* 22. But I must draw to a conclusion. Your lordship has without doubt had some success in _opposing_ this doctrine. Very many have, by your lordship’s unwearied _endeavours_, been deterred from hearing at all: and have thereby probably escaped the being _seduced_ into holiness, have lived and died in their sins. My lord, the time is short. I am past the noon of life, and my remaining years flee away as a shadow. Your lordship is old and full of days, having past the usual age of man. It cannot therefore be long before we shall both drop this house of earth, and stand naked before God: no, nor before we shall see the great white throne coming down from heaven, and him that sitteth thereon. On his left-hand shall be those who are shortly to dwell in everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. In that number will be all who died in their sins: and among the rest, those whom you _preserved_ from repentance. Will you then rejoice in your success? The Lord God grant it may not be said in that hour, “These have perished in their iniquity: but their blood I require at thy hands.”
I am,
_Your lordship’s dutiful son and servant_, JOHN WESLEY. LONDON, _June 11, 1747_.
A LETTER To a CLERGYMAN.
TULLAMORE, _May 4, 1748_.
_Rev. Sir_,
I HAVE at present neither leisure nor inclination to enter into a formal controversy: but you will give me leave, just to offer a few loose hints, relating to the subject of last night’s conversation.
1. Seeing life and health are things of so great importance, it is, without question, highly expedient, that physicians should have all possible advantages of learning and education.
2. That trial should be made of them by competent judges, before they practise publicly.
3. That after such trial, they be authorized to practise by those who are impowered to convey that authority.
4. And that while they are preserving the lives of others, they should have what is sufficient to sustain their own.
5. But supposing a gentleman bred at the university in _Dublin_, with all the advantages of education: after he has undergone all the usual trials, and then been regularly authorized to practise.
6. Suppose, I say, this physician settles at ―――― for some years, and yet makes no cures at all: but after trying his skill on five hundred persons, cannot shew that he has healed one; many of his patients dying under his hands, and the rest remaining just as they were before he came.
7. Will you condemn a man, who having some little skill in physic, and a tender compassion for those who are sick or dying all-around him, cures many of those, without fee or reward, whom the doctor could not cure?
8. At least, _did_ not (which is the same thing as to the case in hand) were it only for this reason, because he did not go to them, and they would not come to him.
9. Will you condemn him, because he has not learning? Or has not had an university education?
What then? He cures those whom the man of learning and education cannot cure.
10. Will you object, That he is no physician, nor has any authority to practise?
I cannot come into your opinion. I think, he is a physician who heals; _Medicus est qui medetur_: and that every man has authority to save the life of a dying man.
But if you only mean, he has no authority to take fees, I contend not: for he takes none at all.
11. Nay, and I am afraid it will hold, on the other hand, _Medicus non est qui non medetur_: I am afraid, if we use propriety of speech, he is no physician who works no cure.
12. “O, but he has taken his degree of doctor of physic, and therefore has authority.”
Authority to do what? “Why, to heal all the sick that will employ him.” But (to wave the case of those who will not employ him: and would you have even _their_ lives thrown away?) He does not heal those that do employ him. He that was sick before, is sick still; or else he is gone hence, and is no more seen.
Therefore his authority is not worth a rush; for it serves not the end for which it was given.
13. And surely he has no authority to kill them, by hindering another from saving their lives!
14. If he either attempts or desires to hinder him, if he condemns or dislikes him for it, it is plain to all thinking men, he regards his own fees, more than the lives of his patients.
* * * * *
II. Now to apply. 1. Seeing life everlasting and holiness, or health of soul, are things of so great importance, it is highly expedient, that ministers being physicians of the soul, should have all advantages of education and learning.
2. That full trial should be made of them, in all respects, and that by the most competent judges, before they enter on the public exercise of their office, The saving souls from death.
3. That after such trial, they be authorized to exercise that office, by those who are impowered to convey that authority: (I believe, bishops are impowered to do this, and have been so, from the apostolic age.)