LIBRARY
AT
FRl]\€ETOIV, IV. J.
DONATION OF
S A M IJ K L A G NEW,
OK I' rl I L A D li L P H I A PA.
J C^f^^f', Division ;--|t-
J S/t(f/\ Section Sj^
■•^f /
k
r
f
CONTROVERSY
With the PEOPLE called
METHODISTS,
Concernlngi: the True Nature of the
CHRISTIAN RELIGION:
PROVING IT TO BE
A Religion Moral and PraElicalj
AND
Vindicating it, from the fcandalous Imputation, of"
laving: it's ProfefTors, ivithout the Condition of
an Holy Life.
Written by J O H N F R E E, Dockox in Divimty, &c.
_, . _. it I'l ■■• "i -■■ ' — '■ — * ' —
Even as our beloved Brother Paul alfo, according to the Wtf-
dom. th'it ^Li: as given unto him, hach written unto you j As alfo
in all his Epiflles, — in v^hich are some Things hard to he under-
flood, which they, which are a«/?ar«^<^ and »>7^tf^/c' vvreit, as tiiey
. do aifo the other Scriptures to their ows Dejiruftion. 2 Pet. iii. 15,16,
^'c^7\cc7fiXi ciKh h iiccTiUTriBtU' EpiStetus, Cap. 04.
LONDON:
'nnteJ and Sold by W. Sand BY near Temple-Bar, J.
Scott, and R. Stevens in Pater-nofter-Row, S, Par-
ker, and D. Prince in Oxford, and by the Author
at his Houle in KiNG -John's Court Bermondrcy. 1760,
[Price Bound and Lettered Five Shillino;?.]
CONTENTS.
I. A Difplay of the bad Principles of
the Methodifts, in certain Articles
fropofed to the Confideration of the
Company of Salters^ &c.
II. Rules for the Difcovery of falfe
Prophets^ &c. ^3: Sermon before the
Univerfty of Oxford.
III. Dr. FreeV Edition of Mr. Wes-
ley Vj^r/? Penny Letter.
t* ■
IV. His Editio7z of Mr. WESLEv'i*
Second Letter^ Sec.
V. His Remarks upon Mr. Jones V
Letter.
VI. His Speech at Sion-College to
the London Clergy.
ADVERTISEMENT
T O T M E
Gentlemen concerned in the Sublcription.
THE Majority of die SubscriSers in Lon-
don^ defiring that their Names might be
concealed through Fear of Suffering in their Bu-
Jlnefs^ by the Intrigu«>s of this prevailing Seel :
The Author hopes, that his other Friends and
Correfpondents, efpeciaily thofe in the Country^
will not take it amiis, . that he did not think it
proper to publiili the Names of the reft.
■;..\ 1-
N. B. Any Perfon -not fubfcribing may be fup-
plied with the Book, a^ far as the ImprefTion will
go, by fending a Letter^ Pofl: paid, to his Houfe
in King John's Court, Bermondjey. The Price
of the Vclum^^ when Bound and Lettered^ h Five
Shillinc-s: and in Bhte- Covers ¥oui' SlvXWno^^ and
Three-Pence. Hie fmgle Pieces may be had
at their former prices,-of the Bookfeilers me>i-
tioned \i\ the Title.
A
DISPLAY
OF THE
Bad Principles of the Methodifts :
IN CERTAIN
ARTICLES
PROPOSED TO THE
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION
O F T H E W O R S H I P F U L
Company of SALTERS
In LONDON,
By J O H N F R E E, Doctor in Divinity, ^c,
.*•' Their Enthufiafm led the Van to^ and was very confijlent with
" A theil'm . And there is ajhrewd Sufpicion^ that fome got in
" among them from the Beginnings and managed the weak and
" well meaning People ^ who were cf no religion themfelves^
" btd put on a Majk to deceive.
See the Hiitory of the Montanifts, in the Ld. Bp of
Exeter's Book againft tne M-tiodius.
THE SECOND EDITION. "
LONDON:
Printed for the Author, and SolJ by A4r. Sakby, ini
Fleet-Street ; Mr. J. S c o T T, in Pater-nrjier Rozu^
and Mr. Cook, :it the Royal- Exchange. 1759.
[ Price Six-PEKCE. ]
[3]
DISPLAY
OF THE
Bad Principles of the Methodifts s
IN CERTAIN
ARTICLES
PROPOSED TO THE
Serious Confideration of the worJJnpful Coinpan^
of the Salters, 07i account of the [ireniiciis Ap-
plication of a Methodift for their P'otes and
Inter ejl^ in Order to his bei?ig promoted to the
TnefdayV LeBiireJlnp at St, Dunftan's in the
Eaft, at prcjhit in the PoJJeJjion of the Revd.
Mr, B-— — — n, he being jiill alive ^ and by God's
Favour likely to continue to live.
Gentlemen,
S it is pretty evident, that moft, if not all
of you have been applied to, for the Pur-
pofe above-mentioned, and fome of you may
perhaps, have unwarily promifed your Votes to
an avowed Methodift, who oy ^.jtrange Conni-
B 2 vance
4 A Difflay of the bad
vance continues to adl as Curate in a Village near
London : 1 beg Leave, as a Perfon concerned
both for your Honour^ and the publick Good, to
addrefs you, as I conceive you v^ill adl, in one
or other of the following Capacities ^ and to call
upon you either.
Fhi'i, As Members of the eflablifhed Church;
Or Secondly y As Chriftians of fome Denon>i^
nation or other ;
Or Thirdly^ As People concerned for the Ho-^
nour of God ;
Or Fourthly y As ^ood Subjeds to the State ;
Or Fifthly, As Men of common PrudencCj
to attend to the follov^ing Articles, which 1 fliall
propofe to your Confideration.
Art. L If you are Members of the Church
of England, confider, Firft,
How you can confidently with that Profeffion
be concerned in promoting a Perfon to a Place
in the Churchy whofe whole Miniltry is an open
and avowed Oppofition, to one of the funda-
mental Articles of our Religion :
For the 2oth Article plainly declares — ^' that
'' it is not lavv^ful for the Church to ordain any
*' Thing that is contrary to God's Word ivritten^
'' neither may it fo expound one Place ot Scrip-
*' ture, that it be repugnant to another' And
vet it is notorious, that the Methodifts, under
the
Principles of the Methodifts, ^c. jf
the Majk of being true Sons to the Church, do
ever exnlain the Word Faith as it ftands in * iome
of St. PauN Writings, in a Manner fo different
from the clear Declaration of St. Ja?nes, as to
make the Doftrine of one Apoftle a dired: and
flat Contradidion to the other.
For St. James declares, that *' Faith without
*^ Works is dead." Ch. ii. 17.
Now what is Z)^<:7^ produces nothing. There-
fore a Faith, that is dead, as it produces noihingy
cannot produce Salvation : But St. James
affirms, that a Faith ^without Works is dead -,
therefore it is clearly St. James\ Meaning, that
a Faidi without Works (that is, without Virtue
and Moraliix) can never produce Salvation.
But the Methcdijis fo explain St. Paul, in fome
cbfcure Pafiaaes, as to affirm it to be the Doc-
trine of Scripture, that a Man ffiall be faved by
Faith alone, excliifive of good Works 3 by which
we mean Virtue and Morality : Therefore
according to them. Faith alone, without Vir-
tue and Morality will produce Salvation.
Now this is a dired; Contradidion to the Doc-
trine of St. James, at the fame Time that it is
*' fo to expound one Place of Scripture, as to
" make it repugnant to another :" And there-
fore an open and fcandalous Oppofidon to the
20th Article of the Church of England^ open I
* The Epiilles to the RomaHs and Galatiatts, where the Word
Faith generally iUi^ds for the ixihole of the Cnrillian Religion, while
ir;e Word aloney when ufed upon ttiis Occafion, excludes only the
OhfcTvaton o\ Jenvi/h Ceremonies : As the Word Works means not
Work? of Morality, but the ^ercmoRial Fart of Jei'.ip Law. Tiiis
is a Key :o the Whole.
fay.
6 A Difplay of the bad
lay, becaufe it is the perpetual Theme, of the
Metkodifls. — It is not only the Dodrine, which
gives them the Opportunity of creepiiig into
Hoitjcs arfd of leading Captive , ^ they know
whom ; But it is aho the tumultuous Subjed: of
their publick Declamaticns, the old Leaven^
which puts their Mobs in a Ferment, and daily
produces, as the Humours operate, their hollow
Groans, or infolent Exclamations.
It is evident then, that the whole Mi7ii/lry of
a Perfon Jo employed^ is an open and avowed Op-
pfitioli to one of the fundamental Articles of the
Church of England -, and therefore as Mem-
bers of that Church you cannot confidently be
concerned in the promotion of fuch a perfon.
Nor Secondly^ If you are fmcerely Chriftians
of any Denomination whatfoever.
For confider, in that Charader, if the Reli-
gion of CZ?r//^, or the Holy Scripture, which pub-
liilies that Religion, be chargeable with Contra"
t.iaions. — \¥hat muft be the Confequence ?- —
Why—'' that this Religion is not true!' — For
Iruthh 2\vj2iYStmifo?~772y and therefore v/e re-
ceive tr.e Scripture as Vac tpii form Word of God ;
becaufe by its beino- uniform Vv^e think it true :
But the Man, that charj>:es it with CcntradiBiony
charges it with Falihood. For not only every
good Logician, bet every Man of good Senje mull
know, that one Side of a Contradidion mufi: be
faife ; x\nd therefore he, who makes the Scrip-
ture contVadicl: itielf, charges it, in one Part or
other, with Falihood.
Pray
Principles of the Methodifts, ^c* 7
Pray what could a Mahomedan^ or Iiifidcl^ or
the Devil himfelf do more, than load it with
Falfiood and ContradiBion ?
Or what is there, that a Mahomedan^ an Infi-
del^ or the Devil himfelf would more rejoice in ?
Thofe, who are Friends to the Gofpel of
Chrifl:, endeavour to harmonize^ its Doctrines,
and make the whole Scheme coniiftent with it-
felf, and at the fame Time, confiitent with the
Principles of right Reafon.
And to ferve this o-ood Purpofe, though we
allow, that there is no fuch Thing as ahfolute
Merit in the whole human Species, and that all
iiad been lofl: Creatures without a Saviour : Yet
we muft contend that there is comparative Merit,
Comparifon being made between Man and Man,
rSome Men are better than others, and this Dif-
ference in the Behaviour of Men is Virtue and
Vice. It isblafphemous to fay, that God makes
no Diftindlion between Virtue and Vice, or that
he does not love Virtue and hate Vice. But if he
4ove Virtue, there muft be fomething in Virtue
naturally amiable, and that is Merit, not ahfo-
lute Merit indeed, but human Merit ; Merit in
one Man above another : Other wife the Wicked
would have as good a Title to Salvation as the
Good : But our Saviour has exprefsly declared,
" Not every one, that faith unto me Lord, Lord,
*^ fhall enter into the Kin2:dom of Heaven, but
^* he that doth the Will of my Father which is
^' in Heaven. Mattk. vii. 21. And in another
*' Place, Matth, xvi. 27. The Son of Man
f fliall come in the Glory of his Father with his
*^ Angels,
8 A Difplay of the had
" Angels, and then he fhal! reward every Man
" according to his Works."
What Blajphemy then and Impiety are thofc
Wretches guilty of, who in their diabolical
Threnzy, dare to contradid: our Saviours Au-
thority, and that too in a Paffage, which compre-
hends fuch an effential Article of Religion, as
the Judgment of the World ? Our Saviour ex-
prefsly declares the Works of Men to be the Oi-
jedt of his Judgment \ the Matter of his Co?ifide^
ration^ or Attention^ before he re^wards or faves
tkem : But the Methodi/i, for the Perdition of
the Souls of his Follov/ers, ope/iiy gives our Sa-
viour the Lie, and fays that the Works of Men
are of no Confideration at all : This open Con-
tradidlion to the clear and exprefs Vv^ords of our
Saviour is openly to blafpheme the Name of
Chrift. Will you as Chrijiiam of any Denomi^
nation encourage the open Blafphemers of the
Name of Chri/i? If you will ; yet furely you are
perfwaded, that there is a God, and as People
concerned for the Being and HGiiour of God^ you
fhould confider.
Thirdly^ That though our Saviour be of no
Credit, or Authority with thefe People, if fet in
Competition with their own Teachers-, or if he be
of no perfonal Credit with the Reft of the World :
Yet the Matter of the Doctrine here advanced,
concerning the Nature of a future Judgment, is
of fjch Moment to all Religion, that to con-
tradict it deftroys the effential Attributes of God,
and ruins his CJparadler as fudge of the World.
For
Prtficiples cf the Methodifts, &c, g
For, Fir/l, If there be no DiflifiBion between
human Adlions, or a Diftin5lion of no Confidera-
tibn^ then there can be no fuch Thing as Good^ or
Evil : And confeqnently no Room for a future
Judgment at all. For where there is no Law
broken, there is no Harm done ^ and therefore
no Call for Judgment.
But Secondly^ If there be a real Diftindtlon
between Good and Evil ; then to fay that God
does not regard it, or take it into Confideratioiiy
but rewards or puniflies at random, is making
him fo foolifh as not to diftingufli Vice from
Virtue, or fo unjuft, as to prefer Vice before it;
which Deficiency would render him quite unfit
to be the Judge of the World.
In the firft Place therefore, accordins: to this
Doctrine, we are to have no Judgment of the
World at all.
In the next Cafe— God is reprefented as
unfit to be that 'Judge.
Now if this be not downright Atheifm, I would
be glad to know what is. Where fuch Doc-
trines are propagated it behoves you.
Fourthly^ To weigh well what you are about,
left you fliould be confidered by the State, as
aiding and abetting their Propagation.
Becaufe that may be offenfive to Govern-
ment. Atheifni has been deemed a capital
Crime, and Atheifts in fome Countries have
been put to Death, as Perfons very dangerous to
a State, at leaft in the Opinion oi thofe who
govern it.
C For
to A Difplay of the had
For you muft know, that all wife Lawgivers
and good Magijf rates, befide that they refent
the Didionour done to God, confider the Pro-
pagation of Atheifm, as an Attempt to deftroy
their own CQniniojrdoealth. Becaufe, by releafing
Men from their natural Fears of a Deity, it dif-
charges them from all 7noral Obligation ; makes
Room for all Manner of Vice and Villainy ; by
which Means the Bands of Society are diflolved,
the Community is forced to feparate ; and the Ma-
giftrates themfelves,when all Government is over-
turned, can in that Characler fubfift no longer.
You fee then^ that this Attempt muft be con-
fidered as a Sort of "Treafon by Magiftrates -, be-
caufe it is an Attack upon themfelves : By ruin-
ing their Subjecfts it takes away their very Of-
fice 'y there being, as I obferved, no Place for
Governers in a Society quite difTolute and aban-
doned.
This then is the Confequence of deftroying the
Morals of a State, by the Introdu(fl:ion of direB
Atheifm ; And therefore, to fecure the Morals
of their People, Magiftrates make ufe of that
Inftrument which vve call Relio^ion, as bein? in
their Opinion , what will contribute moft to har-
monize and regulate Society, and produce Effedls
quite oppoiite to thofe, which they dread from
Atheilm.
But if any Form of Religion difcourages Mora-
lity, it can be no Inftrument for their Purpofe, be-
caufe it does the Work of Atheifm. And there-
fore they muft he as much alarmed at the Intro-
dudtion of fuch a Religion, as at the Introdudlion
of
Principles of the Method ifts, &c. 1 1
of Atheifm ; and look upon It in the fame Lights
as it is attended with the fame Confequences.
Now then in this Place, once more conlider ;
. whether as oood Subjedls of this Realm, you can
openly be concerned in propagating a Dodrine,
which not only ends in Athetjm^ when purfued
to the Extent of it's Meaning, but which, if that
Meaning be not fo apparent to the Vulgar^ is yet
conlidered by the Magistrate as having the
fame Tendency.
Thefe important Articles being fir ft propofed
to your Confideration, I now appeal to you.
Fifthly^ In the laft CkaraSfer^ I mentioned
that of People oi common Pi'udcnce,
You mull imagine, that fome of the Govern^
ment or Magijiracy of the Realm, are by their
Office concerned to look to the Fulfilment or due
Execution of all publick Trufts, For in all well
regulated States, there are Of/iccrs of one Deno-
mination or another, appointed for this Purpofe,
and there are in all Places fome By [landers^ to
obferve whether fuch Duties be performed or
not.
Where there is a palpable Failure^ thefe may
be apt to call your Honour in Queftion ; and
charge you with acting a very itngeneroiis Part,
in accepting a T^rufi^ in Order to betray it ;
namely, by putting into an Oiiice, v/hich fliould
be held by a Mini ft er of the Church of Eng-
land, an Enemy, who fliall undermine, not
only the legal Eftahlifl^imsnt c£ that Churchy but
alfo the Foundations of all Religion: When at
the fame Time, the Donor of this Lecture,
by
ti A Dijplay of the bad
by the Terms of his Will, expefts from your
Hands, a Perfon, that fhould defend, and fup-
port both the one and the other.
Thefe Accufations or Murmurings of the £y-
ftanders may poflibly be carried to the particular
Magiftrate, or InJpeBor, to whom the State
has committed the Regulation of fuch Matters :
Your Characters may then be fubjeft to his Ce7i-
fure^ as well as to the Complaints of the People.
For it is the Duty of all Magiftrates to take Care,
in their feveral Departments, of what we call, the
Cojiftitiition*
To prevent the Danger, that may arife to it
from the Admiffion of fuch as are given to
change^ or difpofed to be tumultuous^ there are
certain Qualifications required of all publick
Teachers, before they are by Law permitted to
fpeak to the People. Every Preacher of the
ejtablijhed Church is to be licenfed by the Bifhop :
And every Ledlurer in particular, under the Seal
of the Archbifhop, or Bijl^op-, he is moreover to
conforrn to fuch and fuch Declarations and Sub^
jcriptionSy and bring with him Letters Tefti-
monial, wherein among other Things, it muft
be certified by Clergymen of the eftablifkcdChnvch,
** That from their Perfonal Knowledge, he has
*' never held or publijhed 2iny T\\m'^Zy but what
" the Church of England approves of, and main-
'^ tains.*' — And what Orthodox Clergymen will
certify this of a Methodijt ?
The Lord Bifhop of Lcndcn, in this Cafe, will
be the ecclcfiaftical Judge or Inspector ; and
:^s his Lordship has by no Means the Charadler
pf
Principles of the Methodifts, ^c, ij
of a Perfon, who is likely to betray the Intereft
of the Church, in which he prefides as BiJ])op :
Do you think he will admit into the Office of a
Lecturer, an Office^ which in this Metropolis
has many Times been dangerous, a Perfon of a .
CharaBer fo oppofite, as that of Methodijl to the
Peace and Order of the eftabliilicd Church, and
fo juftly to be fufpefted by thinking Men of
every other Form of Religion ?
You have Reafon then to apprehend, that in
the laft IfTue your Methodijl Teacher may be re-
jeded by the Bifhop ; for which you yourfelves
may incur fome Cenfure, for troubling him with
fo ill a Choice. For which, perhaps the beft
Excufe, you can make, will be, " That you had
*' unwarily promifed an Acquaintance, with
** whom, you had fome Dealings, or private In--
'* t ere ft, that you would, at all Adventures be
*' ferviceable to fuch a Perfon." — Gentlemen,
the Carelefs or ill DiJ'poful of puhlick Places is tlot
Bane of this Kingdom. — Confider, therefore,
whether there be fuch an Obligation in this Pro-
mife, as (hall compel you to be Partakers in the
Guilt of doing this Kind of publick Hurt.
If at the Inftance of a Friend, you had chanc-
ed to promife to lend a Sum of Money to a Bro^
ther Tradefman, whom, upon Enquiry, you
had found not to be quite fo honefc in his Frin--
ciples, as you might expect at firft, I believe, \q\\
would not be much inclined to ftick to a Promifvi
made thus upon a falfe Siippofiuon of a Man's
Integrity ; nor would your Friend, upon better
Infoiinationj require k of ycu.-'^That Friend
call
14 ^ Difplay of the bad
can with as little Reafon require it here, and
as it is a Rule in Religion, to do as we woidd he
done byy the Pub lick have a Right to exped:,
that you would do for them, what in the like Cir-
cumftances, you would do for yourfelves ; that
is, depart from a Promife precipitately made,
and upon a very bad Foundation,
Thus much for your, own Condudl. And
that I have not prefumed too far, in fuppofmg^
the Conduct of the prefent Bifhop of London^
would be fuch as I above reprefented, you may
be able to judge for yourfelves, after you have
feen in what Light the T)o5irines and Pra5iices
of the Methodifts were coniidered by the late
Bifliop Gibfon, the immediate PredeceiTor of your
prefent excellent Diocefan,
The great Prefervative of Religion (fald biG
Lordfliip) and of Order and Regularity in the
Exercife of it, is the Provifion, that is made for
the Performance of publick Offices by Perlons
lawfully appointed within particular Bounds and
Diftrids; and if thefe be broken down, nothing
can follow but Diforder and Confulion^ This
Nation, in the Time of our Forefathers, had
fufHcient Experience of the Mifchief and Con-
tempt, that may be brought upon Relio;ion, hy
infpired Tongues and itching Ears; * When the
* Holy Spirit was alledged, to fanclify the great-
* eft Extravagancies and the moft ridiculous Fan-
* cies ; when the moft ordinary Adions and In-
^ cidents of Life, wereafcribed to the Influences
* of the lame Spirit ; when the Dodrine of Julli-
- fication by Faith alone was carried into an ut-
^ ter Excluiion cf the Neceility of good Works,
' and.
Principles of the Methodlftb, &c. 15
* and, under that Notion, grew to be the Diftin-
* guiihing Mark of a whole * Se6l ; and when
* the Bounds of Order and Difcipline were broken
' down, and the fettled Miniftries and Offices of
* the Church depriciated and brought into Con-
* tempt, as difpenfations of a low and lefs fpiri-
* tual Nature.*
The aiming at high Flights in Religion, and
depreciating the ordinary Methods of maintain-
ing and propagating it, looks fpecioufly, and
will never want Admirers and Followers. But
furely, an Endeavour to raife Religion to greater
Heights and greater Abftracftions from common
Life, than Chrift and his Apoftles made and de-
fioned it, is attended with mifchievous Confe-
quences ; from what Principle foever it proceeds,
or with what Degrees of Zeal foever it may be
accompanied. Some it draws from their proper
Bufinefs, w^hich God has required them to attend,
and heats them by degrees into a Kind of religi-
ous Frenzy, and feldom fails to lead them inco
jpiritual Pride^ and an inward Contempt of the
Generality of their Fellow- Chriftians, as of a low
Size in Religion, compared with themfelves.
And others are naturally led by it, to think it
impojjible for them to attain thofe Heights in
which Religion is made to confift, and to give
o\er all Thoup-hts of beino; relip;ious at all. With
this latter View it was, that a zealous Advocate
for Inlidelity, fome Years fince, made it his Bu-
finefs to reprefent Chriftianity, and the Duties
of it, as of fuch an exalted Nature, as might
* Antinomians.
dif-
l6 A Difplay of the bad
difcourage the Generality of People from aiming
at it, or thinking of it; in order to perfuade
them to take the fame free and unreftrained En-
joyment of this World, that he himfelf was
known to do. Whereas, nothing is more certain,
than that the Chriftian Religion is calculated for
common Life, for Low as well as High, for Poor as
well as Rich ; and that (as I obferved before) one
great Part of the Exercije of Religion, is an honeft
and diligent Difcharge of the Bufinefs of our
feveral Stations ; out of a Senfe of Duty to God
who has placed us in them, and in the Hope of
a future State of Happinefs, which he has promif-
ed as the Reward of our dutiful Compliance with
his Appointment. If it were otherwife, Chrift
would have introduced into the World a new
Religion no ways fuitable to the general Situation
and Circumftances of Mankind, and have required
fuch a Courfe of Duty, as the greateft Part of
them are in no Cofidition to difcharge.
There is a remarkable Paflage in a late Jour-
nal, which feems to carry in it a great deal of
that Kind di Difcouragement, which I have been
fpeaking of. It is Word for Word as follows ;
*' I write this, to fliew how far a Man may
^' go, and yet know nothing of Jefus Chrift. *
** Behold here was one -f who conftantly attend-
*' ed on the Means of Grace, exadt in his Morals,
*' humane and courteous in his Converfation,
'' who gave much in Alms, was frequent in pri-
" vatc Duties > and yet, till about fix Weeks
*' ago, as deftltute of any faving experimental
* Josrn. III. p. 8i, Sz. f yii.Se'w<ird,
Know-
Principles of the Mcthodids, &c,' ly
" Knowledge of Jefus Chritt, as thofe on whom
^' his Name was never called, and who ftiil lit
" in Darknefs and the Shadow of Death/'
How it could be, that a profeffed Chriftiani
who conftantly attended the Means of Grace, and
was frequent in private Duties, did, all that
while, kjiow nothing of Jefus Chrift, is beyond
my Comprehenlion. And I am much at a Lofs
to underftand, what was iXxxtfaving experime?2tal
Knowledge of Jefus Chrif, for want of which he
could only be reckoned among Heathens and In-
fidels. We ought alfo to have been acquainted
with the Circumftances of the fudden Ttiunnna^
tion^ by which that Knowledge is fuppofed to
have been conveyed -, to enable us to judge to
what Caufe or Infuence it ought to be afcribed.
There is no Doubt, but God, when he pleaies,
can work upon the Minds of Men by extraordi-
nary Influences -, but fo long as there is no Icfli-
mony of their being the immediate Worjc of God,
but the whole refts, in this and other like Cafes,
upon the Imagination and Perfuafion of the Per-
fon, or Perfons concerned ; others who cannot fee
the Heart, nor the inward Operations upon it,
mufi: be excufed, if they confider it as Enthufajm
and Delufon, till they fee reafonable Grounnds
for confidering it in any other Light.
This Cafe may feem to bear fome Refem-
blance to the Converfion of Cornelius as record-
ed in the Ads of the Apoftles, but differs from
it in three important Points -, the firil is, that we
are there very certain, becaufe the Scripture has
exprefly told us, that the whole Affair of con-
D ^ veying
1 8 A Difplay of the bad
veying the Knowledge of Jeftis Chrift to Corneli-
us, was ordered and carried on, under the imme^
diate DireBion and Guidance of God; the
fecond, that the Perfon whofe Miniftry God was
pleaied to make ufeof, was St. Peter, an Apoftle
of Chrift, and whofe divine Miffion and Infpira-
tion were both unqueftionable ; and the third,
that the Conveyance of the Holy Ghoft was
teftified by an outward and fenfible Evidence,
namely, the Gifts of Tongues,
Thefe are Things, which I thought proper to
be laid before you at this Time, as well in Dif-
charge of my own Duty, as out of a hearty Con-
cern for your Safety in the great Affair of your
Souls. And as I doubt not but you will con-
iider them with all the Attention and Impartia-
lity, which Matters of that great Importance de-
ferve, fo I ihall not fail to make it my earneft
Prayer to God, that he will be gracioufly pleafed
to preferve you from all Error, and particularly,
from the two dangerous Extremes, of Luke^
warmnefs, on one Hand, and Enthitfafm on the
other. To his Blefling and Direction I recom-
mend you, and remain,
Tour faithful Friend^
Tulhaniy
Edm. London*
After fuch a Remonftrance as this, I fhould
think, Gentlemen^ that you have a Right to de-
mand
PriJiciples of the Methodifts, &c. 1 9
mand back your Liberty oi Ch.o\ct^ and to infift
upon your Independence. But if this cannot be
done : Providence^ I hope, will not be wanting
to difappoint the Arts and Schemes of a crafty
Enthujiajl, and deliver you from your prefent
Embarajjmenty by preferving the htfe of Mr.
B n.
I am^
Gentlemen,
With moft fine ere Regard^
your hearty well Wijher^
and humble Servant y
Southivark, April ^,
17C8. T T^
/^ JOHN Free.
P. 5. To the Publick.
As the Author forefees, that the Self-fujiciency
and Ignorance of many of the low People among
the Methodijls may prompt them to fhew their
Skill in Divinity y and change a Word with him
upon this Occalion : To fave thefe Gentlemen a
needlefs Trouble, bethinks proper to declare ;
that if either of the Mr. Wefieys^ who fUl pafs
under that Demminationy have any Exceptions
to make to. v/hat is here advanced, provided
thofe Exceptions be drawn up, as he has fet the
Example, in as fhort a Compafs as the Nature of
Controverfy W\\\ admit, the Manner, in which,
all wife and good People, would choofe to man-
age a Religious Difpute s he will replv to thofe
Ob-
20 A Difplay of the bad
Objections, appearing under their Name and ac^
knoivlcdgcd to be theirs, as fairly and candidly as
they can expecc it from any Man differing in
Opinion from themfelves : But for the Reft of
the Combatants now ready to run a Tilt, as he
thinks it much better for them to ftick to their
feveral Trades^ he referves to himfelf the Liberty
of judging ; how far it may be dectnt for him,
to concern himfelf vv^ith fuch Antagonijls^ even
though they (liould fet their Names to their
Performances: And if he paffes them over in
frofoiind Silence, the Publick may conclude, that
he thinks themi entirely beneath his Notice : And
for the Propriety of this his ConducSl, he will
fubmit to the Judgment of any able Divines,
who are regular in their Way, though they
chance to be of a different Perfwafion from
himfelf
Notwithftandine this Advice, the vul^^r Metho-
dijls began to publilli without Delay. The firft
Pamphkt made it's Appearance with this Title.
Remarks and Obfej^vations on the Morality and
'Divinity contained in Dr, Free'^ certain Ar-
ticles, propofed to the Court of AJJiJlants of the
iDorfdpful Company of S a Iters, In a Letter
to the Reverend Dr, Free. Pr. i^d, Dilly.
Upon which the Critical Review for May
]758. paffed the following cenfure.
This feems to be the low Performance of
fome pert Mechajiick, in conjund;ion perhaps with
fome
Principles of the Methodiftsj &c. f i
feme weak methodili Teachers, v/ho, to fcreea
themfelves from Dr. Free% Animadverfions, take
Sanduary under the initial Letters of the Name of
their AlTociate. The Pamphlet abounds with
the Jargon of the Methodifts -, and very kindly
fupplies the Dodor with all the Proof he could
wifh, if the World wanted that Proof, to fup-
port the Charge he has brought againfl: them.
The Reader may take a Specimen of the Di-
vinity, and Morality of the Author, from his
atheiftically reprefenting Man as a Machine, or
Piece of Clock-work. Page 17. he fays— ' What
'^ makes a Difference in Men ? Grace, not
' Merit.i — This Expreffion reduced toan affirma-
tive Propoiition ftands thus — ^ All that makes a
' Difference in Men is Grace, not ?vlerit,' — This
Grace, he fays, is the Gift of God. — Very well,
the Gift of God, is the acft of God : Then in
confequence of the foregoing -, all that makes a
Difference in Men is the Ad: of God. A very
fine Dodrine 1 All the Adions of Men then,
whether good or bad, are to be referred to him;
and he is to be charged with every Thing that is
done on Earth by human Creatures ; while
Man in this Cafe is difcharsfcd from all moral
Obligations, nor longer refponfible, in any fliape,
to Laws divine or human.
