/o ,'^:^ (^/b Lj THE ^PRESENT STATE, PROSPECTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. APPENDIX OF ECCLESIASTICAL STATISTICS, BY NATHAN BANGS. D.D. JfetD^lilork : PUBLISHED BY LANE & SCOTT, 200 Mulberry-strcct. JOSEPH LONG KING, PRINTER. 1800. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by LANE & SCOTT, in the Clerk's Office of the District Coiirt of the Southern District of New-York. PREFACE. From the time of the outpouring of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost, until the exaltation of Constantine the Great, in the beginning of the fourth century, to the im- perial government, Christianity had been rapidly winning its way in the midst of violent oppositions, and some- times of cruel persecutions, until it finally established itself in the heart of the Roman Empire. Erom that in- auspicious period it gradually lost much of its vital principles, by accommodating itself to the maxims of the world, and paying obeisance to civil rulers, and seek- ing to shape itself according to the political views of men invested with temporal power. It continued its retrograde motion until finally it degenerated into a " strange plant," nourished in a corrupted soil. Twelve centuries of midnight darkness brooded over the Church, and so beclouded the Sun of Righteousness that his rays were scarcely perceptible, and even the stars of the firmament gave but a twinkling light, to direct the weary pilgrim in the path to life and immortality. We may presume, it is true, that during this long night of darkness, here and there were found pious souls, breathing out their desires to God, while they mourned over the general desolations which overspread the Church, 4 PREFACE. for pure and undefiled religion among men. But they were so few and far between, that their names scarcely appear upon the page of ecclesiastical history. Monk- ish superstition, bodily austerities, and a vain attempt to discipline the mind to the rules of piety, by fasting, prayers, pilgrimages, the collection and worship of re- lics, founding monasteries and nunneries, were substi- tuted for that heartfelt piety consisting in pure love to God and man, by which the primitive Christians were distinguished. God, however, had not wholly forsaken the world ; for had he done so, it would have perished in the tomb of its own corruptions. In addition to the few sighing ones to whom we have already alluded, arose, in the fif- teenth century, in Bohemia, John Huss, an eloquent and learned man, who preached vehemently against the vices of the clergy. But his light was soon extinguished by the fury of his enemies. Nor did John Wiclif, who arose in England a little before Huss, and strove to re- vive tlic flame of pure religion, share a better fate ; for though he died a natural death, yet his enemies perse- cuted him while living, and, after his death, displayed their malice at this bold reprover, by causing his bones to be dug up and publicly burned. To complete their malignant projects, they finally inflicted the sentence of death upon Jerome of Prague, the companion of Huss, who was committed to the flames on the 14th of May, 1416. But these acts of cruelty could not wholly extinguish the flame of pure love which began to be enkindled in PREFACE. 5 the hearts of a few; for soon after, namely, in 1517, God raised up Luther in Germany, to stem the torrent of iniquity, and to open the pure fountain of divine truth and love. The events of the Reformation, brought about through the instrumentality of Luther, Melanc- thon, aud others, in Germany; of Arminius and his compeers in Holland ; of Cranmer and his associates in England; of Knox and his coadjutors in Scotland; of Zwingle and his followers in Switzerland, are all well known, and therefore need not be rehearsed here. But, alas for the glory of the Church ! These lights were extinguished by death, and their followers soon sunk away into a dead formalism ; so that the whole Protestant world, with but few exceptions, became wed- ded to the State, and thus imitated the conduct of the Church in the days of Constantine. The peculiar glories of Christianity were obscured by the smoke and dust of political strife, and by the pride and ostentation of the dignitaries of the Church. In this state lay the religious world when Wesley arose, and preached anew the doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and holiness of heart and life. What he did — the success of liis labours, and the holy influence which he was instrumental in producing — I have endeavoured to show in the follow- ing chapters. If the positions I have attempted to estab- lish be founded in truth, as I cannot but believe they are, then may we hope and steadfastly believe tliat God is about to visit the earth with a more copious shower of divine grace than it lias ever heretofore witnessed. I 6 PREFACE. would not indeed deceive myself, nor mislead my readers ; but if it be a fact, as I have endeavoured to demonstrate, that almost £dl denominations of Protes- tant Christians are waking up to the vast importance of vital godliness, of the absolute necessity of holiness of heart and life, then have we not reason to believe that Jesus Christ is about to take to Himself his great power, and reign universal King upon the earth? That tliis grand consummation may be fully realized, those members of the Christian Churches, who can be- hold the " signs of the times," and who see and feel the necessity of persevering exertions in the cause of evan- gelical truth, light, and holiness, must unite their ener- gies, and use with conscientious diligence all the appli- ances within their grasp, for the promotion of the vital cause of Christianity. They must not stop to dispute about non-essentials or minor points of doctrine, modes of church government, or the mere ceremonies of reli- gion, but must unite all their energies, and combine all their influence, to oppose sin and sinful errors, and to establish the kingdom of God, which consists in " right- eousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." That this may be the case, is the sincere prayer of the author. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. The state of the Methodist Episcopal Church— Erroneous views —Diminution of Members for three years past allowed— How accounted for— The Millerite delusion— Great increase in 1843 and 1844— Subsequent sifting— The present compared with former diminutions — All this no proof of backsliding— So far from it, that we now have a greater proportion of the popula- tion than formerly — All this, cause of gratitude Page 15 CHAPTER H. Decrease but temporary— Its causes— Disputes between the North and South— The Mexican War— Compared with the War of 1813-1815— Like results produced— The aboUtion ex- citement—The fact, therefore, of a diminution in numbei-s no proof of a departure fr.om vital piety — On the contrary, we have evidence of improvement , 20 CHAPTER m. Evils allowedto exist — These are exceptions — The majority truly pious— Evidences of improvement— Temporally in wealth— In church building — Comparison between our present and former state in this respect 26 CHAPTER IV. Education another evidence of improvement— Wesley's work in this cause — Efforts of Coke and Asbury in this cause failed — Effect of this failure disparaging— Recent efforts more success- fiU— Some opposed to this cause— But God has sanctioned it — Truly Wesleyan — The Methodists have done much to their credit — Who will say that this is no evidence of improve- ment ? 33 CH.VPTER V. The Missionary cause an evidence of improvement— Origin of the Missionary Society— Opposition encountered— Feebleness 8 CONTENTS. of its beginning— Gradually advanced— Finally triumphs— What it has achieved — All this a practical demonstration of improvement Page 39 CHAPTER VI. Home missions— Their blessed effects— Other benevolent move- ments — Increased number of books another e\idence of im- provement — Origin of the Book-Concern — Its feebleness — La- bours under a heavy debt — No American writers — Its income small — Its present prosperous state — This institution has been sustained by Methodists 45 CHAPTER \TI. Examination of doctrine— In what Methodism consists — Its pe- culiarities — Sanctification — Mr. Wesley's views of this doc- trine — This doctrine continues to be preached — There is there- fore no deterioration here 53 CHAPTER \m. Old-fashioned Methodism — In what it consists — Distinction be- tween its vital principles and circumstanticd parts — The first never change— The second may or may not be, though neces- sary to its growth — Divine call of its ministry— This essential — Circumstantials contribute much to its success — In these there is a manifest improvement 61 CHAPTER ES. Want of success no e\idence of a destitution of holiness, or of a Divine call— Defects always apparent— Modification of the itinerancy beneficial — Proved from a comparison of the former and present state of the old Rliinebeck district — Advantages of stations and small circuits 70 CHAPTER X. Comparison between American and English Methodism— We greatly outnumber them — Tlie cause of this — Apology for the comparison— Respect of the Author for his Enghsh bre- thren — The objection taken from them has no foimdation in reality— In finances they exceed us— Our deficiency unneces- sary—A remedy proposed 77 CONTENTS. » CHAPTER XI. Defects in the Church— In the primitive Church— Influence of Methodism— Low state of religion at the time Wesley began his ministry— This fact generally acknowledged— His qualifi- cations for his work — Revival of the missionary work, the effect of Methodism — Proved from the state of the several missionary societies — In these the Methodists took the lead — This stated as an historical fact Page 87 CHAPTER Xn. Tract cause — Mr. Wesley took the lead in this — Reformed the literature of the age— His object in writing, to do good— Title of some of his tracts — Distributed one at the cliurch door in London — Commences his printing establishment — His example followed by others — Hannah More — Tract societies organized in England and the United States — An example of the good effects of a tract 99 CHAPTER Xni. Sunday-schools — Originated with Raikes — Wesley among the first to patronize them — Teachers labour gratuitously — Wes- ley's account of them— Origin in Wales by the labours of Mr. Charles— These gave rise to the Bible Societies— First taught by Methodists in America- The glory of the good work due to God 108 CHAPTER XIV. The temperance reformation— Mr. Wesley takes the lead in tliis — Extract from his sermon — From liis tract — General rule on that subject incorporated in an altered form at the organiza- tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784— The Church vacillates on this subject— Intemperance gaining upon us— The voice of Hewitt awakens us— Restoration of Wesley's Rule— Importance of the cause 118 CHAPTER XV. An apology — God the Fountain of all good — His servants to bo esteemed — Disputes among Christians a hindrance to the Gospel — Evangelical Alliance — Mr. Wesley proposed its prin- ciples eighty-six years since — Extracts