzi (a Canonized Saint) carries
this Point fo far, that " me defires and entreats her
Saviour to grant her fuch a Suffering as is pure Gall,
the Bottom of the Cup, mixed with Wormwood,
Myrrh, and Vinegar, which he drank on the Croft,
without the leaft Confolation either from Heaven or
Earth. And fhe repeated often, ' I am not for-
ward and in hafte to go to Paradife ; for that is not
See her a ^ ace of Suffering, but Delight. This, in my
Life, Opinion, is what is wanting in the State of the
c. 56,67. Bk/ed."
With refpeft to all this patient Enduring, or rather
Love of Hardfhips, Dangers, Pain, fcfr. it hath
been remarked by learned Authors, that fome Per-
fons from conjlitutional Temper and Complexion
have even been fond of bearing the vvorft that could
befall them ; could not be eafy and contented
without them: That others from ^.Jlurdy Humour
and pertinacious Refolution, egg'd on by the Force
of Education, Emulation, a Point of Honour, or
obftinate Pride, have brought themfelves to make
light of the moil exquifite Sufferings and Tortures ;
fcarce Teeming to feel them, and even laughing at
them : That, when Enthujlafm comes in, in aid
of this natural or acquired Sturdinefs, and Men
fancy they are upon God" 1 ! Work, and entitled to his
Rewards ; rhey are immediately all on Fire for
rufhing into Sufferings and Pain ; and Sorrow is
turned into Joy before them. The folid and juft
Comforts, which a true Martyr receives from
above, are groundlefly applied to the counterfeit.
And, at bed, whatever Degree of Merit our
Methodifts may claim on this fcore, all is but an
humble
humble Imitation of the moft fanatical Decei-vtrs in
the moft corrupt Communion in the Cbrijiian World.
It may moreover be obferved, that both antient
and modern Enthujlajli always take care to fecure
fome Advantage by their Sufferings, and thereby
prove their Love of God not fo very difinterefted.
For they brag of receiving larger Favours, and
freer Communications with God, under their Preflures,
or have fuller Manifef.atiom of his Goodnefs imme-
diately after. And efpecially their chief Security
lies in a pretended Arrival at, or Approach to, a
State of Perfection, and to an A/uratice of Salvation,
And who then mail be afraid ? A Man need not
much fcruple throwing out fome Expreflions of a
Readinefs to undergo Pains equal to Hell, or Hell
itfelf, who is a/ured, knows, and feels that he is
going into Perfection, and may depend upon Sal'
. 17. But previous to this elevated State 'that
we may not wander too far from the Saint's Pro-
grefe) comes their Converf.on; \vhich, as another
Inftance of fanatical Peculiarities, they reprefent as
fudden and injtantanecus, and prepare their Followers,
to expecl: it.
And tho 1 I do by no Means deny that the Holy
Spirit may, or fometimes doth, by fome extraor-
dinary Aft of Grace, throw fuch a Light and In-
fluence on the Mind of Man, as fuddenly to arreft
him, as it were, in the midft of a wicked and un-
believing Courfe ; yet furely this is not be expected
of courfe ; the ordinary Method of Heaven being
that of drawing us by gradual Means, good Edu-
cation and Inftru&ion ; Improvements by learning,
reading, and iludying the Holy Scriptures ; which
direct,
( 32)
direft, in an honeft and good Heart, to ' grow in
Grace, and buiU up ourfel<ve$ in our holy faith and
not prefume that we fhall flart up perfeSl Men at
once.
WC oufn Thus ' " Fait * f * and being * ern f Goif > are faid
p .16,17, t be an inflantaruotu Work, at once, and in a A/o-
S9 ment, as Lightning, Jujtijication, the fame as Re-
generation, and having a living Faith, this always
in a Moment. My being lorn ofGodws, an injiaa-
taveous Aft, enabling me from that Moment to be mere
3 Journ. ^* w Conqueror over thofe Corruptions, which be-
ji. 16' fore I was always a Slave to. Very many Perfons
changed in a Moment, always fuddenly, as far as I
have known."
" By the Words, leing fa<ved ty Faith, we mean,
that in the Moment a Man receives that Faith, he
is faved from Doubt, Fear, Sorrow, from all his
Sins, vicious Defires, 5c."
And how ftands the Cafe of Popijh Enthufeafis as
Ribaden to l *" s -^ rtl ^ e - ? " After St. Terefa had long tried
p. 790. to be holy to no purpofe, the Lord of Hearts did it
all in a Moment ; and fhe was from that time effec-
tually changed.
Orland St. Ignatius, by a fudden Light receives Faith,
Hift.Jef. and the complete Perfection of Divine Sanctity : fo
lib. i. t ^ a j^ r if e th up a new Man, a perfeft Man in
Chrifi. The ftme Saint t by a Vifit from the Virgin
Mary and Jefus Chriji, has all Images of Obfcenity
wiped from his Heart, and from that Infant finds
Balin h no more an ^ ^ en ^ e ^ ^ u ^' Another of their
Jul. i. Converts is injlantly delivered from Concupifcence
Ribaden. by pitting on St. Jntbony's Garment. St. Conrade,
P 391- a Dominican, after having cruelly difciplin'd himfelf
to extinguim his irregular Emotions, by the Virgin
coming, and anointing his Reins, never
i more
( 33)
more felt the Thorn in the Flejk. Thorn. Aquinas EaKngk.
had a Vifan of Angels binding his Loins, and thence-
forward had not the leaft Feeling of Concu-
pifcence. And I could produce feven or eight of Brev.
his Holinefss Saints, who were cured of the fame M a '
Defire by Vijlons of Angels appearing, and caftrating
them with proper Inftruments."
It muft indeed be confefs'd, that moft of the
above- mention'd inftantaneous Comjerfions were from
carnal Concupifcence. But, unfortunately, no fuch
violent Meafures have been taken with fome of our
eminent Methodijls, and their Behaviour has been
fuch, as to hinder the Comparifon from tallying JH
this Particular.
. 1 8. After thefe fudden Converficm ufually they
receive their AJ/urances of Salvation ; and thefe
(as alfo the Proofs of their Converjion) are certainly
tnotvn, beard, feen or felt ; they can afcertain th
particular Time and Place of their receiving them ;
as fo many Seals of the Spirit.
" All this while I was ajjurd God had forgiven Whitf.
me. It is a dreadful Miftake to deny the Doftrine 5 Joura.
of AJJurances: All ought to labour after it. I p ' * 7 '
know Numbers, whofe Salvation is written upon
their Hearts, as it were with a Sun-beam. Prayer j[,. p gg
for Ajjurance of eternal Salvation. Oh ! (fays 69.
another) I cannot be freed from Doubting, till I Suppl. to
have more Infallible Aj/iirances ; till I hear Chrijl Whitf.
fpeaking to me, fo that I may be fenfeble in that ^"^B.
very Hour that it is he that fpeaketh." of L.p.z.
Then for Mr. We/ley : " I felt Faith in ChriJI, and 2 Journ.
an Ajjurance was given me, that he had taken away p ' 3 '
my Sins, even mine. The ufual Method of the
Spirit is to give at one and the fame Time the Forgive-
trejs
C 34)
vefj of Sins, and thefuH AJJurance of that Forgive-
a Jonrn. nefs : yet thefe not always given together. In
p. 60. that Moment (fays a Moravian) I beheld the Lamb of
Jb, p. 6 5. Go^/taking away my Sins. And from that Time I have
T " P ' 7 '' had Redemption, and full AJJurance of it, admitting
3 Journ. Doubt, or /V<zr. Afy Sifter received Atonement
P 1 *7- on St. Peters Day. At that Hour one who had
p . 42 . ' long continued in Sin, from a Defpair of finding
Mercy, receiv'd a full, clear Senfe of his pardoning
Award's ^ ove and ^' wer to fe n no more - One Perfon could
Journ. neither eat, nor fleep, nor read, till Chrift had of-
P- 9- fared him of his Salvation"
Bona- By way of Parallel to thefe pre/umptuous Imagi-
Vk. Ur ' nations, we read, that ft. Francis, bewailing his Sins
Franc. in the Bitternefs of his Heart, was by the Holy
Conform Gho ft f u fy certified of the plenary Remijfion of all his
fol. 92, Sins. And once deiiring a Barber to J.'iave him
346. gratis, for the Love of God, the Barber refus'd, till
Conform, the Saint had given him full AJjurance of Sal-
fol. 238. ^ at ' tont Another holy Man felt himfelf fo vehe-
. mently mov'd and illuminated, that many Secrets of
Sel. Hift. God were revealed to him, and he was certified of
P- 3 J 7 his Forgivenefs and Salvation. A Jefuit, who had
much Commerce ivitb God and the Saints, was ajjurd
of his Salvation before the Image of the Virgin Mary,
Franc. by an interior Voice ; filling him with fo much Joy,
Ann. Je- t jj at ^g cou id fcarce contain himfelf. And another
had a11 offibk &fr/(j of it.
. 19. No Marvel then, ifthePre/umptioanfeth
ftill higher into a Fancy of Perfection, an unjlnning
State, and unjpotted; while other wretched Mortals
lie groveling in the Mire of Vice, or at leaft in an
imperfett Way. To fxch an high-flown Pitch may
a frantic Imagination be carried.
This
( 35 )
This conceited Notion feems, in a great meafure,
to have crept into Methodifm from the Moravian a Journ.
Seel ; one of whom tells Mr. We/ley, " I received P- 74-
that Witnefs of the Spirit, that/// A/urance of Faith,
which is a Deliverance from every fleihly Defire,
and from every outward and inward Sin." Other
Moravians tell him, " The Moment a Man isjufti-
Jied, he is a new Creature ; yet ftill remains the old
Heart, corrupt and abominable. Is there then
(fays WeJIey) Corruption in your Heart ? Yes, there
is Corruption in my old Man, but not in my r.eiv
Man" This Sort of Corruption they affirm to be
the Experience of the Moravian Church. But Mr.
WeJIey s People declare their Experiences to the con^
trary, (viz.) that Corruptions are taken away :
Mr. WeJIey urgeth, " Was there then inward Cor-
ruption in our Lord ? or, Cannot the Servant be as
his Matter :"* It muft own'd that Mr. WeJIey con-
tends againft the Moravians for the Ufe of external
Means, for Prayer, Sacraments, reading the Scrip-
ture, &c. And for this Reafon he fays, " I met
with a furprizing Inflance of the Ponver of the De~
vil : Mrs. J s on a fudden threw away the Bible,
faj ing, I am good enough. I will never read, or
pray more. I don't defire to be any better than
I am. I am fav'd. I ail nothing. She fpoke
many Things to the fame Effeft, plainly mewing
that the Spirit of Pride and of Lyes had full Domi-
i 4 J ourn -
nion over her. p. g^.
I mall make a few Striflures upon this Article. By
thzt/ubt/e Dijlinflion of the Moravians we may be
drawn into a Conceit, that any Perfon may indeed
Jin, and be obnoxious to Divine Wrath, when he
confiders only the old Man in him ; but, by pleading
that his nevj Man is innocent and guilt lefs, he is in
m
( 36)
no Danger. Juft as if one among ourfelves (hould
allow himfelf tofivear, or drink, as be is a Gentle-
man ; but not as he is a Clergyman.
In the Difpute whether or no Corruptions are taken
away, Experiences are produc'd on both Sides of the
Queftion ; we have Experiences again/I Experiences ;
thofe of the Moravians againft thofe of the Wef-
Igyans : Which tallies exa&ly with the Revelation
and Miracles alledg'd by both Parties among the
Papijls, in their grand Controverfy between the
Dominicans and Francifcans, concerning the immacu-
late Conception of the Virgin Mary,
Again ; the Moravians have no Regard to out-
ward Works, Prayer, Sacrament, c5V. but yet are
zealous for fome Remainders of Corruption necef-
farily flicking to us. The Wejleyans contend ftrongly
for outward Works ; but at the fame time are eagerly
maintaining the Poflibility of an unfenning Perfection.
A rare Choice ! take which you pleafe.
Mr. Wejleys Text of Scripture brought in Proof
of fuch a perfeft State (Cannot the Servant be as
his Majler ?) is evidently mifapplied: For it relate*
only to outward Sufferings, which our Lord's Difci-
ples were to undergo as well as him/elf-, but has no
Relation to Freedom from inward Corruption, to a
Jinlefs Perfection, which belongs to Chrijt alone,
But on this Head I refer the Reader to Mr. Church's
Remarks on We/ley* Journal, P. 30 and 60 ; efpe-
cially to Farther Remarks, P. 1 1 4.
But not to forget our Parallel: Tis faid, in the
Popift Liturgies, of St. Francis (and indeed of feve-
Brev. Fr. ra ^ others) " This Man tranfgreffed not one Jot or
Jul. 21. Tittle of the Gofpel; that Adam did not fin in him ;
^ n s ri & ^ e ^ em S ^ perfitf- -And this Purity of his is given
107. as a Rcafon why he fometimes appears in public
ftark-
( 37 )
ft ark-naked, without being ajhamed; for, had he
been polluted, he muft have had Come Senfe of Confom.
Shame. His twelve Jpojiles too (whom he chofe in fol. 274.
Imitation of Cbrijl) tranfgrefled not a Tittle of the Trithem.
Gofple. Nor did Adam fin in St. Bonaventure." 1564.
" The Fratricelli, or Little Brothers, a Branch
of the Francifcans, ftiffiy maintain'd the Doclrine
of Perfection ; afferting, that a Man may in this
Life attain to fo great Perfe&ion, as to live without
Sin ; and then he is above Ordinances in Church
and State." See Stillingfieet of Idolatry, P. 255.
Almoft all the Saints and Founders of their So-
cieties and Orders gained the Summit of Evangelical
Perfeclion, as a Foundation for Merit and Adoration.
Nor do I fee but that their modern Imitators may,
one Day or other, be advanced to thefe infolenf
Claims.
. 20. And where will thefe bold TLnthufiaJls
flop ? For we find them next fearing above the
Earth, taking a Flight to Heaven, and ftealing
thence the facred Light and Fire, in order to com-
pafs effectually their own, and others Delujion,
Nothing lefs than Inspirations^ Revelations, Illumi-
nations, and all the extraordinary and immediate Ac-
tions of all the Perfons in the Sacred Trinity, will
ferve their Turn. So that now every Flafi of Zeal
and Devotion ; every vj'ild Pretenjlon, Scheme, Tenet.,
and over-bearing Diflate j Impulfes, ImprejfioKs,
Feelings, impetuous Tranfports, and Raptures ; intoxi-
cating Vapours and Fumes of Imagination ; Phantoms
of a crazy Brain, and uncouth E/'etfs of a diftemperd
Mind, or Body ; their Jleeping or waking Dreams ;
their dftisns and Paffions, &c. all are afcribed,
with an amazing Preemption, to the extraordinary
E Inter-
Interpofition of Heaven, fetting its Seal to their
Miffion. In fhort, whatever they think, fay, or
do, is from God ; and what oppofeth, and ftands in
their way, is from the Devil.
Here we have the true Spirit, and very E/ence
of Enthufiafm, that ungrounded Pretence to Infpi-
ration ; which of courfe makes Men peremptory
and pertinacious, fets them above carnal Reafonings,
and all Conviction of plain Scripture ; and obligeth
them upon their wen Principles to aflume an Infal-
libity. This is what the whole Tribe of Fanatia
have caught hold of, as the moil fpecious Engine to
delude the Credulous, Simple, and Unwary, and
what ie neceffary for carrying on their Enterprizes
in the moft dextrous and fure Manner. For,
though Entbufiafm may fometimes, or ufually, fet
out with an innocent and well-meaning Heart ; yet
fuch a Simplicity is of no long Continuance : Pro-
jetfs increafe, and Oppo/ition arifeth ; and then it
quickly takes to its Affiftance the feveral Artifices
of Management and Craft.
PRESENCES, &c.
. 21. The fpecial and extraordinary Prefences of
God, fo much boafted of by \he_Methodifts, efpeci-
ally Mr. Wbitefeld, are almoft without Number ;
fo that 'tis needlefs to mention Particulars : Such
as, " The Prefcnce of the Lord was with me won-
derfully: I felt more than common of the Divine
Prefence : Felt an efpecial Prefence of God'm my
private Bufmefs, C5V."
But they fometimes give us fuch grofs Accounts,
and fuch ftrong Expreffion?, as if God were per-
fonaljy
fonally attending upon them in a -vijtbk and corporal
Manner.
" God was indeed there, riding in the Congre- Letters,
gation, and breathing Life and Courage into his
Lambs. Jefus has been with me much To-day ;
at another Time he was with me on the Road :
But oh ! how was he with me at Abergavenny ?
I entreated him to meet again, and he came"
In like Manner, " Brother Ledefma (a Jefuit) Orland.
had his Mind ftrongly confirmed by frequent Ex- Pa ' rt ' '
feriences of God's Indulgences. God was with him p. 15.
at Cologn, then at At/burgh, then at Bruffels, next
at Rome.' 1 ''
More grofly ftill : " In the Morning, fays Mr,
Whitejield, I talked with God in the Garden, as a
Man talketh with his friend" And would you
have the Counterpart of this ? " St. Patrick abfolutely Mefiing-
refufed to go forth to preach, till the Lord met him <-. z g.
Face to Face ; and the Lord did fo. Ckrift fpoke Brev.
to the beloved Face of St. Gertrude, as a Man is Monaft.
wont tojpeak to his Friend. St. Ignatius actually Gertrud.
fcnvj Jefus walking before him. And God often i ma g.
talked with him Face to Face, as a Man fpeaketh pmifec.
unto his Friend." p> &*"
See again how God attends them in their Sermons.
" The Lord gave me the Text 1 preached upon ; 7 Journ.
and directed me to a Method, as I was going up p '
the Pulpit-Jlairs" So fays Wbitejuld of himfelf.
And we have as good Authority, that " the Virgin Balingb.
Mary came and held the Book for a Dominican, , Aus ' 4 "
while he read his Sermon ; and that me fuggefied
every Word to another, as he was preaching an
Extempore Sermon. A certain Jefuit, who had en- Franc,
joyed God's Prefence continually, fees Chrijl in the Hift J e<
Pulpit lifting up his Hands, and Meffing him"
E 2 Then
C 40 )
Then for the Divine Prefence at their Lovt-
feajls : " The Lord came, brought us into his
P.anquftmg-Jxufe, and fet his Banner over us, that
the Enemy couid not come nigh us/' And in an
Account the #vft grofs, " At 'a general Lcve-frajt,
our Dear Mafler, being invited, came, and fat at the
Letters. Head of the Table, and lid we give his People to eat."
Would one think fuch Stuff could be parallel!^ ?
$ut, among the Papijls, f'zcvius afFures us, ' that
J'ifai, being 1 itmited, comes and eats with fome
Ar.iz46, Children, and invites them again to his Heavenly
ta P- 3- Table? And the Author of the Life of St. Vero-
nica, a modern Entbujtoflic Saint (publifhed by Dr.
Geddes) fays, ' that Veronica at a Banquet favj out-
Saviour feat himftlf at the Head of the Table in a
Pag. 56. Chair?
Nor is one Egg more like another than this Pa-
rallel} except that the Method ft expresTeth the
Thing more ftrongly and circumftantially.
And, feeing I am upon the Subjecl of God's Pro-
fence, one thing more may be added, tending to encou-
rage the Notion of the real corporal Prefence in the
3 Journ. Sacrifice of the Ma/s. " A Methodift, fays Mr.
p. 16,17. Wfjiey^ went to receive the Sacrament, but with a
Heart as hard as a Stone ; when God was pleafed
to let him fee a Crucified Saviour : I faw the Foun-
tain opened in his Side. At the early Sacraments,
Dealings, how often have We feen Chrift crucified, and evi-
p- 22. dently fet forth before us ?"
De Sacr. And why is not this as good an Argument for
Eucha- Tranfulfiantiatiati, as the feveral y%/2/y Appearances
3 . 3 . c. 8. produced by the Papifts, by Bellarmin, and others ?
Bullar. O r > as the Reafon of inftituting the Feafts of Corpus
Urban. CbriJK (the Body of Cbrijt) by Pope Urban IV ; be-
Conft. i. ^j^ ^ was al r ured it j ia< j beea revea l e d to certain
Catholics
Catholics (which was only to twv fanatical Women)
in a Vifion ? Or, What more is there in the Ac- Ribaden
count that * St. Terefa often/aw Cbrijl in the Sa- **' ''*"'
crament ? Or that, while St. Hugo was cele- ^or.
brating Ma/s, the facred Heft, being elevated, ap- A n g g e " *
peared plainly in the Form of Chrift! p. 184,
One can hardly indeed believe, that our Methodijls
in thefe grofs Expreffions intend to be underftood
in a literal Senfe : But we know not what Effect
they may have upon weak, credulous, and fuper-
ftitious Minds ; efpecially when improved by future
Comments, or the Help of Tradition. Tis certairv
that diverfe Rhetorical Flourijhes of this Sort, and
other little Superjlitions, have gradually fwelled
into the moft falfe and abfurd Dottrines, as well as.
into rank Idolatry ; and the World is covered with
a Deluge of monftrous Legendary Tales, which were,
derived from as fmall a Fountain.
. 22. Clofely connected with Prefences are thofe
familiar Communications and Converfations <witb the
Deity ; full of the moft fweet, tender, amorous
Sentiments and Expreffions.
" Oh ! what fweet Communion, fays Mr. Whits- I Jouro*
fold, had I daily vouchfafed from God ? I cannot
tell how tenderly I am carried by our Dear Sa<viour-
from Day to Day : I lean on Jefms Bofom from Letters*
Morning to Night ; yea, all the Day long. I
fvveetly leaned on my Saviours Bofom, and fucked
out of the Breads of his Confolation^ And how
wonder fully poetical and movingis that divine Imi-
tation of fome earthly rapturous Lover ? " Early White*".--
in the Morning, at Noon-day, Evening, and Mid- 2 J ourn -
night, nay all the Day long,, did the Blefod Saviour P '
vifit and refrelh my Heart. Could the Trees of a,
certain Wood near Stoneboufe fyeak, they would tell
E 2 what
( 4* )'
what fweet Communion I and fome more Dear Souls
enjoyed wirh the ever-blejj'ed God there."
Joum. f? or t hefe five Days, fays Mr. Sward, I have
5ft*iJJ k^pt m y Bed > had evei 7 Da y fw eet Communion
ao. with my Dear Lord Jefus, who filled me with his
Fulnefs. Went to Reft in the ADAS of my Lord Jefus,
of my fweet Saviour, in his Bofom. Went to
Reft, full of a Senfe of my own Nothingness, and ]
Page 32. fighing for the Prefence of my dear Lord Jefus."
This bids fair for coming up in due time to his
Rival Saints. For " Chrijt appeared to St. Frond?
and his Brethren; and, giving them his Blejfing,
fol. 2. ' they fefc ^ uc h a Sweetnefs as quite ratified them.
He was indeed often vifited, and recreated by
Ribaden. our ^ r ^ with ineffable Svjeetnefs ; had many fuch
p.76j-4. Vifetatiom, llluflrations, and Cherijhings. St. Ignatius
receiving a Vijit from the Father and the Son, The
Father, turning to the Son, recommends to his Fa-
Bart Vit. vour h natlus ar -d k*s Brethren ; which the Son pro-
Jgnatii. mifeth, looking fiveetly and amiably upoz Ignatius"
" St. Felix, a Francifcan, burned with fuch an
exceffive Love towards the Virgin Mary andjefus,
that, not able to bear it, he requested her to come
to him, and bring her Son. She did fo; and it
. cannot be expreffed what a Power of Heavenly Con-
Mayj8. folations he felt. St. Anthony had often fa?r.iliar
Converfations with God, recreating him with ex-
traordinary Comforts, and Divine Vifitations. The
little Jffus would come fometimes and fit upon his
*\ ' Book, fometimes be under his Arms ; whom the
394. holy Man embraced with wonderful Devotion."
Ealingh. " The Jefuit Herman, for a Relief in all his
Aug. 13, Complaints, takes Refuge in the Ereajl and Bofam
of the Virgin Mary, For me was fometimes pleafed
to come and give her Votaries Suck. Once ihe brought
her
( 43 )
her Son, and put him into Bed to St. StaniJIaus,-
which cured him of his Illnefs ; comforting and
recreating her Client, and refreming him with a
very copious Suavity. Nor was it any uncommon Aug.'i4
thing for her to bring the beloved Child to fome of
her precious Saints, to be dandled, kijjed, and embraced
in Bed, which quite overcame them with Joy; as it did
St. Lucia, who had him witK her for three Nights
together." See Brewings Samuel and Saul, P. 396.
For it was not ufual, or fit, to deprive the Female
Devotees of this delightful Communion. Accord-
ingly we are allured, that " once Clrift came, in
Company with St. Dominic, to vifit Terefa : Chrifl
foon withdrew, and bad her recreate herielf with
bis Friend Dominic ; who flayed with her two Hours,
took her by the Hand, and fpokemany comfortable R;{, a(Ien .
Words to her. Jefus indeed was her Spcufe ; and p. 708-9.
fne had certain Enjoyments of great Gufts and Con-
folations, and cried out to him, O my Lord, and
my Spoufe, 'tis now time for us to fee one another -,
and (he fpoke to him- fuch high, f-weet, and amorous
en cr " Idem,
Things, &c. p>goa<
Such is the Language and Ejfeft of fpiritual Lov e
among Popijb Fanatics, in the very Words of their
applauded and licenfed Writers ; enough to give one
a Surfeit, and a thorough Diftafte of their Metho-
dijiical Imitators.
. 23. I cannot here forbear tranfcribing that
Seraphic Rhapfody of Divine Love from Mr. We/ley's
'Third Journal, (though I am not certains whether Pag. 19^-
he is defcribing his <rwn Cafe, or that of another
Saint) wherein he fo pathetically paints out the
Ett/ft&IMg^y ''Ef&)7of, the Sweet-bitter of Love ; the
alternate Languhhments and Exultations, the Sink-
ings
( 44 )
ings and Rifings of the animal Spirits ; the Sigh-
ings and Singings ; the decent and elegant Mixture
of a facred and profane Amour, attended with a
Rapture and Ecjlajy, and every Symptom, which feizes
the Adepts in this Paffion, deeply fmitten and dif-
trafted Inamorato's, either fpiritual, or fenfual.
" The. Love of God was Ihed abroad in my
Heart, and a Flame kindled there, with Pains fo
violent, and yet fo very ravijhing, that my Body
was almoft torn afunder. I lov'd. The Spirit
cried ftrong in my Heart. I fweated. I trembled.
I fainted. I fung. My Soul was got up into the
Holy Mount. It had no Thoughts of coming down
again into the Body. Oh ! I thought my Head
was a Fountain of Water. I was ditfblved in Love.
My Beloved is mine, and I am his. He has all
Charms. He has raifed my Heart. He is now in
the Garden, feeding among the Lilies. Oh f I
am fick of Love." With more of this ranting
Flame.
This Defcription is fo ftrongly expreffed, and fa
many Particulars contained in clofe toncife Periods,
as may feem incomparable. But many of the
Symptoms may be gathered from the Account of St.
Catharine of Sienna under the fame Affection?.
" Her burning Love for Cbrift, her mod fweet
Spottfe, was fo intenfe, exceffive, and divine, that
Ihe was almoft always^?^-, languishing, faint, and in a
manner confumed with pure Love and Affection.
She had fo great Confolation in her Soul, that me
wondered how it could abide in her Body. And
the Fire burning in her Breaft was fa exceeding
great and violent, that in refpeft of it material Fir&
feemed cold and frozen. Once this Fire was fo in-
tenfe, that.it took away her Life for four Hours >
(45 )
iu which time me had a n/ts.v of Heaven, Hell, and Ribaden
Purgatcry" Apr. 30.
" St. Ttrejas Heart was inflamed with fo great a
Love of God, fo high a Fire, that (he was even
burnt tip, and ready to die, out of Defire of feeing
him ; and afterwards (he had thofe Torrents and In-
undations of Love with more Force, and greater Jd> oft ^
Rapfs, than before." Nay, the Authority of the 15.
Roman Church affures us, that " her Heart bunvd
with fuch a Fire of Divine Love, that Ihe defervedly
had a Fifion ef an Angd piercing her Bowels with a
Dart tipp'd with Fire, and of Chrijt taking her by
the Hand, and making her his Spoufe ; and fhe
died, not fo much by the Force of any Biiiemper, j^'
as the intolerable Earning of Divine Love." " St. eft. 15.
Gertrude and Cbrijl were mutually (mitten with the
Arrows of Love, and fhe died of this amorous jj^art-.
Tire.' 1 '' May 27.
'Tis true indeed, as the Legendaries own, " that
St. Catharine \VSLS JJandered &s a. fond and light Wo-
man ; and Terefa kept fuch bad Company, that mod Ribaden.
Perfons concluded that Celeftial Vifior.s were not
compatible with her Kind of Life" But^all may
be reconciled. For thefe Exceffjs of the fpiritual
and carnal Affeftions are nearer /,Wthan is gene-
rally thought; arifmg from the fame irregular Emo-
tions of the Blood and animal Spirits. And the
Patient is hurried on, either Way, according to the
Nature of the Objecl. And I am much miftaken,
and fo is Hiftory too, if fome of the warmed and
moft En: btificijlic Pretenders to the Let's of Gcd
have not entertained the fame Violence of Paffion
(not quite fo ffiritual) for fome of their Neigh-
bours,
. 24. Let
( 46 )
. 24. Let us proceed to that moft prefumptuotts
Claim to Infpiration ; to extraordinary Revelations,
Emanations, Directions,' Powers, and Affijlances of
the Holy Gbojl ; in their Preaching and Dofirine, Im-
pulfes and ImpreJJions. This has always been the
chief and mod ejfeclual Deceit, whereby Enthujiajis
have impofed upon themfelves and Followers.
They feel fuch Sallies of a tumultuous Imagination,
fuch ftrong Emotions within, as eafily to perfuade
themfelves this can be nothing lefs than the Work-
ings of the Holy Spirit j and fome Madmen have car-
ried it fo fcvf, as to think they were the <very Holy
Ghoft themfelves.
Nor can it be a difficult Matter to fix Perfuafion
of this Nature upon their eager and credulous Ad-
mirers, who have neither "Judgment nor Inclination
to d'fprove or examine ; but are violently, though
voluntarily and fweetly, carried away by their
Teachers good Words, and fair Speeches ; by their elo-
quent, elevated, afTuming and confident Difcourfes,-
zealoufiy and fervently poured out.
Hence, no Doubt, they talk fo confidently of
" fome great, unufual, extraordinary, and won-
derful Woik, which God' is now, even ew, begin-
ning to work over all the Earth, whereof they are
to be the InfirumeKti, the Trumpets to. proclaim it in
the Name of the Lord."
Mr. Whitef.eld, in particular, is ever flying upon
the Wings of Infpiration, and talking fublimely in
5 Journ. die dpojlolic Style. " I experience frefh Teachings,
p. 22. and Communications from God's Holy Spirit,
from him/elf. I felt the Power of God come
upon me, and I fpoke with Dernonftration of the
Pag. 7 z. Sprit. I felt the Holy Ghojl come upon me at that
time.
( 47 )
time. I fear I fliould quench the Spirit, did I not go - r our
on to fpeak as He gives me Utterance" p. 17.
The fame extraordinary Irfpiration is poured out,
or rather the Holy Spirit defcends, upon their Fol-
lowers, Societies, and Bands. " Such as had Public Letters.
Gifts were fettled as Super intendants over the reft.
Heard of one, fays Mr. WhitefaU, that received . journ
the Holy Gkofl immediately upon my Preaching. p- 72.
A moil remarkable Outpouring of the Spirit has been ,
feen in this AJjembiy. The Power of God was in an p. 41. ' ,
unufual Manner prefent st the Meeting of the Wefley
Bands. God mightily confirms the Words I fpeak, 4 Journ.
by the Holy Ghoji given unto thofe that hear them. p< 96-
The Power of the Lord came upon the Congregation, ^^ ey '
and the Holy Gkojl overfoadowed them." p. ^5'
There is fomething in the following Quotations,
which deferves particular Notice : " The Holy 6 Journ.
Ghoft feemed to come into the Congregation like a P' 53
mighty ntjhing Wind." Here he fpeaks fomething
dubioujly. But elfewhere he is more pojitive and
peremptory. " The Spirit at length came down like 7 Journ.
a mighty rujhing WinJ, and carried all before it. P- 57-
In my Prayer, the Power of God came down, and
gave a great Shock. Such an abiding uni-verfal
Shock I never knew before. In the Afternoon
again the Shock was very great. The Place was al- L etters<
moft rent by the Power and Prefence of God."
Some of thefe latter Expreflions imply, that the
Holy Ghoft descended on the Methodifls in the fame
Manner as upon the dpoflles at Pentecoft : Which,
without much better Proof than they have given
of their hifyiration, I will by no means undertake
to excufe from Blafphemy. Other Expreflions imply
fome ftrange tumultuary Shaking of the Fabrick, or
elie of the Preacher and Hearers, like a violent
Hurricane.
C 48 )
Hurricane. And yet, perhaps, after all, the Shock.
was only in the Preacher s o n ~va Brains.
'Tis hard to know what to make of thefe Shocks
and Shakings, if truly represented by the Methodijl*.
We know, however, that fuch Shocks and Concuffions
of Houfcs have been reprefented by Heathen Authors
as indubitable Signs of fome fupernatural Power and
.Prefence, either of a Celejiial or Infernal Deity. At
the Prefence of Pluto,
Jam mihi cernuntur trepidis Delubra
Sedibus, ff claram difpergere Culmina Lucem,
Ad<ventum teftata Dei.
Claud. Rapt. Proferpin. lib. I. ver. 7,
At the Prefence, or by the Efficiency of Bacchus,
Tefta rfpente quati. -
Ovid. Metam. lib. IV. ver. 402.
At confulting the Oracle of dpollo at Delphos,
Et Locus, et Laurus, et quas habet ilia, Pharetra
Intremuere Jtmul. > -
Ibid. lib. XV. ver .634.
In a Poetical Reprefentation of Apollo's Coming
and Infpiration,
O?oj> o 7
Callimach. Hymn, in Apoll. ver. i.
Fix
( 49)
Vix eafatus eratn, trsmere 'omnia info, repent^,
'Limir.aque , Laurufque Dei, totufque moveri
'Mom circum
Virgil, yEneid. III. ver. 90.
You fee Houfes, Temples, Dens, Mountains
all making, and trembling from their Foundation,
in Alteration of the Prefence of their Deities.
After fuch Accounts given by the Methodifts, and
efpecially when confirmed by Pagans, it would be
fomething like a Miracle, if Popery mould not afford
a Parallel. Accordingly, the Writers of St. Ig-
natius s Life inform u% that, " while the Saint was
at Prayers, and dedicating himfelf to the BleJJed Vir-
gin, the ivhole Houfe trembled \v\\h a fudden Con-
cuffion ; but moft of all Ignatius'* own Chamber, the
Windows being broke, and many Chinks open'd ;
and that this was generally believed to proceed ig na t. "
from the Rage of the Devil."'' And in another 1. 1. c. 9.
Place he relates a Story of the fame Nature, and Lib. 5.
afcribes it to the fame Caufe. "P- j6 -
Ribadeneira, in the Lives of the Saints, relates the P. 518.
fame Story of Ignatius, but without mentioning
what might be the Caufe. But in his Life of St.
Anthony he tells us, that, " the Devil threatning to
fall upon this Saint with great Fury, at his Voice
all the Room was fiaken, the Walls cpend, and
.many Devils rufhed in."
As to Papijlical Pretenfions in general to Infpira-
tion, they are without Number or End. There is
fcarce any Part of their Religions (i. e. Irreligious)
Wcrjhip and Dottritie ', fcarce a Monaftcry, Nunnery,
Order, or Society ; fcarce a petty Zaintlir.g in
VOL. L F their
( 50 )
their Communion, - that was not taught and infpired
by the Holy Ghoft.
Conform. " St. Francis was not only infpir'd himfelf in
fol. up. T eac ki n g t but all the Rules of his Order were diftated
by Heaven. He was a moft wonderful Preacher, by
virtue of the Holy Ghoft. All heard the Voice of
Chrift in the Air, faying, ' Francis, there is nothing
Ibid. of your own in your Rule, ,but all is mine? St.
Paul prophefyd of it, and underftood his own Words
as belonging to this Rule of St. Francis, ' Whoever
Jjjol.iay. ivalketb according to this Rule, Peace be on them." ~
Which Paflage, being the very fame that ' Mr.
3 Journ. We/ley open'd upon, when he confulted the Oracle
P a S- J 4- iy of) anc i begged an Anfwer of Peace,' may per-
haps afford him no fmall Comfort ; as having the
fame Honour with St. Francis, and his Rule equally
eftablifhed. St. Ignatius was carried on by a ftrong
Infpiration, and Guidance of the Holy Ghoji, which
fpoke through him. And his Spiritual Exercifes
had the fame Sandlion. Pope Paul 111 indeed (fays
Trsfls, Dr. Geddes) fpeaks modeftly of Ignatius and his
1 3' Companions, Spiritu Sanflo, ut creditur, afflati, In-
fpird, as is believed, by the Holy Spirit. But Julius
JII leaves out as is believed, and roundly pro-
nounceth they ivere infpir'd. And Gregory XIII
faith exprefsly, that Ignatius was infpir'd in modell-
ing the Society of the Jefuits. So that it feems
there are Degrees of Infallibility^ fome Popes being
more infallible than others.
DeRom. Bellarmin affirms, that the Orders of Benedifl,
1'ont. Romualdt'.s, Bruno, Dominic, Francis, nvere from the
L 3 .c.i8. Holy Gbo ^ __ Po p e HHJeiroKd adually faiv CLrijl
p rtv himfelf fitting by St. Hugo in Chapter, approving
Monaft. all his Dictates with a Nod, and fuggefting the
Ma - v f" Rules of the Pramonjlfafenjitms brought from Hea~
tven ly St. Aufiln. It were eafy to produce an
hundred Inftances. But what need we more, when
Popes, and the Church of Rome, have affur'd us of
thefe ?
. 25. The Claim of Extraordinary djfiflante,
and Power from above, Hands fo much upon the
fame Footing, and is fo frequent in the Metkodifts
Mouths, that I mall mention but a few Inftances.
" I felt more and more of the Divine dj/iftance 2 Journ.
To-day, fays Mr. Whitefeld : The Lord endowed ^' z r
me with Power from on high. In the midft of my
Difcourfe the Power of the Lord Jefus came upon
me. God enabled me to fpeak with fuch irrefijiible
Power, that the Oppofers were quite ftruck dumb,
and confounded." And afterwards he makes this 3 J ourft '
P. 24
infolent Demand on Heaven : , I4>
" Paft is thy Word : I here demand,
" And confident expeft thy Aid."
A Confidence and Imperioufnefs fufficient ? a Pa-
rallel to which I do not remember among Popijh
Saints.
f. 26. \J$QTi fpecial Direfiions, Mijfiom, and Calls,
ly immediate Revelation, I mall dwell a little longer.
" I a/uredly felt I knew it was Jefus Chrift W h; te f.
that reveal'd himfelf unto my Soul. I know, and i Deal.
am ajfurd, that God fent forth his Light and his feftt
Truth. It was rrcWYto me that nothing griev'd
Satan fo much as the private Societies. Our glo- p. 34.
rious Soul- Brother had it revea/'dto him thefe two
Years, that fome f uc h as him would be fent into
thefe Parts." Letters ,
F 2 More
3 J cui
P. 38.
J Jourr.
r. 79-
l Journ.
f>. 5.
Ribaden.
t- 5=9-
Ribaden.
P- 595-
Bona.
vntur.
Vit.
Franc.
c. 9, 12.
5 Journ.
f. 46.
7 Journ.
p. 66.
1 Deal.
fa. 3.
("52 )
More particularly as to Mijfions and Calls.
" BlefTed be God, fays Mr. Wlitefeh! -, he fh'ews-
we are Teachers fent by him. Far [modcftly com-
paring themfelves with Ckrijf] no one could do thcfe
Thing;, except God were ivith him. I told the People
God called tr.e, and I muft away. Intended to
preach at Fort-Simons, but, Lord, thou called'ft
me elfewhere. God {hewed me and my Friends,
that it was his Will that I {hould return for a while.
to Evglc.nd. To preach the G off el at Frederica alfo ;
for therefore am I fent. The. Eterwl Almighty
I A M hath fent me."
See now how clofely they have copied their great
Eyzmplzr'. " St. Ignatius, and his Companions,
went to Rome, whither God called \C\ai, to fettle his
ne-iv Order and Society. St. Peter and St. Paul
bring, one a St^ff", the other a Book, to St. Domi-
nic, faying, Begin thy Journey ; go, exercife the
Office which God hath given thee ; preach the
Go/pel. His Friends perfuading him to ftay, St.
Dcmiuic, full of the Holy Gboft, anfwer'd, Let no
body go about to ftay me. God commands, and his
Orders muft be obey'd. St. Francis return'd from
the Infidels, whom he was unable, to convert,
warn'd by a Divine Revelation. A venerable Bro-
ther and St. Clare, having confulted the Will of
God, are agreed, by the. Revelation of the Spirit,
that the Holy Man mould go forth to preach the
Gofpel."
Scmefpecial Directions are zs follows : " Trufled
to God, fays Mr. Whit ef eld, to direft me to a Text;
and God mew'd me what I mould do. The
Zo;v/gave me a Text, and dire fled me to a Method.*
I have been direcled'm this Manner, (reading Scrip-
ture n the. Knee) even in the minuteft Circum-
ftances,
(53 )
fiances, as plainly as the Jews were by Urim and
Tbummim. The Direttiovs, fays Mr. We/ley, I re- i Journ,-
ceived from God this Day, touching an Affair of p> 3 **
the greateji Importance"
Let me mention a few Directions coming by way
of Command, and, I aflure you, of no fmall Im-
portance. " I am going to the Houfe of z wealthy j ou rn.
Gentleman, fays Mr. Wbitefeld, whom God has p.a93 z -
commanded to receive me. How does he every-
where command fome or other to receive me ? In- Journ.
deed Mr. Srward affirms, that the Lord commandetb P 1 "'
Perfons every-where to provide for us. Mr. WeJIey,-
not to be left unprovided for, came to Mr. De-
lamotte\, where I expected a cool Reception. But
G0</had prepar'd the Way before me. I was wel- 2 Journ,
corned in fuch a Manner ." P 7-
Nor is this Cafe without a proper Precedent.
For we read, that " An Honourable Matron was'
commanded by an interior Voice to reverence St. Igna-
tius, and provide him with a Ship. And likewife a OrlamL
Noble Senator at Venice heard a Voice, directing Jjjf^*
him to entertain the Saint hofpitably at his Houfe." 11.33,35,
In what Manner the Entertainers are convinced, and
whether they are convinced, of this Divine Command,
I cannot fay. But I perceive it is convenient for
the Itinerants to give it out that it is God" 1 ; Pleafure
and Command. Otherwife they would not order
what they want at a Publick-Houfe, and then tell the
Landlord, that be will be damnd, if be takes any
thing of them. This {hall be prov'd, if required.
As I have mentioned internal Voices, perhaps the
feveral Impulfes and JmpreJJion of the MethodiJJs may
be of this Nature. But that Inftance of an old
hardened Sinner (given by Mr. WeJIey) feems rather
of the external Kind. " The Saviour of Sinners ha^*
F 3 faved-
favedw?. He /o# ine fo on Sivwfyf Morning. And
. rn h g feid, I mould not die, till I had heard bis Children
p. 51. preach his Gaffe/." And that of " the Moravian,
who, definng God to (hew him whether he fhoujd "
Tour l eave his Wife and Children, immediately hears a
P. 71. loud Voice, faying, F<?/Y, For/, Fort, Goon, goon"
We can match thefe Inftances too from Popijh
Fanatics. " Brother Eujlamantius was admonifhed
by a vehement Impulje, and interior Vtice, to go to
Guipifcua. This Voice of God was fo efficacious
Oi-land. an d vehement in his Ears, that inftantly he left his
P- 394- Houfe and Bufinefs. Gonzaga hears a clear and
Ealingh. manifest Voice from God, directing him into the So-
Aug. 13. ciety O j- t fo jefiitj. A Boy, about twelve Years
1 an ' old, hears conftant inward Voices, calling him to
p. 177. Perfettion, and the Society. God, fpeaking internally
Ribaden. to the Heart of. St. Alexius, told him that he mould
p. 484. no t touch his Fpoufe, but leave her. And he lefc his
Brev. Wife the very firft Day of Marriage, by the peculiar
Jol. 17. Warning of GW."
One may here be allow'd to afk what Serf of
Voice that was, which diretted the Methodijl-Preacher
at Salijbiiry to debauch one, at leaft, of his Congre-
gation, to run away with her, and leave his oic
f-fife ? And, in general, with refpeft to Extraor-
dinary Influences of the Spirit, and Pretences to
lufpiraticn, whether Mr. We/ley might net as well
have been warned, as offended, by his Friends the Me-
4 Journ. ramiant, " for talking much againft mixing Nature
P' I0 ^- rwitb Grace, againft Imagination, and concerning
the Animal Spirits mimicking the Power of the Holy
Cbofi f"
. 2;. Should the preceding Gifts of Inflation,
Revtlaticn, and Direffiea fail, they have another
Way
(55)
Way of knowing the Diviae Will, which is by
calling Lots ; and particularly by opening the Bible,
where the/r/? PaJJ'age that offers itfelf to the Ej/e is
to be their Rule.
Tlie Methodifts probably learned this Determination
by Lot of the Moravians ; " who, fays Mr. Wejley, * Journ*--
have a peculiar Efteem for Lots to decide Points of p ' 8 *'
Importance as the only Way of fetting afide their
rwn Will, and clearly knowing what is the Will of
God"
Sometimes Lots in general are fpoken of, without
any Specification of what Sort, or in what Manner.
" What we were in doubt about, after Prayer, we 5 Journ.
determined by Lot," fays Mr. WLitefald. " I am P- 5-
come to know afi'uredly, fays Mr. Wejley, that,
where Rea fan fails, God will direct our Paths by T
* J * 2. Journ
Lot" p, 7, 8, -
Reafon certainly may fail them : Nor do I think
they can be ajjured of God's Direction by Lot ; but
may be under the fame Perplexity with their Rela~
tion St. Ignatius ; who being on his Ad-ventures, and
" coming to a Place where two Ways met, flood
doubting whether he ftiould follow a Moor that had
blafphemed the Virgin Mary, and flab him, or elfe
take the other Way towards Monferrat. In this
great Perplexity, he took Counfel, which the Sim- jjt,. \'
plicity of a pious Mind alone could excufe ; namely, n - '&
to lay the Bridle loofe on his Mule, and let him go y. aff<
which Way he would." Ct ^
But opening the Bible for Direction feems to be
their general Way, Thus Mr. Wejley, under fome
Doubt ; " I defir'd my Majler to anfwer for me, a- Jcurn,
and open'd bis Book. When tempted by. Satan, P-3 I ;33-
All thefe Days I fcarce remember to have open'd
the Teflament, but upon fome great and precious Pro-
mife,
r 56 )
niife. In great Perplexity about being weak in tie
Faith, and in Trouble and Doubt concerning his
own State, and whether he fhould wait in Silence
3 Journ. anc ^ Retirement, the Oracle of God is confulted
p. 9, tz. twice. Under great Concern for thofe who were
T ourn driven about with Jlrange Doflrines, I befeeched God
p. 80. to fliew where this would end. Whether he fhould
take a Journey to Briftol, and what would be the
Confequence ; defiring not be accounted fupcr-
p. 69. Jlitious"
" The Moravians caft Lots, whether one, over
whom Satan had almoft got the Maftery, fhould
* Journ. be admitted to the Lord's Table ; are directed to
p. 69. admit him."
The Method of being directed by Lot hath been
much in Vogue in feveral Ages, and Parts of the
World; making no fmall Share of their Superftition.
The Heathens had various Ways of doing it : As by
jumbling together loofe Letters, or Wards, in an Urn,
and making what Senfe they could of fuch as were
taken out by Chance ; by dipping into fome Book
of high Efteem, as Homer, or Virgil, and then ap-
plying to their Purpofe the firft PafTage that offered
itfelf, fcfr.
Rel.Mo- Reland tells us, that, among the Mahometans,
J a ?<T 1 ' the Alcoran is fo confulted by way of Lot. And
the fame Cuftom crept in among the Cbrijlians,
and efpecially in the worft Ages, about the nth
and 1 2th Centuries, by dipping in the Bible, which
Bona- was called the Saints Lots. Hence, " St Francis,
ca HtU i' a ^ er betaking himfelf to Prayer, was infyird by
Conform. tne Oracle of God to open the Gofpel ; which being
fol, 172. opened three Times, always lighted on the Pajfion
of Cbrijl ; whereby the Saint was prepared (as by
a Prophetic Warning) to receive- the fw Marks of
( 57 )
Jefus, exactly anfwering thofe of his Mafter, by tne
Hand of an Angel.'"
