Answer to Pamphlet Upon the Conduct and Behavior of Methodists, Letter 1 – Title page 3
A LETTER To the RIGHT REVEREND The Biſhop of London, &c.
My Lords,
THE Apoſtle Peter exhorts us, to be ready to give an Anſwer to every one that aſketh us a Reaſon of the Hope that is in us, with Meekneſs and Fear. And if this is to be our Conduct towards every one, much more are we bound to behave thus to thoſe who are Overſeers of the Church of God, and conſequently are inveſted with an Authority to require an Anſwer at our Hands.
A Deſire of complying with this Apoſtolical Injunction, induced me, my Lords, about five Weeks ago to publiſh an *Whereas ſome anonymous Papers againſt the People call'd Methodiſts in general, and myſelf and Friends in particular, have been for ſome Weeks printed in a large Edition, and handed about and read in the Religious Societies of the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and given into the Hands of many private Perſons, with ſtrict Injunctions to lend them to no one, nor let them go out of their Hands to any; and whereas, after having accidentally had the haſty Peruſal of them, I find many Queries of great Importance concerning me, and my Conduct, contain'd therein; and as it appears that one Paper has little or no Connexion with another, and a Copy, when applied for, was refus'd me, and I know not how ſoon I may embark for Georgia; I am therefore obliged hereby to deſire a ſpeedy open Publication of the aforeſaid Papers, in order that a candid, impartial Anſwer may be made thereto by me, London, Jan. 26, 1743-4. GEORGE WHITEFIELD.Advertiſement, wherein I deſired an open Publication of ſeveral anonymous Papers, entitled, Obſervations upon the Conduct and Behaviour of a certain Sect, uſually diſtinguiſhed by the Name of Methodiſts.— Papers which, upon Enquiry, I found had been printed ſome conſiderable Time, had been read in the Societies of London and Weſtminſter, and handed about in a private Manner to particular Friends, with ſtrict Orders to part with them to no one.— What could be the meaning of ſuch a Procedure, I know not.—But this I know, however ſuch a clandeſtine way of acting, may ſavour of the Wiſdom of the Serpent, it does not beſpeak that Harmleſneſs of the Dove, which our Saviour in an eſpecial Manner recommends to his Miniſters.
Who the real Author of theſe Papers may be, I am not yet able for a Certainty to find out.—But I had Reaſon to believe, that my Lord of London was concerned in compoſing or reviſing them.—That I might not be miſtaken, after the Publication of the Advertiſement, I wrote his Lordſhip a Letter *My Lord, Lond. Feb. 1. 1743. Simplicity becomes the Followers of Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore I think it my Duty to trouble your Lordſhip with theſe few Lines. I ſuppoſe your Lordſhip has ſeen the Advertiſement publiſhed by me, about four Days ago, concerning ſome anonymous Papers, which have been handed about the Societies for ſome conſiderable Time. As I think it my Duty to anſwer them, I ſhould be glad to be informed whether the Report be true, that your Lordſhip compoſed them, that I may the better know to whom I may direct my Anſwer. A Sight alſo of one of the Copies, if in your Lordſhip's keeping, would much oblige, My Lord, Your Lordſhip's Moſt obliged, Dutiful Son and Servant, GEORGE WHITEFIELD. P. S. The Bearer will bring your Lordſhip's Anſwer; or if your Lordſhip pleaſe to favour me with a Line, be pleas'd to direct for me, to be left with Mr. J. Syms, &c., wherein I deſired to know, whether his Lordſhip was the Author of this Paper or not, and alſo deſired a Copy.—His Lordſhip was pleaſed to ſend Word by my Friend, who carried the Letter, that I ſhould hear from him. —Hitherto his Lordſhip has not favoured me with an Anſwer.—Only ſome Time ago, one Mr. Owen, a Printer, in Amen-Corner, Pater-noſter-Row, who is Printer to my Lord of London, left a Letter *SIR, Feb. 3. 1743. My Name is Owen. I am a Printer in Amen-Corner; and I waited upon you to let you know, that I have had Orders from ſeveral of the Biſhops, to print for their Uſe, ſuch Numbers of the Obſervations upon the Conduct and Behaviour of the Methodiſts, (with ſome few Additions) as they have reſpectively beſpoken. And I will not fail to wait upon you with one Copy, as ſoon as the Impreſſion is finiſhed. I am, Sir, your moſt obedient, &c.for me, wherein he informed me, that he had Orders from SEVERAL OF THE BISHOPS to print the Obſervations en the Conduct and Behaviour of the Methodiſts (WITH SOME FEW ADDITIONS) for their uſe; and when the Impreſſion was finiſhed, I ſhould have a Copy.— Why my Lord of London, or the ſeveral other Biſhops concerned, ſhould conceal their Names, or why a Copy ſhould be denied me, ſo long after the Papers had been printed, I leave the World to judge. I cannot think ſuch a way of Proceeding can gain your Lordſhips any Credit from the Publick, or any Thanks from the other Biſhops who have not intereſted themſelves in this Affair, and who, I believe, are more noble, than to countenance the Publication of any ſuch Performance.
