Answer to Pamphlet Upon the Conduct and Behavior of Methodists, Part 2 – Title page 2
PART II.
BESIDES the many Irregularities which are juſtly charged upon theſe Itinerant Preachers, as Violations of the Laws of Church …nd State; it may be proper to enquire, Whether the Doctrins they teach, and thoſe Lengths they run, beyond what is practiſed among our Religious Societies, or in any other Chriſtian Church; be a Service or a Diſſervice to Religion? To which Purpoſe, the following Queries are ſubmitted to Conſideration.
Query 1. WHETHER Notions in Religion may not be heighten'd to ſuch Extremes, as to lead ſome into a Diſregard of Religion itſelf, through Deſpair of attaining ſuch exalted Heights? And whether others, who have imbib'd thoſe Notions, may not be led by them into a Diſregard and Diſeſteem of the common Duties and Offices of Life; to ſuch a Degree at leaſt, as is inconſiſtent with that Attention to them, and that Diligence in them, which Providence has made neceſſary to the well-being of private Families and publick Societies, and which Chriſtianity does not only require in all Stations and in all Conditions, but declares at the ſame Time, (Col. 3.22. Epheſ. v.6.) that the Performance even of the loweſt Offices in Life, as unto God, (whoſe Providence has plac'd People in their ſeveral Stations,) is truly a Serving of Chriſt, and will not fail of its Reward in the next World?
Qu. 2. Whether the Enemy of Mankind may not find his Account in their carrying Chriſtianity, which was deſign'd for a Rule to all Stations and all Conditions; to ſuch Heights as make it fairly practicable by a very few in Compariſon, or rather by none?
Qu. 3. Whether, in particular, the carrying the Doctrin of Juſtification by Faith alone to ſuch a Height, as not to allow, that a careful and ſincere Obſervance of Moral Duties is ſo much as a Condition of our Acceptance with God, and of our being juſtified in his Sight; Whether this, I ſay, does not naturally lead People to a Diſregard of thoſe Duties, and a low Eſteem of them; or rather to think them no Part of the Chriſtian Religion?†The Words of the pious and judicious Mr. CHILLINGWORTH are very material to this Purpoſe. ‘For my Part, ſays he, I do heartily wiſh, that by publick Authority it were ſo ordered, that no Man ſhould ever preach or print this Doctrine, ‘That Faith alone juſtifies.’ unleſs he joins this together with it, That univerſal Obedience is necceſſary to Salvation.’ Chap. VII. Part I. Sect. 32.
Qu. 4. Whether a due and regular Attendance on the publick Offices of Religion, paid by good Men in a ſerious and compoſed Way, does not better anſwer the true Ends of Devotion, and is not a better Evidence of the Co-operation of the Holy Spirit, than thoſe ſudden *Mr. Whitfield's Journal VI. p. 36.—VII. p. 57, 69, 75. Mr, Weſley's Journal III. Pag. 26, 41, 45, 59, 64, 95.Agonies, †Mr. Whitfield's Journal VII. pag. 74. Mr. Weſley's Journal III. pag. 40, 44, 50, 62, 79, 83, 92, 93, 94.Roarings and Screamings, {inverted †}Pag. 41, 43, 50, 58, 61, 93.Tremblings. *Mr. Whitfield's Journal VII. pag. 12, 60. Mr. Weſley's Journal III. pag. 41, 43, 46, 50, 58, 59, 61, 64, 65, 83.Droppings-down, |Pag. 44, 50, 88, 90, 92, 93.Ravings and Madneſſes; into which their Hearers have been caſt; according to the Relations given of them in the Journals referred to?