from his letter to the clergy on this subject — Produced no immediate effect 127 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER Xn. The same subject continued — Difference between Wesley and Whitefield — Their interviews, in which Whitefield declines the proffer of union— More mature reflection altered his raiad —The sentiments of Wesley embody the principles of the Evangelical Alliance— The author's publications on that subject — Divine love essential to constitute Christian union. . Page 136 CHAPTER XSH. A great reformation has been effected — So notorious that it is useless to contend with those that deny it— Former opposition to Methodism — Its causes — Pulpit and press agjiinst it — How met and removed — Southey's Life of Wesley contributed to make him better known— Wesley's Works published and read— These seemed to remove prejudice, as they were read by other denominations— Clarke's Commentary was pubhshed— Exa- mined by other denominations— His learning and piety con- ceded — Its good effects — The hciud of God shown in all these things 145 CHAPTER X\TII. God the original cause of aU good— At the time Methodism arose pure reUgion at a low ebb — It was hence violently opposed — The objections met and obviated— How— The cause steadily advanced— The doctrine of sanctification avowed — It spread among other denominations — Mahan and Upham advocate it with ability — The blessed effects of this — The opposition in a great measure ceases — AU evangeUcal ministers are uniting — The names of several mentioned— Methodism contributed to this — The author disclaims bigotry — Confirms liis love to all sincere Christians 155 aLVPTER XIX. Influence of the Gospel — United influence of Christians — Experi- mentEil religion inseparably comiected with keeping the com- mandments — The present state of the world liighly favourable —Comparative \-iew— Its former state— The patriarchal— Mo- ssdc— Israelitish— The time of our Saviour— Church and State — The time of the Reformation — Later times — AU worse than the present— Though many pure spirits were found in those CONTENTS. 11 times, yet their sufferings prove the general wickedness- Intolerance of Christians towards each other — These facts prove that the present are better than the former times Page 167 CHAPTER XX. The evils of civil or religious despotism — Altered state of things for the better — Produced by pure religion — Tlie hand of God seen in this — Labo\irs of Simpson and Buchanan, and other Missionaries — British and Foreign and American Bible Socie- ties — All these tended to break down bigotry and establish a catholic spirit— The contrast between the present and former times striking— Bright hope for the future 176 CHAPTER XXI. The author expresses his conviction in the validity of his con- clusions—Former incredulity in chronological interpretations -Mr. Fleming's prediction of the downfall of the Pope in 1848 —These opened new views— Wesley and Faber approximate near each other, and with Fleming— Causes of the difference — This difference being so small, confirms the truth of the pre- diction — All these things argue the near approach of the mil- lennium — In what tliis is to consist — Further representations of Fleming— Final overthrow of the Pope in the year 2000— The reasons for this 186 CHAPTER XXn. The millennium near at hand, though much remains to be done before its realization— The present state of the world — 1,000,000,000 its estimated population— One-tliird only of these are Christians — the others Mohammedans, Pagans, and Jews — Probably two-thirds of the Christians either Roman Catho- lics or Greeks— Among the 70,000,000 Protestants, not over 3,500,000 real Christians— Look at China— At Africa— At Eu- rope — Prospects gloomy — State of the Protestant world — Evils of Church and State— Look at America— Gloomy state of South America and Mexico— Glance at the conquest— The United States— Here things more favourable— Much remains to be done — Calculation of the time for the general spread of the Gospel— The holy Christian fixes his faith on the promises of God— Present facilities for the spread of the Gospel iy7 312 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXm. Statement of particular facts — These prove that evangelical religion is reviving — European revolutions favourable to reli- gious toleration — Extracts of letters from Italy — from Switzer- land — from Hungary — from Germany — These all indicate a re- vival of godliuess — Meeting of evangelical ministers in Wit- tenberg—A spirit of union prevails— These facts prove that pure religion is advancing — The fire of Divine love will burst forth suddenly, and consume all before it Page 208 CHAPTER XXIV^. We live in an eventful era— Tlie author confines his address to liis own Church— Increase of means augments responsibility- Wealth a blessing if used right — No sin in gold and silver, but in their abuse— The blessings of life should create gratitude — The maimer in which wealth becomes a snare — How it may be made a blessing — Increase of wealth devolves high responsi- bility — Surplus wealth enough to liquidate the debts of churches— Covetousness must be eradicated 222 CHAPTER XXV. Sanctification and benevolence go together— Those in middling circumstances most liberal — If all were so, there would be no lack— This not done— Why not— Importance of the subject- Methodists generally thriving— Covetousness not confined to the rich— To ascertain whether aU give according to their abi- lity, the missionarj' cause examined — Great deficiency — The same supposed in other departments — The duty of liberality pressed upon all preachers and people 231 CHAPTER XXVI. Holiness essential to vigorous action— The Church acts through her ministers — Curse of mere formal ministers — Learning sanctified by grace — Advantages of the present over former ministers — This increases responsibihty- Eminent talents compatible with deep piety — Examples of tliis — Does not ex- clude others — The whole pressed upon the reader 240 CHAPTER XX\TI. Erroneous method of converting sinners, particularly the Ro- man Catholics— True method— (5nr example must be good — CONTENTS. 13 Love and meekness must be exhibited — Contrast between Popery and Protestantism — Religion of love must be propa- gated by love — Erroneous method pursued towards Roman Catholics — TJie parties in our country — Real Cliristians — Nominal Christians — Semi-infidels and bare-faced infidels — • The latter no indifferent spectators — Watching for faults among Christians — True method to be pursued — Combinations to put down any sect wrong — Not apostolic — Nor sanctioned by either Luther or Wesley — Successful method — It must be pvusued in love — After the example of our Saviour — Such will succeed Page 252 CHAPTER XXVin. Time for action — Claims superior to the ancient crusade — This peaceful and saving — Home work — Common error to be avoided — If the whole Methodist Episcopal Church were deeply devoted and actively engaged, how much good might be accomplished— Much more were the entire evangelical world thus engaged — Sanctification gives enlarged views — Contrast between such and others— Were ministers and peo- ple thus devoted, how much good would be done — Tliis may be accompUshed— Motives to try 2C6 CHAPTER XXrX. Recapitulation— defects allowed— Facts and arguments unavail- able — Thanks to those who have volunteered their aid — Anonymous assailants unworthy of notice — Comparison be- tween her present strength and former feebleness— Two characters prone to find fault — The sleepy professor and the one recently awakened— Bright prospects — Much yet remains to be done — subjects chiefly dwelt upon — How the work must be spread — The work of sanctification must be pressed — A word to the Methodists — Entire consecration necessary to the realization of our hopes 27y APPENDIX No. I. An examination of the definition, " Methodism without pliiloso- phy"— A reply to P. — Two errors do not constitute a truth— The author deviates from his general rule, for the purpose of testing the solidity of the above maxim — He acknowledges an inadvertence in language— On tliis account excuses P. for some tilings he has said, but rebukes him for others — These tilings an evidence of human infirmity — The erroneousness of the definition — It excludes doctrines, usages, and ordinances — Makes Methodism without body and soul — The definition denied — It contemns God's inspired messengers — The reform- ers — Wesley himself — Theological schools not the nurseries of heresies — Proved n sundry insitances — Nor are colleges — An apology for these schools — May be useful — If Methodism be rehgion without philosophy, then no true religion till Method- ism arose— Tliis proved— What Methodism is Page 291 No. II. No good perceived from the personal coming of Christ ; though, if this were plainly revealed, we ought to believe it neverthe- less—No such fact revealed — ^Examination of those texts generally relied on — Do not prove the fact — If he were thus to come, it would be as a man ; of course his personal appear- ance must be restricted to a particular place — Hence he could profit comparatively but few at a time — These difficulties overcome by liis spiritual manifestation — This answers all the ends of his intercession — In this way he can accomphsh a great work in a short time — The character of the millennium — Not all righteous — Proved from Daniel xii, 10, and Rev. XX, 8-10 — Gog and Magog, what — During the period of MUlen- nisd glory- some remain wicked — More important to have the heart right than our mere speculations 308 STATE AND PROSPECTS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUECH. CHAPTER I. The state of the Methodist Episcopal Church — Erroneous views —Diminution of Members for three years past allowed— How accounted for — The Millerite delusion — Great increase in 1843 and 1844— Subsequent sifting— The present compared with former diminutions — All this no proof of backsliding — So far from it, that we now have a greater proportion of the popula- tion than formerly — All this, cause of gratitude. Much has been written, of late, respecting the state and prospects of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Some, indeed, have lamented over the Church as though they believed it had achieved its mission, or Avas about to be laid aside for having abused its trust, or misapplied its energies, and was therefore no longer to be an agent in the hand of God in effecting good for the human family. These melancholy conclusions have been drawn from the fact that there has been a diminution in the number of its members for some years past ; though, latterly, tliere has been an encouraging increase, which appears to 16 DIMINUTION OF NUMBERS. be an indication that God is about to visit His heritage again in mercy. I have read these la- mentations with a mixture of sui'prise and regret, believing that the writers have been led astray by their prejudices, or have drawn their conclu- sions from too superficial or contracted a view of the subject. The fact, however, is allowed, that there has been a diminution in the number of