It is a weighty Thing with me, my Lords, to have Inſinuations made, or Queries put concerning me, in reſpect to my Practice and Doctrine, in ſuch a Public Manner, by Perſons that are placed at the Head of the Church.—It is true, your Lordſhips have not put theſe Queries in your own Names; but as the Author has concealed his, and theſe Papers are printed by your Lordſhips Orders, you have thereby adopted them for your own; conſequently, I am put under a Neceſſity of directing this Letter as I have done. And I can aſſure your Lordſhips, that with great Deference to the Dignity of your Office, after earneſt Prayer, with I truſt ſome Degree of Humility, and unfeigned Simplicity of Heart, I now ſit down to perform my Promiſe, viz. to give a Candid and Impartial Anſwer to the fore-mentioned Papers, which were ſent me laſt Week, (collected into a Pamphlet) by Mr. Owen; I ſuppoſe, according to your Lordſhips Order.
I never yet was, and hope never ſhall be ſo far left to lean to my own Underſtanding, as to fancy myſelf infallible.—Young as I am, I know too much of the Devices of Satan, and the deſperate Wickedneſs and Deceitfulneſs of my own Heart, not to be ſenſible, that I am a Man of like Paſſions with others, and conſequently may have ſometimes miſtaken Nature for Grace, Imagination for Revelation, and the Fire of my own Temper, for the pure and ſacred Flame of holy Zeal, which cometh from God's Alter. —If therefore, upon peruſing the Pamphlet, I find that I have been blameable in any Reſpect (as in all Probability I may) I will not only confeſs it, but return hearty Thanks both to the Compiler and your Lordſhips, tho' unknown.
Indeed it is but of little Conſequence to the Merits of the Cauſe to know who the Author is.—Only thus much may be ſaid, your Lordſhips yourſelves being Judges, it is not quite fair to give Stabs in the Dark; and it is ſome Satisfaction to the Perſon attacked, to know who, and what, his Antagoniſts are, that he may know the better how to deal with them— But ſince that cannot be granted, it may be more to the Purpoſe, to conſider the Matters contain'd in the Pamphlet, and to anſwer for myſelf, ſo far as I am concerned.
It is entitled, Obſervations upon the Conduct and Behaviour of a certain Sect, uſually diſtinguiſhed by the Name of Methodiſts.—I think the Title ought rather to run thus— Miſrepreſentations of the Conduct and PRINCIPLES, of ſome orthodox, well-meaning Miniſters and Members of the Church of England, and Loyal Subjects to his Majeſty King George, FALSLY TERM'D A SECT, and uſually diſtinguiſhed, OUT OF CONTEMPT, by the Name of Methodiſts. This Title, my Lords, would juſt anſwer the Contents.— For the Principles as well as Conduct of the Methodiſts are ſtruck at, and greatly miſrepreſented in this Pamphlet.—And the Methodiſts are no Sect, no Separatiſts from the eſtabliſh'd Church, neither do they call People from her Communion.—Beſides the Author ought to have added, A New Edition, with ſeveral Alterat…ons, Additions and Corrections; for otherwiſe the World is made to believe, that this is the ſelf-ſame Compoſition which was handed about ſome Months ago, and which I had a haſty Reading of.— Whereas there are ſeveral Things omitted, ſome Things added, and divers Alterations made in this New Edition, ſo that the Title-Page is not only injudicious, but falſe and ſcandalous.