This is a frelli Proof of the Truth of v/hat Dr.
Free has advanced aeainft them. — ' That the
' Dodrines of the Methodifts tend to deftroy the
' Morality of the Subjeds, and therefore ought
^ to be as carefully watched by the Magiilrate as
^ the Growth of Atheifm,'
22 A Difplay of the bad Princiles, &cc.
For the reft of this Three- penny Piece, it is a
confufed Heap of Texts of Scripture disjointed,
mifinterpreted, and mifapplied, and is certainly a
curious Difplay of the Parts and Genius of the
Colledlor, who is withal fo good a Textuary,
that he thinks he detefts Dr. Free in a Blunder
in faying (what, behold he had never faid,) that
the Word alone flood in the Epiftle to the
Roma?2S and Galatians connected to the Word
Faith, We imagine, that this great Scholar muft
iniftake, in the Paflage referred to, the Word
wbiky for the Word where, an Adverb of Time
for an Adverb of Place ; fo we leave him to
triumph in his own Abfurdity : Only informing
the Publick, that while he is making his Re-
marks upon the Morality and Divinity contain-
ed in Dr. Free's Pamphlet, we can obferve nei-
ther Divinity nor Morality to be contained in
his own.
And therefore as be appears to be one of thofe
forward, but unhappy, Combatants, who were
for runing a Tilt, notwithftanding that he had a
fair Excufe for declining the Engagement, as be-
ing under the Standard : We advife him for the
future, to attend to the remaining Part of the
Counfet given in the Dodor's Poftfcript, that is,
to flick to his Trade, but never any more to
think of fhewing the Botchery of his Shopboard
acrainft the Workm.anfliip of a regular Divine of
the Church of Fngland.
N. B. The Author's own Ammadverfions upon this, and
fuch like Performances, which made their appearance
about that Seafon, may be k^n in the Preface to his Ox-
ford Sermon.
Other Books y which have been written by the Rev:
Dr. Free, ^W/c'/i/^ William Sandby, at the
Ship oppofite St. Dunflan'i Church in Fleet-
Street.
I TT I STORY of the Englijh Tongue, with the
^ "*■ Author's intended Dedication to his Royal High-
nefs Prince George ; now Prince of Wales ^ Part. I.
printed in 1749, and containing an Account.
I. Of the Roman or Latin Tongue, as once fopken in
Britain,
II. Of the Britijh or IVelJh^ ahd it's antient, and prefent
Limits,
m. Of the Pyhtas^ corrouptly called PiSJs, by the Ro-
mans; their Settlement in the AV/Z> of Britain;
the Original of their Name and the Nature Ex^
tent^ and Duration of their Language.
IV. Of the Scots from Ireland ; and the Extent of the
Eerfe Language ; in order to diftinguifh it from the
Englijh in the North of Britain, which vulgarly
pafles under the Name of Broad Scotch.
2. A Volume of Sermons preached before the Univerfity
ofOxfordy printed in 1750. With a Preface tending to re-
form fome remarkably bad Practices, both mChurch 2ind States
to the Negle6t of which, we principally owe our prefent Mis-
fortunes.
3. PoliticalSERMONs, and Discourses, collefted into one
Volume, under the Title of the Sentiments of a True Anti-
gallic an ; and dedicated to his Royal Highnefs the Duke,
1756.
4. A Jecond An TIG ALLic AN Sermon preached in the
Year 1756. upon the Terms of National Unanimity : With
Si Genealogical Table, fhewing his Majesty's antient Con-
nexions, with the Crowns of thefe Kingdoms, long antece-
dent in Time, to the Marriage of his Anceftor with the
Stewart Family.
5. Poems upon feveral Occafions, the fecond Edition
1757, containing an Ode to the King of Prujffia, an Ode
of Confolation to his R . H . the D u K E . Jephtha an Oratorio
fet to Mufick by Mr. Stanley. Advice to the Fair
Sex, ^V,
Rules y^r the Difcovery of falfeV ko^h^t% : Orihe Danger"
ous Impofitions of the People r^/Zf^/ Methodifts detected
at the Bar of Scripture, and Reason.
SERMON
Preached before the
UNIVERSITY
At St. Mary's in Oxford,
On Whitsunday, 1758.
WITH A
PREFACE
Jn V I N D I c AT I o N of c E R TA I N Articlcs propofed
to the ferious Confideration of the Company of
Salter s in London :
AND AN
APPENDIX
Containing authentick Vouchers-, from the Writings of rhe
Adethodifts^ kc. in Support of the Charge, which has
been brought againft them.
By J O H N F R E E, Dodor in Divinity, &€.
Ad. XX. ^o.
THE 1^ H I R D EDITION.
LONDON;
Printed for the A u t h o r, and Sold by Mr, S A N D b Y, in
Flcet-Strcct ; Air. J.Scot t, in Pater-mjier RoWy
and Mr. Cook, ^t the K--]'al- Exchange, I759«
[ Price SIx-^fi^"CE. ]
[i]
t O T H E
Mofl Reverend Father iri GOD,
THOMAS,
By Divine Providence,
LORD ARCHBISHOP
O F
CANTERBURY,
Primate, and Metropolitan of all
E N G L A N Di &c. &c.
M Y Lo RD,
IS H O U LD not have Prefumed to Have troubled Your
Grace with this Dedicatic?!^ but that I think there
are fome Occafions^ when the Intereft of the common
Caufe, and the mutual Relation which the St^pportsrs, and
Defenders of that Caufe bear to each other, may require?
more of Intercourfe, and Co?nm7imcatiQn between Superiors
and Inferiors^ than may be neceflary in peaceable Times,
and the ordinary Courfe of Things.
Your Grace is by your Station^ as well as your Jf-
fe£iion^ to be efteemed the prefent Father of the Church
of England: And therefore, confidering both your Author
rlty and good Difpdfoion towards us, it is no Wonder, that
your Clergy fhould apply, as they fee a NeceiTity, f )r fuch
Indulgences^ as may forward their honeji Endeavours, and
which, I dare fay. Your Grace will never withhold,
I mean your Concurrence^ Counfel^ ahd Prote6lion,
As there feems to be this Privilege allowed YoUr Chrgx^
I thought there was an ahfolute Necejfity at Prefent to ufe
it; and pathetically to lay before Your Grace, the Con-
duSf and Difpofition of an Enerny^ which through the Neg-
ligence of ifome Perfons, who iliould have been more up-
n D E D I C A T I O fJ.
on their Guard, have by fecret Advances, fo hrjiohn upon
the commm People^ as to feduce many of all DenoiMnatlom
from their proper P^/^r/, and aided by this ,WaW Multitude
to threaten the Church of England, the Bulwark of
the Protejian Caufe, with a general Alteration^ or total
Subverjion.
To fuch a Pitch of Infolence are they arrived,- that Your
Clergy are often interrupted by thefe Entbuftajh as they pafs
the Streets, and told to ihc'tr Faces by the lowefl and mcft
ignorant Wretches, that they know nothing of the true
Gospel ; and what ftill fhcvvs a greater Contempt of our
EJiabliJhment^ we are the more fubjecl to thefe Indignities
and Dijliirbances^ when we appear in that Drefs^ which the
Laws and Cujtotns of this Country affign U5, to diftinguifh
us as Servants of the State^ in the now fad Capacity of Ml-
/iifters of tht falling Church of England.
The Vulgar in the capital Cities, and the Body of Arti-
sans in the liioft populous trading Towns are moltly in the
Hands of thefe People: And their Purfes being J.kewife at
their Comrfiand, they want no Advantages, that Money can
give them, for printifig znd di/irii?utiyrg Gratis, their ly--
ing, blafphemous, and delufwe Pamphlets, to the rerhotefl
Corners of the Land ; while many of the laborious hanefi
Clergy, who do the Service of this Capital, through the
ill Returns of Abufes, Deprejfion, and iSeglcol, not having
a common Subfiftence, can have no Superfluity to expend in
the publick Service, and therefore can bv. no Means fup-
port at their own Coft, the Expcnce of Apologies and De-
fences from the Prefs.
Such being i\\t profl rate, miferable State of the Churchy'
and thofe, who ufed to defend it, ?r-A fuch the triumphant
State of its Enemies, I cannot fee how any Order of Men
in the Englijh Priesthood, though they do not ftand in
the Breach, can expert for their Tamencfs any better Secu-
rity^ or longer Continuance than the Reft : While this Tur-
bulence remains, they all fubfift as it were at Mercy, and in ;
the general Defection of the People, YcuR Grace and
thofe of Your Order will fare no better than thofe of our
own. For notwithftanding their Lying Profe/lions, at cer-
tain Seafons, the Leaders of thefe People fnew by their
Pradices, recorded in their own Writings, that they care
jio more for the O/Y/Zw^/ii^w of our Bishop?, than for the
Pravers
t) E D I C A T i O N. iii
layers, and Sermons of the Priefts. Our Piclure-Shdps irt
much Pomp, exhibit with the Portraits of Mr. fFt'Jley and
Mr. IVhit/ield, the Effigiesoffeveral reverend Preachers of ihe
Gofpel, as they are there Ityled, who never appeared berore
youR Grach, when Bifhop of Oxford-, and fet as hght
^3^ your Authority, in your high Station of Archbisho?
of Canterbury, and Metropolitan of all England.
In the remote Counties of England, I have (een at one
Time a whole Troop of thefe Divines on Horfeback, travel-
ing with each a Sijier behind them*, who being near the
Lord (as they choofe to phrafe it) opened her Mouth upon
Occafion to confirm what was fpoken.-
Thefe Difpofitions to Ferment and Commotion univerfal-
ly encouraged, and artfully improved, may at a CrIJis, fud-
denly bring about fuch a Change in our Church- Syff em, as
may much alter the Conjlitutioh of the State. My Lordj
permit me here to whifper a Word, that may be worth re-
member ing. The Kings of England will never find fo firm
a Support from any Eftabliihment, as they have experienced,
fmce the Reformation, from the Church of England. And
if in our Memory fome of the Priejlhcod have not proved fd
good Subjecls, as might have been expeded, till they have
been bought over with Prefer?nents, thai, were due to other
People, this has been entirely owing to the Mifmanagernent
of fome of our Statefmen, who being folely attentive to par-
ticular Points of their own, and Mafters of Httle more,
were either not fufiiciently acquainted with the Force and
Extent of our popular Prejudiees, or riot greatly difpofed to
remove them f. , . .
My
. * Sifter WiUiami being rear the Lord, cpeped her Mouth tocon-
Hrm what \vas fpoken. ^ee the late Bisiioi' of London*; Obfer^
fvations on the Condud^ l^c. of the Methodifts.
f If they had been fo difpofed, what fo obvious as to have
ordered z Jho^t Account o'^ his Majesty's a/i/ie^it Pedigree , and
fuch Elements of oar Engl'f? Hillory as might have ihevv;! whence
h:e comty 2nd who w<?. T^-^/r, to have been u fed publickly lu Schools
and otter PI C35 of EduccticnP Thi.^ one M-thod', if taken in Time*
would. have long ago prevented all the Prfjudicfs of Jacobitifniy or
t}'ifafiHmio^ the Score cf the Succi'jffion, m ttie moft ancitnt Royat
Houfe of Louver ^axor.j.
For
iv DEDICATION.
My Lord, I do not pretend to have any particular Li-
cence to fpeak thus freely to Your Grace, except that
from the Confiderations before mentioned, I believe it to be
my Duty. I beg Pardon if I am miftaken about it: But I
do believe it to be my Duty^ and every Man's Duty, who
is of my Order and Profeflion, toreprefent to Your Grace
the dangerous State of our national Religion : And this na-
turally led me juil to mention, hov^r far the Strength and
Profperlty of the Church might contribute, upon Occafion
to the Welfare and Support of the State, when it happens
to be in a tottering Condition. And to be particular, I be-
lieve, his Majesty ovved the Prefervation of his Crown"
and Dignity in the late Rebellion^ next to thofe, who
fought at Cullodeji^ as much to the Steadinefs and Activity
of the ivell-affecled Cle^igy of the Church of Enoland,
as to any Body of Men in his Dominions, notwithftanding
the bafe Returns, which forhe of them have fmce met witU
from his unprofitable Ser-VANTs.
Such being the Advantages, which the ^tate may gather
from the Churchy it would be ftrange if fuch an ejfential Part
oi QMX Conjlitution fhould be altogether neglected, becaufe
fome People do not know the Ufe of it. Succeeding Po-
liticians may be fenfible of the want of it, and curfe the Ig-
r.orance of their Predeceflbi s, who fufFered that Weight or
Counterpoife to be loft from the Orb of Government, which
they may in vain endeavour to reftore. 4-
But to omit dwelling on the Ufe and Excellence of the
Church, I return to my Subject, z. f. to confider of the
For befides the old Connexions, it would have appeared from
hence, that the Family of the Plantagenets were PoffeiT^rs of the
Crown of England, more than 200 Years before the Houfe of the
Stt'wards had any Connexion with the Crown of Scotland. The
K'ghts of this elder Houfe of Plantagenet all centered in Maud
Plantagenets who married Henry the Lion^ Duke oi Saxony. So
that the younger Houfe oi St ezvard zo\x\d haVe v\o juji Title ; while
her IJfue were fudfilline, which has continued in a regular SucceiTi-
on of the Dukes of Brun/ujic^ down to his pre fen t Majesty:
"While the Succeffion in England from the Time of John (which
drew into it the Houfe of Steward) has been often interrupted by,
Ufurpation^ Baftardy, Murder, and Confufion, See more of this in
the Author's Sermon upon the Terms of national Unanimity, /^"^j?
"yV. Sandby. '
Means
DEDICATION. y
Means for it's Prefeivatlon- This, which I have been re-
lating, being the true, but lamentable State of Things,
whatfoever Hopes Your Grace may conceive of remain-
ifig unmolefted in Tour High Station : It is impofTible,
that we fhbuld find Peace or Security a Day in ours. Thefe
People occupy the very Spot of Ground^ v/herein it is our
Lot to labour^ we cannot be unequally yoaked with Unbe-
lievers^ * the Holy Scripture forbids, that we fhould. We
profefs to believe inJefusChriJl^ that was born in Bethlejmm:
But they tell us, that f oil the ASlioyn cf this Jefus are in vain.
1o usy a meer Talc, and a nieer Song : That the real Chrill
is another, (the Creature of Enthujiafm and mad Imagina-
tion) which they feel beginning to be conceived in them, as
Virgins, and then Jlirring to be born. Our Chrijl^ we fay,
was horn firjl^ and then crucified ^ but theirs, it feems, was
crucified firft, and then born. Faith with us is a rational Af-
fent to the Hiflory of Jefus Chrijly as recorded in the Holy
Gofpel, always attended with a fuitable Praolicc: Theirs,
according to jomcy abhors the Name of Pra^ice^ is a Thing
by their Delcription never to be underftbod, the monftrous
Birth of deformed Fancy^ with f«ch a Variety of Faces, as
iiever to appear the fame, and with Ha?ids and Feet, and
why not Legs and Jrms ? %
My Lord, an hont^fober Mind muftbe fhocked at thefe
infernal Devices, thefe ftrange Idols of a new Jesus, and
^ new Faith. If fuch wild Notions were propaorated on-
ly in our high Ways and Hedges^ they muft foon be attended
with fatal Confequences. But what (hall we fay, if the
'Heathen are come into our Inheritance, and have Permijfio'n
U occupy our very Churches^ Would any Earthly Power, at
* For ivhat Fellonv/hip hath Hfghteoufnefs ivith Unrighteoufnefs ?
And ivhat Communion hath Light iJoith Darknefs ? And mjhat Con-
tor d hath Chrift ivith Belial? Or ijchat Part hath he that helieueth
^-svith an Infidel? Andiuhat Agreement hath the Temple of God ixith
Iddh ? For ye are the Temple of the li'vivg God. 2 Cor. vi. 14, i 5, 16.
f The Myllery of Cnrilt crucific;a, ^c. by Roger Balls.
Minifter of the Gcfpel^ from Sandvuich in Kent. Ne^wcafile: print-
ed for, and fold by the Publijher.
J ** If we deprive their Faith of it's Hands, Feet, and every
*• Idea of Afotion, wc fhall be at the greatelt Lofs to know what
See a plain Account of Faith in Jefus Clrifi, in Remarks oh
ftveral PafTages, in tlie .Letters on -ibaon and Jipafio.
Ti r-^^ P R E F A C E.
The Preface has fcarce any other View, but to faclii^
tatc the good EfFecS^s of the Sermon^ by removing fome
groundlefs ObjeSlions and Cavils^ which have been raifcil
againfl the Condu^ of the Author, on Account of the Change
he hath brought againft the <S^^/, in a Pamphlet lately ad-
drefled to the Company of S^liers^ in London.
Which Obje^ions have been tranfmitted to him chiefly by
enorryf/ioushcttGis, andfuch kind of under-hand Conveyance?,
and relate either,
Fir/i, To the Caufe of the Author's oppofing the Methd-
difts^ which :hey are pleafed to date from the aforefaid Pe-
riod, and attribute folely to Self-Intirefl,
Or Secondly ^ To the Manner of his doing it, — " that if
*' was virulent." —
Or Thirdly^ To the Vfe of the Word Methodlft^ as a
Term, which in their meek Prevarication they affect not to
underltand, and fometimes difclaim, being, as they fey, true
Sons of the Church.
Fourthly^ To the 7^/^//^r <^f the Charge, (fuppofing that
they are Mtthodilh) — '' that it has no Proof, and is without
*' Founilation."
To all thefe ObjeSfions I fhall briefly anfwer in the Order,
in which they itand.
• An] firjiy For the Cattfe of the Author's oppofing the
M.ethod'iJis^ which, they would infinuate, was folqly owing
to ^ elf- hit ere ft .^ and date from the Time of his Addrefs to the
Sabers.
Nov/ this is begging the Queftion. — For to fuppofe, that
my Motive to withiland them, was Selflnterefi alone, is to
fuppofe the Methodijis to be quite a blamelefs Set of People,
and therefore innocent of the Chara;e, which 1 brought
againft them, which Innocence however remains yet to be
proved, and v/ill, as I conceive, for ever remain fo.
This being the Cafe then, there might be other Motives
for Oppofition on my Part, befide Self-hitcrejl : And it will
be but candid in the Reader to hear, and judge, whether they
were fuch Motives, as ought in Confcience to be refifted, or
obeyed. It is plain, in the firft Place, that the Metbodifs
would delude him, in fuppoiing my Oppofition to begin
from the Time of writing to the Company of Salters : Be-
caufe it can be attefled by the Congrcgatim-.s^ to which I
pieach, that for a Courfc of Years, ever fmcc I have been theif
Leotunrf
4f»
r^^ P R E F A C E. ■ Hi
l.e8lurer^ I have always publickly oppofed thefe Peopled
efpecially when they happened to be admitted into the
Churches, where I preach, as lilcewife, whenever it came
to my Turn to enter thofe, where by the Anarchy of the
Times, they had found eiiher Reception, or Continuance.
This Practice was grounded upon a Notion, that it was
my Duty, I thoMght, I 'aded in the Chirader of an
JpoJioHck Minifter of Jesus Christ, zvho was manifcft in
the Flejh to Deftroy the Works of the Devil \ of which De-
lusion is the chief. This, then appearing to be confiftent
with my Funcf^ion, was I to depart from my Duty^ becaufe,
in^theOpinion of thefe People, it happened to be my Intereft?
I think not— VVould any of thefe Saints be guilty of the
fame Thing in the fame Circumftances ? \\\ their Sphere of
AcStion, is itnot Meafure for Meafure /^ When they harangu-
ed in the Fields ; did they ever forbear to preach to the Mob,
forbear, left they fhould get the Pence of the Moh ? Or did
not the Pence and the Preaching go Hand in Hand together ?
But how little I was biaiTed by- Intereft m this Affair, the
Reader will judge, after I have told him Circumftances.
The Faft was this ; v/hen 1 came to enquire about a Lecture-
Jhip^ whiqh by Report, was vacant, and in the Gift of the
Company of 6'^/^(fr^ ; I was informed, that there were al-
ready two Candidates • the one, an Orthodox Clergyman,
the other, a Mcthcdijl \ that many of the Suiters had pro-
mifed the Methodift^ their Votes, feme unvjarily^ others with
a very fmgular Declaration, which plainly difcovered the In-
fluence of a lurking Accufer of our Brethren, to wit ; " that
^' they would encouraa;e no Clergyinan^ but what fhould
" preach the true Gofpel, according to the Articles of the
" Church of England:' I'h's, notv/ithftanding the high
Difcernment of thefe Gentlemen, I knew, was not the Prac-
tice of the People, called M^r,W//^5, and therefore, that their
Xeal might be condu6fed bv Knowledze-, I thou2;ht it my
Z)z//y, to undeceive them, and that they ought to have been
undeceived by what I wrote, I leave it to any Man, who
profeffes himfelf a Chriftian, upon reaibnable Principles, to
be the Judge.
This, then, I decl-^re to be the true and principal RQihn
of my publifhing the Pamphlet to the Salters^ and very con-
fiftent it is, with the Concern I therein exprefied for their
HonGur and xhtpiihlick Good. For if it had been reported,
that
iv r/J? P R E F A C E.
that the Orthodox Clergyman had'poflefTe^ their Eftcem more
extenfively ih?Ln the Met hodi/i -, I am confident, that all the
World, who knows me, will believe, that I Ihould never
have given the worfhipful Company or myfelf the Trouble
of an Addrefs in Print ; or even have offered the leaft Oppo-
lition to the other, (I mean the Orthodo}^) Gentleman.
Having tlius vindicated from jlfperfion^ and low Calumny^
the Motives which gave Occafion to the aforefaid Pamphlet^
I ihall now confider the ObjeSlions to the Manner of it, (^c, — •
as that it is written " with Bitternefs of Spirit, and extreme
^' Virulence of Language, that it tells fome People," (we
are by and by to confider whom) of their ailing in op6n and
♦' fcandalous Oppofition to the Church of England^ — with
** Blafphemy, — and diabolical Phrenzy — -in giving our Savi-
^' our the Lie, — vtith Impiety in releafmg Men from their
*' natural Fears of a Deity — and making Room for all Man-
^' ner of Vice and Villainy — (by which the World is left to
*' infer) that they i?re not only guilty of Atheifm^ but in
«' fome Sort, of Treafon againft the State, ^r.*' —
But if dl this be true^ why fhould it not he fiidP The
ScR-iPTURE declares (Gal. iv. 18.) that it is our Duty to he
%ealoufy offered in a good Thing. And can there be any
'J'hin'g better than the Caufe of God ?
W" he re this is concerned I am not to regard the Perfons
of Men, or treat with Gent lenefs^ Meeknefs, Mildnefs^xho^e^
who with the Pace of Meeknefs^ are doing the Work of
Athsijls^ but I am rather to fliew the Sincerity of my Faith^
by (what they are pleafed to confider as it's Reproach) the
iieartinejs of the Zeal, wherewith I oppofe them. This
will Jay me under a NeccHity of ufing fuch IVords^ whether
they found agreeable or not, as by the common Confent of
Mankind belong to fuch and fuch Perfons^ or fuch and fuch
Thingz. ' Which is the Pra6tice of all honeft Men, and which,*
as they found Occafion, was the Praitice of Chrift, and hi^
Jp0es^
* This is a Fer/e of EpimenUes, a Greek Poet, which St. Pe::!
has irf rted into his Epiftie : If the Reader has a Mind to fee tiie
Meaning of it in EyigUJh Vcrfe^ it is much to this Purpofe ;
Eternal Liars all the Cretans are :
Aiidjuch (till Beaji'^is thou mull never fpare, Titus ?. 1 2.
T/jf P R E F A C E. V
Said St. Paul to Titus ; and therefore he bids him to rebuke
them (harply. Suppofing then, that I may obferve the fame
Conduct towards the fame Soft of People, IJland fajl in
t the Liberty wherewith Chrift hathmadc me free^ {Gal, v. i.)
to pull off the Cioak of Hypocrify from thefe deluding
Wretches, and hold out to the World, as I detect them,
the undeniable Tokens of their Bafenefs, and Deceit.
Of which the Reader may take a Specimen^ from their
Manner of forming the above Ohjetllon. For what I have
faid of — *' fcandalous Oppofition to the Church of England
« — Blafphemy — Impiety — ^r." — is charged upon the Fro-
fejfton of Methodifm in general^ I ufe no perfonal ReflecStions
upon Mr. V , nor any Inventive again ft him, but in the
CharaSler of a Methodiji : The Man that infmuates the
Contrary, is guilty of a wilful Attempt to deceive the Pub-
lick ; but a wilful Attempt to deceive, is in the Phrafe of the
Englijh Tranflation of Scripture — a Lie. I think the Perfon
here concerned cannot but acquiefce in this ExpreJJion ; Be-
caufe he feemed offended at, what he calls, tinferiptural ] ar-
gon, and therefore I ufe this Word, as plain enough to be
underftood, and as being withal a fFord of Scripture.
But not to leave the Argument for the Sake of attending fo.
fcrupuloufly to the DiStion^ I muft obferve again, that all the
*' Defamation, Obloquy and Reproach, v/ith which I have
*' been faid to treat this Reverend, and %vorthy Clergyinan^^
amounts only to the Charge oi Methodifm, which in another
Place is reputed a very honourable Charge, at leaif, in the
Opinion of this Apologid : But if fo, I can fee no Reafon,
why he ihould complain. For if Defamation be the greateft
Jionour, what can be I greater Honour than Defamation ?
An ordinary Reader perhaps, may be a little at a Lofs, as to
the Grounds, upon which he is to affent to this, not know-
ing whether it be the common Senfe of a Meihodiji, or nis In-
fpiration. *
But it feems we muft not bear too hard upon the Name of
Methodifi, fmce they take it to be a v^xy ftmph invffenfive
harmlefs Appellation.— So may the Name olfefuit appear ta
Jefuits, or that oilnquifitor to Inquifitors, and if you look to
ihtfirji Meaning of J^e Words, there mav be no Harm in
either j but yet on Account of certain bad Arts and PraS2ices
attributed to Men of thcfe De«ominatio?is, they are neither of.
f This, I hope, is a M-^per Rep'y to the Porfons who thought
^hemfelves wit'.y in che App::ca::oa of my Name. them
vJ T)5^ P R E F A C E.
them, here confidered as amiable CharaSfers. And for thp
fame Reafon, though a M£thodiJi may preter.d to have a.
good Opinion of his Name, it may turn out in the I^nd to be
not quite fo harinlefs as fome, which he, or I could mention.
As for Inftance — little Mechankk — great — School — Boy,
or little — School — Master.
And therefore, fmce we have hit upon it, let us here 'vs\
the third Place, dwell for a fhort Time, upon the Subjef^,
jmd fee what we can make of the Name of Methodist.
To the Reproach of our Univerjlty, we are obliged to con-
fefs, that the Enthu^afm of the Met hodij^sbegzn at Oxford.
The Name was firft given to a few particular Perfons, who
affected to be fo uncommonly Methodical, as to keep a Diary
ofthemoft infignificant and trivial Adlions of their Lives;
fuch perhaps, as how many Slices of Bread and Butter they
eat with their Tea, how many Dijhes of Tea they drank,
how many Country-dances they called at their Dancing-Club ;
or after a Fajl, the Number of Pounds they might devour of
a Leg of Mutton. For upon thefe Occafions they eat like
Lions — which afforded Matter for Speculation among their
Neighbours, as they could not ealily comprehend, how
People, by making themfelves fo uncommonly voracious ^
could be better prepared for any Offices of Religion.
From what conftitutional, or other Caufes it might happen,
would be tedious to enquire ; but it was not long before
thefe Gentlemen, from indulging their Whims in private,
began to dogmatize in a puUick Manner ; they encreafed
their Society by engaging fome raw young Scholars, and felt
a ftrong Inclination for new modellings retrieving, ?nending,
or in one Word, reforming almoft every Circumfiance, or
Thins;, in the Svftem of our w^//^/?^/ Reli2:ion.
And as they were the very fame Gentlemen, who had been
*whimftcal in Private, that were now grown dogmatical in
Publick, the People liill called them the Methodists—
by which was then, and is now generally underflood by all,
who are not of their own Perfwafion.
A Set of Enthiifiafts, who under the
The Definition Pretence of being true Members of th^
or Chnrachr of Church of England, either prevert its
thofe Pcop'e, ex- DoCTRiN ES relating to Faith, and JVcrks,
plamjng, what is ^^^^ ^^^ c^^^.^^^ ^^ Salvation, fo as to make
ulually meart by , ^ . . ^u tt i o v.
M£T K 0 D I s T s . ^ "'"* ^'^P^^S^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ "/^ V ^^riptures ; or
elfe offend againll^he Order and Dis-
ci PLiNfi
Tk PREFACE. vii
€:iJ'tiN$ of the Church, or farther, even attack the Prtn*
tiples o^ natural Religion, and ftill under the Pretence of be-
ing Members of the Church o{ England^ or at leaft Chriftians.
This is a Defcription of their Chamber. And as a Shib^
holeth to diftino;uiih them, whenever they pretend to conceal
themfelves under fuch a fair Profeirion, one may throw out
this,, or fuch like Prcpofition,
By the Terms of the Gospel, g'OJfd Works are ahfolutely
necejjary to obtain Salvation through Jefus Chrijl^ and affirm
the fame to be the Dotirine of the Church of England : If
they have not the Face to deny it to be the Senfe of Scripture,
they will immediately fall to quibbling or raifmgfuch Diffi-
culties from fome Parts of the Book of Common Prayer or
Homilies, as fhall (hew, that they will not allow it to be
the Do£trine of the Church. For whether it is, that they
'think, that by this Method they fhall hamper their Adverfar^
fconer, they feem to pay an higher Regard, on thefe Occa-
fions, to /Articles and Hc?7iili€Sj than to the Scripture itfelf^
though the Compilers of thofe Articles and Homilies pretend
to no Authority but from Scripture^ and had Honefly enough
to declare, that they required no Regard to be paid to their
Articles any farther^ than as they fhould appear to be con^
Ji/lent with Scripture-f and maintained fuch Interpetations of
that Scripture^ as ihall keep it confi/ient with itfelf. This is
the Foundation upon which they build their Stru6ture, never
intending it fhould be put to any fuch Ufes, as might weaken
this Foundation ; and therefore to c-bnvince thefe People,
that even this boafted Retreat will afford them no Shelter,
and that they muft turn out again, as having ho Right of
Sanduary with us, one may fhew them to themfelves, and
to the World, by affirming it to be the Doctrine of the Church
tf England, that good JFcrks are ahfolutely neccjfary to SaU
vatiouy and by Arguing thus from the very Articles.
Ma' or, \ '^Vhat are ahjoluteiy nccejfary to a faviiig Faith^
•^ * 7 are abfolutely neceffary to Salvation.
Miner. '* 9^^*^ Works are abfolutely neceffary to a faving
\ Faith.
Conclufgrt \ ^^^'^^'^^'^^ Good Works are abfolutely necefiary
-^' c to Salvation,
Proof of the Minor ^
Major^
Vili The P tLU F A CE.
