I have no intention, in speaking thus is in thee is darkness," and that publicly on such a subject, but to thou "knowest nothing yet as thou advance the glory of God in the sal- oughtest to know."-May the Lord vation of souls. But, as in his pre-effectually incline thine heart to take sence, I must declare that I have a contrary course, and to seek wisprayed over many of the most inter- dom where alone it can be found, esting passages of Scripture, chap- even from the Lord," the Father of ter by chapter, and often verse by lights, and the Giver of every good verse, with the most anxious dread and perfect gift," who hath invited of rejecting or mistaking the truth, and commanded thee to ask, that it or embracing a falsehood; and with may be given thee! the most earnest desire of knowing VI. I would observe, that there what that doctrine was which Jesus is nothing in this Narrative which and his apostles taught.-In the can reasonably be condemned as ensight of God, I am sensible I have thusiasm. abundant cause to be humbled and It is allowed that enthusiasm proashamed of my frequent remissness, perly so called, is a frequent attendand the continual defilements of my ant on religious zeal: that in some prayers; but, as surely as I believe of its operations it is a grievous evil, his promises to be faithful, as surely and in all attended with many inas I believe him to be a God that conveniences; and that it ought heareth prayer; so surely do I be- very carefully to be guarded against lieve, that "flesh and blood hath by every religious professor and zeanot revealed" to me the doctrines lous preacher. It would also be in I now preach, but God himself by vain to pretend that the late revihis Holy Spirit. vals of religion, which have been Reader, whoever thou art, if thy indiscriminately stigmatized with conscience testifies that thou hast the name of Methodism, have been, hitherto lived in the neglect of this in opinion and practice, entirely important duty, or the formal, life- free from this enthusiasm. less, unmeaning performance of it what revivals of religion ever were with thy lips, while thy heart hath free from scandals? Where the been disengaged, and thy thoughts Lord sows his good seed, there the allowedly wandering to the ends of enemy will be sure to scatter his the earth: if thou hast not been ac- tares. It must be confessed, that customed by fervent prayer to seek some of the most eminent instruwisdom from God by his teaching ments in this work, whose names, Spirit: if thou knowest not what it when prejudice shall vanish, will be is to exercise faith upon the pro- handed down with honour, as burnmises pointed out to thee, nor to ing and shining lights, to the latest plead them in prayer to a promise- periods of the church, have, by the keeping God: if all thy knowledge greatness of their zeal, through huof divine things hath been acquired man frailty, been betrayed into senby leaning to thy own understand-timents, expressions, and deporting: if in reading the Scriptures ment, in some instances, justly to thou hast looked more to learned be censured as enthusiastical; of critics, commentators, and exposi- which their enemies have not failed tors, than to the illuminating Spirit sufficiently to avail themselves.of God: then be as sure as the word But whatever indiscretions and of God is true, and as we are con- mistakes particular persons, who cerned in it, that "the light which have preached these doctrines, may

For

have fallen into; this doth not, in souls. But there is an enthusiasm the judgment of candid and impar- of this sort, which forms the hightial persons, in the least affect the est elevation, and the noblest effort general cause, or prove the doctrines of the human mind. Such an enerroneous. We would not contend thusiasm animated the apostle Paul for the credit of individuals, or the in all his self-denying labours and interests of a party, but for the doc-sufferings, and filled his writings trines of God's word, and of the (under the guidance of the Holy established Church of England. Ghost) with the most ardent zeal These will continue true and im- for the honour of his dear Saviour, portant, though many of those who and affection for the souls of men. have zealously and successfully Such an enthusiasm he expresses, preached them, may have justly when he says, (2 Cor. v. 13, 14.) incurred the charge of enthusiasm: Whether we be beside ourselves and I would confidently insist on it, it is to God, or whether we be sober, that a man may be led to the belief it is for your cause; for the love of of the doctrines, in the way of sober Christ constraineth us." Of this rational inquiry, and zealously enthusiasm I wish I were far more preach them, without being an en- guilty. But on the other hand, thusiast. there is danger of a counterfeit,