church-mem- bers. In 1845, there was a diminution of 3 1,763 ; in 1846, 12,343 ; and m 1847, 12,741, making the entire loss, during those three years, 56,847. Now, in order to see how this loss may affect the vital energies of the Church, we will com- pare it with the unusually large increase in the years 1843 and 1844. In 1843, the increase was 154,634. In 1844, the increase was 102,831, making the entire m- crease for those two years, 257,465. Now, sub- tract from this number the 56,847, which is the estimated amount -of loss for the three years mentioned, and it will leave 200,618, the net increase during those five years. But for the year 1848, there was an increase of 7,508; and in 1849, of 23,249, making a net increase for these two years, of 30,757 ; so that the entire increase for the last seven years, after deducting all the losses, is 231,375. ACCOUNTED FOR. 17 To enable us to account for the diminution during the years 1845, 1846, and 1847, we must take into consideration the circumstances which, it is highly probable, led to the large in- crease of the two years previous. During those years, and more especially in the year 1843, the minds of the people were greatly excited with the Millerite delusion, under the influence of which thousands of the people were induced to believe that the world was soon to come to an end. In full view of this awful catastrophe, they were led to call on God for mercy, and perhaps most of them were soundly converted to God ; while many others became apparently religious, under the influence of an artificial ex- citement. I say probably most of them were soundly converted to God ; for, taking into view the whole of the diniinution, it still appears, from the facts above stated, that out of 257,445, the whole number received during the preva- lence of that excitement, all but 56,847 have stood fast. The proportion which this loss bears to the gain, is nearly the same as the proportion between the loss of probationers received and the whole number of those probationers ; for I believe it is generally allowed, that no more than three-fourths of those who liave been received on probation, have graduated to full membership ; 18 DIMINUTION OF NUMBERS. and this is about the proportion of those that have been lost during the years above mentioned. But if this loss is to be taken as a proof of a low state of vital piety in the Church, and that God has forsaken her, what shall we say of other periods, in former days, when a greater proportionate diminution in numbers was wit- nessed? Thus, in HIS, when there were only 6,095 members in the Church, there was a di- minution of 872, which was a loss of about 1 in 1. In 1795, when the whole number of church- members was 60,604, there was a diminution of 6,317, which was a loss of about 1 in 9. In 1845, there was a diminution of 31,769, and the whole number of church-members was 1,139,587, which was a loss of about 1 in 35. So, then, notwithstanding the hue and cry about the want of zeal and skill in the ministry, and the lukewarmness and backsliding of the mem- bership, the proportion of those that were lately lost to the Church' was by no means equal to — nay, it was nearly three-fourths less than — that which happened in the years 1778 and 1795 ; and yet God has been so eminently present with his ministers and people, and has blessed the labour of their hands so abundantly, that the Church has increased in numbers so rapidly, that in 1843 the membership had accumulated NOT TERMANENT. 19 to the amount of 1,068,525 ; and in 1844, 1,171,356 ; and, notwithstanding the diminution since that time, the present number of church- members, including the North and the South, is 1,114,509. So propitiously has the Lord smiled upon us ! There is another point of view in which this subject may be considered, which will afford us equal cause of gratitude to the great Head of the Church. In 1795, our numbers were 60,604, and the number of inhabitants in our country was then estimated at about 4,000,000. This would give to our Church one member for eveiy sixty of the population. Allowing the present population of our country to be 20,000,000, and allowing the number of church- members to be a little over 1,000,000, it will give at least one church-member to every twenty of the population ; so that we have not only increased in the absolute number of our church- members, but the ^^rqpor^w^ia^e number has made a rapid advance upon the population, having become just three times as great now as it was fifty-three years ago. All this, be it re- membered, notwithstanding the increase of evangelical preaching, zeal, and efficiency, in other denominations, in the midst of whom we have been laboming. 20 DIMINUTION OF NUMBERS. Instead, therefore, of lamenting over our de- ficiency — although God knows we have faults enough to humble us in the dust — we have abundant cause of gratitude to the great Head of the Chiu-ch for the merciful manner in which he has favoured our feeble, though, I trust, sincere endeavours to advance his cause upon the earth. CHAPTER 11. Decrease but temporary- — Its causes — Disputes between the North and South — The Mexican War — Compared with the War of 1813-1815 — Like results produced — The abolition ex- citement — Tlie fact, therefore, of a diminution in numbers no proof of a departure from vital piety — On the contrary, we have evidence of improvement. It may be said by some, that the great increase in the membership in 1843 and 1844, should have been followed by a proportionate increase for the following year, in order to prove that the Church has not deteriorated in her piety, or become lax in her appliances for the salvation of men. To this I answer, that allowing this should have been the case, such a conclusion by no means follows, as the diminution may have originated from other causes, and causes too beyond the reach of human control, at least so far as the Church, in her collective capacity, is TEMPORARY CAUSES. 21 concerned ; and whatever the causes may have been, I humbly trust they were but temporary m their character, for it seems that akeady the Lord is visiting his heritage again with the re- viving influences of his Spirit, as there was an increase, in 1848, of upwards of 7,000 ; and in 1849, of 23,240, making an increase for the two past years of upwards of 30,000. Though it might be expected, that after such an unusual ingathering of souls in the two years above mentioned, namely, upwards of 256,000, under the impulses produced by such causes as were then at work, all, to be sure, under the manage- ment of Him, who made them subservient to His purposes of love to the human family, yet there were other causes at work during the years 1845, 1846, and 184Y, which may be as- signed as a reason for the diminution, without supposing that any permanent departure from our ancient landmarks, either in doctrine, disci- pline, or practical piety, had taken place. In the first place, the disputes between the North and the South, during that ominous pe- riod, no doubt had a deleterious influence upon the interests of true rehgion. These disputes, in the manner in which they were conducted, certainly had a tendency to impair Christian confidence in one another, and thus to unfit the 22 DIMINUTION OF NUMBERS. mind of believers for close communion with God. But as this unhappy state of things is noTv sub- siding, and personal recriminations, so disgrace- ful to the parties concerned, are giving place to a return of brotherly love and mutual confidence, I would touch upon this subject lightly, and would not, indeed, have alluded to it at all, were it not necessary to account for this temporary depression of the Church. How far these things may have afifected us, more particularly here in the northern department of the Church, it may be difficult to tell ; but it is a truth which cannot be disputed, that we have suffered a greater diminution in chm-ch-members than they have in the South, if indeed they have suffered any at all, for I believe they have had a steady, though, comparatively, a small mcrease. But leaving this part of the subject with this slight allusion to it — for I have no wish to revive those heart-burnings which, I trust, are now nearly extinguished — I woiild remark in the Second place, that the war-spirit which per- vaded our land during the years above men- tioned, no doubt contributed its full share toward the result we here deprecate. This spirit has always been found exceedingly imfriendly to the diffusion of pure and undefiled reHgion ; for the spirit and practice of war, and the spirit and TEMPORARY CAUSES. 23 practice of piety, are generally incompatible with each other, and cannot, therefore, long co- exist in the same person. In 1814, during the war between this country and Great Britain, when the total number of our chmxh-members was 211,129, (not as many as was our increase in 1843 and 1844,) our decrease was 3,178, which was one to about sixty -five, more than half the proportionate decrease of 1846; and had the like causes existed at that time as above men- tioned in the latter case, the like result might have been witnessed ; and as, in the former in- stance, the injurious effects were but temporary, and ceased with the cause which produced them, so, I humbly trust, as the war with Mexico has now happily ended, the spirit of piety will resume its wonted tone, and revivals of religion will again pervade our land, as indeed they have already begun to do. In 1836, there was a decrease of 2,283. This was during the abolition excitement, which pro- duced agitations and disputes similar to those which arose at a later period, between the North and the South, and had a like injurious influence upon the interests of pure religion, and finally ended in a small secession. These sad effects, however, disappeared with the cause which pro- duced them, and God afterwards visited the 24 DIMINUTION OF NUMBERS. Churcli Tvitli one of the most remarkable revi- vals of religion ever witnessed in our country. And may we not hope that when the bickerings above alluded to shall have entirely ceased, and God's ministers and people shall give themselves wholly up to his work, and stiive together for the promotion of his cause, a like heavenly in- fluence will be felt throughout all our borders ? Notwithstanding the disastrous results we have been considering in the diminution of church-members, though it may not be — and indeed is not, as I beheve — an undeniable proof of a diminution of piety, the fact itself has been overruled for our good. It has tended to hum- ble us, has led to heart-searchinirs, to a thoroucrh examination of ourselves, and has induced us to investigate the causes of this seeminsf declension ; and as far as they have been ascertained, to re- move them out of the way ; and likewise to ex- cite a spirit of fervent prayer and renewed dili- gence, that God may be pleased to pour out his Spirit, and revive and spread his work among the people. It will be perceived that while the fact is allowed — as indeed it cannot be controverted — that there has been a diminution of church- members, and some of the supposed causes have been detected and pointed out, yet it is believed NO GROUKD OP ALARM. 