M ' \ What are infeparable from Tifaving S^ith^ are
•' ' \ abfolutely neceflary to a faving Faith.
^. J Good Works are infeparable from a faving
\ Faith,
(^ J r 5 Therefore Good Works are abfolutely necejjar^
•' L to a faving Faith.
Proof of the Minor,
jiyT : . 5 What necejjkrily fpring from a faving Faith^
•^ ' ( are infeparable from 2i faving Faith,
Tij- \ Good Works 7iecefjarily fpring from a faving
t Faith,
r ^ h /7.« 5 Therefore, Good Works ate infeparable from a
iuoncizi/ion. S r • -r- • i -' *
^ C a lavms: raith.
Here the Minor needs no Proof, if we ate to give Credit
to the twelfth * Article : Unlefs People make any Diftindtiori^
between a true and lively' d.nd 2l faving Faith, which yet I
never heard of. This may be the Way then to difcovef
the Original Adethodijis^ who it feems for Diji Indian's
Sake affe6l to call themfelves Methodijis af the Church of
England.
By which however they plainly inform uS, that there are
others of their Body, who do not profefs to belong to our
Communion : And therefore it is juft to infer that the Me"
ihodi^fls, who take our Name, do notwithftanding difavow
fomething^ which thefe difavow; and embrace fomething,
which they embrace ; and therefore by acknowledging them
as Namefakes 2LnA Brethren, give themfelves the Lie, (which
they are not afhamed to do) when they fay, that they are
entirely with us, and of no other Communion.
For fach Coalition is Communion, and thefe Connexions,
and Communications will be the Caufe, why Dijfenters
* It appears then by this Article of the C\\}ixc\i of England t
that good Works are abfolutely n-^ceffary to Salvation. And there-
fore the Word alone in the preceeding Article, is not to be con-
lidered as a Particle totally exclujive^ but xzih^r conclu]i-ve, and de-
noting Eminence, as making Faith the Cronvn-ivork of Salvation,
by the fame Figure as when we fay, in corrimon S; eecb, fuch an
one is the only Man, by which we mean the chief Perfon for fuch a
Pnrpofe. This Interpretation cannot be denied, unlefs thefe People
intend to make {he Articles contradict each other, as ihey do the
^criptutts.
ID»y
r/^^ P R £ F A C E in
tnzy be called Methodlfts^ though they are not the primary
Objecls of my Definition^ though they may not be allowed as
fuch by the ^r/^/Wv/ Methodist, nay, though he and they
may be fo far at Variance, upon form Points^ as to be en-
gaged in Controverfy^ one againft the other. I fay nowith-
Itanding this, the World Will call thefe Mcthcdifis^ and I
think ^vQity jujily. For really they know not what elfe to
call them : They imagine that they went out from them at
the firft ; they find that they ftill hold feme fimilar Tenets^
have perianal or corporate Attachments, and only upbraid
each other, as fwerving from feme Dodlrines wherein, as
in a common Caufe, it was expected, that they fhould have
been agreed ; though otherwife Dijfenters by Name, and
perhaps of feveral Denominations.
The World then calling them Methoaifls^ nay perhaps
the very dijjenting Congregations, to which they belong,
giving them that Title, Cuftom obliges me to do the fame^
though ftridly fpeaking they are not of xhcfirji Order, but
rather what we may call Methodijiical^ than Methodiji.
If I take Notice of any of thefe People, or their Writings,
it is in this fecondary Charader, as they are connected with
Methodijh: For in their old Charader as Dijfenters \ fmcer
they meddle not with me, I give them no Difturbance, they
are tolerated by the Laws of the Land to dilTent from us,
and are, or fhould be^ under the Dire£iion of their proper
Pajlors. *
Who, if they be Men of Prudence^ and concerned for
the general Credit of Religion, will think it their Duty, as
we think it ours, to prevent fuch Delufions from paffing
under the Name oi Chrijlianity^ as may bring it into utter
Contempt, and hinder every wife Community from giving
it either Ej^.ahlifhment^ or "Toleration.
To compafs that End, was the Labour of all thofe /?/-
fidel Books, which- for the laft thirty Years, learned and
pious Chriftians have been employed in anfwering, fo that
it would be a Circumftance deplorable indeed, if what Athi^
ifls and Infidels begun, ncminal and deluded Christians
fhould have PermiiTion, to combine, to finifli.
And thus much of the Origin and Na?r.e, and the more
general Divifions of the Methodiftsy appearing as Churchmen^
or Dijfenters.^ and of the Marks whereby they may ufually
b? diiiineuifhed,
C If
X fR^ P R E F A C E.
If any of the Founders of this Se6l, affifted by a grear<»r
Share of Learning and Sagacity than the Reft, or happier
Mutability of Genius, or the Advantage of independent
Circumftances, which will enable Men to fpeak the Truth,
have found a fair Opportunity to renounce and difclaim the
Opinions, with which they once were charged, I think as
they depart from the Notions, they may be permitted, if
they defire it, to lay afide the Name, and take another.
While on the contrary, the Snakes in our Bofom, who
whether by NegleSl^ or Col/ujion -drc crept iino our Churches,
as they (hall appear by their Converfation and JVritings to be
of that Tribe \ notwithftanding their double Dealmg, in
denying it, ought conftantly to be comprehended under that
Denomination, and ihcwn to the World in their proper
Charader.
For thefe are all Methodijh : And rather more danger-
ous, as they raife no Sufpicions of that Sort among the de-
luded common People, while they alllime legal 7 ities, and
pafs with them for ReSfor of — Vicar of — Majhr of — l^c*
■and add, that they only preach the ^rz/(? Goipel, and are the
true Minijiers of the Church of England*
No wonder then, that they fhould be fo much difturbed at
the Author's Pamphlet/which charges them with fuch Doc-
trines^ as he proves to be contradictory to tiie Ccjpel^ con-
tradictory to the Church of England^ full of Blajphcmy^ and
hnpieiy^ and ending in downright Jtheifnu
This leads me to the fourth Thing, which I prcpofed to
fpeak to, in the Preface, namely the Alanner of the Charge^
which was brought againft them in the Articles^ propoicd to
the Salters, which Charge they foy, has no Proof, or
Foundation.
I ha\'e received fome anonymous Letters^ and one almoji
anonymous Pamphlet from the Alelhodijis^ very exprefs to
this Purpofe. They ftvle themfelves rndeed Alcmbers of the
Church of England^ as I have j uif obferved lo be their Prac-
tice : But bcfide that their Speech, or Doctiine all along be-
trays them, the very Occafun of their Writmg difco vers
their real CharacSlcr. For they would never have wrote to
me, if it had not been in Defence of a Perfon, wiiom I
treated as a Methcdiji^ and as they have given themfelves fo
much Trouble to defend a AleihodtJ}^ it it> a Proof fufficient,«
that they are People of the fame Pcriuaiioii,
Having
r/:^^ P R E F A C E. xi
Having thus difcovered to the Reader, who thefe Ohjec-
icrs are, it may not he aniifs to acqilaint him with the ■prin-
cipal Articles oF the Charge, which they objea t6 ;^and then
he will foon be able to determine, whether that Charge be
at all weakened by tbeir Outcry, orwhcther, on the contrary,
it be not totally confirmed from the very Papers, that con-
tain their Objections.
I. Among other Things then, I had faid in the Pamph-
let, aforementioned—'' tTiat the Mcthodijls openly oppofed
*' ?ifundatnentalAvi\Q\z of the Church of England by fo ex-
*' pounding Scripture as to make it contradict itfelf."
II. I had cha ized them likewife with " B/afphetny and
«« hnpiety, or diabolical Phrenzy, ia daring to contradiaour
*' Saviour's Authority, and that too in a Railage, which
" comprehcn Is (uch an eiTential Article of Religion, as the
" Judgment of the World."
III. Further I h:id obferved, " th?.t to contradia our
« Saviour in the Do^rine there advanced, concerning the
" Nature of a future Judgrftent, was not only fuch^ an Of-
" fence to him, as was before mentioned, but that it tended
«* likewife to deftroy the ejfhitlal Attributes of God and ruin
*' fcis Characler as Judge of the World."
In Support o'ii\\Qfirjl Accufation, I had faid, it was no-
torious, "that x\q- Mcthodijh explained the Word •/'^/V/;,
" as it (lands in fo:r.e of St. Paids Writings in^a Manner fo
"different fDm the clear Declaration of St. '^^amcs, as to
" make the D()arine of one Apoftle, a Hat Contradiaioa
« to the other, and that they afHrmcd it to be the Dodrine
« of Scripture, that a Man Ihall be faved by Faiih alone, ex-
" ch'frus of good Works ;» by which we mean Virtue and
" xMoR.\LITY."
Th s Praclice of theirs I faid was notorious. They up-
braid mc however for not giving a y^^^c/^/ Proof ot this ho-
ioricty: But I believe few^ Men of common Senfe ever at-
tempted to prove a Thing -that was Notorious, till fuch
Time, as contrary to their P^xpeCtation, they met v/ith
People of fuch notorious Impudence, as to deny it. And
then F.pecial Inft nos may be necefTary ; not fo much for
the Com'iction of others, as for a Reproof the Delinquents,
and that this mav have the greater Force, I fliall here give
the Re-ukr thi-.^ kluTs ow.n Account of the Tiling, whereby
he wi;l be ena'-ied to judge him^ by his own Evidence.
:h
xii The F REF A C E,
You obje£t (fays he) Pag. 5. of the Articles to the Salters
•—That, '* it is notorious, that the Methodijis^ under the
*' Mafk of being true Sons of the Church, do ever explain
*' the Word Faith, as it ftands in fome of St. Paul's Writ-
*' ings in a Manner fo different from the clear Declaration
*' of St. James^ as to make the Doftrine of one Apoftle a
** direct and flat Contradiction to the other".^-To this he
replies,
" Sir, I affirm this Charge from Beginning to End, to be
*^ notorioujQy falfe. One Circumftance is wanting there,
*' the Proof, the Proof Doctor. Where is that Proof to
*' fupport thefe AfTertions? Which of the Methodijls do
^' this?"
Why he tells me very triumphantly, p. 18, that for his
own Part, he is one, and I leave it to the Reader to deter-
mine, whether he does hot fairly comprehend the reft.
^' Therefore we conclude (fays he) that a Man is juftified,
"" his Sins pardoned, his Perfon accepted to God's Love
^\ and Favour, and his Title to Glory evidenced to him
*^ by Fa'iih zvithout rhe Deeds of the Law^ either natural^ a-
*' remon'ial^ or inoral (faith the much admired Burkety^ Sic. If
this be not exclufwe of good Works, no Language can ex-
prcfs it.
Eat was there ever fuch hardened and unfeeling Impu^
denu or Stupidity TlZ this!— For a Perfon to deny a Thing
with fuch a Degree of Confidence,* and loudly to demand a
Proof of it; and then a little after, with his own Mouth,
and of his own Motion, in fuch a particular Manner to con-
fefs it to be Fa6t, and that he hinifelf is of the fame Opinion.
It is no Pv'Iatter to me, whether this Man exprefs his C^«-
clnjion in his own TVordsy or the JVords of Burket. If he
admire this Frofejjion o^ Burksi's^ by admiring, it is plain he
liloesit, end by liking, he makes it his own : And as fuch,
it would hiive been taken by all Men of common Senfe, if
(exclufive of the high Admiration) he had only fet it here in
SuppoFt of bis own Opinion. For if it does not exprefs his
Opinion, it could not have been cited to fupport it : And
therefore if it is cited to fupport it, if exprefies his Opinion.
And that it fnould be fo taken, he ad^ls fomething yttjlrongery
the Meaning of which in plain Ejiglijh is, that we arejuftifi-
^i| by Chrijiy on Account cf our Sin and fVichdncfs ; and not
by
rhe PREFACE. xiii
by being Holy^ J^fit and Righteous Perfons, For which he
quotes Rom. iv. 5.
I fay then, the Faith of thefe People, which they pre- *
tend to gather from St. Paidy is quite oppofite or contradic-
tory to that of St. JameSy for he fays that Faith without
Works is deady and produces no Salvation, they fay that it
produces Salvation, and is quite alive.
So much in Support of my firft Charge, '' that the Me-
*' thodijhy under the Mafk of being true Sons of the Church,
*' do ever explain the Word Falth^ as it {lands in fome of
'' St. Paul's Writings in a Manner (or Senfe) fo different
*' from that of St. Jatnes^ as to make the Do61:rine of one
*' Apojlle a dire£l: and flat Contradi^ion to the other.'*
Which is likewife openly and avowedly to oppofe 2i fun-
damental Article of the Church of England \ I fay Funda-
mental^ that they may learn for the future, that the Articles
are of very different Importance^ and claim more or lefs of
our Regard, in Proportion to the Clearnefs and Importance
of their feveral Subjects,
Under t\iQfecQnd Accusation here mentioned, which
charges them with Blafphe?nyy and diabolical PhreJizy in dar-
ing to contradict our Saviour's Authority — T obferved, that
?* our Saviour exprefly declares the Works of Men to be the
^' Obje6t of his Judgment, the Matter of his Conftderation or
*' Attention^ before he rewards or faves them : But the Me-
«' thodijl for the Perdition of the Souls of his Followers
*' openly gives our Saviour the Lie, and fays that the Works
♦' of Men are of no Conftderation at all."
What I here affirm however is mofl devoutly called in
Queflion, by one of my anonymous Correfpondents ; who
with great Simplicity^ ov vtvyjleady Hypocrify^ wonders, that
I {hould charge the Methodifls with denying the Necejftty of
good Works, in Order to Salvation^ and defires me to re-
tracSl it, as an unjufi: Afperfion.
Though at the fame Time another is Blafphemous enough
to tell me, that our Works will never be brought to the Bar of
God. In direct Oppofition, as- I obferved, to our Lord's
Declaration, thn at his Tribunal,hc /hall reward every Man
according to his JVorks,
If the firfl mentioned of thefe Gentlemen, doubts the
Truth of what is here related, as he feems to be a civilPQr-
fon, he fhall have the Perufal of the other's Letter, if he
pleafwS;
XIV The PREFACE.
pkafes; and then for the Affair of RetraSftng^ he fhall be
my Cajuifl in my Stead : But if this Propofition cannot fo
conveniently be complied with, he may be fatisfied by the
Declaration of my Friend in Prhit^ who comes fo near the
Sentiment of the other ; that one would take him to be a
Commentator upon the former's Do6lrine. For C7ie fays,
*' that oar JVorks will never be brought to the Bar of God ;'* ■
The other tells us, that all St. James requires of us, is that
ive Jhould pow our Works to Men. This Gentleman may
perceive then, that two of his Brethren 2LXt pretty fimilar in
their Evidence^ and both againft him. Having ufed this
Paflage as a Te/iimony^ let us dwell a little upon the Senfe
and Tendency of fuch an Interpretation. St. James he fays,
fpeaks of our IForks as the Jujlification of our Faith in the
Sight of Meny and that the fieiving of them which he fpeaks
of, has no Relation to fhewing them to God. — If this be
not a DiJii?2£fion without a Difference, it is a Diftlnction
very irreligious. Is there any Thing that Men can fee,
which God does not difcern? And if he difcerns, does he
not difcinguifh ? Strange Things, muft be replied here, to
make a Difference in the Cafe, and prove that fhewing our
Works to Man, is not fhewing them at the fame Time to
God. For if it be not fo, God mufl be blind, or indolent,
and have lefs Apprehenfion that fomeof his Creatures : And
therefore I have no Opinion of this, which my impudent
Friend czih a Protejiant Diftin^SlLon. If it be the Diltincli-
on of ProteJlants^ they muil be Protef^ants of his own Com-
plexion : For we, who are truly of the Church of England
abhor it ; knowing it to be the old * Difllncfion of the Epi^
curcan Atheist, and thus ex pre/Ted by Lucreiius^ moi.e
than One Hundred Years before Chriji was born.
Omnis enim per fe Divom Natura^ necefje ejl.^
Immortali Mvo fumma cwn Pace fruatur^
Semota ab nojlris rebus fejunSlaque longe.
Lucret. De Rerum Natura Lib. I,
And thus much for the Rcafoning of the MoihocUfrs^ and
the Validity and Uniformity of their Relations. Out of three
* See the firft Difcourfe in a Vnhj?ne of SermorF, preached by
the Aurhor, b(f)re the Univcrfr.y at Oxford, ani pr:ntej in
London, in the Year i7;o.
of
The PREFACE. iv
of my Correrpondents ; two of them have witnefTed againft
each other. Tzvo in Conjun^ion againft a third,^ and xht frfi
againft hijufelf. — Very pretty Evidence indeed !
Such Advocates muft furely give Credit to a Caufe : And
I pray God to grant, that Atheijm may never meet with
better. For I believe the Reader Will not fcruple to give
them the Title of Atbeifts : After I have produced one Tejti-
mony more Irom fuch Sort of Writers j wherein God is re-
prefented as being Jngry with People, for attempting to be
virtuous. For that there is not, in the Eftimation of the
divi72e Being, any Diftindion between Vice and Virtue.
The Paflages are thefe : " He who attempts to do any
Thing eafy or difficult, under the Notion of an Aft of
believing, or any other A6f, in Order to his Acceptance
with God,, only heaps up more Wrath againft him-
felf." — * — And again,
*' "The w^hole New Teftament fpeaks aloud, that as to
the Matter of Acceptance with God, there is no Diffe-
rence between one Man> and another: — No Difference
betwixt the moft accomplifhed Gentleman., and the moft
infamous Scoundrel: — No Difference betwixt the moft
virtuous Lady., and the vileft Proftitute : — No Difference
betwixt the moft Reverend Judge, and the moft odious
Criminal ftanding convicted before him, and receivino*
the j nil Sentence of Death at his mouth :^— In a Word,
no Difference betwixt the moft fervent Devotee, and the
greateft Ringleader in Profanenefs and Excefs."
Tnow, not to criticife upon the Folly of this Coxcomh^
for his awkward Aftedatioii of the fine Converfation-tcrmi
of Gentleman and Lady ; and introducing the Ideas of world-
ly Vanity and Politenefs, into an awful Scene, from which,
in the Nature of the Thing, they have been for ever ex-
cluded.— I fa}', to omit this Folly of the Coxcomb^ or Dulnefs
of the Bloockhead^ I have fomething to obferve of much
greater Confequence.
For after a Declaration of fuch fhocking Principles in a
Manner fo explicit^ fo pcrticidar., fo publick as this : One
miglit folcmnly appeal — (for fuch Things are too bad to be
overlooked or concealed}— to his Majesty as Deferider
* See an Account of Faith in Jefus Chrid in Rrmaiks on f6Fe-
of
xvi The PREFACE.
of the Faith — to both Houfes of Parliament^ who as ^^nd'-
tors of the Realm, are to look to all nationlQonQ.^n\^^ and
eonfequently to the Religion of the Nation^ as by Law
eftablifhed, — to the JudgeSy as thofe who are to notice, what
Matters may /hake the Laius^ and dangeroufly affeSf the
State — to the two Houfes of Convocation^ as Guardians and
Interpreters of the Doctrines of the Church of England^ — *
whether a Man who can ^\]Lo\\{h fuch Do6irine as this, ought
to be permitted to bear the Name^ or execute the Office of a
PrieJ^ of the Church of England P
For, if what this Man affirms be true^ then is our Savi-
our a Liar^ in fuppofing a Dijiin^ion to fubfift between hu-
man Adions, and faying, that he will reward every one ac^
cording to his Works. — If what this Man affirms to be true ;
th(!|^_J.s no ejjential Difference between Virtue, and Vice^ and
therefore no Occafion, here on Earthy for national Priejl*
hoods to enforce Virtue^ and preach Repentance.
No Occafion for my Lords, the Judges. — Becaufe there
is no Difference between them^ and the mofi odious Criminal,
No Occafion for King or Legijlature^ to prefcribe Laws,
and Rules^ and Ordinances ; becaufe all Things being thus
equal in the Sight of God, Lawgivers^ who are only fubor-
dinate, have no Right to make a Difference in Oppofition to
his Syflem^ nor any Caufe to fhew, why they fhould decree
Rewards and Honours to what is only imaginary Good, or
Infamy and Vengeance to imaginary Evil.
When I had advanced thus far, I received a little Pamphlet
from the Reverend Mr. John Wejley., entitled, A Letter to
the Reverend Dr. Free^ calling likewife for proofs upon this
Occafion. Thefe which I have laid before the Reader, I
imagine will give him fatisfa6lion, both as to the Validity of
my Affertions, and as to the Confequences, which 1 impute
to the Publication of fuch Do6lrines, which he allows^
Page 7. to be very true^ provided they (the Methodifts) held
fuch Pofitions: And therefore all the Reply I need to
make at prefent, to this fmall Performance, may be com-
p ehended in a fingle Sentence. 51? w/V, that if he be not
herc'oy convinced, that thefe Pofitions as he calls them, are
heiu, and by People who pafs under the Denomination of
MeihodiftSy and will pleafe to fignify that want of Convic-
tion, in a private Letter, by the fame Hand, v/hich convey-
ed to me, the former Papeis, he iliall have the Civilty of 2
particular
Ihe PRE FA C E. xvii
jiirticular Anfwer Paragraph by Paragraph, if he think 1^
neceflary.
But for fome of the other poor Wretches, who have given
themfelves the Trouble of fending;, and me the Trouble of
receiving their miferable Compofitipns, as they are fuch, as
St. Paul diQktlheSy People vi^ho know not what they fdy^ nor
whereof they affirm ', I do not fee that the Rules of Chriftian
Charity y or common Prudence oblige me to take any further
Notice of them, efpecially, as they forfeit the Claim of the
Condefcenfion due to Men 6f lov^ Eftate, by appearing in
their own Conceit, to be fo much wifer aind more confider-
able than myfelf.
^Having faid thus much, to give the Reader fome Ijiea of
the 7/W; and Circumjiances^ and the Temper of the Perfons
with whoni I engage^ I refer him' to the Sermon^ to learn
the Reft.
Southward,
June I j^, 1758,
. P, S. The Reader is defired to t?^Q Notice*, that the-
Author's Controverfy with the Methodijis confifts at prefent
of Six Pieces, which make an 0^/^^^'<? Volume, bound to-
gether in the following Order.
•I. A Difpla:y of the bad Principles of the Meth'cdijls in
certain Articles propofed to the Confideration of the Com^
pany Qi Salter s^ &c.
^ ■ . ■ ■ •
II. Rules for the Difcovery of falfe Prophets, l^c, A Sermom
before the Univerfily of Oxford.
III. - Dr. Free's Edition of Mr. Wefef^ Firft Penny Letter, '^Ci
IV. His Edition of Mr. JVej{ley\ Second Letter, ^V.
V. His Remarksupon Mr. Jones's Letter.
VI. His Speech at Ston-College to the Lcndcn Clfl:rgy"
D I Eplft.
Other Books, which have been written by the Renji
Dr. Free, a7id foldby William Sandby at the
Ship oppofite St. Dunftan'i Church in Fleet-
Street.
I TT IS TORY of the EjtgUfh Tongue^ with the
-*-*■ Author's intended Dedication to his Royal HFgh-
nefs Prince George ; now Prince of IVales^ Part. I,
printed in 1749) and containing an Account.
I. Of the Roman or Latin Tongue, as once fopken in
Britain,
II. Of the Britijh or Welfiy and it's antient, and prefent
Limits,
III. Of the Pyhtas^ corrouptly callc^d PiSfs^ by the Ro-
' MANS; their Set;lemei,t in the AV/^ of Britain 5
the Original of their Name and the Nature Ex'
tent^ and Z)z^r^^/^« of their Language.
IV; Of the Scots from Ireland ; and the Extent of the
Eerfe Language 5 in order to diftinguifh it from the
Englijh in the North of Britain, which vulgarly
pafles under the Name of Broad Scotch.
2. A Volume of Sermons preached before the Univerfity
oiOxfordy printed in 1750. V/ith a Preface tending to re-
form fome remarkably bad Pra6lices, both inChurch and State '^
to the Negled of which^ we principally ou e our prefent Mis-
fortunes.
3. PoliticalSEF^MONSf and Discourses, colleiled into one
Volume, under the Title of the Sentimefits of a True Anti-
gallic an i and dedicated to his Royal Highnefs the Duke,
1756.
4. A Jeco'tid Antigallican Sermon preached in the
Year 1756. upon the Terms of National Unanimity : With
a Genealopcal Table, fnewing his Majesty's antient Con-
nexions, with the Crowns of thefe Kingdoms, long antece-
dent in Time, to the 1\lan iage of his Anceflor with the
Stewart Family.
5. Poems upon feveral Occafions, the fecond Edition
1757, containing an Ode to the King oi' Fruffia^ an Ode
of Confolation to his R. H. the Duke. Jephtha an Oratorio
fet to Mufick by Mr. Stanley. Advice to the Fair
Sex, ^c.
[O
I Epift. of St. John iv. i.
Beloved believe not every Spirit^ but try the
Spirits whether they are of God -y becauje many
Jalfe Prophets are gone out into the World,
THO, there is nothing of greater Benefit
to Mankind than true Religion, yet
there has been infinite Mifchief done
under the Colour of it; when it has been made to
ferve the Purpofes of wicked and defigning Men :
Or what is equally fatal, when it has covered the
Folly y or fandiified the licentious Sallies of fome
deluding Zealot. Which ever of thefe can artfully
join their Caufe to the Caufe of God, is generally
fure to meet with Profelytes. For the Caufe of
God is what all good Men are willing and eager
to efpoufe, while few have had an Education,
which can enable them without the Affiftance
of others, to difcern the Nature of the Thing
propofed, under that interefting and facred
Name, and how little Connexion there may
really be, between the Caufe of God, that alarms
them, and the fundry fpecious Follies and Intri-
gues of Men.
By this Means, the pityable Vulgar, whofe
Misfortune it is, to be deluded bv Shews and
Forms, have often received the Cheat or Mad-
man, with the fame Reverence which they
woiUd
% :^ S E R M O N before the Unlverjtfy;
would pay to a Saint or a Prophet ; and have
been conducted by them as implicitly.
Some Centuries fince, before true Chriftianity
had got footing amongft us, our Anceftors were
miferably under the Yoak of Impoftors, and
abufed without End, by lying Miracles, and pre--
tended Revelations. Indeed ^11 along ever fincc
we have been a Nation, the Spirit of Enthufiafm,
hath with fome Variation in it's Shape, appeared
amongft us, at certain dark Times, and^r^/y In-
tervals, in the Conflitution of the State^ or the
Conftitiition of the People. For thefe Things are
fome hbw connedted in Nature, When the
Ignorance of the Vulgar grows frantick, and is
joined by an uncommon Ferment in their Pa/JionSy
they foon grow weary of old Rules and Orders.
It matters not whethef they be Civil or ReligiouSy
that they firft intrude upon. Since the fame
reftlefs Folly, that oppofes the one, can hardly
Ipave the other without Difturbance. Thofe,
who rebel againft their lawful Governers, fel-
don fpare their lawful Teachers, and thofe who
de ry their lawful Teachers, do fometimes avow^
edly, and always virtually oppofe their lawful
G.ovtrners. For why, in a Church by Law^
eftabliflied, every Minijler is in his Province, a
Civil Officer, as well as Ecclejiajlical^ and
confequently every Combination againft the
cftablijhed Priefthood, is at the fame Time an
Attempt a^iainll the* civil Government, and a
* A RT. XXXIV. C the Church of E^jgknd, Whojoever through
hii pi ivate judgment. {5V.
' • • ■' real
cf Oxford on Whitfunday, Qf^r. j
real Attack upon the Conftitution, Indeed fuch
Attacks may not always deferve the Notice of
the Magiftrate, fo far as to provoke hi in to
Punifhment, efpecially where the Adverfary is
infignificant, and the Conjlitiition is in other
Refpe(fls firm, and out of Danger. Punifhr
ment, where there is no Call for it, would be
mifapplied, and has fometimes been the Means
of making fmall Difturbances, and weak En-
gines confiderable : But when w^hat was a^
firft weak, is fuffered through Negligence to
grow fo extenfive in it's Operations, as to want
only a little 'Encouragement and Diredfiony to
give a Change to the whole Syjlemy both of our
Ecclefiajiical and civil Polity, the Cafe is very dif-
ferent y and will demand of the Legijlature, their
moft ferious Confideration. In the mean Time,*
it cannot be improper, in a Nation hke ours,
where every Malignity of Speaking and Writing,
carries with it a moft fuccefsful Infedtion, I fay it
cannot be improper for that Set of Men, whofe
Bufinefs it is, to reprove and rebuke with all long-
fufferingy to be watchful upon thefe Emergencies.
and not to pafs over even that fooli fid People^
that dwell in Sichem\ but to prevent, wherever it
may be apprehended, every Religious Complain-
ing in our Streets, For this Reafon, as it is a
Precept beft calculated for thofe Occafions ;
when the Difeafe affeds the Skirts of the People,
and the Complaints arife from the deluded Multi.v
tude, I chufe to dwell upon the Pailage in my
Text : Becaufe it contains for the lower Sort ;
would they duly attend to it, Matter of fuch ex-
celleat Advice, and timely Information.
Behvedy
ij. Various Meanings of the
Beloved, &c.
Now, becaufe the Term every Spirit, fup-
pofes fome Variety among them, and becaufe, in
Order to a Trial, they are to be feparated and
diftinguifhed ; this Diftindlion may be beft ap-
prehended, perhaps, by conliderlng, as I (hall, in
tht Jirji Place.
The various Meanings of the Name and Ap-
pellation, and what is the Import of the Word
Spirit, as it flands in different PafTages of Scrip-
ture.
And becaufe It is here fuggefted, that Prophet
alfo, is the Name for a Perfon of a doubtful
Chara6ter: I fhall, in the /^^i?;^^ Place, be care-
ful to explain.
Some of the moft remarkable Meanings, that
are couched under that Appellation.
And then in the third and lajl Place, after
thefe Explications of the Terms; one may be
able, with greater Variety and Accuracy, to lay
down certain Rides for the Difcovery, and Con-;
vidlion oifalfe Prophets,
Firft, Then, I am to coniider the various
Meanings of the word Spirit, as it flands in dif-
ferent PafTaaes of holy Writ.
1. The Word Spirit is called In the Hebrew
{nr^ Riiack', jn the Greek Scriptures {^ntiA-x^
Pnemna. The Word in it*s primary Significa-
tion, means the Air we breathe; or fimply the
Wind^ Thus it is faid, ^* the Breath of Man
* Pf. dxivr.
^GCth
tVord Spirit in Scripture] ^
gMh forth. The Prophet Daniel -f fpeaks of
the Jour [Ruchee or) Winds of Heaven.
2. Befide, thisjirji Meaning, the Word hath
ftill, in feveral Acceptations a Refpeifl only to
material Objecfls ; but in a metaphorical Senfe, as
when it means the Temper of the Man, and the
Habit of the bodily Conftitution : Thus we read
of the Spirit ofjealoufy^ meaning a jealous Tem-
per, a Spirit of Infirmity^ meaning a long Sick-
nefs. %
3. Befide the Bodily Temper, it reprefents the
Frame and Conftitution of the Mind. Thus
Job fays, the Spirit of my Underftanding, forces
nic to anfwer, i. e. the Temper of my Mind, or
the particular Apprehenfion, I have of Things^
obliges me to reply to you. In a Senfe not very
unlike this, the Spirit of Prophefy, is fometimes
to be underflood, as meaning no more than the
natural Bent and T/;7^//r^of theUnderflandingj
a Propenfity to fome ABs of the Prophetick Office.