Qu. 5. Whether thoſe exalted Strains in Religion, and an Imagination of being already in a State of Perfection, are not apt to lead Men to Spiritual Pride and to a Contempt of their Fellow-Chriſtians; while they conſider them as only going-on in what they account the low and imperfect Way, (i. e. as growing in Grace and Goodneſs only by Degrees;) Even tho' it appear by the Lives of thoſe who are conſider'd by them as in that low and imperfect Way, that they are Perſons who are gradually working out their Salvation, by their own honeſt Endeavours, and through the ordinary Aſſiſtances of God's Grace; with a humble Reliance upon the Merits of Chriſt for the Pardon of their Sins, and the Acceptance of their ſincere, though imperfect, Services?
Qu. 6. Whether the ſame exalted Strains and Notions do not tend to weaken the natural and civil Relations among Men, by leading the Inferiors, into whoſe Heads thoſe Notions are infuſed, to a Diſeſteem of their Superiors; while they conſider them as in a much lower Diſpenſation than themſelves; though thoſe Superiors are otherwiſe ſober and good Men, and regular Attendants on the Ordinances of Religion?
Qu. 7. Whether a gradual Improvement in Grace and Goodneſs, is not a better Foundation of Comfort, and of an Aſſurance of a Goſpel New Birth, than that which is founded on the Doctrin of a *Mr. Weſley's Journal II. p. 19, 20, 44.— Journal III. P. 16, 49.ſudden and inſtantaneous Change; Which, if there be any ſuch Thing, is not eaſily …iſtinguiſhed from Fancy and Imagination; the Working whereof we may well ſuppoſe to be more ſtrong and powerful, while the Perſon conſiders himſelf in the State of one who is admitted as a Candidate for ſuch a Change, and is taught in due Time to expect it?
Qu. 8. Whether, in a Chriſtian Nation, where the Inſtruction and Edification of the People is provided-for, by placing Miniſters in certain Diſtricts, to whom the Care of the Souls within thoſe Diſtricts is regularly committed; It can be for the Servic… of Religion, that … Preachers run up and down from Place to Place, and from County to County, drawing after them confuſed Multitudes of People, and leading them into a Diſeſteem of their own Paſtors, as †Mr. Whitefield, (Journal IV. p. 38.) addreſſing himſelf to his Brother Teachers; ſays, ‘O my dear Brethren, have Compaſſion on our dear Lord's Church, which he has purchaſed with his own Blood. Suffer none of them to be as Sheep having no Shepherd, or worſe than none, thoſe blind Leaders of the Blind, who let them periſh for lack of Knowledge, and are no better than Wolves in Sheeps cloathing. And, Journal V. p. 31. Though we are but few, and ſtand as it were alone, like Elijah; and though they, like the Prieſts of Baal, are many in Number; yet I doubt not but the Lord will appear for us as he did for that Prophet, and make us more then Conquerors.’ And Pag. 32. This Afternoon I was carried out much in bearing my Teſtimony againſt the unchriſtian Princ…ples and Practices of the Generality of our Clergy.leſs willing or leſs able to inſtruct them in the Way of Salvation: An Evil, which our Church has wiſely provided againſt in the Ordination of a Prieſt, by expreſly limitting the Exerciſe of the Powers conferred upon him, of preaching the Word of God, and adminiſtring the Holy Sacraments, *Mr. Weſley (Journal III p. 5….) being asked, By what Authority he preached, reply'd, "By the Authority …f Jeſus Chriſt conveyed to me by the (new) Archbiſhop …f Canterbury, when he laid his Hands upon me, and ſaid, Take thou Authority to preach the Goſpel." In this Reply, he thought fit, for a plain Reaſon, to leave out this latter Part of the Commiſſion; for that would have ſhewn his Reader the Reſtraint and Limitation under which the Exerciſe of the Power is granted. But in the ſame Journal, p. 56. he declares, without Reſerve, 'That he looks upon all the World as his Pariſh,' and explains his Meaning as follows; "In whatever Part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden Duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad Tidings of Salvation. This is the Work which I know God has call'd me to." Such alſo is the Language of Mr. Whitefield, (Journal VII. p. 18, 62, 78.) As to an extraordinary Call, I claim none, otherwiſe than the Apoſtle's Injunction, 'As we have Opportunity, let us do Good unto all Men.'—"God ſeems to ſhew me, it is my Duty to Evangelife, and not to fix in any particular place."—"I am now free to Evangelife and go whitherſoever the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to call me." Now, if this Call may be pleaded by Chriſtians, on the Foot of that general Injunction, without any other Evidences of an Apoſtolical Miſſion; what Occaſion had Mr. Weſley to have Recourſe to the Plea of an Epiſcopal Miſſion? It were well, if he and ſome others would remember what the ſame Apoſtle has ſaid (1 Cor. xiv.33.) God is not the Author of Confuſion (or, as it is in the Margin, not of TUMULT) but of Peace, as in all Churches of the Saints.to the Congregation where he ſhall be lawfully appointed thereunto.