2§ tliat tliese causes are but temporary in their character, and might, indeed, have been avoided, had prudent measures been adopted ; and that, therefore, they do not prove that there has been, on the whole, any essential deterioration in the Church, any departure from her primitive doc- trine or discipline, or in the general spirit and practice of piety, either among the preachers or people : on the contrary, I believe it is suscepti- ble of substantial proof, that by a comparison of the last twenty or thirty years, with any former period of the Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch, it will be found that there has been most mani- fest improvement in almost every respect — im- provements of a highly beneficial character — of a character highly beneficial to the best interests of mankind — temporal, intellectual, spiritual, and eternal interests ! This opinion involves topics too numerous to be discussed in this chapter, and will require a statement of facts too numerous to be spread out in a narrow space ; and they will, therefore, be taken up in subsequent chapters, together with such arguments as may be considered necessaiy to sustain the opinion above expressed. 26 SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. CHAPTER III. Evils allowed to exist^ — Tliese are exceptions— The majority truly pious — Evidences of improvement — Temporally in wealth — la church building — Comparison between our present and former state in this respect. I HAVE said that, comparing the present state of the Church, or its state for twenty or thirty- years past, with any former period, there has been a manifest improvement in almost every respect. This assertion I shall now endeavour to demonstrate. Let no one suppose, however, tliat I am so blind to the existence of facts, as not to admit that there are, and have been, evils among us — that there are individuals, both preachers and people, who are not as they ought to be — who are proud, vain, and criminally selfish — that such seek then- own glory instead of the glory of the Lord Jesus ; and that others have disgraced themselves and the cause they had espoused by gross apostasies ; but, I would ask, at what period of our history have not these evils existed ? Those who are acquainted with our early history, know full well that obstinate heretics sprang up at that time — that some, even among the early preachers, became gross apostates, and thus disgraced themselves and their brethren by their evil deeds. I have been INCIDENTAL EVILS. 2*1 acquainted with Methodism for about forty-nine years, and I think I may say in truth, that I knew as many, if indeed not more, in the early days of my experience, in proportion to their number, that were not as they ought to have been, both among preachers and people, as may be seen now. We were always troubled, more or less, with uneasy spirits — with mercenary men and women — with disgusting egotists, whose vanity betrayed the emptiness of their brains, whose ignorance made them invincible to the impressions of truth, and whose selfishness ob- truded itself into every society in which they appeared ; with backsliders, hypocrites, and apostates, whose vices were ultimately exhibited to the view of all with whom they became ac- quainted — and with covetous, mercenary beings, who gave evidence they loved their gold (if they were so fortunate as to have any, and, if not, by their repinings at those who had it) better than their God — I say these evil-minded persons always were found among us, are among us still, and I suppose always will be ; but I do not be- lieve that they are more numerous now, in pro- portion to our numbers, than they were in any former period, if indeed they are as much so. But these are exceptions — mortifying excep- tions, it is true — to the general character of the 28 SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. Methodists. I firmly believe that the great ma- jority of our church-members, including minis- ters and people, and I have had a pretty good opportunity of knowing them, have been sin- cerely devoted to God, have been actuated by the purest motives, have felt the love of God and man to be the ruling principle of their hearts, the evidence of which has been furnished by the rectitude of then* conduct ; — they have piBoved that they loved God hy keeping his commandments. This belief is founded upon an intimate acquaintance with them for about fifty years, dming which time I have had an opportunity of familiarizing myself with minis- ters and people, from the highest order in the ministry to the lowest — bishops, elders, deacons, and preachers, and the various official members of the Church, trustees, stewards, and class- leaders, as well as the more private members — having transacted business with them, mingled in their councils, iri conferences, quarterly, an- nual, and general, attended class-meetings, and the various other means of grace ; and from this intimate knowledge of all the affairs of the Church, I certainly have had a favoui-able op- portunity of judging of their motives, so far as motives may be ascertained from words and actions : and from all these soiu-ces of informa- IN TEMPORAL THINGS. 29 tion, I am led to the conclusion that, whatever may be said of certain individuals, whose cha- racter may be considered somewhat dubious, the great majority are as before described. These things being premised, — and they have been mentioned to prevent any one from sup- posing that I am either so blind as not to see faults, or so obstinate as not to admit them, — I proceed to state some of the evidences of our improvement. We have improved temporally. The most of those who embraced Methodism in its early days were among the poorer class of so- ciety. In consequence of their embracing the religion of the Lord Jesus — and this is what I understand by their becoming Methodists — they have become sober, industrious, frugal in their manner of living, and thus many have become wealthy ; others are in comfortable and thriving circumstances ; while comparatively few are suffering from poverty, but most of them are reaping the fruits of honest industry. And let no one suppose that temporal good is not one of the blessinjTS of the reli;]^ion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did not Jesus Christ present this among the motives to induce the people to en- ter Ilis service ? " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these 30 SUBSTANTIAL PKOGRESS. things shall be added unto you," — that is, all those temporal blessings of -which he had been speaking. And did not the Saviour say to Peter, in answer to his interrogatory, what he should receive who had left all for Christ's sake, — " No man that hath left houses, or lands, wife," (fee, **but he shall receive an hundred fold in this time, and in the world to come life everlasting ?" Thus " godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the hfe that now is, and of that which is to come." So far, therefore, from worldly prosperity being a mark of imgodliness, it is enumerated by the Lord Jesus himself, and included by his apos- tles, among the blessings of God's kingdom ; and many have experienced the fulfilment of the promise, by receiving even a hundred-fold in this life for the small sacrifice they were induced to make for the kingdom of heaven's sake. The danger is, of so setting their hearts upon riches as to make them their principal treasure, and neglecting to become rich toward God, by dispensing abroad, clothing the naked, feeding the poor, and making the hearts of the widow and fatherless to rejoice, and thus laying by a ** good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal hfe." Whether or not the Methodists have done IN CHURCH BUILDING. 31 this, and are still doing it, according to their ability, let us inquire what they have done, and are still doing, to advance the cause of Christ. In the first place, they have much improved in church building. Those who have been ac- quainted with our circuits and stations for twen- ty, thirty, and forty years past, and who can compare our houses of worship then with what they are now, will be struck with the contrast, and will praise God for the improvement in this respect. In former days, most of the preaching- places, more particularly in the country villages and settlements, were private houses, school- houses, barns, and groves ; even when a church edifice was erected, a site was generally selected in some obscure retreat, remote from the centre of population, as though the Methodists were ashamed to be seen and heard by their neigh- bours ; and even this small edifice was frequently but half finished, and left to fall down under its own rottenness. In this respect there is a mighty improvement, such an improvement as must be encouraging to the hearts of all God's people. Now there are large and commodious houses of worship, not only in our populous cities — where indeed many have been recently rebuilt or en- larged, and their number increased with the ad- vancing population, — but in almost every village 32 SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. and considerable settlement throughout the coun- try are found temples finished in a neat, plain style, in ^Yhich the pure word of God is preach- ed, and his ordinances duly administered. How has this been accomplished ? Very few of the rich men of this world have come to our aid. The Methodist people, with their Umited means, aided, to be sure, by a few of their more wealthy brethren, have done this, and they have done it with a hberahty and enterprise worthy of all praise, and they ought, most assui-edly, to have credit for the commendable zeal they have thus exemplified in the cause of God. It is true that some of these houses are deeply in debt ; but the brethren are using means to liquidate their debts, and I humbly trust that, by the blessing of God on their pious efforts, they will not only succeed in paying for those already built, but that they will go forward, and erect still more, as the increasing population of the country and the Church shall demand. EDUCATION. 