Thus St. Paul admonifhing that unruly Order>
tells them, that it was in their Power, to govern
their prophetick Temper, and condudl themfelves
by the Rules of Decency, For that the Spirits of
the Prophets are fibjebt to the Prophets, The
word Spirit, does fometimes denote aifo the
Diforders of the Mind, as well as thofe of the
Body. Thus the Spirit of Error, means the
natural Blindnefs of the Undeiftanding, which
obliges People to be ahvays ftumbling. A Mad-
t 4 Dan. % See Appendix, No, x.
man.
6 Various Meanings of the
man, in the Old Teftament, is called SpirJfurfl.
^be Days of Vi fit at ion are come, faith HcJ'ea, Ijrael
Jl:all knew it, the Fool is the Prophet, and the
Madman is the Man of the Spirit. And in the
New Teflament, we read of the Wind of vain
Docfri?2e, which hath no better Meaning than
that Pafiage oi Jeremiah v. 13. where he fays,
the Prophets Jkall become Windy and the Word oj
the Lord is not in thetn,
4. The word Spirit, hy 2i Metaphor , means
the 5cz//of Man, his immaterial znd better Part.
5. It means other immaterial Beings as God
and the Hcly Angels; the Devil and his Angels.
6. It may figniiy the tm?naterial Infue?ice of
God'b Holy Spirit, or that of any other Spirits
upon the Souls of human Creatures, fometimes
with a Prefage of Futurity; at other Times it
fignifies a bare hiipidj'e from any of thefe, upon
the Will of a Man fo as to alter for the prefent,
his Behaviour, and this not attended with any
Prefage of Futurity.
7. Again, by the Word Spirit, the Scripture
frequently exprefles the Influence of God's Spirit:
alone, whether that be Ordinary or Extraordi^
nary, and the various Degrees of either. There
is generally though, fomething particular in the
Phrafe, by which each Kind, and the various
Degrees of each Kind may be diftinguifned.
The extraordinary Influence, is fignified by
fuch Exprelnons as thefe, I "will pour out of my
Spirit — 1 vi-as in the Spirit — The Spirit of the
Lord ca?ne upon him — and this er.traor dinar -^ In-
fluence
IVorJ Spirit in Scripture, j
fluence is not always to the fame Purpofe, or for
the fame Continuance, and never exerted but
upon verv hi^h and uncommon Occaiions. The
ordinary Influence amongft Chriftians, feems to
be underftocd in fuch Fhrafes as thefe, bzrn of
the Spirit, fhewing it to be a fecond Nature, and
like other Things, which are born with us, in
it's Intent, lafting. And in this View, we receive
that other Precept, ^oicIj not the Spirit. Spirit
in this Senfe is that Gift of God, which in all
Aaes of the Church, hath been cemmcn to all good
Chriltians. There is nothing extract diriary^ or
miraculous in it's Operations. It is no more a
Wonder in the Jpiritual, than the Blowing of
the Wind in the iiatunil World ; it is always
fomew^here. And becaufe it was to be of common
\J(c^ our Saviour gives us the followini^ De-
fcriotion, and his infinite Wifdom, ivho knew
ivbat 'is: as in Man, knew for what Purpofe he
did it. * TJje Wind thiveth -d:here it lifteth, and
then hearefi the Sound thereof^ but canji not telly
ivhence it cometh and n-hither it goeth, fo is every
one that is born of the Spirit. By the Words in
the Clofe of this Speech, it is plain, cwr Saviour
meant it as an Aliufion or Comparifon, There
muft be a Similitude therefore between the
Spirit,3.nd the Emblem , under which our Saviour
reprefents it. Of the Emblem itfelf, he fays, we
are in part ignorant. The IVind bk-i-eth ivhere it
lijicth, and thou hcarejl the Sound thereof, but
canft not telliL'hcnce it comctb nor 'a^hither it goetb
* John ill. S.
E ^Bv
8 Various Meajihtgs of the
w-Bv this Sound of the Wind, which we are
faid to apprehend, are meant it*s outward I'enfi-
ble Effeds : The; Noifecaufed by the Refiftence
or Fall of fuch Objedts, as it blows againft, of
which FfFefts our Reafon and Senfes^ our ufual
Faculties are the Judges. But what is that, of
which we are ignorant ? Why the Manner of
its coming, and going* ^hou canft not tell
whence it cometh^ nor whither it goethy and here-
in chit fly lies the Similitude, for it is added, fo
is every one that is born of the Spirit » The
Marks of the Spirit therefore given us by our
Saviour are fenfihle in the common Road, and
if there be a Similitude in the Cafe, are to be
difcerned in the fame outward Manner,.as the
Fall of a Tree, or the Wreck of a Ship, or any
of thofe Accidents, which are known to be
Marks and EfFeds of a Tempefl, Now'thefe
Things are vijible^ and open alike to our own
Obiervation, and often to the Obfervation of
other People, who are Judges in part, as well
as we, of every good Word and Work, that is
nianifeft before .them ; Which good Words and
Works are 4:he only infallible Teftimony of this
Kind of Infpiration. Our Saviour fays not a
Word of any unintelligible inward Feelings,
diftorting Agonies ^ or frightful Convidfions, For
thefe he knew might proceed from bodily Dif-
orders -, and Enthufialis have no Mark to dif-
tini-uifh, when they do not. Whereas a good
Life can proceed but from one Caufe ; and
there«
TFoj^d Spirit in Scripture, q
therefore is a folid leftimony that "* God is ninth-
us ; a Teftimony not only convincing to oar-
felves, but to all that are round about us. Judf^e
therefore, from the Propriety and Safety of the
one above the other, Vv'hich our Saviour intend-
ed as the Mark of God's Holy Spirit; wlicther
a precarious Conceit of a diftempered Fancy,
which may not abide by a Perfon the Compafs
of a Day, which finks with the Alteration of the
bodily Temper, and of the Grounds of which
he can never convince another -, or. that which
depends upon a reafonable Convicftion backed by
the joint Affent, and general concurring Suffrage
of Mankind.
Tl^fe fecm to be the mofl remarkable Mean-
ings of the Word Spirit, as ititands in different
Pailages of Holy Writ. They are, we find,
widely diffetent from one another; and in
* But not content with this, the Methodids have C3rr*ed th?ir
CurioJity^Q f rjn huntinsr for extr-ordiiiarv Marks^ an.- Ret'elaticns^
whereby to know tfiC State of t'le Soul j that one of their Teachers,
in Order to gratify their Humour, ^rd rake as great an A'i/ <r,taoe
of it as he couid, is fiiid to have forged a Lett'^r, d^tp.i from the
Manfions abonje, which he re^d without. Sname in the Pulpit, to the
Vto\>\e ci ^t.Sa'viour^s, SoufhiJoark. See it in the Appendix, N). z.
But that thefe Saifits my learn to wean theoife'ves from a Curi-
ofity no where authorized in Scr.pturc% let them remember ; that
to determine upon thf/W State of Min's Snul, is only his Pnro-
gativty who is the Sovereign Judge or t e VVor- J.
And yet through the Licenrioufnefs of th {t Time?, every the
meaneft Pcribn in ccrnmon Lire, ^very 6o2iV,ngo}d ^Vovtan, every
over-grown Apprentice, every new-fainted Magdalene, emouragfed
in their blafphemous Pradices by thofe Impofio^), ihall place £hem-
felves upon the Tribunal of the Almighty, and deal out Damnation
to their Fellow- Creatures,
Tnis is fuch a Prefumption, as is \txy offenfive to the Honour of
God, and the Order of Society, and theretore very deftrving of
fublick Cenfure.
Number
io Vanous Meaning of the
Number fufHcient to perplex ignorant PeopleV
who read with warm Heads, and a Luft of mif-
applying, under the Condud tob of Teachersy
who are to build their Succefs oil fuch Advant-
ages. The fAegoing DtjlinSions as they plain-
ly fhew, that it is not every Spirit^ that is to be
credited, may be a Means of preventing that
Confufion, which otherwife muft arife from the
promifcuousUfe of a Term, which admits of fuch
a Variety of Interpretations.
I now proceed to a critical Examination of
the Word Prophet, which Examination does
therefore take the y?'a',W Place ^ becaufe general-
ly fpeaking we muft firft difcern the Spirit of a
Man, of what Kind it is, before we can^udge
of his Qualifications as a Prophety or know iti
what Rank to place him, {upp«fing him in any
Degree capable of that Denomination.
The Hebrew Word (na:) is moft probably
derived from the Word (^n) * Boh to enter.
Whence this Name imports, the Perfon, that en-
tered, fignifying thereby his Entrance into fome
facred Place 'f- which was prohibited to the Peo-
ple,
* Nimh. xi. 8, 9. In tfie Oriental Languages the Letters ^^
A, W, I, are often put for one another. This is as much a Rule
in the Hehreiv as the Arabick. In the Derivatives ROi propheta^
and nb<0 Introitusy there is a f for better found's fake mile :d of a
1. Wnile again in the word nXiSl Prophetia the Radical Lettef
has it's true Form, and plaialy ihews the Word's Original.
-f- Thus at Deiphos^
H/AEr^ Tu y iqu. TMV leu c4?vAo»^ f/t^sXfif
Oi TrXricr'iov ^a.(T(7eci r^iTTo^og, ^eve,
At7\(puy «gir£/V Euripid. Jon.
At
Word Spirit in Scripture. 1 1
pie, to whom at his coming out he reported
fome Oraclcy or made fome Harangue, From
this laft Part of the Prophetick Office, one of
the Rahbies took Occafion to derive the Name
from (ni3) a Root, which fignifies Elocution^
Oratory, Preaching.
The Word in the Greek Scriptures, which we
retain in our Language, namely Prophet^ figni-
fies in it's Original, a Foreteller of future Events,
but in it's ufual Acceptation among the Greeks,
the Chief of the Priefts, the Perfon, who pre-
fided in the Temple over the Refl, as chief
Maiter of Religious Ceremonies, whether he
gave out Oracles or not. Thus much of thd
Original, and moil: obvious Acceptations of the
Words (N>n3) Nabih and Prophet, let us now
enumerate fome of their peculiar Meanings, in
particular Places of Scripture, as far as may con-
cern our prefent Purpole. Be it obferved pre-
viouilv to this, that the Name Prophet in the
Hebrew i taken from one Verb^ foon gave Rife to
another \ 2. Thing common in other Languages*,
and the Meaning of the new Verb extended not
only to the principal Office of a Prophet, but
alfo (according to the Genius of the Hebrew
Language, which is barren in Words) to the
minute Actions of Perfons in that Chara<5ter,
and fo if a Perfon wore the Garb of a Prophet,
At the TempiC of Jubltr-r Ammon, there w?re the f^me Ceremonies,
S[rabo. Lib. r7«
* Nil, Thus in Gree^ from '^^o(pvf^i comes Tr^o^^TJ^?, and
K03, thence aiiocher Verb 'rr^o^nriiu,
eat
J 2 Various Meamigs of the
cat like a Prophet, or prayed in their Manner^
he was faid in the Hebrew to ad: the Prophet,
which we in Englifi improperly render to Pro^
phefy. It was neceffary to make this Remark,
becaufe otberwile, when People read in the
Bible, that fuch an one prcphejiedy they may be
induced to think, that he was adling in the high^
eft Part of that Character ^ and foretelling future
Events : When perhaps confidering the Perfon's
whole Conduct, and Hiftory, we lliall find but
little Reafon to believe his divine Infpiration.
Thus for Inftcincethe Prophets oi Baal ^ when
they offered up the Sacrifice, which was to de-
cide the Controverfy between them and Elijah
are faid to have ^ prophefied until the Time of
offering the Evening Sacrifice ^ by which is meant
only, that they were fo long in paying their Ido-
latrous Devotions. For thus the Text explains
itfelf. And they took the Btdlocky that was given
them, and they drefjed it, and called on the Name
of Bial from Morni?7g even untill Noon, faying
O Baal hear us. But there was no Voice, nor
a?7v that anjwered, ajid they leaped upon the 4.ltar^
*which was made. And it came to pafs at Noon,
that Elijah mocked them, and they cried aloud, and
cut thewfelves after their Marnier with Knives and
Lances^ till the Blcod gufied out upon them. It is
plain from hence, that People have been faid to
prophefy, when they have had ?20 Share of divine
Infpiration, when they have not been foretelling
future Events, but only performing their ordi-
* I Kings xvili*. 26, 27, 2Sc
nary
. . Word Prophent in Scripture. \ ^
nary Devotions, or doing fome Act in the Man-
ner, or in the Form of 'Prophets of this or that
Denomination.
In this Senfe it is, that Saul v/as faid to Pro-^
fhefy^ and to be amojigH the Prophets. The Pre^
dialing Prophets termed in the New I'ellament,
thofe who have fpoken, \- e. v/ho foretold future
Events, and were therefore called Seers^ fuftained
alfo another Office of a civil Nature. They were
generally at the Head of feveral Seminaries, and
Schools of young Men, whom they taught to
follow their own Way of Life, and Form of
Devotion, and of whom they were therefore faid
to be the Fathers , Becaufe they broitght them
up in this Way, and were fometimes fucceed-
cd by them, in the holie/i Part of their Func-
tions. Whoever frequented thefe Aflemblies, and
joined in any of their Actions, was faid to
be oj the Sons of the Prophets, to prophefi and to
be among the Prophets. And this, according to a
learned and ingenious •f Interpreter, is the Mean-
ing of Saul^ Prophefying, and moft likely to
be the true Meaning.
For tho' it be added, '^ that the Spirit of the Lord
fiall come upon thee, and thou jloalt be turned into
another Man, yet this is not to be underftood of
the divine Influence, with the Prefage of Futu-
rity; but only of an ImpiiJfe upon the fFill, fo as
to alter, for a Time, his Behaviour. For .S^Wby
the Tenour of his Life was not efieemed over
Devout, but rather a Defpifer of Religious Cere-
monies; and therefore by his fudden Attachment
t Warhurton\ Divine Legation of Vicfn, Vul. lil pai'C 310
3 Sam.x. u. * I Sam, X. 6.
to
14 Various Meanings of the
to them, might well be faid to be turned into ano^
ther Man. though there was no other Change in
his Charader. Bat if from this Phrafe, the
spirit of the Lord fid all come upon Thee^ there
remain yet a Sufpicion to any one that Saul in
his Frophetick Temper, was rapt into Futurity^
let us (ee the Force of the Expreffion in other
PafTages of Scripture.
It is faid of Jephtha, that the Spirit of the
"Lord came upon him, and in Confequence of this
v/hat did he ? ^ Why he pajjed over Gikad and
Manafch, pajjed over Mizpeh of Gikad, and
from Adizpeh of Gileady he pajfed over unto the
Children (ff Amnon. And if we read his Cha-
radler, he is faid to be a 7nighty Man of Valour^
end the Son of an || Haidot : But he is no where
faid to have been a Prophet, This Spirit of the
Lord then here mentioned was not the Prophe-
TICK Spirit.
When xht pr editing Prophet is defcribed the
Expreffions -f- are more pompous ; thus we
read of the Vifion of Ifaiah, the Sen of Amos,
which he faw concerning Judah ^;2^ Jerulalem,
&c\ The Word of the Lord came unto David's
Seer. Thefe Terms Vv^ere applied to none but
fuch as faw into Futurity, and had the miracu-
lous Gift of reprefenting to the People Things
to come ; and in Token of :{; this Gilt, either
they wrought Miracles ; or appealed to the Com-
pletion of f<^me Fa6t foretold by them; which
when it came to pafs, was to the People one
* JaJges xi. 29. II xi. I. f I Ifai. 1, 2, 3.
:i: I Kingsxviii. 36, 37, 38,
Word Prophet in Scripture, i 5
Sign of the Reality of their Millions. * In thefe
Terms, Micaiah oppofcd the falfe Prophets,
who were dekiding the King of IfraeL He tells
Zedikiah one of his Opponents, thit he fliould
have Conviction enough of \\h'\Micaiah'6) heing
infpired, Wbeji he fl^qidd go into an inner Cbcrmber
to hide himfelf. And he tells the King, that if
he did return at all in Peace, the Lord hath not
fpoken by me^ and he faid hearken^ O People^ every
one of you. Such Circumftances as thefe are
generally the Marks of a Prophet, in the moft
proper and exalted Meaning of the Word.
Where there are no fuch Cir cum/lances added
in Scripture, the Word Prophet is nothing
akin to miracidoiis divine Infpiration, but is to be
connecfted with fome of the lower Ideas of the
Prophet^ Office, fuch as have been before de-
fcribed, or fuch as obtains moft frequently in the
New Teftament, which fhali be here, in the
laft Place, more particularly explained. The
Idea, I mean, is that of the Prophet in the Office,
of an Orator or Preacher, Thus we read in
Nehemiah, thou haft appointed Prophets to
preach of xh^t in Jerulakm, /. e. to make Speeches.
In which Senfe 1 obferved' before, that one of the
Jewilh Rabbles underftood the Hebrew Word,
and in which Senfe the Greek Word in the New
Teftament + is generally to be taken : Thus it
is faid of Judas and Silas^ Legates from the firft
Council^ upon the Controveriy with the Gen-
tiles, that being Pr(:5/?/6^/5, /. e, eloquent Preachers^
* 1 Kings xxii. 25 and 28. -f A(5ls xv. 32.
F they
1 6 Various Meanings cf the
they exhorted the Brethren %vith many Words and
confirmed them. The Reafon for their inter-
pofmg, according to th^ liifiorian^ is taken
from the Nature of their Office. There muft
have been a Fitnefs then in their Office for this
Purpofe ; a natural Connexion between it, and
the Bufinefs, which called upon them to exert it:
But their Bufinefs was to fet People right in a
Matter oi Debati and Reafon : The Notion of a
Prophet here then was only that of Reafoner,
For otherwife thefe Prophets might have ufed
divine Authority witli the People (a fliorter Me-
thod than the Ufe of io many Words) to have
C07ifirmed them,
St. Paul's Defcriptlon of the Prophets in the
New Teftament, as a common Order fubfifting in
the Church, puts it paft a Doubt, that they were
only an Order oi Preachers \ without any Thing
viiraculous in their Charadiers. For he fays they
were not defigned by God Ahuighty, for a Means
of Conviction to Infidels, likethofe, who had the
miraculous Gift of Tongues. But had they
been in an extraordinary Manner divi?2ely in-
fpired, they would have been as much a Wonder
as the other. It is a plain Proof then, that they
pretended not to miraculous divine Infpiration.
* Tongues, /. e, the miraculous Gift of fpeaking
divers Languages, was for a Sign to the?n that
believed 7iot^ but Frophejying fervetb not for (the
Miraculous Conviction of) Unbelievers^ but for
them, which believe. And all that the Apoille
* 1 Cor. xiv. 2 2.
fays
Jf^ord Frophtt 122 Scrip fun. 17
fays of this Service was, tb^f * /V 'was fp caking to
Men to Edification^ Exhortation^ and Comfort,
And whether they did this well or not, the other
were to judge, -f If another had a better Appre^
henfion of the Thing, the firft Treacher was to
hold his Peace : For he adds %. the Spirits of the
Prophets are SiibjeB to the Prophets, A plain
Proof, that thefe Spirits were none but their
oivn. For a diftin^l Being has a diftind: Will-,
and we cannot force the Will of another Man,
much lefs that of another Spirit, which in the
Cafe of Infpiration, mujl be in all its Faculties
our Superiour. Upon the whole then, it ap-
pears that the ordinary Church-Prophets of the
New Teflament, or thofe, who fpoke in the Af-
fembiies, had no Pretence to miraculous divine
Infpiration. One would wonder therefore, by
what irreligious Boldnefs, and Blafphemous
Prefumption, § our Preaching Prophets now-a-
days pretend to it. If it was not necelTary in
the hifancy of the Church, they can never with
Reafon fay, that it muft be neceflary now, in
Places, where Churches are grown to Maturity,
and by Law efiablified. With what View this
Opinion is maintained one cannot favourably
conceive. Whether it be the Dejign of thefe
People to undermine the Name, and Faith of
Chriftians is bed known to God and their Con-
fciences, but that they do in Fadl join Hands
with Infidels is certain, by their fixing upon Re-
ligion thofe very Falflaoods and Abfurdities,
* Ver. 3, f Ver. 29. X^z. § See Appendix No. III.
which
x8 Rules for the Difcovery ^
whicKin the Efteem of the Infidel Party * tend
directly to its Difo-race and Ruin. Whatever
their Defigns may be, we fliall be able at leafl:
to torm lome Opinion of the Nature and Ten-
dency of their Condud:, after that I have in the
lall: Place laid down.
Certain Rules for the Difcovery and Convidil^
on of fahe Prophets.
The Means of difcovering a falfe Prophet,
are either his Words or Anions.
St. John -f* in the Verfe following the Text,
bids us form a Judgment of a Man by the Mat-
ter of his DoBrine, Hereby^ faith he, know we
the Spirit of God, And in the Old Teftament,
the Matter of a Man's Docirine is made the Tefl
of- his Mifiion in Oppolition to the Power of
working Miracles, [Deut, xiii.) If there arife
among you a Prophet or a I) reamer of Dreams^
and givcth thee a Sign or a Wonder : And the Stgn
or the Wonder come to pa fs^ wherepf he fpake un-
to thee faying, let us go after other Gods — a)id let
us ferve them, l^hou fialt not hearken unto the
Words of that Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams,
Tor the Lord your God proveth you — Te fl^ali walk
after the Lord your God y and j ear him, and keep
his Commaiidments^ and obey his Voiee, — And that
Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams jhall be put to
Death, brcaufe he hath fpoken to turn you away
from the Lord your God, To the fame PurpofeSt.
* See an Infi'iel Book entitled, Chijliamty not fcuy.ded on A^-gif^
ment 'y wherein tiie Aut-or prete.-.d? r dctnd Rcl-^ on upon the
Prir-cipies oi Metkidifti, and txp^fts ic wua the atmoit Scoriu
f I Ep. -i
Paul
of falfe Prophets. t^
PnuJ admoniflies the Galatians, when fome had
troubled diem and were perverting the Gofpel of
Chrifl. Thowe or an Angel froniHeaven^ faith he^
preach any other Gofpel than thaty which we have
preached unto you ^ let him he accused. Before
our Reception therefore of any Prophet-, it is
indifpenfahly our Duty in the firft Place, to look
particularly, to the Matter of his Speech, or Doc^
trine y as one Means of forming a right Judg-
ment concernino; him.
And the Marks we are to look to are fuch as
thefe.
T . Whether his Account of hi mf elf he not above
his real Charade r ?
2. Whether his other Dodrines be not for their
Matter falle and incredible ?
3 . Whether what he fays^ upon any Subjedl, be
in Point ^' Propriety and Diicretion, fuited and
agreeable to a Prophet's Name, and the Dignity
of an holy Fundion ?
And in judging of thefe important Articles^
we are to be guided as the Matter fliall require*
Either by the common Principles of Rea-
fon
By the Holy Scripture taken 'n the gene -a 1 as
the Word oi God: — Or by particular Pafjages
coiledted from the lame.
Oi in Caies, where thefe are fiient, and our
own Reafon*not capable of judging ; it is (iifeft
to follow the Advice of the Schcois of the Pro^
phetSy and the lawful Pw///j(?^^ of the Nation.
Fir/i, We are to coniider, whether the Pio-
20 Rules /or the Dijcovery
phet's Account oj himfeify be not above his real
Charadter.
The different Degrees of fuch as promifcu-
ouQy bore the Name oi Prophet in Scripture have
been before diftinguifhed. Thofe, which we
have gTnerally moft Occafion to note are, or
would feem to be, of the Order of haranguing
Prophets, or thofe, which preach to the People.
But as there is much Reafon to doubt whether
many, that are thus employed, have any juft
Title to exercife that Office, it may be proper in
xhtjir/l Place, to examine their Claim even to
this, and determine its Merits.
Every publick Teacher of all Orders and De-
grees of Men amongft us, ought to receive his
Ccmmiffion, either from Gofpel — Ordinances, or
be authorifed * by Powers and Privileges grant-
ed by the Laws of the Realm, to this or that
Society, And whoever affumes the Office of a
preaching Prophet or Teacher, not warranted
by Gofpel Ordinances, or countenanced by the
Laws of the Land ; is, with Refpedt to the
Gofpel y an Antichriflian Teacher and jalfe Pro-
phet^ and with Refpedl to the State a Mover of
Sedition^ and a mutinous Difturber of the pub-
lick Peace, that acfls in Contempt, and Defiance
of the Laws eftablifhed. This is the Cafe of
thofe who intrude themfelves as haranguing
Prophets, not having a convincing Teftimony,
th^'t they are truly called, or countenanced by
due Authority.
* Art. xxiii. <^f the Church of England — It is not lawful for any
Man to take udqu ^m the Oftce, ^c. See Ap. No. IV.
With
of falfe Prophets* 2 1
With regard to thofc, who receiving proper
Orders to inftru6t the People, do yet vainly
magnify their Office beyond the Truths and add
fomething fiBitious to their Charadler, by high
Pretences to miraculous Infpiration, they too are
falfe Prophets as well as the former. — Vov in
Virtue of their Office no miraculous Infpiration
was ever promifed them -, nor upon that Ac-
count ever granted in the apoftolick Age, when
the Church, if ever, ftood moftin need of it.
Thefe Circurnfiances are to be regarded, when
we confider in \htfrft Place, whether the Pro-
phet's Account of himfelf be not above his real
Charader.
When we look to his other Do6lfines^ we may
judge in great Part by the Principles oi Reaforiy
whether they be true or falfe y or whether the
Man be turning us from the Lord our God.
For he is actually engaged in this diabolical
Employment, if he mifreprefents the divine Na-
ture, making him fo "^ fooltjh as to overlook the
obvious Diftindlions of Vice and Virtue ; and fo
unjiift as to fet no manner of Eftimation upon
Virtue y nay even to accept of Vice before it.
Such Doiflrines we can condemn by the Light of
Reajon, independent of Revelation,
And by the Character of the Holy Scriptures,
taken in general as the Word of God, we may
judge of a falfe Prophet by fuch Marks as thefe.
-f If he makes the Scriptures contradiSl them-
* See Appendix, No. 5.
f Art. XX. The Church may not fo expound one Place of Scrip-
ture, that it be repugnant to another, ^c,
fehes^
ttz ./ Riiks for the T>lfcnver^
Jehes^ or deduces from thence any DDdrlncS
deftru6live to moral Virtue, and the Peace and
Happinejs of Human Society.
For we know by the Light of Rcajon^ (and
upon the Footing of Reafon, we receive the
Scripturts as the Word of God) that the Scrip-
ture cannot CGntradi5i itfelf. Therefore if it fay,
that Chrtjl will render *o every Man according to
his JVorks, Matt. xvi. 27.) and that jF^///j with-
out Works is deady it can never be fuppofed to
mean, that Faith can fave a Man without p-ood
Works. If the Scripture uttered Contradidions^
it were not fit to be believed. For one Side of a
Contradidti-on mud be falle. But we know that
the Text of Scripture is to be believed, and there-
fore by the general Character of Scripture, as the
Word of God, we know, that he who charges it
with Contradidlions is a falfe Prophet.
And by the fame Character we know that no
Dodlrines can come from it, deftrudtive to moral
Virtue, or the Order^ Peace, and Happinejs of
Society.
Upon thefe Points too, even the particular
Paffages of Holy Scripture exprefly oppofe the
Dodlrine of our modern Prophets. With Regard
to moral Virtue ; there are Paifages, Vvhich en-
join it as * indij'pe7t[ably necefiary to future Hap-
pinefs : And with Regard to our domejiick and
civil Condu(f]:, it is prelcnbed that 'we jiudy to be
quiet ^ and to do our oivn Bufnefs. It we do not
iL'ork, we are not to eat. And it is only while
* Heb. xii. 14.
WC
g/* falfe Prophets. ^^
tve are merry^ and at leifure that St. James ad-
vifes us to hQji?igij2g of Pjahis,
And thus we may make the Scriptures the
Touch-ftone for the Trial of falfc Dodtrine.
Where thofe are filent, and our own Reaf.n
not capable of judging, it is fafeft to follow the
Advice of the Schools of the ProphetSy and the
lawful Friejlhood of the Nation, for when we
cannot tell how to preferve our Health, we ap-
ply to the regular Phyfxiany and when we are
to feek in Matters of Right to fome approved
Counfeller : And therefore by Parity of Reafon,
when we are in Doubt in Religious Matters, we
fhould confult our regular and approved Paftors^
who are appointed by Laws divi?ie and human,
to be our Guides and Directors on fach Subjects.
The Jal/e Prophets are fo fenfible, that the Opi-
nion of thefe will lie againft them, that it is ge-
nerally one of their firfl Artifices to decry, and
abufe the fiational Clergy. It will be well worth
while to obferve upon fuch Occafions, whether
their Attacks are not againft fome of the beft and
ablejl 3 fuch as among the wifer and better Sort
of all Denominations, have always born for Piety
and Learning, * the higheft Reputation. If this
be the Cafe, it is almoft an infallible Mark of a
Falfe Prophet. For what other Opinion can we
have of thofe Men, w^ho oppofe the beft and ableft
of God's Minifters, but that their Dodtrines are
oppofite to the Dodrines of thefe, and confe-
quently in Proportion as falfe, and as much to
* Se? Appendix, No. VL
G be
24 lR.ules fir the Difcovery
be avoided, as thole of the other demand ouf
Attention ? Thus far the Rules of Judging, whe-
ther the Dodrines of a reputed Prophet be fal/e
or mcredible.
To difcern in the third Place, whether what
he fays upon any Subjeft, be in Point of Pro-
priety and Difcretion, fuited and agreeable to a
Prophet's Name and the Dignity of an holy Func-
tion t We need only bear in Mind that Precept
in Scripture. If ciny Man/peak^ let him [peak as
the Oracles of God \ not only conformably to their
"Dodlrine^ or in their Words^ but according to
their Alanncr -, with' that Fitnefs of Expieflion,
and prudent Sentiment, which remarkably ap-
pear in the Holy Scriptures, though written in
dijiant Times, and originally to People of an-
other Language, Now if this be required of
every Speaker, we muft furely expert it in an
high Degree of all, who affecfl to be confidered
as more fignificant than ordinary, and decry the
reft of their Brethren. In their Difcourfes, and
Writings, there fliould appear fuch a Degree of
proper Eloquence, fuch Authority ^ Order and
Decency^ as might render their Speech and
Treachingy a Kind of Standard to Chriftian
Orators.
Were this a Trial in a Court of judicature, a
Perfon might not only arraign upon every Arti-
cle, but be minute in Point of Evidence : Par-
ticularly upon the prefentHead, there might be
produced lome extraordinary E>.amples of the
furprizing Weaknefs of fome, who would pafs for
injpired Teachers. The ExpiCl^ons indeed
have
of falfe Prophets, z$
have been already noted in a proper Manner
another Way, * but if they had not, they muft
here efcape a particular Cenfure. Becaufe their
Folly and Impropriety is fo extreme, that in a
Place fo ferious, as this, they cannot be men-
tioned.
