1. IN your late pamphlets you have undertaken to prove, that Mr. _Whitefield_ and _I_, are gross enthusiasts; and that our _¹whole conduct is but a counter-part of the most wild fanaticisms of the most abominable communion in its most corrupt ages_.
¹ Preface, page 3.
You endeavour to support this charge against us, by quotations from our own writings: compared with quotations from celebrated writers of the _Romish_ communion.
2. It lies upon me answer for one. But I must not burden you with too long an answer; lest ¹(_for want either of leisure or inclination_) you should not give this, any more than my other tracts, a reading. In order therefore to spare both you and myself, I shall at present consider only your first part; and that as briefly as possible. Accordingly I shall not meddle with your other quotations; but leaving them to whom they may concern, shall only examine, whether those you have made from my writings, prove the charge of enthusiasm, or no.
¹ Preface, page 5.
This, I conceive, will be abundantly sufficient, to decide the question between you and me. If these do prove the charge, I am cast: if they do not, if they are the words of truth and soberness, it will be an objection of no real weight, against sentiments just in themselves, though they should also be found in the writings of _Papists_: yea, of _Mahometans_ or _Pagans_.
3. Let the eight pages you _borrow_, stand as they are. I presume they will do neither good nor harm. In the tenth you say, _The_ Methodists _act on the same plan with the_ Papists――――_not perhaps from compact and design; but a similar configuration and texture of brain, or the fumes of imagination producing similar effects. From a commiseration of horror, arising from the grievous corruptions of the world, perhaps from a real motive of sincere piety, they both set out with warm pretences to a reformation._ Sir, this is an uncommon thought! That sincere piety should arise from the _configuration and texture of the brain_! As well as, that _pretences_ to a reformation should spring from a _real motive_ of _sincere piety_!
4. You go on, ¹_both commonly begin their adventures with field-preaching_. Sir, do you condemn field-preaching _toto genere_, as evil in itself? Have a care! or you (I should say, the gentleman that assists you) will speak a little too plain, and betray the _real_ motives of his _sincere_ antipathy to the people called _Methodists_.
¹ Enthusiasm, &c. page 11.
Or do you condemn the preaching on _Hannam-mount_, in particular, to the colliers of _Kingswood_? If you doubt, whether this has _done any real good_, it is a very easy thing to be informed. And I leave it with all impartial men, whether the good which has in fact been done by preaching there, and which could not possibly have been done any other way, does not abundantly ¹_justify the irregularity of it_.
¹ Page 15.
5. But you think I am herein _inconsistent_ with myself. For I say, “_The uncommonness is the very circumstance that recommends it._” (I mean that recommended it to the colliers in _Kingswood_:) And yet I said, but a page or two before, “_We are not suffered to preach in the churches: else we should prefer them to any places whatsoever._”
Sir, I still aver both the one and the other. I do _prefer_ the preaching in a church when I am suffered: and yet, when I am not, the wise providence of God over-rules this very circumstance for good: many coming to hear, because of the uncommonness of the thing, who would otherwise not have heard at all.
6. Your second charge is, That I ¹_abuse the clergy, throw out so much gall of bitterness against them! And impute this black art of calumny to the spirit and power given from_ God.
¹ Page 15.
Sir, I plead not guilty to the whole charge. And you have not cited one line to support it. But, if you could support it, what is this to the point in hand? I presume calumny is not enthusiasm. Perhaps you will say, “But it is something as bad.” True: but it is nothing to the purpose: even the _imputing this to the Spirit of_ God, as you here represent it, is an instance of _art_, not of _enthusiasm_.
7. You charge me thirdly, with ¹_putting on a sanctified appearance, in order to draw followers, by a demure look, precise behaviour, and other marks of external piety. For which reason_, you say, _Mr._ Wesley _made and renewed that noble resolution, not willingly to indulge himself in the least levity of behaviour, or in laughter, no, not for a moment――――to speak no word not tending to the glory of_ God; _and not a tittle of worldly things_.
¹ Pages 18, 19.