It would be very well, if some of pernicious enthusiasm; and about those who so readily accuse whole that we are at present inquiring. bodies of apparently religious per- Now, I apprehend, that in order to sons of enthusiasm, would favour us constitute this culpable enthusiasm, with their determinate definition of some one or more of the following an enthusiast. In its original mean- things must appear. Either, the ing, the word has a very favourable ardour of soul excited proceeds from a sense, and implies, that, by a divine heated imagination, or from a delusion influence upon the soul, a man is of Satan, instead of being produced filled with an ardour and warmth of by a divine influence; or, the cause in zeal in the cause in which he is en- which this ardour is employed is the gaged. Now, "it is good to be zea- cause of error and wickedness, instead lously affected always in a good of the cause of God and truth; or, it thing;" and if our ardour of soul exerts itself in unjustifiable measures be from the Spirit of God, according and practices. For if our ardour be to the revealed will of God, and for warranted by the word of God, if it the glory of God, it is the noblest, do not tend to the dishonour of God, most desirable, most heavenly, and and if it be not confined in its exercise most beneficial exertion of the hu- to the rules and precepts of the word man mind. In every thing but re- of God:-how intense soever it may ligion, an ardour, described by the be, I can see no cause to censure it; term enthusiasm, is allowed and com- unless men can be too zealous for mended: a poetical, a military, a the glory of God, and the salvation patriotic enthusiasm, even when they of souls. carry men beyond the strict bounds But whatever be the distinguishof cold reasonings and exact pru- ing criterion of enthusiasm, I supdence, fail not to meet with ad- pose it will be difficult to fix a mirers. Our zeal may be fervent charge of it upon any thing for in every thing without censure, un- which I plead in this Narrative. I less we be zealous for the glory of never was taught any thing by imGod, and the salvation of immortal pulses, impressions, visions, dreams,

or revelations, except so far as the much difficulty in bringing vain man work of the Spirit, in enlightening to cease from leaning to his own unthe understanding for the reception derstanding, and in prevailing with of the truths contained in the Holy him to trust in the Lord with all his Scriptures, is sometimes styled re- heart, and to be willing, in the humvelation. Other revelation I never ble posture of a little child, to be expected. Not but that the Lord taught of God. Nothing but a deep is sovereign, and may do what he conviction of guilt, a fear of wrath, will with his own; and, if he pleases, and a sense of our lost condition by may, and I suppose sometimes does, nature and practice, can bring our go out of the ordinary course, for minds into this submissive frame: the conversion of a sinner, or the but, this being effected, the diffiguidance of a perplexed, or the culty is over, and the way of salvacomfort of a distressed soul; but I tion is so plain, that the " wayfaring never took one step in dependence man, though a fool, shall not err on any such extraordinary interpo- therein." As to the other doctrines sitions, nor ever encouraged any which I myself believe, though they person to do so. And surely it will seem plain enough to me, I desire not be called enthusiasm, by any but not to proselyte others to them, but avowed infidels, to believe God's am willing to leave them as matters word to be the standard of truth, in which fallible men may differ and his promises to be faithful; and without danger. And as to my sufin this belief to seek for the know- ficiency for the faithful discharge of ledge of the doctrines of the gospel, my ministry, to God's glory and the in the manner above related. In salvation of souls, he will not, I this way I have been taught no new trust, deceive my expectations, truths; but, as I believe, have been which are grounded on his proshown the meaning, use, tendency, mises. For the rest, I mistake consistency, harmony, wisdom, and daily, and find myself in continual glory of those truths which are con- danger of mixing my own imaginatained in the sacred volume; but tions with his divine truth, and of which before, through pride and ig- following my own spirit instead of norance, I perverted, neglected, re- his. Whatever I preach truly, or viled, or counted foolishness. Nor do wisely, to God be the glory; for do I make any pretences to infalli- I am not sufficient of myself to think bility: God hath not, I trust, left a good thought: whatever I speak me so unstable, as to float about in falsely, or do foolishly, to me be the the uncertain stream of opinion, and shame; for it is the natural fruit of to be "tossed to and fro with every my own deceitful heart. If this be wind of doctrine, by the sleight of enthusiasm, it is an enthusiasm warmen, and cunning craftiness, where- ranted, not only by the word of by they lie in wait to deceive." As God, as I have endeavoured to to the grand doctrines of the gospel prove, but by the whole liturgy of which I have marked out as neces- our Church. We all at ordination sary to salvation, they are neither so profess to be "moved by the Holy uncertain nor so difficult as men Ghost," to take the ministerial would persuade us: their uncer-office upon us; and assuredly we tainty and difficulty arise wholly cannot be moved by the Holy Ghost, from our pride, prejudice, love of if we neither have the Holy Ghost, sin, and inattentive ignorance of nor may expect his help and guidour own hearts. There is really ance. We agree to pray that the