33 CHAPTER IV. Education another evidence of improvement— Wesley's work in this cause — Efforts of Coke and Asbury in this cause failed — Effect of tliis failure disparaging — Recent efforts more success- ful—Some opposed to this cause— But God has sanctioned it — Truly Wesleyan — The Methodists have done much to their credit — Who will say that this is no evidence of improvement ? Another evidence of the improvement of the Church is, the revival and diffusion of the spirit and practice of education. We know that it was a favourite object of Mr. Wesley to provide for the education of the youth, not only in piety, but also in literature and science. Hence the early establishment of the Kingswood school ; and his followers have added another since his death, and have likewise established two theo- logical schools, for the training and education of such young men in the local ministry as are on the resen^e-list, in scientific and theoloo^ical knowledge, that they may thereby become bet- ter quahfied to instruct others. At the organization of our Church in this country, in 1784, Dr. Coke and Bishop Asbury submitted a plan to the Conference for the oe- tablishment of a college. Of this the Conference approved, and it was speedily carried into exe- cution ; the college buildings were creeled, and 34 SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. the scliool went into operation under favourable circumstances, and continued to prosper for about ten years, when the whole was consumed by fire. A second one soon after shared the same fate. These disastrous occurrences dis- couraged the friends of education, and prevented any efforts from being put forth in tins cause, except some ineffectual ones in favour of district- schools, for upwards of twenty years; and, in- deed, such was the apathy manifested on this subject, that Methodist preachers were accused, not without some show of reason, of being ene- mies of literature and science. Though this was not true in its application to all concerned, yet it must be confessed that there was too much ground for the taunt against the great body, if we may judge of the disposition of the heart by the actions of the life. But, whatever may be conceded to this mor- tifying objection, for upwards of twenty years past the Church has evinced a disposition to redeem herself from the reproach, by exerting her energies to establish academies and colleges in different parts of her jurisdiction. The first successful effort in this cause was made in New- England, in 1817, by the founding of the New- market Academy ; the next, in the city of New- York, in 1810, by the establishment of the EDUCATION. 35 Wesleyan Seminary. The first college which obtained a permanence was the Augusta Col- lege, located in the town of Augusta, State of Kentucky, in 1823. In 1831 the Wesleyan University was founded, and two others, namely, Randolph Macon and La Grange. The commencement of these academies and colleges seemed to beget a general desire, throughout the bounds of the several annual conferences, to embark in the cause of educa- tion ; and so widely has this desire been diffused, and so deeply has it descended into the heart of the Church, that there have been estabhshcd, and are now in successful operation, between thirty and forty academies, and fourteen colle- giate institutions, including the North and South ; besides a number of other academies, which are so far patronized by the conferences that they appoint boards of visitors, and recommend them to the patronage of our people. Here then is an improvement of vast importance to the character, permanence, and prosperity of the Church. I am aware that there are those among us who look upon these literary institutions with a jealous eye, while others treat them with cold indifference, and some few, perhaps, with hos- tility. Cut I am happy to believe that the 36 SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. great majority of the most influential, both among preachere and people, hail this improve- ment as ominous of good to the Church. I have indeed regretted to see this subject — the subject of education — treated with a sarcastic sneer by an aged writer, as though it was the oflfspring of pride and vanity, indicative of a de- generate state of the Church. It is believed, however, that such a sentiinent has but few sym- pathizers, and that the prevailing spirit of the age, and the pious efforts of God's servants, will ultimately sweep away all these objections, and put to shame the cavilling caricatures of those who attempt to hold up to ridicule these nurseries of leaniing and religion. That God has sanctioned them, is abundantly manifest from the powerful re-vivals of religion which have prevailed at diff'erent times among the students. I presume to say that God has visited them as often, and as powerfully, with the reviving influences of his Spirit, as he lias any other places, even the churches which are under the stated ministry of the woid and ordi- nances of the Gospel, Hence, young men have been raised up, not only endowed with human learning, but also deeply imbued with the spirit of their divine Master, and have gone forth as flaming heralds of the Gospel of the Son of EDUCATION. 3Y God; and from the colleges have issued men competent to teach in the academies, and other colleges, and are now acting as professors, prin- cipals, or presidents of other institutions of learning. Who, then, will dare to lift up his voice against these nurseries of learning and re- ligion ? No true son of Wesley, surely. He who was so much indebted for his celebrity to the learning he acquired at Oxford, who strove so assiduousl}'- to promote it among his preach- ers and people, (see his " Address to the Cler- gy,") would be ashamed to acknowledge any man as his genuine follower, who is an enemy to those institutions which are designed to diffuse the blessings of literature and religion among the youth of our land, and more especially to such as have been so eminently sanctioned by the great Head of the Church as ours have been. Now, who have foimded these institutions ? The answer is, The Methodists have done it. For though some generous-minded individuals not connected with our Church have made liberal donations, and some of the States in which they are located have made small appro- priations for their support, yet the greater pro- portion of the money which has been received for this purpose has been drawn from tJie pockets 38 SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. of our people. And here we see one of the many benefits resulting from the temporal good with which God has blessed them. Had they not embraced religion, they might have lived and died in poverty ; but in consequence of their having done so, by cutting ofif all needless ex- pense, by being sober and industrious, they have become wealthy, and have money to spare for pious and benevolent purposes ; and here is an outlet for their surplus wealth, where they may bestow their goods for the benefit of themselves and their posterity. I do not say that our more wealthy friends have given to these institutions all that they might and should ; but for what they have done, and are doing in this important cause, they have our thanks : and when they shall fully feel how much they themselves are indebted to Methodism for what they are, and for what they possess, and more especially for those literary institutions, for which their bounty is solicited, they will come forward with liberality to place our colleges be- yond the danger of pecuniary embarrassments. In the face of these facts, who will say that we have made no improvement within twenty or thirty years past ? Those who believe that all this has sprung from pride and vanity, will, of course, mourn over it as a calamity — as an MISSIONARY CAUSE. 89 infallible mark of our degeneracy ; while tliose who believe, as I do, that it has arisen from the spirit of true piety, from an enlarged desire to do good, and to advance the present and eternal interests of men, will account it as an evidence of improvement, and bless God " for the consolation." CHAPTER y. The Missionary cause an evidence of improvement — Origin of the Missionary Society — Opposition encountered— Feebleness of its beginning — Gradually advanced — Finally triumphs — What it has acliieved— All this a practical demonstration of improvement. A FOURTH evidence of the improvement which this Church has made, within twenty or thirty years past, is to be found in her Missionary de- partment. I do not mean by this that she lacked the missionary spirit in former days, for indeed her ministry was always a missionary ministry, always aggressive in its operations, making, by its energetic labours, inroads upon the territories of Satan. Among modern mis- sionaries, none equalled John Wesley, eitlier in the amount, extent, or success of his ministerial labours. His sons in the Gospel imbibed his spirit, and imitated his example, preaching the 40 THE MISSIONARY WORK. Gospel of the kingdom, to the utmost extent of their abilities, to " every nation and kindred on the earth." It was this spirit that brought them to this country, and the fire which they kindled up here burned so intensely in the hearts of those missionaries and their successors, that it impelled them on in their work, until they stretched themselves over the extended settle- ments of this continent, visiting almost every city, village, and settlement, even to the remotest log hut in the wilderness. But still there were many intervening places to be filled up, many new settlements to be supplied, many an Indian tribe to be evangelized, and many a heathen nation to be converted to Christianity. Over these desolations the more pious and enlightened portions of the Church cast a pitying eye, and sent up a prayer to God for their sal- vation. On looking back upon the history of our Church, and seeing what she had done ; on lookinof forward and around, and seeincr what was yet to be done, and considering at the same time her capabilities, both temporally and spi- ritually, of doing much more than she had done for the salvation of the world ; excited to action by a few benevolent spirits, she determined to put forth her energies to " extend her missionary labours throughout the United States and else- ITS RISE. 41 where." This gave rise to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Consider- ing the state of piety in the Church at that time, one would be surprised at the objections which were made, even by men of unquestionable good- ness, against the formation of this society — some impugning the motives of its originators, others ranking it among visionary schemes, and not a few lamenting over it, as calculated to weaken, if not indeed to sap the foundations of the itine- rancy. The friends of the measure, however, were so conscious of the purity of their motives, and the rectitude of their conduct, that they per- severed in their work, not stopping to answer objections, looking to God for aid and direction, fully believing that He would sanction, and of course prosper, their undertaking. The event has justified their anticipations. Never has a cause been more blessed than the Missionary cause. Its commencement, to be sure, was feeble. Though it was recognized by the General Conference, which convened a year after its formation, namely, in 1820, yet the amount collected the first year was only $823 04, and the amount expended |85 76. The next year there was reported as having been received $2,328 76, and expended $407 87. It seemed more difficult to expend than to collect the 42 TUE MISSIONARY WORK. money, though the collections were siifBciently small ; so difficult indeed was it to diffuse the missionary spirit among the preachers and peo- ple, that our bishops were fearful of selecting and appointing missionaries, lest they should seem to trespass upon the funds of the Church. This apathy, however, did not originate from any want of zeal in the cause of God, nor from any lack of piety in the heads, or in the Church generally, but chiefly from too scrupulous a re- gard for the other interests of the Church, and a fear of appropriating money unconstitutionally. To remove these scruples, and to obviate these objections, I remember perfectly well that the Board of Managers appointed a committee to correspond with the bishops, the object of which was to induce them to appoint missionaries, and to draw the funds for their support. But the cause gradually advanced — so slowly, however, that from 1819 to 1832, there was a balance reported in -the treasury each year, not- withstanding the greatest amount received for any one year was only 814,176 11. In 1832 the Liberia Mission was commenced, and from that time a new spring seemed to be given to the Missionary cause, for the funds have gradu- ally increased, and the fields of labour have en- larged, imtil m 1839, when the available funds ITS RESULTS. 