The Biſhops, indeed, and alſo our two Univerſities, have Power to grant Licences to preach, of a larger Extent, to ſuch Clergymen as they judge proper; who, in Virtue thereof, may, if they chuſe, travel from Place to Place as Itinerants. But then the Church has provided in that Caſe (Can. 50.) That neither …e Miniſter, Church-wardens, nor any other Officers of the Church, ſhall ſuffer any Man to preach within their Churches and Chapels, but ſuch as, by ſhewing their Licenſe to preach, ſhall appear unto them to be ſufficiently authoriſed thereunto.
The Practice of Licenſing Itinerant Preachers was occaſioned by the low Talents of many Incumbents in the more early Days of the Reformation; whoſe Abilities carry'd them no farther than to the Reading of Homilies. A Defect, which has long been remedied by a liberal Education of ſufficient Numbers of Perſons for the Miniſtry, who regularly perform the Office of Preaching, as well as other Duties, in the Pariſhes committed to their Care. And if the forementioned Defect did ſtill continue, as, God be thank'd, it does not; it would be ill ſupply'd by our modern Itinerants who make it their principal Employ, wherever they go, to inſtill into the People a few favourite Tenets of their own; and this, with ſuch Diligence and Zeal, as if the Whole of Chriſtianity depended upon them, and all Efforts towards the true Chriſtian Life, without a Belief of thoſe Tenets were vain and ineffectual.
Qu. 9. Whether it does not ſavour of Self-ſufficiency and Preſumption, when a few young Heads, without any Colour of a Divine Commiſſion, ſet up their own Schemes, as the great Standard of Chriſtianity: And, How it can be reconciled to Chriſtian Humility, Prudence, or Charity, to indulge their own Notions to ſuch a Degree, as to perplex, unhinge, terrify, and diſtract the Minds of Multitudes of People, who have lived from their Infancy under a Goſpel Miniſtry, and in the regular Exerciſe of a Goſpel Worſhip; and all this, by perſuading them, that they have never yet heard the true †This was the Language with which they ſet out early—I offer'd Jeſus Chriſt freely to them, Whitfield's 3d Journal, p. 47. — I think, Wales is excellently well prepar'd for the Goſpel of Chriſt, ibid. p. 51.—Receiv'd News of the wonderful Progreſs of the Goſpel in Yorkſhire, under the Miniſtry of my dear Brother Ingham, ibid. p. 52. — I was refreſh'd by a great Packet of Letters, giving me an Account of the Succeſs of the Goſpel, ibid. p. 73. A moſt comfortable Packet of Letters, giving me an Account of the Succeſs of the Goſpel, ib. p. 78. Theſe Inſtances are taken from the Biſhop of London's Fourth Paſtoral Letter; and the ſame Language has continued in the ſubſequent Journals, and in their Letters.Goſpel, nor been inſtructed in the true Way of Salvation before; and that they neither are, nor can be true Chriſtians, but by adhering to their Doctrins and Diſciplin, and embracing Chriſtianity upon their Schemes, All the while, for the Sake of thoſe Schemes, and in Purſuance of them, violating the wholſome Rules, which the Powers Spiritual and Temporal have wiſely and piouſly eſtabliſhed, for the Preſervation of Peace and Order in the Church.