Lord would lead into the way of tendency, nor application of those truth, all such as have erred and opinions is preserved; no wonder, are deceived;" that he would "illu- therefore, that we are vilified and minate all bishops, priests, and dea- reproached with things to which we cons, with true knowledge and un are utter strangers, or which we derstanding of his holy word;" that abominate and protest against every he would "cleanse our hearts by Lord's day, and against which we the inspiration of his Holy Spirit ;"neglect not to fill our writings with that he would grant us true re- reasonings, warnings, and cautions. pentance and his Holy Spirit;" with For my own part, 1 freely acknowmuch more to this effect: and I am ledge, that my strongest objections persuaded, that such a confidence as against this scheme of doctrine arose I have expressed cannot be censured wholly from misapprehension and as enthusiasm, without including mistake. Not having read their our Church-establishment and con- books, my notions of the doctrines tinual public worship in the same of the Methodists were received charge. from vulgar report, and from their VII. Lastly, I would observe that enemies; while my creative imagiour opposers and despisers will sel- nation put its own construction on dom give us the hearing. With all them, and drew terrible consetheir pretensions to candour, rea- quences from them: so that when soning, and free inquiry, they ac- I preached against them, I was as cuse and condemn us without so one fighting with my own shadow; much as knowing, with any toler- and in speaking evil of those things able degree of accuracy, what our that I knew not, I only betrayed sentiments are, although furnished my own ignorance and pride. No with such plentiful means of infor- better founded are the lamentable mation, in those numerous publica- outcries which at this day are made tions which are now extant upon against our principles, as if they these subjects. tended to banish reason, argument,

Having imbibed strong prejudices sober-mindedness, and morality out against us, they frame so contemp- of the world, and in their stead to tible an opinion of our understand- substitute a set of whimsical vagaings and writings, that they will not ries, which are without foundation bestow so much pains, or afford so in reason or Scripture, and have no much regard, as to peruse our influence, or rather a pernicious inbooks; and to call an author a Me- fluence, on our conduct and converthodist is with many people a suffi-sation. When such a declamation cient reason why they should not is ended (for one would not interread his works. Hence it comes to rupt it), ask the declaimer what a pass, that, for want of information, Methodist is? he can scarcely give our doctrines are grievously misre- you an answer: inquire about the presented; and, in general, the at- doctrines of the Methodists,-he tacks made upon us, though calcu- does not understand them; -or lated to make our persons odious their writings, he has never read and despised, do not in the least them!

affect the argument in debate. Our Reader, if thou desirest to know adversaries in general know little of what our opinions are, and what our opinions, except what they have foundation there is for these heavy picked up by hearsay, in which charges, read our books; but read neither the connexion, consistency, them with attention, and aim at

impartiality; compare them with proved enthusiasts, and others dethe word of God, and with the li-tected to be hypocrites, this doth turgy, articles, and homilies of the not prove that we are all enthusiasts Church of England: and, if thou and hypocrites. Such rash judghast leisure and opportunity, with ments are most hurtful to those who the works of our first reformers. pass them.

Nor do we desire thee to renounce For myself, I here publicly prothy reason, but only to make this fess, that I will to the end of my reasonable concession; that where days, acknowledge it as the greatthy reason is ready to determine est obligation that any person can one way, but God hath expressly de- confer on me, if, in the spirit of termined another way, thou wouldst meekness, he will point out to me allow him to understand his own any error or enthusiastical delusion mysteries better than thou dost ; into which I have fallen, and by sufand that therefore thou oughtest, ficient arguments convince me of it. by faith exercised upon the veracity I trust, that my earnest desire to of God, to receive implicitly and discover "the truth as it is in Jewithout reasoning, those doctrines sus" has not abated in its influence, which God hath expressly revealed, and that I still retain the same disand which thy reason feels to be far interested resolution to embrace it above its reach, and therefore doubt- and adhere to it, with which I set less out of its province. Whenever, out. Still am I solicitously fearful on such inquiry, thou discoverest us of being betrayed by a warmth of to be mistaken, there dissent from spirit, and by the deceitfulness of us, yea, blame us, as far as meekness my heart, into erroneous opinions. and candour will permit: but do not But clamour and reproach, objeccondemn us in the gross; do not tions and arguments, brought against assert our scheme of doctrine to sentiments I detest, or consequences be enthusiastical and groundless, I cannot see to be fairly deducible though some of our writers should from our doctrines; or such reasonbe found to have advanced ques-ings as set one divine attribute at tionable opinions. This were the variance with another, make one way to drive all truth and certainty part of the Bible contradict another, out of the world; for what book can or exalt the human understanding be mentioned, the Bible excepted, upon the tribunal, and arraign and in which there is nothing advanced condemn revealed mysteries at her either erroneous or questionable? presumptuous bar;-will have no And be assured, that to read only weight at all with me, or with any one side of the question, and then who ever knew the grace of God in clamorously to adopt every childish truth.

cavil, every vague report, every And now, beloved reader, let me scandalous falsehood, and industri- conclude with leaving it upon thy ously to propagate them, as if these conscience to search for the truth of afforded a sufficient confutation of the gospel in the study of God's all the arguments, authorities, and word, accompanied by prayer, as scriptural testimonies, with which thou would search for hid treasure. we support our sentiments; is no I give thee this counsel, expecting evidence of a candid liberal mind, to meet thee at the day of judgment, or of a sincere desire to know the that our meeting may be with joy, truth. And let it be observed, that and not with grief: may the Lord though some professors have been incline thee to follow it with that so