And if the Title-Page is ſo bad, I fear the Deſign and Scope of the Pamphlet itſelf is much worſe.—For is it not to repreſent the Proceedings of the Methodiſts as dangerous to the Church and State, in order to procure an Act of Parliament againſt them, or oblige them to ſecure themſelves by turning Diſſenters?
But is not ſuch a Motion, at ſuch a Seaſon as this, both uncharitable and unſeaſonable.—Is not the Adminiſtration engaged enough already in other Affairs, without troubling themſelves with the Methodiſts? Or who would now adviſe them to bring farther Guilt upon the Nation, by perſecuting ſome of the preſent Government's moſt hearty Friends? — I ſay, my Lords, the preſent Government's moſt hearty Friends. — For tho' the Methodiſts (as the World calls them) diſagree in ſome Particulars, yet I dare venture to affirm, that to a Man they all agree in this, viz. to love and honour the King. — For my own part, I profe… myſelf a zealous Friend to his preſent Majeſty King George, and the preſent Adminiſtration.—Whereever I go, I think it my Duty to pray for and preach up Obedience to him, and all that are ſet in Authority under him, in the moſt explicite Manner.— And I believe ſhould it ever come to the Trial, the poor deſpiſed Methodiſts who love his Majeſty out of Principle, would cleave cloſe to him in the moſt imminent Danger, when others that adhere to him, only for his Preferments, perhaps might not appear altogether ſo hearty. — My Lords, I have now been a Preacher above ſeven Years, and for theſe ſix Years laſt paſt, have been called to act in a very publick Way.—Your Lordſhips muſt have heard of the very great Numbers that have attended. Some times ſeveral of the Nobility, and now and then even ſome of the Clergy have been preſent. — Did they ever hear me ſpeak a diſloyal Word? Are th…re not Thouſands can teſtify how fervently and frequently I pray for his Majeſty King George, his Royal Offspring, and the preſent Government? Yes, my Lords, they can. — And I truſt thro' the Divine Aſſiſtance, I ſhould be enabled to do ſo, tho' ſurrounded with Popiſh Enemi… an… in Danger of dying for it as ſoon as my Prayer was ended. — This, my Lords, as far as I am acquainted with them, is the preſent Temper of me and my Friends. — And may I not then appeal to your L… ſhips, whether it be not the Intereſt of the Adminiſtration to encourage ſuch Perſons, or at leaſt to let them alone? Gallio on a like Occaſion thought it his Wiſdom to act thus.— For when the Jews made Inſurrection with one Accord againſt Paul, and brought him to the Judgment Seat, ſaying, this Fellow perſuadeth. Men to worſhip God contrary to …he Law, he ſaid unto the Jews, if it were a matter of wrong or wicked Lewdneſs, O ye Jews, reaſon would that I ſhould bear with you,—But if it be a queſtion of Words and Names, and of your Law, look ye to it, for I will be no Judge of ſuch Matters, —Nay, he was ſo far from approving of their Motion, that he drove them from the Judgment-Seat.
My Lords, I know of no Law of the State that we have broken, and therefore we have not incurred the Diſpleaſure of the Civil Power.—If your Lordſhips apprehend that we are liable to Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures, we are ready to make a proper Defence whenever called to it by our Eccleſiaſtical Superiors.—As for myſelf, your Lordſhips very well know that I am a Batchelor of Arts, have taken the Oaths, ſubſcribed to the Articles, and have been twice regularly ordained.—In this Character I have acted both at Home and Abroad, and know of no Law of our Government which prohibits my preaching in any Field, Barn, Street or Out-houſe whatſoever.
It is true one or two of my Friends, who preach as I do, were bred Diſſenters, had been licenſed, and preached in licenſed Places before my Acquaintance with them, and one or two of the Houſes where the Methodiſts meet, have, without my Knowledge, been licenſed ſince; and therefore the Author of the Pamphlet is quite miſtaken in his firſt Paragraph (as well as the Title-Page and Deſign of his Pamphlet) wherein he declares, that it does not appear that any of the Preachers among the Methodiſts have qualified themſelves and the Places of their aſſembling, according to the Act of Toleration; which Act warrants ſeparate Aſſemblies for the Worſhip of God, that before were unlawful. — I wiſh the Author had taken a little more Care to inform himſelf before he publiſhed the Pamphlet. — He would not then have been guilty of ſo many egregious Miſtakes, or without Cauſe have condemn'd the Innocent, as he hath done.—However, in the general, he is right.—for, as yet, we ſee no ſufficient Reaſon to leave the Church of England, and turn Diſſenters;—neither will we do it till we are thruſt out. When a Ship is leaky, prudent Sailors, that value the Cargo, will not leave it to ſink, but rather continue in it ſo long as they can, to help pump out the water.—I leave the Author, my Lords, to make the Application.