4S amounted to 8139,521 94 ; and in 1840 there were expended $140,498 58, which I believe were the largest amounts ever received and ex- pended in any one year. Though after this there was a falhng off, for a short time, it may be accounted for without supposing any derehction of evangehcal piety and zeal in the Church, as is manifest from the fact that latterly the sphit of Hberality has ex- panded ; so much so, that the amount received in 1848, including the North and South, was $144,223 6G, which is 84,701 62 more than had been received for any previous year; which, though not in proportion to the increase of numbers and wealth, shows that the missionary spirit is rising among us. This, together with the enlargement of the missionary field, particu- larly in China and California, is an encouraging omen, and should serve as a memento of the goodness of God. Now let us see what this Society has done, not merely in raising money, and supporting men, but in awakening and convertmg sinners. I presume to say that in this latter work it has far outstripped every other Missionary Society in existence. Let any one read its history, fol- low its missionaries, and look at the evidences — most manifest and palpable evidences — of the 44 THE MISSIONARY WORK. conversion of souls, among the aborigines of our country, the slave population of the South, in the new States and Territories of the West, and among the Germans, as well as in Liberia and South America — though in this last place I grant but little comparatively has been done — and he will be convinced that God has given his sanc- tion to this Society in a most eminent degree. During the thirty-one years of its existence, notwithstanding its feebleness 'for about thirteen years of its infancy — though during that period its friends marked with pleasure its gradual growth, and perceived signs of health and vigour which promised the future strength of its man- hood — I presume that it has been instrumental of bringing upwards of GO, 000 souls into the bosom of the Church, directly, besides its benign influence in its indirect action in stirring up the spirit of prayer, in diffusing a spirit of hberality, and laying a foundation for the future growth and prosperity of the cause of God in places where it first planted the Gospel, and has since left them to be provided for in the more regular way ; for it has always been the policy of this Society, as soon as any place became able to support itself, to withdraw its pecuniary aid, and confine itself to more new and destitute places. HOME MISSIONS. 45 Here is another evidence of improvement ; and if the missionary spirit enters into the very- essence of the Gospel, and unfolds it in all its loveliness, and displays it in all its energies — as it undoubtedly does — then is the manifestation of this spirit a practical demonstration of an improved state of piety in the Church. Here, also, is another outlet for the surplus wealth of our people, in the application of which they may make it tell on the eternal destinies of immortal beings. Instead of hoarding it up for those who may come after them — and they know not whether they shall be wise men or fools — let them deposit it, at least a suitable proportion of it, in this treasury of the Lord, and when he shall come in judgment, he will reward them accordingly. CHAPTER VI. Home missions — Their blessed effects — Other benevolent move- § ments — Increased number of books another evidence of im- provement — Origin of the Book-Concern — Its feebleness — La- bours under a heavy debt — No American writers— Its income small — Its present prosperous state — This institution has been sustained by Methodists. In addition to the general field of missionary labour, the Home Missions ought not to ])0 overlooked. These have sprung ujj within six 46 PROOFS OF TROGRESS. or seven years past, and have exerted a power- ful and salutary influence wherever they have operated. I know not, indeed, how many of these exist ; but I know they have one in Balti- more, another in New-York, and another in Brooklyn, and perhaps also in some other places. They have been instiimiental in enlarging the work in the destitute portions of the cities, and have built several new churches. The one in the city of Brooklyn, which was commenced in 1847, has built one new church, and paid for it, enlarged another, and has been instrumental in bringing between one and two hundred sinners from darkness to hght. This has been effected chiefly by Christian women, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church in that city; and all this has been done by the several churches, in addition to the support of the stationed preachers, and contributing their proportion to the general missionary cause, and other inci- dental expenses of the Church. And had I the statistics of the other Home Missionary Societies^ I have no doubt but that I could state a hke encouraging result. Is this no improvement? no evidence of an increase of pious zeal in the cause of God? Let those who look on with cold indifference, and consume themselves in complaining of the degeneracy of the age, and HOME MISSIONS. 4T whine over tlie desolations of the Chm'ch, arouse themselves from thek lethargy, enter into the spirit and practice of this holy cause, and they v^ill soon see a different state of things, and find their own hearts warming with love to God and the souls of men ; and likewise feel a glow- ing gratitude to God for what he has done, and is still doing, for the souls and bodies of man- kind. There are various other benevolent movements which might be mentioned, some of which have been in existence from the beginning of the Church ; such as love-feasts, and sacramental collections for the poor ; others have been formed more recently, and are therefore evidence of an improvement ; such as associations in individual churches for visiting the sick, providing food and clothing for the needy : all of which arc the genuine fruits of that expansive benevolence which the Gospel inspires in the hearts of all true behevers. These, however, are only men- tioned by the way, not, indeed, because they are insignificant in themselves — for they are the genuine offspring of that religion which Jesus Christ imparts to all his followers — but because they do not belong so generally to the whole Church. The next thing I would bring forward more 48 PROOFS OF PROGRESS. prominently, as an evidence of intellectual im- provement, is the increased number of our pub- lications. We commenced our Book-Concern as early as 1789 ; its beginning was small, and its progress exceedingly slow. This, to be sure, miglit have been expected, from the infancy of the Church, and the want of capital to set up with — of facilities for printing and circulating books. Yet these circumstances could not jus- tify the apathy on this subject ; for so little zeal was displayed in favom* of printing and circu- lating books, that in the year 1813, there were only twenty-four diflferent publications on sale at the Book-Room ; and one of these. Coke's Com- mentary, was imported from England. Leaving this out of the account, a copy of each work published might be purchased for 829 7o ; and among these were but three American publica- tions, namely, Abbott's and Watters' Life, and the Scriptural Catechism. All the rest were reprints of books majiufactured in England. And such was the lack of zeal in this cause, that though the General Conference, in 1812, in tlie midst of opposition from several delegates — for I distinctly remember all these things — ordered a resumption of the Magazine, and appointed committees to collect materials for a history of uiu- Church, yet nothing wiis done in either one PUBLICATIONS. 49 case or the other. No Magazine was published until two years after the next General Confer- ence, in 1816, nor any materials collected for a history. And such was the languishing state of this Concern, that it was in dano-er of sinkinp' under its own weight ; no new publications of any consequence were added ; but only the same books were reprinted, so that its debts were accumulating, without any adequate means to liquidate them ; and it would, in all probability, have become bankrupt, and have gone down, to the disgrace of the Church, had not new means been used to invigorate its energies, and to ex- pand its capacities. This was done by adding to the list of its publications, by resuming the Magazine, by pm-chasing Clarke's Commentary, by setting up a bindery and printing-office, by altering the plan of selling the books, -and by establishing weekly periodicals ; and, finally, by enlisting the talents of our preachers in the art of writing for the public. During the dark days I have been reviewing, we had scarcely a single writer on this side of the water, who dared to put his pen to paper. Excepting the Scriptural Catechism by the Rev. John Dickens — a most estimable man — Garrettson's, Abbott's, and Watters' Lives, and a few pieces which l^ad appeared in the Armi- 4 50 PROOFS OF PnOGRESS. nian Magazine in 1'789 and 1790, not an Ameri- can publication appeared, unless now and then a straggling pamphlet, "whicli hardly breathed the breath of life, and the most of which, as Hume said of one of his Essays, " fell still-bom from the press." This was the general state of things for about thirty years, namely, from ITSO to 1818, when new life began to be infused into our press, and it has been gradually growing and impro\Tng from that day to this. During these periods, though for the most of the time there were but seven annual conferences, the Book-Concern never paid over $300 a year to each conference, and sometimes not over $150, and even this came out of borrowed money ; for, as I have before said, the Concern was so deeply in debt, though it was not gene- rally known at the time, that it was in danger of sinking under its own weight, as it indeed commenced its business on borrowed capital. Those who now manage its affairs know but Httle of the difficulties with which it had to contend, particularly from 1812 to 182 4, during all which time it was strugghng for its existence, though during the latter part of the time it was adopting measures which its managers were fully confident