So again, the fame precious Saint, " being re-
iblved upon taking up the Rule of Evangelical Per-
feflion, in Conjunction with Friar Barnard, goes to
Prayers, and, thrice opening the Gofpel, was confirmed
in his Purpofe, by luckily hitting on tbefe three Bona-
PofTaget iJftbou "Milt be ferfeS, go and fell all . *"
Take nothing with you en the Way : If any Man Conform,
oiv'// come after me, let him deny hhnfelf" fol. 127.
St. Francis, you fee, managed ihs, Matter fo well,
that he opened upon Texts of Scripture much more
to his Purpofe than any of our Mcthodijls have
done.
This Pradlice has generally been condemned by
grave Authors and Councils, as fuperflitious and un-
warrantable : And, if the. Methods will -pretend to
juflify themfelves from the Example of Matthias, (the
only Inftance of the Ne^u Tejlament, and that divinely
directed) they only incur that almoft conftant Pre-
fumption of fetting themfelves upon an Equality with
the Apojiles, &c.
Let me here add the Obfervation of Mr. Church,
in his Farther Remarks oa Mr. J. H'ejley : " The
Reflections of your Friend Mr. Whitefald on this
Occafion were worth your obferving, Having men-
tioned your drawing a Lot about preaching GO. free
Grace, and receiving the Anfwer Preach and Print,
he adds, . I have often queflioned, as I now do,
whether in fo doing you did not tempt the Lord. A
due Exercife of Religious Prudence, without a Lot,
would have directed you .in that Matter.' After-
wards he mentions your drawing another Lot, about
his returning to London ; which in a Letter to him
you afterwards fuppofed might have been a wrong
one. This therefore he rightly calls an imaginary
Warrant ;
Warrant-, and well obferves, that the wrong tot
was juftly given you, becaufe you tempted God in
drawing one."
A more judicious Sentiment perhaps never dropt
from Mr. Wbitejield^ Pen: And yet he may be
taxed with an InconJiJIency in thus declaring againft
what had been his onvn Prafiice. Had thefe two
Lots turn'd out agreeably to his own Dofirine and
Intentions, they might have been allowed to come
from God. But, as they were for free Grace, (not
fuiting with his Cafoiniftical Notions) and for taking
a Journey he did not like -, they are become of no
Authority with him. Which puts me in mind of
the Conduct of Pope Honor ius towards St. Francis.
" The Saint had obtain'd a Grant from Ckrift, that
whoever at any time fhould enter bis Chapel, mould
have the Benefit of plenary Indulgence ; ordering
him however to go to bis Vicar the Pope for his
Confirmation,
Tav il^ov plv tfuxz ntj"f> ll^oy J^ avw&vffwl
The Holy Father allows the Order of Chriji in the Cafe,
but thinks the Grant is too large ; and accordingly
confirms indeed the plenary and free Indulgence, but
curtails the Time, and confines it to one Jingle Day in
a Year, and no more." A ftrange Inftance, either
of the Papers Inconfijlency, or of fating bimfelf above
our Lord,
You have the Account in one of the LeJ/bns in
their Eflablijhed Liturgy, Brev. Rom. Francifc.
Aug. 2. and more fully in the Book of Confor-
mi ties, fol. 197.
. 28. Though I had fome Reafons for refer-
ring to another Place their Ecjiajies and Raptures,
Apparitions
( 59 )
cwdVijions (Reprefeatations to the Imagi-
nation either in Sleep, or in a Trance ;) yet, as thefe
have fome P retention to a Divine Direction, I ihall
fay fomething of them here.
Whit efield. " God fill'd me with fuch unfpeakaUe ift Deal.
Raptures, particularly once in St. Johns Church, **' J
that I was carried out beyond myfelf."
I was fo fill'd with the Spirit, that Journ.
I was carried beyond myfelf, and had fuch Things *"'
revealed to me, as I never had before."
WeJIey. " My Soul was got up into the Holy 3 Journ,
Mount. I had no Thoughts of coming down again p ' **
into the Body" " The Lord reveafd himfelf to
her (a Gifl about feven Years old) in an amaz-
ing Manner ; and for fome Hours fhe was fo ixrapt
irp in his Spirit, that we knew not where me was,
finking to nothing in the Difcovery of his Ma-
jejly and Glory. Many fuch Inflances of the Out*
pouring of the Spirit we have among us." Letters,
Tales of this Nature are fo numerous among the
Popijh Saints, efpecially the Female, that fome of
their Lives confiit of little elfe.
Mary of Agteda was not, a Year old, before fhe
had fuch Raptures, that facfunk down to the Centre of
her own Nothingnefs. Magdalen of Pazzfs Life up.
\vas almoft one continued Ecjlajy. And St. Ger-
trude, who confecrated her Virginity to Chrift when Breviar.
only five Years old, was illuminated by many Reve- Monaft.
lations and Vifeons. Q^J
St. Alcantara at fix Years of Age was fo con- Brev<
templative, that frequently he was wholly abforpt Rom.
in CicJ, and carried into Raptures. He caufed his ^^' I ^ >
Followers to be in an Ecftefy at the Sacrament, and
often enjoyed the Prefence of Chriji, the Virgin
Mary, and St, Francis, &c. Q^
i 29.
60
"$. 29. If you want any thing more particular
Concerning Apparitions and Vijions ; the laft men-
Brev. tjoned Saint, " Alcantara, was concluded by the
Rom. admirable Apparition of a nc-iv Star, when he was
going to comfort St. Terefa." Something, you may
i Deal, fuppofe, like that of Mr. Whitefield : " After a
9' 49- long Night of Defertion, the Star, which I had feen
at a Diftance before, began to appear again."
And ,Mr. Sward may be. deemed fuch a Vifi-
Journ. onary, when, " though fo weak, fo mean, fo
P-47> 0< vile, fo nothing an Inftrument, yet furrounding the
Throne of his Dear Jefus, he thought he faw his
Sifters as bright Seraphims in the Manfions of Blifs ;
with a refulgent Splendor above the reft of the
Heavenly Hoft."
Conform. Juft as " a Francifcan Fryar was feen by a Brother
foJ. 84. ^^^g i n Glory and Brightnefs with St. Francis
Life* among Choirs of Angels. Or, as Magdalen of Pazzi
~ 0> g 2 ' faw a Nun, and other Souls, which me had gained,
Gomez, raifedupon a 7 'krone of Glory. Or, as feveral Jefuits
Elog. were feen afcending up to Heaven, confpicuoufly
J efui g' diftinguifhed by a 'Star in their Foreheads." We
I5 reVi have again infallible Propf, that " Alcantara was
Rom. invited to the Heavenly Marriage by all the Holy
25- Trinity, appearing to him in the utmoft Clearness
and Brightnefs ; and he died at the very Hour
foretold." And we find in moft of their Legends^
that fcarce a Saint died without previous Notice from
above ; the Mejfenger too commonly diffufing a
Light over all the Room. Which may help to give
fome Credit to that Relation of Mr. We/ley con-
Journ. cerning Pet. Wright. " In Bed, but broad awake,
' J 5 I heard one calling aloud, Peter! Peter Wright !
And looking up, the Room was as bright as Day,
2 And
( 61 )
And I faw a Man in bright Clothes, who faid,
Prepare yourfelf, your End is nigh.' He re-
covered from the Illnefs; but died within a Month."
As to the Authority which fuch Sort of Revela-
tions carry, Mr. Wejley fays this ; " God does no*w
give RemiJJion of Sins, and the Gifts of the Holy j ourn .
Ghoji ; and often in Dreams and Vijiom of God" p. 49.
But afterwards he fpeaks more dijlruflfully : " I
told them they were not to judge of the Spirit
by any Dreams, Vijlons, or "Revelations ; which
were of a doubtful and difputable Nature, might
be from God, and might net" Ib> P- 6o<
This might be a Caution to themfelves never to
be over-confident. For my own Part, I will not
deny that fuch Direflions may fometimes come
from God : But lam perfuaded that moft of our late
ones are the Effect of Imagination or Dijletnper ;
and fome of them mere Counterfeits and Irnpoflures.
Many, I know, even of Popijh Enthujiajis, have
fufpe&ed ivorje, and afcribed them to Diabolical
Delujions. But more of this hereafter.
. 30. Our Methodifts talk much ' of the great
Work, which God is now beginning to work over all
the Earth.' " If you had been told, fays Mr. Wefiey, l A PP .
that the jealous God would foon arife, that he -9 8 >99-
would pour down his Spirit from on high, and re-
new the Face of the Earth, would you not defire
to fee that Day ? Behold the Day of the Lord is
come : He is again vifiting and redeeming his Peo-
ple. At this very Hour the Lord is rolling away
our Reproach."
" Parted, with full Conviction, fays Mr. White- 3 y our n.
field, that God was going to do great Things p- 6
VOL. I. G among
(62 )
among us. Oh ! that we may be any way in-
firumcntal /"
I am far from queftioning the Truth of that
happy State to come, having fuch ftrong Authority
from \hzfacredWritings, But it may be afked, how
they know this prefent Time to be the Day of that
great Work ; whether from Infpiration, or Interpre-
tation of Prophetic Scripture ? And they may be
reminded, that diverfe warm and Enthufeaflic Heads,
as Madam Eourignon, the Trench Prophets, &c. have
all fet out upon this Pretence, have pronounced it
to be coming in their oivn Days, and themjel'ves to
be the happy Injiruments. And how have they been
deceived !
About the Middle of the i %tb Century was pub-
lifhed a Book by the Mendicant Fryars, called The
Eternal Gofpel, or Go/pel of the Spirit ; aflerting,
that the Reign of the Spirit was to commence witlrin.
Jix Tears. The Book was full of many wicked and
blafphemous Fancies, which I lay not to the, Charge
of the Methodifis ; bst leave them at liberty to ru-
minate upon the Characler given of them many
Years ago by Mr. Howel, which they may fee in
the Title-Page.
$. 31.1 mall now relieve myfelf and Reader ; re-
ferving what remains for zfecondPart. I have already
made tome Excufc for quoting and comparing feve-
ral little and trifing Things, in themfelves too
light to deferve our Attention ; and am afraid,
that, in the Seq2tel, a frefh Apolcgy will be requisite ;
as I mall be obliged to relate fome Things too
horrid andjbockitig to the Mind.
It will however, I perfuade myfelf, appear,
that this new Difpenfation is a Compofoim of Enthu-
ftafm,
( 63 )
fiafm, Superftition, and Impojlure. When the Blood
and Spirits run high, inflaming the Brain and Ima-
gination, it is moft properly Enthujiafm ; which is
Religion run mad; When !o<w and dejefted, caufing
groundlefs Terrors, or the placing the great Duty
of Man in little Obfervances, 'tis Superjlition ;
which is Religion feared out of its Senfes : When
any fraudulent Dealings are made ufe of, and any
wrong Projects carried on, under the Mafe of Piety,
'tis Impofture ; and may be termed Religion turned
Hypocrite.
Should any thing I can offer make fome Improve-
ment ofaferious and/ober Senfe of true Religion among
us, free from Entkujiajiic Delujions, with regard
both to Faith and good Works, it will be fufficient
Satisfaction : And the Benefit will be doubled, if,
by means of the Comparifon with Popery, a juft
Deteftation of that wicked Communion be prefery'd,
and efpecially, if increafed.
The END of the FIRST PART.
G 2
THE
ENTHUSIASM
O F
METHODISTS
AND
PAPISTS
COMPARED.
PART II.
Vanity, or Self-conceit, It another CircumJIance that for tbe
tnofl Part prevails in tf:e CbaraSJer of an Enthufiafr. // leads
Men of a 'warm Temper , and religious Turn, to think them"
fel-ves "worthy of the fpecial Regard, and extraordinary Favours
of God j and tbe Breath of that Infpiration to tobicb they pre-
tead is often no more than tbe Wind of this Vanity, "which puffs
them up to fuch extravagant Imaginations. This ftrongly ap-
fears in the Writings and Lives of fame Enthufiaftical He-
retics, in tbe Myftics both Antient and Modern, in many
Founders of Orders, and Saints, both Male and Female,
among tbe Papifts, in feverat Proteftant Sectaries of tbe la/I
Age, and even in Jome of tbe Methodi/ts noio. All tbe Divine
Communications, Illuminations, and Ecftafies, to ivbicb they
fret ended, evidently fprung from much Self-conceit, tverking
together -with the Vapours of Melancholy upon a warm Ima-
c.
LYTTELTON on the Converfion of St. PAUL,
3 T 2 I a 'O/H T
?, ; T.;2. I :<1 A -53
- -"".a 'a # A c l M o a ;
*. . ) ' "
PREFACE.
To the REVEB. EN*D
Mr. WH1TEFIELD.
S I R,
LEST you fhould complain of being
flighted, or feel a Difappointment, I here-
by acknowledge the Receipt and Favour
of your Letter ; confifting of Remarks on my Com-
farifon, and a Confeffion of your own Mi flakes. Tis
a Favour ; becaufe you have been fo very harmlefs
with regard to me, and have anfvcerd no body but
yourfelf. I fhall pafs my Judgment upon your
Performance with my ufual Franknefs, and without
any Degree of fulfome Flattery.
Your firft Objection is to my Manner of Writing ;
that, " if I am a Clergyman, the whole Strain of p ag e 6.
my Performance difcovers a Levity unbecoming my
Character." And here I am afraid you have the
Advantage ; as writing with a Levity quite becoming
your Charafter, .i. e. with that Sort of Levity, which
confifts in a Privation of Weight, and exemplifies
(to ufe your own Expreflion) vukat Feathers vae all
are. Nor could you have been more light and in-
fignificant, unlefs your Name had been Penonet.
As
As to the Force of the Obje&ion of ridiculous
and irreligious Banter ; I read that one of Bijhop
Stilling feet's Popijh Antagonist called him " a theo-
logical Buffoon, impioufly and profanely employing
His Wit in deriding and blafpbeming the Saint!."
And yet, fuch is my Madefy, and humble Imitation
of your Humility, I defire to fucceed no better
againft Methodifm, than he did againft Popery.
But here, it feems, I am greatly miftaken : For,
Pag. 6. " ly irreligious Banter, I have unhappily fixed upon
a mojl improbable and ineffectual Remedy for recover-
ing the Methodijls out of their Extravagant Freaks."
If fo, why are you fo pettilh ? Why fo wrathful ?
I might rather expeft an Addrefe of Thanks from
Whitefield and Csmpany.
But, to compound the Matter with you by a plain
Truth, my Manner of writing (whether with Levity,
or Gravity) affects not in the leaft the Merits of the
Caufe. The Enthufiaftn is exadly the/awe, neither
more nor lefs, better or worfe. The only S>uefiion
to the Purpofe is, whether I have made my S>uo-
tations jujlly and fairly ? Let this be fuppofed, 'till
'tis difproved. Something, however, moitferious,
horrible, andjhocking, will appear toward the End of
this Second Part, and efpecially in the Third',
where the Nature of the Subjett will be apt to raife
Abhorrence and Indignation, rather than Laughter,
For, contrary to my Intention, I am forced upon
a Third Part ; your Enthufiafms are fo many. Nor
had I exaftly enough computed the Number, or
confidered the Virtues, of your Covfecrated Beads,
Before you attack my Comparifon in Form, I
nd you nibbling at my Title-Page : In one Place,
p t - " 'tis not retrained enough to anfwer my Principal
'" I fl anotner Place, <f 'tis too much retrained ;
you
(v )
you would have me make an Addition to it, and
let it run thus, The Enthufiafm and Impojlure, &c."
I ftand corrected, and have no Objection to your
Amendment. Confider, however, that, before you
meddled with my Title-Page, you mould have con-
fulted your Grammar, and made Senfe of your own.
But I fhall not fo eafily give up my Parallel of
the Montanifts. I find it flicks too clofe, is pinch-
ing, and makes you wriggle. You want fadly
to get rid of it ; for which you affign fome
doughty Reafons. " Tou omit, you fay, making any P. 8.
Reply to my Account of the Montanifts, becaufe "'tis
quite foreign to my Title-Page, and alfo to my Principal
De/ign," that of Comparing you with Papifts. You
know that I introduced the Montanifts, to mew that
the Spirit of Ettthujtafm is always the fame. And,
though the Mcntanifis were no Papifts, they were
Heretics, full of Impojiures and Impieties ; in a Word,
the Methodijls of their Times. And why mould
you turn away your Face from your own Likt-
nefs ? But you have another Reafon ; " The jj,y,
Account of the Montanifts being not founded on Writ-
ings of thfir own ; and/o at the left 'very Precarious."
Did I fay, the Account was not founded on their own
Writings ? Did I not exprefsly fay, that our Ac-
counts and ExtracJs of their oivn Writings were col-
le&ed from the left Hiftorians of thofe Times ?
And, fuppofmg they had not been founded on their
own Writings ; muft they therefore of Courle be
Precarious? Doth no Hiftory deferve Credit, but
what was written by the A3 on ? What then
becomes of the Faith of almoft all Hiftory ?
And is every Thing right and true which
Men write concerning Themfehes ? Well then !
Your Accounts, Journals, &c. are wrote by your
Faithful
Faithful Self j therefore not precarious and uncer-
tain. But yet, you now own you have written Things
nvorfe than Precarious ; Things alfolutely and confef-
fedlyfalfe. And, had you died, and the Myjlic Dove
fled away to Heaven, before your Recantation ; thefe
Faljities muft have pafied upon the World for in-
fallible 'Truths, revealed from above.
In the fame Page you catch me tripping, and
even falling into an hconjijlency. I had charitably
fuppofed, that the Metbcdifis might perhaps fet out
from real Motives of Jlnccre Piety, adding after-
P. 9. wards, " their fetting out with warm Pretences to
Reformation." Your Remark i% " If by Pretence
I mean a mere Hypocritical Pretence, I am then
guilty of a Self- contradiction." But may not your
Motives be fincere j and yet your P retentions to Re-
formation be idle, and vain, and abfurd ? (For I
did not fay Hypocritical.) And is not the World
fully fenfible what Sort of Reformation has always
been the Aim of Enthujlafts ? As to your Quejlion,
bcvj can Pretence and Reality be reconciled? We are
agreed: My whole Comparifon has proved they can-
not ; and your Recantation has confirmed it.
But I am like to be in a ivor/e Condition :
P, 10. " having faid what I can't prove, and confcjfedly exceed-
ed the Bounds of Truth." And how fo? Why, it feems
I have faid that " the Methodifts began their Adven-
tures with Field Preaching ; and yet quite the con-
trary is notorious from my own Words : After the
Methodijls had traduced the Clergy in their own
Churches and Pulpits, they fet about this pious Work
of Defamation more heartily in the Fields. Here,
you fay, my Parallel fails at frfl fetting out, myfelf
being Judge"
And
( vii )
And was I not, my good Friend, kind and can-
did in not reckoning your Pulpit- Abufes among
your wild and extravagant Adventures ; in not
laying the Adventures to your Charge, 'till you
broke into open Irregularities by inviting a Rabble
into the Fields ? And was I not right in dating
the Commencement of your Adventures from that
Time? You fay, No. " That in Reality the Me- P. 13, 15.
thodijl Adventures were begtm in the Church, before
you took the Field" Be it fo. But this is your man
frank Confejjion ; and no Part of my Charge.
Do you think the Popijh Field-Preachers did not
firft learn their Leffon, took no previous Steps, made
no Provifeon, before they fet out upon their Expe-
ditions ? Read their Legends, and be convinced.
Read but the Beginning of the Hijlory of that Re-
nowned Knight -Errant Don Quixote, (a good Ca-
tholic too) and you will find, how " he prepared
himfelf by reading Books of Chivalry, for which he
had an Extravagant Fondnefs ; filled his Head with
wild Projects, which turned his Brain ; had frequent
Difputes with his PariJh-PrieJl ; furbifhed up his
Jh-mour, and buckled it on : All this, before he ac-
tually /allied forth upon his Adventures, in order to
redrefs all Grievances, and correft all Exorbi-
tances : before he defperately encountered the Wind-
mill ; or combated the Devils in the Shape of
Cats ; or (as Sancbo brags) lodged at the Inns, all
at Difcretion, and the D 1 a Farthing to pay."
And now, Sir, how have I been guilty of an
Untruth; or how doth my Parallel fail, myfelf being
Judge ? The FacJ you own, both of Popijb and
Methodiflical Field-Preaching-, you glory in it. And of
what Moment is the precife Time of the Commence-
ment of your Adventures ? What have you gained?
Unlefs
( viii )
Unlefs it be throwing Duft into the Air, to blind
the Eyes of your Followers ; or maintaining your
Right to a litigious and cavilling Humour.
P. ii. " You thank me for informing you, that Field-
Preaching was formerly praftifed in this Nation : You
are glad it was fo ; and immediately ajk, Why then
fuch a Noife about it now /"" This Practice, Sir, oc-
cafioned an A3, or Als, againft Field-Preaching,
(and I conceive not yet formally, or virtually,
repealed) becaufe fuch Meetings were Enthu-
Jlaftical, Seditious, and Mifchievom. You indeed are
glad of this : But it affords fufficient Reafon for
making fame Noife about it now. Obferve only the
Weight and Tendency of your Argument : The
"Dominicans, Jefuiti, Francifcans, c. did formerly,
in a Wild, Fanatical, and Irregular Manner, employ
their Talents in corrupting and deceiving Man-
kind with many fal/e, fcandalous, and wicked Tenets,
to the prodigious Injury of the Public and True
Religion : This Havock they made of Civil and
Religious Truth and Happinefs, under the Majk of
Sanctity ; by Blafphemous Pretenfions and Claims
to Infpiration, Di-i'ine Calls and Directions, and Va-
riety of other Frauds. Why then fuch a Noife about
them xow ? Or what Occafion of any Oppojttion to
tliofe, who are now reviving the Method, and are
compafiing the fame End by the fame Means ? Thus
potent is your Way of Reajoning ; and' fo effectually
you get clear of thefe unlucky Papifts.
Ibid. As to " fome Degrees of Vanity, unobferved Va-~
nity, which you fay you cannot now remember j" have
but a little Patience, and your Memory will foon be
refrefhed.
P. 12. In Defence of your Conduit, you afk, " Can
you recollect no earlier, or more unexceptionable
Field-
" Tield-Preachtn than the Papijls ? What think
" you of Jefm Chrijl, and his Apojlles? Were
" they not Field-Preachers ?" And will you nevex
leave ofF your inexcnfable Pride in comparing your-
felf to Cbrijl, and his Apojlles f Will you ftill perfift
in this Prejumptuous Sin ? Will you do it again and
again in this very Pamphlet, wherein you have
fadly bewailed your Speaking in a Style too Apojiolical?
You have (nvned your Pretences to Itrfpiration, and
Ipeaking from the Spirit of God, to. be Falfe : And,
If you own their Infpiration and Divine MiJJlon to be
True, your Comparifon fails in the mod EJJential
Point. You have but Two Ways of making your
Parallel Hand ; and you may take your Choice.
You mil ft prove, either that you are Infpired and
Commiffioned from on High, like ChriJ}, and his
Apojlles ; or that They were fuch Entbujiafls as
yourfelf.
Your Attempt to wipe off the Black Art of Ca- P. 15,1?.
Jumny, and even to retort it upon m\felf, is really a
'Majler-piece. " You mvn your Speaking againft
the Clergy was not in the Spirit of Cbriji, or with
the like Divine Authority ; and that there was too
much Severity in your f.rjl Zeal. All therefore you
would infer is this, that what fome may term Gall
cf Bittermfs and black Art of Calumny, may be No-
thing but an Honeji Teftitnony againft the Corruptions
of a Degenerate Church. And you juftify your Zeal
by the Examples of John Baptijl and St. Stephen,
who called the impenitent and hardened JFVJS, a
Generation of Vipers, jliff-nedcJ, and uncircumcifed in
Heart and Ears, always refifting the Holy Glojl ;
of our Saviour, denouncing no lefs than Thirteen
Wees againft the Scribes and Pharifees ; of Jfaiah
VOL. I. H .and
( X)
and Jeremiah, condemning the wicked Men of
tbofe Days.
Truely, Sir, you have much mended the Matter ;
and drawn a moft Conc/ujfoe Inference, from your
Confejfion of not fpeaking agaiiift the Clergy with a
Ckrijl-like or dpcftolical Spirit, of too much Seve-
rity in your Zeal ; and when you fay " The Me-
thodijls for fome Time have laid down a Trade,
which I am taking up.
And how am I taking up this Trade of Calumny ?
f>.i7,i8. To prove this, " You gather fome of my Flowers
on this Occafion ; This Dangerous and Prefumptuous
Seft Strolling Predicant! Itinerant Entkufiafts
Methodical Enthufeajts." To which I anfwer ; If
this be Calumny, it comes out of your civ Mouth :
You have ccnfej/ed, or boajled of, every Word and
P-3M3; Syllable of it. You have confejed " mingling
Wild-fre with your Zeal : To groundlefs Pretences
to Infpiration, to imposing your civn Spirit upon the
World inftead of the Spirit of God (the very EJJence
of Enthujiafm) you plead guilty : Prefumftion among
fome of your Seel you readily grant : And you
P. 13,41 boajl of wandering into feveral Parts of the World,
as a Preacher : You glory in taking the Field. " A nd
P. 18. now I readily agree, that " thefe Flowers (growing
in your own Garden J are not of a very Scriptural
Scent:'
P. 18,19. But you afk, " Why muft I difurb the Bead*
rake into their very J}fics y and call up Mr. $e-i*.arJ,*s
Ghojl, -in order to terrify the Reader? 1 ' If this be
fuch a Terrible Crime, who has done it more than
the MethoJiJii ? Who more than yourfelf? You
have treated the Author of tie whole Duty of Man,
and Archbifhcp Tillctfcn, in a moft fcurrilous Man-
ner : In this very Pamphlet you have raked into the
( xi ;
jljbes of Lutlcr, Calvin, 7.idngliui, Cranmer, Rid-
ley, and Hooper ; nay, of Paul and Barnabas ; and P- 45-
have freely cenfured their Faults. You urge, " that I*, i*.
Flowers enough might have been gathered out of
Mr. We/leys Journals and year's ; and I might let
your dear warm Friend, your Fellcnv - Traveller
Sward, lie undifturbed. What hath be done r " I
doubt, Sir, you have been dabbling in a Play, and
learned youf Reafoning from the Facetious Knight ;
" No, my good Lord, banifh Peto, banilh Ear-
Mpb, banifh Point j but for fweet Jack FalftaJT,
kind Jack Falflaff, true Jack Faljiaf, valiant Jack
Faljlajf, banifh not him"
In plain Truth, (for I beg Pardon for rafhly
touching upon a Play) Mr. Sexxard publifhed a
Journal full of Calumny, EntLujiafm, dangerous and
frefumptuoits Tenets, ftill working warmly in the Me-
tbodijls : But he muft not be touched, becaufe he is
dead. And your Rule muft be acknowledged a very
Expedient one. For then, had your good Self died
before your Recantation, all your ConfeJ/ed Faljities
and Impoftures muft have pafled for Sacred Truths,
without any Examination or Contradiction. Then no
Antient Heretic, no Infdel, no Enthujiaji, no Eroacher
of the moft 'wicked Dofirines, could ever be called
in Quejlion. And (to the great Comfort of your
Heart) then the fanatical wandering Gbojls of St.
Francis and Ignatius had not been called up, to haunt
and flare you in the Face. To make you as eafy as
I can ; Seeing I fhall have Occafion to call up the
fame Ghojls again, I give you previous Notice, that
you may not \>Q frighted.
In the mean Time you don't confider what a
Fright you have put me into. For, befides " leav-
ing me to Mr. Wefleys Correction," you bolt out
H 2. fuddenly
( xii-)'
P. 30. fuddenly with Something SO Extraordinary '&.
my 1 7th Seftion, that it calls for a Remark" You
/<//? me; you put me in a Panic. But I muft
Hand the Shock. Out it conies, that " I have
called fnftaritaneous Conwerjion a Fanatical Pecu-
liarity" Is this your Something S O Extraordinary ?
I fuppofe net. It muft lie in your following,
Remark ; " I prsfwae Inftantaneous Regeneration
te mull be a Fanatical Peculiarity alfo. What then
" becomes of that Diana of the^preferit Age, Bap-
" tiftnal Regeneration, which muft be Injlanta~
" neons /*" By this Time I begin to recover my (
Senfes, and be able to /peak. You, Mr. Whitefeid*
may be as Prejumptuom as you pleafe : / prfjutned
mt to fay any fuch Thing : I neither mentioned,-
nor thought of, Baptifmal Regeneration. But IF I
had ; Oh ! how you would chaftife me ? I an-
fwer very Laconically s IF. Moreover, I ajk you*
v.-hy you will talk at this idle, and even wicked
"R't"* Manner ? What St. Paul exprefdy calls the Wajb-
T ' ^* *'"> or Lavcr, of Regeneration, you profanely Ckriflen
by the Heatkcnijh Name of Diana. " Baptifmal
Reget;eration is the Diana of the prefent Age."
P. 15. Take again therefore your own Words, Pretty
Language this, Sir ! Such as ought once more to
bring you to your Penitentials, and extort another
Aim! Alas!
P. 31. Again, you charge me with " calling AJfurancet
of Salvation another Prefutnptuws Imagination" \
did To. And you return to your old prevaricating
Trick of making me fay, what I did not fay; and,
clanging the Term by flipping in the Word Faith in-
flead of Salvation, you immediately alk, " Is Ai-
furanceof Faith then, in your Opinion, a Prcfumptnoits
Imagination . ? " Whence you run on Arguing, as
wi/e/j as you did before.
As-
As I have chiefly confulted your Journals, you
fell me, " that in this I have a&ed wifely enough ^33,34*
for my Purpofe, but not candidly ; fince there were
Later Writings of your's, which might as eafily
have been procured." Indeed, Sir, I did not care
to lofe fo much Time. Nor probably would your
Later Writings turn out much to your Advantage.
But, fuppofing the beft, mind the Prettinefs of your
Argument : It was the Comparer 's Purpofe to dif-
cover Mr. Whitefeld^ Enthufiafms ; and therefore
he ought not to look for them where they 'were t
le found, but where they ivere not.
So much for your acute and judicious Remarks.
Let us proceed to your Confej/fion, and Recantation.
For, " undeferving as my Pamphlet was, it has P. j,
ferved a good Purpofe, and been the Means of your
reflifying fame Mijlakes." And you have kindly
given us a, Lidk of the " Honey that came out of
the Eater."
After you have refltfa d your Mijlakes, and con-
fejfed them, you fay indeed, " that this was not P. 34,
extorted from you by my Pamphlet :" Which a
Captious Perfon might take for a Sort of Self -Con-
tradition. But I regard not that ; feeing either
Way the fame good Purpofe is ferved.
Accordingly, a Regard to the Common Benefit in-
clines me to enumerate your Retraced Mijtakes ;
and Common Jujlice to acknowledge a great Ap-
fearance of your Ingenuous and Sincere Mind, - and
Conducl.
" You confefs too much Severity in your firft P, 17,19,
" Zeal, by far too much againft Archbimop 7/7-
*< lotfon : Young awakened Perfons are apt to run P. 22,34,
" into Extremes, which fall off when they have re-
H 3 " ceived
M celved the Spirit- of Adoption ; your Journal-,
" were fome of your mofl early Performances, in
" the wry Heights of your firft Popularity, which is
" apt to make theJiroKgeJi Head run giddy, and do
" Things, which After-Experience and riper Judg-
P. 27. n^f teac j 1 t fe m to corre ft and ame nd: You re-
" trad with all your Heart your having defired or
" prayed for IH-Ufage, Perfection, Martyrdom,
" Death, &c. as proceeding from an irregular,
" though nuell-tneant, Zeal; now finding^ yourfelf
P. 32. no Ways fo difpofed. As to the Doftrine of Af*
" furances, you readily grant that fome of the Metbo-
" dijls, who really had not this Affurance, have pre-
" fumptuoujly imagined they had if, there being
P. 38. " Counterfeit as well as Current Coin. You con-
- < " fefs, you were followed with the Hofannas of
" the Multitude.; and your too ftrong Exprefliona
" concerning Abfolute Reprobation ; and your ex-
P. 39. <* pofag your Friend Mr. Weflny : That in the Col-
" leftion of Letters (written by the Methodijls) many
" Things were 'very Exceptionable ; which there-
tit ** " ^ ore ^ ave ' 3een S u PP re JJ e <l f r ^ OIne Years :
" That you don't nenv approve of making a Lottery
P.4o,4i. '< of tke. Scriptures : That your Mijlakes and
". Blunders have been frequent ; and when you are
" fenjllle of any more, they {hall be puhlickly ac-
" kntrwledgedand retraced: That, when you carried
" high Sail, running, through a whole Torrent of
" Popularity and Cor.ten.pt, you have been in
T. 42. < Danger of overfetting : That you mentioned
** Divine Communications with fome Degrees of Va-*
P- 4,3- *' nity : Something of our civn Imagination may
" pojfilly be blended with Metbodifm ; nay, that
" Imagination has mixed itfelf with the Work, cannot
T. 45. " be denied: You eonfefs many Offences and Dm-
" Jions
" fans among yourfelves, and own it mujl needs be
" that fuch Offences come." Laftly, when I
charged the Methodijls with ftealing the Sacred Fire
from Heaven, by bold Pretences to Revelations,
Inflations, &c. and alked, Where will thefe bold
Enthufiajls flop ? (Compar. p. 48.) your Reply is,
" I anfwer for one, even here, Sir. And I will
" freely and readily acknowledge, that you and others
" have had too much Occafion for Refefiion, by
" feveral Things that have been unwarily dropped
" up and down in my Journals ."
Remember then, that by flopping here you give up,
the remaining Parts, and plead guilty to the moft
Capital Articles of my Charge ; which were,
" Divine Prefences, particularly Chrift vijible in the
Sacrament, fitting at the Head of the Table, and
talking to Mr. Wbitefeld; -familiar Communications,
and amorous Converfations with God ; Extraordinary
Revelations, Infpiration ; Special Direflions, Mijflions t
and Calls ; Ecjtafies and Vifions, &c."
I would now proceed to your famous Penitential
Letter of Retractations ; but defire firfl to make a
few Obfervations upon the above Ccnfejjions.
As to thofe Extremes common in your young
Perfons, andfa/Ihig off when they receive the Spi-
rit of Adoption ; pray acquaint us with the precife
Time of your own receiving it, that we may be cer-
tified when you got clear of all fuch Extremes, and
attained a Jujl Medium.
When you make Excufes for your groundless
Pretences to Infpiration, a Divine CommiJ/ion, &c.
on Account of your moft early Days, and in the
Height of your firft Popularity, when your Head
was giddy ; you hereby confefs, that you was moft
Popular, when you was the greatejl Lyar ; bell
C *T )
io<ved and admired, when yoil feduced the Multitude
by Cheat and Impojlure. And what zfae Compli-
ment is this to your Fott&weri Underftanding, and
your o-ivn Integrity ? What Fools have you made of
them, and what a Kn of yourfelf?
When you received the Hofannas of the Multi-
tude, I really thought it an Error of the Pre/s for
Huzzas. But you confefs that " Ho/anna was
your own Word ; -wrong and unguarded, but not
intended to convey a Profane Idea." Wrong and
unguarded ! What a tender Expreffion of this great
Offence ? And how poffibly could your own Mind
abftradl from Profanenefs an Application to yourfelf
of the Divine Honour paid to the Adorable Redeemer
of Mankind ? The Word indeed hath formerly been
ufed in Acclamations to fome outrageous Enthujiajls.
And particularly, Sir James Ware (Hunting of the
Romijb Fox, P. 229 ) relates of " one Anth. Nu-
gent, a Popifa Prieft, that he was one of James
NayJor's Difciples, and went before him through?
the Streets of Briftol, crying out Ho/anna" I pre-
fume, you again " thank me for acquainting you
with thefe former Inflames, and are glad they were
pradtifed in our Nation feveral Years ago."
Whereas you was in Danger of (werfetting
from a Torrent of Popularity and Contempt ; I
congratulate you on your prefent lefs dangerous Si-
tuation : Your Popularity is pretty well over; for
the other you muft take your Chance.
Whereas you fay, " the Offences and Divifions
among yourfelves were about fome Non-EJ/entials ;"
Is this the Truth ? And will you Jland to your
Words ? Can differing about Non-E/entiah be re-
conciled to your accufing each other of preaching
Damnable and EJ/ent jelly-Erroneous Doftrines,
horrid
( xvii y
horrid Bla/pbemies, another Gofpel, &c. ? (Which
'.vill appear anon.) This being the Cafe, 'tis plain
you quarrelled about Effentials, or elfe your are
mutually Falfe Accufers of your Brethren. Either
Way, there is fomething EJ/e?rtially Uncbrijlian
among you*
But come we now to your Penitential Letter,
wherein Come of your Cant is Recanted, and we
are taught to confefs your ingenuous and Jincere
Dealing. " To convince me that this is the real P. 34.-
Language of your Heart, and not extorted by my
Pamphlet, you produce an Extraff of a Letter to
a worthy Friend in South Carolina ; and publimed,
with very little Alteration, in Scotland Months ago,
dated June 24, 1748;" Whereby I am indeed
convinced of your Temper. You will do- nothing
by CompuIJion : Nothing mail be extorted from you.
But let you alone ; and you will confefs as much
Enthufiafm and Impcjlure as one could wifh. May
I have the Liberty, Sir, to afk, Why this Ccnfeflon
was fent privately to a Friend in Carolina, and not
to your own Countrymen ? Why did you fuffer your
Followers to- lie fo long under a Deluficn? And
not publifh your Recantation immediately, as foon
fts you found you rfelf both deceiving, and being de-
ceived? Why publimed in Sc otland rather than in
England? And who knows whether this Part of
the Nation would have been bldied with any
Publication, unlefs it had been extorted by my
Pamphlet ?
That you msy have fulijufnce done you, and
as your farther Retraftation will appear cleared in
your own Words, it may be proper to reprint the
Letter.
Qn
p. 35 . On Board tie Brlgg Betfey, Copt. Efteen Commander".
June 24, 1748.
" "Reverend Sir,
<l Yefterday I made an End of revifmg all
" my Journals. Bleffed be God for letting me
" have Leifure to do it ! I purpofe to have a-
" new Edition before I fee America. Alas! Alas!
" in how many Things have I judged, and acted
" wrong ! I have been too rafh and hafly in giv-
" ing Characters both of Places and Perfons.
" Being fond of Scripture Language, I have often
" ufed a Style too dpoft&lical, and at the fame Time
" I have been too bitter in my Zeal. Wild- fire
" has been mixed with it ; and I find I have fre-
" quently wrote and fpoke too much in my own
" Spirit, when I thought I was writing and fpeak-
" ing entirely by the Affiftance of the Spirit of
* God. I, have likewife too much made Impref-
" fions, without the written Word my Rule of aft-
" ing ; and too foon, and too explicitly, % publifhed
" what had better been kept in longer, or left to
" be told after my Death. By thefe Things, I
" have given fome throng Touches to God's Ark,
" hurt the blefTed Caufe I would defend, and
" ftirred up needlcfs Oppofition. This has hum-
" bled me much fmce I have been on Board, and
" made me think of a fiying of Mr. Henrys,
" Jofeph had mere Ihnefty than he Had Policy, or he
" never ^vculd ka<ve told of his Dreams. At the
" fame Time, I cannot but blcfs, and praife, and
" magnify that good and gracious God, who im-
" parted to me fo much of his holy Fire, and car-
" ricd me, a poor weak Youth, through fuch a
" Torrent
" Torrent both of Popularity and Contempt, and
" fet fo many Seals to my unworthy Miniitrations.
" I blefs him for ripening my Judgment a little
" more, for giving me to fee, confefs, and, I hope,
" in fome Degree to torretf and amend fome of its
" Miftakes. I thank God for giving me Grace to
" embark in fuch a blejj'cd Ca;efc, and pray him to
" give me Strength to hold on, and increafe in
" Zeal and Love to the End. Thus, dear Sir, I
" have unburdened my Heart to you. I look
" upon you to be my Hdns debates, and therefore
" deal thus freely. If I have Time and Freedom,
fl before we land, I think to begin and write a fhort
" Account cf what has happened for thefe feven
" Years lail paft ; and when I get on Shore, God
" willing, I purpofe to revife and correct the firft
" Part of my Life."
The Principal Point here, and what immediately
.firikes the Eye, is your free CcnfeJJion, and doleful
Lamentatkn of having frequently impofed upon the
World, la&faluced your Fc!/o-j.-ers, by Tatfbood and
Deceit ; and that too in a Matter of the bigbefl
Concern, the Salvation of their Souls. You have
confefled yourfelf an E-/'.tknJiaJ}, and confequently
juftifodmc in bringing fuch a Charge. " In many
Things acted and judged t v:rcng t been bitter, par-
ticularly in given Characters " Which proves your
Trade of Calumny. " Often ufed a Style too 4po-
fieUca!" And why will you continue it, and fo
often, again in this very PamfUet ? " fri/t/jirehas
been mixed with your Zeal, and with God's Holy
Fire: - Ycu have wrote and froke in your own
Spirit, and put it upon ths World entirely for the
Spirit of Gcd -, have made hr.prcj/iens, and not the
written
t xx )
-written Word of God your Rule of AFting" And
this I hope you will own to be Genuine Enthufeafm,
and in the bad Senfe of the Word,
Thefe things you have Acknonyledged, Bewailed,
and Retraced ; and would be thought, no Doubt,
to aft Ingenuoi'Jly, and fpeak Sincerely.
Confidering therefore all your Confer/ions and Rg'
trattations of your Fanatical Sallies, had I the Ho-
nour and Happinefs of being one of your Sett, I
{hould propofe an Addrefs to you (with great Sub-
miffion) in the following Manner. " We are,
" Sir, of the Number of thofe, who have attended
(C your Per/on andDotfr/xe; allured by your/antft-
" fed Pretences, and high Claims. Being perfuaded
" firft into a bad Opinion of our proper Paflors
" and Churches, we followed you into the Streets,
*'< the Fields and Defarts. We crouded, hugged,
" kij/edyou; made you Prefents and Entertainments,
" receiving you as an Apojlk, or Angel from Heaven.
" And this too at the very Juncture of Time,
" when you was the moft Deceitful Worker, and
" grievoufly feducing your precious Lambs. For at
" length we find you declaring, that your Infal-
" lible Jnjiruttions, and which we devoured as fo
" many Oracles, were but fo many Mijlakes, Blun-
" ders, or Lyes. Your being guided by Impulfes
" and Imprejitons, and teaching us to depend upon
" them as certain, is now acknowledged to be a
". precarious and even falfe Rule, ufurping the
" Place of God" 1 * Word : Though you once aflured
" us, it was as eafy to know when the Spirit made
" an Imprejfion on the Soul, as to feel a,nd know
** when the Wind makes an Jmpreffion on the
" Body. You taught, that our AJJurance of Safaa-
~" .lion was clearly written upon the Heart, as by a
" Sun-Be*m ; whereas now, Alas ! Alas ! we only
" Prefumptuoujly imagined that we had it. You
" made your Boaft of a Divine Mijfion ; Special
" Calls and Direflions from Heaven ; Inspirations^
" Communications, Coniierfations Face to Face ivitlt
" God:, which, by your later Account, and ConfeffioK,
" were all mere Fancy and Fiflion, and the Product
" of a fertile Invention. You have climbed up,
" andy?o/<? the facred Fire from Heaven ; have even
" Deified yourfelf, and put your trwn Spirit in the
" Seat of the Holy Gbojl. You confefs you have
" fcattered Wild-fire among us, whereby we felt
" ftrange and unufual Burnings, and fome of us
" have been terrified out of our Senfe* ; without any
" Warning to keep our Dijlance, out of the Reach
" of this dangerous Cotnpofetion. Seeing then you
" have thus {hammed us off with Counterfeit Coin
" inflead of true Sterling, and have owned your-
" felf a Cheat and Impojlcr ; what remains, but to
" leave you to yourfelf, and return to our native
" Fold ? A Stranger will we not follow, but will
" flee from him ; who ConfeJJedly came not in by
" the Door, but climbed up fome other Way. Re-
" member, that at beft you are now but a common
" Mortal, upon a Level with ordinary Churchmen:
" Stripped of your Extraordinary Celejiial Endow-
" nients, and Supernatural Powers, you can hence-
' forth only make a Figure from your natural or
" acquired Abilities.' 1 ''
Oh ! what a Fall is there ?
I was going on ; but am fuddenly flopped by
your feafonable Monition ; " But hold, Sir : And, p 4 ao .
" before you run yourfelf quite out of Breath, I
VOL. I. I "intreat
( xxii )
" intreat you to flop a little, Vvhile I put to you a
" few Queftions. Believe you that I am perfe&ly
" in earneji, and have made an Abfolute Recan-
" tation ? Do not I infert divers Softenings, Referees,
" Salvo's, and Exceptions to my general Confeffion?"
I cry your Mercy, Sir ; 'tis very true. And, to fave
you the Trouble, I mall recoiled feme of them :
But then, I fear, fome Doubts may arife about your
Sincerity. Accordingly here follows an imperfett and
rough Draught of what you might truely andjujlly
plead ; and to which I mail not have the Face to
make any Objection.
" Whereas I George Whitefield have made ample
" Confejfion and Retraftation of my Entbujiafms and
" Impojiures ; I do hereby (to prevent all Mifcon-
" JlruSlion) claim the Privilege of explaining myfelf,
" in what Senfe, and bo c u> far, my Words are to be
" underftood. Saving to myfelf like wife the Benefit
" of future Exceptions, &c. In general, I plead, that,
*' in my deepejl Confeflions of my moft heinous Of-
c fences, I only acknowledge Mijlakes, or Blunders,
" fpeaking and writing Ibme nvrong and unguarded
<e 'Ibirigs, Things unwarily dropped up and dtftvn,
'' Want of Caution, with other tender and gentle Ex-
preflions. And Malice itfelf muft allow thefe
*' Softenings to be an Extenuation of Guiit. More-
" over, even of thefe Mijiakes, Sec. I have not re-
" linquifhed, nor deftred to relinquifh, All; but
' only a Part of them ; and that Part too not En-
" tirefy. For my 'very Words are, ' I blefs God for
' ripening my Judgment a little more, for giving
" me \ofee and confefs, and I hope in fome Degree
" to correft and amend fame of my Miftakes.' And
*' am I not here fufficiently upon the Referve ?
" 'Tis true, I confefs "and lament many -faljhoods
" and
( xxiii )
" and Entbufiafms publifhed in my Journals : But
" 'tis true alfo, that I am only forry for doing this
" toofion, and too explicitly ; and declare that what
"I am now aftiamed of had been better kept in
" longer, or left to be told after my Death? And
" hereby I might have avoided this Shamt of a
" Recantation : A noble Legacy had been left to the
" Bands and Societies ; who would have been en-
" titled to the Honour and Profits arifing from my
" pious Fallacies : My Untruths and Deceits had never
" been known ; becaufe no Candid Perfon would
" have raked into my djbts to contradift me ; and I
" could not have contradicted myfelf. I do indeed
" publickly acknowledge that my Dreams were not
" from Heaven, but mere lllujtons of Fancy : And
*' yet obferve how Artfully I compare my Cafe
" wich that of Jofeph ; and fay, that my publishing
f ' them as Divine might perhaps be Impolitic, but
" was no Impeachment of my Honefy.
" To be more particular. As to Vanity and
" Pride, I have often confeilcd and bewailed the
" Naughlitiefs cf my proud Heart ; and, when/nW
" Hellijh Thoughts ufed to crowd in upon me,
" have prayed to God, ' Give me Humility, or I
" perifti.' But pray remember how Ifoften this
" into fame Degrees of Vanity, and thofe either
" unobferved or forgotten ; and that I flill defire to
" retain a proper Share of decent Pride. For, when ift De
" my Heart was furred up to pray againft Spiritual p * 7I>
" Pride, my expreis Words were, that God would
" always keep me humbled only in feme Meafure.
" The very iwji and bigheji Icfiance of Vanity,
" that of applying Hofanr.cfs to my dear Self,
" which too hath laid me low before God and
" IvLw ; this I have brought down to a Thing
I 2
wrong
( xxiv )
P. 38. " wrong and unguarded, but not intended to convey
" a Profane Idea.