But whether the Methodiſts are Churchmen or Diſſenters, the Acts of King Charles II. referred to, Pag. 3. Parag. 1. and Pag. 4. Parag. 2. make nothing againſt them, neither do they prove the Methodiſts to be Violaters of the Statute Law by their being Field-Preachers. And what the Author ſo peremptorily affirms, Page 4. Parag. 3. is directly falſe — For he ſays, that it has not been known, that a diſſenting Teacher of any Denomination whatever, has thought himſelf warranted, under the Act of Toleration, to preach in Fields or Streets. —It may not, indeed, be known to the Author; but I know, my Lords, two of the moſt eminent among the diſſenting Miniſters, who have thought themſelves warranted, if not by the Act of Toleration, yet by the Laws of the Land, to preach out of Doors; and accordingly, when the Houſe would not contain the People, have preached in a Field or Orchard, and near the common Highway. — My Lords, I have been peruſing all the Acts of King Charles II. wherein the Word Field is mentioned, and find they are intended to ſuppreſs ſeditious Conventicles, for prohibiting further, and more proper ſpeedy Remedies againſt the growing and dangerous Practices or ſeditious Sectaries, and other diſloyal Perſons, who, under Pretence of tender Conſciences, have, or may, at their Meetings contrive Inſurrections (as late Experience hath ſhewn) Theſe, my Lords, are the Preambles of the Acts.—Theſe are the only Field Meetings I can find that are prohibited. —And how, my Lords, can ſuch Acts be applied to the Methodiſts? Does not ſuch an Application imply a Charge againſt the Methodiſts, as tho' they were ſeditious Sectaries, diſloyal Perſons, who, under Pretence of tender Conſciences, have, or may contrive Inſurrections. Has any late Experience, my Lords, ſhewn this? No, my Lords, and I hope no future Experience ever will.— How then can your Lordſhips, with a ſafe Conſcience, encourage ſuch a Pamphlet, or beſpeak any Number of Mr. Owen, in order, as may be ſuppoſed, that they may be diſperſed among your Lordſhip's Clergy? Well might the Author conceal his Name. — It comes into publick like a Child dropt that no body cares to own. And indeed, who can be blamed for diſowning ſuch a Libel? — For how, my Lords, does it appear by theſe Acts, what the Author ſo confidently aſſerts, Pag. 4. Parag. 2. that this new Sect of Methodiſts have broken thro' all theſe Proviſions and Reſtraints, neither regarding the Penalties of the Laws, which ſtand in full Force againſt them, nor embracing the Protection which the Act of Toleration might give them, in caſe they complied with the Conditions of it; —How can he immediately add, and if this be not an open Defiance to Government, it is hard to ſay what is? —May I not more juſtly ſay, if this be not an open Defamation, and open Defiance of all Rules of Charity, it is hard to ſay what is? Might he not as well tax the Methodiſts with Treaſon?—Father, forgive him!—Lord Jeſus lay not this Sin to his Charge!
Tho' the Reign, my Lords, of King Charles II. wherein the Acts before referred to were made, was not the moſt mild and moderate in religious Matters, yet your Lordſhips very well know the famous Trial of M…e and Penn; how after the Jury had been confined ſo long, they brought them in guilty only of ſpeaking in Grace-Church-ſtreet.— And if Quakers met with ſo much Lenity under the Reign of King Charles, what Liberty of preaching in Fields and elſewhere may not the loyal Miniſters and Members of the Church of England, nay, Proteſtant Diſſenting Teachers alſo, expect under the more gentle and moderate Reign of his preſent Majeſty King George, who, as I have been informed, has declared "there ſhall be no Perſecution in his Days."—May the Crown long flouriſh on his Royal Head, and a Popiſh Pretender neve… be permitted to ſit upon the Engliſh Throne! To this I believe all the Methodiſts will heartily ſay, Amen, and Amen.