Qu. 10. Whether it be for the Service of Religion, to diſcourage People from reading *Mr. Whitfield's Journal V. p. 19. It cannot be expreſſed how many carnal Hearts were diſturbed by my Teſtimony againſt Archbiſhop Tillotſon. — But before I have done, I do not deſpair of ſeeing People bring his Works, as they once brought the Books of curious Arts, and burn them before all Men. — Journal VII p. 2. The Man's Wife was a great Admirer of Archbiſhop Tillotſon, but having her Eyes now opened to diſcern Spiritual Things, can no longer take up with ſuch Huſks, fit only for carnal, unawakened, unbelieving Reaſoners, to eat.Archbiſhop Tillotſon's Sermons, and the †Mr. Whitfield's Letter from New Brunſwick, p. 6, 7. — After having laid down his own Scheme, he adds, 'This, the Author of the Whole Duty of Man was wholly ignorant of otherwiſe he would not have laid ſuch a Foundation. And if the Foundation be ſo bad, judge you then how wretchedly weak the Superſtructure muſt be.' — He [the Perſon who urged the Authority of that Book, to juſtify the Uſe of innocent Recreations] is not the firſt, by Thouſands, who has been miſerably deceived by this Book; and therefore I thought my ſelf obliged to write this Letter. You may make what Uſe you will of it. I care not if the Contents are publiſhed upon the Houſe-top. — There is no Hopes of bringing People to a right Knowledge of the Goſpel, till their favourite, though erroneous, Authors are diſcountenanced and laid aſide.Whole Duty of Man; to whom our Methodiſts might have added many more of our beſt Writers after the Reſtoration. For, all theſe (together with explaining the whole Work of our Redemption by Chriſt) endeavoured to turn the Mind of People to the Practice of Moral Duties, and to cure them of that Ma…neſs a…d Enthuſiaſm into which the… had been led by the Antinomian Doctrine… …nd ot…rs of the like Tendency, during the Times of Anarchy and Confuſion.
Qu. 11. Whether, the Frame of human Nature fairly conſidered, the Author of the Whole Duty of Man did not do better Service to Religion, in laying down Rules to keep Recreations of all Kinds within the Bounds of Innocence; than they, who now cenſure him, and abſolutely deny that *Mr. Whitfield's Letter from New Brunſwick, p. 7, — Journal V. p. 58, 59, 77, 78.— Weſley's Journal II. p. 13.Recreations of any Kind, conſider'd as ſuch, are or can be innocent?
Qu. 12. Whether the ſtrong Expreſſions which are found in their printed Journals, of †Many Paſſages of that and other Kinds, are cited out of Mr. Whitfield's 1ſt, 2d, & 3d Journals, in the Biſhop of London's Fourth Paſtoral Letter; thoſe three being all that were then publiſhed. Such are theſe that follow: — Had much of the Preſence of God with me, Journal I. p. 18. — Had much of God with me to Day, ibid. p. 28. — The Kingdom of God is within me, Journ. III. p. 4. — My Oppoſers, would they but ſpeak, cannot but confeſs that God is with me of a Truth, ibid. p. 18. But ſince the Publication of thoſe three Journals, he has publiſhed four more; and thoſe more full of Enthuſiaſm, if poſſible, than the three firſt; as will appear by the following Extracts. I. Extraordinary Preſences of God. Journal IV. P. 2. My Soul was ſo fill'd with God, that the Word came with very great Power to all that heard me. P. 3. God is pleaſed to vouchſafe me great Meaſures of his divine Preſence. P. 13. The Divine Preſence was amongſt us. Journal V. P. 30. Several joining in Prayer, the Divine Preſence was manifeſt among us. Journal VI. P. 47. Felt much of the Preſence of God in my Heart. Ibid. I returned to my Sloop with much of God's Preſence. Journal VII. P. 5. Preached twice, with much of the Divine Preſence. P. 12. Felt more than common, of the Divine Preſence in my Soul. P. … ▪ The Power and Preſence of the Lord accompanied and follow'd me. P. 48. The Divine Preſence was ſtrong upon me all the