Before I answer, I must know, what you mean by miraculous? If you term every thing so, which is not strictly accountable for, by the ordinary course of natural causes; then I deny the latter part of the minor proposition. And unless you can make this good, unless you can prove the effects in question are strictly accountable for, by the _ordinary course_ of natural causes, your argument is nothing worth.
You conclude this head with, ¹_Can you work miracles.――――All your present pretences to the Spirit, till they are proved by miracles, cannot be excused, or acquitted from_ enthusiasm.
¹ Page 73.
My short answer is this: I pretend to the Spirit just so far, as is essential to a state of salvation. And cannot I be acquitted from enthusiasm, till I prove by miracles, that I am in a state of salvation?
13. We now draw to a period. _The ¹consequences of_ Methodism (you say) i. e. of our preaching this doctrine, _which have hitherto appeared, are bad enough to induce you to leave it. It has in fact introduced many disorders, Enthusiasm, Antinomianism, Calvinism, a neglect and contempt of God’s ordinances, and almost all other duties_.
¹ Page 75.
* That whenever God revives his work upon earth, many tares will spring up with the wheat, both the word of God gives us ground to expect, and the experience of all ages. But where, Sir, have you been, that you have heard of the tares only? And that you rank among the consequences of my preaching, _A neglect and contempt of God’s ordinances, and almost of all duties_? Does not the very reverse appear, at _London_, at _Bristol_, at _Kingswood_, at _Newcastle_? In every one of which places, multitudes of those (I am able to name the persons) who before lived in a thorough neglect and contempt of God’s ordinances and all duties, do now zealously discharge their duties to God and man, and walk in all his ordinances blameless.
* And as to those drunkards, whoremongers, and other servants of the devil, as they were before, who heard us a while and then fell to the _Calvinists_ or _Moravians_: are they not even now in a far better state, than they were before they heard us? Admit they are in error, yea and die therein, yet who dares affirm, they will perish everlastingly? But had they died in those sins, we are sure they had fallen into _the fire that never shall be quenched_.
I hope, Sir, you will rejoice in considering this, how much their gain still outweighs their loss: as well as in finding the sentiments you could not reconcile together, clearly and consistently explained. I am very willing to consider whatever farther you have to offer. May God give us both a right judgment in all things! I am persuaded you will readily join in this prayer with,
_Reverend Sir_,
_Your servant for Christ’s sake_,