would ultimately put it upon a permanent foun- dation, which indeed proved to be the fact. THE BOOK-CONCERN. St What is its present state ? On looking over its catalogue of books, I find, if I have counted accurately, no less than 236 different publica- tions, small and great, among which are Clarke's, Benson's, Wesley's, and Watson's Commenta- ries, Bibles and Testaments, and almost every species of hterature, on theological, historical, and biographical subjects, as well as experi- mental and practical piety. To furnish one's self with a copy of each of these will cost, at the retail price, between $200 and $300. Now compare this with the publications in 1813, when there were only 23 several books, the cost of a copy of each of which was only about |29, and then reflect that the average price is nearly one-half less now than then. Are here no signs of improvement ? In addition to these, look at the list of Tracts, amounting to upwards of 360, of from 4 to 60 pages each, besides a Sunday-school hbrary, and books for Sunday-school scholars. There are also published, including the North and South, two Quarterly Reviews, one monthly, seven weekly papers, a Sunday-School Advo- cate, and a Missionary Advocate; and as to writers, there is no comparison between the present and former periods of tlie Church. But has it increased in its available funds ? It 52 PROOFS OF PROGRESS. has. After liquidating all its debts, purchasing lots, erecting buildings, &c. ; and notwithstand- ing the conferences have increased from seven to twenty-eight, excluding the Southern portion, but, including that, to forty-one, it paid, in 1848, $400 to each, making an aggregate of 89,200 for the twenty-eight conferences, or of 816,400 for the forty-one ; whereas, in the former days, when it paid 8300 to each conference, when there were but seven, the whole amount was $2,100 ; or when it paid only 8150, as it some- times did, it amounted to no more than 81,050. Now who have sustained this institution? The answer is. The Methodists have done it. I think therefore that here is substantial evidence of improvement, such an improvement as ought to fill our hearts with gratitude to God, and make us praise him for all his benefits. DOCPRINE. 53 CHAPTER VII. Examination of doctrine— In wliat Methodism consists— Its pe- culiarities— Sanctification — Mr. Wesley's views of this doc- trine— Tliis doctrine continues to be preached— There is there- fore no deterioration here. We have hitherto surveyed the Church in her external features, counted her numbers, esti- mated the value, so far as we were able, of her improvements in temporal and intellectual ac- quirements ; and if I have not, actuated by too strong a bias in her favour, very much mistaken her present condition, she is greatly improved m these respects. That she has rapidly in- creased in numbers, notwithstanding the diminu- tion in 1845, 1846, and 1847, is unquestionable. But this of itself, I allow, is no proof of an in- crease of spiritual strength, nor, consequently, of real piety ; for were we as numerous as the sands upon the sea-shore, yet, destitute of solid piety, we should be none the better, nor could we furnish any substantial evidence that God sanctions our labours. Dismissing, therefore, these calculations, let us inquire whether there be any evidence of a deterioration in doctrine, or in experimental and practical piety ? That we may judge accurately upon this subject, it is necessary to ascertain what those doctrines are 64 DOCTRINES OF METHODISM, which were first promulgated by Mr. Wesley and his followers, and what is the standard or measure of experimental and practical piety by which they were distinguished. In surveying these, however, we need not dwell upon those which are common among all orthodox Chris- tians — such as, the being and existence of God ; the primeval perfection of the universe; the original purity of man, his fall, and consequent depravity of himself and of his ofiFspring ; the Deity, incarnation^ and atonement of Christ; the necessity of repentance ; justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ ; the resur- rection of the dead ; the final judgment, and its momentous consequences. These great cardi- nal truths of God our Saviour are common to all orthodox Christians, and therefore contain nothing to distinguish ua from them, or to dis- tinguish one denomination from another. Kor will I say, as a wiiter has recently said, that ** Methodism is religion without philosophy," (see Appendix, No. 1,) lest I should seem to in- sinuate, either that true religion and philosophy cannot coexist, or that rehgion was always poi- soned by philosophy until Methodism arose to separate the foreign and poisonous admixture therefrom, and thus present the pure, unadul- terated balm to the woimded souls of sinners ; PECL'LIAii. 55 either of which alternatives would be unbe- coming a sound divine, or a consistent pliilo- soplier. By Methodism I understand those peculia- rities of the system by which it is distinguished from all other is?ns ; hence it not only includes the doctrines above enumerated, by which it proves its orthodoxy, but it brings out more prominently than is done by other denomina- tions, and that, as it believes, on the authority of God's word, that of Christian perfection, or the entire sanctification of the whole man to God, or holiness of heart and life ; and that this holiness is evinced by a uniform obedience to the commands of God. It holds to the danger- ous possibiUty of apostatizing from the grace of hfe, and hence urges upon all its disciples the necessity, that they may inherit eternal happi- ness, of persevering in every good word and work to the end of their probationary existence. And that these doctrines may have as diffusive a spread as possible, it has adopted an itinerant ministry, hereby imitating the apostolic exam- ple of preaching the Gospel to " every creature" within its reach : with various other peculiar- ities, such as class-meetings, love-feasts, &c., for all of which we are ready, when called upon, to give a Scriptural reason. And I know not but 56 METHODIST DOCTRINES. that I sliould add, the doctrine of the direct witness, and its inseparable results — the fruits of the Spirit ; as these, however closely they may be incorporated in their Articles of Faith, and alluded to in their formularies of devotion, are not insisted upon by other denominations, as they should be, in their public instructions, or in the inculcations of the pulpit. When Mr. Wesley first set out in his Chris- tian career, he made holiness the mark at which he aimed, though he did not then clearly com- prehend its nature; but very soon, his eyes being enlightened, he saw that a sinner must be justified by grace through faith before he is sanctified. He accordingly sought and found justification, and then pursued after sanctifica- tion or holiness, both internal and external, with all his might, until he found the one to the joy of his heart, and exemplified the other by the righteousness of his life, by " keeping the com- mandments of God "'to the end of his protracted and most laborious days. And never did the pen of Wesley touch upon any subject which it illuminated more clearly, or explained more definitely, explicitly, Scripturally, experimen- tally, and practically, than it did the doctrine of Christian perfection. To be convinced of this, let any man, who has a tolerable know- SANCTIFICATION. 67' ledge of the subject, or sincerely wishes an ac- curate knowledge of it, read attentively his ser- mons, " On Sin in Behevers," " The Repentance of Behevers," '^ The Great Priviles^e of those that are Born of God," " On Christian Perfec- tion," and more especially his " Plain Account of Christian Perfection," and compare them with the Sacred Scriptures, and he need go no further for light and information, only to God in earnest prayer, that his own heart may be warmed and sanctified by this hallowed flame of Divine love. Indeed, I consider his "Plain Account of Christian Perfection" the most masterly pro- duction upon that subject which ever dropped from an uninspired pen : stating its nature and extent ; defining it with nicety and precision ; and pointing out the way to attain it ; its evi- dence and fruits, and those infirmities with which it may coexist ; in language plain, explicit, and every way suited to the capacity of every reader. I do not wish to undervalue others who have written upon this subject. They all may have their use in attracting attention to it, in inducing penitent behevers to seek after it, and in placing it in somewhat new aspects before the reader's understanding ; but their twinkling light disap- pears before that brighter lummary, as the stars 68 METUODIST DOCTRINES. bide themselves when the orb of day mounts the horizon. The reader will pardon, I trust, this seeming digression from the main topic on which I am writing, for I could hardly refrain from paying a merited tribute to au author who has shed such a flood of light upon a subject so impor- tant, so deeply experimental and practical, and so intimately, and perhaps I might say indisso- lubly, connected with the present peace and futm-e happiness of mankind. " Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them," or be an occasion of their stum- bling. " Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." ** Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." These texts of sacred Scripture are quoted to sustain what I had as- serted, namely, that the subject of hohness is intimately connected with our present peace and future happiness. The first pronounces pre- sent peace to those who love, and, of course, Jceep the law ; the second and third show what is necessary to fit us to see the face of God in glory everlasting, namely, holiness or purity of heart. Now, have the Methodist preachers ceased to preach this doctrine, and to urge it upon their people as an experimental and practical SANCTIFICATION. 