Evening. P. 63. Felt an eſpecial Preſence of God in my private Buſineſs, II. Extraordinary Communications from God. Journal IV. P. 16. God was pleas'd to refreſh me with freſh Communications from himſelf. P. 31. Have had great Communications from God. Journal V. P. 22. I experience freſh Teachings and Communications from God's Holy Spirit. Ibid. God has been pleaſed to vouchſafe me plentiful Communications from himſelf. Journal VII. P. 2. Have had frequent Communications from above, both by way of Humiliation and Exaltation. P. 19. The bleſſed Jeſus was pleaſed ſweetly to manifeſt himſelf to my Soul. P. 23. Received freſh Emanations of Divine light break-in upon and refreſhing my Soul. P. 58. Divine Manifeſtations flowed-in ſo faſt, that my frail Tabernacle was ſcarce able to ſuſtain them. P. 62. The Lord was pleaſed to communicate himſelf to me freely. My Soul was fill'd with his bleſſed Preſence. III. Extraordinary Emanations and Aſſiſtances of the Holy Spirit; particularly in Preaching. Journal IV. P. 2. My Word, I believe, came with Demonſtration of the Spirit. P. 4. Preach'd with great Tower— [This, the ordinary Language of the Journals.] P. 5. God gave me great Enlargement of Soul; and the Exhortation, which was long and powerful, I believe, reached their Hearts. P. 12. God was pleaſed to give me uncommon Freedom and Liberty in ſpeaking. P. 14. I perceiv'd a freſh Supply of Spirits to be given me from above. P. 21. I never had ſuch Power given me to ſpeak to the Scoffers. P. 23. My Body being weak, and God being pleas'd to withdraw himſelf, I ſpoke with very little Power in the Morning; but in the Afternoon God cauſed my Strength to return again, and I preach'd with much Freedom and Power in the Evening— And I was enabled to lift up my Voice like a Trumpet, and to preach to about 20,000 Souls. P. 35. I pray'd and preach'd with greater Demonſtration of the Spirit, than ever. Journal V. P. 23. Felt more of the Divine Aſſiſtance To day, than I have ſince I have been abroad. P. 30. The Lord endow'd me with Power from on High. My Heart was enlarged and warm'd with Divine Love. P. 34. The Holy Spirit ſweetly gave me Utterance. P. 38. I have not felt greater Freedom in preaching, and more Power in Prayer, and a ſtronger Witneſs of the Spirit, ſince I came into America. P. 40. God was pleaſed to open my Mouth. P. 44. I began to ſpeak as the Lord gave me Utterance. Ibid. In the Midſt of my Diſcourſe, the Power of the Lord Jeſus came upon me. P. 46. God gave me, particularly toward the Cloſe of my Sermon, to ſpeak with Divine Energy. P. 72. I was much carried out; I felt the Power of God come upon me, and I ſpoke with Demonſtration of the Spirit to the Hearer's Souls. Journal VI. P. 23. Before I had done, the Power of the Lord came upon the Congregation, the Holy Ghoſt overſhadow'd them, and a gracious melting was viſible in moſt that heard. P. 25. I was ready to drop down — But God was pleaſed ſo to revive me, by Communications from himſelf, that I ſpoke with great Demonſtration of the Spirit and with Power. P. 27. In very great Weakneſs of Body.—But, before I had preached ſix Minutes, bodily and ſpiritual Strength was given me, and the Lord was pleaſed to ſet his Seal to what he enabled me to deliver. P. 30. Towards the Concluſion of my Diſcourſe, God's Spirit came upon the Preacher and the People. P. 53. When we came to publick Prayer, the Holy Ghoſt ſeem'd to come into the Congregation like a mighty ruſhing Wind, carrying all before it. Journal VII. P. 13. Finding the Power of the Lord come upon me, I began to ſpeak to them of the Things of God. P. 39. I preach'd with much Pemonſtratiof the Spirit. P. 43, 56—The Spirit of the Lord came upon me, God gave me to wreſtle with him for my Friends. P. 46. The Holy Ghoſt enabled me to ſpeak with a great deal of Power. P. 50. The Power of the Lord was upon me; I ſpake with much Weight and Freedom. P. 53. The Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and enabled me to ſpeak with Vigour. P. 57. After I had begun, the Spirit of the Lord gave me Freedom, till at length it came down like a mighty ruſhing Wind, and carried all before it. P. 67. I felt the Holy Ghoſt come upon me at that Time, and never ſpoke on that wiſe before. *More Inſtances of ſuch extraordinary Aſſiſtances; ſet down in the Biſhop of London's 4th Paſtoral Letter— I ſpoke with the Demonſtration of the Spirit, Journal III. p. 8.