Having faid thus much of their DoBrine^
which is generally the moft glaring JDiagnoHick
oi falfe Prophets, I have only fome few Rules
to add for judging of them by their Condudl
and Anions upon the fame Principles^ that
we examined their Dodrines, and Ihall then
conclude.
Remarks on this Subjed:, may be reduced to
certain general Heads, as firjl.
It may be enquired whether a Man*s Condudl
be con lift ent with CGinmon Senfe, For as it hap-
pened in the Days of the Prophet Hofea^ it may
happen in ours, that a Fool fhould affed to be a
Prophet, and' the Madman talk of Infpiration :
And then by fcanning their Conducft, we may
learn their Weaknefs. And if it appear, that
God hath difqualified any Perfon for perform-
ing the common Offices of Life^ with that
Difcretion^ which the world requires, it can
never be imagined, that he fliould make Choice
offuch ^^/t'^^/'z;^' Inftruments to fliare \i\s fecret
Counfels, or plan his glorious Difpenfations -f-.
Such People indeed are generally by their own
Difcourfe of as high Importance as the greateft
* See .4pp-nd.'X, No. VII. f See Appendix, No. y\\\.
Pro*
25 Rules for the Difcovery
Prophets, big with as mighty Things, and as
much concerned in their Produdlion. We are
at Liberty however to diftelieve them in both
Cafes. Firjt^ for want of Evidence, from other
Quarters, that the Things are probable : And in
the next Place, becaufe confidenng the lemper
and Spirit of the Men, we know, that there
is no Credit to be given People in their Con^
dition .
Befides Examining the Conjijlency of their
Schemes vv'ith common Senfe, We muft confi-
der, whether thev be conducted with common Ho-
ne/Jy. For no AdminiHration can be looked up-
on, as coming from God, or carried on under,
his Diredion, if it be fupported by fuch Methods,
or tend to fuch Purpofes, as the good Part of
Mankind dilapprove of, and abhor.
The End of all Impojlors however difguifed
or dilTembled, is everfome Kind of worldly Gaiii
or Point of Intereji. In the Courfe of their
CondiLcly it is difficult for them, to conceal their
Views entirely. If they are adluated by the Love
of Fame or Popularity ; their Defign will be-
tray itfelf by Ojlentation and Vanity : If filthy
Lucre be the Motive, the Love of it will appear,
either by the Ufe they make of it, or the Means
di getting it. For Inftance, if it be gathered by
Arts inconfiftent with common Humanity, if
*wrung from the Poor^ to whom it fhould be gi-
n)en, diftraind from the Mite of the helplefs Wi-
dows^ and picked from the Bread of we^^ping and
defrauded Orphans,
Befides
of falfe Prophets, 27
Befides Inhumanity in the Methods of getting
Wealth, One may obferve in fuch People a Kind
oi Artifice^ not only to be abhorred of a Chrillian^
but to be defpifed of a generous Heathen : An
Artifice, which the Scripture anciently hath
charged on them, that ^Vr^^///i;g- into Houfes and
leadifig captive filly Women laden with Crimes *
/. e. applying to the weakefl: of our Species in
their weakefl: Moments, an Argument that they
are afraid of human Nature^ where it appears
Jieady and upright^ armed with its proper Strength
and the Ufe of a right tJnderjlandiyig. § Their
Defigns even here are not without a Mark to
make them vifible, becaufe their Haunt is gene-
rally where their Prey is expedted, and in the
Place where the Carcafs lies, there like the
Eagles they gather together.
U fuch Men as thefe there be, and fuch Men
as thefe, it is loudly complained there are^ can
we look upon them as any better than Impojtors?
Can we reconcile fuch Practices with their
vaunted Speeches ? — Is it to thefe the Holy
Spirit (whofe Errand is never trivial) de-
* The Scripture adds, that they are e'ver-/ear»h/^, and never
coming at the Kno-Mledge of the Truth : Which fliews fuch a D-'er^-e
pf Weaknefs, as abfolucely to require the Management of other
People. And therefore as St. Pau/ calls the Husband the Head of
the fVife, I fhould advife any indultrious Tradefman, who happens
to be tied to one of thefe _///y Creatures, to exert ;is Authority, and
infift upon being both her Husband, and her Priefi. For if Ihe fall
into b d Hands, fuch Agitations of the iVlmd m.y drive her to D f-
tr. ftion, or give great DiiVarbance to his own Pe^cs, and that of
his Family.
S This alludes to the Situation of their Conventicles and Meet-
ing-Houfes.
fcends
28 . "Rules for the Difcoveryy &c.
fcends continually with as much Pomp^ as when
on the Day of Pentecoft^ he rufhed from Hea-
ven to infpire Christ's true Apostles — or is it
for the Honour of the Chrijtian Name, that
they will have thefe their Follies condemned, as
they are by their SupertcurSy and -dW/bier Cbrif-^
tians yet publiilied in G^/^ and AJkalon, to make
themfelves at once the Scorn and Tools of In-
fidels ?
It has been the Concern of two vimlant and
pious * Prelates^ and it is die Bufinefs of every
inferior Paftor and Curate to guard his People
from this infinuating and reftlefs Leaven. It is
in the mean Time the Duty of the People, to
pray for fuch a Portion of God's Holy Spirit ^ as
may enable them to diilinguiih between the
empty Sounds of vvdld Entbujiafniy and the Solid
Truths of the Word of God. That fo the Reli-
gion of Christ, which hath hitherto been a
reajbnable Religion, may not offend xhtjenfible
and good Part of Mankind^ by being dijguijed
among the Vulgar^ or deformed, by the qffen/ive
Dodlrinesoi BlaiphemouSy or Ignor ant ^ oi delude-
ing^ or deluded yitn.
Now to God, the Father, Son, and Holy
GhoH: be afcribed all Honour and Glory, Might,
Majefty, and Dominion, now and for everr
more.
* Dr. Gibson, late Bl-'hop of lo?idon, and Dr. LavIkgton,
the prt^fewt L.^r^ Bilhoput Exeter.
The END of the Sermon.
A P.
( 29 )
THE
APPENDIX:
CONTAINING,
Some Specimens of the Blafphemous Do^rines, and
Delufions cf Methodists, and Methodiftical
fVriters^ noted and cenfured in the foregoing Sermon.
NUMBER I.
Of Mock Possessions ^;;i Inspirations.
THERE have been Reports lately of ftrange Experiments
tried by the MethodtJIs upon Women in Hyjlerick Fits,
and young Perfons in Convulfwns^ under Pretence of exorci-
fing ; or treating; that Weakyiefs, as the Pofjejfion of a Devily
which is only a^ Bodily Dz/^r^^r: But theie Things bemg
tranfaded in private, and fome of their Conventicles at cer-
tain unfeafonable Times of Meeting, being clofe fhut up,
contrary to Law, the World is only left to infer ; that
fomethino- is doing, which will not admit dipuhlick Infpedi-
on, though they cannot tell the Particulars, but imagine the
Bufmefs To be of this Sort, as the common People among
the Methodifts are full of fuch Notions, and their Teachers
countenance the fame in Print, Mr. Wesley fpeaking
of a Child abouty^^;^« Years old, gives us a Relation, which
fhews he believed her Cafe to be a Poffeffon of one Sort or
other, he calls it the Spirit^ or Revelation of the L^r^, but
it is ftrangely worded, " The next Sunday Night, the
Lord revealed himfelf (fays he) to her in an amazing Man-
ner, and for fome Hours fhe was fo wrapped up in his Spirit^
that we knew not where {he was -finking to nothing
in the Difcovery of his Majefty, and Glory in Jefus Chnft,
her eternal Portion-^ and, by the uncommon Earnefinefs,
ilie Spirit ?ave her to wreftU for the Churches, ihe thought
^ ^ '• c that
^6 BlafphemieSy and T)elufiom
that an uncommon Work will be wrought on the Earth.
Many fuch Inftances of the Out-pouring of the Spirit have
we among us.
See the late Bifhop of London's Obfervations on theCon-
du6l, if^c, of t\i& Methodijis^ Pag. 19.
And P. 10. for Evidences of the Co-operation of the Holy
Spirit, by fudden * Agonies, f Roarings and Screamings, |
Tremblings, || Droppings -down, § Ravings and Madnefies ;
into which their Hearers have been caft ; according to the
Relations given of them in the Journals referred to ?
* Mr. Whitfield's Journal VI. />. 36.— VII. p. 57,
69, 75. Mr, Wefefs Journal III. Pag. 26, 41, 45,
59, 64, 95. t Mr. Whitfield's Journal VIL
pag. 74. Mr. Wejleys Journal III. pag. 4c, 44, 50,
62, 79, 83, 92, 93, 94. X Pag, 41, 43, 50, 58,
61, 93. II Mr. Whitfield's Journal VII. pag, 12,
60. Mr. /i^>/7^/s Journal III. pag, 41, 43, 46, 50,
58, 59j 61, 64, 65, 83. § Pag, 44, 50, 88, 90, 92, 93»
NUMBER 11.
TTERE follows as an Inftance of ^/r^^ Revelation^
the famous Letter, which was read in Sermon-time at
St. Saviour's, the biggeft Church in Southwark, and then
crouded with Methodijis, by one Mr. yones, who fmce the
Death of Dr. Slocock, has had Permijfion to a<Si: as Chaplain
there, it is taken from the printed Copy, publickly fold in the
Borough, for the Edification of fuch of the Parifiooners as were
abfent, they being generally excluded their Seats by the law-
lefs Rabble, who are his Followers.
From the Manfions ahovti
My dear Chrijlian Friend and Brother,
C U C H you was, when I was cloathed with Mortality,
^ and fuch you are yet, though I am now in an unembo-
died State. The Change there is made as to me, makes no
Alteration as to the Relation there is between us. We are
both Members of Chrift's myftical Body. We were both
Members of the Church militant together, and we fhall
both join the Church triumphant. J am only come hither
a little before you, foon (hall I fee my dear Fido, and my
other dear weeping Friends, and rejoice with them for ever*
Don*t be afraid. Jefus Chrift is a faithful Saviour. He will
keep thit which you have committed to him. You may
tiult him both in Life and Death. Death is the moft trying
frQ7n ite Writings of the Metfiodlds. ^ t
Seafon ; but here the dear Mediator will not fail you. I
am an Evidence of it. There is a Solemnity in Death
which cannot be exprefled, yet the PafFage is fafe. Oh what
a glorious Change ! What new fbrprizing Scenes appe^tr !
No fooner was my Breath gone, but a Convoy of miniftrihg
Spirits, who were attending, condu6ted me to the Manhoris
of Glory ; where the ever-adorable Jefus, with a Smile in-
conceivably tranfporting, invited me to take PofTeilion of
that Happinefs which he purchafed at fo dear a Rate as his
own Blood. And now, my Brother, think, yea think if you
can, what I now feel, what I nov^ enjoy! Did Paul^^y it
was better to be with Chrift than in the Body ? I now knov7
it. Did the diftant View of Glory, make Mofcs refufe the
Grandeur o^ Egypt ? No Wonder, when it is fo great, fo great
that none can tell it. Oh the Exchange I have made ! Oh
the Happinefs that Grace has exalted me to ! I am ndw no
more watering my Couch with Tears, but filled v>ithFull-
nefs dfJoyS which will remain for evermore. I am now no
more fipping at the Streams, but drinking a full Draught at
the Fountain-Head. I am no more clogged with a Lump of
Clay, or pining under Diforders and Pains of Body; lain
fet at full and perfect Liberty, and am got where Sorrow ne-
ver comes. I am now perfect in Holinefs. I am no rnc?e
fubje6t to Sin ; every Faculty of my Soul is freed from the
fad Contagion, and all find fweet Employment in" the noble
Services of Heaven. Now I fee clearly that myfterious, but
glorious Scheme of Salvation through Jefus Chrift ; its Beau-
ties ravifh my Soul, and fill me with Admiration. I now fee
the various Beauties of Providence, and find the highcft En-
tertainment in the Views of v/hat once (o much puzzled and
perplexed me. I now ^tt\ a divine Ardor filling my whole
Soul, and running through every Service, without that Sloth-
fulnefs and Indolence which once attended me, and was but
feebly complained of, I am no more that formal, indifferent,
languishing Creature I was on Earth, but my Soul now feels
the Fire of Divine Love, which burns with a perpetual and
Uninterrupted Flame, being fed with the conftant and glo-
rious Manifeftations of the Love of him that fittcth upon the
Throne and the Lamb. Here I have found your dear Pa-
rent, and many of my dear and valuable Friends. Vv'hat a
numerous Aftembly, and all harmonious. Here's no Envy,
no Jealoufy, no Shynefs or Coldnefs, but perfect Love,
and a fweet Contention, who Ihall ftrike the loud*ft String,
H and
3 i Blafphemles and Delufioftis
amd fing Grace ! Grace ! the loudcft* Here arc no depr<?*
elating Speeches of Jefus Chrift, no Attempts to rob him of
his Gk>ry ; but all as with one Voice cry out, IVerthy is iht
Lamb to nceivey &c. Oh where am 1 got ! What is my
Happinefs ! Beyond Exprcfllon ! I was once a Warrior,
now a Conqueror, yea more than a Conqueror. No more
upon Mount Pijgah. I have got over Jordan. I am be-
holding the Glory of Chrift ; and, in fine, my Veflel is as
full as it will hold. My Pen cannot dcfcribe the Glories of
Paradife. Oh my Friend, be trimming your Lamp. Haften
the Time, fly away ye lingering Moments, and brine my
dear Fido^ and my other dear Fricndsj to the Arms of Jefus,
to fee and enjoy what I enjoy^
And now what wait I for ? To fee my dear Friends with
mc, to fee the Number of God's Elcc^ compleated, to hear
the Trumpet found on the glorious Refurre6tion Morning.
What is my Employment but to love, adore, and praifc
throughout Eternity I Farewel till I fee you here. Go on
your Way rejoicing. Chrift has your Inheritance fafe in
Ills Hands, and you ftiall furely have it. Oh love him, love
him more and more, andlay outyourfelffor him. My Love
to your dear Companion ; tell her to prcfs forward, and ihc
.ihall not be difappointedw Adieu, adieu*
Tour eternally affe^Unate Friend^
jtnd triumphant Bfother^
Samuel Hayward*
Remarks updn the Lett EtL,
As this Letter has thus undergone a double Publicatlmf
the First from the Pulpit^ the othKr from the Pr//x, we
muft imagine, that the Puhli/her was heartily concerned,
that the World (hould believe the Contents of it. But if foj
let us enquire whether he believed the Contents of it him-
felf, to wit ; that it came from the Place from whence it
was datc^, i. e* the Man/ions ahove^ that it was a true and
real Defcription of TranfadVons in the other Worid^ penned^
and compofed and communicated by the Miniftry of the Spirit
of a Perfon departed, as it is plainly, and ir» direct Terms
ttjferted in the Letter itfelf.
If he did believe all this, he is a Madman and a rery
dangerous Leader to fuch of his Followers as are in the fame
Condition : But if he did not believe it, then his Character
■ftuft appear much blacker ; be^aufe^ if he was not mady the
Vfhoic
from the Writings of the Methodifts. 33
^holc Affair was the EfFe6l of fome Deftgn^ and that a y^ry
bad one, impious with Refpe6l to God, and villainous with
Refpc^l to Men, as being no other than to try ho\7 far th?
(ommon PeopU might be impofed upon, and made fubicrvient
to evil Purpofcs.
But if it be a r«r/^^Thing to lead thofc, who are deprived
of their Bodily Sight from the (A^t Way, that is direft before
them : How much more unpardonable muft it be, to feduce
a Number of poor blind Souls from the Paths of right Reafon ?
and when they were expediting to hear, what they call the
true Gofpel oi CuKisTy to make fuch a cruel Experimect
upon thf^'iT' Credulity, by prefenting them a Revelation of an-
other Sort, and in the pretended Character of their Fajlor^
and Guide, to afcend the Pulpit, and deliver that, as an
Oracle oj God, which he knew in his Heart to be an abami*
nable Lie,
With what Horror muft all hamjl t^tl^ fenfible Men ber
hold this Hypocrite-, in the vcvy Adf of Delufion^ lifting up
bis Eyes to Heaven, and thundering out Damnation to othwrs^
while he himfelfwzs offending againll common Honefly,
Were there no Officers of the Parifh to take Notice of hU
Conducft, and report it to his Superiors ?
No Superior to rcftrain fuch an Impostor as this ? who
could thus abufe his Truft, and proftitute his Chara^tr as
a Prieji of th« Church of England to fcrve the vilejt
Purpofes, to delude the People he undertook to inflrucl,
and make Religion a Jeft, by mixing it with lying Tale$
and /)r^/<r/?^/^^ R E V E L A T I o N s .
NUMBER nr.
An Account of pretended extraordinary Infplrationf
vouchfafcd to Mr. Whitfield, and accompanying him in
his Office as a Preacher,
Journal I. Pag. 44. " In the Midft of my Difcourfe, the
*' Power o{ the Lord Jejus came upon me — Pag. 46. God
*' gave me particularly toward the Clofe of my Sermon to.
*' ipeak with divine Energy. — Journal Vll, Pag. 66. The
•' Lord gave me the Text, I preached on, juft before the
•' Meeting, direded me to a Method as I was going up the
*' Pulpit Stairs, and enabled me to difcourfe with an uncom-
^ men Clearnefs, Freedom and Power, — Heard of one that
•' received the Holy Ghojl immediately upon my preaching
♦* Chrii, — tbe Divine Prcfcnce was ftrong upon me." ^e*
Lird Bijhop cf Londoiii ObfervatiQm, Pag. I4"> I5«
N U M-
34- Blafphemki atid Dehftom
NUMBER IV.
r
Ks^twithftandlng their ProfeJJtons of Obedience to tliQ
Church of England^ it is evident, that they have attempted to
fet up a new Form of Church-govemment over Associa-
tions, and 7rwnthly and quarterly Meetings, under the
t)ire6tions of Superintendent^^ ExhQrtersy and Moderators
througli the Kingdom: In Contempt of the Authority of our
Bishops, and without 2iny Authority froin the State.
.. ',' Our Saviour was much with me, teaching and helping '
«5 me ( Mr. IVhitfield ) to fill my Place of Moderator in a
^\ particular Manner." Then for Visitations — "in the
*' mean Time I vifit the Clafles, I have fettled Stewards and
''' Vifitors^ — a Viftior of eight Counties, — I think to move
^\ h^nce and vifit the Churches in Wiltjhire,
Obfervations^ Pag. 20, 21, 22.
N U M B E R V.
lAthetftical Doctrines and Propositions tending to
cfceftroy the ejjhit'ial Attributes oiGoiy^ 2.ndi xum\\\s Chara^cr
as Jl'DGE of the World : ^trngd^ixtEkly co7itradi^ory to our
Saviour's Declaration, that he will reward every Man accord-
ing to his Works, and quite deftru6five to the Morality^ and
tkerefoVe) to the well-being of a State.
J-'*«"'*Be perfuaded that there is no clogging Salification^
*-^ r\S iP'^rth to be poiTefTed, no Duty to be performed^ in
*^ Order to your full Participation of phrift and his Riches :
'* Only believe, and they are all your own : Not by legal
" Works, and laborious perquifites." Theron and Jfpafio',
Vol. 3- Dial. 1 6— Pag. 29, one would think by this, that
it Is juft the fame, whether we do right or wrong — No fay
They if you attempt to do right, you do very wrong.
" He who attempts to do any Thing eafy or difficult,
*' under the Notion of an A€t of believing, or any other
" A6^, in Order to his Acceptance with God, only heaps
'' up more Wrath agaiiift himfelf." — And again,
*-' The whole NewTeftament fpeaks aloud, that as to
*' the Matter of Acceptance with God, there is no Dift'erence
*' between' one Man and another :---No'Difference betwixt
*' the molt accomplifhed Gentlerfian, and the moft infamous
«' Scoundrel: ---'No Difference betwixt the moft virtuous'
<' Lady, and the vileft Proftitute :- — No Difference betwixt
" the moft Reverend Judo e, and the moft odious Criminal^
^' ftandino; convided before him, and receiving the juft
• '- " ^ - , " ben-
from the Writings of the Methodlfts. 3 5
f^ Sentence of Death at his Mouth :— -In a Word, no Dif-
f* ference betwixt the moft fervent Devotee, and the
5' greateft Ringleader in Profanenefs and Excefs.'* A plaia
Account of Faith <^ Sec,
NUMBER VI.
Abufe of the Clergy in general and of the great Light*
of the Church in particular,
« Mr. TVhltfield (Journal IV/ Pag. 38.) addrefTing him-
felf to his Brother Teachers, and fpeaking of the eftablifhed
Clergy, defires that they would not fuft'er the " Sheep to
*' be as though they had no Shepherd, or worf^ than none,
" thofe blind Leaders of the Blind" 1 believe there are.
few Clergymen, but what have better Eyes than he,- *
But however he fays Pag. 32. *' This Afternoon 1 was
*' carried out much in my TefHmony againft the unchrijlian
*.' Principles and Practices of the Generality of our Clergy*'
— I hope our Principles are better than thofe in the forego. ng
Number, for if fuch be true — It is no Manner of Concern,'
what may be our Pra^ice, or theirs either.
Abufe of the great Lights of the Church.
Mr. IFhltfielcTs Journal Pag. 19. It cannot be expre/Ted
how many carnal Hearts were difturbed by my Teilimony
againft Archbifhop Tillotfon. — But before I have done, I
do not defpair of feeing' People bring his Works, as they
once brought the Books of curious Arts, and burn them be-
fore all. Men. —Journal VII. Pag. 2. The Man*s Wife was
a 'great Aclniiref of Archbifhop 77//(?//^«, but having her
Eyes now opened to difcern Spiritual Things, can no longer
take up with fuch Hulks, fit only for carnal, unawakened,
unbelieving Reafoners, to eat.
After having laid down his own Scheme he pdds, this
the Author of the whole Duty of Man^ was wholly ignorant
of; otherwife he would not have laid fuch a Foundation —
There is no Hopes of bringing People to a right Knowledge
of the Gofpel, till their favourite, though erroneous Authors
are difcountenanced and laid afide, Whitfield\ Letter from
litw Brunfwick. See ObfervatioJis^ Pag. II, I2, 13.
NUMBER VII.
A Specimen of the Religious- amorous, or melting and
r(iplur'ius Expreflions, Mn Whitfield 2Sk'>, the IVovien^ how
they feel thenifelves when their Lovers approach them — See
•'■-•' London
36 Blafphemies and'Delufiom
London Mag, for July 1739. " Their Difciplci arc not onljr
*' Lambs— h\it dear Lambs— />«rr, dear precious Lambs—
«* poor little Lambs,— fwect Lambs, — O what a fwcctLovc-
*' feaft we had \z{k IVednefday-mghtl a fwect Love- feaft,
*' the Holy Ghoft came down with fuch Power, that the
** dear Lambs could fcarce contain themfelvds. — a choice
** Love-feaft — a precious Love-feaft,~I (end you a thoujand
«< KifTes.^-^Pity ! that f-:ch an in/pi red Apostle ftiould
prove To extravagantly /co///^ and ridiculous.
He fends his wanton Lambs a thoufand KiiTcs :
PrayJ to the Majiers F-^S'ir^ or to the Mijes?
NUMBER VIIL
Imagination of fome great Work, of which God
makes them the Inftrumcnts.
" Mr. TVeJley (Journal IL pag. 39.) fpeaking of the Con*
verfation he had with fonie Moravians in Htllandy adds*
** The reft of the Day we fpent with all the Brethren and
•< Sifters, in hearing the vopnderful Work which God is he-
** ginning to work all over the Earth. — And to the fame
Effed Mr. IVlntfield (Journal IIL p. 107.) Nothing con-
firms me more in my Opinion, that God intends to work a
great Work upon the Earthy than to find how his Children of
all Denominations every where wreftle in Prayer for Me.
71? the fame Purpofe are the Declarations in the Letters.
I believe that God haL.i a great Work to do on the Earth,
No. I. Vol. 3. pag. 30.
I believe, our Lord is going to do z great Work indeed.
No. 2. Vol. 2. pag. 49.
I am fure God is going to do great Things among uK
NUMBER IX.
An Account of the pretended extraordinary Dcfccnt of the
Holy Ghoft upon Mr. Whitfeldy and his Aflcmbly.
Pag. 72. I was much carried out ; I felt the Power of
God come upon me, and I fpokc with Demonftration of
the Spirit to the Hearer's Souls.
Jour al VL Pag. 23. Before I had done, the Power
of the Lord came upon the Congregation, the Holy Ghoft
ov«r{hadowed th^m, and a gracious melting was vifiblc ia
moft that heard.
Pag. 30. Towards the Conclufion of my Difcourfe,
God's Spirit came upon the Preacher and the People.
N U M-.
from tht Wrltingi of the Mcthodifts, 37
NUMBER X.
A Specimen of fome Papers j^ivtn up \ti St, SM%/i9kr*t Church,
ftcwing the Notions of the poor People to c»rrt/p9iiJ with thcdclufirc
Artificti of their Leaders, expofcd io the Numbirs aforegoing.
The Grammar^ and Speliini arejuft u they came, from t\it^%uiji
Qhildrtn of God.
Sir, The Prayers of this Congregation (and yours in particular)
is dcfired for fcvcral notorious Sinners and efpecially for one hert
prcfcnt (who has been partly awakened by the iate preaching of the
Reverend Mr. Jones) that the Lord would be pleafed to ihcw him
the State and Condition of his Soul.
The Prayers of this Congregation is Defircd for a young Man
who haveing been made fenfible of his Sins thought to Get an
Intereft in Chrift which God haveing not thought fit to G'wt him,
he has falh'n^ like the Sow to bis Vomit and like the Dog that wu
wafhed to Wallow in the Mire.
Prays is EarnelHy Defird for a woman who In Providence it Calld
from the word and into a ctfr»«/ Family that the Lord would be
Pleasd to ktep her near to hirafelf from the Power ofTemtation
and gire her Zeal for his Glory.
Prcas are deiad fra tow Wiow thcat the Lord jefui wold be thet
Speritul husband.
The prayers of this Congregation is defircd for t parfon that
ilefires to know hur Intreft In the I/frd Jesus Christ.
The Prayers are defired for A Backflider diflreflcd ia Soul that
god for Chrill sake would one* nora to redore her.
Your pr:iycrs are defire by a tvo«mafi that ihe miy neuer i«ast
til fhe reast inchfist.
Prayers is defircd for on« who hear the word beg that the word
may come with/«%v/r to his foul.
The Prayers of this Congregation it Deiired for % woman that
God would mannifefi himfclf unto her and Shtnu btr the Trae
State of her S»u/ and grant that the Reffiduc of her life may b«
Dedicated wholly to his Servis.
The Prayers of this Congregation is Dcfir'd for a Young man
who has taken hold sf the Plow but the Devil and his Companion*
wants to tempt him to look Back.
The Prayers of this Congregation is Defir*d for a Young man
who the Dcvill is very Bufy with.
The prayers of this Congregations is defired for a grate Sinner
that Wonts to Repent but cannot beg the prayers of all good chriftian
ihat it may pleas the all almighty fpr to tack a way her hart of
Stone aud give her a hart of Hech.
Your prayers are defire for to old peeple that know nothin of god
The Prayers of the Congregation are dcfired for a Woman un-
der a deep Senfe of Guilt and Sin that Lord Jefus would be pleafed
t« mamfi/i himfclf to her. ^^re, What is here meant by manififi?
Sir
38 Blafpheinies and DeluJi'onSy &cci
Sr a young man who has been a Slave to Sin 25 years and trt«
Lord has Lately vifited him and by free grace has brought him back
defines to Return thanks for the fame.
Prayers arc Defired for one Who Defires to know Chrift Expe-
rementaly and the Ponver of his Refurreflion.
For a poor man that is in deet and is greet!/ deftreft by his cre-
teters that the Lord would be pleasd to Hop there hands.
Sr your prayers are desierd for one that Cannot pray for hur
Celef
Sir your prayers are defired for thofe how are a going a long
journey to fee a dear Relation that it would plafe god to prfervc
them in there journey and give them an agreeable fight with hearts
vnited'm his praife for all the Benefits wedaely receive.
The Prayers of this Congregation is Defir'd by a Young man
for the Connjerfion of his father Mother and Sifter and having a
Young Brother he Begs of God that as he Grows in Years fo he
may Grow in Grace.
The prayers of this Con^gregation is defired for one that the
Lord wold be pleafed to give her the Spirrit of prayer and Supple-
cation.
The Prayers of this Congregation is Defir'd by a Young mn for
Converting the of his Sifter who was once a follower of Chrift but
now follows the World the flefti and the Devil.
The Prayers of this Congregation are defired for a Youth who is
deprived of many Opportunities of hearing the Word, that the Lord
would be pleafed to reftore them unto him again.
One who humbly defires to know chrift and the power of his
refurre6lion.
Sur yourpryers ar defired for on that is dangris il and is no faving
nolig of Chrift.
^u.-sre. How were they qualified to judge of This.
1 ^e Reader may fee by the Papers here publiihed, that thefe
poor Prr^'e refolve the Whole of Religion into faTifted Man if £5-
TAflONS, RfiVELATIONS, ANTICIPATIONS* FeELINGS, Or Ex-
PE -.iNC£s ; ^^Jiicn all end wpaj/tve Quietism. The only atffi've
P *f .hfyr Re' JO ion feems to be what they call hearing the Word i
t • ^ ''"^ - erally mean the Non/en/e of fome impudent En-
i :s Authority to delude the reft. As to the Prac-
' f\ jo<:iul DuT lEs, ard moral Virtue ; it is plain, that
■:s rarely fo much as mentioned in their System, which
;a;ed m their own Words, and aticfled by their own
F J N I S.
Dr. F R E E's
EDITION
O F T H E
Rev. Mr. Joh^ fFe/le/s
Firft PENNY-LETTER, tff.
With Notes upon the Original Text,
Addreffed to
Mr. fTE SLE r-y
And Likewife
A Dedication to the Reverend Author. -
The SECOND IMPRESSION.
J»^ it came to pa/s at Nooriy that Elijah mocked them.
I Kings xviii. 27.
The Lips of Truth Jhall he ejlahlijhed for ewr: hut a lying Tongui
is but for a Moment, Prov. xii. i g.
Juflin. Martyr. Refponf. ad 22. Q^ ad Orthodoxos.
LONDON:
Printed for the Author, and fold by Mr. Sandby, at the Ship,
oppofite St. Dun/fan's Church in Fleet-Street-, Mr. Scott and
Mr. Stevens, mPater-noJkrRo'vji Mr. Cooke, atthe Roval
Exchange-, Mr. Parker and Mr. Prince in Oxford^ and Mr.
Frederick in i&rt//^. 1759.
[Price Six PENCE,]
ADVERTISEMENT.
CfOwards the End of my Preface to the Sermon preached
-*- before the Univerftty of Oxford, on Whilfunday lafiy I
public kly told Mr, Wefley, '< that in Cafe he were not con-
<' vinccd by the Extra£is there printed^ that the People^ wh»
*' pafs under the Denomination of Method ifts openly main'
<* tainedfuch Opinions, as I had charged upon them^ &c.
