11. In _March 1741_, Mr. ♦_Whitefield_ being returned to _England_, entirely separated from Mr. _Wesley_ and his friends, “Because he did not hold _the decrees_.” Here was the first breach, which warm men persuaded Mr. _Whitefield_ to make, merely for a difference of opinion. Those indeed who believed _universal redemption_, had no desire at all to separate. But those who held _particular redemption_, would not hear of any accommodation, being determined to have no fellowship with men that “were in so dangerous errors.” So there were now two sorts of _Methodists_, so called; those for _particular_, and those for _general_, redemption.
♦ “Whitfield” replaced with “Whitefield”
12. Not many years passed, before _William Cudworth_ and _James Relly_ separated from Mr. _Whitefield_. These were properly _Antinomians_, absolute, avowed enemies to the law of God, which they never preached or professed to preach, but termed all _legalists_ who did. With them, _preaching the law_ was an abomination. They had _nothing to do_ with the law. They would _preach Christ_, as they called it; but without one word either of holiness or good works. Yet these were still denominated _Methodists_, although differing from Mr. _Whitefield_, both in judgment and practice, abundantly more than Mr. _Whitefield_ did from Mr. _Wesley_.
13. In the mean time, Mr. _Venn_ and Mr. _Romaine_ began to be spoken of: and not long after, Mr. _Madan_ and Mr. _Berridge_, with a few other clergymen, who, although they had no connexion with each other, yet preaching _salvation by faith_, and endeavouring to live accordingly, to be _Bible Christians_, were soon included in the general name of _Methodists_. And so indeed were all others who preached _salvation by faith_, and appeared more _serious_ than their neighbours. Some of these were quite _regular_ in their manner of preaching: some were quite _irregular_ (though not by choice; but necessity was laid upon them; they must preach _irregularly_, or not at all:) and others were between both; regular in _most_, though not in _all_ particulars.
14. In 1762, _George Bell_, and a few other persons, began to speak great words. In the latter end of the year, they foretold, that the world would be at an end on the 28th of _February_. Mr. _Wesley_, with whom they were then connected, withstood them both in public and private. This they would not endure: so, in _January_ and _February_, 1763, they separated from him. Soon after Mr. _Maxfield_, one of Mr. _Wesley_’s preachers and several of the people left Mr. _Wesley_: but still Mr. _Maxfield_, and his adherents, go under the general name of _Methodists_.
15. At present, those who remain with Mr. _Wesley_, are mostly _church_ of _England_ men. They love her articles, her homilies, her liturgy, her discipline, and unwillingly vary from it in any instance. Meantime, all who preach among them declare, _We are all by nature children of wrath_. But _by grace we are saved through faith_: saved both from the guilt and from the power of sin. They endeavour to _live_ according to what they preach, to be plain, _Bible-Christians_. And they meet together at convenient times, to encourage one another therein. They tenderly love many that are _Calvinists_, though they do not love their opinions. Yea, they love the _Antinomians_ themselves; but it is with a love of compassion only. For they hate their doctrines with a perfect hatred; they abhor them as they do hell-fire: being convinced nothing can so effectually destroy all faith, all holiness, and all good works.
16. With regard to these, Mr. _Relly_ and his adherents, it would not be strange, if they should grow into reputation. For they will never shock the world, either by the harshness of their doctrine, or the singularity of their behaviour. But let those who determine both to preach and to live the gospel, expect that men will _say all manner of evil of them. The servant is not above his master, nor the disciple above his Lord. If then they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his houshold?_ It is their duty indeed, _as much as lieth in them, to live peaceably with all men_. But when they labour after peace, the world will _make themselves ready for battle_. It is their constant endeavour, to _please all men, for their good, to edification_. But yet they know, it cannot be done: they remember the word of the apostle, _If I yet please men, I am not the servant of Christ_. They go on therefore, _through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report_: desiring only, that their master may say in that day, “Servants of God, well done.”
_The End of the_ Fifteenth _Volume_.
_To the_ SUBSCRIBERS.