That the Methodiſts, in general, are Members of the eſtabliſh'd Church, the Author of the Pamphlet himſelf confeſſes.—For, Pag. 4. Parag. 4. after he has, without Proof, charged them with making open Inroads upon the National Conſtitution; he adds, that theſe Teachers and their Followers affect to be thought Members of the National Church.— And his following Words prove that they not only affect it, but are Members of the eſtabliſhed Church in reality.—For, ſays he, and do accordingly join in Communion with it. —And it appears, Parag. 6, that ſome of the Methodiſts communicate every Lord's-Day.—What better Proof can they give of their being Members of the Church of England? It would be well if all her Members gave a like Proof. — But then, ſays our Author, Pag. 4. Parag. 4. they do it in a Manner that is very irregular, and contrary to the Directions laid down in the Rubrick before the Communion, which is eſtabliſhed by the Act of Uniformity. — This Rubrick, ſays he, directs as follows. Pag. 4. Parag. 4. So many as intend to be Partakers of the holy Communion, ſhall ſignify their Names to the Curate, at leaſt, ſome time the Day before. — And, for not doing this, the new Sect of Methodiſts, Parag. 5. Pag. 6. is charg'd not only with breaking through, but "notoriouſly deſpiſing theſe wholeſome Rules."— But how unjuſt is ſuch a Charge? When I read it, it put me in mind of what the poor perſecuted Officers of the Children of Iſrael ſaid to Pharoah, Exod. v.15, 16. Wherefore dealeſt thou thus with thy Servants? There is no Straw given unto thy Servants. They ſay unto us, Make Brick, and behold thy Servants are beaten, but the Fault is in thy own People.—For, my Lords, is it not the Buſineſs of the Clergy to ſee this Rubrick put in Execution? And the Duty of the Church-Wardens, according to the 28th Canon, quoted by our Author, Pag. 5. Parag. 4. to mark whether any Strangers come …ten, and commonly from other Pariſhes to their Churches, and to ſhew the Miniſters of them. — But, my Lords, where is this Rubrick or Canon obſerved or inſiſted on by the Miniſters or Church Wardens through England, Ireland, Wales, or his Majeſty's Town of Berwick upon Tweed, except now and then when they entertain a Grudge againſt ſome particular Methodiſts? Theſe, my Lords, would rejoice to ſee, that Miniſters and Church-wardens would do their Duty in this Particular.— For many of them have been ſo offended by the Clergy's promiſcuouſly and careleſly admitting all Sorts of People to the Communion, that if it had not been for me, they would have left the Church only upon this Account.—We would therefore humbly recommend it to your Lordſhips, that you, and the reſt of the Right Reverend the Biſhops, would inſiſt upon Curates and Church-wardens putting this, and all other ſuch wholeſome Laws and Rubricks, in Execution.—That which is holy would not then be given unto Dogs, nor ſo many open and notorious Evil-Livers take the ſacred Symbols of our Lord's moſt bleſſed Body and Blood into their unhallowed Hands and Mouths. The Methodiſts wiſh your Lordſhips Proſperity in this much-wiſh'd-for, tho' long-neglected Part of Reformation in the Name of the Lord.