*• he Jhould have the Civility of a particular Anfiuer^ &c/*
imagining when I ufed the Word Civility, that I Jhould have
no Occafton to depart from my Purpofe^ by Reafon of any Dif-
ingenuity on the Part of Mr. Wefley, more than what had
appeared in hisfirji Letter : But having fince received a Se-
cond, wherein there is likewife fuch a ftrange Mixture of
San6lity and Prevarication, fuch praying.^ fneeringy canting,
and recanting^ expunging^ forging^ I cannot think myfelf
JlriSfly bound to adhere in every particular to myfirfl Intention.
Nor is it fair to expert from a Man concerned with fuch an
Adverfary, that he Jhould keep the fame unalttrable fieady
Countenance though he maintain the fame Argument ; the
Reader therefore muji impute the Variety of Humour in my
Remarks^ to the various Shifts and Evaftons of the Proteus,
with whom I engage ^ it being necejfary to purfue^him in all his
Forms y tilH Jbew him in thaty which may probably be his lafi.
[ "i ]
THE
DEDICATION
To the Reverend John Wesley, M. A. late Fel-
low of Lincoln College in Oxford-, Founder of
the Methodifis^ at the Foundery, on Wind-Mill-
Hill, near St. Luke'i Hofpital in London, tfr.
Reverend Sir,
AS you are a Scholar, you muft know, that it is no
uncommon Prad^ice in the learned Wodd, for Per-
fons, who have a particular Efteem for an Author^
to be defirous of putting out the moft elaborate and elegant
Editions of his Works, and dedicating them likewife to
uch as are fuppofed to be his greateft Admirers.
For this Reafon, as I imagine, that there is no Body
fonder of you than yourfelf, I dedicate this new Edition of
your laft little Pieces to you : The Gems are fmall indeed,
but I hope, they will receive fome Luftre from the Pains,
which I have beftowed upon them.
I confefs however, that next to obliging you, I was wil-
ling likewife to feize fo fair an Opportunity of fervingmy-
felf. For we Sinners^ being humble Imitators of you
Saints^ feel fomethingof the like Paflions, and are adVuated
by a Love of Fame as well as you ;
Sicfulgente trahit conJiriSios Gloria Curru
Non minus ignotos generofts Hon
And therefore being not quite fo capable of attaining it, by
compajfing Sea and Land^ and performing Signs^ and Won-
ders^ as you have done, I was willing to lay bold of your
Clo3k, ovjlick in your Skirts 3. little, that in your Afcent
to the aerial Templ« of Renown^ I alfo might be ihewn
A 2 to
iv The DEDICATION.
to this Generation^ by being To remarkably honoured with
your good Company. ,
And now. Sir, having frankly told you the Motives,
which urged me to this Dedication ; that it was to pleale
you, and acquire fome Degree of Reputation to myfelf by
fuch extraordinary Connections : It only remains, that I
make fome Apology for my new Manner of Addreffing
you, and tell you, as I have hinted to the Publick, that
you have been the Occafion of all this, by firft fhewing an
Example of furprizing Levity yourfelf. For you muft cer-
tainly be in Jeft ; and jefting too with the mod facred
Things, when you fet out with fuch a folemn Account of
your " Fear of God, your Truth and Love^ that you durji
*' not return Evil for Evil, or Railing for Railing," and
yet a little after talk in fuch a different Strain ; nay, rave
and rant, and domineer, and fcold : There is no Body
doubts, but that you were in E?.rneft here, and therefore
the former Part, however folemn, muft be all a Jeft.
To be fure this CharatSler of yours is fuch, as requires
fome Skill to fix : Butnotwithftanding, I think that I have
hit upon it. What do they call the Name? Mi/Ao?, vTtcK^Unq,
Mimusy Hypocrita ? You muft know — for you are very
well acquainted with the Greek ; Cojialio, I think, ren-
ders it by Hijirio, that is a Comt^dian or Player, one that
a£ls a perfonated Part to get a Penny by it. For Perfona \%
a Mafk, and Perfona traglca is ftill a Mafk, though per-
haps with a grievous Countenance*
For my Part, I choofe to appear without the Mafk ; and
fo, Sir, as I am of a fociable Difpcfltion, and can laugh
with thofe, who are difpofed to laugh 5 ♦^hough I may not
carry my Jokes fo far as you, upon fome Subjeds, yet
where the Matter will bear it, we will lay afide this Seve-
rity a'little, this Wormwood and the Gall, which you com-
plain of, and ufe occafionally a little Merriment : Which
Method perhaps may difcover to the World, on which Side
the Truth ftiall lie, as eff'e6lually as a ferious Argument.
I am therefore for the Sake of Truth in this, or any other
Manner,
Reverend Sir,
Southwarky Tour very humble Servant,
Nov, 4, 1758.
^ .^ JOHN FREE.
I 5 ]
Letter to the Rev. Dr. Free.
By J O H N W E S L E Y, M. A.
Divided into Chapter ^nd Verfe by the Editor.
CHAP. I.
Contents. Mr, Wefley quotes a Pajjfage from Dr.
Free'j Pamphlet to the Salters ; acquiefces in the Dolor's
Opinion^ as far as he underfands it : But afterwards
reads wrong, or wilfully mi flakes in his reading ; Reafons
from this Miftake ; and fo Blunder hegets Blunder and his
Brethren, to the End of the fir Ji Chapter,
TuLLAMORE, May 2, 1758.
Reverend Sir,
I. A Little Tra(3: appearing under your Name was
jr\ Yefterday put into my Hands.
JDr. Free'i Notes upon Mr, Wefley'j Letter^
addrejjedto Mr. Wefley.
«
C H A P. I.
'Reverend Sir^
Y^OUR Letter bears date May 2, 1758.
* from a Place called Tulhimore, as I am
informed, in Ireland — a little unlucky ! For
whether it be owing to the Climate, or not,
you make, what they call a Bull at firft fet-
ting out : And to afford you ibme Diverfion,
you
6 Dr, Free's Notes.
you will fee him baited by and by, in the Note
upon the third Verfe of this Chapter.
Dr. FreeV Note upon Chap. i. Verfe i.
Obfecro, Populares ! The World is hereby
defired to take Notice, that by his own Con-
feflion, the Reverend Mr. JVeJley generated
this memorable Pfeud-apofioUck Epiflle in the
Compafs of one Day, in the Year of our Lord
ly^S.id Populiis curat Scilicet. And he makes
this Declaration— that his Followers may learn
to admire his Infpiration or higenuity ^ and en-
tertain at the fame Time, a proper Contempt
of the Meannefi or Slownefs of his Adverfary,
Though Tully fomewherc fays Opiyiionum Com-
menta delet Dies. In this Senfe, I believe Mr.
Wejley's Epiflle may be the Being of one Day;
and confidering the Fate of fome ingenious
Writers, I draw fome Comfort too from ano-
ther Paffage of the fame Author, to this Ef-
fedl, Aristoteles ait omties ingeniofos ejje mC'-
lancholicos libenter igitur mejateor tardiorem,
Mr. Welley*^ Letter. *
2. You therein call upon me, To fpeak, '' if I have
*' any Exceptions to make to what is advanced,"
3. And promife to " reply as fairly and candidly as I
*' can expe£t, provided thofe Exceptions be drawn up, as
*' you have fet the Example^ in a fhort Compafs, [^and in']
'' the Manner wherein all wife and good People would
*' chufe to manage a Religious Difpute." *.
4. " In a fhort Compafs," Sir, they will certainly be
drawn up, for my own Sake, as well as yours.
5. For I know the Value of Time, and would gladly
employ it all in what more immediately relates to Eternity.
♦ P. 22.
Dr.
JDr. Free's Notes. ^
Dr. Free'j Note.
Thefe Verfes contain a very imperfedl, as
well as unfair Reprefentation of the Words of
Dr. Free ; as will appear to any one, who has
read his Pojifcript to the Articles propofed to
the Company of Salters ; for the Paffage is
really this :
P. S. To the PublicL
" As the Author forefees, that the Self-fuf"
" ficiency and Ignorance of many of the low
*' People among the Methodijh may prompfi
" them to fhew their Skill in Divinity^ and
" cJyange a Word with him upon this Occafion :
" To fave thefe Gentlemen a needlefs Trou-
ble, he thinks proper to declare ; that if
either of the Mr. Wejleys^ who ftill pafs un-
der that Denomination^ have any Exceptions
to make to what is here advanced, provided
thofe Exceptions be drawn up, as he has fet
the Example, in as ihort a Compafs as the
Nature oi Controverfy will admit, the Man-
ner, in which, all wife and good People,
would choofe to manage a Religious Dif-
pute," &c.
Now, Sir, how comes It to pafs, that you
reprefent what was ^ddre&djoint/y to you ^nd
your Brother, Sisfolely direded to yourfelf ? This
is by no Means a fair Rotation, and your falfe
Dealing is much aggravated by the Interpola-
tion of the Words — [and ifi] which affords
you an Handle for fome idle Declamation —
whereas
cc
cc
cc
<c
<c
cc
(C
cc
cc
8 JDr. Free's Notes.
whereas the Original has not any fuch Words
as — [and in\ the Manner" — but runs thus, —
*' in as fhort a Compafs as the Nature of Con-
" troverfy will admit, the Manner," &c.
This material Change muft proceed either
from I?2atte?itio72^ Ignorance^ or bad Z)^/?^?/.
If it proceeded from Inattention ; it muft
fhew great Contempt of the Publick not to
read a Thing over before you committed it to
Print : If it proceeded from Ignorance 3 as you
affedl the Patriarch or Apojlky you may be
afhamed not to have your Wits as much about
you, as when you was a School-boy. For to be
fure you then knew the Meaning oi Appofition^
and underftood your Grammar j you {hould
not have forgot it here, oportebat fuijfe Memo-
rem, Laftly, if it was through bad Dejign^
that you made this Alteration, why then you
cannot be really an hojjeji Man. And to fay
nothing of what the World may think of you,
it is my Opinion, that if you want HoneJi)\
Jefus Chrift will never own you for his Dif-
ciple, let your Pretences to Religion be what
they will.
Mr, Wefley'j Letter.
6. But I do not promife to draw them up in that Man-
ner, whereof you have fet the Example.
7. I cannot; I dare not ; For I fear God, and do re-
ally believfe there is a Judgment to come. 7"herefore I dare
not return Evil for Evil ; neither Railing for Railing.
8. Nor can I allow, that your Manner of treating this
Subjed^, is that " wherein all ivife and good People, would
<' chufe to manage a Religious Difpute." Far, very far
from it.
9. I fhall rejoice, if a little more Fairnefi and Candor,
fhould appear m your future Writings.
10. But
Mr, Wefley*s Letter. 9
10. But I cannot expeftit ; for the «;>r^ fuccus loligi-
fjis. Wormwood and Gall feem to have infected your very
Vitals.
Dr, Free*^ Nofe.
The Tra6t of mine, which Mr. WeJIey fo
belabours in thefe Verfes, is that entitled Cer-
tain Articles propofed to the ferious Confidera-
tion of the Company of Salters in London^ Sec,
Of which the Reader may fee a Vindication in
the Preface to my Sermon before the Univer-
fity oi Oxford : And therefore I hope he will
excufe me here, if I take no farther Notice of
this notable Paffage.
Mr. Wefley'i Letter.
CHAP. II.
Contents. Mr. Wefley tells a Story about his convtnc ^
ing BiP)op Gibfon — confejfes his Weaknefs \ ■prays to the
God i?/' Truth and Love to ajjifi him — Promifes a Thing
which he is not able to perform^ tells a Fib about anfwer-
ing an ObjeSfion^'—lofes his Underjlanding and talks with-
out Coherence or Connexion y denies a notorious F a 5i Support-
ed by the moji evident Proof, and ends with afalfe ^^Jfertion.
I. '^ I ^HE Quotation from Bifhop Gibfon, which takes
A up Five out of Nineteen Pages, 1 have particu-
larly anfwered already *.
2. And in a Manner wherev/ith I have good Rcafon to
believe, his Lordfliip was entirely fatisfied. With his
Lordfhip therefore 1 have no prefent Concern: My Bufi-
nefs now is with you only.
3. And feeing you are *' now ready," (as you exprefs
it) " to run a Tilt,''' I mufl make what Defence I can.
4. Only you muft excufe me from Meeting you on the
fame Ground, or fighting you with the fame Weapons.
* In a Letter to the Right Rev. the Lord Bifliop of London.
B JDr;
lo Dr. Free's Notes.
C H A P. IL
Dr, Yrtt's Notes,
'C'Riend Wejley^ from a Man defirous, as thou
would ft feem to be (but a little before) of
employing all thy 'Time^ in what relates to jE-
iermty, is not this an idle and invidious Reflec-
tion ? What Matter is it, as to the Argument,
how many Pages of my Pamphlet are taken
up by the Quotation from Bifhop Gibjon ? If
what Bifhop Gibjon fays be true, the " Godof
'* 'T?-uth and Love,'* whom thou invokeft but
a little after would never have diredled Thee,
to have refled;ed upon me for minijlring to
the "Itrutb by introducing the BiJJoop^ Tefti-
mony. 1 thought it better than my own ; and
is it confiftent, in the very Minute, that thou
makeft fuch ProfeJ/ion o? Candor and Chriflian
Charity y to be thus farcajlical upon my Humi-
lity ? The Pharifee in the Gofpel, thanked
God that he was not a SirDier, and if this be
your Practice, I thank God, that I am not
fuch a Sai77t, For there is much of human
Frailty in this Condud:, which is quite incon-
fiftent with thy Chriftian PerfeSion. I have
now done with my Plainnefs, Sir, and ihall
henceforth keep my Diftance.
As to your Anfwer then, to the late Bishop
of London^ for which you refer us to your
Letter — you fliould have told us the Page :
For r cannot find it — No! — No! — no fuch
Anfv^^er, I allure you — I can find no fuch
Anfwer.
And
jDr. Free's Notes. ii
And therefore I am the more aftoniflied
how you could tell us that the Bifiop was fo
entirely fatisfied with it. For my Part I want
Satisfadion upon the Subjed:, and am foriy to
hear you cannot meet me on the fame Ground^
or fight with the fame Weapons, that I do.
Foj: had this been the Cafe, I fhould have
given y or received Satisfadion, before this
Time. My Ground is fure Ground, Sir, and
my Weapons fuch as will feldom fail me.
Whereas you make ufe of fome little Inftru-
ments befide the "Truths which will always
break in your Hands, and leave you at the
Mercy of your Adverfary.
't^' Mr, Wefley'i Letter.
5. My Weapons are only Truth and Love. May the
God of Truth and Love flrengthen my Weaknefs !
Dr. FreeV Note.
I fliould like this Declaration much better,
if I could think, that fuch a Principle fteadily
influenced your Pradice : But as you have
mifreprefented me fo grofsly in your Quota-
tions, and fo defignedly 5 and now trifle thus
with your folemn Proteflations^ I have Reafon,
(though I may be forry to fay it) even in this
Particillar, to doubt of your Incegrity, not-
withrtanding your ferious Mention, of what
ought to affed every thinking Man, our Re-
lation to Ete'rnity.
E 2 Mr,
1 2 . Mr. Wefley's Letter.
Mr. Wefley'i Letter.
6 I wave what relates to Mr. V — 's perfonal Charac-
ter, which is too u'ell known to need my Defence of it :
As like wife the Occurrence (real or imaginary I cannot
tell) which gave Birth to your Performance.
Dr. Free'j Note.
I take an Opportunity from this Fajfage^ to
inform the Publick^ that the Reafon, why I
gave myfelf tlie Trouble of printing Mr. IV'^
Letter in this Manner, was not barely for the
Sake of exa?ni?ting it myfelf, and, as I faw Oc-
cafion, to anfwer it : But alfo to fet this Gentle-
man and his Adherents an Example of fair
Dealing in Controverfy 3 to which they fei;m
to be entire Strangers. For what Reader, but
would imagine fi-om thefe Words of Mr. Wef-
kfsy that his Fiiend Mr. F had fuffered
in his perfonal Character by my Writings ?
The Trafit to the Salters is eafily read over.
Let any one judge from the Reading, whe-
ther I have concerned myfelf with this Mr.
F any otherwife than in his Character of a
Mefkodifty a CharaBer^ which on Account of
his Connexion with the Methodifis^ and his
preaching their DoBrines^ had even in the
Efteem of his ow^n Hearers^ been juftly fixed
upon him. Of the Influence of this puhlick
CharaBer upon the perfonal^ Mr. Wejley ihall
hear a little more hereafter 5 fince, in his Z^-
f(97?^i Letter, he has revived the i2.n\tObjeBion'y
but this by the Way. I am only led to take
riotice here, of his Manner of Quotation,
of
Dr, Free's Notes.^ 13
of which I would defire the unprejudiced
Reader to be alfo obfervant, that he may be
the better able to do me Juftice.
Mr. Wefley'j Letter,
7. All that I concern myfelf with is your Five vehement
Affertions, with Regard to the People caU'd Mcthodifts.
Thefe I (hall confider in their Order, and prove to be to-
tally falfe and groundlefs.
8. The firft is this, + *' Their whole Miniftry is an
*' open and avow'd Oppofition to one of the fundamental
<' Articles of our Religion." How fo ? Why " the 20th
*' Article declares, We may not fo expound one Scripture,
*' that it be repugnant to another, J And yet it is noto-
*' rious, that the Methodijls do ever explain the Word
" Faith as it ftands in fome of St. Paul\ Writings, fo as
'* to make his Do(Strines a diredl and flat Contradiclion to
« thatof.St. Jamesr
Dr. Free'i Note.
So then, Sir, you chufe to enter the Lifts,
not upon your own Account, or for particular
Opinions of your own^ but as a Champion for the
Caiife of the People called Methodt/is? In the
Words of my Pcjijcript above- cited, I fpoke
with Hefitaticn, as if I did not know, but that
you had been difpofed to have quitted tljat
Profeffion, this afforded you an Opportunity
of difavowing it, if you would ^ but as you
take to it fo very formally, by declaring your-
felf their Advocate, what a Weatjier cock
muft the V/orld think you, when in youv Je-
cond Epijlle you renounce the very Ntwie^ and
declare, that you are no fuch Perfon. But of
this hereafter.*—-
To
t P. 4. X p. 5.
14 Dr. Free's Notes.
To he^ or not to he? ay ! there* s the ^ejiicn^
Which Wesley'^ Meditations can't refolve.
Conviflion tells him he has gone ajlray ;
But yet the Fence the fatid Pence of Brass
PFhich at the Found'ry, weekly load his Palm,
Incline himjlill to act the Methodist ;■
Act, 7"^ DISOWN, — -Jlrangeinconfijlent Partf
Tf'ljich Chara5fers the double-minded Man^
UNsrABLEjlili^ yet varioufly the fame,
Mr. Welley'i Letter.
9. This ftale Obje£):ion has been anfwered an hundred
Times, fo that I really thought we fhould have heard no
more of it.
10. But fmce it is required, I repeat the Anfwer once
more. By Faith we mean. The Evidence of Things not
feen: By juflifying Faith, a Divine Evidence or Convic-
tion, that Chrift loved me and gave Himfelf for, me. St.
P<?i^/ affirms, that a Man is juftified by this Faith ; which
St. fames never denies ; but only afTerts that a Man can-
not be juflihed by a dead Faith, And this St. Paul never
aiiirms.
Dr. Free'i Note,
Mr. V/cjlej is here affronted at what he calls
a fiale Objedlion. No wonder, for when
Things grow ftale, they fometimes grow very
ftrong, and if held to your Nofe they will be
ftill more offenfive : How to get out of the
Smell of this Objeftion is the Difficulty. To
fay, that it has been anfwered an hundred
Times, Is only telling a ftals Lye. It is plain
tome, Sir, that you cannot anfwer it now 3
and 1 am afraid your Apology will appear to
the Reader no better than Nonfenfe. For
your Words are, Verfe 10. " by juflifying
*' Faith^ we mean, a Divine Evidence or Con-
'' vidtion,
Dr. Free's Notes. i j;
*' Vidion, that Chrift loved me, and gave
" Himfelf for me,'* Now for the Confe-
quence ! — Ergo — ** The Metbodijls do not ex-
*' plain the Word Faith^ as it ftands in fome
" of St. Pauls Writings, fo as to make the
" Dodtrine of St. Paul a diredt and flat Con-
*' tradidioti to fhat of St. JamesJ' Is this
what you call Connexion ? — —
I'll tell you one Thing, Sir, Silver arid Gold
I have no?7ey for that as well as the Brafs gene-
rally goes to the Shops of the Methodists,
but fuch as 1 have^ I will give u?2teyoUy there-
fore, I fay, if you can make this la77ie Argu-
ment walk, and bring it to the Growth of a
regular Syllogifmy I don't know but I may ho-
nour you with another Dedication, Et eris
mihi niagnus Apollo.
But befide the Fault in the Argument ^ Sir,
here is a Whim or Conceit in the Phrafe, which
muft not pafs without Notice. For if one
were to be inquifitive about Chapter and Verfe^
pray. Sir, in which of St. PauN Writings, is
it exprefsly faid, that Jefus Chrift; died in par-
ticular for Mr. "John Wejley ? Don't you fee,
that there is fomething mighty odd in the
wording of this Paflage ? For by the Phrafc it
amounts to this ; St. Paul afiirms, that a Man
is juftified by having a Divine Evidence or
Convi^iion, that Jefas Chrift gave himfelf for
Mr. ^ohn Wefleyl — Are you then in. your
Senfes ? Or do you think, that other People
have loft theirs, that you can venture to talk
fuch Stuff to them as this ?
From
1 6 -Dr. Free's Notes.
From what Moravian have you borrowed
thtfe Singularities ? I have heard indeed, (I
don't fay, I know it to be true) that you have
extraBed nQ2iV 14 Volumes all ^uintcfjences^ to
be fure, from the Fanaticijm of the Germans^
the EngliJJjy and other Nations. For all Na-
tions and Religions have their Fanaticks.
And thus ^ you dim your Eyes^ andJiuffyoKr Head,
With all fuch R.eading, as was never read? Pope.
Mr. Wefley'j Letter.
11. " But St. James declcLves, Faith without Worh is
*' dead. Therefore it is clearly St. jfajnes's Meaning, that
** a Faith which is without Virtue and Morality, cannot
'' produce Salvation. Yet the Methodijis fo explain St.
*' Paul as to affirm that Faith without Virtue or Morality
*' will produce Salvation." Where ? In which of their
Writings.? This needs fome Proof: I abfolutely deny the
Faa.
12. So that all which follows is mere Flourlfh, and falls
to the Ground at once: And all that you aver of their *
^* open and fcandalous Oppofition to the 20th Article," is
no better than an open and fcandalous Slander.
Dr, FreeV Note,
As you are pleafed to call my Argument in
this Place a Flourijh, I muft reply, Sir, that
it is but a fiiort Flonrijlj on your Side. For I
refer the Reader to the Preface and Appendix
of my Sermon preached at Oxford, where to
the Misfortune of your Caufe, he will find this
open and fcandalous Slander, ^s.Tou term it,
fupported by a Cloud 0/ WitnelJes, and Fafts too
ftubborn to yield to ^ny flin:Jy Lie.
Mr,
• P. 6,
Mr» Wefley's Letter, 17
CHAP. III.
Contents. Adr, Wefley continUiS to produce from Dr,
Free' J Pamphlet to the SaIters/^«^ mangled a -id di jointed
Quotations, relating to the DoS.nnes of the Mtihcdiiis^
of which Do^rineSy as he pretends, he never heard before ;
or at leafi does not remer^iber them, and therefore def ires
his Opponent to refrejh his Memory,
I. TTOUR fecond Aflertion is this, « the * MethodiJ},
X " for the Perdition of the Souls of his Followers,
*' openly gives our Saviour the Lie, loads ihe Scripture
" with Falftiood and Contradiclion : (And pray what
" could a Mahomedan, or Infidel, or the Devil himfelf do
*' more.) Yea, openlv blafpheme the Name of Chrifi,
" by faying. That the Works of Men are of no Confide-
*' ration at all ; that God makes no Diftinction between
*« Virtue and Vice, that he does not hate Vice or I've
*' Virtue, What Blafphe7ny then and hvpiety are thoCe
«« Wretches guilty of, who in their diabolical Phrenzy,
" dare to contradidl our Saviour's Authority, and that in
*< fuch aneflential Article of Religion V
CHAP. III.
JDr. Free'j Note,
npHIS firft Verfe, as likewlfe the greateft
Part of this Chapter, being made up of
Extracts from my firft Pamphlet to the Com-
pany of Salters thrown together in a very irre-
gular Manner, the Reader is defired to perufe
them as they ftand in their proper Places, in
Order to form a juft Notion of their Extent
and Meaning. And for the Evidence, which
Mr. V/eJley fo often calls for to fupport thefe
Paffages, I refer the Reader^ once for all, to
C the
* P. 7» 8i 9-
1 8 Dr, Free's Notes.
the Preface of my Sermon, and to the Appen-
dix containing the Blajphe?mes and Delufions of
the Methodijis, particularly Number V. and
to what I have farther to fay in my Notes up-
on Mr. Wejlcy^ jecond Letter, which Notes
are juft now publiflied, under the Title of a
perpetual Comment,
Mr. Wefley'i Letter.
2. Here alfo the Methodifts plead not guilty, and re-
quire you to produce your Evidence : To (hew in which
of their Writings they affirm, That God "will not re-
" ward every Man according to his Works ; that He
*» makes no Diftinclion between Virtue and Vice ; that
*' He does not hate Vice or love Virtue." Thefe are Po-
rtions which they never remember to have advanced. If
you can, refrefli their Memory.
Dr. Free'j Note.
I cannot fay whether it has been any Re-
Jrejhment or not : But I beHeve by this Time
you feel that I have rubbed up your Memory,
upon this Subjedt, in the Preface and Appen-
dix to my Sermon. Number V. And in my
Edition of your fecond Letter.
Mr. Wefley'j Letter.
3. You aflert. Thirdly, the Methodijls, by thefe Pofi-
tions, " deftroy the eflential Attributes of God, and ruin
*' his Chara£ler as Judge of the World.'* Very true
if they held thefe Pofitions.
4. But here lies the Miftake. They hold no fuch Pofi-
tions. They never did. They deteft and abhor them.
In arguing therefore on this Suppofition, you are again
heating the Air.
Drl
Dr, Frce's Notes.' 19
Sir, you muft certainly be miftaken here.
For inftead ot beating the Air ^ I think, that I
am beating the Methodifts, But perhaps you
mean by this, that you Prophets are become
Wind, and the Word oj the Lord is not in you ;
if fo, indeed, I may be beating the Air^ in
beating the Methodijis.
Mr, Welley'i Letter,
5. You afTert, Fourthly, The Methodijlsi^:^^ teach and
" propagate * downright Atheifm (a capital Crime ; and
'« Atheifls in fome Countries have been put to Death,)
*' Hereby they make Room for all Manner of Vice and
*^ Villainy, by which Means the Bands of Society are
*' diflblved. And therefore this Attempt muft be confi-
" dered as a Sort of Treafon by MagiJiratesJ'^
6. Again we deny the whole Charge, and call for
Proof:
7. And, blefled be God, fo do the Magiftrates in
Great-Britain.
8. Bold, vehement Afleverations will not pafs upon them
for legal Evidences.
9. Nor indeed on any reafonable Man.
10. They can diftinguifti between arguing and calling
Names.
1 1. The former becomes a Gentleman and a Chriflian :
But what is he, who can be guilty of the latter ?
jDr. Free'i Note,
You may deny as you will, Sir, and as you
think confiflent v/ith your Credit : But the
Charge is fupported by Fa^, and fuch Prccf
has been given of it, as none but thofe, who
C 2 have
* P. 10, u.
cc
20 , Dr. Free's Notes.
have lofl: all Senfe of Skcime, as well as Under-'
flandlng can offer to deny.
The Reader may fee by the T eft monies pro-
duced in the Pre] ace and AppeJidix to my Ser-
mon,' what Ajjurance\ have from their own
Writings, that the People v/ho pafs under the
DcncminatiGn of Methodists, nay, who call
thenfdvcs Meti^odists, have maintained fuch
Propofitioijs as th.efe, viz,
*' That Men are (ahfohtteJy and finally)
*^ juftihcd without the Deeds of a?iy Law
^^ whatever, either natural^ ceretnonial or
** 7uord'f to the utter Exclufion of all good
Works,
That there is no Diference betwixt
the moft fervent Devotee and the greateft
" Ringleader in Prophanenefs, &c.
'' That he, who attempts to do afiy Thing
eafy or difficult, under the Notion of an
A& of believing, or any other Adl, in
Order to his Accepta?2Ce to God, only heaps
*^ up more Wrath again ft himfelf/' —
Such Fernicious Pkinctples, I faid, tended
to dedroy our Notions oi the effential Attri-
butes of God, and ruin his Char aoier, as Judge
of the World. And in the Articles to the
Salter s. Page 9. in fupport of my Affertion, I
argued thus ;
'' Fir/i, If there be no DiJlinBion between
'' human Adions, or a Dijiinction of no Con-
^* fideratwn, then there can be no fuch Thing
'"■ as Good, or Evil: And confequently no
'' Room for a future Judgment at all. For
^' where there is no Law broken, there is no
'* Harm
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Dr, Free's Notbs. 21
" Harm done 3 and therefore no Call for
Judgment.
'' But Secondly y If there be a real Dlflinc-
tion between Good and Evil 3 then to fay
that God does not regard it, or take it into
Confideration^ but rewards or puniflies at
random, is making him fo fooliili as not to
diftinguifh Vice from Virtue; or fo unjuft
as to prefer Vice before it \ which Defi-
ciency would render him quite unfit to be
the Judge of the World.
*' In the firft Place therefore, accordins: to
" this Dodtrine, we are to have no Judgment
'' of the World at all.
** In the next Cafe God is reprefented as
unfit to be that "Judge,
*' Now if this be not downright Atheifm^
I would be glad to know what it is/'
Thefe are the Proofs, Sir, which I fuhmit
to the Examination of any Man alive, who
enjoys the Ufe of his Under/landing, If you
can call fuch plain Tejti monies and fair Reafou^
trigs ovAy^ " bold and vehement Afieve rat ions,''
Men of coinmon Se7ife will doubt your f lonefiy ;
and the learned will be apt to apply to )ou and
your T^ribe the Rcfiection of the Roman Orator,
h'^cet concurrant omnes plebeii [concionatores]
non modo nihil iinquam tarn elegant er explicabunt^
fed ne hoc qiiidem ipfum quam fubtiliter concinjuni
Jit^ intellegent. Allow this then to be Argii-
tng^ Sir^ to fave your own Credit as a Scholar,
and to be confiflent with the Conceffioii
which you made [V. ^,1 but a little before.
That
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22 JDr. Free's Notes.
That ij the Methodijls held fuch Pofit{ons\
they would thereby '' deilroy the effential
*' Attributes of God, and ruin his Chara^er^
*' as Judge of the World.''
