You assert 5. “The _Moravian Methodists_ trample down morality, and multitudes of the _Wesleyans_ have been infected.” The _Moravian Methodists_! You may as will say the _Presbyterian Papists_. The _Moravians_ have no connexion with the _Methodists_. Therefore whatever they do (though you slander them too) they and not we are to answer for. The _Methodists_ at present, blessed be God, are as little infected with this plague (of condemning or neglecting good works) as any body of people in _England_ or _Ireland_.
38. From these loose assertions you proceed to quotations from my writings, every one of which I shall consider, to shew that not in one or two, but in every one you are a wilful prevaricator and false accuser of your neighbour.
You say first, “the _Moravians_.”――――Hold, good Sir! You are out of the way already. You well know, the _Moravians_ are to answer for themselves. Our present question concerns the _Methodists_ only.
You say secondly, “A ¹general temptation prevails among _the societies of Methodists_, of leaving off good works.” Sir, you are wrong again. _The societies of Methodists_ are not there spoken of: but the _single society_ of _Fetter-lane_. Among these only that temptation _then_ prevailed.
¹ 4 Journal, page 39.
You quote thirdly, as my words, “The poor confused, shattered society, _had erred_ from the faith.” My own words are, ¹“I told the poor, confused, shattered society, _wherein they had erred_ from the faith:” Namely, with regard to the ordinances: nor in general, as your way of expressing it naturally imports. Nor had _all_ the society erred even in this point. Many of them were still unshaken.
¹ 4 Journal, page 39.
You quote fourthly, “A woman of _Deptford_ spoke great words and true. She ordered Mr. _Humphreys_ to leave off doing good.”
Must not every reader suppose, as you have placed these words, that they were all spoke at one time? And that “the great words and true” were those, whereby she “ordered Mr. _Humphreys_ to leave off doing good?”
What then must every honest man think of you, when he observes, that one half of the sentence (which you thus artfully put together) stands in another page, and at a considerable distance from the other? And that I immediately subjoin to the latter clause, “we talked largely with her, and she was humbled to the dust, under a deep sense of the advantage Satan had gained over her.”
You quote fifthly, a part of the following sentence, to prove that I “undermine morality and good works.”
“His judgment concerning holiness is new. He no longer judges it to be an outward thing, to consist either in doing no harm, in doing good, or in using the ordinances of God.” (And yet how strongly do I insist upon all these? Sir, do not you know this?) “He sees, it is the life of God in the soul, the image of God fresh stampt on the heart.” It is so. Sir, can you deny it? What then will you prove by this?
You quote sixthly, part of these words:
“They ¹speak of holiness, as if it consisted, chiefly if not wholly, in these two points, first the doing no harm, secondly the doing good (as it is called) _i. e._ the using the means of grace, and helping our neighbour.”
¹ 4 Journal, page 82.
And this you term “disparaging good works!” Sir, these things, considered barely as to the _opus operatum_, are not good works. There must be something good in the heart, before any of our works are good. Insomuch that, _though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and have not_ this, _it profiteth me nothing_.
You observe, by the way, “the _mystic divinity_ was once the _Methodists doctrine_.” Sir, you have stepped out of the way, only to get another fall. The _mystic divinity_ was never the _Methodists doctrine_. They could never swallow either _John Tauler_ or _Jacob Behme_: although they often advised with one that did.
39. You say seventhly, “I do not find, that Mr. _Wesley_ has ever cited those express passages of St. _James_.” Sir, what if I had not? (I mean, in print) I do not cite every text from _Genesis_ to the _Revelation_. But it happens I have. Look again, Sir; and by and by you may find where.
You say eighthly, Mr. _Wesley_ affirms, that the condition of our justification, is faith alone and not good works.” Most certainly I do. And I learnt it from the 11th and 12th _article_, and from the _homilies_ of our church. If you can confute them do. But I subscribe to them, both with my hand and heart.