41. Your thirteenth proof is this: “Mr. _Wesley_ has taught us, that _infirmities are no sins_.” Sir, you have taught me to wonder at nothing you assert; else I should wonder at this. The words, I suppose you refer to, stand, in _The sermon on salvation by ¹faith_; (though you do not chuse, for a plain reason, to shew your reader where they may be found.) “He that is by faith born of God sinneth not; 1. By any habitual sin, nor 2. By any wilful sin; nor 3. By any sinful desire; for he continually desireth the holy and perfect will of God; nor 4. Doth he sin by infirmities, whether in act, word or thought. For his infirmities have no concurrence of his will, and without this, they are not properly sins.” And this you seriously declare, “is a loop-hole to creep out of every moral and religious obligation!”
¹ 2 Journal, page 9.
In the same paragraph you say, I have strongly affirmed, that “all ¹our works and tempers are evil continually: that our ²whole heart is altogether corrupt and abominable, and consequently our whole life; all our ³works, the most specious of them, our righteousness, our prayers, needing an atonement themselves.”
² 1 Journal, page 69.
³ 2 Journal, page 23. 3 Journal, pages 10, 70.
I do strongly affirm this. But of whom? In all these places, but the last, _of myself only_. In every one, but this, I speak in the singular number, and of myself, when confessedly _an unbeliever_. And of whom do I speak in that last place? Of _unbelievers_ and them only. The words are, “All our tempers and works _in our natural state_ are only evil continually.”
Now, Sir, where is _your_ loop-hole to creep out? If you have none, I fear every impartial man will pass sentence upon you, that you have no regard either to _moral_ or _religious obligations_.
I have now weighed every argument you have brought, to prove “that the _Methodists undermine morality and good works_.” A grievous charge indeed! But the more inexcusable is he, who advances it, but is not able to make it good, in any one single instance. Pardon my pertness, Sir, in not barely _affirming_ (that is _your_ manner) but _proving_ this: nay, and in telling you, that you cannot make amends to God, to me, or to the world, without a ♦retractation as public as your calumny.
♦ “retraction” replaced with “retractation” per Errata
42. You add, “How the case stands in _fact_, as to the number of converts among the _Methodists_, and _real reformation of life_ to the _certain and known duties_ of the _gospel_, is matter of difficult determination.” Not at all. What is easier to be determined, than 1. That _A. B._ of _Exeter_ or _Tiverton_, was for many years a notorious drunkard, common-swearer, or sabbath-breaker? 2. That he is not so now; that he is _really reformed_ from drunkenness, swearing, sabbath-breaking, to sobriety, and the other _certain and known duties_ of the _gospel_!
“But from what inquiry you can make, there is no reason to think them, for the generality, better than their neighbours.” Better than their neighbours? Why are they no worse than their neighbours? Then what have you been doing all this time? But whether they are better or worse than their neighbours, they are undeniable better than themselves: I mean, better than they were before they heard this preaching, in the _certain and known duties_ of the gospel.
But you desire us to “consider their black art of calumny; their uncharitableness; their excessive pride and vanity; their scepticism, doubts and disbelief of God and Christ; their disorderly practices and contempt of authority; their bitter envying and inveterate broils among themselves; their coolness for good works.” Sir, we will consider all these, when you have proved them. Till then, this is mere _brutum fulmen_.
43. You ♦proceed. “If we take Mr. _Wesley_’s own account, it falls very short of any _considerable reformation_.” You mean; if we take _that part_ of his account, which you are pleased to transcribe. _Atticam elegantiam_! But let any impartial man read my whole account, and then judge.
♦ “proved” replaced with “proceed” per Errata
However hence you infer, that “the new reformers have made but a _slow and slight progress_ in the reformation of manners.”
As a full answer to this, I need only transcribe a page or two from the _last Appeal_, page 127, &c.
“God begins a glorious work in our land. You set yourself against it with your might; to prevent its beginning where it does not yet appear, and to destroy it wherever it does. In part you prevail. You keep many from hearing the word that is able to save their souls. Others who have heard it, you induce to turn back from God, and to list under the devil’s banner again. Then you make the success of your own wickedness an excuse for not acknowledging the work of God! You urge, ‘That not _many_ sinners were reformed! And that _some_ of those are now as bad as ever!’”