8. Not that all the _Methodists_ (so called) _were very wicked people before they followed us_. There are those among them, and not a few, who are able to stop the boasting of those that despise them, and to say, _Wherein soever any of you is bold, I am bold also_: only they _count all these things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus_. But these we found, as it were, when we sought them not. We went forth to _seek that which was lost_: (more eminently lost) _to call_ the most flagrant, hardened, desperate _sinners to repentance_. To this end we preached in _the Horsefair_ at _Bristol_, in _Kingswood_, in _Newcastle_: among the _colliers_ in _Staffordshire_, and the _tinners_ in _Cornwall_: in _Southwark_, _Wapping_, _Moorfields_, _Drury-Lane_, at _London_. Did any man ever pick out such places as these, in order to find _serious, regular, well-disposed people_? How many such might then be in any of them I know not. But this I know, that four in five of those who are now with us, were not of that number, but were wallowing in their blood, till God by us said unto them, _live_.
Sir, I willingly put the whole cause on this issue: what are the _general consequences_ of this preaching? Are there more _tares_ or _wheat_? More _good men destroyed_ (that is the proper question) or _wicked men saved_? The last place where we began constant preaching, is a part of _Wiltshire_ and _Somersetshire_, near _Bath_. Now let any man enquire at _Rhode_, _Bradford_, _Rexal_, or among the colliers at _Coleford_, 1. What kind of people were those, _before they followed these men_? 2. What are the _main doctrines_ they have been teaching for this twelvemonth? 3. _What effect_ have these doctrines upon their followers? What manner of lives do they lead now? And if you do not find, 1. That three in four of these were two years ago notoriously wicked men. 2. That the main doctrines they have heard since were, “Love God and your neighbour, and carefully keep his commandments.” And 3. That they have since exercised themselves herein, and continue so to do: I say, if you or any reasonable man, who will be at the pains to enquire, does not find this to be an unquestionable fact: I will openly acknowledge myself an enthusiast, or whatsoever else you shall please to stile me.
Only one caution I would give to such an enquirer, let him not ask the _colliers_ of _Coleford_, _Were_ not _the generality_ of you, _before you followed these men, serious, regular, well-disposed people_? Were you not _offended at the prophaneness and debauchery of the age_? And _was it not this disposition, which at first made you liable to receive these impressions_? (page 103.) Because if he talk thus to some of those who do not yet _follow these men_, perhaps he will not live to bring back their answer.
* But will this, or a thousand such instances as this, _stop the mouths of all adversaries at once_? O Sir, would one expect such a thought as this, in one that had read the bible? What if you could convert as many sinners as St. _Paul_ himself? Would that _stop the mouths of all your adversaries_? Yea, if you could convert three thousand at one sermon, still you would be so far from _stopping all their mouths at once_, that the greater part of them would _gnash upon_ you _with their teeth_, and cry, “Away with such a fellow from the earth.”
I never therefore expect to _persuade the world_, the majority of mankind, that I _have been_ for some years _advancing nothing_ but what has a clear, immediate connexion with _the true knowledge and love of God_: that God hath been pleased to use me, a weak, vile worm, in _reforming_ many of my fellow sinners, and making them, at this day, living witnesses of _inward_ and _pure religion_: and that many of these, _from living in all sin, are quite changed, are become_ so far _holy, that_ though they are not _free from all sin_, yet no sin hath dominion over them. And yet I do firmly believe, _it is nothing but downright prejudice, to deny or oppose any of these particulars_. Preface, page v.