" I have maintained the Doftrine of Abfdute
" Reprobation fo ftiffly, and to that Degree, as to be
"charged by Mr. We/ley with horrid Blafpbemy ;
" and my Enemies fay, he hath confuted me in a
" ftrong and inafterly Manner. But by my Confejpon
*' this dwindles away into my having dropped 'fornt
" too flrong ExpreJJlons.
" If I am forced to own that I have traduced tbt
" Clergy ; but for fome Time laid down the Trade
P.t5-xS. " of Defamation ; you fee how foon I take it up
" again ; and defend myfelf by the Example of the
" dpofJes ; (though, I own, not with ihe/ame Spirit,
" or J-.'.thrity) and make tlem as great Slanderers
" as myfelf.
" If I lamentably acknowledge my having often
" ufed a Style too Apofiolical\ you fee how quickly
" and frequently I ftar: up again in the Form of an
-" jpofllc.
" One of my moft important and glaring Recan-
" tations is this. The Author of the Comparifon
" aiking, Where will thefe bold Entbufiafis flop ?'
" proceeds to our moft avowed, but moft Prefump-
" tucus Claims of Infpiration, Revelations, Caiantt*
" nications ivilh God, Special Calls, Divine MiJ/tons t
P. 33. "and the like. Here I inftantly Jlop Jbcrt ; am
" pricked in Confcience, howl and cry, renounce
" and give up thefe Blafpbemous Pretences. But then
" fail not to obferve with what Softening and Re-
" ftrve I make my Retreat. They are Things un-
" warily dropped up and down in my Journals.
P.4i,4s. " And 1 pofitively infift, that/one of my Infpira-
" tions, &c. are not grcundlefs and pretended, but
" really frsm above. Accordingly, mind how I
" have
(XXV )
" have confounded the Ingenious ^iuthaf of Con-
"federations on tie C.oavfrfan and Afoflltjbip of St.
" Paul ; who has ventured roundly to AfTert that
" A L L the Di<vine Communications, Illuminations and
" Ecfajies of the Mcthodijis fprung from no other
*' Sources but Self-conceit, Vapours, and Imagination*
" I fay this is quite unbecoming fo Ycung a Con-
" -vert. Nor fhall 1 regard any Reply, as if this
"were a malicious or unmannerly Re/Jeflion upon
" an Excellent Perfon ; or quite mifoecoming me,
" who was fo Young a Convert to Entbujiafm, and
" but fo Young a Convert again to fome fmall Share
" of Common Senfe. This is a mere Trife, in Com-
" parifcn of the Ad-vantage I gain by my Referees
" and Exceptions : Whereby it lies ftill in my Power
" to fix what Portion I pleafe of my Fancies and
" Pretences upon Heaven ; and henceforward to
" put the fame Trick again upon the Dear Innocent
" Lambs.
" Nor can the Comparer limfelf efcape the Ef-
" feds of my Saint-like drtif.cs and Management.
" I own the Enthufeafms which he has_/Jr;r/Wout
" of my Journals : JBut then I have cunningly fent
" him to an empty Bury, my later Writings, where
" he can find nothing. I own too, fome of his
" Popijh Parallels are exacl enough. But what am
" I the worfe for treading in a Popifli Track ?
" Once, or twice, however, I have fairly caught
" him without any Parallel at all ; and fo left him
" to that poor Excufe, that fome of our Enthufeafms
*' are unexampled.
" What V/ounds I have given to Metbodifm by
" my Confeffions, I endeavour to bind up again,
" and heal. Have I given any wrong Touches to
" Go<Ts Ark ? Still I fay, it is God's Ark. Me-
" thodifm
( xxvi )
* tbocRfm is ftill Cod's Cau/e, the Elejfed Caufe. I
" ftill glory in having taken the Field, continue the
" Trade, and will continue it, while I can get
" Cujlomers. If our Zeal be irregular, 'tis likewife
" wall -meant. If Counterfeit Coin be ftirring amongft
P, 43. " us, we deal mfome true Sterling. Though I have
" been throwing about my Wild-fire, 'tis qualified
" with a Mixture of God's holy Fire. Though I
" confefs it Undeniable that Imagination has mixed
" itfelf with the Work of Metbodifm ; yet in the
" very preceding Words it comes with a double
" Per adventure, ' Something of our own Imagi-
" nation rr.ay poffibly be blended with it.'
" As to the grievous Quarrels and Broils among
" ourfelves ; - 'tis true, we accufed each other of
" teaching Damnable Doctrines, Dottrines Ejfentially-
" Erroneous, a New, and Another Gofpel, C3V. But
" I have now whittled away all thefe rough and
P. 45. " hard Names, and fmoothed them down into ' Of-
" fences and Divisions about fome Non-EJ/entiali,
" fuch as muft needs be among good Men.' And,
*' however intemperate and raging our Heats may be
" fuppofed, I prove they were not properly the
p. 46i " Effects of our own Spirit ; becaufe Satan flood
" clofe by us, blowing up the Coals, in order to
" raife a Smoke, to blacken the Work of God. And,
" whatever be the Guilt, I have taken Care- that
" our Firft Reformers, and even Barnabas and Paul,
" mail come in for Snacks, and be as bad as our-
" lelves.
" J u ^S e ^l0^y, my Friends, whether the Spirit of
" Whitefield is not fill the fame ? Whether by thefe
" Saving Claufes, Softenings, and Exceptions, I have
" not in fome meafure Unco^fejfed my Confejffions, and
" Retraced my Retractations ? My Enemies perhaps
( xxvii )
" may be fo very unreafonabk, as to charge me
" with Saying and Unfaying, Prevarication and In-
" conjljlency, Dijingenuity and Injtncerity. But, when P. 37.
" the Way of Duty is the Way of Safety, I regard
" not Confequences. I have plainly proved, that at P. 15.
" prefent I am too Serious to make Sport with my
" own Deceivings ; and they are very welcome to
" confer what Title upon me they pfeafe."
I am, Sir, a little afraid that fome Doubts may
arife about your Sincerity. But, for my Part, I ac-
knowledge your Plea to be true ; and mail keep
my Word and Promife of making no Objection.
However, for this Inftance of my Love and Friend-
Jbipy I may expeft you to pay fome Regard to my
Advice, as to the following Particulars ; (wherein
too all Methodijls have Reafon and Right to join)
efpecially as you fay, and your Demi-Recantation
proves, that " you are not altogether Incorrigible.' 1 ''
You begin your Penitential Epijile thus : " Yefter- P. 3 5-37.
" day I made an End of Revijtng all my Journals"
May it not be Expedient to revife them again, and
again ; that all Mijlakes may be Refiifed ? For you
add, " Alas ! Alas ! in how many Things have I
"judged and acled wrong ?" For the Sake of Truth
and Right, fpecify exaftly in <uubat Particulars. " I
" have been too rajb and bajty in my Characters
" of Places and Perfom." Take care to do Jujiice
to fuch as may have lojl their good Name; and
make Rejiitution, as becomes a True Penitent. " I
" have often ufed a Style too Apojlolical" Be Punc-
tual in relating fairly <when you fpoke as an Apojlie,
and when not. " I have been too bitter." Let nothing
but Honey drop from your Pen. " I have mixed
" Wild-fre with my Zeal, and with God^s holy Fire"
Afne Compaction, Sir, this I But dijlinguijk jprecifely
the '
( xxviii )
the Proportions ; fay when and <tt'/fnt you were this
Dangerous Incendiary ; fcparate your Sulphur and
other Cotnbuflible Ingredient i ; Extinguijb the /Yaw*; ;
<W ^<?r Brain, and meddle no more with Wild-
fre. " 1 have frequently wrote and fpoke in my
" cnvn Spirit, when I thought it entirely tie Spirit of
" Go/" An E/entially-EntbuJiaJlic and _/*// /V*-
fitmption ! Be therefore <L>*ry Exatt and Explicit in
determining what came from God, and what from
the Delufion of fancy. And, when you have done
this, your "Readers and Followers will expeft fome
<-Aw and tiftinguijhing Marks, how they may judge
for the future between Divine Infpiration, and the
Operations of your cwx Mind. Retire into your
Mint-Office ; call in all your Counterfeit Coin ; melt
it down ; Circulate no more bafe Money. Let your
new Coinage be all true Standard, and with a Mori
that may certainly be depended upon. To this
End, perufe diligently and calmly my Comparifon,
which will afford you fome gentle, but ufeful Hints
towards your Corrections and Emendation*. f t humb
it by Day, and dream of it by Night. "I have
* too much made Impreffions, without the Written
" Word my Rule of acting." Invert your Rule ;
The Written Word without Imprejfions. " I have
" Pulli/hed too foon what had better been kept in
" longer" Take the preceding Advice, No Im-
preffion. " By thefe Things I have given fome
a Sam. < wrong Touches to God" 1 * Ark" This was t/ze's
VAl 6 ' 7 ' Offence. He wzsfmitten for his Raftinefs ; fo are
you. He was an Intruder, and meddled (however
pious might be his Intention) where he had no Bu~
jtncfe ; fo havejwa.
But, ?s you have farther Defegns', our Advice
p. 37. fiiall attend you. " I think of writing a fliort Ac-
" count
( xxix )
" count of what has happened for thefe Seven
" Tears laft paft." Take at leaft Seven Tears in
doing it. You have feen the Fate of your former
Journals : And, if the reft appear abroad in thp
fame Exceptionable Drefs, you may occafion fome
needlefs Merriment, and fo be guilty of a moft hor-
rible Sin. You know how warmly you have de-
clared againft Diver/ions of all Kinds. And think
you an Account of more Adventures will not caufe
fome Diver/ion ? You may not perhaps intend fuch
a, Confequence ; but remember Mr. Wejley has
proved Laughing-Fits to be fometimes Irrefiftible,
Cafes happening when m Mortal can btlp it.
" I purpofe to revife and correft the Fir/I Part of p. -y.
u my Life" An arduous Labour, I confefs. But
fend up a Petition to Hercules, to come and help you
cleanfe this Augean Stable. And, whea this Dung it
ejefled, I am afraid your Second Part will want
cleanfing as much : And likewife the jV. &c. &c.
of your Journals. If you mould happen not to be
debarred the Ufe of Ptn, Ink, find Paper, and my
Advice would be kindly received ; I would put
you in Mind of the Poet's Sentence, Una Utura
foteji : One Univerfal Blot will ferve ; and ferve
better than fo much blotting and blurring, as will
otherwife be needful. Or, for another Effectual
Way, you may Purify your Works by Fire. And as
you have already ConfeffeJ t andjbenued your Deeds ;
it might be of Service to the Gofpel (tho' not to
Methodifm) to bring your Curious Books together, and Afo xlx
burn them before all Men. Your Method was fome- ' 1 ^'
thing of this Nature, when you " Stipprejjed your P< 39<
Letters ; becaufe many Things in them were very
Exceptionable, though good in the Main.'"'
But
f XXX )
But hold ! I had beft retraft this Advice, fo
impertinent, fo hafty, fo unneceflary, fo detrimental
* 34^3 7- to th,e Public. For " After-Experience and riper
Judgment have taught you to corrett and amend all
your Performances : And for the future you are to
come out in a more unexceptionable Drejs" What
a defirable^and delightful ?peftacle ! I almofl long to
have a Peep at you in your Unexceptionable Drefs.
I begin to be in an Ecflajy. Acw methinks I fee
you, like a Player after he hath Afied Us Party
Gripping off the dazzling Tinfel, in which he jlruttect
upon the Stage : Now like Prejbyter John tearing
away year Points, Tags, Ribbands, Fringe, Lace,
and Embroidery : AW; again (Paulo tnajora
canamus) methinks I fee you divefting yourfelf of
your Cdeftial Garments and Ornaments ; plucking off
your appropriated Blojfims of Aaron's Rod, flipping
off the Child Samuel'* Linen EpboJ, throwing
Elijah Mantle from your Shoulders j and modeftly
Jlanding forth in the ordinary Attire of a plain
Gown and Caffock.
And here I am calling about for fome of my
fopijb Parallels. But, Alas ! they all prore Defec-
tive. I find indeed, in turning over the Legends,
the Virgin and other Celejlial Inhabitants often de-
fcending, and bringing Flowers., Ribbands, and Gar-
lands to adorn their Male and Female Dt<votees on
Earth. I find too Copes, Co*wls, and other Vejlments,
fent down from Heaven, for Founders of Orders, and
Favourite Saints. But I find not that Humility and
Simplicity in any of them, as to fur render up, and
fend back their Heavenly Prefents, and condsfcend to
make their Appearance in Mortal Raiment.
This Particular being fo much to your Honour,
I had a fair Opportunity of taking my Leave de-
cently.
( xxxi )
cently. But a certain Critical Friend, pulling me
by the Sleeve, would needs put me in Mind of an
Qmijfion of a PaJJ'age or two, wherein you dif-
covered fomething of Management, and Inconjiftency.
" When you begun your Adventures of Field- P. it.
Preaching, you had (you fay) in your Eye the Apv-
Jlles, St. Pan/, Peter, and John : You exprefsly call
thefe Field-Preachers, becaufe one of them Preached
an Excellent Sermon from a Place called Mars- Aft
hill -, and the Two others in Salomons Porch.' 1 ' 1 Now xv u. ^^^
my Friend remarks, that this fame Mars-hill was
the Court of the Areopagites, -the bigheft Court of
Jujlice in Athens ; before which St. Paul was
brought by Force. . Which you might have feen in
the Margin of the Bible j nor could your Profound
Learning fuffer you to be Ignorant of it. Nor was
Solomon s Porch a Field, but a Part of the Temple:
" 7 e fo s walked in the Temple in Solomon s Porch" J '" 1 **
This Sort of Management he looks upon as an Im- * 3 '
fojition upon your Readers.
He obferves again, that you often make yoar-
felf a Champion in Defence of our Liturgy, Articles,
and Canons ; of the Canons particularly in thefe
very Remarks, But afterwards, fpeaking againft
" thofe who are for dicing the Wings of the MyJHc P-47,48.
Dove, you blefs God that there are Men of greater
Latitude, among whom you are fure of finding
hearty Friends and Weil-wimers ; though your
Work be not according to the exadl Meafure of
Canonical Fitnefs" This he looks upon as an /-
-tomfijlency ; and adds, that you yourfelf (by your
Recantation) 'have effectually dipped one Wing of the
"Myftic Dcfve, and that any future Attempt to fy
mult be very ridiculous and eathward.
( xxxii )
But, to wind up my Bottoms ; Whatever Entfa*
ftafms you have given up, ftill you tenacioufly ad-
here (in Opinion and Pra&ice) to Field-Preaching,
And what candid Perfon can expeft otherwife ? To
be the Head of a Sett, diftinguimed by a Peculiar
Denomination, and notable Singularities ; to frifk
in the Air of Popularity, be hugged, and followed
with nvijbful Looks, Digito monjirari, et dicier Hit
e/i ; This is too fv.-eet a Morfel to be thrown
up at once ; a Pbrenfy too Deletfable to be wil-
lingly cured of; a Devil too bewitching to be In-
JtantaneouJIy caft out. But, as you have declared a
Month's Mind to get fome good Church, if you
cay ; 'tis poilible your Diftemper may go off ia
Time.
In the mean while, Let your Enemies envy the
Glory you get by Field- Preaching : You have an
Unexceptionable Parallel from the high Encomium
given by a Pope to one of your Predeceflors. No
Doubt but you have every Thing that relates to St.
Francis at your Fingers Ends j and muft have feen
the Bull of Gregory IX in his Favour. But, that
the Public may be acquainted what a proper Ex-
ample and Incitement juflly provoke your Emulation t
I mail fet down the Pcpis own Wordt : " The Lord
" raifed up St. Francis to demolilh the Philijlines
" who were deftroying his fineyard. Who, hearing
" inwardly a Voice calling him, courageoufly ftarts
" up ; like another Savipfon, the Spirit of Fervour
tf coming upon him, he breaks the Cords that bound
" him ; and matching up the Jaw-bone of an 4fs t
" that is to fay, his own Simple Preaching, not
" adorned with the perfuaiive Colours of human
*' Wifdom, but with Divine~Power, which chufeth
<wtak Things to confound the Jlrong ; and he
"wha
( xxxiii )
" who toucheth the Mountains, and they fmoke,
" enabling him ; he deftroyed many Thoufand Phi-
" lijiines. And from the Jaw-bone itfelf went out
" a copious Water ; refrefhing, wafliing, and frufti-
" fying the Lapfed, the Sordid, and the Arid."
Cbemtin. Bullar. Vol. I. in Gregor, IX. Cut flit. 2.
If your Peregrinations fhould lead you to Rome,
(whither you feem to be fetting your Face) fail not
to kij's bis Holinefis Slipper, for this Honourable
Teftimony of an Itinerant Field-Preacher.
You continue likewife a Refolution to Write on.
But take Care : Be upon your Guajd. No more of
your Miftakes, Blunders, H ant of Caution, unguarded
'Things dropped up and dawn, your Referees and
Doublings. Don't do Things by Hafacs. Be open
.and fmcere, confident and uniform. AffecT: not
Jefuitifas. Wafte not your Time in making Patch-
Work, or Loop-Holes. Steal not into the Game of
Brag, while you are Writing.
Remember, Grand and Important is the Work
you have undertaken. The Eyes of all Europe are
upon you. The World, fends a~ti}-tot\b Expectation.
And, fhould Failure and Fallacy again be the Refulr,
fome malicious Perfon will certainly have a Stroke
at you, or fome Kind Friend, like me, put you in
Mind of it.
" Thus, Dear Sir, (for I am fond of your Ex-
preffions) I have unburdened my Heart to you :
And, as I have dealt thus freely with you, I hope
you will look upon me to be your
Fidus Achates."
VOL. I, K THE
THE
ENTHUSIASM
O F
METHODISTS, &c.
PART II.
SECT. I.
IN order to diicharge a Promife, and in hopes
of doing fome little Service to the Caufe of
true Religion, I have ventured to publilh a Second
Part againft the Metbodijls: Wherein I mall farther
confider fome of the Circumftances attending their
New Minifiration -, its Tendency, Influence, and Ef-
fefis : Not forgetting to honour them with the
Company of their correfyonding Friends, the Entku-
Jtaftic Saints of the Papacy.
What firft occurs to my Thoughts is the loajied
Succefs of their Preaching, proved by the Numbers
of their FoUtrvjers and Converts.
Here they triumph beyond Meafure ; and per-
haps not without fome Degree of Foundation. For,
confidering how inconfiderate and injudicious, how
unlearned and unftable, a large Portion of Mankind
is, together with their various Infirmities and Dif~
K z cafes
tajes of frii&d 1 and Bodj ; it muft be Slewed That
the Oftentation of a fanftified Look, fpecious
Addrcfs, fantaflical Oddities, Innovations in Doc-
trine and Placet of Teaching, zealous Profeffions
of Piety, Affectation of Godly and Scripture Fbrafes,
and high Pretenfions to fafpiration, &c. will hardly
fail of" drawing and deceiving the. Multitude. Who-
ever is endowed with fuch fuifable '^ua/ijfcaftoiu
needs not fear gaining an Audience, and leading
Numbers into a hundred Delujions. He may find
Perfons enough not difpofed, Qr not ails, to diilin-
gaifti " the Illapfes and. Infpirations of the Holy
Gbofi, from the Illufions, Inftinfts, and Suggeilions
of the unclean Spirit ; from natural anJ fanatical
Etithufiafm, from the Swellings and Vapours of a
diffafed Spleen and Icatcd Melancholy, and from life
extravagant Rovings of a diftctiqerd Imagination."
We may too reafonably hcpe and believe, that
fome very profligate and wicked Wretches have
been prevailed upon by the Netkodifli to relinquiih
their evil Courfcs, and ferioufly repen^. But then,
if \\zfulduft from the Account fuch of their Fol-
lowers as went only out of Curiojity, or Derifan ;
fuch as were twell-difpvfed and pious Perfons
'(though I can't fay judicious) before; fuch as have
lift and bad them adieu upon good and juft Reafons ;
fuch as have been led into grievous Perplexities^
Jjijlraflion, and Defpair ; fuch as were fcaree in
their Setifes when they went among them, and have
quite loft their Senfes fince ; fuch as have efpoufed
confefledly dangerous and wicked Tenets ; and con-
fider the Danger all the reft are in, of being be-
ing betrayed into Notions and Evils, which they
don't perhaps fufpeft : After thefe, and other
which might be named, the Number- of
the.tr
their Converts will be confiderably leffened; and tlie
Good they do nothing like an Equivalent for the
Mifchief.
But let us hear themfelves. Mr. Whitefeldfays,
" Thoufands and Ten Thoufands follow us : 3 Journ*
The Fire is kindled ; and I know that all the Devils p- 4 -
in Hell mall not be able to quench it. Well may p. 6i
the Devil and his Servants rage horribly : Their
Kingdom is in Danger. I could think of nothing P. 69.
fo much, as Jo/hua going from City to City, and
fubduing the devoted Nations. With what Efficacy Letters,
and Succefs I have been enabled to preach, Tongue
can't exfrefs."
Mr. Se<ward: " Our Enemies, like the Canaanites, Journ.
feem to have no Spirit left in them j but fail every p> ^ If
where becaufe of us ; afhamed, as it were, to mew
their guilty Heads."
See with what a magnificent Air Mr. We/ley
boalts of " converting the Drunkard, the Whore- Farther
monger, the OppreJJbr, the Snvearer, the Sluggard, A ?/ ea o'
the Mifer ; and elfewhere, feveral common Projlitutes. *' 4 ' **
No Work has been wrought hfwiftly, fo ex-
tenjively, fince Conflantine the Great.'"
This is a Specimen (for I might recite fifty times
as much) of their Succefs in Converjlons. And yet
we can match them among their Elder Brethren.
" St. Ignatius, faid Gregory XV, was, like Jojhua, Bart.Vit,
great, according to his Name, forfaving the Elefl Ignatii,
of God; (Ecclus. 46. i.) He was fo ardent, (for p ' 3 20r
Ignatius fignifiesykry,) that, when he fent forth his
Mijponaries to gain Souls, he ufualJy faid, Go, fet
on fire, and inflame every < Thing."
" St. Francis ufed to call People together with Conform,
blowing a Horn, (as the Methodijls by Advertife- fo1 - H 1 *
tnenfs) when he was to preach ; and his Preaching ^
K 3 was
( 4 )
was fo wonderfully moving, that prodigious Multi*-
tudes of Men and Women, above all Number and.
Computation, and the very Harlots were converted..
Bonaven. Many inflamed with Devotion, and Defire of
cap! If' P er f e 8' : > contemning all mundane Vanities, fol-
lowed his Footfleps ; and fvoiftly did this Succefs-
increafe to the Ends of the Earth.''''
Conform. " St. Anthony had fuch a Power over Men and.
Women, that he converted all Sorts of Sinners, even
Ufurers, and common Strumpets. A certain Jefuit
went to the .Stews, and made a furprizing Conveiv
fion of Multitudes of Projlitutes"
" St. Francis of Sales brought over feventy-two
thoufand Heretics to the Catholic Faith. St. Do-
minic fo ftrangely aftoniftied and fet on fire the
Minds of his Auditors, his Difcourfes were fo for-
cible and ravtjbing ; that he converted almoft an
hundred tbcufand Souls, that were ftrayed and loft.'*"
.2. And, if we duely weigh Matters, how can
the Methcdift-Teachers be otherwife than powerful
Converters ? What Heart can ftand out againft their
perfuaiive Eloquence, their extravagantly fne
Flights and Allufiom ? Where is any thing fo fub-
Jime and elevated ? or fometimes what fo melting,
tender and amorous, fo /oft and fo Jhueet ? You will
be in a "Rapture by reading their own Words. In
the Sublime, " God gives them a Text, direds them
to a Method on the Pulpit-Stairs ; the Lamb of God
opens their Mouth, and loofeth their Tongue ; and
Sijler Williams, who is near the Lord, opens her
Mouth to confirm it : So that all Oppofers are
flruck dumb and confounded."
" Jefus rides from Congregation to Congregation*
breathing Courage and Strength into his Lamb:,
( sO
and carrying all before him. He rides in the Cha-
riot of his Go/pel moft triumphantly indeed :
And the Preacher fits in the Chariot of his Lord's
dear Arms, leaning every Day on his Bofom, and
fucking the Breads of his Confolation j while hi?
Banner of Love is fpread over him : The Arrows
of the Lord fly through the Congregation, and Mr.
Wbiitjuldyjctts them a home Stroke. Heavily indeed
do they drive, when God takes off their Charict-
wheels. But, when God is anointing the H'hcels of
their Souls.; 'tis, fweet to be at full Stretch for
God-, to come to zfaving Clojure with Chrijl ; to
lay all their Concerns on his Shoulders ; or leap
into a burning fery Furnace without Fear, which
would ferve as a fiery Chariot to carry their Souls
to Heaven : While they fee poor Sinners hanging as
it were by a fingle Hair, infenfible of their Danger,
over the Flames of Hell."
How pretty is it, when " the Infants, Babes, and
Weaklings of Grace require daily to be borne on the
Sides of Chrijl, and be dandled upon his Knees tiif
they come to nvalk continually under the Droppings
of his Blood? They fee the/urtf Jefus ihewing
his lovely Face ; and his Favours and precious Pro-
mifes drop down his Lily-lips like fiueet-fmelling
Myrrh. They know that his Arms are round them, j
for his Arms are like the R&ti-ifw."
To which may be added Part of a- Sacred Lilli-
putian Hymn, compofed by Count Zinzendorf, the
Moravians Infallible Bijhop :.
Chicken hlejj'ed, Hymn .
And carejjed, 3T-
Little Bee on Jefus' Breajf,
From the Hurry
And the T lurry
Of the Earth tbourt now at Re/?,
What
( 6 )
What tender, fweet, and endearing Appella-
tions ? " Our glorious Soul-brothers, and Societies
of Women ; fweet, precious, choiee Love-Feaft 'j ;
poor Souls under Concern, fweet Societies of feek-
ing Souls ; dear, precious, poor little fweet
Lambs ; among them a gracious Melting is vi-
fible. Their abfent Friends they hope are on the
Top of Pifgah, and they fend them a thoufand
Ki/fis: Their deceafed, in their filent Grave, fweetly
fleep in that Bed perfumed by our Dear Lord. The
Hearers (fays one) were melted into Tears ; my
Heart was full of Love ; theirs alfo were much af-
fected : They would run and ftop me in the Alleys,-
hug me in their Arms, and follow me with nu$ful
Looks. They had an over-ivf^wig Fondnefs for me.
Many faid, Where thou gOeft, 1 will go ; where
thou lodgeji, 1 'will ledge. Brother Whitefeld
preach'd j 'twas enough to melt the hardeft
Heart ; for the Smiles of a Cherubim were in his
Countenance."
Can you then think it pofiible fuch Cherubic
Charms, and fuch fublimated and perfumed Eloquence
can be refilled ? Or can you blame the Metbodifts,
Brev. Fr, if they vie with the Seraphic St. Francis ? " Who
Oft. 4. appeared to his Followers in the Form of a fiery
ventur. Chariot, whirling up and down ; and was indeed
Leg. Fr. ordained of God, like Elias, to be the Chariot and
Cap. 4. Charioteer of Spiritual Men : His Soul rambling
Id. c. 9. thro' the World, as bright as the Sun, like Phaeton
in his Father 's Chariot : Chrijl Jefus remaining
in the Eofom of his Mind, like a Handful of Myrrh.
Inflamed both Men and Women with an ardent
Cap. 4. Defire to follow his Footfteps : And particularly St.
Clara, that Virgin dear to God, converted to Celi-
bacy, the firft Plant and beautiful white Flower,
gave
( 7 )
gave Hjkvect Otiour, and fhined as a Siar above the
reft. One was fo inflamed by hearing him, as to Conform.
fay, that none ought to mention the Nutne of that *
Blejfed Man without licking their Lips for Joy."
Nor need we think it at all flrange, that
" Divine Manifejlations come in fo faft, that the
Lambs are fcarce able to contain thetnfelves', they flow
in fo faft, that their _///'/ Tabernacle is fcarce able to
fuftain them. They know not whether they are in
the Body, or oat of the Body : Know not 'where
they are, and Jink into Nothing. The. Soul makes
fuch Sallies, as if it would go out of their Body,
containing them to throw themfelves upon the
Ground. The Love of God fo kindles in the Heart,
with Pains fo violent, and yet fo ravijbing, that the
Body is almofl torn afunder"
Such are the ecjlatic Raptures and Ra<vijbments of
the Methodijis, in their own Words : Which we
may compare with thofe of Philip Nerius, a Ca-
nonized Saint ; " who was fo full of Heavenly Ribadem
JJlapfes, and Divine Love, that oftentimes he threw y
himfelf upon the Ground, and was forced to cry R ^"
out, // // enough, my Dear Lord,, it is enough. With*- May 6-
hold a little, / am not able to endure fuch Abun-
dance cf Celejlial Swcetncfs. Whereupon the Lord
in fome meafure abated the Violence of his Heat.
But, ftill wounded with the Lcve cfGod, he inceffantly
languished, and his Heart was fo agitated with the
impetuous Motion of the Spirit, that it fell a beat-
ing and leaping with fuch Violence, as muft have
lulled him, without a Miracle. But the Lord rnira-
culoufly enlarged his Lrcajl, broke and elevated t-i\'o
of his Ribs, to give the Heart Room to play."'
More correfponding Circumftances occur in the
Life of M. Magdalen of Pazxi ; whom Clement IX,
infpired.
( 8 )
inipired with the Lights of the Holy Spirit, at'
Life of nonixed, April 28, 1669. " The Spirit of God
^of threw her upon the Ground in an Ecjlafy, when her
No. 26, Countenance was mining Hke that of an Incarnate
57 59. Seraphim. Cbrijl gave her fo large a Share of the
6' 74' Myrrb-pojy of his Paffion, that frequently under an
85. Alienation of her Senfes ihe would throw herfelf on
her Back on the Ground, exclaiming, O Jefus, I
can endure no longer ; I cannot partake any more of thy
Pains. Often in thefe amorous Tranfports (he would
join herfelf clofe to a Crucifix, and fuck a divine
Liquor thence, which filled her Soul with unfpeak-
able Sweetnefs, Her Heart was fo inflamed, that
fhe feemed to be dijjblved, and about to return to
her/;/ Nothing. Her private familiar Entertain-
ments, and Communications <witb God, fo fired her
Breaft, that (he would exclaim, O Lowe, 1 can no
longer fttpport your Flames, my Heart is not able to
contain you : And Ihe was obliged to fetch a
Bafon of Water, and pour it into her Bofom to cool
herfelf. Her dead Body was beautiful as a precious
Relic of Paradife, exhaling an agreeable Odour :
And the Bull of her Canonization begins with the
Incorruption and fiveet Odour of her Body, ufually
term'd the Odour of Sanftity"
Maria We are told by Spinellus, " that Chrift himfelf
Deipar. came and performed the Funeral-Offce for a holy
3 ' Virgin at her Death ; and that he anointed with
the facred Oil St. Lyduina when {he was dying."
And 'tis obfervable, (and I could bring a hundred
Inftances) that moft of the Popijh Saints dead Bodies
always remain cdorous and itr.corrvpted (while thofe
of the Wicked ftink and rot) tho' ever fo many
hundred Years after their Burial. This Miracle, I
fuppofe, in due Time will be renewed on the Body
( 9 )
of the Metkodift, " who in her filent Grave
fweetly fleeps in that Bed perfumed by our dear Lord"
For how can a Body be otherwise, which Ckrift
hath perfumed and fpiced with his own Hands ?
Let her Grave be opened, I dare engage fome of
the Believers will atteft it. Tis certainly a greater
Honour than the Popijh Graves receive by being
fprinkled with Holy Water and Incenfe ; and may be
the Effect of fome Prayer, like that in their Office of
the Sick for the Ufe of the Carmelites, " O moft
merciful Lord, let her Soul joyfully expire in thy
mojl delicious Embrace, and moft Jiveet Kifs"
Through this whole Parallelyo\\ fee all is Rapture
and Ecftafy ; Divine Love infupportably violent,
but ravifhing ; all Infpiration, all Heavenly, all
Quinteffence, all Notkinguefs. And why do not the
Metbodijlf equally merit a Canonization? Either
Something like this is their Due, or elfe they muft
be thought to be actuated by a Diabolical lllufan,
pr innocent Madmen, or infamous Cheats,
. 3. And may not Perfons fo highly loved,
favoured, and valued by God and the World be al-
lowed a little decent Pride, and be jujily vain of
their own Worth ? Such indeed has been the Cafe
with the Methodifis ; and their great /welling Words
of Vanity, and proud Boaftings, have been carried
to a mofl immoderate and infufferable Degree.
Firft for Mr. Whitefeld. His firft Account of God's
Dealings with him (befides a deep Tin&ure of Super-
Jlition, Entbitjtaftn, and Vain-glory) is fuch a boyilh,
ludicrous, filthy, nafty, and ihamelefs Relation of
himfelf, as quite defiles Paper, and is fhocking to
Decency and Modefty. Tis a perfeft Jakes of
Uncleannefs, And yet he afllires us, that " he
was
Jntroduc. was much prejjedin Spirit to publifh it, the 'Holy
Spirit bringing Things to his Remembrance ; he
5 Journ. had for three Years prayed for Strength to write
P- J 5- it, and at laft had Pwjer given, and was affifted
in it." What any Man in his Senfes would be
afiamed to own, is pioujly afcribed to the Holy
Ghoji. In -Conformity with the wild and fanatical
Terefa, who, having publifhed her own Life, with
Preface all her Faults and Vanities, faith of it, " I make
Life** this Relation, which to my Knowledge .our Lord
himfelf defired long fmce, but I durft not undertake
it. And her other Writings the Lord exprejly com-
manded her to publim. And, becaufe Our Lord told
it me, I make a great Scruple of either adding, or
fubftracting, one only Syllable."
His fecond Dealings is fuch a thorough and ful-
fome Stain of Vain-glory and Boajling, Self-conceit,
Self-applaufe, and Self -fufficiency, as mews Spiritual
Pride in full Length, and in its true Colours. The
fame Spirit runs through all his Journals, &c. And
I verily believe it hath not its Parallel in the
World. Many have been fo bloated with a Con-
ceit of their own Perfections, as highly to be de-
lighted with the moft.naufeous Flatterers: But fuch
an Inundation of Commendation from . a Main's own
Mouth is furely unexampled. No Man ever fo be-
daubed himfelf with his own Spittle.
It mews fome Degree of Madefy and Humility,
,ift Deal, when " he thinks himfelf not fit for Orders, till a
f- 37* worthy Friend told him, that, if St. Paul were at
Cloucejler, he would ordain him. Or when God
gives him Favour in the Printer's Sight, or in the
Sight of the Jaykr " and it furnimeth him too
with a Scripture Phrafe. But he has fome Grounds for
Elevation, " .when his Name is firft in the News-
( II )
Papers, though he can't tell upon what Occafion ; 2 Deal.
began to grow popular, and had Honour even in P - "^
his envn Country : When after Sermon Enquiry
was made who he was, and there was fuch Crowd-
ing to hear him : When a hearty Groan runs
through the Congregation, when he fpeaks any
Thing offering ; and he owns the Pleafure of
hearing the Succefs of his Difcourfe upon two little
Children, whom he made to cry, and go Home to
their Prayers ; and when a little Girl of thirteen
comes to enquire about the State of her Soul, and
fays fhe was pricked through and through with the p. "i
Power of the Word." 57> 6t.
All through his Journals he oftentatioufly difplays
the Applaufes, Acclamations, and Huzza 1 s of the Peo-
ple. " The Tide of Popularity began to run very
high : I carried high Sails, Thoufands and ten
Thoufands came to hear me, my Sermons were
every-where called for, when I preached, one
might walk upon the People's Heads : God fuf-
fered them (the Oppofers) not to move a Tongue
againft me : Trees and Hedges full, all hufh'd
when I began. God only can tell how the Hearers
were melted down : They would have plucked
out their own Eyes, and have given them unto me.
I was crowded, admired, faluted, Hands kiffed,
hugged, they melt, weep, hang upon me, want
to falute me ; receive me as an Angle of God;
their Hearts leap for Joy, Bells ring, exprefs
their Love to me many Ways. All agreed it was
never feen on this wife before. Great Shouts of
Rejoicing at my Staying."
But what a fad Parting is it alv/ays between him
and his Admirers ? " Strong Cries and Tears, Sighs
and Groans ; ready to break their Hearts, and
VOL. I. L bis.-~
( 12 )
bis. Young and Old burft into a Flood of
Tears, like Water gufhing out of the ftony Rock.
'Twould melt every one down to fee it.
Tongue can't exprefs the Sorrow : They weep aloud
and forely, as though mourning for the Death of their
Firjl-born"
What Bragging of Favours, Entertainments,
Liberalities, and Prefents, from Gentlemen, and
efpecially Elefi Ladies, and Honourable Women ? " A
Bank-bill of ten Pounds, as a Prefent to myfelf;
This I took as a Hint from Providence to go on :
[very rightly judged] and various Prefents as
3 Joura. Tokens of their Love. Thusjhall it be done to the
p. 66. Man, whom God delighteth to honour"
What Proclamations of Viflory and Triumph ?
" They go on conquering, and to conquer, and fee
Satan like Lightning fall from Heaven ; the Devil
and his Servants rage horribly."
Joum. Mr. Sevjard is Witnefs, that, as to " Entertainments,
? iz> they find good Meafure, prejftd down, and running
7 ' 73 ' over : That Hell trembles before our Brother
Whitefield wherever he comes ; the Kingdom ofDark-
nefs totters, and is fhaken ; and Vice fculks its
guilty Head, and retires to fecret Corners."
4 Journ. Whitefeld again, flumed with Succefs, " Come,
P- x * ye Pharifees, come and fee the Lord Jefus getting
himfelf the Vittory. Every Thing falls before
3 Journ. me : * Dear Brother Harris reminded me, and
p. 69, and God fuggejled to me, that now I was like Jojbua,
Letters. fub ^ uin g ^g devoted Nations, and dividing the
Land."
But all this will rather remind others of Sacbe-
tvere/'s triumphant Progrefs through the Land, dif-
penfing his KuTes, and collecling his Prefents, fcfV.
or of a Royal Qculijl undertaking infallibly to
cure
( 13)
ure all Defects of the Eyes, or to make them
ftark blind.
Whether their Treatment be/moot!?, or rough, all
is Food for their Vanity. " Ble/ed be God, who 3 J ra -
difpofed the Reverend Mr. Penrofe, and others, to p<
lend me their Pulpits. Forbid to preach in a
Church, which rejoiced me greatly. Lord, why dofl
thou thus honour me /"
He has indeed the Grace to feel, and be of-
fered of, this fpiritual Pride, and often makes Con-
fejjicm of it.
" Hypocrijy crept into every Action : _ Self-love, i Deal.
Self-will, Pride, and Envy fo buffeted me in their Jj**^
Turns : Proud Hellifi Thoughts ufed to crowd 40 |
in upon me. Out of Pride put down in my
Diary what I gave away : Find Pride creeping
in at the End of almoft every Thought. Fre- 5 Joura-
quently enlightened to fee the Pride and Seljjfinefe p '
of my Heart."
Whatever Liberty the Saints may have to boaft
fuch great Things, and, as the Prophet fpeaks, to
burn Incenfe unto Vanity ; or however confident it be
with the Character of an Enthufeajl ; it is perfectly
inconfiftent with that Charity, the Love of God
and Man, which vaunteth not itfelf, is not pujfed-up,
doth not behave itfelf unfeemly.
In comparing the Popijb Fanatics on this Article^
the Parallel will be a little defective, becaufe they
were not fuch conftant and naufeous Trumpeters of
their own Praifes ; leaving that Work to their
Brethren and Legendary Writers: From whom we
we may pick up enough.
" St. Eernardin was the moil famous Preacher Offic.Or.
in all Italy; the Hearers hung upon his Lips, Min.
they are perfectly aftoniihed, immoveable, ad- ay '
L 2 mire
C H )
mire him as another Apoftle fent from God. Both
Sexes come before Day into the open Places, to
get a Place to hear him, cry and figh at his Dif-
courfes."
Or'and. " Brother Syfaejler (a Jefuit) run up and down
!lb> 2 J' every-vvhere hunting for Souls ; all Sorts of Peo-
ple flocked from Towns and Villages, offering
tbemfel'ves and their good Things. Such Strength did
God give him."
Frev. " St. Francis's Words were not empty, and me-
Francif. rJt j n g L ar gri te r ' but perfumed with the Odour of
Diiiine Revelation, and turning his Audience into a
vehement Stupor and Admiration : Young and Old,
Small and Great, both Sexes crowded after this
new Man, fent down from Heaven, this frefh
Flower of the World ; not Room to hold the
Company, no treading on the Ground. His
Words were a burning Fire, fharp Arrows drawn
from the Quiver of God, piercing the Heart.
Qcd fo exalted him with Glory, and made him to
be honoured, wherever he carne ; that all came out
to meet him, to receive him with the utmoft Reve-
rence and Devotion, not as a Man, but as an Angel,
making him valuable Prefents, and begging him
Conform, to ftay with them. And happy were they who
fol. ago, could hear, or fee, fpeak to him, or touch him.
28 r ' Even Creatures void of Reafon, Sheep and AJJes,
would run to hear him preach in the Fields.
The Saint can't help owning his Pride, and par-
fol. 4 8. ticularly in giving a Mantle to a Woman out of Va-
nity ; and that, when the People honoured him fcr
his 'anttity, and kijjed his Hands, he received it
with great Delight. Their Refpeft to him, he
fays, is nothing in refpecl of what they ought to
fhew j
fhew ; they are Gainers by it, becaufe they here-
by recognife God, and honour him in his Creature"
" St. Anthonys Words were as Flames kindling Ribaden.
the Heart, drew Sots and Tears from his Audi- P >8 9>9'
tors, who were happy, could they but kifs his
Hand, or touch his Garment"
" St. Ignatius was remarkable for his frequent Ribaden.
Relapfes into his old Strain of Vain-glory, St. P> * *
Peter of Verona was reverenced through all Italy
like an Apoftle ; received every-where with public
endfolemn Joy, with Throngs who came to kifs his
Hand, and his Habit.' 1 ''
As to the MethotiJIs being the chief Objedl of
the Devil's Hatred, becaufe they are to deflroy his
Kingdom, their Boalting comes too late ; that hav-
ing been effefted before by their Elder Brethren. For
" there was a horrid Commotion in Hell at St. Conform,
Francises Birth, becaufe [the Devils knew that Hell fol 5 Z -
was to be deflroyed by him, and his Society : For
which Reafon they aimed their Spite principally
againft him. The Devils were enraged with Spite Ribaden.
and Hatred againft St. Ignatius for the fame Rea- * 53*
fon ; and they often declared in what Fear and
Awe they flood of him ; knowing that he was to
demolifh their Kingdom : They acknowledged
that no Seel in the Univerfe was more odious to Elogjef.
them than the Jefuits" p. 486.
Mr. Wefley, I confefs, is not fo naufeous and
conflant in this Strain of Vain-glory : He feems to
lay his Plot deeper, relating moftly what may re-
dound to his Honour, and then leaving his Proje*
lytes and others to judge. Sometimes, however,
he can't help breaking out into this fame Confidence
of Boa/ling^ " I think verily, if the Go/pel be true, i
I am fafe ; For I give all my Goods to feed the P- 6 J
L 3 Poor, 68 ' * 9m
( 16 )
Poor, give my Body to 'be burned, drowned, or
whatever God mall appoint, 1 Jhe<u; my Faith by
my Works, by flaking my All upon it ; therefore
are my Ways not like other Men's Ways." Again,
" Are they read in Philofophy ? So was I. In an-
tient or modern Tongues ? So was I alfo." With
a long String of Self-commendation.
4 Journ. " I left London, went to Brijlol, furprized
p< 5 ' when I went into the Room, juft after my Bro-
ther had ended his Sermon. Some wept aloud :
Some clafped their Hands : Some fhouted ; the reit
fang Praife. Art thou come, fays another, thott
P. 96. Eleffed of the Lord-?''' A flrange Sort of tumultuous
Triumph at a religious Meeting to hear the Word.
Btttjucb Honour have all the Saints.
3 Journ. " In applying which my Soul was fo enlarged,
p ' 48> that methought I could have cried out (in another
Senfe than poor vain Archimedes) Give me where
to (land, and I will make the Earth," Were Ar-
chimedes alive, furely he would fee Reafon to re-
turn the Compliment. But, high as this Boaft is
of his Abilities, I think there remains a higher In-
ftance of his Sufficiency and Prefumption, in fpeaking
Farther o f himfelf and his Brother : " The Wifdom of
APP i C i4 Go^hns for many Years, in a remarkable Manner,
115. ' guarded againft this Pretence, (i. e. of not em-
ployingyfr hflrumeitts) with rafpecl to my Brother
and me in particular. What Perfons could, in the
Nature of Things, have been (antecedently) lefs
liable to Exception, with regard to their moral
Characler at lealt, than thofe the All-wife God hath
now employed I Indeed I cannot devife what
Manner of Me, could have been more unexception-
able on all Accounts"
One
( 17 )
One might here well afk the Queftion, which
himfelf puts to the Infidels ; " May you not dif- Farther
cover, through a thoufand Difguifes, Pride, Vanity, p^^V. '
Thirfl of Praife, even (who would believe it ? )
of Knaves and Fools ?" Or, do you think, that, if
any Regular Clergyman mould vaunt at this Rate,
and proclaim himfelf thefote/t on all Accounts for
the higheft Employments, he would not foon lofe
his Character ; perhaps become the public Laugh-
ter, and be hijjed out of his ''lace ?
I can at prefent think of no Comparifon adequate
to this of Mr. We/ley and bis Brother, but that of
St. Francis and St. Dominic ; the Story of whom we
have in many authentic Writers. " When Chrift Ribaden.
had lifted up his Hand, with three Lances in it, BaifiTh*
ready to deftroy Mankind for their Wickednefs, the Aug. 4.
Virgin Mary prevailed upon him to flop his Hand, ^ O r ^ s>
till two Servants and Clients of hers, St. Dominic Aug. 5."
and St. Francis, mould be fent to reform the World
by their Labours and Preaching" They are the
fame Pair of Saints, whom the Pope in a Vifon faw
manifeftly fupporting the tottering Lateran on their
houlders : Whereby his infallible Holinefs found
himfelf immediately directed by Heaven to confirm
their refpedlive Orders and Rules, though averfe
to it before. Erev. Roman. Oa. 5. Left. 6. &
Ribaden. pag. 574.
Mr. Whitefield, I obferved, often owns his own
Pride : And Mr. We/ley fays, By the moil Infal- i Journ.
lille of Proofs, inward Feeling, I am convinced of P* *4
Pride, &V." I mail take their Word for it, and
proceed to obferve, how their. Followers foon catch
the Contagion, and are naturally and eafily pujfed-up
with a fancied fuperior Knowledge, Gifts, and
Graces j
Grates ; after being cajoled by their Leaders with
ample Promifes, ExptSatiom, and Aflurances.
P. xo. . The accurate Author of Obfervationss on their
Condua juftly afks, " Whether thofe exalted Strains
in Religion, and an Imagination of being already
in a State of ferfeQion, are not apt to lead Men
into Spiritual Pride, and to a Contempt of their Fel-
low-Chrijliam ; while they confider them as only
going on in the low and imps rfe ft Way ; and into
a Difefteem of their Superiors, as in a much lower
Difpenfation /"' And Mr. Law (whom they fo much
admire on other Accounts ; and whom I mall have
Occafion to quote again) in his Treatife of Regene-
P. 85, tion, " Now, who may be thought the mofl likely
88 > 94- to come into this Religion ? [He is fpeaking of the
Methodijls, and their Dotfrinei\ Not he, who is
deeply humble, that abhors Self-JuJlification. Is
Chere not likely to be Self-feeking, Self-confidence,
Self-truft, Self deceit? Particular Imprejpons, fen-
fible GotPolSiovf, ftrong Tajles, high Satisfaflions,
if much fought for, or rejledin, they minifter Food
to a Spiritual Self-love, and lay the Foundation of
Spiritual Pride. They may fill us with Self-fatis-
faftion, and Self- eft eem, and prompt us to defpife
others that want them, as in a poor, mean, and re-
probate State.'" With much more well deferring
the ferious Confideration of the Methodijls.
