¹“_I shall give_ (says Mr. _Church_) _but one account more, and that is, what you give of yourself_.” The sum whereof is, “At two several times, being ill, and in violent pain, I prayed to God, and found immediate ease.” I did so. I assert the fact still. _But if these_ (you say) _are not miraculous cures, all this is rank enthusiasm._
¹ First Letter to Mr. _Church_, page 45.
“I will put your argument in form:”
He that believes those are miraculous cures, which are not, is a rank enthusiast.
But you believe those to be miraculous cures, which are not:
Therefore you are a rank enthusiast.
“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 second 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.”
Having largely answered your next objection relating to what I still term ¹“a signal instance of God’s particular providence,” I need only refer you to those answers, not having leisure to say the same thing ten times over.
¹ A Letter to Mr. _Church_, page 42. 2 Letter, page 46.
Whether I sometimes claim, and sometimes disclaim miracles, will be considered by and by.
In your seventh section, you say, “¹I shall now give some account, of their grievous _conflicts and combats_ with Satan.” O, Sir, spare yourself, if not the _Methodists_! Do not go so far out of your depth. This is a subject you are as utterly unacquainted with, as with justification, or the new-birth.
¹ Page 51, &c.
But I attend your motions. “Mr. _Wesley_, you say, was advised, to a very high degree of silence.――――And he spoke to none at all for two days, and travelling fourscore miles together.”
“The same whim (you go on) has run through several of the religious orders――――Hence St. _Bonaventura_ says, That silence in all the religious, is necessary to perfection――――St. _Agatho_ held a stone in his mouth for three years, till he had learned taciturnity――――St. _Alcantara_ carried several pebbles in his mouth for three years likewise, and for the same reason――――_Theon_ observed a continual silence for thirty years.――――St. _Francis_ observed it himself, and enjoined it upon his brethren. The rule of silence was religiously observed by St. _Dominic_.”
I have repeated more of your words than I otherwise should, in order to shew to a demonstration, that a man of a lively imagination, may run a parallel to any length, without any foundation in nature.
You begin, “The same whim (which led Mr. _Wesley_ to observe an absolute silence for two days) and so run on to St. _Bonaventura_, St. _Agatho_, and I know not whom.” But did Mr. _Wesley_ “observe an absolute silence for two days?” No; not for one hour. My words, “I ¹spoke to none at all for fourscore miles together,” imply neither more nor less, than that I spoke to none “concerning the things of God,” as it is in the words immediately preceding. And you know this as well as I. But it is all one for that. Wit, not truth, is the point you aim at.
¹ 4 Journal, page 86.
My supposed inconsistency, with regard to the _Moravians_, which you likewise drag in (as they say) by head and shoulders, I have shewn again and again, to be no inconsistency at all: particularly in both the letters to Mr. _Church_.
10. Well, but as to _conflicts_ with Satan. “Nor can Mr. _Wesley_, you say, escape the attacks of this infernal spirit,” namely, suggesting distrustful thoughts, and buffeting him with inward temptations.” Sir, did you never hear of any one so attacked, unless among the _Papists_ or _Methodists_? How deeply then are you experienced both in the ways of God, and the devices of Satan?
You add, with regard to a case mentioned in the ¹_fourth journal_, “Though I am not convinced that these _fits of laughing_, are to be ascribed to Satan, yet I entirely agree, that they are _involuntary and unavoidable_.” I am glad we agree so far. But I must still go farther; I cannot but ascribe them to a preternatural agent: having observed so many circumstances attending them which cannot be accounted for by any natural causes.
¹ Page 37.
Under the head of conflicts with Satan, you observe farther, “Mr. _Wesley_ says, while he was preaching, the devil knew his kingdom shook, and therefore stirred up his servants to make a noise: that, _September 18_, the prince of the air made another attempt, in defence of his tottering kingdom: and that another time, ‘the devil’s children fought valiantly for their master.’” I own the whole charge, I did say all this. Nay, and if need were, I should say it again.
You cite one more instance from my _fourth journal_, “The _many-headed beast_ began to roar again.” So your head is so full of the subject, that you construe even poor Horace’s _Bellua multorum capitum_ into the devil!