It is true, by thinking and acting thus, the Methodists have been, and it is presumed always will be, charged and condemned by men of corrupt minds, as thinking and acting irregularly and disorderly: but as such a charge, in the very nature of the thing, supposes a deviation from some settled standing rule, they would humbly ask, wherein the irregularity and disorderliness of this way of acting and thinking doth specifically consist? Is it irregular and disorderly to be “instant in season and out of season?” Is it irregular and disorderly to do what every Bishop at the very time of our being ordained priests positively tells us pertaineth to their office, “to seek after the children of GOD, scattered abroad in this naughty world?” Is it irregular and disorderly after we have established the truth of what we deliver in our sermons by scripture proofs, further to confirm and illustrate them by repeated and particular quotations, taken from the liturgy, articles, and homilies of our established church? Is it irregular and disorderly to fill her pews, to croud her communion tables, and to recommend a frequent and constant devout attendance upon her public offices and services? Or, supposing they should, merely by caprice or prejudice, be denied the privilege of preaching within the church, can it be justly termed irregular or disorderly, at least can it possibly be looked upon as criminal, to preach the same truths, to make use of the same kind of illustrations, to repeat the self-same recommendations without the church walls, in the fields, or any other place whatsoever?
The late candid Bishop of _Lincoln_, I am positive, did not think such a way of acting altogether so very criminal: for in a charge given to his clergy some years before his translation to the see of _Salisbury_, he told them to this effect, “that they were not to look upon themselves as ministers of a _Plato_, a _Pythagoras_, or any other heathen philosopher, consequently they were not to entertain their auditories with mere moral harangues; but that they were to consider themselves as ministers of JESUS CHRIST; and therefore if they would not preach the gospel in the church, they could not be justly angry if the poor people went out to hear it in a field.” A charge this, truly worthy of a sober-minded, moderate, wise Bishop of the Church of _England_. For even in acting thus seemingly irregular and disorderly, these modern enthusiasts only copy after the greatest and brightest examples the world ever saw, and whose examples it is more than criminal not to follow or copy after. Our blessed LORD, when denied the use of the synagogues, on seeing the multitude, went up and chose a mountain for his pulpit, and the heavens for his sounding board. At other times he sat by the sea-side, nay, went into a ship and preached, whilst the whole multitude stood on the shore. When _Peter_ and _John_, that this kind of enthusiasm might spread no further among the people, were straitly threatened and commanded that they should thenceforth speak at all to no man in CHRIST’s name, they calmly yet boldly replied unto their threatners and commanders, “Whether it be right in the sight of GOD, to hearken unto you, more than unto GOD, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” A certain woman, named _Lydia_, a seller of purple, had her heart opened when the great apostle of the _Gentiles_ was preaching and praying by a river-side; and _Dionysius_ the _Areopagite_, a woman named _Damaris_, and others, believed, and clave unto the same Apostle, from the time they heard him preach in the midst of _Areopagus_, or _Mars-hill_. And we may suppose he was not less successful when he was obliged by the angry _Jews_ to preach in the school of one _Tyrannus_.
I believe you will agree, Reverend Sir, that the venerable _Fox_ and _Bradford_ did not appear less venerable for preaching at _Pauls-cross_; neither did I ever hear that Bishop _Latimer_ was looked upon as degrading his episcopal character, when he used to preach in _Cotton-Garden Westminster_, and King _Edward_ the sixth, that _Josiah_ of his age, with some of his court, looked out at the palace window to hear him. And I hereby appeal to the whole university, whether the Reverend Doctors of divinity, heads of houses, graduates or under-graduates, ever looked upon it as criminal, or beneath the dignity of their place and station, to sit out in the open air on St. _John_ Baptist’s day, to hear a master of arts preach from the stone pulpit in _Maudling-College_ yard; though, for fear it may be they should give further sanction to field-preaching, they have lately thought proper to adjourn into the chapel?