This Charge againft the People of your TDe-
nomination being thus fupported by FaB : It is
no Matter to the Publick, whether from a-
mong the Methodifts^ you are one of the iden-
tical Perfons concerned, or not. It may be
fonie Advantage indeed to you to 'fcape a
Scowerifig^ but in the mean Time the fame
Hurt is done to the Cojjimunity^ whether it be
done by Mr. Wesley'5 Gang^ or be done by
Mr. WeJIey, And I would advife you, if you
would avoid all Sufpicion of evil Communica-
tion and Correfpondence with fuch Sort of
People, to fpeak no longer in their Defence.
For it is apparent that under the Name of Me-
thcdi/is, fuch Perfons and fuch Opinions do ac-
tually exift. And as I faid to the Vv^orihipful
Company of S alters^ I fay once more to you,
*' Atbeiim has been deemed a r^/>/V^/ Crime,
** and Atheifts in feme Countries have been
*' put to Death, as Perfons very dangerous to
'* a State, at leaft in the Opinion of thofe,
*' who govern it.
** For that all wife Lawgivers and good
Maojjjrates, befide that they refent the
Diflionour done to God, confider the Pro-
pagation of Atheifm as an Attempt to de-
ftroy their own Commonwealth. Becaufe by
" releafing Men from their natural Fears of a
'^ Dcitv, it difcharges them from all 7norGl
*' Obliiiation ; makes PxOom for all Manner
'' oi
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Dr, Free's Notes. 21
" of Vice and Villainy, by which Means the
*' Ba7idsoi Society are diffolved, the Commu-
'' niiy is forced to feparate ; and the Magif-
*' trates themfelves, when all Government is
" overturned, can in that Character fubfift no
*^ longer.
*' You fee then, that this Attempt muft be
*' confidered as a Sort of T^reajon by (wife)
*' Magiftrates -, becaufe it is an Attack upon
*' themfelves : by ruining their Subjeds it
" takes away their very Office ; there being,
*' as I obferved, no Place for Governors in a
Society quite diffolute and abandoned.
" This then is the Confequence of deftroy-
ing the Morals of a State, by the Introduc-
*' tion of dire^ Atheifm : And therefore to
fecure the Morals of their People, Magi-
ftrates make Ufe of that Inftrument, which
we call Religion, as being in their Opinion,
*' what will contribute moft to harmonize
*^ and regulate Society, and produce EfFeds
" quite oppofite to thofe, which they dread
" from Atheifm.
" But \i ajiy Form of Religion difcourage
Morality^ it can be no Inftrument for their
Purpofe, becaufe it does the Work of Athe-
ifm. And therefore they muft be as much
'* alarmed at the Introduction of lucb a Reli-
"-^ gion, as atthe Introdudion of ^i'/Z^t'.^^;;; and
" look upon it in the fame Light, as it is at-
*' tended with the fam.e Confequence."
Now the Form of Religion introduced by
the Methodifis is fuch, as thus difcourages Mo-
rality ^ and to be confiftent with their Profef-
fion.
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24 -Dr. Free's Notes.
fion, their Teachers often call the Divines of
the Church of England^ by Way of Derifwn^
Moralists: Yet Mr. Wejley reprefents our
Magiflrates themfelves as well aftefted to
this Sort of People.
What I have to obferve upon this Repre-
fentation is, firji^ that I cannot believe it to be
true : zndfecondfy, that if it be true, and any
of our MagiJIrafes 2.rt no better principled than
is here reprefented, that then they are by no
Means v^ife or good Magiflrates, and confe-
quently not fit to hold or difcharge any OfHce
of Importance in this Country.
As to the Reprefentation, therefore; not-
withflanding, that Mr. V/eJley ufes the Term
Magistrates as imiverfal^ or at leafl z^;?//;;^/-
ted^ yet probably he may be able iofpecify no
more than the Sheriff of Bedford^ who ap-
pointed him to preach the AJjize Sermon : Or
the London Sugar-baker, who, according to
the News-Papers, publickly nominated Mr.
yo?ies the Impofior^ for his Chaplain.
If this Officer was guilty of fuch an Infult
upon the Church of E?2gland, to which he
pretended occafionally to conform, I do not
doubt, but that he will be properly noted by
his Fellow-Citizens^ as a Perfon not very fit to
hold or difcharge the Trufl to which he has
been promoted. For had this Man been ac-
quainted with any Thing beiide his Sugar
Pans, or formed the leafl Idea of the Office, he
pretends to ferve, he muft have been fenfible,
that it frequently belongs to the Bufmefs of an
Englijh Sheriff to beprefent at the Execution
of
Dr. Free's Notes. 25
of the Laws againft notorious Crvniiiah, For
Inftance, Cheats and hnpojiors by the Laws of
'England are reckoned notorious Criminals. I
think Bracion calls a Traitor Sedu^or, and had
Mr. "Jones been formally convicted as a Cheat
and hnpojlor^ and ordered by the Court to
have been led down Cheapjide by the Sheriff oi
London, to the Royal Exchange, with the *
Letter from the MajifloJis above pinned to his
Back and Bread, and there to have fi-iffered
the Penalties, which the Laws inflid; why
the Sheriff would have found it his Duty to
have attended his Chaplain upon this Occaiioft.
By which the World would have been apt to
conclude, that either through Ignorance he
knew not how to condu^thimfelf in the Office
to which he was promoted, or elfe that he
made ufe of his Authority to countenance De-
ceit in Breach of his Oathy as being in Breach
of the Laws of E?2glajid.
For Deceit, which is defined by the Law-
yers, to be a fubtie Trick and Device where-
unto you may draw all Manner of Craft and
Cclhijion ' and ao-ainft which there is a \¥rit
called Breve Decepticne is an Offence both at
common and jlatute Law. It is generally pu-
nifhed by Whippings or the Pillory,
Religious Deceit, or Deceit by Prophecy
hath other Penalties, " For if any Perfon
fhall adv'ifedly and diredly advance, puhlijh^
zrA Jet forth hy\Nv\ti\v\^, Printing, Singing,
or any uther open Speech or Deed, any tond
fantaflical, or falfe Prophecy, thereby to
D '' make
■ See it in th« Appendix tc Dr. Fail SsrmQn.
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26 Dr. Free's Notes.
' make any DilTention, or other Difturbances
/ in the Realm, he ihall for the firji Offence
** be imprijoned for a Year, and forfeit ten
Pounds y and for the fecond Offence be im^
frifo?7ed for Life y ?.udi forjeit kis Goods;
h2\f the Forfeitures to the King, and half
to /?/;/;, who (liall fne for them in any Court
of Record.'* 5 Eliz, c. 15.
Thefe being the Lp.ws and Co?iflitutio?is of
this Kingdom, one would afk this Sheriffs how
he could confiftently with his Oath:, make
choice of fuch a fuklick Deceiver for his
Chaplain ? For a Claufe of the Oath is. —
*^ lunll tru y arid diligently execute the good La'ws
*' and Statutes cf this Realm, and i?! all Things
'^ well and truly behave my f elf in my Office, jor
*' the Honour of the King, and the Good of
" his Subjects, and df charge the fame accord-
*' ing to the heft cf my Skill and Power : So help
*' me God." 3. Geo,c, 15. *Sf5. 18, 19.
If thefe be the Laws, this the Oath to ob-
ferve thofe Laws, and this the Gondii^ of the
Magi jir ate, who took it : We have Reafon to
apprehend, what v/ould be the Fate of this
KiNGDOxM ; were the Magijlratis, as Mr.
Wefley reprefents, all fo well difpofed to fa-
vour the Methodi/h,
C H A P.
Mr. WefleyV Letter. IZj
CHAP. IV.
Contents. Mr. Wefley fupfofes an IrfallihUity in the
Church of England like that of the Church cf Rome 5
talks cf the Articles as a Ruk of Faith preferable t: the
Holy 'Scriptures ; makes no Difference hctvjeen fundamen-
tal Articles afid difputable Points of Faith. Accufes Dr.
Free cf writing againj} the Articles, hut cannot jhew the
Place ; domineers like a PcedagcguCy till he is quite cut of
Breathy hut recovering hinrfelf to fay fcmething cf Arabia
and Japan, is feized with a Fit cf Mcekmfs, uttering
among his laji Words Fairnefs, Candor, Chrift.
I. \70U afTert, Laftiv, That any who chufr a Metho-
JL dip. Clergyman for their Ledurer, * '^ put into that
*' Oit.ce, which flhiould be held by a Mlnifter of the Church
" of England^ an Enemy who undermines not only the
" /c'^^/£ftablifhmcntof "that Church, but alfo the Foun-
" dation of all Religion."
2. Once more we muft call upon you for the Proof :
The Proof of thefe two Particulars, Firft, that I, John
JVefley^ am " an Enemy to the Church, and that I under-_
*' mine not only the legal Eftablifhment of the Church rf
«« Ejigland, but alfo the very Foundations of all Religion."
Secondly, That "Mr. F— is an Enemy to the Cnurch,
" and Is undermining all Religion, as well as the Efta-
«' blifhment."
3. Another Word and I have dorie. Are there
«' t certain ^alif cations required of all Lc^uyen^ before
''■ they are by Law permitted to fpeak to the People ?"
And is a Sufcripticn to the Thirty Nine Articles of Reli-
<rion, one of thefe Qualifications ? And is a Perfon who
does not " conform to fuch Subfcription" difqualified to
be a LeSurer? Or, who " has ever held or publijhed any
" Thine contrary to what the Church of England mdl.n-
»< tains ?"
4. Then certainly you, Dr. John Free, are rot " per-
'' mitted by Law to fpeak to the People ." Neither are you
" qualified to be a Le£lurer'' in any Church \n London or
England, as by Law ejlahlijhed. Fof you fl.^tlv deny and
openly oppofe'more than One or Two of thofe Articles.
You do not in any wife conform to the Subfcription vou
made,
♦ P. 13. t P- '4-
't% Mr, Wefiey's Letter.
made, before you was ordain'd either Prie'fl or Deacon.
You both hold and publijh (if you are the Author and Pub-
lifher of the Traft before me) what is grofly, palpably
'' contrary to what the Church of England maintains,'*
in her Homihes as well as Articles :
c. 7'hofe Komilies to which vou have alfo fubfcribed,
in fubfcribincrthe ^6th Article. You have^ubfcribed them.
Sir : But did you ever read them ?
6. Did you ever read fo much as thp Three firfi: Homi-
lies ? I beg of you, Sir, to read thefe at leaf}-, before you
write again about the Do6lTine of the Church of England.
7. And would it not be prudent to read a few of the
Writings cf the Methodijh^ before you undertake a farther
Confutation of them ? At prefent you know not the Men
cr their Communication. You areas wholly unacquainted
both v/Ith them and their, Doctrines, as if you had lived all
your Days in the Iflands oi Japan,- or the Deferts oi Arabia.
8. You have given a furious iifTault to you know not
whom : And you have dene it, you know not why.
9. You have not hurt me thereby j
10. But you have huri: yourfelr : Perhaps In your Cha-
railerj certainly in your Confcience.
11. For this is not doing to ethers as you would they
fliould do unto you. When you grow cool, I truO; you
will fee this clearly : And will no more accufe, in a Manner
fo remote from Fairnefs and Candor.
Rev Sir,
ycur Servani for Cu'RJ'ii ^s Sake J
JOHN WESLEY.
Dr, Free J NcUs upon Chap. IV. of Mr, Wef-
ley'i Letter,
TN my Remarks upon this Chapter, I dial 1
•*- take the Liberty to confider and difpatch,
in the fiift Place, a few fcattering Objedions
at the End of it, relating to my Knowledge of
the Mttbodifis, and Behaviour to Mr. Wefley ;
that I may not be interrupted when I come to
fpeak upon a more important Subjedt, that is,
the
Dr. Free's Notes. 29
the different Nature, Defign and Obligation
of the different Articles of the Church of Eng^
la?2d, and the Cafe of the Subfcribers to the
Articles and Homilies. Where befides the
Importance of the Subjed: ; the Errors of Mr.
?f>/?67 appear to be more particularly grofs,
and confidering, that he is fuch a Pattern of
Chriftian Meebiefs delivered with fome Degree
of Arrogance.
Firft then, for my Condudl to you Mr,
Wefley. You tell me that by writing the Pam-
phlet to the Salters, / have not hurt you, tho'
you fay, that it is not doi'ng to others, as 1 would
tkevfioula do unto mc. As for hurting you in.
particular ; the Defign of that Piece was iini"
ve^iah and calculated as far as you were con-
cerned, not to hurt, but to convince you:
Unlefs Convidion gives you Fain ; if fo, you
muft be fubjedl to fome perverfe Paffions, or
ftrono- Prejudices. For Difpajfionate Reason,
clear of thefe Incumbrances, finds a Pleafure
in Convidion, as it defires always to be in-
' formed. ; 7 t->i r
And for doing, as I would be done by. Fleafe
to confider at the Time you wrote this Letter,
what Dealings in the literary Way, I had with
you. Why truly only this Communi cation \ I
had with all good Manners faid, that if either
you or your Brother had • any Exceptions to
make in the Manner there expreffed, and as I
expeded, I would reply, ^c. as fairly and
candidly as you could exped from a Man dif-
fering in Opinion from yourfelves. Now then.
Sir if vou put the QucAion, whether I (hould
' ' ^ take
30 JDr\ Free*s Notes.
take Offence at fuch a civil Challenge? I declare
upon my Honour^ that I fliould not. I have
therefore thus far done by you, as I would be
done by.
And further than this. I made no other
Addrefs to.you in your ow^n Perfon^ nor con-
cerned myfelf any farther with your Writings
in particular, than juft tranfcribing a PafTage
from Bjthop Gibfon\ Paftoral Letter, which
contained, it feems, an Extract from one of
your Journals. This alfo I believe no Man,
befide yourfelf, would ever have confidered
as an Offence, at lead I fliould not; unlefs
there had been fome Interpolation or bafe Omif"
fiofi, which had perfedly altered the Senfe, a
Circumftance, which no doubt you would have
complained of, if I had afforded you any
Caufe. But vou had no Caufe for fuch Com-
plaint, and might have been ufed with the
fame Tendernefs throughout, if you had not
forfeited my Efteem by quibbling with Tefti-
monies which you cannot deny, and your fig*
nal Diflionefty in Mifquotation.
Inftances of which I fliall produce to your
Shame, when I come to examine your fecond
Letter : FalOiood and Hypocrify, Sir, have no
Title to Civility from me. For in my Opinion,
that Man countenances Iniquity, who is civil
to it.
You tell the World, Sir, " That I have
" given a furious A flault, to I know not whom:
*' And 1 have done it, I know not why." —
&>, I attacked the Methodifts, becaufe, Peo-
ple, who pafs under that Denomination, pro-
pagate
Dr, Free's Notes. 31
pagate a dangerous Sort of Atheifm^ and talk
Blafphemy : This was the Reafon why, and I
think, a fubflantial Reafon : And for the Per-
Jons whor/2y — I could not be fo much a Stranger
to them, as you reprefent, fince I have pro-
duced the Writings of fome, and both the
Names and Writings of others.
Muft it not then appear even to yourfelf, a
ftrange Flight and Abfurdity, to tell the Pub--
licky that I know no more of the Methodiftsy
and their Communication^ than the Inhabitants
of Arabia and 'Japan ? When you cannot but
remember, that I have often had Opportuni-
ties of hearing your Opinions from your own
Mouths. As your Brother was of the fame
College with myfelf; and you, of the fame U-
7iiverfity, And when your younger Apoftle
Whitfield obtained (I fuppofe upon aPro-
mife of better Behaviour) Priefi's Orders at
Oxford y from the Bifhop of Gloiicejler ; being
of the Prejhytery of the Cathedral^ I was obliged
to lay my Hand upon his Head, and yet you
tell me that I know neither the Men nor their
Communication.
But, I think for this Sally^ you have re-
ceived a fufficient Check, from a Pamphlet
entitled, Confiderations on fome Modem Dciirines
and Teachers ; of which, iince you take no
Notice of it in your fecond Letter, I will give
you a Specimen here.
" Tills, fays the Author, ^' is a tip-top ca7it
* Page 12, 6fr. of the Pamphlet eqtitled Considerations
ou fome Moderu Do^rir.es and 'Teachers, humbly addrefled to the
worthy Inhabitants of St. Albany Wood-Jlreety and St. Ola^ocy
^iher-Jireei^ kz. By C. Grange, an Inhabitant, Ifjc.
\\^ Expref-
3^ Df". Free's Notes.
*' Expreffion of the Methodifts, and I have
" heard it made ufe of by the Brethren, when
" any attempted to interpret Scripture contrary
*' to their Liking — I fpeak thus freely, becaufe
" the Doctrines thus charged upon the Aff/^o-
** dijh^ are falfe Dodrines f — Mr. Wejley him-
" felf; continues he, proves thofe Doflrines
*' to be falfe, bv his fo ftrenuouflv contending;*
** and affirrning the Methodifis do not teach
^' them/'— This Gentleman however teflifies
the contrary.—^' For pondering a little upon
^' thefe Things, fays he, brought to my Re-
men^sbrance, that ten or a dozen Years ago,
or more Time \ believe has elapfed fince,
paffing near the Borders of the FQundcr)\
Curiolity led me to fet my Foot over the
Threiliold, when I beheld one of the Lay-
Brethren up aloft and ready to exhibit ; and
I have had fomething like an Impreffion up-
on my Mind ever fmce, that his whole Ha-
raiigue was upon the Excellency of Faith^
*' exclufive of IVorh ; and that a Hym?7, or
*' whatever it miight be called, was fung upon
*' the Occafion, which had the fameTenden-
" cy, tv/o particular Lines of which were
" ftill fredi in my Memory."
" But that I might not accufe any Perfon
*' wrongfully, I borrowed of an Acquain-
" tance one of their Hym?2'Books, where 1 find
*^ the very Words, being the two laft of their
*' Hym?i 3 2d, intitled, Christ the Friend of
** Siimers, The Words are :
*' Believe^ and all your Sins forgiven ;
" Only believe, and yours is Heaven.
'« Other
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jDr. Free*s Notes. 33
** Other of their Hynms^ have the fame Ten-
^' dency ; ia the 44th, it is faid ;
" Look, and be fav'd by Faith alone.'*
By this then it fliould feem, that the Exchi^
f.on of good Worksy notwithftanding the pre-
fent Profeffions to the contrary was once in
Fafliion at the Foundery itfelf.
This being fo univerfally the Cafe, Sir, it
is no Wonder I ftjould affirm of the Methodijh
in general, that their whole Minillry was an
open and avowed Oppofition to the 2cth Arti-
cle of the Church of England, For thofe who
preach the Dodirine of Salvation without good
Works, muft father it upon fome Parts of
Scripture. Becaufe natural Religion has no
fuch Abfurdities. But if they father it upon
Scripture, they make fome Parts of Scripture
contradidrthe Reft, which is charging Scrip-
ture with FaliTiood. For what is Contradic-
tion cannot be true.
I then afiert for this Reafon, and for others
which have been mentioned, Sir, that thofe
who chufe a Clergyman for their 'LeBurer\
Priejiy or Parfon^ Vv'ho fhall be the Author,
Retailer, or Publifher of fuch Dodrine^ either
by Printing, Preaching or Singing, *' put into
" that Office, which (hould be held by aMi-
" nifler of the Church of England^ an Enemy,
" who undermines not only the /c^^^/Efcablilli-
*' ment^butalfo the Foundation of all Religion."
And if either you, or your Friend Mr. F—,
have openly vilified and fet at naught Morality^
and fuch Ads of Piety 2.^ publick Devotion^ you
' E in
24 jDr. Frec's Notes.'
in fuch Hymns as have been jufl nov/ attefted
to be fung at your Foimdery^ and each, or either
of you, in your Writings or Sermons, why
then, Sir, as you afk me the Queftion, you are
fo far, both included in the fame Condemnation.
Such, Sir, are the Confequences of oppof-
ing a fundamental Article of the Church of
RnTland, which was eflabliflied with a View
to fecure the holy Scriptures from the Reproach
of being a Syftem of oppofite Dodlrines, and
Contradidions. Queftions refpeding difputa-
ble Points not very clear, and therefore not
very effential to Salvation, fhould never be
draw^n into Articles of Faith, or made to re-
quire the abfolute unconditional AfTent of all
Men. If in Times of publick Hurry and Con-
fufion, or to favour any particular Party, or
throu'^h the mere Ignorance of the Compilers
fuch Articles have crept into a Syftem, and
for the Sake of Peace have been fuffered to
remain, I do not find, that by Men of Senfe,
they have been confidered as any better than
temporary Inftitutions, which may be negleft-
ed, oppofed, or even expunged, if carried be-
yond their due Meaning, and made the Caufe
of Difturbance.
The Writers of the * IVeekly M^fccllany, in
which Paper, the Father of a certain Perfon
was fuppofed to be concerned, reprefent it as
the Opinion of Chillingworth, Laud, Sheldo?2y
Stillii'^Jl^ety that there was a wide Difference
betwe'en the Obligation of fome of the Articles
of the Church of England above others, that
♦ Weekly Mifcelhny, vol. 2. Page 83.
they.
Dr, Free's Notes.^ 35
thev are not all of them Articles of Faith
fundamentally neceffary to Salvation : This al-
lows a Liberty of Interpretation to Men ap-
proved of, and licenfed by the Governors cf
the Church, as capable of being entrufted with
that Liberty : And they do Religion a Service
if by their Learning they are enabled to ufe it,
in fuch a proper Manner, as to reconcile its
Difficulties.
And now, Sir, after this Preface, which I
hope may tend to your Information and Refor-
mation ; what have you to fay about Dr. Free^^
Preaching againft the Articles? Does he preach
againft \\'\q fundamental Articles ? as has been
charged upon you and your Affociate Mr. V — .
If he has he deferves the fame Treatment, and
will ftand or fall by his own Laws. Does he
preach againft any Articles ? You do not give
any Inftance where. Till you can find the
Place, therefore I reply to you in the Words
of St. Bernard^ for the Honour of God, and
in my own Defence. — Mibi pro niinimo eft^ ut
ah illhjudicer^ qui di cunt bonum malum ^ ^ma-
lum bonufn^ ponentes lucem tenebras^ & tenebras
lucem^ libens excipio in me detrahentium Ungual
male die as ^ & vene?7atajplcula Blajphemorum, ut
ad ipfum non perveniant.
But it feems I muft ftop here to fay my Ca-
techijm. For fpeaking of the Homilies, in fi]-
rious Zeal, you afk me — You have fubfcribed
them. Sir, but did you ever read them ? - T
believe, I might — but now you talk of read-
ing— Si fatis dehaccbatus es, Leno, — Did you
never read the Story of the Caliph, who, w'hen
E 2 the
36 Dr. Free*s Notes.'
the ^arazeus had got Pofleflion of Alexandria^
was follicited by fome of his Officers, at the
earneft Entreaties of the Townfmen, to fpare
their antient Boaft and Glory, the Ptohmcean
Library, the noblefl: in the World : To which
the Mu[jelman replied, that the Books in the
Library either contained the fame Matters as
ihQ Alcoran y or they] did not. — If they con-
tained juft the fame things as the Alcoran^
they were ufelefs , but if oppolite, they ought
by no Means to be preferved 3 which lat-
ter Article, not being very clear, it was the
World's Misfortune, that they fiiould be
burnt. — Now not to make a Comparifon
between the Worth of the Ftolomaan Library
and our Article's and Homilies^ the Inference I
would draw from the Hiftory, is this, that as
a Chriftian^ I ought to be allowed to think as
highly of the Bible^ as this 'Turk did of the
Alcoran^ and therefore by Parity of Reafon, I
fay, that the Articles and Homilies^ either con-
tain the fame Things as the Scriptures, or they
do not : If they contain the fame Things as
the Scriptures, then I have them in the Scrip-
tures.—But if they contain Things different
from, that is, oppofJe to the Scriptures ; then
they may be negleBed at leaft, 'if they ought
not to be burnt.'— ^\jX^ Sir, as you have here
clapped your Wings and crowed fo much, I
muft not difmjfs you yet, till I have made you
a little more fenfible, that there was no room
for 'Triumph, You tell me in y omv feccjid Let-
ter, that y^2/ once thought of the Articles^ &c. as I
do now, but fay with a retreating Sneer, " that
'^ fome
Dr. Free's Notes. 37
" fome of you were perverted by reading the
" HomilieSy after your Return from Georgia*"
Pray, Sir, how was it that you came to con-
ceive one Way of the DoBrines or Articles of
the C6^/r^A of England before you went to
Georgia^ and another Way afterwards. I fup-
pofe from a Child you have known the holy
Scriptures, I am clear, that when you became
a Man, you was obliged to ftudy them ; in
Confequence then, I gather that you firft in-
terpreted the Articles by the Scriptures^ they
being your Guides before the Homilies ; but
afterwards, when you cha?iged your Opinion,
that Change was owing, it feems, to the Ho-
milies ; fo then the Homilies taught you to un-
derhand the Articles one Way, and the Scrip-
tiires taught you another. But, Sir^ can you
with any Face, as a Froteftant^ fet one of thefe
Guides in Competition with the other ? Do you
think that i\\Q Ho??jilies'3iXQ more infallible th^n
the Scriptures, If this be your Meaning, the
Protestants in E7igla?2d and in Ireland v/iil
be a little alarmed at iuch popijh Notions ; tho*
you may delude them in other Shapes : Are
not you aware. Sir, that its Pretences iohifal-
ability make one grand ObjeBion of the Fro^
tejlants to the Church of Rome ? How could
you imagine then, that the Homilies of a Fro-
teftant Church fuppofed by its own * Synod^ or
Cmvocation to be 2i Jallible Church, fhoutd be
efteemed as a Rule of Faith preferably to the
holy Scriptures^ from whence they profefs to
derive all their Authority ?
* See /Articles of Religion the 6, 19, 20.
We
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38 D?\ Free's Notes.
We are not required by the Compilers of the
Articles, to entertain an higher Opinion of
the?}2 or their Authority than they entertained
themfelves : Pleafe to confider then, as their
6w?2 Words exprefs it, what was the Eftimation
or Value, which they fet upon fuch G;;;^^-
fitions or Conveiitions as thefe.
They tell you, that particular Churches
had erred, and might err hereafter, and con-
fequently that the Church of E?2gla??d being
one of thofe particular Churches might err
** as well as the reft."
" That the fundamental Maxims, which
*' we are to adhere to upon a Sufpicion of the
*^ Churches Error, and which were to deter-
*' mine the Meafure of our Affent were firft,
** that the Church ^?2ay ?20t ordain aJiy thing
*^ that is contrary to God's Word written : In
*' the next Place, that it fo explain each Part
** of Scripture, as to keep the Whole confif-
'' tent with itfelf.'*
Thefe are the Conditions on which we fub-
fcribe to the Articles, and when, and where the
Condition is made void, the Obligation ceafes.
I have given you here. Sir, the true Spirit
of Protejlantifm, the only vital Spirit, which
in all wife Meny and in all wife EJlabliJl:'me?2ts
however they may differ in Modes of Faith
and Worfhipy is ftill invariable and the fame^
One might produce to this Purpofe the Opi-
nions of feveral of the ableft Divines abroad^
but I fhall content myfelf with that of the /;/-
genioiis and judicious Ostervald, fome time
Minifter of Neiiffchatel in Switzerland.
'' Cecy
Dr, Free's Notes. 39
*^ Cecy merite d'ejlre examine^ mah avec Atten^
*^ tion^ & fans Frejicge, Icy^ il faut fe clef aire
" de l" ejprit de parti ^ & reconnoiflre de bonne
*^ foy les dejauts ou il y en a. Autrement^ Ji
*' chacun demeure dans la 'Prcoention en faveur
** de la Societe dont il ed Memhre^ on ne rcme-
*^ dier a jamais d rien. Car^ fuppofe qiiil y ait
" des difaiits, — ne [era ce pas le tnoyen de cano-
'^ nifer les abusV — L'eftat de L'eglise.
Thus much, Sk, of the Authority of
the Articles^ which gave a SajiBicn to the Ho-
milies. You may fee (and not only You, fed
cmnes^ quotquot eftis, cujitfcunque Ordlnis^ Sacri-
ficuli minor es) from the Account, that our
Reformers give of theml'elves, that the Subfcrip-
tion they require is not implicit^ blind^ and ab^
Joint e^ but in the Nature of the Thing a condi-
tional ^\5'Q^CRi'2TiC)]<i, that it fuppofes an Opi-
nion in the Perfon fubfcribing, that the Men,
who then prefided in the Church, and may
prefde^ ^xc fallible ^zwi, m9.y err -, and that you
aflent to the Doctrines of this fallible Church,
fo far and no farther, than as they fliall appear
to be confiflent with themfelves, and coiififtent
with the holy Scriptures.
In this Senfe I fubfcribed to the Articles
myfelf 5 and I find the reft of my Brethren,
with whom I can converfe freely, in the fame
Sentiments.
This being the State of the Cafe, Sir, the
Minifters of the Church of England, who, at
this Day are many of them m.uch better Scho-
larSy and much greater Mafters, both of Scrip-
ture 2Ci\^ Reajon^ than fome of our Reformers
were,
40 Dr. Free's Notes.
were, have a Right to fcan the Merit of their
Compofitions^ efpeciaiJy in dijpiitable Matters,
where their Skill might reafonably be called
in Queftion : But no Minijler has a Right to
preach againfi: thofe Articles^ which eftablifh
the Bei?7g, and Attrilmtes of God. Becaufe
this is doing the Work of Atheijm, There-r
fore, I fay it again, and I fay it aloud, that if
there be any Government in 'England^ fuch Peo-
ple will be for ever excluded from any piiblick
Fundion.
Thefe are Points, Sir, v/hich if you had
joined to an honeft Heart, the Learning of a
Divine^ and the Sagacity of a conjiderate Man,
you might have determined many Years ago
in your own Breaft 5 had not the Itch of Fame
and Popularity, the romantick Projedt of be-
ing the Founder of a Sed:, and the opening
Profpecls of Advantage and Succefs, prompted
you firil to go a madding Yourfelf, and where-
ever you found People, that were like-minded,
to feduce them to take the fame v/ild Courfes
after you.
I have lent you the Clue to regain the Paths
of T^rutb and Sobernpfs^ if you pleafe : But if
you do not choofe to make ufe of it, as you
are gone out from us, I may probably leave
you to enjoy your Errors 3 after giving you ano-
ther Round of An'nnadverfions^ which you will
find flicking in the Sides of your fecond Let-
ter.
"Ihe E N D.
Dr. F R E E's
EDITION
O F T H E
Rev. Mr. Joh/ TFeflef'.
SECOND LETTER,
With Frolegomena for the better Information of
the fbudious Englijh Reader : And a perpetual
Comment upon the original Text, addreffed to
the Reverend Author.
Simili frondejcit Virga MetaUo
V1RGIL4
r/go> ^E^oTa 'FTO(,\dot.y(i)yr,(Ta <7 lyoj.
Tragcedus Fetus,
L O N D O N:
Printed for the Author ; and fold by William Sandby, near
Temple Bar ; J. Scot, and R. Stevens, in Pater-xofier-rot^ '^
S. Parker, in Oxford; and at the Royal Exchange, 1759.
(Price One Shilling.)
[3]
laiiiiM I I — — ^i— — III 1^
/
PROLEGOMENA,
O R,
FORE-READINGS, ^c.