Of fuch a Tendency to Pride, exemplified in Fad!:,
4 Jonrn. Mr. Wejley himfelf gives us feveral Inftances. " I
* 54- met with one, who, having been lifted up with the
Abundance of Joy which God had given her, had
fallen into fuch ' lafpbemies and vain Imaginations,
as are not common to Men. In the Afternoon I
found another Initance, nearly, I fear, of the fame
Kind; One, who, after much of the Love of God
fhed
( '9 )
Ihc-d abroad in her Heart, was become wife far
above what is written. I earneftly befought them
all to keep clear of vain Speculations. While we 4 Journ.
were in the Room, Mrs. J t took the Bible to p> 66>
to read ; but on a fuddcn threw it away, faying, /
ant good enough. I ivill never read or pray more :I
dont defere to be any better than 1 am. She fpoke
many Things to the fame Effect ; plainly mewing
that the Spirit of Pride, and of Lyes, had full Do-
minion over her.
" I was with one, who told me, that hitherto Ibid.
Ihe had been taught of Man, but now Ihe was p> 8o *
taught of God only. She added, that God had told
her, not to partake of the Lord's Supper any more,
fmce Ihe fed upon Chriji continually." O who is
fecure from Satan s transforming bimfelf into an
Angel of Light ?
It were to be wifhed, that the Teachers them-
felves would duely weigh their won Refections ; and
that all others would abitain from fuch a Difpen-
fation y which confefledly leads People into thefe hor-
rid Experiences of Blafpbemy and Pride.
The famous Enthujiajl Mrs. Bonrignon, who af-
fumed the Character of an Infpired, (with whofe
Writings I find fome of the Metbodijls are not unac-
quainted j as if tiiey had not Wildnefies enough
in their own Brains ;) has the Acutenefs to obferve,
" that the Preemption of Ajjurances is the Devil's Solid
Device, deluding People by fenjikle Conjolations and Virtue,
Svjcetnefs, and bringing them into the uimoji Peril: p> I1O<
That the Devil fallens Men to thefe St<fwiiiries,
and makes them thereby vain and proud. When
we take Pleafure in them, we turn from God. .
Tis the Dwii's Snare"
. 4. One
( 20 )
f. 4. One would think their Bladder of Pride
and Vain-glory were now fufficiently fuelled: But
it feems it muft be blown up more. One of their
Preachers efpecially, and fometimes others of them,
are fo prefumptuous, as to be fond of comparing them-
felve with Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apoftles ; and
even with Chrijl himfelf.
They cannot open the Bible, and thereby turn
the Holy Scriptures into a Lottery, but they are fure
of a Prize ; fome Panegyric upon themfelves and
Profelytes; or fome fpecial Direction and Injirufiion.
They cannot read, or hear, Le/bns, Pfalms, Epiftles
and Gofpels ; but they have Sagacity enough to find
fomething peculiarly concerning themfelves. And
they feem to be intent upon this very Purpofe. As
if the whole Bible were a fort of Prophecy (defigned
at leaft by way of Accommodation) of their Mijfion ;
and entirely interefted in the Honour and Advance-
ment of their valuable Perjons, and important
Whims.
Former Fanatical Saints will fupply us with fuffi-
cient Parallels of this Nature ; particularly the
fame Mrs. Bourignon, whofe Sagacity found out
" many Things in Scripture which were fulfilled in
her : She was the Woman foretold in the dpoca-
lypfe, that had the Church in herfelf, chathed 'with
the Sun, and Lading the Moon under her Feet. She
made herfelf equal to, if not greater than, the Apo-
fles, who underjlood only in Part. Jejus* was but
partly the Seed of the Woman ; with fome Hints that
Jhe and her Works were completely fo"
But for this Sort of Prefttmption I don't know a
fuller Comparifon than the Book of Conformities be-
tween the Lives of Jefus Chrijl and St. Francis.
'Tis
'Tis a large Folio, written by Bartholomew de Pi/is,
applying moft of the magnificent Predictions in the
Bible to St. Francis, making him better than feve-
ral of the ApoJIles, and even fuperior to Cbrifl as to
Miracles, The Book was printed at Milan, 1510,
with the Licence and Approbation of the General
Chapter of the Francifcans, as written by the Favour
of God, and wanting no Correction. From this Edi-
tion was extracted The Alcoran of the Francifcans.
But it feems Correction was afterwards found ne-
ceffary ; and the Book was republijhed at Bononia,
in 1590, (which is the Edition I ufe) wherein many
of its extravagant Fables and Blafphemies are omitted,
To begin then. " God, fays Mr. Whitejield, ift Deal,
feparated me even from my Mother s Womb for the P' *
Work, i. e. Methodifm." As he did Ifaiah, Chap,
xlix. I. and Jeremiah, i. 5.
Cbriji fo loved Magdalen ofPazzi, that he chofe Life,.x.
her for his Spoufe from her Mother's Womb.
" My Sufferings were of an uncommon Nature ; i Deal.
Satan feemed to have denred me in particular, to P' ^ '
Jift me as Wheat" Becaufe Cbriji faid this of St.
Peter.
When he is ill, " fully convinced that Satan had Ibid,
as full a Pofleflion given over my Body, as he had P 1 37-
once over Job's."
When ftupid, and " unable to compofe any Ibid.
Thing, I found a Quotation out of Ezekiel, that P- 6 ?'
Young Prophet, Thoujhalt be dumb ; but <when I /peak
unto thee, then Jhalt tboufpeaL Which made me c on f orm .
quite eafy." The fame was St. Francis's Cafe. fol. 138.
When in his Surplice to be Ordained t " he is i Deal,
like Samuel Jlanding before the Lord in a, Linen P- 68<
After
( 22 )
3 Journ. After Ordination, " I feel the Holy Gboft as muck
p< l8t as EliJJ.-c. did when Elijah dropt his Mantle. A
double Portion of his Spirit is upon me indeed.'"
Conform. St. Francis was like Elijha, by pofleffing a double
fol. aj8. p ro ph e ti c Spirit.
, With a Rabble at his Heels, " he is like Joflua,
conquering the devoted Nations, and dividing the
Land."
5 Journ. With refpeft to the EJlabliJhed Clergy, " Though
p ' 3I * we are but few, and ftand as 'it were alone, like
Elijah ; and though, like the Priejls of Baal, they
are many in Number; yet I doubt not but the
Lord will appear for us."
In one of his Reveries, " he walks 'with God in
the Garden and fees him Face to Face" As
Adam and Mofes did. " Brother Sylvefter, a Fratt-
cifcan, talked with God as one Friend doth with
another, like another Mofes. Mrs. Bourignon had
Communion with God, as familiar as one Child with
another."
3 Journ; On reading the frft LeJ/bn, " about the Oppo-
P' 3- fition to Aaron s Priefihood; God determining who
was in the right, by caufing his Rod to bloj/bm,
when the other Rods produced nothing. So let it hap-
pen, O Lord, to me, thine unworthy Servant"
Ibid. On reading the fecond LeJ/on, " where St. Paul
recounted his Sufferings for Chrijl, againft the Infi-
nuations of the Falfe Apojlles ; Ble/ed be God, /
ha*uc, in moll things there recorded, in fame fmall De-
gree had Fellovjjhip with the 4t>oJ)le j a?id, before 1
die, / doubt not but 1 Jlall fympathize with him in
moj} other Articles. The People were intent upon
me : Their Eyes befpoke the Language of their
Hearts : Each feem'd to fay, Thou art the Maa,"
" The
" The Leffbns, you fay, Sir, were fo wry re-
markable, that in reading you could not forbear
Uujhing much-" which mews that you made the
Application. The Clergy are the Rebels againft
Aaron's Minijlry, the Clergy are the Falfe Prophets ;
you are Aaron, you St. Paul. And did not you blii/h
in 'writing this ? The Infinuation is as modeft, as
your Prayer is charitable, that no Teacher's La-
bours and Preaching may produce any Thing, except
your oven.
You was obferved to be a Cherubim in preach- Conform.
ing ; and St. Francis one of the Seraphims.
And yet this will not fuffice : You muft even
compare yourfelf with Chrlft, and boldly apply to
your own Reverence what was fpoken of him.
Thus, " At my firft fetting out I grew in i Deal.
Favour both with God and Man." P- J3-
At fome Oppofition from the Clergy you fay,
" Had another came in his oven Name, him they 3 Journ.
would have received." They have no Miffion, come p- z ''
when they are not called; you are the Sent of God.
Accordingly, " Lord, thou calledft me. Lo ! I Ib. p.64.
come to do thy Will. And, blefled be God, there is
one coming after me." Meaning, I fuppofe, Mr.
Wejley.
In preaching, " my Heart was full of God, and 3 Journ.
Ifpake as one having Authority." Spoken of ChriJ}, ? lo8 '
Matt. vii. 29. So alfo St. Ignatius fpoke, tanquam Ribaden,
Potejiatem habens, as one having Authority. P- 549-
" Had the Pleafure of feeing my Audience fo 3 Journ.
much increafed No lefs than twenty Thoufand 'pre- P f 55*
fent. Bleffeci ere the Eyes which fee the Things which
iuefet." Words peculiar only for thofe who Jaw
Chrifl in the Flejb. Luke X. 23.
VOL. I, M So
( 24 )
Conform. So the Difciples of St. Francis, foreknowing
fol< 3I< his Deflination to Honour, were like Abraham,
who rejoiced to fee CkriJTs Day, and <v:ere glad ', and
this foretold their feeing St. Francis.
5 Journ. During his Attendance on publick Worjhip ; " In
P- 5 0< faefecond Leffbn were thefe remarkable Words, And
the High Priejls, and the Scribes, and the Chief of the
People fought to deflroy him, but they could not find
ijchat they might do to him : For all the People ivere
attentive to hear him.''''
Journ. In Expectation of meeting his Difciples ; " When
P' x ^ Jefus was returned, the People gladly received him',
far they nvere all waiting for him. Thefe laft Words
were remarkably prejjed upon me, when I was ccn-
fulting God, whether I fhould return to England."
In the melancholy Hour of parting from his Dif-
3 Journ. ciples ; " they weep for Mr. Whitejield as though
!> 64. t^y were mourning for the Death of their Firfi-
Journ. born."" " At the Thoughts of parting, fays Mr.
V*Sj_f^i Seivard, with fo dear a Companion as Brother
Whit efeld, I could think of nothing, .but Ckrijfs
parting from his Difciples, and his telling them, //
is expedient for you that I go aivay : For, if I go not
CL^jay, the Comforter nvill not come : But, if I depart)
1 ivillfend him unto you. And Jefus Chrift was not
worfe than his Word. I was comforted for the
Abfence of Brother Whitejield by this Text, A little
While, and ye jhallfee me ; and again a little While,
andye Jhall not fee me"
Had any one but a Saint thus applied our Lord's
Words, it would have looked like profane Drollery.
But luckily it jumps in with St. Dominic's Words, at
whofe Beck the. Devils trembled, when he was leaving
this World ; " Weep not, my deareft Friends, nor
let my corporeal Departure trouble you : I fiiall be
more ufeful to you in the Place whither I am
going, than I was here ; and you will have me a
better Advocate after my Death, than you could
have me in this Life." Antbonin. Florentin. See
Morneei Myjlerium Iniquitatis, Pag. 346.
" One Day perceiving an uncommon Drought, r
and difagreeable Clamminefs in my Mouth, and
ufing Things, but in vain, to allay my Tbirft, it
wasfuggejtedtome, that, when Ckriji on the Crofs
cried out, / tbirft, his Sufferings were near at an
End. Upon which I cried out, / tbirft ! I tbirft !
Soon after I was delivered." Is not this enough
to make one's Ears tingle ?
But there is worfe ftill. He prefumes to rob our
Saviour of his very Office of Redeemer. " Tho' Ib. P- 4 6
Satan for fome Weeks had been biting my Heel,
God was pleafed to mew me, that / mould foon
bruife bis Head.' 1 '' In another Place indeed he allows
his Brother-Metbodifts a Share of this Prerogative :
" Though Satan is permitted to bruife cur Heel, 3 Journ.
yet <we mall in the End bruife bis Head."" But in P- 86
both Places this Robbery is committed without any
Allowance to Cbrift, or Intimation of bis doing
it by Mr. Wbitefeld^s Means, or Inftrumcntality of
the Metbodijls. The Papifts affign tia& faming Office
to the Virgin Mary, ipfa conteret Serpentis Caput, JJ:e
fhall bruife the Serpent's Head : And Madam Eou-
rignon is vain enough to publifh, that Jefus Cbrift
was partly the Seed of the Woman, but that her
Doflrines and Writings were to be fo in thefu/I Ac-
compli/hment . But at length, it feems, the Honour
belongs to Mr. Whitefield and Company.
Nor is this much unlike the blafpbemous Saying
of the Francifcans, " that Jefus Chrift faved the
World before St. Francis came, but he aftcr?it.<ards."
M 2 Whatever
( 26 )
Whatever Excufes may be made, or however
Mr. Whit ef eld may difclaim any fuch exalted In-
tention ; to this high Degree of Prefumption the
Words, as they ftand in his yournah, do in Reality
amount. And we may reafonably think, that fuch
Perfons by fuch Expreffions either are burlefquing
the Scriptures, or run mad ivitb Pride. According
to a very favourable Conftrudion, " Vanity of Va-
nities : dll is Vanity.' 1 '' . And feeing not another, but
their cnn-n Lips thus extol them, it brings to Mind
the Cbarafier of that dnticbrijiian Power, (Rev.
xiii. 5, 6.) to whom u,w given a Mouth flaking
great Things, and he opened his Mouth in Blafpbemy*
Upon our charging- the Methodijls " with making
themfelves like the s'pcfiles, Mr. We/ley calls this a
f.lly Objection, becaufe every Man ought m/cme
RefpeSs to be like Apofiles, in holy Tempers, Exr
ejnplarinefs of Life, Labours for the Good of
Souls." Who doubts it ? or blames any Mortal
for it ? 'Tis not for making the dpoftles an Ex-
ample of Kclinefs, 3V. that we fix our Charge on
the Metbsdifis ; but for Unholinefs, in proud Boajlingt
of a like Dignity and Authority ; for Pretenfions to
Infpiraticn, and other extraordinary Gifts, and mi-
raculous Powers, (as will farther appear anon) and
even comparing themfelves with our Lord. Inftead
of our OLjeSiojt being filly, their Solution of it ia
(huffing and prevaricating. The Wind hath bound
them up in her Wings, and carried them away into
the Regions of Vanity, to the Borders of Blafphemy..
. 5. Another prefumptuous Flight ufual among
Enthufiajls is the Affeclation of Prophifying, and
other miraculous Gifts and Operations : A fuppofed
Power of this Nature not only fwelling their Vanity*
but
C *7 )
but promoting their Caufe -, as it gratifies a natural
Itch of peeping into Futurity, and tends to induce
a Belief of their Divine Infpiration. And this alfo
is an Article in Charge againft Metbodifm.
Firft for Prophecy. Mr. Whitefield was a very
early Nibbler at this, and a great Dealer in Omens,
Prefages, and other Divinations, concerning himfelf,
and his new Difpenfatian. Nor can we read the
Lives of any great Men, but we find fuch Kind of
Auguries, relating to their Birth, Exploits, and For-
tunes. And although what I fhall mention may
ieem trivial and ridiculous ; it will howevery^^w the
Man, and has no doubt had a due Influence on his
Followers.
Firft in Order is the " Circumftance of his be- i Deal,
ing born in an Inn, the Bell Inn at Glortcejter, **'
which was of great Service to me, fays he, and
excited my Endeavours to follow the Example of
my dear Saviour, who was born in a Manger be-
longing to an Inn.'" i. e. Being born in an Inn makes
him like Chrift, who was not born in an Inn ;
nor, that I, or he, can tell, in a Manger belonging
to an Inn. From the Circumftance of the Sign of
the Bell he might more aptly have prfybtfied, that
in Time he fhould become as founding- Brafs, dr
the Bells every-where ring for him, on making his
public Entrance.
His Omen however correfponds to that of the
famous F ope Hildebrand, whofe Father being a Car-
penter, it was thence prefaged, that he fhould be
Chrijfs Vicar, and have univerfal Dominion.
And no lefs a Man than the Pope's Champion, AnraJ.
Baroniui, hath aflured us, that his being, like his 10 73-
Saviour, the Carpenters Son ; and his carving out
merely by Chance, before he knew Letters, Domi-
M 3 nabitur
aaiitur a mart ad mare, be Jhall rule from Sea to Sea,
were certainly divine OJients. To complete the
Comparifon too, it is poffible Mr. Wkitefield may
have been fo happy as to write this Prefage, before
be ktieiv Letters.
The other Circumftance, that " his Mother
ufed to fay, while he was an Infant, that fhe ex-
pected more Comfort from him than any other of
her Children," has Variety of Parallels in the
Popijk Legends, where the Mother's Dreams are fo
Coi fcrm. Often made Prophecies of the Sons Grandeur. " When
fol. 17. St. Francis was but in a fecular State, his Mother
by divine Influence faid, What do you, think that
Son of mine 'will turn out ? By Grace he ivill be a
Ribaden. Child of God. St. Dominic's Mother, befides her
P- 57- Dream of having a Dog in her Womb, with a
burning Torch in his Mouth, had the good News by
Revelation, that fhe mould have a Son endowed
with many Gifts and Virtues."
Deal. " O ne Morning I faid to my Sifter r God'v&r
F. 18. tends fomething for me, will provide for me fome
Way that we cannot apprehend. How I came to fay
thefe Words,. I know not. But God afterwards
fliewed me they came from him. I dreamed, that
I was to fee God on Mount Sinai : This made a
great Imfrejfion upon me, and a Gentlewoman, to
whom I told it, faid, George, this is a Call from
Ibid. God. One Night an unaccountable, but very
p. az. ftrong ImpreJJlon was made upon my Heart* that, I
Ihould preach quickly. God has fince fhewn whence
that Impreffion came." A notable Impreffion truly,
that one defigned for a Scholar fhould come to
p x Breach. But in the fecond Edition of his Dealings,
when he recollects that he was now in Print, he
cunningly flips in, by way of Amendment to his
Bream,
C 29 )
Dream, " that I fliould preach and print quick-
ly," which is prophejying of a Thing after it came
to pafs.
He has prophetic Notice of a future Converfation
with a Lord, and of his Money jingling in his Hand.
" God was pleafed to give me previous Notice of 1 Deal.
It. I dreamed that I was talking with his lord/kip,
and that he gave me fome Gold, which feemed to
found again in my Hands. Afterwards he made me
a Prefent of jive Guineas, which did found again in
my Hands.'%
You hereby fee the Man, and his fuperjiitioujly.
Enthufiaftic Head. Otherwife it would be as idle
a Thing to repeat, as in him to write, thefe frivo-
lous Omens, Dreams, Imprejfions, Revelations, all
Prophetical.
There is a plain Intimation alfo of this Prophetic
Spirit in Mr. We/ley. " For fome Time I had 4 Joura,
vifited a Soldier in Prifon every Day. But I told P * 3 '
him, Do not expeft to fee me any more, / believe
Satan willfeparate us for a Seafon. Accordingly, the
next Day I was informed, that the Commanding
Officer had given ftridl Orders, that neither Mr.
Wejley, nor any of his People, mould be ad-
mitted."
But in the Progrefs of their Miniftry they rife
higher, and come to Predictions of greater Things,
with regard to themfelves, and Increafe and Dila-
tation of the Family of Methodifm. Hence " the 2 Journ.
great Work, which God intends, and is nciv beginning P' J 9> 35r
to work over all the Earth." Hence, fays Mr.
Whitefidd, " God will make his Power to be known 3 Journ.
in me. And yet 1 Jhall fee greater Things than V*j?' 3
thefe. I Jhall be exalted. There certainly will be
a Fulfilling of thofe Things which God by his Spirit
z hath
C 3 )
nath fpoken unto my Soul. There are many Pro-
mifes to be fulfilled in me. This I know ; what
I have fpoken from God will come to pafs : Lo ! it
will !"
tetters. " Our glorious Soul-Brother had it revealed to him
in Spirit, thefe two Years, that fome fuch as he
fliould be fent of God into thefe Parts."
" The Lord revealfd himfelf to a Child about
feven Years old in an amazing Manner : In a
"Rapture, and by the uncommon Earneftnefs the
Spirit gave her to wreftle for the Churches, fhe
thought that an uncommon Work would be
wrought on the Earth. Many fuch Inftances of
the Outpouring of the Spirit we have among us."
Sometimes Mr. Wbitefield throws out his Pre-
diftions of the Perfections he is to undergo, and
(according to his ufual Modefty) m Analogy to the
3 Journ. Sufferings of Chriji : " Yet a little while, and a
u, t%, forftering Time will come. / cannot follow him
* S> 9 * flow, bat 1 Jbatt follow him hereafter. My Hour is
not yet come. I find the infinite Wifdom of God in
ftnding me to England.' Bat G^/will manifeft his
mighty Arm in the Salvation of Georgia"
Where, befides the Gift of Prophecy, we have a
ttenu Argument for the Infinity of God^s Wifdom,
which I hope all future Writers on the divine At-
tributes will remember, (viz.) the fending of Mr.
George Whitefald from Georgia into England.
Popifh Legends are Huffed with Boafts of this
Conform. Sort. " St. Francis rifing from Sleep in great Joy,
fcl. *34- and being aflced the Reafon of fnch a Tranfport,
anfwered prophetically, ' I know that I Jhall be a
great Prince? Another time being m Prifon, yet
highly exulting, cries out, * What da you think of
me ? 1 Jhall vet be ador-sd ever all the Earth'.'
One
One Day he prophejied with a loud Voice of a Conform*
Church which mould hereafter become a Monaftery * ***'
of Females, by whom God fhould be glorified. And
it was fulfilled to a Letter, becoming in Time the
Monajlery of St. Clara. Once being in a Rapture, Bona-
and the Bofom of his Mind dilated, he faw clearly j*"^
what fhould happen in Futurity to himfelf and c. 3.
Children. Be comforted, and rejoice in the Lord,
my Dearfjt, nor be dejefled or afraid, becaufe we are
few and fimple ; becaufe it has <verily been Jhe<wn trie
from the Lord, that he will intreafe us into a great
Multitude, multiply and enlarge us.
God gave the Gift of Prophecy to St. Anthony ; Ribaden,
he foretold to a certain Lady, that God would give P- 393-
her a Son that mould be great in the Lord's Church,
a Francifcan Fryar, and a Martyr. And fo it hap-
A holy Nun declared, that while me was praying Orland.
for the Good of the Church, and Reformation of '?
Manners, God forefhewed her from above, that p. 370-
the Society of Jefaits mould arife, who, as ne<w dpo-
jlles, mould take Pains in working Con^verjlons over
all the World."
Numbers of young female Prophet fffes are eafily
fupplied out of the Popis Budget, (as St. Bridget,
Catharine of Sienna, Hildegard, St. Rofa, Terefa, &c.)
who all foretold wonderful Things of themfelves,
and the feveral Religious Orders. The Light of
Prophecy is indeed one of their boafted Marks of the
true Church, of which they give a hundred In-
ftances, and challenge Protejlants to produce the
like. Would they but come among the Methodijts,
they might fee their Challenge anfwered, and per-
iiaps be induced to embrace them as Brethren, or
even to give them the right Hand of Fellow/hip.
$. 6. The
( 32 )
$. 6. The fame may be faid with regard to-
Miracles, another Mark of the true Church, which
their Entbujiajiic Impoftors, and moft others, have
been fond of, as one of the chief and moft awful Proofs
of their Pretenfeons. They know the Vulgar are
ever delighted, amazed, and drawn by any thing
of the Marvellous, efpecially if heightened into the
Miraculous ; and thereby eafily perfuaded of the
Wondermonger' s divine MiJ/ton.
Here alfo the Methodijls have been dabbling.
Some Injiances of an extraordinary Nature, procured
by the Merits and Intercejfion of the Metbodifts, I
mall referve for another Chapter ; and mall here
only point out a few Cafes, containing the miracu-
lous Favours of Heaven towards themfelves ; fuffi-
cient however to prove a Claim of Miracles among
them.
Seward, Thus, when " Mr. Sward fell from his Horfe
Journ. without the leaft Hurt, not fo much as of his Foot
againft a Stone ; the Reafon given is, God's fend-
ing bis Angel to preferwe him.'"'' Which is much fuch
Ribadcn. a Favour as Philip Nerius received, " who, falling
p ' 3 ' into a deep Ditch, was miraculoujly held partly in the
Air by an Angel, and partly drawn forth by the
Hairs of his Head, without any Harm :" Or
M effing, that of St. Columb, " who, feeing a Boy falling
_ lt '-. from the Top of a Houfe, commanded an Angel
p. 175. to fly in the Twinkling of an Eye, and hold him
up, before he could touch the Ground. The Angel
obeyed ; and the Boy was unhurt"
5 Journ. " Loft in a Wood : God fent a Guide to direft
P- 34- us right," fays Mr. Whitejield. In the fame 11 Man-
Franc. ner > " Gd> Paying a certain holy Jefuit who had
Annai. I ft his Way, immediately fent him a Guide."''
C 33 )
In order to receive Power to preach, and preach
the more effeflually ; Mr. Wbitefeld fays, I 3 J<>'
had a great Hoarfenefs, and was deferted, before 1 went P '
up into the Pulpit, but Godjirengthened me, fo as to
be heard by all. God took atvay my Hoarfenefs, that I Ib. p. 9.
could lift up my Voice like a Trumpet."
Mr. We/ley in the fame Cafe is fupernaturally
cured feveral Times. " So weak that I could hardly * J ouri1 '
Jland, or get out of P.ed, at length made a
Shift to drag myfelf to Short's Gardens, read thofe
Words (tho 1 fcarce intelligibly, for my Voice too
was almofl gone) Whom be did foreknow, be did alfo
predejlinate. In a Moment both my Voice and
Strength returned. From that Time I found fuch
bodily Strength. My bodily Strength quite failed;
yet my Weaknefs was fufpended, while I was
calling Sinners to Repentance. At our Love-FeaJl, P. 83.
befides the Pain in my Bade and Head, and a
Fever, I was feized with fuch a Cough, that I could
hardly fpeak. At the fame time came ftrongly
into my Mind, Thefe Signs fiall follow them that
believe. I called on Jefus aloud to increafe my
Faith. While I was fpeaking, my Pain <vanijhcd.
The Fever left me. My bodily Strength returned.
And for many Weeks I felt neither iVeaknefs nor
Pain. Another time feized with fuch a Pain, that P. 77.
1 could not fpeak. I knew my Remedy, and imme-
diately kneeled down. In a Moment the Pain was
gone. I quite loji my Voice: But it was immedi- P. 9*.
ately reftored ; and I fpent half an Hour in Ex-
hortation and Prayer without any Hoarfenefs"
Some Obfervattons concerning thefe Pretences to
inftuntaneous and fuper natural Cures will follow here-
after. I fhall here, as ufual, fubjoin the Parallel,
as to the Cure of the Hoarfenefs.
< St.
( 34)
Brev. " St. Bernandin, a Francifcan, finding himfelf
M m 20 un ^ t to P reac ^> on account of the Weaknefs of bis
Left. 5. Voice, and a Hoarfenefs, by imploring the Affiftance
of God, was, not without a Miracle, relieved from
Franc. that Impediment A religious Nun devoted to St.
fefuit' Xivier* famed for Skill in Muftc and a fine Voice,
p! 368. had her Voice loft by a Hoarfenefs for ten Years.
At laft determined to fing on St. Xaviers Fcjli'val,
fhe declares, that the Saint would re/fore her Voice.
Behold a Miracle ! On the Morning of his Fejlival
her Voice is recovered to its ancient Sweetnefs, and
fhe never fung better in her Life." <t. Rofa, I
confefs, did not come off quite fo well. For,
Vit.Rof. " being very ill of a fore Throat, Jefus Chrijl her
* 'S* Spoufe came to <vijlt her, and invited her to play
with him to divert her Pain. She infilled that the
Winnings mould be whatever the Winner pleafed.
The Cards were played, and me won the firft
Game ; and demanding inftantly a Relief of her
fore Throat, it <was fo immediately. But, her Spoufe
infifting to play another Game, me loft it, and the
Pain of her Throat returned and increafed"
The fame Accounts we have of God^s clearing up
the Weather, for the fake of the Methodijis and
Company,
Whitef. " It rained very hard : But, upon Prayer
3 J " 1 ""- that God would be pleafed to withhold the Rain, it
P' 93'
was done immediately.
P. 94. " Preached at Kennington : Above ten
thoufand People, and thirty Coaches. Rained molt
Part of the Day : However, God was pleafed fo
vifibly to interpofe in caufmg the Weather to clear
up, and the Sun to mine out, juft as I began, that
I could not avoid taking Notice of it to the People
in my Difcourfe."
Does
( 35)
Does he think the Weather would not hare
cleared up, and the Sun fhone, if he had not
preached ? But a Sort of Miracle mujt be made of
it. And yet, it feems, the Miracle is much the
fame, if it happens to rain. For, " preached at Whitef.
Kennlngton, and God was pleafed to fend Rain : 3 gg'
And, as foon as the Rain came, 1 received uncommon
Strength from above."
Mr. Wejley too fays, *' A violent Storm of 4 Journ.
Rain 'began about the Middle of the Sermon. But p>
fo much the more was his Power prefent to heal.
Our Hearts danced for Joy."
Mr. Wejley " travelling on Foot in the Night, in P. 69.
a heavy Rain, weary, and not knowing his Way,
has a Group of Miracles to relieve him in each Par-
ticular. O that thou viouldejl ftay the Bottles of
Heaven ! Or, at leajl, give me Light, or an honeft
Guide, or for/ie Help, in the Manner thou knoweji !
Prefently the Rain ceafed ; the Moon broke out ;
and a friendly Man overtook me, who fet me on
his own Horfe, and walked by my Side, 'till we
came to Mr. Gambold^s Door."
Mr. Wejley being reproved by Mr. Church for
this Enthujlafm and Prefumption, fays, " he would
not have us look upon it as miraculous, but njjgnal
Injtance of God's particular Providence" But, not-
withflanding this Dijlinftion, if this Jignai Inftance
of particular Providence he effected in a miraculous
Manner, where is the Difference ? He adds, how-
ever, with zfeeming Submiflion, " Let it pafs then
as a Trifle not worth relating" We Unbelievers may
deem it a Trife; but he has a better Security in
the Faith of his Fo/Itnvers.
By way of Comparifon we might produce hun-
dreds of Inftances of Popijh Saints being quite dry
VOL. I. N in
( 36 )
in the Mid ft of Rain ; or no Rain falling where
they are preaching, though Showers all around
them ; or Storms turned into Calms by their
Prayer, &c.
Ealingh. Balinghem (in his Calendar of the Virgin Mary)
Jun. 13. gi ves us two Inftances together ; one of St. An-
thony, " who being on a Journey, and a heavy
Shower falling, he puts the Rofary on his Head,
and prays for Succour to the Virgin ; and inftantly,
the Words fcarce out of his Mouth, the Rofary be-
comes a complete Cover, and he gets to the City
without being touched by the leaft Drop of Rain.
Another, of one Brother George, who being in a
violent Storm of Rain without a Cloak, no fooner
repeats his Rofary, but he goes on to his Monajlery
perfectly dry.
Henri- St. Edmund preaching in the open Air, a black
quez. Cloud, hanging over the Company, threatened a
V^ 10 *,' ter "ble Storm j but he, making the Sign of the
p. 424. Crofs, commanded the malignant Spirit of Water to
depart, and not to difturb his Audience. Preftntly
it rained ail-about, but not a Drop fell uporM/&.
MabiH. St; Aridius, (whofe Name is adapted to his Mi-
Toro^' rac ? es J ^ kis Society, often were perfectly dry in
p. 95. the Midft of prodigious Shtnvers. And St. Beuno
j-'ket- had always the fame Privilege ; for which Reafon
Wkl, he was called Dry-Coat:'
p. 613. You fee the peculiar Privileges of fuch conceited
Favourites of Heaven, The common Courfe of
Providence muft be altered for their Sake ; and all
Nature be made fubfervient to their wbiwficol Dif-
penfation,
" $t,Tere/a having obtained of the lord, that
a Well of very bad Water mould become /weet,
and be conveyed too into her Mmajlery by a feem-
( 37 )
ingly impoflible Current, has the fame prevaricating
Plea with Mr. We/ley : I reckon not this for a Mi-
racle, but to fie our ftrong Faith ; for the Thing
happened juft as 1 have related it"
But as to thefe, and fuch-like Miracles, it were
to be wiihed that the Methcdifts would be clear j
and, in exprefs Words, either claim or renounce their
Preterfons. We fhould then know upon what Foot
the Argument with them Hands. But they are
manifeilly Evajive. And tho', when hard prefTed,
theyftem to difcki'.m Miracles, and declare them unne-
cejfary, and the like ; yet, in the above-mentioned
Inflances, they/cent alfo to retain them : The Sto-
ries are evidently told with that Air, as if they
would have them tlxwgbt miraculous j often with
Words plainly implying ' it : And they well know
their eager Followers, for the Credit of their Caufe,
(land ready to fwallow any Thing; and are as
willing to improve, as to believe, any marvellout
Tale. They are fo well trained up, that they eafily
acknowledge the Authority God has given their
Teachers from above"
. 7. Hitherto we have confidered the
of the Methodijls under their moil plaujlble Ap-
pearances, highejl Pretenfeons, and a F/env of Exul-
tation. But they do not always go on fo fmoothly
and fu:immingly ; meeting with various Rubs and
Obftrutfions, and grievous Enemies and Sufferings y
in their Way. I obferved before, that whatever
favours and promotes their Caufe, is from God;
whatever Oppojttion or QbjlruSion they meet with,
from the Devil.
I ftiall therefore now give fome Account, or
rather they tbemfelves, of their grievous Ccnfifit
N z and
and Combats with Satan ; who, though the Enettiy
to all Truth and Goodnefs, and therefore their
Enemy, and fure to-be conquered at laft, yet per-
fecutes and opprejjetb them in a moft grievous Mart-
ner, by Force and Fraud, in Body and Mind.
Conform. To begin with Mr. Wkitefield. St. Francis once
fol. 253. fa{& > a tha^ if hj s Brethren did but know what
Tribulations he endured from Satan, there is none
of them who would not greatly compaffionate his
i Deal. Cafe." And Mr. Whitefield fays, " God' only knows
? 38- how many Night; I have lain groaning, and
bidding. Satan depart from- me."
Ib,p. 21. " I had then Power aver my fecret and darling
Six. But being fame Time after overtaken in Li-
quor, Satan gained his ufual Advantage over me :
An experimental Proof to my poor Soul, how that
wicked One makes ufe of Men as Machines, work-
ing them up to juft what he pleafes." Which is
aa artful Way of throwing the Blame upon Satan t
and making Sin an involuntary Thing ; when the
Man was led tiway voluntarily by his own Luft and
Intemperance. And Satan has Reafon to complain
of Injujlice done him.
We have next a grievous Complaint of a bodily
Oppreffion from the wicked One. At Oxford,
*-37>3^ " The. Comforts of fenfible Devotion were with-
drawn, and a horrible Dread overwhelmed my
Soul. One Morning, rifing from my Bed, I felt
an unufual Impreffion and Weight upon my Breaft :
In a Ihort Time the Load gradually increafed, and
almoft weighed me down, and fully convinced me
that Satan had as real a PofTeffion of my Body, as
cnce of Job's. All Power of thinking was taken
away, my Memory quite failed, my Soul barren
and dry. 1 fancied myfelf like a Man locked up
( 39 )
in Iron drtnour. I felt great Heaving; in my Body ;
prayed under the Weight 'till the Siveat came.
How many Nights did I lie groaning under the
Weight, bidding Satan depart from me in the Name
of Jefus r
Here again, I doubt, he has charged Satan
wrongfully; in laying his diabolical Weight upon
the Body, while it undergoes but the ufual Effects
of a common natural Diftemper, called the Incubus*
and Night-Mare. To prove this, the Devil, in
Revenge, might perhaps tempt him to borrow the
Defcription of his Cafe from Chambers'* Dictionary
under thofe two Words ; which I (hall fubjoin :
" Incubus, Night-Mare, a Difeafe confifting in an
Oppreffion of the Breaft, fo very violent, that the Ma
Patient can't fpeak, or even breathe. The Senfes
are not quite loft, but dronuned and aftonijhed ; as is
the Underftanding and Imagination. So that the
Patient thinks fome huge Weight thrown on him,
ready to Jirangle him ; and frequently imagines
fome Spetfre, or Phantom, Jtopping his Breath."
The fame Author afcribes " to the Hypochondriac
Pajfion (Spleen, or Vapours) the fame Symptoms of a
Pain in the Stomach, a Conftriftion of the Breaft,
Difficulty of Breathing ; as likewife Wakefulnefs,
Inquietudes, fears, Sufpicions, Delirioufnefs j af-
fe&ing the Patient more in MrWthan Body'''
Nor is it to be doubted, but the greateft Part of thefe
ftrange Feelings and Sufferings, Dejections of Mind,
and dreadful Apprehenjions, &c. proceed from Dif-
eafe, caufed perhaps by a Flatulency from much
Fajling, or the Fumes of Indigeftion, or Want of
Exercife, deep Intention of Thought, and various
dffeftions and PaJ/ions ; which Phyjtcians can much,
better account for than myfelf. And we may eafily
N 3 conceive
( 40 >
conceive that the Eff'efls of fuch Difeafe muft of
Courfe bej!ronger, when the indifpofed Body wears a
melancholic and enthujiajiic Head j , Strength of Ima-
gination and Diftemper concurring. For a Cure,
Mr. Whitefield " applied to his Friend, Mr. Charles
We/ley, who advifed him to keep upon his Watch,
and referred to a Chapter in Kempis." Had he ap*
plied to a Phyjician, he would perhaps have pre-
fcribed, befides, Phlebotomy, Cathartics, Carmina-
tives, and Emetics. And one may the rather think
fo, becaufe both Naturalijls and Divines have aC-
fured us, that the Devil often goes out of the Bo-
dies of the PoJJe/ed in a Vomit or Stool. Gregory of
Tours fays, " a moft atrocious Devil having poflefled
a certain Perfon, by the Help of Oil he went out
of his Body by the Draught ; perjluxum ventris." 1 " 1
Glor. Confeff. Cap. 9..
We read in the Malleus Maleficarum, (Tom. 4,
Pag. 25.) " that the Devil fometimes rumbles
about the Intejlines in the Shape of a Pill (for fo I
conftrue the Words in fimilitudinem pil<e) until he
goes out by the Draught ; per fecejjum.' 1 ''
'-' Thyraus (de Deemoniacis, Cap. 52, ff 54.) gives
us feveral Inftances of Devils being caft out by
Vomit and Stool : And then the learned Author wifely
olferves, that thefe Paffages are the fitteft for the
Egrefs of fuch unclean Spirits ; and that (tho'
Devils commonly go out with a Stench.) in thefe
Cafes they are expelled with a more than ordinary
fetid Smell." "Pis true thefe Authorities are taken
only from Popijh Writers, and therefore may not
obtain Credit from a Proteftant Reader; but the
Patient, who hath fo often followed their Example,
might for once have taken their Prefcription.
Hence
C4i )
Hence again we may account for what follows
in Mr. Whitefeld. " At this Time Satan ufed to i Deal.-
terrify me much ; and threatened to punijb me, if I P 36 ' 3 *
difcovered his Wiles. I thought the Devil would
appear to me every Stair I went up. And he fo
troubled me, when I lay down to Reft, that for fome
Weeks I fczrcefapt above three Hours at a Time.
Wanted to fee Sin as it was, but feared left the
Sight fhould terrify me to Death. Satan fo im- jt,. . ,,
pofed upon my Under -{landing, that he perfuaded.
me tojfcut myfelf up in my Study, 'till I could do
Good with zfmgle Eje" This Mr. Wkitefield ex-
plains elfewhere, " Satan kept me in my Clofet 3 Joum.
near fix Weeks, becaufe I could not do any Thing P a S- 8 4"
with a Jingle Intention :" i. e. was a Hypocrite.
Why Satan mould endeavour to cure him of his
Hypocrijy, I can't conjecture. But, if that infernal
Fiend did really ufe the poor Man fo unmercifully,
or if a 'wrong Caiife be afiigned for his Diforders ;
'tis certain he has ftiared with many Saint-like Per-
fons in thefe Calamities.
As to Suffocation, &c. " One Night the wicked Ribaden,
Fiend did what he could to cheat St. Anthony, P' 39
preffing his Paw upon his Throat. At Rome this Ibid.
malignant Spirit would have choakedSt. Ignatius in p ' 544-
his Sleep : The Holy Man awaking, called upon j^' t ij lfc
the Name of Jefus ; but he was fo hoarfe, and his p. 409.
Throat fo fore, that he could hardly fpeak for a
Fortnight. At another Tims .two Devils whipt him
cruelly in his Bed. The wicked Fiend would often Ribaden.
throw himfelf upon St. Romualdus, as he was lying p. 180*
in his Bed, kneaded him with his Knees, and prefied
fo heavily upon him, as almoft to fmother him.
He would often cry out Go, thou malignant Ser-
( 42 )
Franc. pent. A certain Jefuit, being in a haunted Houfe,
"328^ had fcarce fhut his E y es ' but he felt the Devil^
Hand taking him by the Throat."
Mefling. " The Prince of Darknefs ufed to fall upon St.
^ 1( j;. Pafric in his Sleep, and to lay a heavy Stone upon
cap. 19. b" Breaft, fo as to deprive him of all Motion
and Senfation ; and bring a Darknefs and Torpor
upon him for feveral Days, 'till the Saint, by cal-
ling upon Elias, the Prince of the Prophets, was at
length relieved."
Nor will the cruel Enemy fpare the tender Sex.
Vit.Eliz. " I was, fays St. Elizabeth, that Spiritual Virgin,
* a P- 7 fo Jhut up by the Adverfary, that I could fcarce
fpeak. I felt my Throat fo violentlyraw/ir^Wby his
Hand, that my Breath was almoft flopped."-
Life. " Mary of dgreda was never free from bodily In-
frmities, and fome painful Diftemper. The Devil
too had a Commiffion to torment her ; and fome-
times he would lie upon herewith fo heavy and in-
fupportable a Weight, that her Breath was ready to
go out of her Body." The Confeflion of her
Diftempers explains what the Devil was.
The Want of Sleep is a Circumftance belonging to
Variety of Diftempers ; and, if the Devil would
Manni allow Mr. Whitefield but little, he ferved " one
Sel. Hift. Ikomas the Simple as bad, who was all Day dirtying
his Body, in order to have a pure Heart : For feeing
fo much Piety in fuch ajimple Man, he was per-
petually plaguing him with nocJurnal Terrors,
Conform. Noifes, Dread of Thieves, dsV." And " he ufed
' 54 " St. Francis in the fame Manner, always difturbing
his Reft in the Shape of Mice and Rats"
As Satan threatened Mr. Whitefield with. Punifh-
ment, if he ever difcovered his Wiles ; fo he
Ib. .53. " threatened St. Francis, that, unlefs he would defift
from.
(43 )
from his pious Method, he would make him crooks J,
and clap a Hump upon his Back."
In the romantic Life of St. Bernard, " a Woman Lib. a-
grievoufly oppreffed by an Incubus, who had ap-
plied to St. Bernard to be relieved, is terribly me-
naced by the Devil what he would do to her, as
foon as the Saint was gone out of the Country."
Terefa too he" threatened to be revenged on, be- Ribaden,
fides giving her many grievous Blows."
Did Satan, as it were, lock up Mr. Whitefield
in Armour, and Jhut him up in his Clofet ? He
ferved a religious Francifcan the fame Trick ; " not Conform*
only took away his Speech, but got upon his Back>
and heavily weighed him down ; and thrujl him into
a Hole, fo narrow that he could not jlir ; 'till by
the Help of a little holy Water he put the Devil to
Flight."
Nor do we want Inftances among the mojt re-
Jblute Popijh Fanatics of over-povjering Fears, and!
Apprehenfions of the Devil's appearing to them :
Wherever they are, efpecially if in the Dark,
whatever Objeft they fee, or think they fee, be it
Man or Beaft, it is immediately their Hellijh Enemy ;
and they are plucking up their Courage to fight
with him, or calling upon Divine Help to fend him
packing.
" Five furious Devils attacked M. of Pazzi one Life,
after another ; and this horrible Sight terrified, No> 3*>
haunted, and purfued her in all Places. Sometimes 3 '
they throw her down Stairs, bite her, and feem
to devour her ; fo that me had no manner of Re-
pofe Day or Night. She armed herfelf againft
thefe furious Aflaults with the Buckler of Prayer."
But St. Rotnualdus, as became a Man, had more
Courage. " The. Devil lay upon, his Feet and-
Legs,
(44 >
StiHingfl. Legs all Night, that he could not eafily ftir him-
P. 234.' tdf; and he was fo poffefled with the Thoughts of
or him, that a Monk could not knock at his Cell, but
^ D *- he aiked the Devil, What he did tfore ? and was
Romual. ready to encounter him. All the Crows and ugly
c.15'17- Birds he faw in the Wildernefs he fancied to be
Devils, and challenged them to fight with him ; and
exceedingly triumphed, when at his loud Cries they
flew away."
Bart. Vit. " The Devils, who had declared they hated none
Ignatn, more t j ian jg nat i uit haunted his Bed-chamber with
terrible Noifes and Spectres, to fhake his Conflancy.
He was grievoufly frighted ; but by Degrees recol-
lecling himfelf, he boldly defied them, and calle4
them a Pack of Cowards, for coming in fuch Num-
bers to difturb one Mans Refl."
But, notwithftanding thefe bodily Affaults of the
Devil upon Mr. Whitefald, the worft is ftili to
come ; as you will fee by his following perplexed
and inconjiftent Ejfujions.
i Deal, " Henceforward he transformed himfelf into an
p< 40i Angel of Light j and worked fo artfully, that I
imagined the good, and not the evil, Spirit fuggefted,
to me every thing that I did. His main Drift was.
to lead me into a State of $>uietifm, (he generally
plowed with God's Heifer) and when the Holy Spi-
rit put into my Heart good Thoughts or Con-
victions, he always drove them to Extremes. For
Injlance ; Having out of Pride put down in my
Diary what I gave away, Satan tempted me to
lay my Diary quite afule." Affuredly a moft mali-
cious Devil ! who would rob us of that Treafury,
which has furnifhed the World with fuch incom-
parable Dealings and j^ourna/s. But ferioufly, Sir,
did the Holy Spirit put it into your Heart to fet
down
(45 )
down your Charities, out of Pride ? And did Satan
tempt you to the contrary ? The very Reverfe of
both mould have been the Cafe.
" When Cajlaniza (the Author of the Spiritual J Deal -
Combat) advifed to talk but little, Satan faid / mujl fl
not talk at all. So that I, who ufed to be the moft
forward in exhorting my Companions, have fat
whole Nights almoft without /peaking at all."
Where a fallen Humour, perhaps a Ltrwnefi of
Spirits, is imputed to Satan s attempting to lead him
into S>uietifm. I find too, that not only Mr. White-
feld, but Mr. Wefley, was advifed by a Spiritual Ca-
fuiji to obferve a very high Degree of .' Hence. The
latter " was often and earneftly prefied to make an 4 fc 1 ' '
Experiment of this Nature, and he fpoke to none P '
at all for two Days, and travelling fourfcore Miles
together."
The fame Whim has run through the Myjlics,
and feveral of the Religious Orders, who have en-
joined abfolute Silence (I think too, bound it on
the Conscience by Vow) except at fome fluted
Times, as a Point greatly tending to Perfection.
Hence St. Bonaventura fays, " that Silence in all De Per-
the Religious is neceflary in order to Perfection \ and fea * Cl **
that, in order to obferve it, you ought to do as St.
Agatho did, who held a Stone in his Mouth for
three Years, 'till he could learn Taciturnity"
And " St. Alcantara carried feveral Pebbles in Brev.
his Motith for three Years likewife, and for the Rom<
fame Reafon. Theon obferved a continual Silence in
his Cell for thirty Years. St. Francis obferved it Conform,
himfelf, and enjoined it upon his Brethren. fol< *74-
The Rule of Silence was molt religioufiy obferved
by St. Dominic ; which provoked the Devil to put
fl Trick upon him. Accordingly he appears in the
Shape
( 46 )
Shape of a Monk -, and, tranfgreffing ene of the
Orders of the Saint, the Saint fomething haftily
Lo^" 6 " 8 Mdes mm for Di f obefiience - The D e v ^ immediately
Infeft. fell a laughing at St. Dominic, and upbraided him
? J 36- for the Violation of his Rule of Silence."
But our Pair of Methodijls were not to be fo
caught. Neither the Spiritual Cafuijls, nor Satan,
could bring them to any long State of Silence, but
were both miftaken in their Men. For their En~
tbujiafm is of that loquacious Nature, that it tnujl
have Vent ; and the black Humour be difcharged,
either through a >uill, or at the Mouth; or they
would lurjl.
i Deal. Again, adds Mr. Wbitefeld, when Cajlaniza.
advifed to endeavour after zjilent Recollefiion, and
waiting upon God; Satan told me, I mult leave off
all Forms, and not ufe my Voice in Prayer at all."
