ness of their zeal, through human frailty, been betrayed into sentiments, expressions, and deportment, in some instances, justly to be censured as enthusiastical; of which their enemies have not failed suffici ently to avail themselves.-But, whatever indiscretions and mistakes particular persons who have preached these doctrines may have fallen into, this doth not, in the judgment of candid and impartial persons, in the least affect the general cause, or prove the doctrines erroneous. We would not contend for the credit of individuals, or the interests of a party, but for the doctrines of God's word, and of the established Church of England. These will continue true and important, though many of those, who have zealously and successfully preached them, may have justly incurred the charge of enthusiasm: and I would confidently insist on it, that a man may be led to the belief of these doctrines, in a way of sober rational enquiry, and zealously preach them, without being an enthu siast.

It would be very well, if some of those, who so readily accuse whole bodies, of apparently religious persons, of enthusiasm, would favour us with their determinate definition of an enthusiast. In its original meaning the word has a very favourable sense, and implies, that, by a divine influence upon the soul, a man is filled with an ardour and warmth of zeal in the cause he is engaged in.-Now, "it is good to be "zealously affected always in a good thing:" and, if our ardour of soul be from the Spirit of God, according to the revealed will of God, and for the glory of God, it is the noblest, most desirable, most heavenly,

and most beneficial exertion of the human mind.In every thing but religion, an ardour, described by the term enthusiasm, is allowed and commended: a poetical, a military, or a patriotick enthusiasm, even when it carries men beyond the strict bounds of cold reasonings and exact prudence, fails not to meet with admirers. Our zeal may be fervent in every thing without censure, unless we be zealous for the glory of God, and the salvation of immortal souls! But there is an enthusiasm of this sort which forms the highest elevation, and the noblest effort of the human mind. Such an enthusiasm animated the apostle Paul in all his self-denying labours and sufferings, and filled his writings, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, with the most ardent zeal for the honour of his dear Saviour, and affection for the souls of men. Such an enthusiasm he expresses, when he says, (2 Cor. v. 13, 14.) "Whether we be beside ourselves it is to God, or whether we be sober, it is for your cause; "for the love of Christ constraineth us.” Of this enthusiasm I wish I were far more guilty.-But on the other hand, there is danger of a counterfeit pernicious enthusiasm; and about that we are at present enquiring. Now, I apprehend, that in order to constitute this culpable enthusiasm, some one or more of the following things must appear. Either the ardour of soul excited proceeds from a heated imagination, or from a delusion of Satan, instead of being produced by a divine influence; or the cause in which this ardour is employed is the cause of error and wickedness, instead of the cause of God and truth; or it exerts itself in unjustifiable measures and practices. For if our

ardour be warranted by the word of God, if it do not tend to the dishonour of God, and if it be confined in its exercise to the rules and precepts of the word of God:-how intense soever it may be, I can see no cause to censure it; unless men can be too zealous for the glory of God, and the salvation of souls.

But whatever be the distinguishing criterion of enthusiasm, I suppose it will be difficult to fix a charge of it upon any thing for which I plead in this narrative. I never was taught by impulses, impressions, visions, dreams, or revelations; except so far as the work of the Spirit, in enlightening the understanding for the reception of the truths contained in the Holy Scriptures, is sometimes stiled revelation. Other revelation I never expected. Not but that the Lord is sovereign, and may do what he will with his own: and if he pleases, may, and I suppose sometimes does, go out of the ordinary course, for the conversion of a sinner, or the guidance of a perplexed, or the comfort of a distressed, soul; but I never took one step in dependence on any such extraordinary interpositions, nor ever encouraged any person so to do. And surely it will not be called enthusiasm, by any but avowed infidels, to believe God's word to be the standard of truth, and his promises to be faithful, and in this belief to seek for the knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel, in the manner above related. In this way I have been taught no new truths; but, as I believe, have been shown the meaning, use, tendency, consistency, harmony, wisdom, and glory of those truths, which are contained in the sacred volume; but which before, through pride and ignorance, I VOL. I.

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perverted, neglected, reviled, and counted foolishness.--Nor do I make any pretences to infallibility. God hath not, I trust, left me so unstable, as to float about in the uncertain stream of opinion, and to be tossed "to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the "sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby "they lay in wait to deceive."-As to the grand doctrines of the gospel, which I have marked out as necessary to salvation, they are neither so uncertain nor so difficult, as men would persuade us: their uncertain ty and difficulty arise wholly from our pride, prejudice, love of sin, and inattentive ignorance of our own hearts. There is really much difficulty in bringing vain man to cease from leaning to his own under. standing; and in prevailing with him to trust in the Lord with all his heart, and to be willing, in the humble posture of a little child, to be taught of God. Nothing but a deep conviction of guilt, a fear of wrath, and a sense of our lost condition by nature and practice, can bring our minds into this submissive frame: but, this being effected, the difficulty is over, and the way of salvation is so plain, that "the way-faring man, though a fool, shall not err therein." As to the other doctrines which I myself believe, though they seem plain enough to me, I desire not to proselyte others to them, but am willing to leave them as matters in which fallible men may differ without danger. And, as to my sufficiency for the faithful discharge of my ministry, to God's glory, and the salvation of souls, he will not, I trust, deceive my expectations, which are grounded on his promises. For the rest, I mistake daily, and find myself in continual danger of mixing my own imaginations with his divine truth, and of following

my own spirit instead of his. Whatever I preach truly or do wisely, to God be the glory; for I am not sufficient of myself to think a good thought: whatever I speak falsely, or do foolishly, to me be the shame; for it is the natural fruit of my own deceitful heart. If this be enthusiasm, it is an enthusiasm warranted, not only by the word of God, as I have endeavoured to prove, but by the whole liturgy of our Church. We all at ordination profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost,' to take the ministerial office upon us, and assuredly we cannot be moved by the Holy Ghost, if we neither have the Holy Ghost, nor may expect his help and guidance! We agree to pray, 'that the Lord would lead into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived; that he would 'illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with 'true knowledge and understanding of his holy word;' that he would cleanse our hearts by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit;' that, he would grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit;' with much more to this effect: and I am persuaded, that such a confidence as I have expressed, cannot be censured as enthusiasm, without including our Church-establishment and continual publick worship in the same charge.

VII. Lastly, I would observe that our opposers and despisers will seldom give us the hearing. With all their pretensions to candour, reasoning, and free enquiry, they accuse and condemn us without so much as knowing, with any tolerable degree of accuracy, what our sentiments are; although furnished with such plentiful means of information, in those numerous