At the ſame time, my Lords, I would not ſay any thing that might any way encourage Diſorders; neither would I perſwade the Methodiſts to leave their own Pariſh Churches when the Sacrament is adminiſtered there. On the contrary, I would have them take the Author's Advice, Pag. 6. Parag. 6. If particular Perſons are diſpoſed to receive Weekly, when the Sacrament is not adminiſtered at their own Pariſh-Church, to repair privately to the Church neareſt their own, where the Sacrament is adminiſter'd every Lord's-day, having firſt ſignified their Names to the Miniſter, as the Rubrick directs. —This, I believe, they will readily comply with.—For I cannot think with this Author (in the ſame Paragraph,) that the Reaſon of their coming in ſuch Numbers is, that they may have the vain Pleaſure of appearing together in a Body, and as a diſtinct Sect.—We would rather, according the Rules of that Charity which hopeth all things for the beſt, believe that they come together in ſuch Companies to animate and encourage one another.— Dr. Horneck, I remember, in his Account of the primitive Chriſtians, remarks, that "where you ſaw one Chriſtian, you might generally ſee more." And is it not delightful, my Lords, to behold a Communion Table crowded? Do not ſuch as complain of it diſcover ſomething of the Spirit of thoſe Phariſees, who were angry when ſo many People brought their Sick to be healed by our Lord Jeſus on the Sabbath-day? For I cannot think the Miniſters complain of this only on account of their being hereby put under the Difficulty (Parag. 5. Pag. 6.) either of rejecting great Numbers as unknown to them, or adminiſtring the Sacrament to great Numbers, of whom they have no Knowledge, becauſe it is too too notorious that Hundreds receive the bleſſed Sacrament, both in London and other Places, where there are no Methodiſts, whom the Miniſter knows little or nothing at all about, takes no pains to enquire after. Oh that the Author's mentioning this may be a means of ſtirring up the Clergy to approve themſelves good Shepherds by ſeeking, as much as in them lies, to know the State of all that come to the holy Communion!
This, as well as the other Objections againſt the Methodiſts, are ſo trivial, and the Acts referred to as diſcountenancing their Field-preaching ſo impertinent, that the Author, without the leaſt Degree of a prophetick Spirit, might eaſily foreſee, Parag. 8. Pag. 8. that this, and every other SUCH Complaint againſt the Methodiſts, would be cenſured not only by them, (but by every impartial Perſon) as a Diſcouragement to Piety and Devotion, and particularly a religious Obſervation of the Lord's-day. —Nay, my Lords, he might have foreſeen that it would be cenſured as a wicked, falſe and ill-deſigning Libel.—For is it not wicked to repreſent innocent and loyal Perſons, as open Defiers of Government, Pag. 4. Parag. 2. and making open Inroads upon the National Conſtitution (Parag. 4.) without bringing any real Proofs of either?
I am not, my Lords, of the Author's Opinion, Parag. 8. Pag. 8. that this Slander (of his being a Libeller) is effectually confuted by looking back to the State of the ſeveral Religious Societies of London and Weſtminſter for many Years paſt. —This will only ſerve to encreaſe every unprejudiced Perſon's Cenſure of this Performance, and more effectually, without the leaſt Degree of Slander, prove it a notorious Libel.— For wherein do the Methodiſts Societies tranſgreſs the Laws of Church or State any more than the Societies in London and Weſtminſter?— Do the particular Members of each Society (Parag. 8. Pag. 8.) attend the publick Duties of the Day together with their Neighbours, as the Laws of Church and State direct? Do not the Members of the Methodiſts Societies the ſame? Have the Members of the religious Societies in London and Weſtminſter (as the Author mentions in the ſame Paragraph) alſo (by private Agreements among themſelves) their Evening Meetings, to employ the Remainder of the Day in ſerious Converſation, and in reading good Books, &c. Have not the Members of the Methodiſts Societies Liberty to enter into a like private Agreement among themſelves? Have the Members of the London Societies behaved with Modeſty and Decency, wi…out any Violation of publick Order and Regularity? So have ours, my Lords, as all muſt confeſs who have been preſent when our Societies met.
And therefore, my Lords, if theſe London Societies, as our Author ſays, Parag. 8. Pag. 8. have received no Diſcouragements, but, on the contrary, have been countenanced and encouraged by the Biſhops and Clergy, why do not the Methodiſts meet with the ſame Treatment? Are they not as loyal Subjects? If the one read a Prayer, may not the other pray extempore? Does any Law of God or Man forbid it? If the one meet in a Veſtry, or private Houſe, may not the other meet in a Foundery or Tabernacle? Are not your Lordſhips therefore reduced to this Dilemma, either to encourage both or neither? or at leaſt give the World better Reaſons than the Author of this Pamphlet has, why your Lordſhips ſhould countenance and encourage the one, and ſo ſtrenuouſly diſcountenance and diſcourage the other.