Where are we now , ? But a few Lines before, Sa-
tan's main Drift was to lead you into Quietifm ;
and now your Spiritual Guide joins with him, ad-
vifing the very Effence of >uietifm. You obey j
Ibid. leave off keeping your Diary, ufing Forms,
P-43>44" f carce a y i C f m Prayer, vifiting the Prifoners, &c,
'till better advifed by Meffieurs Wejley, andGx/was
pleafed to make an open Shew of thefe diabolical
Devices"
And it muft be allowed, that the Wejleys gene-
rally difclaim this Doftrine of the Maravinxt.
W rI!Sn " ur Id Friends ' Mr ' GaMd and Mr - Hatt *
pag68"' came to fee my Brother and me. The Conver-
and fee fation turned wholly \\yonfilent Prayer, and quiet
P* "3- Waiting for God; which, they faid, was the only
pojfible Way to attain living, facing Faith.
Sirenum cantus, & Circes pocula nojli ?
( 47 )
" Was there ever fo pleafmg a Scheme ? But
where is it written ? Not in any of thofe Books,
which I account the Oracles of God, &c ."
We may eafily imagine, that much Jilent Prayer,
and quiet Waiting, are Doctrines not likely to re-
commend themfelves to our rambling, warm-
headed, itinerant Teachers.
Thefe Moravian Myjiics are the Perfons, whom
(by an unaccountable Inconfe/iency of Conduct not to
be reconciled) Mr. Wejley reprefents by Viciffitudes
as the left, and as the <worft, of Men. Who has fo
much Fondnefs for them, or Averfion to them ?
Who fo high in their Commendation ; or who fo
eager in running them down, and difgracing them ?
Who fo loves, ejleems, and encourages them ; or who
fo effectually expofes and confutes them ? Who fo ar-
dently defires tojoiv them ; and yet who produceth
fuch flrong Reafons againjl joining them, as Mr.
J. Wejley ?
But to return to Mr. Whitefeld. " The Devil ift Deal,
alfo fadly impofed upon me in the Matter of my pa5 ' 4 **
College Exercifes. I had no Power to compofe or
write a Word, had a violent inward Check not to
go down into the Hall. The next Week he ferved
me fo again. My Tutor, as well he might, took
me to be really mad. Being urged with the Com-
mand in Scripture, to be fubjeft to the Higher
Powers ; I anfwered, Yes ; but I had a new Reve-
lation. Lord, What is Man ?"
What is Man indeed ? When he muft charge
upon Satan his own moody Perverfenefs, or Inability
to compofe ; and pretend a new Revelation againft
Obedience, enjoined by the old?
% " After leaving off my Diary, Forms and ibid.
Potce in Prayer, and vifiting the Prifons, nothing P- 43- fi
VOL. I. O remained
( 48 )
remained for me to leave, but public Worftip, and
my religious Friends. Now it was Juggefled (by Sa-
tan, as an Angel of Light) that I jnuft leave them
alfo for Cbri/s Sake. A fore Trial, but rather
than not be Chriffs Difciple, I refolved to renounce
them. Accordingly, inftead of meeting my Bre-
thren as ufual, I went into the Fields, and prayed
filently by tnyfelf. Our Evening-Meeting I negleded
alfo ; and went not to BreakfaJ}, according to Ap-
pointment. 'Till at length by Mr. J. Wejleys ex-
cellent Advice and Management, under God, I was
delivered from thofe Wiles of Satan ; and took
up my Externals again."
I fhall omit many fuch Appearances of Satan,
like an Angel of Light, to the Popijh Saints ; and be
contented with a Jingle Inftance attended v/ithjfri/ar
Circutnftances.
Conform. ** Brother Rujpn, before he arrived at his full
101.63-4. 5 tate O j.- San fit ty and Grace, was tempted of the
Devil no more to follow the Footfteps of St.
Francis, who was but a Jimph Man, and under
Pretence of fending them among the Hofpitals
drew the Brethren away from their Prayers ; but
that he mould \\vefolitarily in the Defart. Thus
Satan, appearing as an Angel of Light, fuggefting
this to Rujfin, confirmed him in his Purpofe. And
he retired into the Woods to pray ; would not come
to St. Francis at Eating-Hours as ufual, would not
come to Supper, nay would not come to the <S*z-
cramtnt ; and fent Word to St. Francis, that he
had a better Way to Salvation than by following
his Simplicities ; and fo the Lord had revealed to
him. This he affirmed again and again. At
length St. Francis, deeply concerned, and defirous
to bring him back to the Community, goes to him
iiimfdf,
( 49 )
himfelf, and afks who perfuaded him to this ?
Ruffin anfwered, he had a Divine Revelation by an
Angel. I will Jbevj you, fays Francis, c wbo this
Angel is, that fuggejled it to you : And prefently, by
Prayer, the Angel appeared in a moft amazing
Beauty and Splendor ; which made R tiffin rejoice and
exult. Then Francis, by Prayer again, commanded
the Angel to appear vifelly nuho, and what he was.
And prefently he was transformed into fuch a hor-
rible Shape, and made fuch a horrible Stink, that
Puffin fell to the Ground as dead ; but was raifed-
ap by St. Francis, comforted, and confirmed in
Righteoufnefs."
I would afk now, with Refpeft to Mr. Whit ef eld,
what otherwife than has happened could be expected
from one who fets out, and begins his new Diften-
fation with fuch Phrenjies, as himfelf has publimed ?
Youth, a pious Intention, fancied Oppreffion of Satan,
and real IndiJpofeioK of Body, may perhaps be
pleaded in his Excufe : And no doubt very juftly j
had not his whole future Conduft, his uncharitable
Characters and Accufations of his Brethren, his
indecent and rude Treatment of his Superiors and
Governors, his Vanity and proud Eoafiings, his un-
warrantable and high Preemptions, his obtruding
upon the World his (nun Fancies for Divine Infpi-
rations, carrying on all along a New Revelation
againjl the Old in facred Writ, and thereby deceiving
many, C5V. had not all this, and more, rendered
him inexcufable. Excufes are fcarce allowable to
fuch Exorbitances.
His Companion, Mr. Se*ward, has likewife
great ConJSSst with Satan. " He often turned journ.
himfelf into an Angel of Light, and made me think P a 8- 2 7
Brother WbitefeWs Zeal was not fo great as my * ' 39 '
O 2 <W ;.
( 50 )
tnva ; which Mr; Wbitefeld faid was Impcttiofity.
Was exerci fed with frong inward Trials, fuch as I
never felt before. Satan darting in fuch horrid
Thoughts ; he made me entertain hard Thoughts
of my Brother ; exercifed again with inward Con-
Jlicls, and could not pray for my Friends. There
feemed a Cloud of evil Spirits hovering round me,
and brought my Soul to the Depth of Hell. O !
the horrid Suggeftions, that Satan has, Day after
Day, followed me with ! He has endeavoured to
caft a Cloud over all the Manifeftations I have had
of the Divine Favour. Tho' the Lord has a
Thoufarid Times over told me, that he loved me
with an Everlajl'mg L eve ; yet Satan had the Impu-
dence to tell me, in the midft of my Prayers, that I
was not one of Gad's Elefl, that I was like
Judas, and mould Let ray Chrijl. He is generally
fo bufy with me in Prayer, that my Time is chiefly
fpent in keeping him off. Thus has my poor Soul
been toJTed as in a Tempejl, 'till brought almoft to
Dcfpair. Satan bad me worfhip him, or 'Stocks, or
Atones, or any Thing but God. One remarkable
Temptation was, that, knowing how little Sleep I
allowed myfelf, he terrifad me with this Scripture,
It is but loft Labour that you rife up early, and Jit
-up late, and eat the Bread of Carefulnefs. Here he
flopped, for it was Satan?, Bufmefs now to hide
the latter Part of the Text from me."
This is the fame Mr. Seward, of whom Mr.
Wbitefeld gives fuch. a particular Account, " whofe
Circumftances, both before and in his Converfion,
much refemble thofe of St. Paul. It pleafed God
to reveal his Son unto him, and to caft him down
to the Earth by eight Days Sicknefs ; in which
fcnrce ever eat, or drank, or flept, and
under-
underwent great inward Agonies and Tortures :
When God fent a poor travelling Woman, that came
to fell Straw Toys, to inftruft him in the Nature of
our Second Birth." And what better than Strata
Toys did me fell to Mm ? Of what did fhe deliver
him, after going through the Pangs of the New
Birth, and what has he brought forth, but a moft
weak and extravagantly wild Journal ? What Other
Proof need we bring of a 'weak or difordcred Head,
than his being fo terrified by that remarkable Temp*
tation of Satan $ alledging only a Part of a Scripture
Paffage ? As if the leall Degree of Thought, or
turning to the Place, might not eafily have fupplied
the Defe&, -forfo he giveth his Beloved Sleep.
I could tell him, from a Book of Authority, of a
more /agacious Saint, who outwitted the De^vil in a
like Cafe. " The Devil once told St. Bernard,
that he knew certain Verfes in the Pfalter, that
whofo fayeth mall not perifli ; and (hall know the
Day of his Death. But the Fiend refufed to
name them. Then, faid the Saint, I will fay the
whole Pfalter daily. The Fiend, confidering how
much more Good that would do him, fhewed him
the Verfes." Hor* B.Virginis fee. Ufum Sacrum,
P. 124. Pan/. 1534.
In Reference to the other Aflaults of Satan upon
Mr. Seward, I mall only mention one Pcpijb In-
ftance among a Thoufand ; which is that of St.
Guthlac, agreeable in divers Circumftances. " The Mabill.
Enemy of Mankind, envying the Humility of the ^^'
Man of Gad, by the Force of his Temptations y-ol. 3*
almoft drove him to the Pit of Defpair. One p- 271*
Night an infinite Multitude of Devils furrounded
him, filling all the Air with their ugly Forms, as
fo many black Clouds ; threaten him with Death,
O 3 and
( 52 )
and carry him away to the very Jaws of Hell.
'Till at length St. Bartholomew comes to his Aflift-
ance, and commands them to carry him fafe
Home." Nov. Legend. Angl. Fol. 169.
Nor can Mr. Wejley efcape the Attacks of this
3 Journ. infernal Spirit. " Soon after receiving an AJ/urancs'
P-3> 3 1 - O f Forgivenefe, The Enemy fuggefted, This can-
not be Faith: For where is thy Joy ? I was much
buffeted with Temptations ; but cried out, and they
fled away. They returned again and again.
The Enemy injected, a Fear, If thou doft believe,
why is there not a more fenfible Change? I an-
fwered, (yet not I) That I know not. But is not
any Sort of Fear, continued the Tempter, a Proof
that thou doft not believe ?"
You obferve here a regular Conversation and-
Difcourfe between Satan and Mr. We/ley : That
Satan f poke to Mr. Whitefield, and threatened him;
Had the Impudence tofpeak to Mr. Seaward, and'
terrify him with a Paflage in Scripture. And elfe-
Lctters. where " the Devilperfuades them to go no further ;
; and they have great Reafoning with Satan.'' 1
And does not this give too much Encouragement
to the many fabulous Tales, with which Popijh
Legends are fluffed, of vijible and perfonal Appearances
ff Devils to their Saints, of their Combats Hand to
Hand, and Difcourfes in an articulate Voice, &c. ?
True Chatholics, i. e. ignorant and. credulous Peo-
ple, firmly believed thefe. Tales. The Methodijls
perhaps are not much wifer j and may be equally
ready to conftrue fach Expreffions in a literal
Senfe.
One more batar.ical Operation I mall mention ia
this Place, becaufe Mr. Wefiey was concerned in it :
He
(53)
He relates the Gafe of " feveral breaking-out into 3 Journ.
horrid Fits of Laughter ; buffeted by Satan
by fuch. a Spirit of Laughter, as they could in no
wife rejtft t though it was Pain and Grief unto them :
One laughing, 'till almoft/ra/W: Some were
offended, and would not believe but they could
kelp laughing, if they would : But God fuffered
Satan to teach them better.. They were fuddenly
feized in the fame Manner, laughing almoft without
ceafing. Thus they continued for tivo Days, a
Spectacle to all. And both himfelf and Brother
had been buffeted in the fame Manner, when they
walked out to fmg Pfalms in a Meadow. Nor
could they poflibly refrain, tho' ready to teas
themfelves. in Pieces ; but were forced to go Home,
without fmging another Line."
Though I am not convinced that thefe Fits of
Laughing are to be afcribed to Satan ; I entirely
agree with Mr. Wefley, that they are involuntary
and unavoidable ; and don't in the leaft queftion
the Fads. Phyfical Writers tell us, that Laughing-
Fits are one Species of a Delirium, attending on
fome Diftempers, . and particularly on the Hypochon-
dria, or Spleen, (the principal Ingredient of Enthu-
Jtafm) called by fome the Organ of Laughter;
whence laughing People are. faid to vent their*
Spleen.
I don't remember any of thefe Laughing-Fit*
among Papifts. But they were very common
among the French Prophets in their Agitations.
Mr. Aubrey, \nh\sMifcelIanies, (Page 117) relates
the fame Thing of Oliver Cromwell. " Oliver^
fays he, had certainly this Afflatus. One that was
at the Battle of Dunbar told me that Oliver was
carried on with a Divine Jmpulfe : He- did laugh fa
z . exceffively
(54)
exceflively as if he had been drunk. The fame
Fit of Laughter feized him juft before the Battle of
Nafeby" 'Tis a Queftion undecided, whether
Oliver was more of the Enthujiaft, or the Hypocrite :
And I prefume the Fits are no Proof of a good
Caufe either in the Proteftor, or the Metbodift.
I took Notice before how the Methodifis make
Hell tremble, and Satan s Kingdom totter. No won-
der therefore, if he rage horribly, and ftir up all
pofiible Oppofithn to their Progrefs. Hence Mr.
3 Journ. Wbitefield aflures us, that " the Devil painted him
FB- 79 in moft horrible Colours ; and raifed a Report
4 Journ. that he was mad; that, when he went to attack
pag- 30. tbt Devil in hh ftrongeft Hvlds, the Devil would not
5 Journ. permit the People to give him Audience j and
pag. 31, t na t; Satan endeavoured to interrupt his Preaching,
by fending a Panic upon his Audience in the
midft of his Difcourfe."
Hence too Mr. We/ley fays, that, while he was
4 Journ. preaching, " the Drt'/Yknew his Kingdom fhook,
pag. 37- and therefore ftirred up his Servants to ring Pcils,
p agi and make a Ncife. The Prirxc of the Air made
another Attempt in Defence of his tottering King-
dom ; great Numbers of Men began to fpeak big,
P. 60. fwelling Words : The many-headed Eeajl began to
to roar again : The Devil' 's Children fought vali-
P. 82. antly for their Majler. One .large Stone (many of
which they threw) went juft over my Shoulder.
But no one was hurt in any Degree. For thy
Kingdom ruleth over all. One Man took up a great
Stone, which, he many times attempted to throw.
But that he could not do."
To pafs over at prcfent thefe Intimations of a
miracaloui Deliverance ; we find the Spirits of
Darknefs oppofing thcmfelves to Fanatical Pepijh
Saints, -,
( 55 )
Paints, and for theyW Reafon. " The Devils con-
fefTed, that St. Francis was the Man in the World j an>
whom they moft feared ; the M&nfent of God for^the
Reformation of Mankind ; for which Reafon they
plagued him to the utmoft of their Power ;
and that feveral Councils had been fummoned in
He//, to confider how to deftroy, or put a Stop to,
the Frond fcans. The Devils knowing that Hell Conform.
was to be deftroyed by him, and bis Society, perfe- ' ^3*
cuted him a thoufand Ways, by Terrors, Calum-
nies, perfonal Combats with him Hand to Hand ;
once by flinging & large Piece of a Rock at bis Head,
which the Saint made foft as Wax, by a Miracle,
that it could not hurt him, &c. Another time a Fol.i404
noify Woman diflurbed his Preaching by beating a
Cymbal; but St. Francis bad the Devil take her;
and inftantly he came, and carried her away."
" The Devils looked upon the pious Ignatius as Ribadem
their irreconcileable Enemy, for refcuing Souls out P* 544-
of their Hands, and made War with all his Fol-
/oivers." I could add Hundreds of Inftances of
fuch Diabolical Attempts againfr the Religious Orders
among Papijis, on Account of their doing fo much
Good in the World. What Good they have done, can
be no Secret to a Proiejlant. But 'tis to be hoped,
our Jefuitical Methodijls will fall very fliort.of fuch.
goodly Confequexces . Satan can't poffibly be their
Enemy, if they proceed in thefams Method.
$. 8. Another Rub in the Metbadijis Way, and
partly owing to the fame evil Spirit, is their fre-
cj.uent Complaint of 'fpiritual Defertions, inward-
DeadneJJes, DarkneJJes, Drynefs, Parrennefs, and in
general a defolate and uncomfortable State. Their -
fancied Illumination, Infpiration, Prefences, Calls,
Direclions>
( 56 )
Directions, and Ajfllftances of God, &c. thefe have
render'd their Enthujiafm violent and fiery, made
their 3reaft like a burning furnace, with a vehe-
ment Rapidity confuming all before it. But, as the
Furnace can't always be kept up to fiich an un-
common Heat ; when the Fe<v:el fails, and before
frefh Recruits are collected ; a Drjnefs and Coldnefs
foon fucceed : All is a fort of Caput mortuum
within, a dead injtpid Lump, when the volatile Sfiritt
are exhaufted.
This State of Defolation they fometimes barely
relate, and fometimes impute it to the Efficiency of
the Good, or of the Evil Spirit.
i Deal. Comforts, fays Mr. WbitefeU, were foon
P a - 37- withdrawn, and a horrible Fearfulnefs and Dread
permitted to overwhelm my Soul attended with
inward Darknefsj my Soul barren and dry.
3journ. Sometimes I perceived my felfdeferted ; on a fud-
4?Vs 9 ' den deferted and ft'nggled like one in the laft
80! ' Agonies, without any Life or Power, quite fhut
up. Satan withftood me greatly ; for on a fudden
I was deferted. - I thought it was the Devil's do-
4 Journ. ing. Quite fhut up : My Heart and Head were
pag. 23. as (j ea( j as a Stone, God being pleafed to with-
draw himfelf. For two Days Cephas brought me
low by fpiritual Defertions."
a Journ. We/ley. " For three Days I was forrowful and
p.19,29- very heavy] could not read, meditate, fmg, pray,
3 Journ. or do any thing. Continued to feck it (Faith),
' P'8- 6o - but with ftrange Indifference, Dulnefs, and Cold-
nefs ; and unufually frequent Relapfes into Sin.
Had no Life or Spirit in me. Our Society met ;
4 Journ. but cold, weary, heartlefs, and dead. Nothing of
pag- 34' Brotherly -Lwe among them ; but a harfh, dry,
heavy
( 57 )
heavy, ftupid Spirit ; looking as if one Half of
them was afraid of the other."
" I have found, (fays Mr. Seward) during thefe Journ.
Temptations, a general Withdrawing of God's P* 4*
Spirit."
The fame State of Deretitfion, &c. was the com-
mon Lot of their ever-faithful Allies. " The /era- Conform.
fine St. Francis was reduced to fo great Tribulation L S3
,by Satan 's Temptations, and the Lord's withholding- "
his ufual Confolations, that he thought he was
forfaken of Chrijl ; and that for feveral Months
together. Theory St. Ignatius often found all the Bartol.
liquid Pleafures of the inward Man quite dried ? * 0>
away. A Woman quite deferted, and the Vein of Ibid.
her ffiritual Delicioufneffes dried -up in her Aridities, P* 44 l
fo that flie could not pray, or do any thing to re-
cover her Sweetneffes, was reftored by Ignatius to
her amorous Motions towards God. A Jefuit under Balingh,
Defolations and Derelictions was reftored by flying ug ' J 3*
to the Bcfom of Jefus and Mary. M. of Pazxi had Br. Mon.
.a long Combat with the Princes of Darknefs ; was May 2 *'
dry, defolate, and deferted. St. Terefa for Two Rjbaden.
and Twenty Tears had great Aridities j yet never P- 799-
in all that Time defired more Comfort. Mary of Life.
Agreda was under fuch a fpiritital Dcfcrtion, that
God for many Years did hide himfelf from her,
withdrawing the Regale's .and Joys of his Pre/ence"
The Methodijls, who complain fo often of their
Defertions, and other occafional Dejections, r.nd
gloomy Apprehenfions, would be very unwilling
that we mould take Advantage of Mr. Whitcfeld's
Aflertion, " Let Men but love Cbrift, and fpend j ourn .
their whole Time in his Service, and they will Jind no p. ^ 2 .
dull, melancholy Hours. Want of the Love of God 1
take to be the chief Caufe of Indolence and Vapours"
Nor
C 58 )
Nor need we haftily recur to the immediate Efficiency
of zfupernatural Agency, celeftial or infernal. The
Force of Difiemper and bodily Diforder will eafily
account for moft fuch dark and difconfolate
Thoughts. A difeafed Melancholy alone will fuffice,
to which many pious and well-meaning People are
. fubjcdl. Mr. Wbitefeld himfelf in Effect imputes it
3 Journ, to Difeafe ; " I was deferted, and then taken very
P- 24> Z 5- HI in Body, vomited, went to Bed, quite fhut up,
my Indifpojition Hill continuing. After this my Spi-
rits revived, Body was ftrengthened, and God gave
Life. me Utterance." " Mary of dgreda, befides _,/>/>/-
tual Defertions, and direful Temptations, was never
free from one painful Diftemper or other." The
Defertion in both Cafes is connected with the
Difeafe.
But even this Caufe is not wanted : After the
Spirits have been wound up too high, and put
upon extraordinary Efforts, a Weaknefs and De-
prefiion of courfe fucceed. And we may look upon
Entbujiafin as a Kind of Drunkennejs, filling and
intoxicating the Brain with the heated Fumes of
fpirituous Particles ; but no fooner do the Inebria-
tion and Incalefcence go off, but a Sinking of the
Spirits, a Coldnefs and Dulnefs, take Place : And
the lower is the DcpreJJion in proportion to the pre-
ceding Elevation.
And yet thefe very Defertions they can turn to
Account ; and create a flronger Notion among
their Followers, that at other Times, and in their
high Flights, they are more immediately infpircd,
and. receive extraordinary Supplies from Heaven.
For a clearer and fuller Account of thefe occa-
fional Defertions, Ebbings and Flowing*, SucceJ/ions of
hot and cold Fits, I would recommend to the
Reader
( 59 )
Reader Dr. Henry Mows Difeourfe of Enthujiafnt,
Set. 1 8. This Traft fo truly defcribes the Na-
ture, Caufes, and Kinds of Entbujiafm, that (were
not this Dijlemper generally attended with tnefame
Symptoms) one would think it a Prophecy of our Fa-
natical Metbodijls.
. 9. Of the fame Nature, as an Interruption to
their Progrefs, and genuine Confequence of Enthu-
feafm, may be reckoned their great Inequality and
Unjieadinefs of Temper and Conducl; their Ebbings
and Flowing; of Sentiments and Aftions j their
Joys, Prefumptions, AJfurances, &c. contrafted with
various torments and Scruples of Confcience, Relapfes,
Defpairings, Sec. Whereby they are loft and per-
plexed in endlefs Mazes ; and their Cajiles in the
Air mattered to Pieces.
As to Mr. Whitejield; After \&sjhamejuj (I mean
fhamelefs) Account of his Struggles between Nature
and Grace, and his Viciffitudes of the PraSfice of
Piety and Senfuality ; and his preaching with more
or lefs Power, &c. I fee not much of his doubting
Confcience. He fwims fo fecurely on the Bladders
of his Vanity, as to be in little Danger of Jinking.
Something, however, of this Nature appears in
his Fifth Journal, p. 1719. But Mr. We/ley,
a Man of deeper Reflection, is much more em-
barrafled, and tofled up and down with alternate
Rijings and Fallings.
And he has often " taken Occafion to defcribe
that Wildernefs-State, that State of Doubts and Fears, **& 3*-
which fo many go through after they have received
Remiflion of Sins." Two horrible Inftances of
this Cafe he gives, " of Perfons who, after many ib, p. Sj;
Years mourning, were filled with Peace and foy jn
VOL. I. P belicv.
( 60 )
believing i but fuddenly fu.ch a Cloud overwhelmed
them, that they could not believe their Sins were
forgiven at allj or that there was any fach Thing
as Forgiveness of Sins, any Heaven or Hell, &c."
.Whether they ever returned to their Faith and
Peace, we have no Account. But let us fee what he
fays of himfelf, and the DijfaaSitni of his own
Mind.
jr Journ. " My Spirit revived ; fo that from this Day
l>ag. 66. j k a( j no more o f that Fearfulnefs and Heavinefs,
which before almoft continually weighed me down."
-And yet he writes in the very fame Page, " I went
to America to convert the Indians : But oh ! who
fiiall convert me ! Who, what is he, that will de-
liver me from this evil Heart s of Unbelief! 1
think verily, if the Gofpel be true, I zmfafe. /
Jhpvj my faith by my Works. But in a Storm I
think, what if the Gofpel be not true ? I have
learned, that I, who went to America to convert
.67-70. others, was never converted myfelf. If it be faid,
that / have Faith ; I anfwer, fo have the Devils.
Thrown into great Perplexities. I cannot find
in myfelf the Love of God, or of Chrijl. Hence
my Deadnefs and Wanderings in Public Prayer.
Hence it is, that even in the Holy Communion I have
rarely any more than a cold Attention. When I
hear of the higheit Inftances of God's Lo=ve, my
* jo-un. Heart is ftill fenfelefs and unaffected. Yea, at this
p-ir> 12. Moment, I feel no more Love to him, than to one
I had never heard of. Troubled at what fome faid,
, . doubtful of my own State.
Ib.p.H, " By Peter Bohler (a Moravian) clearly con-
** vinced of Unbelief ; immediately it ftruck into my
Mind, Leave off Preaching. I'afked Bobkr, whe-
ther he thought I Humid leave it off, or not ? He
anfwered,
( 61 )
anfwered, by no Means. I afked, but ivhat can I
preach ? He faid, preach Faith, ''till you have it.
My Soul flarted btck : I afked Peter Bohler
again
" All the Time I was at Savannah I wr.s thus
leafing the Air. I had willingly ferved Sin ; oiv
it was unwittingly : But ftill I ferved it. I fell, and
ro/e, and fell again. Sometimes I was overcome,
and in Heavineff ; fometimes I overcame, and was
in "Joy. This Struggle between Nature and Grace ,
continued above ten Tears. At length, my Heart
was ftrangely warmed, had an AJJurance of Fcr-
gwenefs. The Emmy fuggefted, this cannot be
Faith. Was much buffeted with Temptations ; but
cried out, and they fled away. They returned
again, and again, &c. I aflced Mr. Ttkbig, the
Mcravian, what to do ? I have now conftant
Peace ; not one uneafy Thought. And I have
Freedom from Sin \ not one unholy Defire. Yet on
Wednejday did I grime the Spirit of God: Conti-
nued in this Hcavinefs 'till the next Morning.
Again ftrongly ajfaulted, but after I had prayed
faintly, the Temptation vanifhed away. Had
ftill more Comfort and Peace and yoy ; on which, I
fear, I began to prefumt, was thrown into Per-
plexity by a Letter, aflerting, that no Doubting or
Fear could confejl with true Faith. Begging of God 2 Journ,
to dired me, I opened my Teftament. My weak pag< z7 '
Mind could not bear to be thus fawn a/under, ,"
Once more, " I preached, but had no Life or 3 Journ.
Spirit in me; and was much in Doubt, whether * >ag>
God would not lay me afide, and fend other La-
bourers into his Harvejl. I came to the Society full
of this Thought." In another Place he readily Fa S- 7&
P 2 owns
( 62 )
ewns \us> frequent Relapfes into Sin for near tivice ten
Tears, &c.
Such is the Cafe of a Perfon, who tells us, that
" he carefully confidered every Step he took ;
that he kntnvs affuredly, that, where Reafon fails,
Godnuill direil our Path by Lot, or other Means ; one,
who was alinoft perpetually dipping into the Bible
for fuch Dire&ion ; and one of intimate Commu-
nication with the Deity.'" And is it not ftrange, that
fuch a one fhould be deftitute of Means to refolve
bis Scruples ? fhould be ever ^.Variance ivitA bhnfelf^
and find no Place to fix his Foot ? But this is the
Nature of his Difeafe; and I could run the Parallel
through Numbers of fanatical Papifts ; but fhall be
contented with only two. And, if the Reader will
pleafe to recoiled what was faid before of the
Metbodifts ConfliBs with Satan, their Spiritual Defer-
tions, their unequal Temper and Unfleadinefs in this
Article ; and alfo take in what will be farther
faid of their genera/ Intanglements and Inconjijiency
in Sentiment and Conducl, &c. he will find a
pretty exaft Agreement ; and probably conclude the
Methodift to be as true a Saint as the Papift ; and
like to produce as ufeful a Society.
Bart.Vit. My firft Parallel fhall be the glorious Founder of
Jgnatii, / ^ j e /uitJ, taken from his Life by Father Bartolus.
" Manifold were Ignatius'* Experiences of Perils ;
but none more capital, or more troublefome, than
his Scruples. It fo pleafed God, that Satan fhould
fill and vex his Mind with infinite Doublings. He
flood in Fear of fome great Sin in whatever he did.
The liquid Joys too of his inward Man were dried
up ; his Mind difturbed and toffed with Perplexities;
rendered unfit for thofe divine Draughts, which ia
its ferene State it had drawn from Heaven, More-
over,,
( 63 J
over, he was then more grievoufly anxious, when he
thought upon heavenly Things. And this was his
Occupation by Day and Night, to litigate, wrangle,
and be perplexed with himfelf ; whether this and
t'other were not Sins, and he guilty of any. And,
the more he ftrove to extricate himfelf, the more was
he intangled. His ConfeJJbr forbad him to give Ear
to Scruples ; but what was to be reckoned a Scruple
afforded new Matter of zfcrupulous Enquiry ; every
Thing to Minds thus ill-offered affording Scruple
and Doubt. So that he thought God ivas turned
from him ; and, as is ufual in thefe Streights, would
eternally deftroy him. Thus did the Devils wound
him, as with fo many Arr<rws ; demolifiiing his
bcly Reft by anxious Thoughts, and depriving him of
his calm and ft ill Confidence in God, and filial Lowe,
But this was their chief Aim, to -drive him into
Defpair, and make him put an End to his Life. So
that he was ftrongly led to throw himfelf out of
the Window. Then he would needs Jlarve himfelf,
'till his Confejjor made him return to his ufual Re-
frcfnments. And now he began to rejoice as a Con-
queror : But fcarce were t<wo Days elapfed, when a
new unforefeen ^empeft arofe, cf Scruples, Diffidence,
Sadnefs, and Defpair, not more gentle than the Tor-
ments of the Damned. But in a- little Time this
fecond Tempeft ceafed. The Heaven of his Mind be-
came calm and bright, and his Alacrity was more
copious than before. God gave him thefe Experi-
ences, the Difeipline of which he was to deliver fo
others. .Certainly, from thefe fo different and oppo-
jite ficijfitudes of Soul, the irriguous and dry, the
anxious and fecure, the fad and the chfarful ; he be-
came fo well frilled in thofe alternate Motions,
wherewith the Divine Goadnffe acl'.'ates hit wen,
P 3 th.-itr, -
( 64 }
that, when ethers were to be injlrutted in them, they
might transfer the beft Example from himfelf"
The other Parallel is the Seraphic Virgin St. Te-
re/a ; who was not indeed troubled with fuch a very
jcrupulous Confdence as the former, but was a Lady
of a very dubious CharaSier, of very unequal and
defultory Conduft, generally wavering between the
Saint and the Sinner j and that according to the
Account of Popijb Authors, What follows of her
is tranfcribed from her Life written by Ribadeneira.
Ribaden. " Atjtx, or /even, Years of Age me took great
^'ggS* Delight in reading the Lives of the Saints ; which
inflamed her with a Defire of Martyrdom : At
twelve, her Mother dying, me chofe the Virgin Mary
to be her Mother. But the Devil, envying thefe
happy Beginnings, made her relax her holy Fer-
vour, by reading Romances, vain Companions, trim-
ming her Hair, and ufing Perfumes. But our Lord
did not long permit thefe Vanities, but ordered her
into a Monaftery ; where me began to refume her
pious Cujloms ; prayed much, defired the Prayers of
t-he Religious, but did not wholly defire to be one
herfelf. Being twenty Years of Age, me enters
into the Order of the Carmelites ; but with great
Contradiction of her Soul, Grief, Refentment, and
Pain. As foon as me had taken the Habit, imme-
diately me ; had great and lafting Joy, and the Ari-
dity of her Soul went off". At the End of the Year
'jhe made her Profejfion with Joy and Contentment,
but not without Difficulty, on account of rude A/-
faults from the Devil. She had not been long in
Religion, before me grew familiar with Perfons of
dangerous Converfation, and left off her Prayer : A
Year after me returns to her Prayer, but did no.t
leave off her accujlomed Conver/ation. A Vijlon of
' Oriff.
( 65 )
Cbrift wounded, and Hell opened, helped her towarcfs
leaving off her bad Converfation ; but not inftantly,
nor entirely. But, even before her full Converjion?
fometimes fhe would be careful of offending God
for a Month, or a Year. She was thus about
twenty Tears, falling, and rifmg again, without
fully enjoying the Confolations of God. She has a
new Fear, that her Sweetnefs in Prayer, and Suf-
penjion of her Soul, were lllujlons of the Devil. And
fome Servants of God judged it was fo indeed, by
reafon of her Imperfections ; God" 1 ! Favours being in-
compatible with her Kind of Life : And it aug-
mented their Sufpicion, that, tho' fhe had been
twenty Tears in Prayer, fhe was never fufficiently
changed. Some Jefuits however afTure her all was
from GoJ. After this fhe was in a Rapt, wholly
franfported out of herfelf, and heard a Voice from
the Bottom of her Soul, / will that thou leave thy
Familiarity with Men, and converfe with the Angeh.
.From that Time fhe was wholly changed in a Moment,
had many fublime Vifans and Vifits from Chrijl ;
but ftill many fufpefted all was from the Devil.
Things were faid greatly prejudicial to her good
Name ; and fhe went on under great Oppofttion
from Men and Devils. Now under great Aridities
for twenty-two Tears, without defiring Comfort ;
then feeling high Gujls and Confolat ions, called Unions ;
amorous, faeet, raging Torments of Divine Love j
taken by the Hand, and dandled by St. Dominic ;
dies by the Force of Divine Love, is ca^
nonized, sV."
Thus flands the Account from as true a Catholic,
and zealous Jefuit, as ever wrote. And what follows
has a more authentic Seal, attefted by Infallibility in
the Roman Breviary, Off, 1 5 j and efpecially in the
( 6'6 )
Aft s of for Canonization by Gregory XV. Tis in
die Bullarium Cherubini, Vol. III. p. 306. -
Rom. 1638. And, tho' it may feem a Digreffion, it
affords, altogether, a jufl Notion of a complete Po-
}ifo Saint, and helps on the Comparifon with Metho-
dijlical Saintflip.
" At the Time fore-ordained ly Gttd, he raifed up
a ne-iv Deborah, the perpetual Virgin Terefa, the Holy
and ElecJ, to be worjhipped and venerated by Papal
Apojlolical Authority : God having poured out the
Abundance of his Spirit upon his Handmaid. When
but a Childly reading the Acls of the Martyrs, fhe
burned with Defire to go into Africa, and fhed her
Blood for Chrift. At twenty {he e/peufettherfelf to
Cbrijl ; and for twenty -two Years bore with invin-
cible Patience the mofl grievous Difeajes and Temp-
tations, without any Refreshment of fupernatural
Confolations. She was fo fully convinced of the Truth
of the Catholic Church, and all the Dofirines of
Popery, that ihe often faid, it was not pojfible to have
a greater Certitude of any thing. By this Faith,
fhe had fuch a dear Sight of Chrljfs real Prefencein
the Eucharifi, that fhe envied not thofe who had
feen him on Earth. She was often in Ecftajtes,
and fnatched up to the Fruition of Heaven upon
Earth. Cbrijl wonderfully filled her with Vifions
and "Revelations ; he came and efpoufed her by a
Ring; and faid, Henceforth I am wholly yours, and'
you wholly mine. Nothing could exceed her Low
of God; for fhe died ly the intolerable Fire of it.
Nor could any thing exceed her Love of Man.
She fo ftriftly obferved her Vow of Obedience, that,
as a remarkable Example^ when her Superiors fuf-
pe&ed her Fifitsfrom Jcfus to be diabolical Delufeons,
by their Command fas'bumbly derided and contemned
her
( 67 )
her heavenly Sponfe, \vhen he made her a Vifit ;
not without being rewarded for this profound Gbe-
Aence : And fhe was wont to fajr, That Jhe might be
deceived as to difcerning a Vijiollf'or Revelation ; but '
could not be deceived in obeying her Superiors. She
was fuch a Lover of Poverty, that fhe always chofe
the vilejl Habit ; and if at any time fhe <v:anted
Neceffaries, fhe would marvelloufly rejoice, exult, and
give Thanks. She excelled particularly in the Virtue
of undefiled Cbajlity ; preferring an Angelical Purity,
unfpotted, from Childhood to Death. Such was
her Humility, that, when filled with the fat Things of
Divine Graces, fhe would often cry out to God to
pat an End to thefe BlefUngs, and not fo foon to
forget her Sins. She moft ardently thirfted after
Contumelies, Derifatrs, and Sufferings ; it being her
Motto, Either to fujfer or die. She was fo watered
with the Showers of Celejlial Wifdom, that fhe
wrote Booh of Myjlic Theology, and undertook the
Reformation of 11 omen and Men. She builds Mona-
Jleries without Money, or Income ; works numerous
Miracles by her Merits and Interceffions ; curing Fe-
vers, &c. in a Moment ; dies with a Crucifix in her
Hand ; her Soul is f sen flying out of her Mouth, in
the Shape of a little -white Dove, and mounted up to
Heaven ; many Nuns and Religious faw her in a
high Degree of Glory above ; as another had feert
the Lord Chrift fitting by her Bed-fide, while alive.
Her dead Body was furprizingly beautiful and odori-
ferous, by the Odor of the Ointments vaherevjith her
mojl holy Body icas perfumed by our Lord; and it
remains odorous and uncorrupt to this Day" So glo
rioufly ends the Struggle between Carnality and En-
tbufiafm.
, 10. But
io. But, that the Saints my not be left com-
fortlefs under the State either of Defertion or Incer-
titude, we are to confider what Advantages and Be-
nefits are drawn from them, and their ConfeJJions of
being thus tojj'ed. I took Notice before of their
creating by Defertions an Opinion of being extra'
crdir.arily injured, and attended by Heaven, when free
from them ; and now fubjcia their own Accounts
of receiving fach fpiritual Succours and Advantages,
either during their fevere Trials, or very foon after.
Journ. p or> 5 ]yj r> Seward elegantly exprefleth it, " I
was much humbled and opprefled by the Hidings-
of my Beloved: But lo ! the Goodnefs of our God:
If he feems to withdraw for a Moment, it is only
that his Return may be ths/weeter"
3 Journ. Mr. Whitefieldis often declaiming in this Strain.
P-3i 4 t< Jjy Body was 'weak, but I found a fupernatural
Strength, again a little opprefled with Drowfmefs.
When 1 am weak, then I amjlrong. Defer ted
for a little while, and much opprefled, especially
before Preaching ; but Comfort foon after flows in.
Had a Hoarfenefs, and was deferted, before I went
up into the Pulpit ; but Gcd ftrengthened me to
P. 57. fpeak. Taken ill; but God jlrengtbened me to preach
P. 1 1 a. to a great Congregation. I was very Jifk and
weak ; but fuch Power ivas given me from above,
5 Journ. that At firlt getting up I was weak and dry ; but
P 35- Cod renewed my Strength.
3 Jcurn. " We have not had fuch a continued Prefence of
P a 6- 3^ God, as fmce I was threaten d to be excommunicated.
I never am fo much ajjijied, as when Perfons endea-
vour to blacken me : Numbers of Hear en increaie
4 Journ. by Oppofition. Ever fmce I was abufed at Bajing-
FS- 3 1 ' fake, I have had great Communications with God.
The-
( 69 )
The more I am contemned, the more God delights to
honour me" Again, on the other Side, " I obferve 5 Jo urn.
thefe inivard 'Trials alkv*ys follow inivard Commu- ' *
J J L/j !*
nicotians. For thefe two Days I have been much
offijied. Left I mould be pujfed-up, and to prepare
me for greater Degrees of Light, God has fent me a
Thorn in the Fle/k. God took off my Chariot-Wheels,
I drove exceeding heavily ; but this latter Part of
the Week he has rcjlored me the Light of bis Coun-
tenance. Had zjkveet Sacrament and Love-Feaft,
felt unfpeakable Comfort and Wartnth ; .but at Night
a Senfe of my Sins weighed me down again. Was
much tempted; a Mercy this from Cod, to prepare
me for future Blejffings. Much jlrengthened and
affijhd ; an ample Recommence for the Trials of laft
Week. Deferted ; which 1 always look upon as a
certain Preparative for fome approaching Mercy.''''
As to thefe ViciJJitudes ofWeaknefs and Strength, &c.
'tis common and natural for Clergymen, when out of
Order, to be fomething low at the Beginning of a
Sermon; but to get Strength and Spirits as they
go on, and mend by Exercife and Aclion. I have
found it fo myfelf, and fo have a hundred others.
The Change and Emotions in Mr. Whitefield,
after being threatened and abufed, may only mew
that his Spirit ivas prwcked, and Ptiffions raijcd.
When the Spirits have mounted by Tranfports of
Joy, we know they will naturally jink. And
v> -henever Providence removes any of our Troubles
and Sorrows, we hope we are not infenfiblc, or un-
thankful. But, in all thefe Cafes, we leave to the
Metbodifts the Prefuinption of bragging of fuperna-
tural Strength) and a fort of miraculous Attestation
to their peculiar Miffion; and favoured Ptrfons ;
after the Model of their old AJJotiates.
"St.
( 7 )
Ribaden. "St. Catharine being tempted ly Satan with foul
P; 2 93- Images and impure Dreams, our Lord afterwards
fhewed himfelf to her. To whom fhe moft lovingly
complained, Where ivere you, O deareft Spoufe,
that you did fo abandon me ? She was a long Time
afflifted with thefe abfurd and impure Images j
and by the Devil's Injligation a wicked Woman
gave out, that St. Catharine 'was a fond and light
Woman. But her Heavenly Spoufe foon came,
and brought her a victorious Crown, and thefa//e
Accufer was compelled to acquit the Saint, and beg
Pardon for the Slander, having feen a Vijion of her
Bttllar. in Brightness and Majejly, The Devil ftill found
vol. i, Means of troubling her anew ; but Chrifl always
P- *9 X * comes in to deliver and recreate her. On which
Account, as the Pope himfelf aflures us, fhe would
Ribaden. fay, When I am weak, then am IJlrong" " The
P--53 1 - Devil raifed terrible Storms and Oppofitions againft
Ignatius ; but his Injiitution took deeper Root by thefe
Contradictions : And when he was moft vueary and
fickly, then did he appear moft courageous andjlrong ;
and the Force of God did more clearly manifeft it-
Spmell. felf." " Father Laynex, a Jefuit, being to preach
jj^[p' on the Immaculate Conception, was forced to mount
p. 524. the Pulpit, tho' very ill of a Fever ; but the Virgin
Mary fo affijled him, that he came down ftronger
Conform, than he went up." " St. Francis's Life was no-
thing elfe but a Chain of Temptations andConfalations t
one Link black, the next nvfo'te"
. 1 1. Were not the Tafk too tedious, one might
trace out this Inequality and Unjieadinefs, merely
from their own Writings, in Refpect of their whole
Conducl, in Sentiment and Praflice. I mail inftance
in fome Particulars, as briefly as I can.
" Sometimes
* Sometimes they defire, love, and pray for
Difgrace, Hatred, all Manner of /// Ufage , com-
plain of civil Treatment and kind Reception from
their Friends ; can't be ChriJJians, unlefs they are
generally, and almoft univerfally bated, &c. At
other Times boafting of, and thanking God for,
their Prefents, Entertainments, Benevolence, Bank-
Bills, and comfortable Receptions ; and uncommon
Affe&ions towards them : That the Number of
their Enemies is inconfiderable, but their Friends
cannot be numbered. Not without feeling and bitter
Complaints of /// Ufage"
Sometimes " they forefee Suceefi in Preaching,
lecaufe they meet with fo much Oppojition : The
Devil and bis Agents are enraged, and endeavour to
obftruft them ; therefore they hope, and know,
that GoJhzs Work to do in this Place, &c. Again,
at other 'Times, they depend upon Succefs, becaufe
they have little or no Oppojition ; And nothing con-
firms them more in their Opinion, that God is
working a great Work upon Earth, than finding
Perfons of all Denominations ftruggling for them.
God has much People in this Place."
One of them muft take a Wild-Goofe-Chace to
hunt for Chrift in Germany among the Moravians,
and is going to the Country of the Chrijiians. Re-
turns, and is convinced, that one need not travel
thither for Chriftianity. He reprefents them in
general in the blackeft Colours, dares in no wife join
with them ; becaufe their Scheme is in every Point
refined immeafureably beyond the plain Gofpel.
Darknefs, and Clofenefs, and Guile, in almaji all
their Words and Behaviour ; teaching for Doftrines
the Commandments of Men ; Dealers in Sopbijlrj ;
and of all Men living the nvifejl in tbtir Generation ;
VOL. I. Q b
f 7*3
ly no Means zealous of good Works ; utterly
defpifmg and trampling upon Self-denial ; zealoufly
cautioning us againft the natural Love of one
another ; and having in Truth well-nigh deftroyed
Brotherly-Love from among us ; holding many
deteftable and pernicious Opinions, 2V. And yet,
3 Journ. not only doth Mr. Whitefield " admire their great
$ 79- Simplicity ;" but Mr. Wejley himfelf declares that
" in the main they are fome of the beft People in
the World, only wrong in a few Points. They
love God, and love one another, and excel in
Sweetnefs of Behaviour : Trample under the
Luft of the Flelh, the Luft of the Eye, and the
Pride of Life. His Love and Efteem of them in-
creafes more and more j he even marvels how he
can abjlain from joining them. His own Difciples
among the Methodijls go over to them in Crowds.
But ftill Metbodifm is the ftrongeft Barrier againft
the Moravian Doftrines and Principles." The Mo-
ravians juftly charge him with this Inconjijlency of
Behaviour : And we may fafely defy him, with
all his Subtleties and Dijiinflions, to clear himfelf.
How commonly do we find our Metbodifts full-
fwelled with Vanity and Pride, Boaftings, Haugh-
tinefs and Arrogance ? In a little Time they feel
a Compunflion ; the Bladder is pricked, fhrinks and
ftirivels ; and they fall into the moft lowly and ab-
ject State of Vihnefs and Notbingnefs.
Books are published, (as The Cbarafler of a Me-
tbodift, &c.) wherein thofe of this Seft are defcribed
as having all the Virtues and Graces that can adorn
or exalt the Chriftian Profejfion ; as the mildeft and
nieekeit, the moft humble, loving, charitable, and
innocent Creatures upon Earth. And, on the con-
trary, read but their own Accounts in their Jour-
nals ;
( 73 )
rials ; and you find them wafpifh and peevifli, ceni-
Turing and condemning all the World, except them-
felves ; and among themfelves, Jealoufies, Envyings,
Divifions, Quarrels, perpetual Broils, Confufions, and
mutual Condemnations ; with various other Irregu-
larities and Vices. And fuch is the Cafe with
the Religious Orders in the Romi/h Communion :
Each of them is the beft, fulleft of Saints, and
moft adapted to promote God's Glory ; all are hate-
ful and hating one another ; and all firmly united in
the Spirit of Enthufiafm, and carrying on the Fana-
tical Fopperies and Errors of Popery, to the infup-
portable Injury of Chrijl-endom.
They fet out upon the Footing of uncommon
Sanftity, and carrying the Duties of Religion to the
highejl Pitch ; but neverthelefs are fond of pub-
liming. their Faults, and declaring themfelves the
Greateft of Sinners : Which muft beget in their Be-
lievers an exalted Notion of their Humility. Juft
like Mary of Pazzi ; " who, tho' the Nuns were Life,
fully fatisfied of her Perfeclions, loved to tell her 46.
