You add, _I appeal to any reasonable man, whether you have not acted as an_ ordinary; _nay, a_ bishop _in_ Kingswood.――――If you mean, in “declaring those disorderly members were no longer of that society.” I admit your appeal, whether I therein acted as a _bishop_, or as any _steward_ of a society may. _Nay, you have gone far beyond the generality of the dissenters themselves; who do not commit the power of excommunication (and ♦appointing to preach_――――that is another question) _to the hands of any private minister_.――――The _powers of excommunication._――――True; but this was not _excommunication_, but a quite different thing.
♦ “appointed” replaced with “appointing” per Errata
How far, in what circumstances, and in what sense, I have _appointed men to preach_, I have explained at large in the third part of the _Farther Appeal_. But I wait for farther light; and am ready to consider, as I am able, whatever shall be replied to what is there advanced.
8. Your general conclusion is, _Whatever your pretences or professions may be, you can be looked upon by serious and impartial persons, (not as a_ member, _much less a_ minister _of the church of_ England,) _but as no other than an enemy to her constitution, worship and doctrine, raising divisions and disturbances in her communion_, (page 76.) ――――_And yet you say――――“I cannot have greater regard to her rules”――――“I dare not renounce communion with her.”_ (page 15.)
* I do say so still. I cannot have a greater regard to any _human rules_, than to follow them in all things, unless where I apprehend there is a _divine_ rule to the contrary. I dare not _renounce communion_ with the church of _England_. As a _minister_, I teach her doctrines. I use her offices. I conform to her rubricks. I suffer reproach for my attachment to her. As a private _member_ I hold her doctrines. I join in her offices, in prayer, in hearing, in communicating. I _expect_ every reasonable man, touching these facts, to _believe his own eyes and ears_.――――But if these facts are so, how dare any man of common sense, charge me with _renouncing_ the church of _England_?
9. Use ever so many exaggerations, still the whole of this matter is, 1. I often use extemporary prayer. 2. Wherever I can, I preach the gospel. 3. Those who desire to _live the gospel_ I advise how to watch over each other, and to put from them such as walk disorderly. Now whether these things are, on other considerations, right or wrong, this single point I must still insist on; “All this does not prove, either that I am no _member_, or that I am no _minister_ of the church of _England_.” Nay, nothing can prove, I am no _member_ of the church, till I either am _excommunicated_, or _renounce_ her communion, and no longer join in her doctrine, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayer. Nor can any thing prove, I am no _minister_ of the church, till I either am _deposed_ from my ministry, or _voluntarily renounce_ her, and wholly cease to teach her doctrines, use her offices, and obey her rubricks for conscience sake.
However I grant, that whatsoever is _urged on this head, deserves my most serious consideration_. And whensoever I am _convinced_, that by taking any _methods_, more or less _different_ from those I now take, I may better _consult the honour of religion, and be able to do more good in the world_; by the grace of God, I shall not persist in these one hour, but instantly chuse the more excellent way.
* * * * *
IV. 1. What you urge on the head of _enthusiasm_ also, I think _deserves my most serious consideration_. (You may add, _and presumption_. I let it drop once more; because I do not love tautology; and because I look upon presumption to be ♦essential to enthusiasm, and consequently contained therein.) I will therefore weigh what you advance concerning it, and explain myself something more at large.
♦ “assential” replaced with “essential”
_I am to examine_, you say, (page 120.) _How far you have cleared yourself of enthusiasm. My account of this you set down, making as many alterations and omissions as there are lines_――――Perhaps more; for I never designed to recite the whole, but only the material part of it. _If you did not wholly approve of it, why would you not let me know, what you disliked in it?_――――Because I do not love many words. Therefore when the argument stood thus: “He that does this is an enthusiast: but you do this:” I was generally content with answering the 2d proposition, and leaving the first as I found it.
_I laid this charge against you and the Methodists in general: between you every part of the character has been verified._――――I answer for one; let the rest answer for themselves,――――if they have not better employment.
That the question between us may be the more fully understood, I shall briefly compare together, 1. Your remarks. 2. My answer. 3. Your reply: though still I cannot promise to repeat your words at length.