of the following sheets has lain by me, fome weeks, merely with a view of ftriking out, from time to time, whatever might favour of undue afperity and intemperate warmth. If I any where, however, express myself strongly, it is owing to the neceffity I was under of expofing Mr. Wefley's unmanly and dishoneft methods of attack. BROAD HEMBURY, MORE MORE WORK FOR Mr. John Wesley, &c. IF it be poffible, fays the apostle, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men: plainly intimating, that, in fome cafes, this is not poffible. For, what if other men will not live peaceably with us? what if fome, like the troubled fea which cannot reft, are perpetually cafting up mire and dirt against the gospel of God, and against all that embrace it? Are fuch indefatigable flanderers to be let alone? The apoftle's own conduct fays, No. His unavoidable contefts, with the falfe teachers of that age, are demonftrative of the neceffity, which, occafionally, even the meek and the pacific are under, of sharply rebuking fuch: to the end that, if God fo pleafe, they may become found in the faith; or, at least, learn not to blafpheme, nor to increase unto more ungodliness. Our civil conftitution is not more the envy of neighbouring nations, than our religious eftablifhment is the eye-fore of Papifts, Pelagians, and Arminians: a triplicate, who too well agree in one. Obferve, I fpeak not of all Arminians. Many there are, who, notwithstanding their entanglement in that net, ftand entitled to the character of pious, moderate, refpectable men. Of thefe, I myself know more than a few: and have the happiness to enjoy as much of their efteem, as they defervedly poffefs of mine. But I fpeak, above, of the noify, factions, malevolent Arminians: retlefs bigots, whofe falfe fire would shed difgrace on whatever party they might belong to. Who, not content with exercifing their own right of private judgment, are for reviling and condemning every indivi dual perfon who claims the fame right of judging for himself, and will not facrifice his creed at their shrine. From From the first fettlement of our national Church, quite down to the prefent hour, it has been the ambition and the labour of thofe * factions, to destroy her, either by fap, or by ftorm: and, when both thefe methods have mifcarried, to adulterate and difcolour the pure and undefiled fyftem which they found themfelves unable to overthrow. Common justice commands me to acknowledge, that no man has ftrove more to diftinguish himself in this laudable warfare, than Mr. John Wesley: and, at the fame time, ftubborn fact conftrains me to add, that few warriors have acquitted themfelves more contemptibly. This gentleman, in his plenitude of ardour for the caufe, has made long, ample, and repeated trial of all the three methods above mentioned: the filent fap, the vigorous affault, and the artful adulteration. But all without fuccefs. The mine will not fpring. The affault cannot be carried. The adulteration is too grofs to incorporate. What must he do? Prevail he cannot : to fly, he is alhamed. In fuch an exigence, all that remains for "Be I am fully aware, that it is impoffible for the Arminians, ftrict ly fo called, to be charged with oppofing our national fyitem from its firft inflitution: feeing they had then no more than a virtual exiftence in the loins of their ancestors. Even Mr. Welley is forced to acknowledge (in a paper, mif-entitled, The Queftion, What is an Arminian? Anfwered: p. 4.) that Arminius himfelf did not gin to doubt of the principles which he had till then received" [i. e. Arminius did not begin to apoftatize from Calvinifm] until "the year 1591." However, let his doubts" have "begun" when they would; I cannot find, that he made any confpicuous figure, as an innovator on the Proteftant faith, until about the year 1602. Confequently, his English profelytes could not have laboured to fubvert the religion of their country, fo early as under Edward VI, nor even during the firft years of Elizabeth. The Arminians, though, at prefent, a numerous, are very far from being an antient family. But as, ever fince they did fpring up, they have left no nerve unftrained, in their attempts to demolish our doctrinal establishment; I have, above, configned them, without fcruple, to rank with the other two denominations (there mentioned: an honour, to which they have the fairer title, as they eminently promote the fame good old caufe, and fo fedulously endeavour to make up, in zeal, what they want in antiquity. him is, to flourish his reed, to throw an oc-. cafional fquib, and fcorn" to confefs either the impiety or the impracticability of his enterprize.-But reeds are ftill unable to batter Churches; and fquibs (fuch as " The Confequence proved") are only calculated to amufe children, and terrify old women. Yet he goes on, to throw the one, and to brandish the other: why? becaufe his hatred of the heavenly doctrines is total; and he refolves, that its perfeverance fhall be final. May divine grace, in mercy to his foul, fuperfede the former, and forbid the latter! A 'The adventurer, who embarks on fuch an expedition, as that which has, hitherto, engroffed the attention of Mr. Wefley, fhould be prudent, as well as daring. He has, I acknowledge, as much of the infidious in his compofition, as he has of the acid: and it would be difficult to fay, which predominates. But cunning is one thing: difcretion is another. few feeming grains of certain virtues, called humility and moderation, would have conduced, in fome measure, to promote his views, by fcreening them.The example of Arminius might have taught him this piece of theological policy, fo needful in the ring-leader of a fect. To give that erroneous Dutchman [Arminius] his due, he either had, or appeared to have, fome remains of modefty and candour: which, more than all his arguments, contributed to his acquifition of difciples. But Mr. Wefley is for adding the lion to the fox, He wishes, not only to wheedle, but to thunder the Church out of her Calvinifm. Partly, perhaps, in refentment for his having been (very defervedly) thundered out of the Church. A deliverance, by the bye, on which I most heartily congratulate our facred mother. And, I believe, her genuine fons may Le fafely confident (notwithstanding the late tranfa&ions at the Feathers Tavern), that he will not difpenfe with fubfcripVOL. V. (27.) A a tions tions to her Calvinifm, quite fo complacently, as fhe refigned Mr. John Wesley. The complacency, however, is far from reciprocal. This discarded divine, like fome difcarded foldiers, cannot wholly diveft himself of that military air, which, under fuch circumstances, can, at best, but excite pity, instead of commanding refpect. He is ftill, like Mahomet, for propagating his religion by the fword. Peals of anathemas are iffued, and torrents of the lowest calumny are thrown out, against all who abide by the doctrines of the xxxix articles. The gentleman's own Sic volo, fic jubeo; ftet, pro ratione, voluntas ! is expected to carry all the efficacy of demonftration, on penalty of his utmoft malediction. But, let me tell him, that the thinking part of mankind, especially those of them whofe eyes are fpiritually opened, will pay no more regard to his empty fulminations, though launched, quafi à tripode, with all the affumed importance of oracular infallibility; than our magnanimous Elizabeth paid to the bloated menaces of pope Pius V. He continued to roar; and she continued to reign. Pope John's authority may have fome weight with fuch men as Meffieurs Walter Sellon, Haddon Smith, and Thomas Olivers: but not an inch, beyond the purlieus of ignorance, prejudice, and fuperftition, will his dictatorship extend. Such of the public, as have condefcended to perufe a pamphlet, entitled, A Letter to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, relative to his pretended Abridgement of Zanchius on Predeftination; must be fufficiently apprized of the nature and occafion of my conteft with this veteran. Another edition of that letter having been called for, and published laft winter; the veteran aforefaid, by way (or rather, in lieu) of reprifal, prints, in the month of August, |