For my own part, my Lords, I know of no Reaſon why they are diſcountenanced, except this, viz. The Methodiſts Societies (as they are called) are more for the Power of Godlineſs than thoſe other Societies of London and Weſtminſter. —I aſſure your Lordſhips, I have not been altogether a Stranger to theſe Societies.—I uſed to meet with ſome of them frequently, and have more than once preached their Quarterly Sermon at Bow-Church.— Some who before had only the Form of Godlineſs, our Saviour was ſince pleaſed to call effectually by his Grace.—But when they began to talk feelingly and experimentally of the New-Birth, free Juſtification and the Indwelling of the Spirit of God in Believers Hearts, they were ſoon looked upon as Righteous over-much, and accordingly were caſt out by their ſelf-righteous Brethren.— Theſe were the late Extravagancies, my Lords, into which the Author (juſt at the Concluſion of his firſt Part) ſays, that ſome have been unhappily miſled; and this, my Lords, was the firſt Riſe of the Societies which the Methodiſts now frequent. —Oh, that He and all that oppoſe them had been miſled into the like Extravagancies! I mean a real Experience of the New-Birth, and the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt imputed and applied to their Souls by Faith through the Operation of the Eternal Spirit! For without this they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.—Theſe things, my Lords, the firſt Members of the Religious Societies in London and Weſtminſter were no Strangers to.—Nay, their being miſled into what the Author calls the Methodiſts late Extravagancies, was the Riſe of their Societies, as well as ours; and they met for the very ſame Ends, and I believe in the very ſame Spirit as the Methodiſts now do.—For a Proof of this, I would refer the Author to Dr. Woodward's Account of the Riſe and Progreſs of the religious Societies in the City of London, &c.— My Lords, I have been reading over his ſecond Chapter, and in reading it could ſcarce refrain weeping, when I conſider'd how blind the Author of this Pamphlet muſt be, not to diſcern that the firſt religious Societies anſwered as to their Spirit, Experience, and Ends of meeting to the Methodiſts Societies, as Face anſwers to Face in the Water.—Let him not therefore mention the Predeceſſors of the preſent London Societies (the laſt Words of the firſt Part) as though that would ſtrengthen his Cauſe.—Indeed, my Lords, it weakens it much.—For was it poſſible for theſe Predeceſſors to riſe from the dead, and examine our Principles and Practices, and thoſe of the preſent religious Societies of London and Weſtminſter, I believe they would utterly diſown them, and turn Methodiſts too.
And why, my Lords, ſhould the Author be ſo averſe to Field-preaching? Has not our Saviour given a Sanction to this Way of preaching? Was not the beſt Sermon that was ever preach'd delivered on a Mount? Did not our Glorious Emanuel (after he was thruſt out of the Synagog…s) preach from a Ship, in a Wilderneſs, &c? Did not the Apoſtles after his Aſcenſion, preach in Schools, Publick Markets, and ſuch like Places of Reſort and Concourſe? And can we copy after better Examples? If it be ſaid "that the World was then Heathen," I anſwer, and am perſwaded your Lordſhips will agree with me in this, that there are Thouſands and Ten Thouſands in his Majeſty's Dominions, as ignorant of true and undefiled Religion, as ever the Heathens were? And are not Perſons who dare venture out, and ſhew ſuch poor Souls the way to Heaven, real Friends both to Church and State? And why then, my Lords, ſhould the Civil Power be applied to in order to quell and ſuppreſs them? Or a Pamphlet encouraged by ſeveral of the Right Reverend the Biſhops, which is manifeſtly calculated for that Purpoſe? I would humbly ask your Lordſhips, whether it would not be more becoming your Lordſhips Characters, to put your Clergy on preaching againſt Revelling, Cock-fighting, and ſuch like, than to move the Government againſt thoſe, who out of Love to God and precious Souls put their Lives in their Hand and preach unto ſuch Revellers, Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jeſus? What if the Methodiſts, by Publick Advertiſements do invite the Rabble? (as our Author is pleaſed to write Pag. 4. Paragraph 2.) Is not the ſame done by other Clergy, and even by your Lordſhips, when you preach Charity Sermons? But, my Lords, what does the Author mean by the Rabble? I ſuppoſe the common People.