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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