WeakneJ/es and Faults, to mew her Humility" Or
St. Francis, " who delighted in blazing abroad his u ona _
Faults, and calling himfelf the greafejl Sinner in the -ventur.
World ; whereby his Brethren Hood amazed at his cap< 6 '
marvellous Humility"
Sometimes they will vapour and heftor, and
their Courage is fo fiarp-*u;hetted, that, in exprefs
Words, they proclaim " an offenfive War againft Wefley,
Satan ; and fear neither Men nor Devils ; are ready ' Joum.
to leap into a burning Furnace, or Den of Lions ; pag ' 67<
and go to AbyJJinia or China ; are fo far from fear-
ing Death, that they wijk for it. But the Keen-
nefs of the Edge it foon blunted. They are every
Moment afraid of meeting the Devil ; are full of
Q.2 dreadful
( 74 )
dreadful Apprehenfions of Defigns againft their
Lives, and that the Clergy intend to murther them.-
In Time of Danger, they have fo little Faith as to
be afraid. Let Death look me in the Face, and
my Spirit is troubled. In a Calm flout enough ;
but in a Storm returns a Fearfulnefs. Oh ! who
will deliver me from this Fear of Death !"
"Wefley, One Day, " Their Preachments are fo powerful
4 Joura. as to be irrejtjlible,a Hammer that breaks the Rock
in Pieces, a mighty Wind caufing a prodigious
Shock ; they fancy they can make the Earth out
of its Place. God fends them to preach, and it is
their bounden Duty." The next Day, perhaps,
" they preach with great Reluflance, have no
Bower, Life, or Spirit. They propofe making
themfel'ves out of their Places, intend to leave ojf\
and fear that God hai dropped them. Ch. Wefley in-
tended to preach no more, and aflually left off; for
which his Enemies jeered him, as becoming Jiill.
But he re-ajjumed his Office -, according to his Bro-
thers Prophecy, that he mould roufe himfelf like
Satnpfon,, and be avenged on his Enemies."
Agreeable to this are their alternate Fits of Lo-
quacity aiid Silence : Dumb, 'till the Ceremony is over.
\Vhitef. of opening their Mouths. " I was re/trained by God
i Deal. f rom Writing and Preaching. I mentioned my
P .66-6g. ^^ ^ a Ckrgyman ^ He faid j was an Enthuftaft.
At- laft this Paflage of Scripture was prefTed much
upon my Heart, We ajfayedto go to Bithynia, but
the Spirit fuffered us not. And I found a Quotation
out of Ezekiel, that young Prophet, Thou Jhalt be
dumb ; but when I fpeak unto thee, then Jbalt thou
fpeak. This made me quite tajy. The next
Morning, Speak out> Paul, came with great Power
to
( 75 )
to my Soul. Immediately God fpake to me by his
Spirit, and I was no larger dumb"
Thus, you fee, he is quite eajy, ftands clear of
Enthufeafm ; and no doubt too of Prefumption, irt
comparing himfelf with Prophets and Apojlles.
" Again withheld, from] Writing, at length re 5 Journ.
fared, to 'write freely."" Tis one Comfort, that his P' 1 /* 1 ^.
talkative Fits have been much the comtnoneft, and
the longeft* Mr. We/ley alfo is fometimes " utterly- ^ journ.
unwilling to fpeak, quite averfe from fpeaking ;" P- 63-4.
and then perplexed with the Doubt, " Is it a Pro-
hibitisn from the Good Spirit ? or a Temptation
from Nature, and the Evil One .?"
'Tis a general Thing to fee them carried up to
Heaven, by Gufts and Tranfports of Divine Joy ;
and immediately down again to the Deep, almoft
fwallowed up with Darknefs and Sorrow. And I
could bring Troops of eminent Popijh Saints to
bear them Company, befides thofe before men-
tioned.
A large Share of thefe Vicffitudes of Ebbings and
F/oivings no doubt proceeds from the very Nafure of
Enthufiafm, which can never be at Reft ; but is
di<verfe in different Perfons, and btconjlant in the
fame Perfon ; fubjeft to numberlefs Variations, ac-
cording to the Kind and Degree of that Diforder of
"Body, or Paffion of the Mind, which creates the
Enthufiafm, and which is fo frequently caufed by
Indifcretion, and increafed by Indulgence. The Be-
haviour changes, in proportion as the Humours, ths
Melancholy, the Phlegmatic, the Choleric, the San'
guine, arc more or lefs predominant. And therefore
the Cafe may be thought rather to deferve Com-
paffion than Blame.
0.3 $. ii
C 76 I
. 12. But the Methodijls muft excufe me, if
the fame Allowance is not made, where Art and
Cunning and Sophijlry manifeftly appear ; when,
hard prefled by Argument and Objeflions, they run
themfelves into Inconfiftency and Self -contradiction,
merely to ferve a prefent Turn -, and occafionally
either defend, or give up, fome of their Favourite
Notions, and Principal Points..
'Tis a Matter of no great Moment, if Mr. We/ley
at one Time declares for a difmterejled Love of God j
and in arguing againft the Moravians declares, that
4 Journ. < there is no one Caution in all the Bible againft
Pl 108> Selfijb Love of God:
But 'tis a confiderable Offence to charge another
wrongfully, and contradifi bimfelf, about the Dofirine
3 Journ. O f Ajjiirancei. " I went to the Reverend Mr. Eed-
ford, to tell him of the Injury he had done both to
God and his Brother, by Preaching and Printing
that very ixeak Sermon on AJJiirance, which is an
Ignoratio Elencbi (an Ignorance of the Point in
Queftion) from Beginning to End. Seeing the
AJfitrance W E Breach is of quite another Kind from
that be writes againft. We fpeak of an Afiurance
of our prefent Pardon ; not (as he does) of our/W
Perfevcrance" Mr. Wejley might have confidered,
fhat, when they talk in general of A/urance of Par-
don and Salvation, the World will be apt to under-
ftand the Words in their ufual and obvious Meaning,
as extending to our Eternal State; and indeed
that prejent Pardon and Salvation are of fmall Mo-
ment, if we are finally to pcrifo. But after all,
how ftands the Fatt ? Mr. Wbitef.eld, in exprefs
5 Journ. Words, prays for " an AJJurance of Eternal Sal-
* &9 ' vation > as one of the. Privileges of thrift's Fol-
bwtri."
(77)
And I have a more Unexceptionable Evi-
dence, even Mr. Wejley himfelf ; who in his Sermon
on Free Grace allows and teaches, that " many, .13,
very maty, have that Witnefs of the Spirit, that I4 > 1 5 >
Affurance of Faith, which excludes all Doubt and
fear, concerning their Future Perfeverance ; that a
full Affurance of Faith doth not necej/arily imply a
Full Affurance of our Future Perfeverance ; but he
owns, and afferts, that Affurance of the future is
fometimes joined to that of prefent Pardon ; and that
fame have both the one, and the other. One, who 3 Joura,
long continued in Sin, received a full, clear Senfe p< 4 **
of God's pardoning Love, with Power to Jin no
more" And now what becomes of his Charge
againjl Mr. Bedford? And is it not mere Evajton to
fay afterwards, " This is not properly an Affurance
of what is Future /"'
With what pertinacious Confidence have Impulfes,
Impreflions, Feelings, Tranfports of fenfible Joy, \3c.
been advanced into Divine Calls, Commiflions,
Directions, and certain Rules of Conduct ; Proofs
of Sins forgiven, Jujlijication, and Salvation en-
fured ? How have they been convinced by inward
Feeling, the mofl Infallible of all Proofs f And yet
they have been compell'd by Argument to bring
this down to a fort of inward Confcioufnefs, which
no body denies : To tell their Societies, " that Wefley,
they were not to judge of the Spirit whereby any 3 JuJ>
one fpoke, by their own inward Feelings ; nor by ^' ' IJ
Dreams, Vijions, or Revelations, fuppofed to be made
to their Souls ; being all of a doubtfiJ, difputable
Nature ; might come from God, and might not"
To complain of " a Spirit of Enthufeafm breaking
out among themfelves ; many charging their own
Imaginations on the Will of GW, and that not twit-
ton,
(' 78 )
fkn, but impreffed on their Hearts. If thefe Im*
prejfions be received as the Rule of Action, inftead of
the Written Word, I know nothing fo wicked and
abfurd but we may fall into, and that without Re-
medy." Thefe are Mr. We/leys Words, who like-
4 Journ. wife accufeth the Moravians, of fubftituting an
p. 108-9. uncertain, precarious, inward Motion, in the Place
of the plain 'written Word. n
And thus Imprejfions, Feelings, &c. are fometimes
fure Guides and infallible Proofs : Sometimes again,
not only uncertain, precarious, and e nthujutftic ; but
unavoidably productive of the utmoji Wickednefs and
Abfurdity. And what muft their Followers do,
among whom thefe Things have been fo much
inculcated, who have been taught to depend upon
them ?
" Mr. Hammond, (another of their Teachers)
after he had at large pleaded for feeling the Holy
Spirit, yet owned at laft, That fome People are
filled with a great deal of Joy, and experience fud-
den Fla/hes of Comfort, which they take to be from
the Spirit of God. But how frequently do they de-
ceive themfelves? Thofe warm Emotions of the
Mind often proceed from the State and Difpojiticn
of the Body, the Temperature of the Blood and
Animal Spirits. Young Converts, are very apt to
afcribe to the Operation of the Holy Ghojl what is ow-
ing to the Mechanifm of the Body. The Hajiy, the
Carelefs and Unguarded are in moji Danger of being
carried away with falfe Joys, and imaginary Tranf-
perts." See Church's farther Remarks, P. 128, 129:
You fee here how the Force of Truth will fome*
times break out, among other Eruptions of thefe Fa-
natical Heads ; and extort a ConfeJ/ton of ths very
Things, of which their Adnierfaries have accufed
them.
( 79 )
them, (viz.) impofing mere Imagination unf Dif-
tcmper upon the World for the Sacred Diftates of
the Holy Ghoft. They tell you, " The Hajiy, the
Carelefe and Unguarded are mojl in Danger of doing
it." Who then among them can be fafe ? For
who, but Perfons of fuch a Chara&er, or a ivorfe,
can ever be of their Se8 f
$. 13. Among fo much Saying and Unfaying,
would you believe likewife that Infpiration, and the
extraordinary Calls and Guidances of the Holy Gboft t
ihould be given up ? and the Corner-Jione of their
Spiritual Pretences be removed by their own Hands ?
This, however, feems to be the Cafe. We have
Mr. Wbitejield''* Canfejfion in the following Words :
" As to an Extraordinary Call, I claim none, other- 7 Journ.
wife than the ^poftle's Injunction, As -we home Op-
portunity, let us do Good unto all Men." What he
hath claimed was fully fhewn before : What he
gives back appears now. " I know too much of Letter to
the Devices of Satan, and the defperate Wicked- LoSnf
nefs and Deceitfulnefs of my &vjn Heart, not to be pag. 14.
fenfible, that I am a Man of like Paffions with
Others ; and confequently may have fometirnes mif-
taken Nature for Grace, Imagination for Revela-
tion, and the Fire of my own Temper for the
pure and facred Flame of holy Zeal, which com-
eth from God's Altar." Sufficient Acknowledg-
ment this, that he has fometimes been miftaken as
to his high Pretenfans j that he can't be fure, when
he is miftaken, and when not; nor confequently
be fure that he is not always miftaken. And what
an ignorant and blind Guide has he been to his Fol-
lowers ? But farther,
In
(80 )
Remarks j ri his laft Performance he has clearly and e>:-
prefsly given up the Point. " Wild-Fire has been
mixed with my Zeal ; and I find I have frequently
wrote and fpoke too much in my own Spirit, when
I thought I was writing and fpeaking entirely by
the Affiftance of the Spirit of God. I have like-
wife too much made Imprejffions, without the writ-
ten Word, my Rule of Afting." Here you fee
Mr. Wbitefield's direft Confeflion of his being a
Deceiver ; of having drawn away People by Vari-
ety of Untruths, and in Cafes of the Jaft Concern.
And will they ftill adhere to him ? Or is he to be
believed in any Thing ? But more of this in the
Preface.
Anf. to Mr. We/ley's Conctffions on this Head are not in-
Church, deed fo clear and exprefe, but rather ambiguous and
P-3 >39' evafive, without confeffing or denying. Being
charged with Entkufiafm, he fays, " You are to
prove (what I conceive you have not done yet) that
tny Conduit is fuch, as is only to be juftified by the
Suppofition of an Extraordinary Divine AJJif.ance.
I claim no other Dire&ian of God r s, but what is
common to all Petievcrs. No otherwife infpired
thanjca are, if you love Gcd. I never faid, that
what I do is to be accounted the Work of God."
Being charged with alledging a miraculous Inter -
poution of Providence in his Favour, he re-
Pag. 14. plies, " Let it pafs then as a. Trifle not worth
relating."
I am far from thinking that in thefe dubious
Expreflions he defigns to give up any of his high
Claims. And 'tis eafy to fee what Shifting! and
Referves may be ready at Hand either Way, as
Occafion mall require ; what different Conftruclions
may be put upon the Words among his own Society,
and
( Si )
and when engaged in Controversy. But referring
miraculous Gifts for their more proper Place, I fliall
leave him to make Hands with his Friend St. Ig-
natius ; who, after fome Rambling* up and down
under the Colour of Infpiration, was clofely quefli-
oned by Authority at Salamanca, " Whether he was
really infpired by the Holy Ghoft, or not ?" Some
Writers fay, that he did then own himfelf not In-
fpired. The Jefuits will not allow fo much ; but that
he would give no other Anfwer than this, " We
have talked enough of it." [See Dr. Geddes, of the
Orders, bV. P. 1923.]]
This Defultory Conduct puts one in Mind ef the
Man in Martial, who would often furreptitioufly
intrude himfelf into the Seats in the Theatre belong-
ing to the Order of Knighthood, to which he had
no Right ; and was as often ferreted out by the
Beadle, and taught to Jland among the Populace.
At length he cunningly gets a Sort of Half-Seat at
the End of a Bench; where he boafts to the
Knights that he fat ; and pretends to the Beadle that
hey/W.
Sxbfellioque femifultus extreme, , .^ ^
Et male receptus altero genu, jaftat Ep. 14.
Equiti federe, Leftioyiefejlare.
. J4. To the Moravian and Methodical Infiitu-
tion belong alfo, either as conftituent Parts, or ge-
nuine Conferences, Scepticifm, and Infidelity , Doubts
and Denials of the Truth of Revelation, and fome-
times Atheifm itfelf. This, together with their De-
clarations of having no Senfe of God, or Religion^
will appear from their own Narratives,
But
(82 )
Wefley, " Put upon confidering my own State ; I can-
3 Journ. not fad. i n myfelf the Love of God, or of Chriji.
pag.ii. jj ence my ) ea dnefs and Wandering in Public
Prayer. Hence even in the Holy Communion I have
rarely any more than a cold Attention. Hence, when
I hear the higheft Injlances of God's Love, my Heart
is ftill fenfelefs and unaffeded. Yea, at this Mo-
ment, I feel no more Lowe to him than to one I had
newer heard of" Obferve, Reader, by the Way,
this is the Man who charges our Religion as no bet-
Tarther ter than ** the Turkifi Pilgrimages to Mecca, or the
.fagffe P P^ mr fi' l f f our La 4> at Loretta. What elfe,
adds he, can be faid even of Prayer (Public or
Private) in the Manner wherein you generally per-
form it ? As a Thing of Courfe, running round and
round, in the fame dull Track, without either the
Knowledge, or the Love of God; without one Heavenly
'Temper." But what Sort of Heavenly Temper is
his ? How can he ptjfibly, confiftently with Charity,
call this our general Performance ? How pojfibly,
without being Omnifdent, affirm that we pray
without one Heavenly Temper ? or know any Thing
at all of our Private Devotions ? How monflrous is
all this from the Man, who owns that he himfelf
even in the Holy Communion has rarely no more than
a cold Attention, in the Higheji Injlances no
Senfe of God^s Love ? Let his ovjn Exclamation
be the dnfwer, " Oh ! what Mockery of God is
this !"
To proceed : Upon the People's itt Ufage (or
fuppofed ill Ufage) of Mr. Wefley at Georgia, and
their fpeaking all Manner of Evil falfely (as he
fays) againft him ; and trampling under Foot the
Word, after having been very attentive to it j
what
(83 )
what an Emotion in him is hereby raifed ? " I do * J ourn -
hereby bear witnefs againft myfelf, that I could pa
fcarce refrain from giving the Lye to Experience, and
Reafon, and Scripture, all together. When Holy 3 Jurn.
Men have told me, / had no Faith, I have often pa8 ' I2
doubted, whether 1 had or no. In a Storm I
think, what if the Gofpel be not true ? a Dream, a
cunningly devifed Fable ? c."
And to fhew that this, or *worfe, is no uncom-
mon Cafe among this Species of Religionijls ; one of
the Teachers among the Moravians fays of himfelf,
" Hn no longer reigned over me. But foon after ^ Joum,
I fell into grievous Temptations. Then it came into pag * 6o "
my Mind, I take all this Pains to ferve God. What
if there be no God? How do I know there is ?
And on this I mufed more and more, 'till Ifaidin
my Heart, There is no God. Every Day for a
full Year, from Morning to Night, I groaned under
this Vnbelief. I then laid to myfelf, I will, and da
fnppofe there is a God. Immediately I felt a ilrange
Sv.eetnefs in my Soul; which lafted for/* Weeks.
I then fell into Doubts of another Kind. I believed
in God, but not in Cbrlft. For above four Tears I
found no Rejt, by Reafon of this Unlefief. Till
one Day" Soon after another Mcravian owns,
" Seeing the great Dii-erjity of Zecls, I began to ibid.
doubt whether any Religion was true ? For Half a P a S- 6 S>
Year thefe Doubts perplexed me greatly ; and I
was juft upon the Point of casing off' all Religion.' 1 ''
" Mr. Se^-ard too had fuch wicked SuggeflicKs, j ourr .
that he coutd not pray for his Friends : Tempted P a S- 3 2 >
to tworjkip Stocks and Stones ; any Thing lut God: 4 ' 57>
Sometimes to think he had fon:e Faith, at other
Times none:' And this was long after his Cen-
<verjlon.
VOL. I. R Doubts
Doubts fomething like thefe fo horribly got Pof-
feffion of St. Ignatius, (whofe Example is fo often
Orland. followed by our Metbodifts) that " they fucked up
Lib. i. a ii t he j u i ce o f his Piety ; his Prayer was dry
and barren ; his Contemplations had no Savourinefs j
Bartol. to fpeak, or bear, any Thing of God, was a loath-
pag- ** f ome an d odious Thing." We read in the Life of
No. ,r M. of Pazzi, " that me ufed to approach the Holy
Table with Difgujts- and Diffatisfa&ions " in the Life
of St. Veronica, " that a Holy Nun died in horrible
Convuljions and Dijiortions, becaufe at that Time the
Devil was urging her to deny Jefus Cbrijl. She ap-
peared after her Death to fome of the Holy Sifters,
afluring them of this Faft, adding, that fhe was
now happy."
Nor need we at all wonder at fuch wicked and
unbelieving Thoughts arifing in the Minds of fuch
fluctuating and inconjljlent Perfons. 'Tis but a ge-
nuine and ufual Effect of Enthufiafm. Cool Reafon
and plain Scripture are laid afide : Variety of wild
Fancies and Opinions croud in, and diftracl the
Head ; linfrejjions and Feelings require to be liftened
to, and made a Rule. Men, who in Imagination
are fent of God, and about bis grand Work, are in
, Times of Danger and Difrefs particularly alarmed :
Things not going to their Mind, and Hearuen feem-
ing to fail them, prefently ftart up Doubts and
Diftrufts of the Being, or Providence of God, who
maintains not his mvn Cauje. So that the moft im-
pious Suggejlians will in their Turn get uppermoft,
and remain uppermoft too, and even make the
/Ironger and more lajiing Lodgment, as 'tis the very
Nature of Entbujiafm to be bead-Jlrong and pojttive.
Our Metbodifts may reckon thefe Affaults of //?-
delity for a Part of the Tbrovjs ef Regeneration, and
all
( 85 )
alt to be done away by fettled Belief, and Durances
of Salvation. But they will certainly be apt to re-
turn, according to the Variation and Succeffion of
their Fancies, Humours, Difeafes, and Paffions. The
Metbodifls fometimes tells us, that Satan is very bufy
in driving them to Extremes. Bartolus fays, " That P. ii~
the Devil fent his Life-Guards, the Affeftiant of the
black Bile, (i. e. melancholy Enthufiafm) to impel
St. Ignatius upon Meafures contrary to the Love of
God, &c." Many learned Writers have fhewn, that
as Enthujiajlic and Superjliticus Perfons are, in many
Cafes, prone to Atheifm ; fo Atheifm often partakes
of Enthuf.afm and tuperjlition ; and that, like Ice
and Water, they beget one another. Dr. H. Moris
firft Sefiion againft Enth.-tfafm ftiews " the great
Affinity and Correfpondency betwixt Enthufeafm
and Atheifm ; which, though they feem extremely
oppojite, yet in many Tilings very nearly agree ;
and are commonly entertained fuccejfi'vely in the
fame BreaJ}. For that Temper which difpofes a
Man to Men to the magifterial Dictates of an over-
bearing Fancy, very eafily gives Harbour to this
mifcbievous Gueji j and will as confidently reprefent
to their Fancy, that their is No God, as ever it was
reprefented that there is one" " Si non Jlatim re- B urtonot -
levantur, faith Merfennus, dubitant an jit Deus : If Melanch,
they be not relieved forthwith, they queftion whe-
ther there be any God; becaufe they have not, as
they think, their Deferts"
. 15. All that cppofe them, however, are like
to have their Deferts ; if we may depend upon the
Denunciations of that Uncharitable Spirit ; the next
Thing I fhall confider as connefJed vaith Methodifm ;
and as no fmall Qljeflion and Qbftade to their Pro-
R 2 grefs
( 86 )
grefs in ether People's Opinion, whatever it may be
in their mun.
Read Mr. We/ley's Character of a Methodijl.
f .10,15. " And the Love of Cephas purified his Heart from
every unkind Temper and malign Affe&ion j from
all revengeful Paflions, Envy, Malice, and Wrath.
He cannot utter an unkind Word of any one" But
read his Contrcrverfial Writings with his Oppofers,
and all thefe fine Profeffions are vaniihed, and con-
tradifted ; and that in fome of his iatejl Perfor-
mances.
.1 Jcurn. One of the Wejleys, when his Doclrine was con-
P a 8 75- tradicled, fays, " While I in the mean time was as a
deaf Man that heard not, neither anfwered a Word."
farther The otter fays, " We have behaved with all Meek-
g P Ti6 **J* and fyndernefs towards all Men, efpecially
117, with our Brethren the Clergy. When a Clergyman
had vehemently accufed me (of doing the contrary)
1 kept my Mouth as it were 'with a Bridle, and com-
mitted my Caufe to a higher Hand." A perfect
Bonaven. Copy of St. Francis, " who, being infulted and
"*' *' afcufcd, faffed through them all as a deaf Man"
As a Proof however that Mr. We/ley tan /peak,
and in titter Words too, in the Fulnefs of his Heart,
x Journ. lie brings himfelf to Confejjicn. " By the moft in-
pug. 64. jaiifoig O f Proofs, Inward Feeling, I am convinced
of Unbelief, of Pride, of grofs IrrecolleSion,
of Levity and Luxuriancy of Spirit, by fpeaking
Words not tending to edify ; but mo/?, by my Man-
ner of freaking of my Enemies." Such ConfeJJions
might be confidered as the Effec"l of tender Con-
fciences, frequently apt to overcharge themfelves ; if
their Writings did not fufficiently prove the Charge.
For, not to repeat their Calumnies againft their l ! re-
; nor to fort >fi 'all their Rancours amang them-
fffoes ;
/elves ; nor to regard Mr. Whitefeld\ Rant, that
" all Morality fet up in Oppofition to his, Jhallfink,
'with its ProfeJJbrs, into Hell, &c." let any one but
look into the latter Part of Mr. Wefley\ Farther
Appeal, and he will find enough of uncharitable and
damnatory Claufes ; difpatching all Mankind to Hell
(as far as lies in human Power) who are not Metho-
diftf. Not thofe in general, as they would pretend,
who are void of a due Love to God and Man, who
believe not in Chrijt, and keep not his Command-
ments, and promote not Repentance and Reformation :
But all who fiibmit not to their facial Difpenfation
of Methodifm. " They are infpired, taught of God,
fent by Got/, upon GoeTs Errand, to make a Tender
of his laft Offers, his laji Call to a guilty Land.
The Apparatus ef Providence in employing the two
We/leys is furprizing ; they can't devife what Man-
ner of Men would be more unexceptionable on all
Accounts. All their Oppofers are labouring heartily
in the Caufe of Hell. Thofe who would hinder
People from joining them, or would bring them
tack, are mojl inexcufable ; they are Blafpbemers,
openly fight againft God, fight under the Devil's
Banner, are taking Part ivith the Devil againft God*
Some Honourable Oppofers, whom they defire to
be excufed from naming, are <wor/e than the Scum
of Cornwall, the Rabble of Bilfon and Darlejlon,
the wild Beafts of Walfal, and the Turnkeys of
Thofe who have went out from them, and left
them, are faid to return to their Pomit again, are
called Apojlates, twofold more the Children of Hell
than before. Thofe who can even doubt of Met ho-
difm being God's Work, or of their Divine Mijfion,
are inexcufably infatuated."
R 3 This
( B8 )
This furely, befides high Preemption, .and Silf-
fujficiency, is Uncharitablenefs with a Vengeance.
Wefley, But fuch always is the Effed of Infallibility : The
4 Journ. p^pfe f uc h, the Moravian fuch, and the Methodijli-
, o g t ra/ fuch. And yet, notwithftanding their dealing
out Hell-fire with fuch a liberal Hand, 1 am not
in the leaft difcourag ed from giving them what Op-
pofeticn I can. Thofe that herd not with them may
be at good as they will without it ; and fuch as have
left them, have not done it, I know, withouty'w/?
Reafon. Mr. We/ley feems aware of this, when he
fays, That " they who were with us, but went
out from us, will aflert Things that may caufe
your Ears to tingle" That fuch Things are among
them, 1 make no Doubt ; and if this doth not ap-
pear already, it may before I have done.
. 1 6. Of the fame Uncharitable and Prefump-
tucus Nature is their Application of Divine Judgments,
and accounting diveife Misfortunes and Afflilions t
which befall private Perfons, or the Nation, as fo
many extraordinary Pumjhments, and penal Prodigies,
for their Oppofition to them/elves, or their Caufe.
They are the Favourites, for whom all is done.
Whether Mr. Wbitefeld has often taken upon
him this Direction of God's Judgments, I don't
recollect : But Mr. Wejley will fully make amends.
Whitcf. The former indeed, hearing of one Great Oppofcr's
3 Journ. being given over, and the Death of another, im-
P-3 I ^33 t juediately cries out, " That they are going to give
an Account of their hard Speeches and Writingt
againfl. the Metbodijls" But the latter more peremp-
W e fley torily and plainly : " Mr. Molther [once his Spiritual
4 Journ- Guide and Confejjor, but afterwards quarrelling with.
pagl 34 ' him] " was taken ill this Day, I believe it was
the
the Hand of God upon him. -I was informed of an
awful Providence. A Wretch curfing and blaf-
pheming, and labouring with all his Might to hinder
the Word of God ; and threatening to do it again.
But God laid kh Hand upon him, and on Sunday he
was buried." Some of his Judgments attended with
Miracles I referve for their proper Place ; and fhall
only mention a remarkable Inftance of God's fend-
ing Judgments on the Land, in Proportion to the Op-
pojttion made to the Metbodijls. This was at the
Time of the late Wars, and Rebellion. " I cannot Farther
but believe, it is chiefly on this Account (oppofing A *^*
the Methodijls) that God hath now a Controverjy P<
with our Land. You cannot pojfibly help .obferving,
that, whenever there has been any Thing like a
Public Attempt to fupprefs this new Seft, another
and another Public Trouble arofe. This has been
repeated fo often, that 'tis furprizing any Man of
Senfe can avoid taking Notice of it. What re-
mains but the Fulfilling of that dreadful Word?"
Bold and confident as he is, I can't imagine how
it was poffible any one mould obferve what never
-was, i. e. any Public Attempt to fupprefs the Metho-
dijls. And 'tis furprizing any Man of Senfe can
avoid taking Notice of fiich rank Enthujiafm, and
groundlefe Application of Judgments. Suppofe one
fhould ajk him, What Public Attempt there was,
or any Thing like it, to raife up or favour the Metho-
difts, before the Nation was blej/ed, and relieved by
the Battle of Culloden - f what tolerable Anfwer
could he make ? This is the Way of them. All:
Heaven muft be interefted and paffionately con-
cerned to fupport their wild Freaks, to gratify their
four Humours, and bring forth its Artillery at their Beck .
The Ffy fitting upon the Chariot-wheel, cries out,
What
(90 )
What a ~DuJl do I raife ? And if a Fly-fapper be
held up to blow it off, it rtmSifoake Nations.
But to return to the Comp art/on. This Unchari-
table and Prefun.pluous Sin of denouncing Damna-
tion, and applying Judgments, has been the general
Method and Mark of Enthujiajis, efpecially the cruel
ones of the Papacy. Their Damning all out of the
Pale of their own Communion is a known Truth.
De Not. And Bellarmins Fourteenth Mark of the True Church
Ecclef. j s> Th e un hapfy Death or End of thofe who op-
" p> * 7 ' pofe it." Where he does not forget that impudent
Lye concerning Calvin, that he died calling upon the
Devil, curfing and blajpheming. It were eafy to
produce Legions of Popijb Saints packing away their
Enemies to Hell, and feeing Vijions of them there in
Torment ; and none of their Oppofers ever proffered.
Fol.131. In the Book of Conformities viz have " a Lift of
thofe, upon whom the "Judgments of God, and Mah-
diflion of Chrijl, fell for oppugnating Sf. Francis,
and his Order, and turning Apoflates from it. Of
four Preachers, who declaimed intemperately
againfl the Society, one fell down dead in going up
into the Pulpit, another was killed by a Fall from
his Mule, a third died a miferable Death, and the
fourth begged Pardon on bis Knees. Two Preben-
daries, and fame Bijhops, underwent God's Judg-
ments for perfecuting them, whofe Names (fays the
Author) I conceal, becaufe they are lately dead "
Fol. 873. " St. Francis likewife foretold the Vengeance that was
coming upon fome Soldiers, who difturbed his
Preaching, and upon the Prebendary Gedeon for re-
p a turning to his Vomit.' 1 '' In the Francifcan Martyrology
436,6 3,6*. we have " a full Detail of Deaths temporal and eternal,
with other Judgments, infli&ed on the Holy Itine-
rant Order of the Mendicant! ; particularly of a Bi-
Jhop
/hop In England, w\\o publijhed fever al Things againft
them, fummoned a Conventicle of his Brethren to
confult how to eradicate them, and foon after was
fnatchcd away by Death.' 1 '' And as to National
Judgments, 'tis every-where the fame : With Re-
fpe& to the Church of England in particular, the
great Earonius remarks, " That fhe was over-run Ann.
with Herejies and Schifms, as foon as fhe ceafed to 7 **
pay the Pope his Tribute of Peter-pence"''
Defiring the Reader to keep thefe Applications of
Judgments in Mind, 'till we come to confider mira-
culous Judgments ;
. 17. I pafs to the Methodifts audacious Cuftom
of fummoning their Opponents to the Bar of Judg-
ment ; and place it to the fame Account of an Un-
charitable Prefumption : " Where (mocking as it
muft appear to all difeerning "Readers) Mr. Whitefidd
feerns fure that every Thing will be determined in
his own Favour, and that Judgment fhall pafs
again/I all thofe he is pleafed to condemn." [See
the Trial of Mr. WhitefieldV Spirit, Pag. 19]
But, enter the Man himfelf. " If thou thinkeft, 2 Deal,
that either I have not told Truth, or wrote out of a P a 8- *7
vain-glorious View, Jefus fhall decide the Queftion.
At his Tribunal fhall we meet, and there thou fhalt
know what is in my Heart. Then Jkall my Inno- 3 Journ.
fence be made char as the Light" But as to thofe pa ^' 2 ^*
who oppofe him, " I here cite them to anfwer it to Pag. 74.
our common Majler, I fhall rife up againft you 4 Journ.
at the Great Day, and be a Jhuift Witnefs againft P' 2 7.29
you. At his dreadful Tribunal J will meet you ;
and then you fhall fee There, there will I meet indwell,
vou. There Jefus Cbrift fhall determine, who are p."ji
the Fclfe Prophets, the Wokves in Sheep's Cloatbing."
Mr.
4 Journ, Mr. We/ley likewife muft aft his Part. " I cite
*" 3f> Alderman Beacher to anfwer at the Judgment-Seat
3 Journ, of Ckriji. I cite you all before the Judge of all
P- 75 the Earth."
Here you have the true Spirit of an Enthufiaji,
flufhed with a .mode/I AfTurance of his own Salva-
tion, and the charitable Profpeft of Damnation of
others.
Martyr. We have an Inftance of this Kind of Summons
Fr ^ nC 'o' m one Walter Bruges, a Francifcan ; who being
either depofed, or fitfpended, by Pope Clement V,
wrote a formal Citation of his Holinefs to appear at
the Tribunal of Chrift precifely on fuch a Day ; and
on his Death-Bed ordered himfelf to be buried
with this Citation in his Hand. And behold a Mi-
racle ! The Citation could by no Force be pulled out
of his Hand. The Pope dtV/on the Day prefixed.
. 18. And may I not be allowed to mention,
as fome Objection to Methodifm, and Stumbling-Block
in its Way, their Violation and Contempt of
Order and Authority ; their Ufurpation of the Powers,
wherewith their Superiors are legally inverted, and
fetting up an Independency ? They fet out originally
with Decency and Order ; afked Leave for the Pulpit ;
had it, and might have kept it ftill, had not their
Reproachings of the Lender, their Enthujiajlic and
dangerous Peculiarities, &c, made it neceflary to re-
fufe it. Hence they are refolved to be revenged*,
and holding forth in unlicenfed Places, and without
a Licenfe themfelves, fay, " they can't die in Peace,
without bearing Teftimony againft the Vncbrijlian
Principles and Practices of thofe Pritjls of Baal,
3 Journ. the Generality of our Clergy" " This, fays Mr.
pag. 79- Wbitefield, puts me in Mind of the Children of Ifrael
nrft intreating Leave of Og, $ibon> &V. to go
(93)
quietly through their Land ; but fighting their Way
through, when Leave was denied. Like them, by
the Strength of my Divine Leader, I mall be more
than Conquertr over all the Canaanites and carnal
Teachers.' 1 '' Greatly faid, and in the true Spirit of
Martial Enthujiafm ; in Conformity "to the true
Spirit of Contumacy and Contradiction, when he de-
clares, " The more I am bid to hold my Peace, 3 Journ.
the more earnestly will I lift up my Voice like a ?*% ax '
Trumpet"
Afk Mr. Wefley, by what Authority he preaches ?
he replies, " By the Authority of Jefus Chrijt, 3 Journ.
committed to me by the Archbiflop of Canterbury, Fa S' 5 2 '
Take thou Authority to preach the Gofpel." And fo
far all is well. But put him in Mind of the Limitation
in the following Words, " in the Congregation
where thou malt be lawfully appointed thereto,"
away flies the Archbijhofs Commiffion, and you foon
have him burfting out into an Enthujiaftic Rant :
" I look upon All the World as my Parijh : This Pag. 56,
is the Work which I kno*w Cephas called me to."
[See Conducl of the Methodijls, Page n, 12.]
And what fignifies a limited CommiJJion to the brave
Mr. Whitefeld, " when GoJttiews him it is his Duty,
not to fx in any particular Place ?" What fignifies
any Subordination, when he can aflume the Dignity
of a Primate? " If a Bijhop commit a Fault, I 5 Journ.
will tell him of it." pag. 37.
Hence they commence a new and independent
Government; appointing Bands and Societies, with
Superintendants, Exhorters, Moderators, and Vijitors.
Hence they take upon them, I do not fay to Wefley,
ordain, but to appoint, and give Authority to, Per- 4 Journ,
fons, who (in their own Words) are neither Bi- **' ^*
Jbops, Priefts, or Deacons, to preach the Word :
Common
( 94 )
Common Mechanics, Women, and 'Boys, are aluali)
employed in this Minijtry of Public Preaching,
without any human Qualifications. Mr. Wejley fays,
Farther that " We cannot but own, that God gave Wifdom
A PP" g '' from above to thefe unlearned and ignorant Men ; fo
that the Work of the Lord profpered in their Hands."
But it requires no extraordinary Gift of difcerning
the Spirits to fee, how eafily fuch Perfons, by
Means of proper Difcipline, learning the Cant of the
Party, a tolerable good Durance, and Fluency of
Words, may fet up for Circumforaneous Holders-
forth ; and (what in Faft is true) make no Scruple
of making their Boaft of being Infpired; thereby
collecting a Maintenance, and choufing the Igno-
rant of their Money.
Hence, laftly, upon Occafion they can pro-
nounce the Sentence of Excommunication, and with
4 Journ. an Authority equal to the Papal: " I John Wejley,
P a S- 73 by the Confent and Approbation of the Band-So-
ciety in Kings-wood, do declare the Perfons above-
mentioned to be no longer Members thereof."
I might here take Notice of the irregular and
unjujlifatle Behaviour of fome of their Fellotvers at
the Holy Communion. I fpeak from perfanal Knc-ic-
ledgs, and can produce other Evidence, that fome-
times, a little before the delivering of the Elements,
three or four together will take it in their Heads
to go away : That fometimes, while the Sentences
of the O/erfcry were reading, they have called out
to the Minijler, whofe Duty it was to carry about
the Bafon, (though they were at Liberty to give,
or not give) reproaching him for aflcing Alms of
them : That fometimes, when the Miaijler has
delivered the Bread into their Hands, inftead of
eafitjig it, they would flip it into their Pockets.
This
( 95 )
This was eften the Cafe, unlefs they were well
watched. Whether they tafted the Wine, or no, I
can't fay.
Thefe, I prefume, are Perfons, who (after the
Example of their Teacher) " can't find in them-
felves the Love of God, or of Cbrijl ; that rarely
even in the Holy Communion have any more than a
cold Attention ; or, like M. of Paxxi, come to the
Lord" 1 ! Table ivitb Difgujls find DiJJ'atisf actions. "
From fevcral of thefe Particulars we fhould be
juftified in turning Mr. We/ley's own Expreffion 4 Joum.
upon the Mcthodifts : " This is to affeft, not Free- FE> 43 '
dom, but Independency" And yet, notwithftanding
fuch Mi/behaviour, they bitterly complain of the
Clergy and UmntttfnMf, for oppoling their Proceed-
ings ; and are furprized that every Man in his
Senfes don't, without the leaft Hefitation, join them.
Let us now fee whether they have not Precedents,
according to Cuftom, among their old Friends.
Pope Gregory relates in his Dialogues, " That St. Lib. i,
Equitius being reprehended for running about every ca ^' *"
where, and preaching without Orders, or a Licence,
proved his Licence from a Vijion of an Angel, put
ting a Lancet into his Mouth, and faying, Behold,
I have put my Words into thy Mouth ; go forth and
preach" From that Time he could not hold his
Peace. St. Francis at firft was fo modeft, and fub- Conform,
miflive to Authority, that he was refolved himfelf, foj> r 39
and enjoined his Brethren, never to preach without
Leave of the Diocefan, and Minijier of fke Parijb.
They denying him, his Brethren advifed him to
get a Faculty from the Pope, for the Salvation of
Souls. But the Saint told them, " he intended to
convert the whole Wvrld ; which would be effected
by their SanRity, Humility, and Obedience" But
VOL: I. S this
( 96 )
this humble Pofture of Mind did not laft long :
Conform. " For he called a Chapter, and appointed Preachers
l ^7t for every Province ; and fent them out to their
refpedlrve Places, giving them a Licence, whether
Clerics or Laymen, whoever of them had the Spirit
of God, and Gift of Preaching. And afterwards
he enlarged their Commijfion, appointing them to
preach in India, and through the whole World. For
it was revealed to him from the Lord, that every
Corner of the Earth was to hear the Sound of their
Bona- Preaching.'" At length, however, " he thought
T entU F P r P er to a Ppty to t* 16 ?"$*> wno confirmed his Or'
cap^ 3. ' &r, and commanded little Crowns to be made for
his Lay-Brethren, that they might freely preach the
Word of Gcd. It had indeed been like wife revealed
Conform, to him, that the poifonous Iniquity of the Clergy
f0l< 17 < ^ IOU ^ PPfe> an< * endeavour to trample upon, his
Order. Accordingly he was vilified both by Secu-
lars and Prelates ; who, difregarding St. Francis^
Monitions, drew away his Followers : But how,
and why, will appear in the End."
Nor could the Devil be idle, where his Kingdom
Ribaden. was at Stake ; "but raifed up turbulent Spirits in
P- 4-7*' the Univerjities, to oppofe the Holy Orders of St.
Dominic and St. Francis, and to write Books againjl
them"
The pious Founder of the Jefuits met with the like
Harraffings; and particularly, at the Univerjity of
Paris, . could fcarce efcape a Whipping in the Public
Hali Several Bijhops published Editfs, forbidding
either him or his to preach in their Diocefe ; and
the flinking black Cloud of the Sorbonne burft upon
them. And as few can bear a Cenfor of their Man-
ners, the Minds of the Clergy were alienated from
the Society, as intruding itfelf into their Functions,
and
( 97 I
and of their own Will contriving to eredl a Semi-
nary, ungrateful and prejudicial to the Miniftry, and
intercepting their Honours and Profits.
But Ignatius and Company, by the fpecial Favour
and Direction of Heaven, were too cunning for them ;
nnd by profeffing themfelves entirely at the Pope's
Devotion, and his Standard-Bearers againji Heretics,
they gained their Ends, and obtained of Gregory
XIII that Golden Bull, allowing the Religious among
them, who were Priefts, to hear ConfeJJions^ and
even thofe not in Orders to preach wherever they
pleafed. Attend, while the Bull is fpeaking. " In Eull.ir.
Virtue of the Privilege granted to your Society by v l> n
Paul III, that whoever of you is ft, and deputed P<
by the Ren or cf the Society, may publickly preach
the Word of God; and thofc, who are Priefts, may
hear the CwfeJ/ictis of the Faithful of both Sexes j
from which Time your Religious, who were f.t to
preach, though not initiated into Holy Orders, have
preached here) and there, and every where : Yet, be-
caufe an iiKpertinent Doubt has arofe, whether the
Privilege cf Preaching comprehends thofe who are
i.'ot ordained; We, in order to remove this Scruple,
by the Authority of thefe Prefents, declare and de-
cree, That every one of you, though not promoted
to Holy Orders, both had Power, and have Power,
in Virtue of that Privilege, to exercife the Office
of a Preacher: Stridtly inhibiting all and fmgular
Ordinaries, and all others inverted with any Kind
of Power, not to dare to hinder or moleft any one
of you, upon any Pretence. With a Non obftante
to all A pojiolical Constitutions and Ordinations, decreed
by General, or Provincial Councils"
You may perhaps endeavour to clear the Jefuits
cf Ufurpation, as aftir.g by Papal Authority. The
S 2 Metha-
( 98 )
ers will put in the fame Plea ; each
of them being, the lavclefs One, a Pope to himfelf.
Having mentioned the Irregularities of fome
Methodifts at the Communion ; I muft in "Jujlice own,
that the moft Part of them behaved very ferioujly
and devoutly : Seme indeed carrying Matters to an
Extreme, and into a Sort of Ecflafy ; fo as to be
quite infenfible of the Ministers Tender of the
Eread end Wine, 'till fpoken to, or pulled by the
Sleeve. Which I find to be no uncommon Thing
among the Pcpijh Enthufiafis. And we have authentic
, Tefitnony concerning St. Alcantara, that he not only
* 2 v/as in fach Ardour of Spirit himfelf, but induced
others to be in a Rapture and Ecjlafy at the Sacra-
ment. As to the Irreverence of fccketirg the Bread,
inftead of eating it ; we read in their Books of
j Dfiticnology, and particularly in the Malleus Ma le-
25. ficarun, " 'tis to be remarked, that Witches, or
Corcerffies, when they communicate, have this Cuftom,
if they can GO it without being obferved, to hide the
Body of the Lord under their Tongue, infcead of fnval-
levcing it ; with a wicked Purpofe, and to referve
the He/? fir nicked U/es." But I drop the Com-
parifon any farther than as to the irreverent Faff ;
and aflure the Methods, that I would by no
Means fo much as infinuaie a Sufpicion of their be-
ing Witches, or Sorcerers, or employing the Bread
to badUfes.
Under this Head may not improperly be con-
fidered their cndutiful Behaviour to the Civil Powers,
and even flying in the Face of the Higbcft Autho-
rity in tie Nation. One of Mr. Wefieys Hearer s
was, it feems, freft'ed Jlr a Soldier : Upon which
Mr. Wejley breaks out into this hideous Outcry ;
y c
( 99 )
" Ye Learned in the Law, What becomes of 3 J urn -
Magna Charta, and of Englijh Liberty and Pro- pa5 '
perty ? Are not thefe meer Sounds, while, on any Pre-
tence, there is fuch a Thing as a Prefs-Gang fuf-
fered in the Land ?" The Legijlature, as the Exi-
gencies of the j o'vernment have required, has, at fever
ral Times, made Acts for prejfing Men into his
Majejlys Service. But no Matter for that ; touch
but a Methodijl, and immediately Liberty and Pro-
perty, the Church and State, the Nation, All may
perifh, rather than a Soldier be prefled. He will
not allow it, on any Pretence. He, the fame Perfon,
who had before bound himfelf with that repeated
P>.efolution, not to fpeak a Tittle of worldly Things, 2 Journ,
is now bawling for Liberty and Property.
. 19. Pafs we on to another Conference, in-
deed natural Tendency, of Metbodifm, and an Impe-
diment in its Courfe ; their mutual yeahufits and
a<yyings, their manifold Dwifans, fierce and ran-
rorous Quarrels, and Accufations of one another of.
heinous Crime*. I fay a natural Tendency ; bec?ufe
Vanity, Confidence, a hot-headed and intolerating
Spirit, always enter into the Compaction of Enthu-
fiafm, and create the above-mentioned bitter Ef*
fefis ; befides fuch Numbers of Apoflates, as they
term it, from than,
Obierve but the early Days of Metbodifm. The
Teachers are fcarcejfe^d', but out they fly through
the Air of Popularity ; each pluming himfelf upon
the Number of flaring Admirers at his fine Feathers
and high Flights.
Hence mutual Emulation, En<vy, and Grudging,
Mr. Whitefald, " 1 was not without Oppojition % Deal.
frw Friends, who were jealous over me with a W a *'
S 3 Godly
Godly Jealoufy. For I carried high Sail : Thoa-
fands and ten Thoufands came to hear."
Excellent Godly Jealoufy indeed ? To eppofe
God's Special Work, -becaufe Mr. Whit ef eld got fo
much Glory ; to enter the Lift in the Conteft of
3 Journ. Vanity, and preach for a Hat and Feather. " Per-
paE> 6l ceived fomething a little bordering on Envy to my
Brother H ."
4 Journ. Mr. Wejlsy too " in his old Room at Oxford
pag. 14. ts mu /jug an d reflecting, How many that came
after me were preferred bejore me :" And then he
religioufly opens his Tejlawent, by Way of Lot, to
find the Reafon. Nor is it long e're this lovely lov-
ing Pair come to Daggers drawing. Mr. Wejley
having heard much of Mr. Whitef eld's unkind Be-
Ibid, haviour, fays, " He told me, He and I preached
P-77-7 two different Gofpels ; that he would not join me, or
give me the right Hand of Fello<ivfiip ; but would
publickly preach againjl me and my Brother.''''
They actually write and publiih againft each other ;
<f Mr. Wff.ey charges Whitefeeld with Imprudence*
for publishing, at all, as putting Weapons into
their Hands who loved neither of them ; with
publifhing a mere Burkfyue ; for making an open,
and probably an irreparable, Breach between
them, by a treacherous Wound, and beivr aying ofSe~
crets" Hence, 'tis well known, they divided, aad
formed feparate Parties. Mr. Wejley, in his Sermon
Pref. and on Tree Grace, " is indifpenfably obliged to oppofe
p. 22-6. , t k e ot jj er) f or th e horrible Blafphemies of his horrible
4 Journ. J) fl r i ne " "I went to my Friend (that was !)
P-35>5- ^j f Stoxebcufe ct IJlingtcn; but found in him all
Pag. 63. the Deceivabknefs of Unrightecufnejs. Mr. C told
me plainly, he could not agree with me, becaufe I
did not preach the Truth."