69 thing ? I know tliat they alwq^s, from the be- ginning of their ministry, held it prominently before their hearers, not only as a pri\alege, but as a duty, to be " holy in all manner of con- versation." But did they all profess to enjoy it ? They did not : nor did the members of the Church. Some did, both among preachers and people ; but I believe a majority did not. Many of the preachers preached it more as a theory, than as sometliing which they knew from their own experience ; while all, who were rightly in- structed, and were sincere believers in its attain- ableness, professed to be "groaning after it." This, I believe, has been the general state of the Church from the beginning, though there were " times and seasons," when this work of holiness was more prevalent than at others. I may be under a mistake, but I have thought, and I have drawn my conclusion from reading, and conversation, and attending meetings in various places, that this subject has very considerably revived within six or seven years past ; and that a more than usual number have sought and found the blessing of " perfect love." I know, indeed, that there are some dhidc, unscriptural, anti-Wesleyan notions prevalent on this topic ; but I know equally well that there are many, and I believe their numbers are increasing, 60 METHODIST DOCTRINES. deeply devoted souls, both male and female, both among preachere and people, who give evidence of holiness of heart by the holiness of their Hves. I allow that this great and mvaluable bless- ing is not pressed upon the people so generally and so earnestly as its importance demands ; but this is not peculiar to the present time. This lack in the ministry and the membership was always a defect painfully manifest. To be convinced of this, read the works of Wesley, the biographies of the older Methodists, and consult those aged professors now living who can remember the former days, and I believe they will all corroborate the truth of my state- ment. There is, therefore, I apprehend, no falling off here, no abatement of zeal in the cause of holiness ; but, as I think, at least in some sections of the Church, an increase of holy love, and a more urgent inquiiy waked up on this very subject. Let us, therefore, give God the glory for what he is still doing for the sons of men, and " be strong in the Lord of Hosts, and in the power of his miofht." OLD-FASHIONED METHODISM. 61 CHAPTER VIII. Old-fashioned Methodism— In what it consists— Distinction be- tween its vital principles and circumstantial parts— The first never change — The second may or may not be, though neces- sary to its growth — Divine call of its ministry — Tliis essential — Circumstantials contribute much to its success — In these there is a manifest improvement. If I have not very much miscalculated the com- parative state of this Church, I think I have so far succeeded in proving that, instead of de- generating from its primitive purity, it has much improved in its general character, as well as in its means and capabilities of doing good ; and that it has actually put forth its energies, in various ways, to advance the cause of Jesus Christ. This leads me to notice another feature in Methodism. Some ignorant enthusiasts, whenever anything new is introduced, have a very short, but, in their estimation, an irresistible argument against it, and that is, "This is not old-fashioned Me- thodism." If you ask these persons what " old- fashioned Methodism" is, perhaps they are at a loss for an answer. Wliat I understand by Me- thodism, whether old-fashioned or new-fashioned, is this : — That it lays hold of, and holds fast to, those cardinal doctrines of the Gospel, enumerated in 62 OLD-FASmOXED METHODISM. the preceding chapter, and then apphes itself with all its might to propagate them far and near, embracing every opening of Divine Pro- vidence, and taking advantage of every new development in the administration of the world, using all the appliances within its grasp, to advance the cause of Christ. Understanding it in this sense, we must dis- tinguish between the vital principles of Method- ism, and its circumstantial parts, or its external features. The former are essential to its exist- ence, because they are vital, — the latter may or may not be, because they are mere circumstan- ces, though for the time being they may be necessary to its growth and expansion. To explain myself more particularly upon this head : — By the vital principles of Methodism, I undei-stand those doctrines of the Gospel which embrace the Deity, the fall of man, the redemp- tion of the world by Jesus Christ, repentance, faith, justification, -and sanctification, and all those doctrines by which we are distinguished from other denominations. By its circumstan- tial parts, those prudential regulations and ap- pliances for doing good which have grown out of the improvements of the age, the progress of society, and the demands wliich these things make upon us. ITS VITAL PRINCIPLES. 63 These vital principles must never be changed, whatever changes may take place in human society. No new developments of events, no mutations in the affairs of men, nor any im- provements of the age, must be allowed to make any innovation upon the cardinal doctrines of Christ, all of which Methodism holds fast. If, for instance, we were to relinquish the doctrine of the atonement, as generally understood by orthodox Christians, or that of justification by grace through faith, sanctification, the possi- bility of falling from grace, the witness and fruits of the Spirit ; or were we to break up the itinerancy, or lay aside class-meetings, or cease to hold love-feasts, we should no longer be Me- thodists, because these doctrines form our vital principles, and these usages form those pecu- liarities by which we are distinguished from all other denominations, and in the use of which our success, by the blessing of God, has mainly resulted. And that which has given life and energy to the whole system, is not only the fact that these doctrines have been held and propagated, but that they have been held and propagated by men that professed to have, and indeed actually had, an experimental knowledge of them, so that whenever they spoke, they spoke of the things which they '^ had felt and 64 OLD-FASHIONED METHODISM. seen ;" — tliey said, and their lives demonstrated that they said the truth, that those truths had been sealed upon their consciences by the Holy Spirit. Hence they spoke, " not in the words of man's -wisdom," but " in the demonstration of the Spirit and power," ''with much assu- rance in the Holy Ghost." All those things are so essential to the existence and vitality of Me- thodism, that, were any of them to be laid aside, or used as mere forms, the system would be marred. Were the Methodist ministry, for in- stance, to cease to experience the life-giving principle of an active faith, and no longer insist upon the necessity of an inward call to their work by the Holy Ghost, and to preach under the influence of that Holy Spirit, urging upon the people the necessity of the witness and fruits of the Spirit, because they themselves have been made partakers of these things, however ortho- dox they might be in other respects, they would cease to be Methodist preachers, would have sunk into mere formalism, having the "letter which killeth," but destitute of the "Spirit which giveth hfe." I wish to be emphatic upon this subject, more especially because I consider it one of the most vital principles in Methodism. Whatever impi'ovements we may make, however learned. ITS VITAL PRINCIPLES. 65 refined, and ortliodox in our general creed, deep and profound in our researches, eloquent and pathetic in our addresses, systematic in our ser- mons, unless the whole be accompanied by the internal energies of the Holy Spirit, and we have such an experimental knowledge of justification and sanctification — or, at least, so far a know- ledge of the latter as to be earnestly seeking after it, — and they that thus seek shall soon find — we shall be nothing more than " a sound- ing brass and a tinkling cymbal." This has been the boast — if I may be allowed that heretical expression — of the Methodist ministry from the beginning. It was this holy panoply with which Mr. Wesley was armed. And it has been the secret of the astonishing success of his ministers in the awakening and conversion of sinners. If, therefore, they ever lay it aside, as a part of ** old-fashioned Methodism," and substitute in its place the tinsel of human embellishments, — if they cease " living by faith in the Son of God," and substitute for this living faith the chaff of outward forms and ceremonies, — if they substi- tute human philosophy for the ** pure word of God," and theory for experience and practice, — if they so far lose sight of their high and holy calling as to seek their own fame, ease, or self- aggrandizement, instead of the glory of God in 5 G6 OLD-FASHIONED METHODISM. the salvation of souls, — if tliey substitute wit and sarcasm, and the tinsel of human oratory, for the " words of truth and soberness," — if they descend to personal recriminations resulting from envy and jealousy, instead of cultivating the mutual respect and good-will which flow from brotherly love, — then shall God write "Ichabod" upon all our borders, for the " glory" will have " departed from us," because one of the most vital principles of Methodism will have been abandoned. It is equally necessary that the whole Church should be deeply imbued with these same prin- ciples. This is what I understand by " Old- fashioned Methodism." Nor do I desire to see anything substituted in its place. Now for the circumstantials of Methodism. Time was when we had no ordinances; yet Methodism existed without them, only so far as its disciples received them from the hands of ministers of other denominations. They were provided at the organization of the Church in 1784 ; and though I doubt not but this circum- stance has been greatly beneficial in enabling us to diffuse the blessings of the Gospel, yet facts prove that we could have existed without them. Since then a Book-Concern, the establishment of academies and colleges, the Missionary So- ITS CIRCUMSTANTIAL FEATURES. 67 ciety, Sunday-schools, and various charitable in- stitutions — besides the Bible cause, and the Co- lonization Society, into which we have entered in conjunction with other denominations — have been added as useful adjuncts to the main cause. Now, though these things are not essential to the existence of Methodism, they are great helps in developing its principles, in diffusing its spirit, and in extending its influence far . and wide, among all orders and ranks of men ; and although, if they were laid aside, we might still exist, and perhaps retain our vital principles ; yet, I appre- hend, Methodism would be greatly circumscribed in its usefulness ; as, without them, we certainly never could have obtained that commandino- in- o fluence, and taken that elevated stand which we now hold in the community ; and hence, were we to lop off these flourishing branches from the living tree, it would no longer afford that broad shelter to the weary sons of men which it now does, and promises yet more extensively to do. These are the branches, living and flourishing, that have grown from the main stock ; wliich, by their thrift, show that the vital energies of the original trunk are by no means exhausted. So long, therefore, as this Hving tree shall re- main grounded apd rooted in the rich soil in 08 OLD-FASniONED METHODISM. which it was first planted, being continually watered with the " dew of heaven," it shall con- tinue to feed and nourish these living branches ; and likewise be sufficiently vigorous to send forth others, which the progress of events, and the improvements and wants of the age, may dictate to be necessary or expedient. By " old-fashioned Methodism," then, we are to understand that system of doctrine and discipline by which we have all along been distin- guished ; in the mean time adapting itself to the state of society, and the progress of events, so as to take advantage of every new opening of divine Providence, which may call for the inter- vention of auxiliary helps and fresh appliances for extendin<2f the Redeemer's kinordom amon