— Was filled with the Holy Ghoſt, which very much ſtrengthen'd my Body, and made my Feet like Hart's Feet, ibid. p. 13.—Expounded with ſuch Demonſtration of the Spirit, as I never ſpoke with before, ibid. p. 14.— God has given me a double Portion of his Spirit indeed, ibid. p▪ 15.— Was told that my preaching was attended with uncommon Power, ibid. p. 16 —I fear, I ſhould quench the Spirit, did I not go on to ſpeak as he gives me Utterance, ibid. p. 17. — God enabled me to ſpeak with ſuch irreſiſtible Power, that the Oppoſers were quite ſtruck dumb and confounded, ibid. p. 24.— Felt the Spirit of God working in me mightily, ibid.— Bleſſed be God, I find myſelf much refreſhed in Spirit, and a new Supply of Strength given me. Thus ſhall it be done to the Man whom God delighteth to honour, ibid. p 41.— Had extraordinary Power given me at the Society in Nicholas Street, ibid. p. 53. Heard of one that received the Holy Ghoſt immediately upon my preaching Chriſt. ibid. p. 72.— I believe, few, if any, were able to reſiſt the Power, wherewith God enabled me to ſpeak, ibid. p. 108.— My Heart was full of God, and I ſpake as one having Authority, ibid. IV. Special Directions from God. Journal IV. P. 30. Aſk'd Counſel of God, and perceiv'd an unuſual Power and Warmth enter into my Soul, Journal V. P. 23. In writing an Extempore Sermon— The Holy Ghoſt brought many Things to my Remembrance. P. 43. God was pleaſed to direct my Words. Journal VII. P. 49. The Morning I intended to go and preach at—. But God ſhew'd me To day, it was inconſiſtent with my other Buſineſs upon many Accounts. P. 66. The Lord gave me the Text I preached on juſt before the Meeting, directed me to a Method as I was going up the Pulpit Stairs, and enabled me to diſcourſe with an uncommon Clearneſs, Freedom, and Power. *More Inſtances of ſuch immediate Directions from God; out of the Biſhop of London's 4th Paſtoral Letter.— This Day, I intended to ſtay on Board to write Letters, but God being pleaſed to ſhew me it was not his Will, I went on Shore again. Journ. I. p. 3.— I told the People that God called me, and I muſt away. — Intended to preach at Fort Simons, &c. but Lord, thou calledſt me elſewhere, Journal II. p. 9.—God having ſhew'd me and my Friends, that it was his Will I ſhould return for a while to England,—I preach'd my farewell Sermon, ibid. p. 11. Under this Head may alſo properly be placed, the Declarations of a ſpecial and immediate Miſſion from God, (as they are found together in the ſaid 4th Paſtoral Letter:) — Was ſoon convinced, that God hath ſent me hither of a Truth, Journ. I. p. 5.— The eternal Almighty I AM, hath ſent me, ibid. p. 32.— To preach the Goſpel at Frederica alſo; for therefore am I ſent. Journ. II. p. 7.—Lord, thou calledſt me elſewhere, ibid. p. 9.— This I know, what I have ſpoken from God, will come to paſs (lo it will come) and then ſhall Scoffers and Deſpiſers know, that a Miniſter of Chriſt hath been amongſt them, ibid. p. 19.— I muſt go into every Place and City, where I have been already; for therefore am I ſent, Journ. III. p. 20.— Lord, open thou their Eyes, that they may ſee that this is thy Doing, Journ. III. p.33.extraordinary Preſences of God directing and aſſiſting them in a more immediate Manner, do not need ſome Teſtimonies of a Divine Miſſion, to clear them from the Charge of Enthuſiaſm?