And
( IOX )
And here, for Fear I mould again be accufed
" of laying afide the New Te/lamexf, when writing, Whitef.
my Pamphlet;' I fhall put them in Mind of the ^g"^*
Apo/itis Direction, Let us not be defircus of Vain-
glory, provoking one another, en-vying one another.
Gal. v. 26.
Again, let us fee fome of the rancorous Con-
tentions between Mr. We/ley and the Moravians,
whom he defcribes as fome of the worft of Men,
both in Principle and Prafiice ; and yet (fuch is his
Motley-Mixture of Antipathy and Sympathy with Re-
gard to them) he defires an Union with them above
all Things under Heaven.
What Scurrility of Language do the Moravians
throw out againft Wlr.WeJIey? " The Fmndation 3 Journ,
on which be ftands is as different from the true, as P" J ^"
the right Hand from the left ; and they have no
Hope for him in this State. They are ajhamed of 4 Journ,
Ins Company : They charge him with putting P 1 ^ ^*
Darknefs for Light, and Light for Darknefs ; preach- 73', 92^
mgfalfe Do8rine : They have often heard both Ioa -
him, and his Brother, preach Popery : They are
both Falfe Prophets : Intruding poor Souls in
fuch Errors, that they will be damned at laft :
Having Eyes full of Adultery, and leading unftable
Souls in the Way of Damnation : They are, like
Satan, making War with the Saints : Mr. Wejley is
a Child of the Devil, the Servant of Corruption, for
whom the Mi ft of Darknefs is referred for ever.'"
And how does Mr. Wejley turn their own Artillery
Hpon them ? " Their Doctrine is a Neva Gofpel, ibid,
occafioning grievous Confufions: 'Their Way differs P'35>6&>
as much from the Bible Way, as Light from Dark- fog' 07 '
nefs : - Other DoQrine than what we have received : x 14.
They are tenacious of their moft EJfentially-erroneous
Doflrines ;
So much Gwle in their Words, that we
can fcarce tell what they really hold, and what net :
Their Difdpline is AS widely different from Mr.
Wefley\ as the Heavem we from the Earth : -
Their Chto-<h infallible, no true Church on Earth
but theirs, and no true Chriftians out of it : They re-
quire implicit Faith and Obedience."
Prone as thefe Gentlemen are to Wrath, they
will give Leave, I hope, to alk a Quejlion, or two.
Is this Methodifm ?
Anirms ca>lejlibus Ira ?
dnd reign fuck Mortal Feuds in Heavenly Minds ?
What are we to think of thefe Charges of Wkite-
feld, Wejluy, and the Moravians, againft' one
another ? Some Perfons, from a candid Opinion of
their Veracity, might be inclined to believe them
all. But I am rather difpofcd to inquire, "Are
thefe Things fo ? Are they true ? Or are they not
true ? If not true, they are grievous Calumniators.
If true, they are deteftable. Seilarijts. Whether
true, or falfe, the Allegation Hands good of their
Envy, fierce and rancorous Quarrels, and mutual^
heinous Accufations.
All is in Conformity to the Conduft of the feveral
"Religious Orders of the Papacy ; envying, hating
one another, befpattering one another, furioufly
contending which is the beft ; I mean, which is the
^vorft ; but unanimoufly agreed In Fanaticifm and
Impojiure.
And how ftands the Matter, among their Dlf-
ciples ? Why, one Party flicks to Whitefeld, whofe
another Go/pe/h better than We/leys another Go/pel;
kfecond
a band Party fticks to Wejley for juft as good a
Reafon. Some are fo loft to Grace, that they re-
nounce both of them, leaving Metbodifm totally in
the Lurch. Others in great Numbers fall away
to the Moravians ; and into dangerous and wicked
Tenets. In general, they are all together by the
Ears, embroiled and broken with Unckriflian
Quarrels and Ccnfujions.
Mr. Wbitefeld fadly laments " the Divi/ions that
arofe amongft GotTs People ; how many, who con-
tinued amongit them for a while, in Time of Temptation
Jail away ; how thofe who would have plucked
out their Eyes, and given them to him, become his
Enemies ; how two young Men in particular, once 3 Joan.
Leaders of the Religious Society, are knee fallen back; P' 2 3-
and our Brethren, who have fallen into Errors, have p. 91.
/'ft us voluntarily."
The impetuous Mr. Seward complains of the
impetuous Mr. V/atben ; " who being too eager in Journ.
teaching others, and reproved for it, was influenced ^' "
by Satan of a fudden to cajl away his Confidence,
as if all the Work of God in his Soul had been a
Delufwn. And Mr. B. a Follower of Mr. WhitejieM, p. 17.
was fadly fallen away, and oppofed him ; and
many were offended."
Mr. Wejley runs more in this Strain ; his Fourth
Journal being rnoftly taken up in enumerating
their Wrath, Dijjentions, and dpvflajies. "At 3 Journ.
Oxford, but a- few, who had not forfaken them ; P >8 4 8 5-
many, in whom the Seed had withered aivay :
Out of twenty five or thirty only two left, not or.e 4 y oa rn.
continued to attend daily Prajers ; the few once ? 9 *
Mite/now torn afunder, and fcattered abroad. At P. 34, 36,
London, the poor Brethren at Fetter Lane in great
Confufion ; the Plague war fpread to the little So- P. 8, '
cieiy,
eie'ty.Manj were induced to deny tie Gift of God,
4 JOBITI. and affirm they never had any Faith at all. Many
p. 17, 18. Q f our Sifters are jhaken, grievoufly torn by
Reafsnings : But few come to Fetter-lane 'till near
Nine o'Clock ; and then, after their Names are
called over, they prefently depart. Our Brethren
here have neither Wifdom enough to guide, nor
Prudence enough to let it alone. They have much
confounded fome of our Sifters. I fuppofe above
half of our Brethren are on their Side ; but they
are fo very confuted, they don't know how to go
on. Here I found every Day the dreadful Effedts,
fcarce one in ten retained bis frji Love : And moft
of the reft were in the utmoft Confujion, biting and
P.i>i,zz, devouring one another. Many wholly unfettled, and
loft in vain Reafonings, and doubtful Difputations,
not likely to come to any true Foundation. I went
Pag. 47, to the Scciety. But I found their Hearts were
quite ejl ranged. A little Handful of them ftood in
the old Paths." At Brijlol, and Kingswood, " I
had many unpleafmg Accounts of the Little Society,
Breaches, Jeaioufas, Coldnefs. Went to preach at
Kingswood : But (except a few from Krijlol) I
had not above two or three Men, and as many
Women ; the fame Number once or twice be-
P.6z-65. fore. Many of our Brethren had no Ears to hear,
having difputed away both their Faith and Love ;
in continual Difputes, Divijions ; and Offences :
P. 70- 75. They break out afrefh : Meetings of the Bands cold
and uncomfortable, endlefs Strife and Confujion, Se-
parations, Eackbitings, Evil-fpeaking, mutual Charges
of teaching falfe Dofirines, Supplanting, Scoffing* at
the two We/leys Preaching : Fifty two leave them,
and again about Forty : The frighted Sheep gaze
andfy, as if they had no Shepherd"
What
What fliall we fay now ? Are thefe the Fruits of
Uctbodiftn ? thefe the Effefts of their Sweet Love-
Feajis ? thefe the Dear, Precious, Innocent Lambs ?
thefe the Partakers of the New Birth, of Peace,
and Love, and Joy in the Holy Ghojl ? thefe their
boafted Converfions, thefe Candidates of Perfeclion ?
Their own Words bear Witnefs againfl them.
Sarex fuo indicia peril. And we may juftly remind
them of their own Expreflions ; " When the Re-
formation began, what mountainous Offences lay in
the Way ? Such Failings in thofe two great Men,
Luther and Calvin ! \_WeJIey and Wbitefeld~\ Their
vehement Tenacioufneft of their own Opinions ;
their Bittertiefs toward all who differed from them j
their Impatience of Contradiction, and utter Want
cf Forbearance even luith their own Brethren.' 1 ''
This is bad enough ; but 'tis not the worjh For
confider what becomes of thofe that leave them ;
among whom fo many of their De/erters lift ; and
into what Sort of Difcipline and Principles they en-
ter ; nothing lefs than " into a New Go/fe/"
" Three of our ChriJIian Brethren driven by Satan Wefley,
to deny Cbrijfs vijible Church on Earth. Multi- 4 J ourK
tudes to embrzcea.falfe unjcriptural Stillnefs, ceafing
from outward Works, and all Means of Grace ; all
fuch Ordinances as running to Church and Sacra-*
tnent, Prayer Publick and Private, reading the
Scriptures : And further, to make a mere Jeft of
going to Church, Sacrament, &c. a general Temp-
tation prevailing to leave off Good Works, in order
to increafe their faith : To cry out, no Works,
no Law, no Commandments : To throw away the
Bible, and fay, I will never read, or pray more :
The Prayers of the Church are full of horrid Lyes.
I was with one who told me, that God had told 4 J<i
her
8o '
( io6 )
her not to partake of the Lord't Supper any more,
4 Journ. f mce ft^ f e( J U p 0n Chriji continually." " At the
Nottingham Society, the Room not half full, which
ufed to be crowded : Not one Perfon who came in
ufed any Prayer at all ; but every one began either
talking to his Neighbour, or looking about him :
When I began to fray, there was a general Surprize,
none once offering to kneel, but all ftanding in the
mojl eajy and indolent Pojiure. I afterwards looked for
one of our Hymn-Eooks, upon the Dejk; but both
that, and the Eillc, were iianijked away. And in
the Room lay, The Moravian Hymns, and the
Count" 1 ! Sermons," [i. e. Count Zinzendorf, the Mo-
ravians Si/bop.] One Thing laid to the Charge
P. 1 06. of the Moravians is as follows ; " Some of our
Engli/h Brethren, who are joined with yours, have
faid openly, you will never have Faith, 'till you
leave off running about to Church, and Sacraments,
and Societies. Another of them has faid, in his
Public Expounding, as many go to Hell by Praying
as by Thieving. Another, I knew one, who
leaning over the Back of a Chair, received a great
Gift. But he muft kneel down to give God Thanks.
So he loft it immediately ; and I know not whether
he will ever have it again. And yet another ; you
.have loft your/r/? Joy ; therefore you fray : That
is the Devil. You read the Bible : That is the
Devil. You Communicate : That is the Devil.' 1 ''
Thek&iejbme (for I could produce many more) of
the Moravian Tenets. And what can be more grating
to a Chrijlian Ear, or more mocking to the Mind;
what more impious, than to pronounce all the Ordi-
. nances of Religion, Prayers, Thankfgivjftgs, Sacra-
ments, reading the Bible, &c. to be Diabolical Per-
formances ? One would imagine they really believed
the
die Dreams of thofe Popijh Fanatics, who tell us, Mengi
that the Devil has fometimes fubmitted to fhefe " g-
Ordinances ; that he has even perfuaded People to p. ^
goto Mafs and Confejffion ; has been found out M.Paris
finging at Mafs among the Monks ; ar.d (as ? 86 '
Madam Bourignon relates) that the Devi/, concealed So . li<i
in the Shape of a Monk, preached a mofl excellent p '""!!'
Sermon on the Joys of Heaven, and Torments of Hell :
But being difcovered before he went off, and afked
the Reafon of his Preaching fa ^well, gave this Rea-
fon ; that he was fure the Auditors would not be
perfuaded by it, and fo would more effectually be
damned.
Mr. We/ley will probably fay, What is all this to
me? Muft I be anfvverable for the Moravians,
againft whom I have fo often, and zealoufly,
preached and -written ? And this Plea is true in a
great Meafure ; efpecially fmce he and the Mora-
vians quarrelled. But Who at the fame Time
gives the Moravians a Box on the Ear with one
Hand, and embraceth them with the other ? Who
firil brought over this witked Generation, and en-
couraged them afterwards ? Who made a Mora-
vian his own Spiritual Guide and Confeffor ? Who
fo highly commended them among his own Fol-
lowers ? Who fo Fanaticized his own Followers,
and gave them fo many and flrong Dofes of the
Enthujtaflic Tinflure, as turned their Brains, and de-
prived them of their Senfes ? Whofe Societies and Con-
gregations (by his own ConfeJ/ion) run over in Shoals
to Moravianifm, forty or fifty at a Time ? And
would they have fpKt upon this Rock, if they had
not been firft Methodifls ? Who is it, that wonders
*why himfelf doth not join them j and can then be in
the leaft furprized at his Difciples joining them ?
Vol. I. T Where,
Where, laftly, is the Spawn of Morawianifm fo
working, as in the Children of Methodifm ?
$. 20. Enthufiafm being a Thing by no Means in-
confident ivith Immorality, and frequently the imme-
diate Caufe of it ; we may mention, as another Effeft
f)f Methodifm, its Tendency to undermine Morality and
Good Works ; and that fome of its Doflrines give
Encouragement to Immorality and Vice. Whether
this be any Impediment to Methodifm, I don't deter-
mine j but 'tis evidently an Impediment to true Re-
ligion and Virtue.
It would be thrufting my Sickle too much into
another Man's Harveft, and doing what has been
done better already by abler Hands, to mew what
an ill Afpeft and Influence fome of their Peculiarities
and Tenets have upon -virtuous Praclice. Such as
thofe fudcten and injlantaneous Calls and Conversions,
which the Methodijls are trained up to expeft, and
wait for in Quietnefs ; whence they are naturally
led to negleft the Means of Salvation, all gradual
Improvement, and Grow ing in Grace: The pre-
fumptuous Do&rine of Affurances of Pardon and
Salvation, prefent and future ; a ftrong Imagina-
tion and fuppofed Feeling of which will fill the
Head with fpiritual Pride ; and induce a falfe and
fatal Security, to the Negleft of future Endeavours.
Impulfcs, ImpreJ/ions, fancied Infpiration and Reve-
lations ; which, being made the Rule of Duty, will
make them as confident in wrong Fraclice, as in
right -, and prefumed upon, as certainly coming
from Heaven, will of Courfe lead them into dan-
gerous Errors of Judgment and Behaviour. That
Summit of Arrogance, a Claim of unjinning Per-
feclion,
( 109 )
fettion, and aWblute Freedom from Corruption ;
which is the Privilege of our "Redeemer alone ; and
from which I may fafely affirm the Methodijis are
at a wide Diftance : Whence thofe warm Heads,
which in Imagination have attained it, or are juft
laying hold of it, will arrive only to the moft En-
thufiaftic Phrenjies ; and thofe of a lefs fanguine
Spirit will be tempted to give over the Purfuit,
become dejperate, or turn Libertines.
To which may be added, that the Followers,-
perfuaded that their Teachers fpeak from God, and
are immediately fent upon his Work, will find little
Inclination to difpute any of their Doflrines, or
boggle at their Examples, how immoral or unfcrip-
tural foever. The Mountebanks Infallible Prefcrip-
tiom muft be fwallowed, whatever be the Confe-
quence, though they die for it. Let us fee if there
be no Danger. The Moravian Method} fit ftand
confejjedly guilty, beyond all Meafure and Modefty t
of trampling down Morality ; teaching purification ,
by Faith alone, not only to the Exclusion, but Con- .
demnation, of Good Works ; and Multitudes of the
Wejleyans have been infe&ed with the Plague.
Mr. Wejley often accufeth the Moravians " of 4 Jurn.
ufmg Guile, and defending the Laivfulnefs of it ; \l' 1 '
of teaching, not to do temporal Good, nor to at-
tempt faym^fpiritual Good', as not likely to come
to any true Foundation ; grounded on a Faith
which is i^ithout Works ; of faying, that good
Works are the greateji Hindrance of coming to
Chrijl ; and that, 'till thcfe Works are laid afide, no
Man can receive Faith"
Among the Societies of Metbodifls, he finds " a
general Temptation prevail of leaving off' good
Works ; the poor, confufed, mattered Society had
T 2 erred
( no )
errejfrom the Faith; a Woman of Deptford, feiit
(as fhe faid) from God, fpoke great Words, and
true; ftie ordered Mr. Humphreys to leave off
d'jing Good"
But Mr. We/ley will fay, " Do not the Methodift-
Teacbers preach and inculcate the Doftrine of good
Works ? Have not I in particular oppofed the Mora-
vians, and warmly controverted this Point ? Did
not I explain St. James, the great Antidote againfl
this Poifon ? Did I not call the Order to leave off
good Works a Snare of the Devil? Do not I fa>%
concerning the Moravian Doflrine, of Faith being
the only Commandment, that 'tis a palpable Contra-
diction to the whole Tenor of the New Teftament,
and ^./hamehfs Affirmation ? &c._"
All this I allow to be true ; and that you had your
Reafons for laying about you, and being feemingly
in earneft, againft the Moravians, who have taken
fo much Pains to rob you of your Authority, your
Reputation, and your Difdples. But give me Leave
to mew your Inconjijlency in the Cafe ; and how
often you have thrown cold Water upon the Duty
of good Works ; and in Quantities fufficient tQ
damp your Followers Zeal for them ; by Sentiments
and Expreffions of a ftrong Tendency to debafe their
Value, and difcourage. the Performance. What think
-3 fn\m. we of thefe Words of Mr. Wejley ? " One indeed in
pag. 10. t fc e p a jfh no longer judges Holinefs to be an out-
ward Thing ; to confift either in doing no Harm,
in doing Good, or ufing the Ordinances of God"
What think \ve of his throwing in thofe qualifying
Pa". Si. Expreffions ? " The doing Good, as 'tis called, i. e.
the ufing the Means of Grace, and helping our
4 Joorn. Neighbour ; what is called a virtuous Life.
sg. ii. Doing Good, or ufing the Means of Grace, in
Works
C XTI )
Works of Piety, fo called, or of Charity." Doth not Plaln
all this tend to difparage and depredate good Works, p a C g. 4" *
and to flacken the Obligation to the Performance of
them ?
As to the Queftion, Whether we are juflified
and faved by Faith only, or by Faith and
Works? " Mr. Whitef.eld declares for being jufti- i Deal.-
fied by Faith only ; which was the more extraor- P- 5 6 -
dinary, fey s he, becaufe my Friends at Oxford had SeeWc/.
rather inclined to the Myjlic Divinity." [Obferve 4 J ourn
by the Way, though this Myjlic Divinity was once
the Methodijls DocJrine ; yet, fays Mr. Wejley, " I z Journ,-
declare in my cool Judgment, and in the Prefence P' z6 > 2 7
of the moft High God, that I believe the Myjlic
Writers to be one great Antichrift '." So that the
Methodijls, by their own Confeffion, were at firft a
Part of the great Antichrijl^\
And, however Mr. We/ley may have explained St.
James, as the great Antidote againft omitting good
Works ; I don't find, that either he, or Mr. Whitc-
field, have ever cited thofe exprefs Paffages
(Chap. ii. 14, 24.) " What doth it profit, though
a Man fay he hath Faithj and have not Works ?
Can Faith fave him ? Ye fee then, how that ly
Works a Man is jujlified, and not by Faith only."''
If they have any where cited thefe Paflages,
they have only confuted themfehes. For Mr. Wejley
affirms, that " the Condition of our Juftification is 4 Jcur.^
Faith alone, and not Good Works: That the mojl P* *7-
dejiruaive of all thofe Errors, which Rome,- the ^^
Mother of Abominations, hath brought forth
(compared- to which, Tranfubjlantiation, and a
kundred more, are Trifles light as Air) is,- that we
are Jujlifed by Works, or (to exprefs the Thing a
little more decently) by Faith and Works."
T j. Upon,
Upon which Words give me Leave to. make a
4 Joum. Remark. Mr. Wejley hath told us, " that the Metbo-
FS-4 1 ' dijls (and himfelf among them) had wandered
many Years in the new Path, of Salvation by Faith
and Works-, before God mewed them the old Way ;
of Salvation by Faith only" Whence we may
Qbferve, that, during many -Tears of their Methodijli-
cal State, (which was the Time too of their higheft.
Glory and Popularity) they were feducing their Dif-
riples, according to their own ConfeJJion, into the
mc/i dcjlruttive Error* ; Errors, compared to which,
all the mojl wicked and Idolatrous Parts of Popery
are Trifes light as Air.
Champion Whitefield boldly throws down his
3 Journ. Gantlet, "-WhoVr aflert that we are not Juftified
?ag< 2 ' merely by an Acl of faith, without any Regard to
Works, pail, prefent, or to come ?" But, I appre-
hend, it requires no high Degree of Courage to
afiert it, after fuch Authority as that of St. James.
Again, concerning the nice Dijlinftion of the
Methodijls in doing good Works, but not trujling in.
them ; Mr. Wejley mentions " a Contemplative
Man, whofe Inftructions he received as the Words
of God; but, fays he> I cannot but wzu obferve, that
he fpoke fo incautioujly againft trujling in outward
Works, that he difcouraged me from doing them at
all." And have he, or his Friends, much mended
i Deal, the Matter ? " When Mr. Whitejield had refolved to
* 44- leave off Forms, Public Worjhip, and other Works ;
Mr. V/eJ!ey adyifed him to refume all- his Ex-
ternals, tho' not to d'pend on them in jae leaj}"
\ When the Moravian Brethren fay, " 'tis
ttnpojfible to ufe the Means of Grace (as Church,
Communion, Prayer, Scripture, &c.) without
trujling in them ; and if a Man doth not trujl in
therrt, why doth he do them ? Mr, Wejley only con-
tends,
C "3 )
tends, that 'tis pofible to ufc them, without trufiing 4 I " 1 "
in them." And now, are not fuch difparaging Ex- j' ^ >Z *
frejjions (not to truft in them in the haft, a mere
Pojfibility of ufmg them without trujling in them) a
great Difcouragement to the Practice ? The plain
Truth is, we cannot truft in good Works, nor yet
in Faith, as the meritorious Caufe of our Juftification
and Salvation : The Sacrifice of Chrift alone is
fuch : But we muft fa far truft in both, as the ne-
ctffary Terms and Conditions, without which we can-
not be fa<ved. And when our Church afferts our
being juftifed or faved by Faith alone, as diftin-
guilhed from the Works of the Law, or mere moral
Righteoufnefs ; it means fuch a Faith, as worketb
by Love ; Faith including good Works, or in Con-
juncJion with them. When St. Paul likewife teach-
eth Juftification by Faith only, and not by Works ;
'tis manifeft that he means the Works of the Mofaic
Law, and not the Works of moral Duties, or 'virtu-
ous Actions, " The Works of the Law are indeed Theol
fometimes named only Works. But the whole p^g,,.
Tenor of the Epijile, (to the Romans) and the Con*
text, always mews thofe Works to be the Works of
the Mofaic Law, Nay, thofe Works are not only
diftingui/hed from the Evangelical, which are called
good Works ; but they are exprefsly oppofed to them,
as Wrong to Right; as particularly, Ephef. ii.
9.10. Not of Works, [thefe are the Works of the Law]
left any Man Jkould boaft. For we are created in
Chrift Jefus unto Good Works. [Thefe are the
Works, of the Gcfpel.~]" I have this from Dr. Hey/in ;
who adds, " I have judged it neceflary to take No-
tice of an Error, which has been mifchievoufly
fpread, and incautioufly admitted, that the Works of
the Lcew t and good Works, are the fame."
What
( H4 )
What is otherwife Matter of Controversy, feems
to me either wrangling about Words, or paving the
Way to dangerous Delujions. In the mean Time,
'tis fomething ftrange, (if among Metbodifts and
Papifts any thing can be ftrange) that, after fo many
and unanfwerable Writings of our Divines againft
the Merit of good Works, we fhould be charged
with fetting too high a Value upon them ; and that
the Metbodifts, who, in Agreement with Papifts,
talk of arriving at Perfection, and an unfennivg State,
fliould fo undervalue and difparage them ; unlefs
they mean a Perfefiion deftitute of good Works.
We might produce various Inftances of Entbujiajt:
among Papifts, Sec. fuch as thofe Mendicant Fryers,
the Fratricelli, the Alumbradd 's or llluminati of
Spain ; who were ftiff Maintainers of Perfection ;
in which Situation they were above Ordinances
of Church or State, above the Exercife of moral
Virtues j looked on natural Inclinations as indifferent
Things ; and fo deemed unclean Mixtures as no Sins.
'Tis to be hoped not many of our Metbcdifts will
be carried to thefe Lengths. But they may be put
Works, in Mind of Bifhop S> 'tilling fleet's Words ; " 'Tis an
Vol. I, ea f v ^y ay O f Salvation* if no more were required
** 5 >57 ' to Men's Happinete but a Fancy andftrong Opinion.,
which they will eafily call Believing. Such as
make no other Condition of the Gofpel but Believing,
and will fcarce allow that to be called a Condition,
ought to have a great Care to keep their Hearts
founder than their Heads : For their only Security
will lie in this, that they are good, though they fee
no NeceJJity of being fo. And fuch, of all others, I
grant, have Reafon to acknowledge the Ifrefif.ible
Power of Divine Grace, which enables them to
obey the Will of God againfl the Dictates of their
( "5 )
0wn Judgments" There may be Reafen for fome
fuch Caution ; when, befides the Peculiarities in the
Methodifts Notion of Faith, they talk with fuch
Contempt of " your Workers, and good Livers ;"
while they have good Hopes of Perfons of a profej/edly
wicked and debauched Life. They have told us,
" how apt the Devil is to. drive Men into Ex-
tremes ;" they know from Nature and Experience
that one Extreme begets another ; and thence infer,
that, one Time or other, immoderate Ftcioufnefs will
rebound into their Enthujtajiic Madnefs.
To proceed: Without infixing, as an Encourage-
ment to Sin, on Mr. We/ley's Defcription of " the 4 Jurn.
State of thofe who have Forgivenefs of Sins, but not * > '^'*
a. 'clean Heart, even a Heart defperately wicked ; *-'
yet need not doubt, or fear :" Let me infert here
a pretty remarkable Paffage of his ; which, though
perhaps not any Objiruflion to Methodifm, is evi-
dently fo to Religion, and a good Life : " I heard a 3 Journ.
Sermon, wherein it was aflerted, that our Repen-
tance was not Sincere, but Feigned and Hypocri-
tical, i_/?, If we relapfed into Sin foon after re-
penting : Efpecially if, zdly, we did not avoid all
Occajlons of Sin ; or if, $dfy, we relapfed frequently ;
and moft of all, if, 4//y, our Hearts were hardened
thereby." One would think this no bad Divinity :
But it feems not a Word of it is true. For he adds,
" O what a Hypocrite have I been (if this be fo)
for near Twice Ten Tears ! But I know it is not fo."
He is at Liberty to fpeak for himfelf; but, I ap-
prehend, has no Authority to include every one j
notwithftanding his Pofitivenefs. " I know eveiy
one under the Law is even as I was. Every one,
when he begins to fee his fallen State, and to feel
the Wrath of God abiding on him, relap/ei into the
Sia
Sin that moft eafily befets him, foon after repenting
of it. Sometimes he avoids, and at many other
Times cannot perfuade himfelf to avoid the Occa-
Jioris of it. Hence his Relapfes are frequent, and
of Confequence his Heart is hardened more and
more. And yet all this Time he is Sincerely ftriv-
ing againft Sin. Nor can he, with all his Sincerity,
avoid any one of thefe four Marks of Hypocrijy ;
'tili being Jujlifed by Faith, &c."
Strange Account of the Progrefs into Methodifm,
and its peculiar Notions of Faith, &c. ! Strange
Agreement and Confejlency of Sincerity with relapfing
foon, re\ZTpfa\% frequently, not avoiding the Occajlom
of Sin, and with hardening the Heart more r and more ;
all without any Danger of Hypocrijy ! Near Twice
Ten Tears ! (and God knows how many more our
Cz/w*/? may grant) A fair Allowance for continuing in
this Sincere, hardened State ! All necejjary and una-
voidable ! Thofe Gentle ConfeJ/brs the Jefuits could
fcarce have granted Salvation upon eafier Terms.
Have no Doubt or Fear, ye Methodijls, though for
fuch a Length of Years ye have an evil and un-
clean Heart. Remember your Teachers Words,
" Was there ever fo pleafing a Scheme ?" Pleafing
indeed, thus to be going into Perfection, thus to be
Affured of Salvation !
Hear again a more particular Inftance, with Re-
4 Journ. fp e & to t jj e ft /y Communion. " No previous Prepa-
P-4-6,47- ratiatlt f a y S Mr. We/ley, no Fttae/sis required at the
Time of Communicating, but a Senfe of our State,
of our utter Sinfulnefs and Helplefsnefs : Every one
who knows he is ft for Hell, being juft fit to come
to Cbrift, in this and all other Ways of his Ap-
pointment." What zpleafing, and yet \io\\ incom-
parable a Comment is this -upon St. Pad's Direaion
for
( "7 )
for a Man to examine himfelf in ofrder to receive
worthily ; and not to receive unworthily, which is
eating and drinking Damnation to himfclf I But hold :
Let us her Mr. We/ley's Reafon againft any Prepara-
tion; " Becaufe we come to his Table, not to
give him any Thing, but to receive whatever he
pleafes to give." A moft excellent Illujlration by
this Jlriti Churchman of the Words in our Commu-
nion-Service, " Here we offer and prefent unto Thee,
O Lord, ourfelves, our Souls and Bodies, to be a
reafonable, holy, and lively Sacrifice unto Thee ! "
Surely this may juftly be compared with that Po-
pi/b Doftrine, that the Efficacy of the Sacrament is
produced, as it were, by a Charm, ex Opere ope-
rate, i. e. from the mere doing of the Work, with-
out any Regard to the Fitnefs of the Receiver, It
perfectly accords with that of their bold Champion
Gregory de Valentia, who affirms, that " Contrition Vol. IV.
(a Sorrow for Sin proceeding from the Love of God) p I5S7 *
is not necefTary towards receiving the Benefit of the
Sacraments, but rather hinders it ; and that it would
be abfurd to require it." And that of Morinus, DePeenit.
That the Excellence and Prerogative of the jjj"' S *
Evangelical Sacraments above the Legal mines out no . 16.
principally in this, that the Evangelical have de-
livered us from the mojl grievous Yoke of Contrition
and the Love of God." Oh ! How good a Thing
is the Concord of brethren ?
Again ; Mr. Wejley has taught us, that Infrmi-
ties are no Sins. An Aflertion fomething ftrange
from one who hath fo ftrongly afiirmed, " that oar z j ou rn.
whole Heart is altogether corrupt and abominable, P- 69-
and confequently our ivhcle Life : All our Works, 3 journ.
the moil fpecious of them, our Righteoufnefs, onr p. 10,70.
Prayers, seeding an Atonement themfelves : AH our
Works
a Journ. Works and Tempers evil continually" < But my
pag. 23. obje&ion to it is, that 'tis a Loop-hole to creep out
of every Moral and Religious Obligation. By Means
of this Doftrine Mr. Wbittfiild&S&y got rid of his
Wcfley, Word and Promife ; " He faid, That Promife was
5 Journ. on iy an Ejfetf of human Weaknefs ; and Jie was now
P8 ' 77> of another Mind."
The fame Excufe will ferve on all Occasions ;
efpecially in Sins which more eafily befet this Sett,
not very remarkable for the Gift ofChaftity. Their
Famous Metbodijl-Teacher at Salijbury (whom I
mentioned before, Part I. Page 71.) was indeed
above making this paltry Excufe; above faefneaking
Submijfion of Remorfe and Repentance, for his Adul-
teries. Being detefted, he preached publickly in De-
fence of Plurality of Women, under the Name of
Wives ; and, inftead of taking Shame to himfelf,
hath in a Shamelefs Manner Printed and Publijhed
his Infamous Jujiijication of Bigamy : Which Trea-
tife (fuch is his Modify) he dilperfeth about, to my
certain Knowledge, with his own Hand. A Trca-
ti/e, not putting in any Decent Plea for the Laivful-
efs of having a Multiplicity of Women ; but auda-
cioufly Condemning the Defenders of the Matri-
monial ContraB between one and one, as " weak
and wicked Men, Traytors to God, guilty of egre-
gious Folly and Falfhood, of a Religious Mad-
nefs, the mojl horrible Delujlon that the Devil and
bis Emiffaries can propagate"
At this Rate, if this Nevu Breviary fecundum
Ufum Sarum fhould get Ground, the Methodift-Tea-
chers may foon be as generally Scandalous, as they
have 'wijhed and prayed. We (hall hence conceive
no very favourable Opinion of their Love-Feafts,
#nd Normal Meetings : We fhall be convinced
2 what
( "9 )
what Sort of Men are too well acquainted with the
vaeak Side of human Nature, in more Senfes than
one : And all of us fhould attend to " ChrijTs
Prediction and Warning concerning the Falfe Pro-
phets, who (if poffible) fhould deceive the very
Eleft. Wherefore, if they fay unto you, Behold he is Mate.
in the Defert, go not forth : Behold he h in the Secret ^H^g.
Chambers ; believe it not."
Many Authors have fhewn a natural Connection
between Enthujiafm and Impurity. And 'tis obferv-
able in Faff, that a Multiplicity of Wives, and pro-
mifcuous Ufe of Women, has been the Favourite
Tenet of moft Fanatical Sels : The Nicolaitans,
Gnoftics, Montanifts, Valentinians, &c. Some of
whom have maintained it not merely as Laivfu/,
but as necej/ary to Pcrfeflion : It was the grand
Allurement to embrace Mahometifnt : Was the
profefled Doctrine of modern Enthujiafis ; as John
ef Leyden, David George, Sec, who warmly taught Dr.More.
that no Man was confined to one Woman ; but that f n 4
Procreation was a free Thing, in common to all
that are lorn again, or regenerated by the Spirit of
David George : Was zealoufly inculcated and de-
fended in Print, as well as exemplified in PracJice,
by Mr. Lacy, fo famous among the French Prophets ;
whofe Mantle has been taken up by W H .
And all of them were fond of employing the Sex
as their Emijfaries, to prepare the Minds of their
Acquaintance for Convcrfeon.
How the Cafe ftands in Fafl, as to the Number
of Converts among the Mcthodifts, and real Refor-
mation of Life to the certain and known Duties of
the Gcfpel, is Matter of difficult Determination.
But, from what Enquiry I can make, there is no
Reafon to think them better, for the Generality,
VOL. I, U than
( 120 )
than their Neighbours. Superfluous Zeal for
Trifes, unfcriptural Peculiarities, high Flights in
Words, and Boaflings of Perfection as prcmifed to all,
and the like ; of thefe there is no Want. Bur,
when we confider their black Art of Calumny, and
various Kinds of Uncharitablenefs in a high Degree ;
their exceffive Pride and Vanity ; their Scepticifms,
Doubts, and Dijleliefs of God and Chriji ; their f.
orderly Practices, and Contempt of Authority ; their
Diiifans, Confufions, bitter Envyings, and invete-
rate Broils among themfelves ; Loolnefs, at leaft,
for good Works, and uncommon Warmth for
fome very bad, &c. Of thefe hkewife there is no
Want.
If we take Mr. We/leys own Account, it falls
very fhort of any Considerable Refirrr.ation. He
Farther owns " among them Sinners of every Kind ; and
Appeal, tjjg g rea t Stumbling-block by them that fay and da
fa,* 1 ' not. Such I take for granted, fays he, will be
among us, altho' v/e purge them out as fail we
can ; Perfons that talk much of Religion, that com-
mend the Preachers, perhaps are diligent in hearing
them ; read all their Books, and fing their Hymns ,
and yet no Change is wrought in their Hearts. Were
they of old Time as Lions in their Houfes ? They
are the fame ftill. Slothful, intemperate, tricking
or difhoneft, over- reaching or opprefiive ? The
Ethiopian hath not changed his bkin. Were they
(in high Life) delicate, felf-indulgent, fond of
Trifles, or their own dear Perfons ? The Leopard
hath not changed her Spots. Others, in whom
there was a real Change. But it was only for a
Seafon. They are now turned back, and are time-
fold more tie Children of Hell than before"
Whence
Whence we may infer, that our AV-w 'Reformers
have made but a flow and flight Progrefs in the
real Reformation of Manners. We read, that " the franc.
Devil, finding a certain Jefuit to have an Intimate
Communication I'jitb God, endeavoured to cod his
Zeal by throwing a Bucket of Water upon his
Head through the Roof of the Houfe." But what-
ever Occafion Sonic of our Metbodijls Ardors and Pe-
culiarities may have for Water, the Devil, I am
perfuaded, will not be fond of bringing his Backet ;
and their Zeal for goad Work* having no Need of a
Cooler, he may fave himf?lf the Trouble. 'Tis
v.cll, upon the whole, if they are not rather
Hinder en than Promoters of Morality and Virtue,
Their Friend Madam Bourignon, who was en-
gaged in fuch another Projecl, not only confefleth
her frequent Relapfef into Sin ; but the little Good,
or rather much Harm, all her Inftruclions had done :
" I exercifed myfelf about nine Tears in teaching solid
the Ignorant, without profiting any Thing in the Virtue i
Salvation of their Souls. On the Contrary, I had 5' a J* 8 '
the Difl'atisfaftion to hear fome of them fay, to
whom I had fhewn the Ckrijlian Dofirine and Vir-
tues, That they could n-^v do greater Evils, than
they could do before ; becaufe ew they could
cover their Wickednefles \\A\\feigneJFirtucs; which
they could not do before they learned to talk of
Virtue."
. 21. There is however Reafon to believe that
the good U'crk of Popery is carrying on, from fome
of their Tenets and Prafiites ; over and above their
Stringing one Extravagance upon another, in Confor-
mity icith the Papal Fanatics ; which hath been
evidently fhewn through the whole Comparifon.
U 2 To
To this Purpofe it might be remarked (what is
manifeftly true) that, in their feveral Anfivers and
Defences, a Strain of Jefuitical Sophiftry, Artifice
and Craft, Evafion, Referve, Equivocation, and
Prevarication, is of conilant Ufe. But to wave
3 Joum. this ; " When a Metbodift was receiving the Sa-
11-165171 cratnent, Gw/was pleafed, (fays Mr. We/ley) to let
him See a Crucified Savicxr ; he faiv the Fountain
Farther opened in his Side." " How often (fays Mr.
JJf- 1 ?.' Wbite f<M) at the Early Sacraments have we feen
Jefus Chrtft Crucified, and evidently fet forth before
us ?" Upon this I afked, " Whether this did not
encourage the Notion of a real Corporal Prcfcnce in
the Sacrifice of the Mafs ; and was not as good an
Argument for Iranfubfantiation, as the feveral fejhly
Appearances produced by the Papijls ?" To which
I now add, that Mr. Wkitefald mentions only
Ibid. particular limes and Places, when " the Sacraments
were thus exceeding aivfuL It was at Cripplegate,
St. Anne" 1 :, and Fojler-Lane, and early, when they
fa<vj Jefus C'brijl Crucified, evidently" Which im-
plieth, that they had not the Favour of this evi-
dent Corporal Sight of Chrijl at other Times, and
P-laces ; though they muft have received the Sacra-
ment frequently at many Places befides.
And this perfectly tallies with the PapiJIs ; who
had not always a View of the Corporal Prefcnce in
the Mafs ; but only at Some Places, as a particular
Favour, on fpecial Occafaiis ; as to confirm the
Doubtful, convert the Unbelieving, &c. Thus St.
Life, lerefa fay, that in a " particular Monaftcry, the
Vol. II, Building whereof fhe had negotiated with God,
among other Favours to herfelf and Society, was the
perceiving tile Perfon of Jefus Chrijl in the Sacra-
ment, fo as to perceive wjibh his Corporal Prefence ;
fo
C 123 )
To generally and ordinarily, that we found the
EleJJed Sacrament newer had wrought fuch an Effect
upon us in any Place, as here.' 1 ''
We may fee in Mr. We/leys Writings, that he
was once z. flrlfl Churchman, has gradually relaxed,
put on a more Catholic Spirit, tending at length to
Roman Catholic. People of every Communion are
among his Difciples ; and he foinewhere rejects with
Indignation any Defign to convert others from any
Communion ; and confequently not from Popery. On
the Contrary, we find no fmall Tendency to it. For
Inftance, By Praying for the Dead. In his Prayers
for every Day of the Week, we have thefe Words,
" Laftly, I commend to thy Mercy the Souls of all
that departed this Life in thy true Faith and Fear."
This Do&rine, 'tis true, is of pretty early Anti-
quity : (I think Terlullian, a Mmtanijl, is the firft
that mentions it :) But it was not made an Article
of Faith 'till the new Papijlical Creed was invented.
And Mr. We/ley (who tell us that " fome Fop- p; a in
peries of the Roman Church were in fome Meafure Account,
countenanced by Antiquity' 'J mould have never ^ ?
countenanced a Doctrine which is the Foundation
of Purgatory ; which has introduced Idolatry, and
from praying/er the Dead brought Bigots to pray
to them. He mould not propagate one of the
Favourite MancheJier-Doflrines of Mr. Deacon, lead-
ing Men certainly into Jacobitifm, and probably into
Popery. He mould not teach People a Doctrine,
which has no Manner of Foundation in Holy Scrip-
Utre ; void of Precept and Example from the Ora-
cles of God. Efpecially as he is fo ready to appeal,
at other Times, " to the Law, and to the Te/li~ Anf. to
many ;" and has declared again and again, that
the WardofGed'-s his only Rule:
U 3 " Not
" Not even a Word or Look
" Do I approve or own,
" But by the Model of thy Book,
" Thy Sacred Book alone."
12 Journ. By Private Confejflon. " 'Tis one of their Fun-
P. 17,18. damental Rules in their Bands, that every one fpeak
as freely, plainly, and concifely as he can, the
real State of his Heart, with his feveral Temptations
find E eli*verances ; ufing no Kind of Referve ;
with the Faults they have committed in Thought,
Word, and Deed, and the Temptations they hare
Account fekf to- anfwer to as many fearching Quejiicns as
?. 17,18. may be." And what a Scene is hereby difclofed ?
What a filthy Jakes opened ; when the mojl fearch-
ing Quejlions are afked, and anfwered, 'without Re-
fer-ue ? Such indeed, as have made Popijh Con-
feflbrs, the Jefuits efpecially, fcandalous through
the World, but at the fame Time powerful, and
getting it under their Girdle by a Knowledge of
ail the Secrets of the Heart. Mr. Wejley to this
Jb.p.iS. will reply, " That the only Popijh Confeffion is,
the Confejfion made by a Jingle Per/on to a PriejJ :
Whereas that we pra&ife is, the Confeffion of
feveral Perfons conjointly, not to a Prieji, but to
each other." And will Mr. Wejley abide by this,
and freely anfwer a SZuejlion ; in Anfwer to what
has been affirmed in, Print ? " After private Con-
f cffions taken in their daffes, or Bands ; are not
Reports made to Mr. Wejley ? Are no Delinquents,
Male and Female, brought before him feparatefy^
and confej/ed by him ?" And again, doth not fome-
thing of this Nature appear by his own Words
elfe-
elfewhere ? " Here are Sewn Thoufand Perfons, Farthe
(perhaps fomewhat more) of whom I take Care, ^
watching over their Souls, as he that muft give
Account. In order hereto, it lies upon me, (to I
judge) at the Peril of my own Salvation, to know
not only their Names, but their Outward and In-
ward States, their Difficulties and Dangers. Other-
wife how can I know how to guide them a-
right ? f/V." What wicked Ufes have been made
of this Engine by Popi/h Guides, made ncceffary
under Pain of Damnation, I need not fay ; and
fliall only tranfcribe an Account from Matthew p. 693
Paris, concerning the Francifcans, or Fryars Minors, Edit.
the Itinerant Spiritual Guides of thofe Days. " They ' 74 '
procured from His Holinefe the Pope the Privilege of
Preaching, hearing Confejfions, and enjoining Pe-
nances, in England; to the great Injury of the
Parochial Minijlers : Perfons worthy of this new
Privilege, as being raifed up by the Lord, and net
fee/ting their own, tut the Things of Jefus Chrift*
The Itinerants, flufhed and exalted hereby, de-
manded to Preach and Confefs every where, with-
out Contradiction ; and to be received as Angels of
God: They faucily and impudently proclaimed the
EJlablifhed Clergy to be blind Leaders of the Blind-,
and fay to the People, Come to us, who are able to
diftinguifh Leprojy from Leprofy ; to whom arduous
Difficulties, and the Secrets of God, have been re-
vealed. Hence Men and Women loft all due Re-
fpect for their Proper Pajicrs ; and going to one of
thefe Rambling Fryars, whom perhaps they might
never fee more, confefied all to them without
Shame or Elufhing. By thefe Means Sin more co-
pioufly abounded ; and the Itinerants grew ex-
Imperious and Infolent"
Another
( 126 )
Another Tendency to Popery appears, by the No-
tion of a Single Drop of Chrijfs Blood being a Suffi-
cient Atonement for the Sins of the whole World.
For, however pious this may feem, 'tis abfolutely
Falfe, and Papijlical. Falfe, and betraying a Fun-
damental Ignorance of our Redemption ; becaufe it
was the Sacrifice of the Death of Cbriji that pro-
cured oui' Remiffion and Atonement. And Pa-
pijlical ; being broached by a Pope, and for a 'wick-
ed Purpofe. Mr. We/ley tells of a MethodiJ), who
3 Journ. " knefw, and was/are, that, if he had all the Sins
pag. 17. O f the \v or ld laid upon him, one Drop of Chrijfs
flood was fufficient to atone for all." Which Doc-
trine comes from Pope Clement VI, in order to fill
his Magazines with Pardons and Indulgencies. We
have the whole in the Papal Canon Law. Extras.
Com. Lib. V. Cap. 2. Unigeuitus. " The Son of
God, though a moderate Drop of his Blood would
have fufficed for the Redemption of all Mankind,
yet fhed the whole. That therefore the Remainder
of his Blood [all above that Drop] might not be
unprofitable, vain and fuperfluous, it was left as a
Treafure to the Church. Which Treafure Chrift did
not hide in a Napkin, or in a Field; but committed it
to St. Peter the Key-keeper of Heaven, and to his
SiuceJJbrs Chrijfs Vicars on Earth, to be difpofed of
for the Remijjwn of Sins. To which Heap of
Treafure the Merits of the Elejjed Mother of God,
and of all the E/efl, from the frfi jujl Man to the
laft, are known to make a confiderable Addition."
You fee upon what foundation are built the Popifo
Dottrine of Merit, and Market of Indulgencies.
Of a like Tendency is Mr. Wejley 1 * contemptuous
Treatment of Right Opinions, or Orthodoxy ; which
imports a right and found Judgment in Matters of
Doftrine
Doarine and Belief in the Gofpel-lnjlitution. He
exprefsly fays, " 'Tis a Point we chiefly infift upon, JJ]^^
that Orthodoxy, or Right Opinions, is, at beft, but a pag> 4 , '
very Jlender Part of Religion, if any Part of it at
all." The plain Confequence whereof is, that
teaching and believing the Fundamental Errors of
Popery, as Tranfitbftantiation, ll'crjhip of Saints and
Images, with the whole Train of their Abominations
and Idolatries, are of very little Moment, if of any.
And he fpeak; very favourably of thefe Points, by
telling us, " that, in Comparison of preaching Juf~ 3 Jwn.
/ ifi 'cation ty Faith and Works, all the Errors of pag< 7S '
Popery, Tranfubjlantiation, and a hundred more, are
'1 rifos light as Air.' 1 '' Such a ftrange Extenuation
of the moft Antichrijlian Sorceries, reducing them
almoft to a mere Nothing, we find to be the Effect
of a tenacious Contention for Methodiftical Fancies.
Again : The MetbodiJl-Dottrine of Imprejfions and
AJJurances, &c. holds equally for Papal Entkufiajis ;
many of them, particularly the Heaven-taught
Terefa, having affirmed from the fame Force of
Imagination, " that they could not pojfibly have a Life,
greater Certitude of any one Thing than of the
Truth of the Popi/h Religion.'"
Their Sudden and Injlantaneous Con<verjlons ftand
upon the fame Footing with the Popijh. " One Life of
Donna Catharina being intent en a gccd Match, but y^[ e j j
cafually cafting her Eyes on a Crucifix, prefently the p. 158.
Lord totally changed her : And file retired into a
fecret Place to pray ; where the Devil exerdjed her
with notable Delujions."