—If ſo, theſe are they who always heard the Bleſſed Jeſus gladly.—It was chiefly the Poor, my Lords, the ΟΧΛΟΣ, the Turba, the Mob, the Multitude, theſe People who the Scribes and Phariſees, ſaid knew not the Law, and were accurſed; theſe were they that were evangelized, had the Goſpel preached unto them, and received the Spirit of God's dear Son.—Not many Mighty, not many Noble are called, ſays the Apoſtle. Indocti rapiunt coelum, dum nos cum doctrina deſcendimus in Gehennam, ſays one of the Fathers.— And therefore, my Lords, ſuppoſing we do advertiſe the Rabble, and none but ſuch make up our Auditories (which is quite falſe) if this be the Methodiſt's Shame, they may glory in it.—For theſe Rabble, my Lords, have precious and immortal Souls, for which the dear Redeemer ſhed his precious Blood, as well as the Great and Rich.—Theſe, my Lords, are the Publicans and Harlots that enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, whilſt Self-righteous formal Profeſſors reject it. To ſhew ſuch poor Sinners the way to God, to preach to them the Power of Chriſt's Reſurrection, and to pluck them as Firebrands out of the Burning, the Methodiſts Preachers go out into the Highways and Hedges,—If this is to be vile, by the Help of my God, I ſhall be more vile; neither count I my Life dear unto myſelf, ſo that I may finiſh my Courſe with Joy, and be made inſtrumental in turning any of this Rabble to Righteouſneſs.— And more eſpecially do I think it my Duty to invite and preach to this Rabble in all Places, where Providence ſhall ſend me, at this Seaſon, that I may warn them againſt the dreadful Effects of Popiſh Principles, and exhort them to exert their utmoſt Endeavours to keep out a Popiſh Pretender from ever ſitting upon the Engliſh Throne.—In acting thus, I humbly apprehend, I can do moſt ſervice to the Cauſe of the Bleſſed Jeſus, his preſent Majeſty King George, my Fellow-Subjects, and the Government under which I live.—And, however, ſuch kind of Preachers may be every where ſpoken againſt now, yet I doubt not but at the great deciſive Day they will be received with a Euge Bone, and ſhine as Stars in the Firmament for ever and ever; whilſt thoſe who have only divined for Hire, have fed themſelves and not the Flock, and lorded it over God's Heritage, perhaps, may pay dear for their Preferment, and riſe to everlaſting Contempt—Pardon me, my Lords, for expreſſing myſelf here with ſome Degree of Warmth.—I muſt own it gives me Concern, to ſee ſome of the Clergy ſtrain at a Gnat and ſwallow a Camel, and attempt to … the Mote out of our Eyes, before they have pulled the Beam out of their own.—Is it not ridiculous, my Lords, even in the Eyes of worldly Men, and does it not render the Author of this Pamphlet, juſtly liable to Contempt, to charge the Methodiſts with breaking Canons and Rubricks, which is really not their Faults, when at the ſame time he knows that the Generality of the Clergy ſo notoriouſly break both Canons and Rubricks, and that too in the moſt important Articles, ſuch as not CATECHISING PLURALITIES, NON-RESIDENCE, &c. every Day themſelves?— With what Face can he do it? Is not this like Nero's ſetting Rom… on Fire, and then charging it upon the Chriſtians? May not Phyſician heal thyſelf, be immediately retorted on him?
But I have done.—I would not bring a railing Accuſation againſt any. —Neither would I, my Lords, when giving a Reaſon of the Hope that is in me, do … any otherways than with Meekneſs and Fe…r. — I would therefore now proceed to anſwer the other Parts of the Pamphlet; but I ſhal… reſerve that for another Letter, which, God willing, ſhall be publiſhed in a ſhort Time.— In the mean while, I humbly recommend this to the Divine Bleſſing and your Lordſhips Conſiderations, and beg leave to ſubſcribe myſelf, my Lords,
Your Lordſhips moſt obedient Son and Servant, GEORGE WHITEFIELD London, March 10, ….
AN ANSWER To the SECOND 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 Second 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.
My Heart's Deſire and Prayer to God for Iſrael is, that they might be ſaved — For I bear them Record, that they have a Zeal for God, but not according to Knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's Righteouſneſs, and going about to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs, have not ſubmitted themſelves unto the Righteouſneſs of God. Rom. 10.1, 2, 3.
BOSTON: Printed and Sold by ROGERS and FOWLE in Queen-ſtreet, near the Priſon. 1744.