Qu. 13. Whether the ſame Perſons *Mr. Whitefield's Journal IV. P. 16. The People were much rejoyced at the News of my Coming. Their Hearts ſeem'd to leap for Joy, and many Thankſgivings were render'd to God in my Behalf. The Bell… rang, unknown to me. P. 38. Many Tea…s were ſhed when I talk'd of leaving them—I could ſcarce get to the Coach for the People's thronging me, to take me by the Hand, and give me a parting Bleſſing. Journal V. P. 6. When I ſaid, Finally Brethren, farewell; Thouſands immediately burſt out into ſtrong Cryings and Tears. P. 47. They follow me, wherever I go, as they uſed to do in London. Journal VI. P. 39. After I had taken my Leave, Oh how many came to my Lodgings, ſorrowing moſt of all that they were likely to ſee my Face no more for a long Seaſon. P. 50. Many People ſtood without the Church-door, and I was enabled to ſpeak with ſuch abundant Freedom and Power, that I cannot believe any one Hearer could avoid being affected in ſome Degree or other. — I ſaw the Word ſtrike the Hearers, like ſo many pointed Arrows. It came with Demonſtration of the Spirit indeed. Carnal Reaſoning could not reſiſt it. Journal VII. P. 5. People ſeem'd to come from all Parts; and the Word, as I was told, came with a convincing Power. P. 32. In every Part of the Congregation, Perſons might be ſeen under great Concern. P. 37. Wherever I go, People will follow me. P. 41. Numbers, great Numbers, melted into Tears, when I talk'd of leaving them. P. 44. The Word fell with much Weight indeed: It carried all before it.OPEN and PUBLICK Boaſtings of his own extraordinary Labours in the Miniſtry, and his uncommon Succeſs in it, and of the vaſt Concourſe of People with which his Preaching is attended, and the diſtinguiſhing Reſpects he meets with on that Account: Whether, I ſay, the publiſhing all this to the World, ſavours of that Humility, Modeſty and Self-denial, which becomes a Miniſter of the Goſpel; and eſpecially one, who would be thought to carry on his Miniſtry under the immediate Guidance of the Holy Spirit; whoſe peculiar Office it is, to ſeaſon the Heart with Humility, and to root out of it the Seeds of Pride and Vain-glory.
The END of PART II.
AN ANSWER To the FIRST PART of an Anonymous Pamphlet, ENTITLED, Obſervations upon the Conduct and Behaviour of a certain Sect uſually diſtinguiſhed by the Name of METHODISTS. IN A LETTER TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THE BISHOP of LONDON, And the other the Right Reverend the BISHOPS concern'd in the Publication thereof.
By GEORGE WHITEFIELD, A.B. Late of PEMBROKE-COLLEGE, OXFORD.
Falſe Witneſſes did riſe up; they laid to my Charge Things that I knew not, Pſal. xxxv.11.
BOSTON: Printed and Sold by ROGERS and FOWLE in Queen-ſtreet, near the Priſon. 1744.