I mall mention but one more Thing (except
what properly belongs to my Third and Laji Part)
of a Metbodiflical Tendency to Popery ; which is,
the Recommendation of Popi/b Books. Many fuch
- have
( 128 )
have of late Years been Printed in England, for
the U/e of Catholics, and Confer/ton of Heretics :
Which (as if by Compati, or Sympathy vcitb Metho-
difm) are fluffed with Aridities, Dtfoiations, and De-
fertions ; Feelings and AJJurances ; Joys, Raptures,
Ft/tons ', Communications *with the Deity, Inffirations,
Miracles, &c. But I fhall confine myfelf to one or
two, recommended by Mr. Wejley. One is, The
Life of Mr. de Renty ; of which Mr. Wtftey hath
made and Publifhed An Ext raft, for the Benefit of
his Followers. I have not feen his Extraft ; but,
by perufing the Life itfelf, I can eafily difcern the
Reafons of its high Degree of Favour. For Mr, dt
Renty (a Frenchman of Quality) had a ftrong Tinflure
Pag. 45. of the Enthuftafiic Spirit. " He hated a Coach, and
ufed to travel on Foot. In his Way towards Per-
fedion, in the Morning he takes Holy Water, goes
to the Virgin's Chapel, places before him an Image
of tbe Virgin holding her Son, as the Lady of the
Houfe; kiffes the Earth before her; and prays,
Monjlra te ej/~e Matrem, flew that you are a Mother ;
Pag. a6, devotes himfelf and Family to her Service entirely ;
pays his Devoirs to St. Jofepk and Terefa : Goes
forth whither God directs \ prays for the Dead-,
leaves his Breviary, and all Forms ; becaufe they
would be a Hindrance to his coming to Cod : Ha?
great Infidelities, and fees nothing but Vice and Sin
in himfelf :" Yet declares, " I bear in me Ordi-
narily a Plenitude of the tnojl Holy Trinity : By a
Love of God I enter into a Heat, and into a Fire,
and even to my Fingers Ends feel that all within
Pag. 29. me fpeaks for its God. Again, I have nothing fen-
fible in me, and fall into my own Nothingnefs."
Pag. 38. He wears an Iron Girdle with a double Rank of
long Prickles ) a Bracelet of the fame, continually
on
( 129 )
on his "Breaft a Crucifix, fet -wi&ijbarp Nails enter-
ing his Flefi. "I mould, fays he, have great Pag. 66.
Pleafure, if it were permitted me, to go naked in
my Shirt through the Streets of Paris, to make
myfelf difefeemed, and taken for a Fool : God fome-
times giving to Holy. Souls Thoughts and Defires, fo
raifed above the common Pitch of human Reafon,
as to feem Extravagant : As before in our Founder
St. Ignatius"
By Prayer, he cures Difeafes the moil defperate P. 143.
and extraordinary, with unlikely Remedies : Is p. j6;.
very diligent in Converting Protejiants to Popery :
In Prayer is fhewn from God of an Employment
defigned for him in the Indies.
A Lady difcourling with him about procuring p. ijz.
Relief under great Pain, and finding no Comfort
from him, immediately me throws herfelf on her
Knees ; and after Prayers, me no longer fees Mr.
de Renty, but in him our BleJ/ed Saviour, mining
with great Splendor, and faying, " Do what my
Servant direSls thee :" Which Words, at that <very
Injlant, had fuch an Effect, that her Pain vanijked,
and me -was, filled with God, and Converted.
He could penetrate into the Itiward Recejfes of P. 198.
the Confdence, and difcover People's Secrets j
could fpeak Words Infpired at that very Hour ;
was Infpired with grsat Certitude what was God" 1 *
Will. God rejided, fpake, and afted in him. God p. 21 g.
unites his Soul to himfelf, admits him to the Com-
munion of the Eleffed Firgin, Saints, and Angels.
One Day, by the Singular Bounty of God, he had P, 325.
a View of bis Divine Majefly, of John Baptiji, and
Sifter Margaret, clearly represented. The Infant
Jefus Reveals to Sifter Margaret, that Mr. de Renty *
Ihould thence-forward be guided by the Spirit of
his
( 130 )
his Infancy, and that He was defcending to be his
P 130. Light. After the Communion he fees, by an En-
lightening, our Saviour entire, i. e. all his Myjterics
P. 2Az. from his Incarnation to his State of Glory. " The
Divine Goodnefs (faith he) worketh in me what I am
not able to exprefs. 1 poj/efs even the Blejfcd Trinity ;
and find diftinclly in m) felf the Operations of the
P. 299. Three Divine Perjbns. 1 ' poffefs the Holy Trinity with
a Plenitude of Verity and Clearnefs ; 'tis a mojl real
Sight of the Trinity.
P. 280. I was never fo lumpijh, both in Body and Spirit,
as upon the FeJUval of the BleJJed Sacrament : Pre-
fent at Service, ProceJJlon, Mafs, Communion ; but
like a very Eeajl,fenfelefs (others too affe&ed with the
like Stupefaflion) 'till I prayed before a Crucifx.
Was inftantly cured of a Rheum by going in a Pro-
cejjion, with Men and Women foHcwing Chrijl with
lighted Torches."
P. 194. He mentions fome pious Souls, who receive great
Confolations, and tafle ravijling Delights ; but the
Devil deceives them by thefe Gujis. Though at
other Times they fuffer many Tempers and Inward
P. 298. Tumults, Defertions, and Aridities. Divine Love
produceth the fame Effects in the Soul, which
Drunkennejs does in the Bcdy ; Mirth, Lofs of Rea-
fen, and Oblivion of all Things. Obfcurities, Defer-
tionsj &c. being better than Cufls of Joy and Con
P. 309-. folations; therefore he was dead and annihilated to
all Gufls of Devotion, to a&fenjible Graces and Con-
Jolations, of which our Love-fick Souls are fo greedy.
Very few, who are not Infefted with this Itch,
P. 314. Laftly, he fays, " /fc//itfelf mould be toy Pa-
radife, if God devoted me thither."
Frat?cis of Sales, a Canonized Saint, is another
Papiil much commended by Mr. We/ley ; and
" who,
C '3* )
" who, he doubts not, is in Abraham's So/cm."
Why he is the MethodiJIs Bofom-Friend may eafily
be feen by looking into his Life, publifhed in Eng-
li/h about twelve Years ago. " He put himfelf
under the Protection of the Ble/ed Virgin ; and was
zealous in Converting Heretics : was coming over
into England, to make a Convert of King James I,
of whom there was great Hopes ; but fagacioufly
found out, it was not God's Time. He was [like
Mr. Whitefeld] a great Admirer of CaJJanizas
Spiritual Combat ; and has many Combats with the
Devil. Had his Fits of Joy and Tranquility ; but
fucceeded by Darknefs and Sadnefs, a Drynefs, and
even Dijlruft of all Truth ; which he imputes to
Satan, who would perfuade him that God had de-
creed his Damnation. Hence he is feized with all
the Terrors of Hell, after being flufhed with th
Hopes of enjoying God: and is cail into fuch a
deep Melancholy, that nothing in Nature could rai/e
him ; he funk under the Load, had the Jaundice v
from Head to Foot, could neither eat, drink, or
ileep, Defpair in his Look, fharp Pains in Mind
and Body.
But the Bleffed Virgin gained his Recovery : For,
the fame Moment he ended a Prayer to her, he felt
the Removal of the Weight. But afterwards his
Blood vcasfo heated, that he fell into a Fever and
Dyfentery.
He Converted Seventy- two Thoufand Heretics.
Miraculoujly cures a Madman in a Moment ; cures'
many of the Tooth-ach, Cholic, &c. in a Moment,
Has a Vifion of an Order, of which he was to be
the Founder : particularly admires the Order and
Method of the Jefuits, whofe Holy Founder omitted
not the leaft Thing that might nourifti Piety.' 1 ' 1
VOL. I. X Hence
( 13* )
Hence probably Mr. We/ley might learn " what
good Order there is even in a Society of Jcfuits."
Such are the Perfons and Lives recommended to
the Methodijis : which help to carry on my Pa-
rallel; and greatly contribute to the Service of Po-
pery. Whether Mr. We/ley had inferted any of the
proper Dottrines of Popery in the former of thefe
Lives, or Publijbed the latter, I am perfectly ig-
norant. But his Followers will naturally conclude,
that fuch a Religion can't be very bad, which nurfeth
up fuch devout Saints ; which breathes fuch a true
Spirit of Methedifm. They will entertain a. favour-
able Opinion, if not a high Ejhem, of a Communion
(the Jesuitical Part of it efpecially) where they find
the Genuine Character, in fo many Particulars, of
their own Difpenfation ; fo many Extravagant
Flights and Fancies, fuch Miraculous Cures by the
Bleffed Virgin, and other Saints, fuch Affuranca,
Ecftajies, Vijions, Divine Communications ; together
with fuch Temptations, Inf deli ties, De r pa>ring<, Hel~
lijh Torments, and other Pangs of the Neva Birth.
This, I think, will be the natural Tendency, when
the Heat of the Brain \isxh. fcorcbed up their Judg-
ment.
The Charge of fome of the angry Moravians
againft Mr. Wejley and Brother for Preaching Popery,
3 Journ. is what I don't lay any Strefs upon. And I allow
p. 76 . th a t M r> Wejley hath difclaimed Popery feveral
Farther Times ; particularly " its Difiingui/hing Docfrixes, as
Appeal, Cammed up in the Twelve Articles which the Court-
P< IOX * cilof Trent added to the Creed." And then he aflcs,
" who can find the leaft Connexion between any
of thefe and the Doftrines of the Methodifts ? "
Some Connexion hath been {hewn through this
whole Comparifon. Nor can there be any Security
againft
( 133 )
againft all Popijh Errors, while Pretenotes to Special
Revelations, Ecftajies, Impreffions, Miracles, &c. are
in Vogue. For I can eafily fhew, how all tbi
Dijlinguijhtng Dofirines of Popery have been Intro-
duced, and received a Sanflion, by the fame Fana-
tical Pretences. And he will be pleafed to remem-
ber, that Jefuits, and other Reman Emijfaries, have
often mingled, and been the Ringleaders, among our
Enthujiajlic Sectaries ; loudly exclaiming againft the
Pope, and pretending to Purity and Reformation.
He knows we could produce divers Injlances. At
prefsnt a Jingle Inftance {hall fuffice. 'Tis to be
feen in other Hooks ; but I take it out of Foxes and
Fire -bra'iids, Page 7 .
" In the Year 1567, the gth of Elizabeth, on
Faithful Commin, a L'yminican Friar, a Perfon ge-
nerally reputtd a zealous Protejlant, much admired
*nd followed by the i'eople for his fetming Piety,
but mere particularly for inveighing in his Pulpit
moft bitterly againit Puts V, then Pope, was Ac-
tufed of being an Impojlure, and Examined befor*
the >uecn and Privy-Council, by M. Parser, drcb-
bijbop of Canterbury. Part of his Examination is as
fblloweth :
Archb. Faithful Commin, of what Profeflion art
thou ?
F. Com. Of CbriJFt Order.
Archb. Were you ever Ordained?
F. Com. Yes, I was Ordained.
Archb. By whom ?
F. Com. By the Cardinal. (Meaning Pocle.)
Archb. Had you not other Certifcate under any
of the Bijbops Hands, fmce the Reformation ?
F. Cum. Not any.
X 2 Archb.
( 134)
Archb. Wherefore would you dare to Preach,
having not got a Licence tinder fome of our Pifoofs
Hands ? How fhall we be affured that you are not
of the Romi/h Church ?
F. Com. There are feveral have heard my
Prayers and my Sermons, and can teftify that I hav
fpoken againft Rome, and her Pope, as much at
any of the Clergy have, fmce they have fallen
from her : I wonder therefore why I ftioud be fuf-
pefted.
Archb. By your Anfwer, Mr. Commix, I per-
ceive you would have any one Preach, fo that he
fpake but againft the Pope in his Sermons.
F. Com, Not every one, but he whofe Ftw^im
it is, and he who hath the Spirif.
Archb. What Spirit is this you mean ?
F. Com. The Spirit of Grace and Truth.
Archb. But is this Spirit that is in you either the
Spirit of Grace, or Truth, that doth not comply
with the Orders of the Church, lately purged and
cleanfed from Schifm and Idolatry ?
F. Com. Therefore I endeavour to make h
Purer, as far as God permits.
Archb. How do you endeavour to make the
Church Purer ?
F. Com. I endeavour it, when I pray to God
that he would open the Eyes of Men to fee their
Errors : and feveral have joined with me when I
Prayed among them : and I have both given and
taken The Body of Chrijl to thofe of tender Con-
fdences, who have affembled with me in the Fear of
the Lord.
Archb. By your Words then you have a Congre-
gation that follows you,
F. Cam. I have.
Archb,
~( 135 )
Arcbb. Of what Parifi, and in what Diocefe ?
F. Com. Neither of any certain Parijb, nor in
any certain Diocefe.
Archb. Where then, I pray ?
F. Com. Even in the wide World, among the
Flock of Chriji fcattered over the whole Earth.
Queen. Your Diocefe ii 'very large, Mr. Commin.
(The Witnefles were then called in t and examined.)
Queen. Mr. Draper, what have you to fay to
this Faithful Commin ?
Draper. He came to my Houfe at the Maiden-
head in Maidjlone, with feveral of his Followers j
I fhewed him a Room ; and perceiving feveral to
come and enquire for this Mr. Commin, and by
Chance going up the Stairs 1 heard one groan and
weep ; which caufed me to lift up the Latch : at
firft I .was ftartled, but enquiring of one of his
Followers, what ailed the Man ? He replied, do
you not fee we be all at Prayers ? The Maid,
wondering where I was, came to feek me, and
can Teftify the fame.
Maid. I faw this Faithful Commin, and thought
he was diftratted when I heard him pray. But the
People faid, he was a Heavenly Man, and that it
was God's Spirit made him weep for the Sins of
the World.
Queen. Mr. Commin, > - Though you have
preached againft the Pope, yet you have ufurped
over the Power both of Church and State .
F. Com. Give me Time to confider, and prepare
myfelf, and I mail give your Grace a further Anfwer
in a fhort Space.
He was then bound over for his Appearance, for
farther Examination, to another Day. But com-
ing from the Council he told his Followers that her
X 3
MajeJIy and the Council had acquitted him : and
that he was warned of God to go beyond the Seas,
to Injtruft the Protejlants there ; that he had not
a Farthing to fupport him, yet being God's Caufe
he would undertake it out of Charity, &c. This
Speech fet them a weeping, efpecially the Women :
and 130^. was collected for him; befides what
the Compajfionate Sex gave him, unknown to their
Hufbands. His Followers faid before the Council,
in their Opinions they had never feen fo Zealous
and Heavenly a Man, as he/eemed to be ; and dif-
covered the particular Sums of Money, of which
this Religious Juggler had cheated thefe deluded
People.
Commin in the mean Time had efcaped out of
England; got fafe to Rome ; and affured the Pope,
that his Spiritual and Extempore Prayers had fo
much taken with the People, whom he Injirufied,
that the Church of England was become as Odious
to that Sort of People, as Mafs was to the Church of
England, Upon which the Pope gave him a Re-
ward of 2000 Ducats for his good Service." The
Reader will, no Doubt, obferve how faithfully
this Account of Faithful Commin hath been Copied
by the Exprejfions, Sentiments, and Conduft of our
Brethren of the Order of Methodifm.
There follows in the fame Book a Narrative
(taken out of the Regijiry of Rochejier, in the Book
beginning 2. and 3. Phil. & M. and continued to
15. Eliz.) too long to recite, of one Th. Beth, a
Jffuit, " who Preached much againft Popery, and
particularly his own Order ; laboured to Refine the
Protejlants, to take off all Smacks of Popery, and
fhew his Good-will in making the Church purer.
He was difcovmd by a Letter, which he dropt in
the
( 137 )
the Pulpit, from the Fraternity of Jefuits ; and
upon fending to his Lodgings, upon Search, his
Beads were found in his Boots, with a Licence from
the Fraternity, and a Bull of Pius V, to preach
what Doclrine that Society pleafed, for Dividing
ProteJJants, &c.
This is fufficient Proof, that a Jefuit's, or En-
thuJtaJTs, declaiming againft Popery is no Tefl of
their Sincerity, And w may ftill have Reafon to
fufpeft of Methodi/m, that the Marks of the Beaft
are upon it.
Upon a Review of the Whole, the Reader will
be apt to conclude with myfelf, in the Words of
Mr. Whitefield, Oh ! what a Myjiery is the Divine
Life?
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
CONTAINING
A few Inftances of the Natural and A&ual
Tendency of Enthufiaftic Methodifm
to Popery ; from Englifh Hiftory.
(No. i.) The miraculous Life and Converfioti
of Father Bcnnct, of Canficld, in Eflex.
Doway, 1623.
" f T E was a Protejiattt and Puritan, by Birth
JLJ. and Education ; but had an extraordinary
Gall to be a Papijl, and a Capuchin ; and in tng
Moment was wholly changed into another Man ; and
conftrained to embrace the Catholic Communion by
Divine Injpiration. In his Story of himfelf he faith,
' I was a Libertine, addiclad to various Vices ; I
faw my miferable State, and fought to amend my
Life. But alas .' How many Blocks lay in my Way f
What Stratagems did not the old Serpent ufe to hin-
der me ? He appeared to me transformtd into an Angel
of Light; talked long with me, perplexed me, but
did not 'wholly overcome me. He planted his Bat-
tery of Predejlination againft me, and faid, I was
predejlinated to be damned in the End; and that my
good Purpofes were nothing but a Brain-Sicknefs, &q.
Which TentatioKs made me extremely melancholic.
But
But when I had abandoned all L
my moft afflidling Trouble was, what Religion I
Jhould embrace. I began to pray, fajl, watch, and
lie hard. After this I faw in the fields a Vifion, of
an extraordinary Nature, which I related to a
Friend who was a Catholic : He was highly
pleafed, and told me of Exorcifms done by Catho-
lic Priejls, with many other marvellous Things. -
The Devil then fo aflaulted me, that when I took
the Book of Refactions into my Hands to read, it
profited me nothing. And he told me, that my
Spirit mould be fo turmoiled, that I mould be in
danger of lojing my Wits ; and that my Brain was
already cracked. Being unexperienced in Spiritual
Combats, I was forely beaten by this fierce Battail,
and grew wonderfully weak and opprejfed : I was
deprived of my Stnfes, and brought to the Door of
Defpair', and perceived that God vj as gone #*vhtle
from me. In the Midft of this great Defolation and
Obfcurity, a Beam of Light {hone upon me) and
my Tribulations were recompenfed with Plenty of
Cottfolations, Joy, and Peace. And Thou, O Lord,
didft reveal, by an inexplicable Manner, the clear
and perfect Sight, and ajjured Knowledge, of thy
nly true Religion, with abfolute Certainty. The next
Morning I went to an old infamous Prifon, called
Newgate, which was ccommonly filled with Prie/fs ;
where I met with a Priejl, to whom I made Con-
fejfion, and was reconciled to the Holy Church. Then,
following the Motions of divine Infpiration, I pro-
pofed to retire to fome Monajlery. This was not
without great Contrariety and Perplexity of Spirit.
But the Lord called me with fo clear, manifejl, and
ku& a Voice, that 1 could not refifl the Call. In
which
which "Ravijhmert and Alienation ofSenfe, I was out
of my/elf, and tranjported into God.
I had before refolved with myfelf to become a
Religious, of the Order of St. Francis ; but was in
great Doubt whether I mould take the Habit of
the Cordeliers or the Capuchins. At length fuch Vi-
gour and Force of Spirit was given to me, that I
refolved to become a Capuchin ; and injlanth I had
an Infpiration, which faid to me, ' Lo ! now all
the/V/icw is accomplifhed." For that Vijvm ftiewed me
all mundane Vanities paft ; and the Habits and Holi-
fiefles of the Francifcans, particularly of the Capuchins.
So I took the Habit ; and others, by my Example
and Counfel, did the fame."
Thus much Father Btmet fays himfelf. What
follows is from the Writer of his Life.
' From the Inftant of his Confer/ton, he was a
Coal all on Fire, glowing with Zeal ; He had fo
many Vijions, Revelations, and Lights of the Spirit,
towards obferving the Rules of St. Francis ; and
God infpired him fo manifeft/j, that he could not ad-
mit of any Doubt. One Day a glorious Angel ap-
peared to him, encompafled with Light, and with
a. Book in his Hand; which the Angel opened, and
turned over the Leaves for him, directing him to a
Place, where it was God's Will that he Jhould be a
Capuchin. [Mr. Whitejield feems to have been more
honoured, when " the Lord himfelf 'gave him a Text, 7 joura,
and directed him to a Method, as he was going up P 6 6
the Pulpit-Stairs.' 1 '']
The Devil was fully employed in fetting Gins
for him ; omitting no Tentation, outward or in-
ward ; prefacing that the Saint *would overthrown} hit
Kingdom, if he were fuffered to perfevere ; and
appeared to him fometimes in a religious, fometimes
i in
In a dreadful Form, The Vijiom which he had i$
the Beginning grew more common and fearful,
grievous to the Apprehenfion. Our Lord made him
fee and bear all the Torments and Pains of Hell ; the
horrible Cries of the Devils, and Blafpbemies nubicb
they yelp forth, their defpair, and Stench of their
Dungeons : which made him terribly roar, to the
Aftonilhment of all the Religious" [ I have had
the Honour to hear Mr. Whitefield roar out in the
fame Manner, upon feeing fuch a Vifion of Hell, in
tke Midft of his Preachment.]
Thefe and other JJrange Accidents made tho
Fathers fufpeft fome lllufeon of the Devil; but
upon Trial, he appeared to go upon the fame Foun-
dation with Saint -Francis, when he ejlablijhed his
Rule.
His Papts and Ecjlafies threw him into fuch a
Diforder that they had recourfe to Phyjtcians. The
Pbyficians, who feldom have recourfe to God, when
they can find any Relief in Nature, applied Pigeons
to him ; pricked his Legs and Thighs with great
Pins j but they could difcern no Motion or Serfe in
him. At length, after he had been out of himfelf
for two Days, he came to himfelf again ; and wai
fo pofleffed with Joy and Jubilation, that though
he was all Humility, he was forced to make out-
i/uard Skeiv of it.
Notwithftanding this, tojkut the Gate of Vanity,
wkich creepeth in infennbly like a Serpent, they
did humble him by all Sorts of Inventions ; told
him he was unprof table, and talked of taking the
Habit from him. But he had a Revelation againtt
that. For having once untied the Cord where-
with he was girded, the blejjed Virgin appeared,
took his Girdle, put it on again, and a/ured him,
that
( H3 )
that he mould perfevere a Child of St. Francis."
[No Wonder then, that Mr. We/by mould be in
fuch a Fright, that " God would drop him, and 3 Journ,
lay him ajide j" or that his " Brother Charles mould P' 6o>
^dually leave off" Preaching, and become a //'// J J!!
Brother ; 'till, in Verification of Mr. J. Wefleys
Prophecy,, ' that he mould ro/ himfelf like Sampfon t
and be avenged on his Enemies? he once more be-
came a Friar Predicant "~\ " After this, there was
-fcarce an .Hour and a Half out of four and twenty,
when he felt not himfelf drawn by divine Traftt
into a Union, and Transformation into Jefus Chrift }
which left 'violent Impreffions, Pains, and Dolours on
his Bcdy and Soul. But the Pleafure he took in them,
was an infallible Argument, that fuch Attractions
avere truely from God, and not llhijiont of Satan.
Befides thefe, he labour'd under painful Difeafes
for twelve Tears ; for all which he rejoiced ex-
ceedingly : Becaufe nothing makes us return fo
fpon, as a Snail within his Shell, as when God
cometh to fmite the Horn of our Prefumption and Arro-
gancy.
God only knoweth how many religious Men and
Women have, by the Sublimity of his Doftrine, been
exalted to the high State of Perfeflion. But his
more particular Dejign was the Coimerjion of Here-
tics, efpecially the Proteftants in his C-IVH Country*
For which Reafon, after various Peregrinations, he
returned to England, and underwent grievous Per-
fecutions* But yet he exhorted the Catholics to live
as Lambs among Wolves. He was taken up, and
examined by Sir Jr. Waljingham, Chief Secretary of
State, a Man moft obftinate and ftiff in his falfe
Religion ; who committed him to the Tower ;
whence he was fent Prifoner to the Caftle of Wif-
VOA. I. Y bitch.
( ?44 )
litcb. In his Way through Cambridge, he was led
through all the Streets, as a Jlrange, monjlrous
Speflacle ; and followed with odious Shouts, and
defpiteful Reproaches.
While he was at Wijbitch, many Protejlant Mi-
nijlers came to difpnte with him ; but departed from
him with their awn Shame. Among other Confe-
rences, he had a remarkable one with the pretended
Bijhsp of Ely, who was named Dr. Eaton ; which
he fo well managed, that the Catholics thought it
was God's Spirit which fpake within hire, to the
Di/honour and Confufeon of the Bijhop, and his Ad-
herents. After three Years Ituprifonment, Father
Jlennet ivas banijhed into France.
Being ill of a Fever, God cured him by a Miracle,
For he/?// a certain S-iveetnefs, and a certain Voice
affiired him, ' that he fhould receive a perfefl Re-
medy on the Feajl of the SerapJxt St. Francis.' Ac-
cordingly on that Dr.y the Voice faid, ' Go, and
fing confidently, for thou art now wholly cured of
thy Difeafe.''
He inflicled a Judgment too on a Man who drew
IMS Son by Force out of the Monajlay. For upon
his threatening the Man with Puniihment for this
enormous Crime, behold a Thing very itrange, and
worthy of Mark ! At that very 'litr.e Sentence icas-
given in H-eaven ; and was Ihortly after put in Ex-
ecution ; the Man fell feck, and died, to ratify the
true Prediction of this good Father.
If I fhould fpeak as is meet of his ftrait Union
with God, the Force, Perfection, and Continuance
of it, J fhould fay, that his whole Life, fince he
became a Cfp'.chh;, was a continued Rapt, and Ec-
Jlajy i which made him become engulfed in the
Knowledge of the Creator ; in the illuminated Life,
( 145 )
and affured Way of Perfeftion. After his Ecftafies,
who can prefume to fay this was natural, and that
they were nothing elfe but Swooning! ? In his laft
Sicknefs, God revealed to him the Time, Day and
Hour of his Death. And before he died, the Re-
ligions about him conjeftured that he favj fome-
thing, and that the De<vil was now attempting to
wound him. But foon after, the blejfcd Father -faid,
\\.fuff.cetb ; which made them believe the Tentation
was paft, and the Enemy vanquished"
So much for Father Bennet. And who would
not believe, were there any Truth in Tranfmi-
gration, that his Soul pajjed into Mr. We/ley ?
(No. a.) " The Life of the Lady Warner,
tailed Sifter Clare of Jcfus." Lond. 1692.
Some Years ago I tranfcribed a few Paflages
hence, from mere Curio/sty, and without any
Thoughts of Methodifm. Had I now the Book, an
exa&er Comparifon might be drawn. The Extraft
I then made was as follows.
" She was bred a Protejlant, but converted by
a Jefuit to Popery. She refoJved on a rigorous
Courfe of Life, to break off all Commerce with
Creatures, and receive no <vcorldly Satisfaction. She
receives the Habit at Liege ; is particularly devoted
to John Baptijl, St. Aujlin, Mary Magdalen, and
St. Terefa ; for whom, when a Proteftant, {he had a
particular Ejleem, from reading her Life. She fees a
Stream of glaring Light come from the ble/ed Sa-
crament towards her. She tajles the Sweetnefs of
Union with God. During the Contagion of the
Plague, the Ablefi infures her Safety, and that of
all
f 146 )
all the reft ; ' Good Sifter, be not afraid ; none
of my Religious mall take any Harm from this ln-
feHion? For our bleffed Lady had appeared to the
Abbefs, with all her Religious under her Mantle ; af-
furing her, that {he would preferve them from the
flague. [Mr. Wejlsy's Society fafe in a like Cafe.
4 Journal, P. 56, 6i.J
Hearing a Sermon on, ' / am black, bat comely,*
the Ablef- told her, ' You alfo, Sifcr Clare, muft black
yourfelf : ' Upon which fhe went into the Kitchen,
and blacked her Face and Hands all over <vcith Soot ;
which caufed fome Divcrfion among the Nuns.
She had many V'iflts from her beloved Jefus, re-
ceived the Gift of hifpiri >'cn, and burned in the
Fire of divine Love. However, fhc felt great De-
folation, Drytiefs, and Darknefs, not to be exprfj/ed.
By \^Q purgative and illuminating Way, fhe attains to
the Unitive ; and by a p erf eft Annihilation of her-
felf, comes to a Kind of Deformity. She fays,
God requires nothing, but that we believe, be/orry,
and befaved; that we muft be very fincere to
our Confejjor, telling him even our paffing Thoughts.
Gc/feems to withdraw himfelf from her, with all
interior Comforts and Feelings of his Prefence ; and
fhe thinks herfelf totally abandoned. She begs Aid
of St. Bruno and St. Terefa ; but requefts of Chrift
to take her for his Spoufe, or at leaft for his Hand-
maid. Was confirmed in her Opinion that God
bad forfaken her, becaufe fhe was deluded in two
Points, which fhe thought God had revealed to her j
that fhe fhould die of that Illnefs ; and die before
ler Brother Clare. She was in continual Convul-
Jtons of Doubts and Fears, notwithstanding all the
Gujis and Comforts her Soul tailed from her Hea-
venly Spoufe ; and fhe feemed perfeftly forfaken by
hira
f 147 )
him in her loft Sicknefs. But her Countenance
after Death retained an Angelical Sweetnefi ; and
her Body filled the Church with a wonderful Per-
fume."
(No. 3.) Tranfcribed from the " Life of
her Sifter in Law, called Sifter Mary Clare."
Printed with the former.
*' She was converted alfo to Popery, and the
moft perfett State : Was fo good, that Ihe never loft
her Baptifmal Vow by any mortal Sin. In her
Prayer, for feveral Years, fhe never found any fpi-
ritual or fenjible Guft ; but continual Aridity and
Defolation : In a profound Defolation, and no Eafe
from Heaven. Once kneeling down in her Cell, fhe
chanced to fpy in a Chink of the Wall a little Scroll
of Paper ; which taking out and unfolding, fhe
found thefe Words in it, " Be at Reft, and afflift
yourfelf no more : all is well between God and you.' 1 ' 1
This filled her with Joy ; as undoubtedly coming
from Heaven, God having fent it by an Angel. -
She makes a formal Oblation of herfelf to God, in
Words dilated by the Holy Ghoft. But ftill fhe is
in Darknefs, as to the interior State of her Soul, has
no Light or Comfort in Prayer, Communion, diving
Offices, or any Exercifes of Devotion : is in obfcure
Faith ; and fears fhe has no Faith, becaufe no Fer-
vour ; but remains as a. Stone, and has no Feelings of
God.
But yet fhe has many Infpirotions from God. She
always hears the very/r/? Stroke of the Bel/, calling
her up to Matins, by the Help of an Angel. She
annihilates herfelf before her Crucifix, and acknow-
ledged! the Abyfs of her own Notbingpeff. She
prayeth.
prayeth, ' O my fweet Jefus, let me repofe upon
thy facred Breaft, and fetch my Health out of thy
moft blejjed Heart." 1 Even in her laji Moments fhe
fays, that fhe was totally void of allfenjible Ccnjcla.-
tion and Devotion ; but rejoiced to fee herfelf in this
Aridity, quite parched, and dried up, and become
a living Holocauft to the divine Fire of Love, without
the leajl Drop of Comfort. Her Prayer was very ex-
traordinary and intenfe, and privileged with nfuper-
vatural Zujpenjion above the Reach of Senfe. She is
in a Calm, amidft the Storms, which Defertions, OB-
fcurities, Aridities, and Deflations that furrcundfd
her, endeavoured to raife. God's divine Imprcjfions,
and Operations of the Spirit , were fo very fecret, that
her Condition was unknown even to herfelf. For
while fc>e enjoyed God, by a. fecret, but infenjible Union T
ihe thought fhe did nothing but kneel like a Stock,
or a Stone. And though God permitted her not to fee
whacjhe did, and fhe was totally infenf.ble of what
pafTed between God and her Soul, yet fhe had fuch
a fecret Impulfe. Though fhe thought Godhadfor-
faken her, at tine fame-Time fhe enjoyed her Beloved,
whom fhe thought fhe had lojl : He hindering her
from having any Senfe of this Union, and receiving
any Comfort in it ; as he hindered his Humanity in
the Garden from the eatifc Vif.on, while his Soul
*was exceeding ferrottful. Her Corpfe retained a
fmiling Countenance after her Departure and exprefied
What a lively Pattern have we, in thefe two In-
Jiances, of Methodiftical Jefuitifm ? We fee kc<w
eajily two Sijlers of a Jhallow Capacity, melancholy
Temper, and enthttjiajlic Turn, are made a Prey to
crafty Seducers : and that the taking a fpiritual De-
light in reading the Legends of the Saints, ?.nd other
( 149 )
Popijh Booh (recommended by MethodiJl-Veachers to
Protejlants) is being half Way over Sea aJ ready.
And what^W Pcrfon can, without fome Degree of
Indignation, fee the Weaknefs and Misfortunes of hu-
man Nature made a Handle for Seducement ? How
dextroufly doth 2n Angel convey an Affurance from
Heaven through a Chink in the Wall? As eafily
as a Methodic-Teacher can through a Crack in the
Brain. Who will not obferve from what Mode! our
netv Difpenfation is taken ! " Through the Wilder-
nefs- State of Doubts and "Fears ; a Coldncfs, and
fenfelefs, unaffe&ed Heart, even at the Holy Com-
munion ; Horrors, Dryncfe, Defolation ; through,
Intervals of Light and Darknefs ; into Impref-
ftons, Feelings, Infpirations, Communications <witb
God, Perfection, Deiformity, and Union, ," Hence
liath been learned " the Benefit and Necejfity of
fpiritual Defertion and Defpair ; the driving Peo-
ple, by proper Management, out of their Stnfes, and
then telling them, that in that very Moment the Lord
Jefus enters into their Souls" If a Methodift die,
" Never did I fee fuch a fine Corpfe," fays Mr.
Wejley :" " Our Lord comes and perfumes her
Grave," fays Mr. Whitefield.
Every Scrap of it is rank Jejuitical Popery*
(No. 4.) Extract from " A Declaration of egre*
gious Popijh Impoftures in cajling out Devils, &c,
By S. H."
This 5. H. was Sam. Harfnet, fucceffively Bifiop
ef Chicbefter, Norwich, and Archbijbop of York;.
Who hath there given us " Copies of the Examina-
tions and Confejfions of the Parties themfelves pre-
tended to be po/ejfed and difpojjejjed, from the Records
in the High Commijfion Court.' 1 '' Lond. 1603.
About
" About twelve Priefts were concerned in this
Affair ; all under the Direfiion of Wef.o>:. ahas
Edmunds, the Jcfuit* They publifhed in 15 5, or
586, a Book of Miracles, containing many won-
derful Things done by Virtue of Excrcifms, c.
whereby they gained a great Number of Prcjelytes ;
and wherein we fee the fulleit Proof of their lying
Wonders, and counterfeit Zeal.
For a particular Inftance, they chofe the Houfe
of a irufty friend, whofe Houfe they faid was
haunted: And he having three Servants that were
Protejfants, upon thefe they were to try their Skill.
Accordingly the wicked Spirits made a horrid Rac-
ket; blew out the Candles, except fuch as were
hallowed; turning every Thing yfjlde-ddvcn", and
making even the Pricfls fume and fweat.
They convinced the Servants of the great Power
tf the Devil in that Place ; and if the Maid
did but Jiip in the Kitchen, it was the Devil who
came, and tripped up her Heels : Becaufe fiie was
wafhing afoul Shirt of the PricJFs, which was de-
figned to vjhip the Devil out of iht Poffeffed.
Another Time, the Devil JJipt into Sarah Wil-
liam s^s Leg ; but the Prieft claps his holy Hofe on
the Place ; and makes him tumble, and bawl
ut, " Pull of : Pull of. Eafe the poor Devil of
his Pain." The facred Stole is wrapped about
the Neck of another PoJ/eJJed; which fo clofe-
ly begirt the Devil, that he florid, fumed, and
foamed, as if he had been mad. They told them.
ftrange Stories of the Fits of other poj/effed Perfons,
what Words they fpake, and what Sights the/
jaw. How the ble/ed Virgin, with a Train of
(eleflial Ladies, came do\vn to grace the miraculous
Cures*
Cares. Which made the wife Spectators cry out,
Ob! the Catholic Faith ! Ob ! fenfelefs Heretics.
By fuch Means having aftoniflje'd and convinced
the Servants ; the firft Thing they order them to do
is, to renounce their heretical Religion, be recon-
ciled to the Pcpe, and foletnnly engage never to
leave Popery. And they are rebaptizeJ, with all
the ridiculous Ceremonies of Puff, Crofs-l'uff, lot-
puff, and Expujf; with the Application of Salt,
Spittle, and Oil, to their Lips, Nofe, Eyes, anJ
Ears, feV. Then they are difpoffeff'ed in this Manner.
The Party is tied down in the holy Chair, [Mr.
Wcjley's Poflefied are commonly held by four or
five flrong Peribns] and drenched with holy Po-
tions of Sack, Oil, and Rue, &c. They forced
the Maid to drink largely of this noifome Potion',
perfuading her, that it was the Devil within her
that detefiedlt, not &er. Hereupon me grows Jlck,
giddy, and falls into cold Sweats : Then is fumi-
gated with Feathers, Briniftone, and ether Stinks,
in a Chafingdijh of Coals ; and her Face held
clofe to it, 'till as black as a Chimney-Sweeper,
Hence teachings, Struggling:, Dizzinefs, Swoon-
ing*, almofl Lofs of Senfes, babbling Nonfenfe, raving
Fits, Exclamations that all the Devils in Hell were
in her. They put Things, as little Knives, in her
Mouth ; flick Pins in her Flefh. In general, the
Parties, by fuch f-'.:nc,gement, tumble, wallows,
foam, howl, roll their .'.. :es, and gnajh their Teeth ;
are in Trances, fee Fiji ns, &c. When they are
thus fitted for the good '.': -^fe, the Devil in them
rauft be found, and diflodged: He is hunted from
Place to Place, Toe, Foot, Leg, Thigh, Hands,
the moft nafty and fecret Parts ; and the holy Relics
inuft be applied there.
If
( 152 )
If the Devil be objiinate, they muft chafe, broil,
lurn him, and make him roar : The PrieJPs very
Gloves, Stockings, Girdle, Shirt, can fearch and
roajl the Devil. But the beft Exorcifms are holy
Water, Potions, hallowed Candies, Brimftone, &C.
which will varioufly torment him ; efpecially if they
add whipping. One of the Patients confelTed that
' me did not know how it fared with the Devi/;
but was fure Jhe was all black and blue, felt griev-
ous Pain, and ivas almojl Lilted.' 1
The common Signs and Marks of a Poffejfion
were, Unwillingnefs to fign them with a Crofs ; nor
to bear the Application of Relics, nor the Gcffrel in
their Cajket, nor the Words Ave Mary, nor Catho-
lic Church, nor Prefencc of the Priefi. [The like
Signs are in Mr. We/ley s Po/cjfed. " Trembling
at the Name of Jefus ; crying out, ' Field-Preacher !
Field-Preacher! 1 do not like Field-Preaching? This
repeated for two Hours together, with Spitting, and
all the Expreffions of jlrong Aver/ion. By Prayer
her Pangs increafe. She could not bear to hear us
fray, &c."J
At length however, by the Force of their Ex-
orcifms, they extorted Truth front the Devils, who
confefled their Infufficiency to withftand them. Ey
this Command over Devils they procured Reverence
to thcmfelves. Sometimes the Devil cannot be
expelled, in the Name of the Trinity, by Virtue
of the Sacrament, and the like j but by the Power
of the holy Priefthood away he flies. Such is the
Dignity of their Office. [ Thus " one of Mr. Wejleys
PoJJe/ed owned, that Church, Sacrament, Scripture,
Prayer, profited nothing ; but upon Mr. We/left
paying, he faid, ' Now I know God loveth me.
Now I know thou art a Prophet of the Lord.
Ay,
( 153)
Ay, this is he, who I faid was a Deceiver."
" The Devil is forced to let a Woman, whom he 5 Journ
po/c/ed, be quiet while Mr. We/ley was there. He P* 86<
had promifed her fo ; and kept his Word."
Their Way of attacking Protfjlants was this :
Their Hearts bleed for Sorrow, in feeing poor
Creatures in this woful Plight ; they burn with
Bowels of Commiferation ; they will lay down
their Lives to do them good, and deliver them
from Satan.' [A Methodijl could not have fpoke
more religiou/!y.~\
They played their Artillery chiefly on young
Boys and Girls of fixteen or feventeen ; upon
Perfons of a melancholy Temper ; hypochondriac, hy-
Jleric, or epileptic People ; and any Way dijlem$ered %
in Minder Body.
Any Thing is fwallowed by thefe. Devils ia the
Shape of Cats, with Saucer-eyes, and as big as a
Majliff, run upon their Heads, or under their
Coats. The Devil comes in the Form of Wind t
blows out the Candle, or blows the Ajles about the
Room ; in the Shape of a Toad, of a Moufe, or a
Drum ; in a Vizard-MaJk, or in the Habit of an
JLngliJh ProteJIant Minijler.
The Devil to be expelled mufl go out in fome
vijible Form ; and for Proof of his Departure, mult
make a Hole in the Window, or blow out the
Candle ; get out of the PoJJeJj'ed's Ear in the Shape
of a Mottfe ; his Voice be heard by the Cook, as
he fkipped over the Larder ; or vanifn up the
Chimney in the Shape of Smoke : And, to Ihevv
what a Fright he was in, muft leave an unfavourj
Smell.
For better Confirmation, they relate divers
da, and Jkew others. The PrleJTs facred
that/ill.
( 154 )
or Finger, having been anointed with the
holy Oil, fiine forth as a fire, or the Sun. The
Holy Sacrament appears fo bright, that it cannot be
looked upon. The Prieft can tell who hath been
at Mafs by the Smell. Barak Williams is made to
confefs, that the Devil made her drop her Beads, and
unwilling to adore the blejfed Hojl. She lay paft all
Senfe in a Trance, utterly bereaved of all her Senfes
at once : The Priejl no fooner came near her, but fhe
difcerns who he is by the Smell. William Trajford
had a Devil in him, that rebounded at the Dint of
the PrieJTs Breath; unable to Hand it.
The Book of Miracli s, Accounts of Vijlons, Exor-
cifiKs, and Numbers of Converts, made a great
Noife j and put Perfons in Authority upon making
Inquiry. They fel zed hme of the Perfons concern-
ed, Agents .and .Patients, who, upon Examination,
made Confeffion 'upon Oath of all that hath been faid,
and much more.
They.feveraliy witnefled, ' that they were (educed,
and engaged to aft their refpective Parts in the 1m-
pojlure, by Flattery, Fear, loathfome Potions, and Fu-
migations ; by Oaths and Vovus of Adherence ; by the
Bond of violated Cbafity : That the Priejls told
them they would be burned for Heretics, if they
confejjed any Thing, and would go the Devil ;
with Promifes of Favour, Povuer, and Money, if
they proved faithful.
They owned, that in their Exorcifms they would
fay any Thing to pleafe the Prieft ; would pretend
fometimes to be in Trances, and have Vijions of Pur-
gatory, of Cbrift, and the Virgin, .&c. and there-
by they would fometimes avoid their intolerable,
ftinking Fumigations and Drinks. When they com-
plained of Tortures in their Exorcifms, the Prieft
tola
( 155 )
told them it was the Devil that put them to ib muck
Pain, and ill Ufage ; and that what they faid was
not from thtmfeltus, but the Devil in them. After
being exordfed, they were perfuaded to declare
that they fometimes fpoke in Greek, or Latin; of
which they never faid, nor knew a Word. They
were fo manageable, that the Prieji would put his
Finger into one of their Mouths, in the mofl raving
PoJJeflion, bidding him bite it, if he could ; but
the ki>/'/ acknowledged he dared not bite it, btcauje
it had touched the Lord. The Pricfls were very cau-
tious in keeping away Perfons of Seufe, as bifideh
and Incredulous ; and did not like curious Beholders,
and djkers of impertinent Queftom ; who, they faici,
would hinder the EffeS of the Operation.
They witneffed, that divers Attempts were made
againft the Chajlity of the Maidens : That one of
the Priejis endeavoured to feduce Sarah Williams ;
who therefore could not bear his Company ; but he
tells her, ' it is not fbe, but the Devil, who did not
like him.' And it was the Devil that tempted her,
or any of the Maids, to fay, they were with Child
by the Priejis. When ihe had got a Sweetheart,
and intended to leave them, they declared, that
' the Devil had been fo bufy with her, had fo
ferreted and tern the Part, that, whoever married
her, fhe would never have a Child.'' All of them
had their darling Women and MljlreJJes.
Befides thefe private Comforts, they had that
of making Converts ; and one of the Priejis depo-
feth, Upon his Confcience, that the Number of
Converts could not be lefs than Five Hundred in
Half a Year ; induced by their Miracles, and Com-
mand over Devils. All thefe were to be ready at
Z the
the Call, to deftroy the Queen, Government, ana
Proteflant Religion.
To this End, the Devils were fometimes made
to give out of the Mouths of the PoJ/effed, that
they were going to ring far the Queen ; that they
muft go to Court, 'where all ivere their Friends :
That they were obliged to attend a Proteftanfs
Funeral, in order to carry him to Hell, And
they raifed fuch a Storm at the Man's Funeral,
that his good Wife, rather than go to the fame
Place, was foon perfuaded to turn Catholic,
Another Ufe they made of Miracles; which
was to give Authority to their peculiar Doflrines ;
as Purgatory, Travfubftantiation, the Immaculate
, Conception ; to Eqiii'uvcation, the DcpoJing-Dcclritte,
AjfaJJlnation, Stabbing, c. And Hkewife to
gain Credit to a new Saint, cr Relic ; fuch as
Shervjin, Bryan, Co/tarn, and efpecially Father
Campion ; whofe Girdle, which he wore when he
went to Tyburn, was fo effeflual in tafting cut
Devils.
Some of thefe Examinants fay, that the Priefts
intended to have carried them off, before they
were apprehended; but were difappointed. They
inftrucled them however to lye, jorfivear, Jay or
do any Thing; all being lawful for the Sake of
the Church ; and becaufe they fliould not be called
before lawful Powers, or competent \Judges, as be-
ing Heretics.
. They own too, that the Infuence of the Priejls
over their Converts was fo ftrong and bewitclnr.g,
that it was with the utmojl Difficulty they were
brought to ftif cover any Thing, although they
/,.<a all to be a Ckeat.
la
( 157 )
In Confirmation of all this, one of their own
Priefts, (who was taken) Anthony Tyrrel, declared
upon Oath, and wrote his Confeffion with his
own Hand ; That the Pope, King of Spain,
and Duke of Guife, were then thought to have
a Defign of imjading England; which was to
be furthered by the Priejis in England, under
the Direction of Edmunds, the Provincial of the
Jefuiti ; who faid, that bis Excrci/ras would make
the Devils themfehes confefs, that their King-
dom was near at an End. As touching, fays
he, the Difpo/effions of the Parties, their Fits,
Trances, find Vifions, divers Difconrfes were pen-
ned ; among which I myfelf (Tyrrel) did pen
one. We that were Priefls were thereby great-
ly magnified ly Catholics, Schifmatics, and weak
Protejlants; and there was fcarce any Thing,
I am perfuaded, that we could not have wrought
upon our Can-verts to attempt. And I am fully
perfuaded, that the other Examinants have de-
pofed the Truth in the Points belonging to their
Po/eJJion and DifaJJcffim?
In fhort, Tyrrel difcovered the whole Myflery,
and mewed how eajy it was to impofe upon young
and weak People.
Some of the Criminals Jled ; fome were taken ;
and Baljard, Babingtati, and others, were exe-
cuted."
And (hall we not yet difcern, what Sort of
Lambs live among us Wolves ? Shall we never
be upon our Guard agaiml pretended Miracles,
Exarcijms, and Cheats? Againit any fpecious Ii-
pojlor, carrying a Pope in his Belly ?
Laocoon
Laocoon ardent funima decurrit ab arce :
Et proatl, O ffiiferi, qu<e tanta infanta, civet ?
Creditis a<veftoi hojles ? Sic notus U/v/es ?
j4ut hoc inclujl ligno occultantur Adrift j
Aut hcec in nofiros falricata eft machina muros,
Irfpefiura domes, t'enturaque defu^cr urbi :
Aut aliquh latet Error.
Sic fatus, rvalidis ingentem liiribiti bafiam
Contorjit. Stetit ilia tremens, uteroque recitjjo
Infonuere (ai>tf, getnitumque dedere c&nernte.
FINIS.
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