SI N C E it has happened through the Arti-
fice of our modern Teachers, who make it
their Bufinefs to difturb weak Minds, and to
draw Money from the Difturbance ; that many
well-difpofed People of the lower Clafs, to
whom Providence had allotted other Sort of
Cares, have been feduced from attending the
Duties of common Life, their proper Calling,
to fpend their Time in reading religious Dif-
putes, and perplex themfelves with the knavifli
Subtleties of crafty Men; I thought it would
be no unkind Office, feeing that they will be fo
engaged, to help them a little through the
Difficulties of their new Employment, by
laying before them fome of thofe Rules and
DiJiinBions, which the Learned have thought
proper to obferve, in order to guard themfelves
i^om iht Errors oiCojitroverfy, which, with-
out fuch Marks and Dired:ions> would be a
Wildernefs to the Underftanding, and a Laby-^
rinth that never ends.
The EngUfn Reader then is to underftand,
that in every Difpute, there are fome Things
A 2 granted
4- Prolegomena,
granted on both Sides, while others remain to be
iieter mined, -—-:::.
The Things granted are called in the Greek
3tJo>Eya, in the hatin Data, by which
Name, through the Difufe of our own Words,
they are fometimes called in Englijh ; or elfe
Axioms or Maxims ; as Things of prime Evi-
dence, and worthy of all Men to be received-
Now the Maxims^ ov Things granted in this
Controverfy between me and Mr. WeJIey, with
jRefpedt to the Credit of theChriftian Religion,
for which we both profefs a common Concern,
I take to be thefb, that follow.
Maxims refpeBing the Credit of the Chriftian
Religion.
Maxim ifl-. That the Religion of Jefus
Chrif^ or the Gospel, is a true Religion.
Maxim 2. That JefusChrifl2SiS\i\%Apofiles
preached one and the fame Dodlrine.
Agreeable to thofe Texts of Scripture, "^efus
Chriji the fame Yefterdny, to Day, and for ever
{Heb, 13. 8.) For tho' the Enthufiafts of that
Age, faid, I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos ^
&c. (i. 6V. I. 12.) Yet it appears from the
very fame Scripture, that Chrifl is not divided.
Maxim 3. Thar fa ppofing there were not an
Uniformity betv/een the Dodlrine of Chrifl, and
his Apoftles\ in fuch Cafe the Authority of
Chrift himfelf, being the &on of God, would be
fuperiour to that of any one Apoflle, or of ^//
his Apcjlles put together, (For the Servants are
not above their Lord.)
Maxim 4. That theChriftian Religon being
iruey it cannot be oppofite to the Laws of God.
MAXiM
dr Fore-readirigs, &c, r
Maxim 5. That the Religion of the Gofpel
conz2Lins pra^ical Rules 2ind Precepis, as well
as the ReHgio72 of the Jews^ and the Religion^
or Law of Nature.
Maxim 6. That the Precepts or Laws of
the Gofpel were delivered by Jefus Chrift, in
Order to have them obeyed. For otherwife ic
would have have been Fooliflmefs to have de-
livered them. Becaufe to do a thing to no
Purpofe, and with no Defign is Folly,
Maxim 7. That if Cbrl/i defigned, that the
Laws of the Gofpel fhould be obeyed, they
muft not be fuch as exceed the Powers and
Facultie: of human Nature, but fuch as Man-
kind in general, may in fome Sort, obey. For
to command Things Impojible, is to command^
what can never be obeyed.
Maxim 8. If what the Gofpel commands
be not impoffible^ then there muft be in Man-
kind fome Degree of Liberty or Power of
Adlion fuitable to the Thing commanded, and
which may enable them to perform it : For
otherwife the Laws of the Gofpel, tho' pojjible
to other Beings, would be impoJfLble to Men^
if they were thus abfolutely dellitute of all
Power to obey them.
Maxim 9. Moreover the Laws of the Gofpel
to be pradicable, and to command Obedience
from Mankind^ muft be confiftent with each
other.
For Inftance, if the Gospel in one Place
{hould command a Man ro jiand Jlock flill^ and
in another Flace^ command him to move bis
Limbs
6 Prolegomena,
Limbs a little, and endeavour to get forward*
A Man could not leli, in this Cafe, how to
obey the Gospel: Becaufe receiving both
Precepts upon the f me Authority, he is as
much obliged by the *fame Authority to obey
the one, as to obc^y the other: But fince to
tncve, and tojland jlil^ at the fame Time, arc
inconfiilent, it is imjcjjible wi>enaMan is com-
manded to do both together^ that he (hould do
tither. And therefore the Gofpel^ to command
Obedience, muft be confijient with itfelf ; thofe
who make it otherwife, render it ufelefs, fcan-
dalous, and ridiculous.
Maxim id. The |^^;2^rj/ Tenor of the Gof-
pel, or the colledlive Body of its Precepts^ and
likewiftf of it's DoBrines^ is not to give Way
to a Jingle Text. For at this Rate a Part
would out weigh, and be greater than the
whole.
Maxim ii. Further any "Text of the New
Teftament, which (hall contradi(5t the general
^e?ior of the Gospel, and the Light of Nature^
cannot be true.
., (Corollary.) And therefore as the Gofpel
was before allowed to be true, any T'ext al-
ledged as capable of fucb Contradiftion muft
be a T^ext that is m.fiiterpreted.
Maxim 12. The Fveligion of Chrift being
allowed to be triie^ and confequently uniform^
the Mijinterpreters of Scripture, who thus
biify themfelves in finding ContradiBions in it,
and publiQiing the fame for Dodirines of the
Gqspei;^
cr Fore-readings* t^c. If
Gospel, muft be ignorant, or diflioneft Men^
or both together.
Maxim 13. Ignorant and dijloonejl Men are
not fit to be teachers, or Preachers.
Maxim 14. Preachers mifinterpreting the
Gofpel through Ignorance or DiPooneJiy^ or both
together, hurt the Caufc of Chrijlianity, and
ftrengthen the Caufe of Infidels^ who triumph
in the Weaknefs of fuch Paftors, and make
their ConceJJiom and Doctrines an Handle to
expofe Religion.
Maxim 15. Preachers thus mifinter-
preting the Gofpel j and appealing to the Au-
thority of the Church of England^ in Support of
fuch Mi/interpretations^ highly difgrace the
Dodtrine of Church of England.
The End of the Maxims.
As a farther Prevention of Error, It may
not be improper to fubjoin to thefe a few De-
finitions or Explications of certain Theold^
gical Terms and Phrafes, which being capable
of various Meanings, the Methodift Teachers
ufe them undefined, that their Mquivocation
may confufe the Minds of their Hearers, and
render them more fubfervient to their delufive
Purpofes. To prevent which let the Reader
obferve.
Explication, i.
That the Word Grace in Scripture
primarily fignifies Favour, It has other Mean-
ings indeed elfe where, fuch 2iS Beauty, Decency^
Decorum, but among Chriftians Favour is its
general Meaning in religious Matters.
Ex-
$ Prolegomena,
Explication 2. Retaining this Senfe, but
ufed Rhetorically^ or by a Figure y it may fland
for the whole of the Chriftian Religion^ becaufe
that is a favourable Religion. In St. Paul\
Writings, the whole Chriftian Difpenjation is
often called by the Name of Grace^ to diftin-
guijfh it from the Law of the Jews-y which as
it laboured with many Ceremonies y is therefore
by Way of Oppofition or Difejieeniy for its La^
borioufnefsy ftyled Works,
Explication 3. When the Apoftle fpeaks
of fuch Works, or being faved without them^
he does not mean Morality or Chrijlian Virtue^
but yewijh Ceremonies,
Explication 4. Of the Derivation of the
Word Grace. It comes from the Latin Gratia^
which is ufually put to explain the Word (x«§»0
Karis in the Greek Teftament: This Greek
Word (xa^i?) Khar is has feveral Meanings: It
is fometimes rendered into Efiglffh by the
Word Charity y tho' in Itfelf it fignifies fome-
times Gracefulnefsy fometimes Kindnefs, and
Affeciion y to which laft Senfe it is generally
reftrained in Scripture. Thus the Grace of our
Lord Jefus Chrijiy in Greeky fignifies the Fa^
i:our or AffeSlion ofjefus ChriJK but docs not
fpecify any particular Marks or Degrees of it*
Explication 5. The Word JufUfication^
as ufed by fome School Divines, has two Mean-
ings ; it is either initial^ ox final: If this Diftinc^
tion be not obferved, the Word yujlification
muft lead People, as indeed it has, into many
^a-?gerous'£.vxQV^,
Exr
or Fore-readingSj &c. g
Explication 6. hiitial Justification 1^
proper to Profelyfes, and means little, if any
Thing, more than their ConvcfJiGJi to the
Chriftian Faith. Good Works may follow this
AJd^r/ of Justification, but if they do not, it
is all undone again; the Man rdapfes from his
jz/Jiified Siitc^ may continue in his 'Relapfe^ and
notvvithftanding fuch aSWY of JustifiCx^tion
may be daimid at laft, fo improper in this Cafe,
is the \5{^ of a Phraje^ to which People are
fo apt to fix an Idea of Salvation.
Explication 7. Obferve therefore, that it
is with a View to this imperfect Senfe of tha
Word only, that our 12th }l?'ticle of Religion
affirms, that good Works w^hich are the Fruit
of Faith do follow after fujlification^ by which
the Authors meant no more than Coiroerfion^
and fo far they are right. For a Man muftbe
converted to the Chriiiiian Faith ^ before he can.
praBife it. If he continue in a Courfe of Virtue,
and obferve the Precepts of our Saviour to the
lali, that Continuance in well-doine, which
... ^
follows his initial or fj'Jl fuf if cation^ will pre-
cede^ or go before ih^fnaL
Explication 8. Further, it deferves par-
ticular Notice, that it is only the;^WJufLifica-
t!on (which happens not till Death) that caa
enfure Salvation: and that thefe feveral Sorts
of Jiijiif cation fo effentially differ, that good
'iVorh, which follow the Initial^ do always go
before the Finals and under tlie Fc.vour of
Chrift-, and the Application df his Merits^ are
tlie Caufe or Ceudition of our Salvation. For in
B fom^
1 0 Prolegomena,
fome Hefpe^Tls a Condition is a Catifcy as you
will fee in the following Inftance.
Suppofe a poor Labourer be permitted
to inhabit a Cottage upon the Wafle, upon Con-
dition of his paying a 'Pepper-Corn the Year for
Rent, to the Lord of the Manor : The Ac-
hio^j:ledgment is fmall indeed for an Habitation,
but yet for all that, under the Favour of the
Lord, this fmall /Acknowledgment, or Obferva-
tion of the Condition is the Cauje of holding it.
l!he End of the Explications.
'J'he State of the Controverfy between Mr,
Vv efley and me.
Having f:;id thus much of the Maxims^ or
Data^ which I exped; to be granted in this DiJ-
pute^ and added an Lxplicatioii of the 'Terms^
which are moil capable of Mquivocation^ or
mifjfe, I proceed to fpeak of the Articles in
^lefiion, \vich may be divided mio t^o Classes :
becaufe they are Ibmewhat of a different Na-
ture^ and debated at different Tifnes,
The firft in Time are thofe contained in a
Pami)hlet. which I had occafion to addrefs to
the Company of Sailers in London, who were
then foUicited to choofe a Metbodijl to a Ledlure
in the City.
Mr. Wejlc\\ upon the Perufal of this Piece,
writes me his fir ft Letter, denying " that the
Meihodifis held any fuch Opinion?, as in this
Pamphlet I had charged upon them ; but
allowing withal, that if they did hold fjch
Opinions, their fatal Tendency was fuch,
as
cc
or Fore-readings, ^c 1 1
*' as I there reprefented." The Reader is to
note, that this was thtjirjij zx\d principal V dint
in Controverfy, '* whether they held fuch
" Opinions or not."
This Letter from Mr. WeJIcy was not re-
ceived till I was publifliing my Sermon,
preached before the IJniveriity of Oxford^ en-
titled, '' Rules for the Dlfcovery of falfe Pro-
" phets," &c. in which, or in the Dcdicatio?i
Preface^ or Apperidix to the fame, having
brought fuch Proofs as literally, and to a Title
fupported the Accufation in the former Treatile ;
(for I had been urged to this Service by fome
namelefs Opponents, who to.fliew their Partp^,
were defirous to be before-hand with Mr.
We/lcy) I thought it would be fufficient to ac-
quaint him, as I did at the End of the Preface
to my Sermon, then in the Prefs, '' that if he
" were not thereby convinced, that fjch Po^
^^ Jiticns], as he calls them, were held by People,
'' who pafs under the Denomination of Me--
" thodijisj and w^ould pleafe to fignify, that
•* want of Convidiion, in a private Letter, by
" the fame Hand, which conveyed to me the
*' former Papers, he Ihould have the Civility of
*' a particular Anfwer, Paragraph by Para-.
'' graph, if he thought it neceffary, &c."
Mr. JVejJey did not choofe hov/ever to give
me this private Information, but for OPcenta-^
tion, I fuppofe, or to preferve his Credit with
the Seft, by ftill appearing to be their Advocate
in Print, he ^v^:XA\^'^ '3, fccond Letter -, he affigns.
indeed other Motives for the Publication, the
B 2 Propriety
1 2 Prolegomena,
Propriety of which, I fhall confider in my Com-
ment upon the Place, wherein they Hand.
What I have to obferve here by Way of
Introdu(?:ion, concerning this fecond Letter from
Mr. Wii/Iey, is that it produced not only my
Reply to his 7%^, in the Form of Annotations,
but that it has alfo afforded fome new Matter
for Coritrovcrly^ not quite fo material indeed, as
that relating to the main Queftion, about the
Principles of the Methodifts^ which was the fok
Objccft of Debate at firft.
Whereas now beflde this, here are Objedions
raifed, either agamftthe Truth of iovazFadlSy
related in the Dedication or Preface to my Ser-
mon, ccncerning the Rife and Rrogrejs-^ the
H if cry and State of Methodifm ; or againlf my
Manner of treating thefe Subjects, fuppofing
v/hat i had faid upon them, to be true.
As to thefe new Matters then fince called in
^ieficn^ or mifreprefented by Mr. Wefey^ I have
only to obferve, that they fhall be examined in
their Places, and fet in a true Light, yet not fb
as to hinder the Readers, vievv^ of the main
Quefdon, to wit.
" Wliether the Methodifs held or publiflied
" fuch Dodtrines, as I had charged upon them
-. in my Pamphlet to the S alters ^'^ which in
the fccond Edition, 1 call a Display of the
bad Principles of the Methodifs, I have in-
formed the Reader that this was the Piece,
which moved Mr. JVcfcy to write me h\s>frf
Letter^ Vv'herein he undertook to make an
Apology for all the Methodifs in general, with-.
out
^r Fore-readings, <y^. i^
out diftlnguifhing Particulars^ but in his fecond^
he appears to have contra^ed his Defence, and
craves Allowance only for himfelf, his Brother^
and his ^ondam affociate Mr. Whitfield^ and
then fneaks off, leaving all the Reft to Mercy,
who are fo far from making any Defenfe
againft the Charge, that they confefs the Fadi^
and glory in the Acciifatmu
So that theReader is likely to find this Point
very clear, viz. '' that the Generality of the Me-
" tkodijis hold to this Day, theblafphemous,and
*' atheiftical Principles, that I mentioned 3 " and
notwithftanding that Mr. Wejley at prefent,
profefTes to have renounced them, as * horrid
arid deteftabky yet I am afraid it will appear in
the Courfe of the Evidence, that he was for-
merly pretty deep in the fame Opinions ^ and
confequently, that I was much to be juliified
in charging in general, thQ fame Principles u^on
People, who had confelTedly been oi thtfam^
Denomination. I have indeed in great Meafure
anticipated the Buiinefs of a Reply to his fecond
Letter, by the full Evidence I gave upon thefe
Articles in my Anfwer to the firji : However
the Reader may not be difpleafed to fee addi-
tional Teftimonie^ upon this Head; as he may
defire likewife to be better informed about the
new Matters, which have been ftarted fince \
fo bearing this State of the Controverfy in Mind^
he may now, if he pleafes attend the Exami-
nation of Mr. Wtfleys particular Arguments and
p , . .
* firft Letter to Dr,-Free, Ch. ;ii. v. 4. Dr. rree's Edition.
14 ^ or Fore-readings, G?^.
ObjeBions^ which moftly deferve Ridicule, at
other Times a little y^r/Wi Remonftrance.
Sic Sermojte opm ejl modo trifti fapejocofoy HoR.
In either Cafe, I believe I fhall have it in
my Power to avoid Prolixity , as Mr. Wejleys
Letter is not only fliort, but excepting its Falf-
hoods, in many Paflages fo infignificant, as not
to merit Obfcrvation^ or Anfwer^
The
[15]
*" ■■ ■ ■ ■ -..■.■.-
The Reverend Mr. "Wesley^s
Second Letter to Dr. Free, '
divided into Chapter and Verfe, by the Editor.
C H A P. I.
^he Contents Mr. Wesley fets out 'with a Paradox : He ex-
frefjes his great Dejire to Unje peaceably ijoith all Men, but choo/es
to Jhenjo that Dejire by carrying on the War for the Methodilts ;
under the Pretence of being publickly called upon to 'vindicate him-
felf though that be the Renjerfe ofnvkat n.vas demanded by his Op^
ponenty and out of the Courfe of the Difpute ; '^jjhich ^required a
general Defenfe of the Methodifts, ivhich at firfi he undertook, hut
in this Letter, after afeixi idle Cavils, is obliged to drop.
Fonmon Caille, Augud, 24, 1758.
Reverend Sir,
I. T N the Preface to your Sermon lately printed, you men-
X tion your having received my former Letter, and add,'*
That *' if the Proofs you have now brought do not fatisfy me as
to the Validity of your former AiTertions . If I am not yer convin-
ced, that fuch Pofitions are held, by People who pafs under the
Denomination of Methodifs, and will ftgnify this by a private
Letter, I fhall have a more particular Anfwer." I deiire to live
peaceably with all Men ; and fhould therefore wifii for no more,
than a private Anfwer to a private Letter, did the Ailair lie be-
tween you and me. But this is not the Cafe : You have already
appealed, to the Archbiihop, the Unlverfity, the Nation. Before
thefe Judges you have advanced a Charge of the higheft Kind,
not only again me, but a whole Body of People-, Before thefe I
therefore mull either ccnfefs the Charge, or give in my Anfwer.
Dr. Free's Comment upon the Revd«
Mr. W E S L E Y 's 2d Letter addreired to
Mr. Wejley.
Reverend Sir,
TAving in the Courfe of this Difpute, in
^ great Meafare exhanfced my Stock of
Compliments, and being un willing to offer yoit-
a few
1 6 Mr. Weiley*s SeCbnd Letter.
2. But you fay, " I charge Blafphemy, Impiety, &c. upon
the Profeffion of Methodifm in general. I ufe no perjonal P>.e-
fledlions upon jc^^, or any Invedive againft you, but in the Cha-
radter of a hPthid'hl'' That is, you firfl fay, ♦' All Methodifii arcj
Pickpockets, Rebels, Blafphemers, Atheills ;" And then add, ♦' I
ufe no Rcwecticns upon jo//, but in the Lharader of a Methodift.'**
But in the Charafter of a Pickpocket, Blafphenier, Atheiil.''
]None but ? What can you do more ?
Dr. FreeV Comment ^ &c.
a few FlowerSy unlcfs I had found Materials
fufficient for a compleat N'ofegay, I have omit-
ted, for this Time tliQjhveet Savour of a De-
dication, and fubftituted in it's jftead, afliort
but ufeful Entertainment, which I callmyPre-
legomena. I addrefs it indeed to the Reader \
but under the Rofe, as it contains, what I take to
be a true State of the Controvcrjj^ it may keep
us from Rambling, and be of fome Service to
Tcu and Me, as we fhall find, perhaps if we
have Recourfe to it upon fome particidar Oc-r
cafions.
For Inftance now, in your prfi Letter yon
fay, '^ all that you concern yourfelf about is my
*' fivc vehement Ajfertions with Regard to the
*^ People called Methodifts\ — and yet in your
fe con d yow affirm that — '' if athoufand Sets of
Men, '■'- pafs imder that Ijcmmination, they are
" nothing to yoa. — '' You are no way con-
cerned for their Principles or Prafiice." ^c.
If you apply to the Frolcghnena, I believe
you will fee that this is changing the Contro-
verfy; and that you are fome how cr other
got on the raxngSide of the Poji. And there-
fore would it not have been better to
havg
Dr. FreeV Comment ^ &c\ ly
have followed my Advice, and given me
your Opinion^ or Recantation in Private, than •
thus to have fummoned, as you declare you do,
xhQArchbiJhopy xh^UfiiverJity nay the whole Na-
tion togt^tv, to hear you contradiB yourfelf ?
From this (hort View of a Scheme fo ill laid
and fo cojitradidlory, it becomes very difficult to
underftand your Exordium, which in the Na-
ture of the Thing, fhould have given us a clear
and diftinft Idea of what you propofed to
maintain, and the Manner, wherein you in-
tended to draw up your Defence.
" Before thefe Judges', You tell me (that
is before the Archbifhop, the Univerfity and
the Nation) " that I have advanced a Charge
of the higheft Kind not only againft you, but
againft an whole Body of People, ^c.
The Charge, Sir, how high and of what Kind
foever has been and may be again, and again
made- good, if you think it prudent ever again
to require it : but obferve Sir, that you may
not wrap yourfelf up in yourDelufions, and think
that no body fees you becaufe you fee nothing
yourfelf, obferve I fay, that theWord Charge, as
you here ufe it, appears to have a double Mean-
ing.
All the Charge that I know of againft you
in particular is that of being the Father of the
Methodifts: And can you difown the Title here,
when in your -f* Pamphlet called the CharaBer
of a Methodifi, you take to the Thing fo cor-
dially yourfelf? Any otherv/ife than in this
_ t P. I' ~"*
C Capacity^
i8 Dr. Free'i Comment^ &c.
Capacity y where yourName is not mentioned, the
Charge is not againft you, but the&^ in general,
all who bear thcName:, and come within thcDe-
■jinition^ which, to fix their Character, I gave of
the Methodijisj in the Preface to my Sermon.
This then being premifed about the Charge^
let us hear how you proceed in the Defence, —
*' Before thefe," you fay (that is the Aic-
dience^ which in your Imaginatmi attend you,
the Archbijhop, the Umverjity^ the Nation.
In Vacuo ScJJor Plaiifcrque Theat7'o,)
You muft either- CO nfefs the Charge, or give
in your Anfwer". It may be necelTary there-
fore to allc you which Charge you mean, the
Charge againft yourfelf in particular, or the
Charge againft the Metkodijls in general , as
likewife what you would underftand by your
Anfwer^ whether an Anfwer for yourfelf^ or an
Anfwer for them.
For after much fhuffling and cafting about
for Expedients, it is plain at laft, that you admit
the Charge againft thcjii,, and give in the An--
fwer only iov yourfelf. For you fay* (Chap ii.)
" I fhall not concern myfelf with any Thing
'' in the Appendix but what relates to me in
" particular". — very well !
This (liort Enquiry then being made, to
know more precifely what you' would be at,
namely that you no longer anfwer for the Me-
thodi/h in general, but on\y lo^: yoiafef^ orthofe
in Partner ftp with yciirfef : Let us now try
the Caufe upon this Iffue, and hear how you
begin yowv Apology^ why truly not by ftating
* Chap, ii. Veife 4. of thia Edition.
your
€C
CC
cc
CC
CC
z/pon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter, 1 9
your 0W71 Opinions, but by a Method the mod
remote from your Purpofe in the World. ^
By running foul of my Writings and making a
Blundering or bafe Misquotation from thence
where the Subjed affords not any Thing for
your Vindication, and has no Manner of Rela-i
tion in particular to yourfelf, the whole Paffage
referring very clearly to the Cafe of Mr. Ven,
For the Reader's Satisfadion I will produce
thevery Words* '' WhatI have faid of fcandalous
Oppofition to the Church of England— ^\^i-
phemy, Impiety, &c, is charged upon the
FrofeJJion of Method! fin in general, I i-^fe no
perfonal Refleaions upon Mr, V— nor
any Invedive againft him, but in the Cha-
of a MethodiJf\ Thefe are my Words con-
fined and limited as well by the hiitial Letter
of his Name, as by the Senfe and Argument, to
the Lidividual Mr. Ven, And yet yoU
reprefent it to the Reader as tho' I had faid
in this Paffage, that '' I nfe no perfonal Re-
" fledions upon T^^if."/— Pray, Sir, how comes
It about that you fo fuddenly take the Shape
of Mr. Ven, or that Mr. Ven fo fuddenly takes the
Shape of Mr. Wepy ? This untimely Appearance
of two Softas upon the Stage at once, has difco-
vered too much of the Plot, and at the fame
Time fo puzled the y^^7/c;z, that it isimpoffible
fovih^ Aiidie7ice, (and confider whom, you re-
prefent that Audience to be) to know which is^
performing his Part, unlefs you leave them
# Preface to the Sermon before the Vui'verfiiy of Oxford, p. 7.
C 2 fonie
20 Dr, Frees Comment ^ &c.
fomc Marky whereby to diftinguifli for the fu-
ture yourfelf from your f other felf.
»
Certe^ adepoly qiium ilium contemplo^ & For-
mam cogJiofco tuam ;
^emadmodum in Speculu?n infpexi ; nimis
Jimilis eji Tui.
Upon the whole, this was a capital Miftake.
The Spirit of Deception played you a Trick
here, Sir, to difcover to us, or leave us fo much
Room to fufpeft, that you had fuch a notable
Coadjutor as Mr. Wen^ and that you were forced
lay your infpired Noddles together and club for
fuch a Produdlion as this, and then as in mofl
promifcuous Generations, be puzled yourfelves
or puzle the World, to know which was the
real Father.
, Verfe 2. As to the Offence you take at my
calling Mr. Ven^ or Tou^ a Methodijl^ (for at
prefent we cannot tell which is which,) and
afking me what I coidddo fnpre ? I think by your
own Acount, that I could do jnore^ and that the
Matter does not deferve fo much of your Re-
fentment as it might, if Things were aggravated.
For if the Methodifis have been branded
with all the igno?m?20us Names, you here repeat,
fuch as Pick-pocketSy Rebelsy BlafphemerSy
Atheijisy I certainly ufe IIt7n or Tou with the
greater Civility, if in the Room of thefel give
• you xkie gentler Appellation. For I would by
no means prefs you with the Name of Tick-
pockety as I have a Sufpicion, that it would
caufc
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter 21
caufe Offence ; it not being clear to me, that
you have any vifible Way oi getting Money ^ that
the Law allows ^ may I alk you ? Are you
within the Act of toleration ? I do not dwell
upon this : Neither have I Time to examine
Mr. Whitfield % Accounts, or to enquire whether
the Orphan-houfe in Georgia be now made the
private Property of a pa7'tictdar Yo^vion} Or
whether the Fools-pe^ice that were gathered in
the Fields, under the Pretext of ferving that
Charity^ were intended by the JDonors to be con-
verted into private Property, any more thaa
the Situation and Mateyiah of fome large
"Ta^
bernacles here at home ? ThePerfbns, who have
been concerned this Way are thofe, to whom
fuch hiqiiifition properly belongs. In my Ser-
mon before the IJniverfity of Oxford, I only
laid down Rules for the Difcovery of falfe
Prophets, which Rules I left to other People to
apply as they faw Occafion : For I am not of
the Grand jury^ nor bound to prepare the In-
-didtments, or find the Bills.
For my Part, I am very forry you introduced
the Word Pick-pocket, for I do not remember,
that in all our Correfpondence, I ever honoured
you with fuch a Name. I muft ailc you one
Qucftion too, about the Word RebeL — I have
complained indeed of the Principles of the Me^
thodijh as dangerous to ^;/y State, and parti^
cularly our own Corfiitution, but v/here did I
ever exprefly call a Methodifi a RcheP. I am
afraid this is another of the dijlmiefi Liberties
which you make no Scruple to take in altering
my Words and Phrafcs — ^A Rebel is a
Traitor
22 Mr. Wefley*s Secmd Letter.
3. But this, you fay, is the PraQice of all honeji Men^ and a,
Tart of the Liberty rjohere^vith Chrift hath made you free. Nay
furely there are fome honeft Men, who fcruple ufing their Op-
ponents in this Manner. At leaft, I do ; Suppofe you was an
Atheift, I would not bring againfl you a railing Accujation. I
would ftill endeavour to treat you n^oith Gentlenefs and Meeknefs,
and thus to jhenx) the Sincerity of my Faith. I leave to you that
cxquifite ** Bitternefs of Spirit, and extreme Virulence of Lan-
guage," which you fay is your Duty^ and term Zeal. And cer-
tainly Zeal, Ferver, Heat, it is. But is this Heat from Above ?
Is it the Offspring of Heaven ? Or a Smoke from the Bottomlefs
Pit ?
JDr. Free's Comment^ &c.
traitor y who appears in Arms, — I never yet
laid fuch a Thing as this to the Charge of the
Methodijis. They never, that I knov;^ of, ap-
peared in Arms; though if the Government
have not a watchful Eye upon them, as their
*Turhdence zndiNtimbers go onto increafe, it is not
fo unlikely but they may : If there fhould hap-
pen to be a Confufion in the State, what fo
probable a Courfe, for a forreign Enemy to
take, as to gain over ; or if a hwafion fucceeds,
command their Leaders to join their Party ?
As to their Beha'viour in other RefpeBsy I
have allowed you already, that fome People
may be better, than their Principles would in-
cline us to think of them^ and that is all theCo?2-
cejjion I can make, for I muft flill contend, that by
their Principles^ thofe People are capable of
doing any Thing, who profefs, as fome of the
Methodijis in their Writings do, to make no
Diftinftion between Good and £1;//, and rail at
the common People in their Harangues for
liill regarding, what they call their nafly ftink"
ing
Dr. Fret s Comm^if, &c. ^ 23
irjg good Works, fo mean is their Opinion of
moral Virtue.
Ferfe 3. Sir, of your Letter difcovers in
-the Beginning howhoneftyou are in 'making
Extrads from the Writings of your Opponents
and obliges me in Juftice to the Reader, and
myfelf to produce at Length the Paffage, you
have thus perverted in the Preface to my Ser-
mon, my Words are thefe. *' But if all this
" be true why fhould it not he fa:d the Scrip-
ture declares {Gal, iv. 18.) that it is our
Duty to be zealoujiy offeBed in a good T^hirw
and can there be any thing better than the
" Caufe of God ? Where this is concerned I
am not to regard the Perfons of Men, or
treat with Gentlenefs^ Meehiejs^ Mildnefs.''
Thofe, who with the Face of Meeknefs are
doing the Work oi Atheijis^ but I am rather
to fhew the Sincerity of my Faith, by what,
they are pleafedto confider as it's Reproach,'
the Heartinefs of the Zeal, wherewith I op-
pofe them. This will lay me under a Ne-
ceffity of ufing fuch Words, whether they
found agreeable or not, as by the coramon
Confentoi Mankind belong to fuch and fuch
*^ Perfons, or fuch and fuch Things, which is
" the Pradice of all bG?ieii Men, and v/hich,
^' as they found occafion, was the Practice
**• of Chrijl and his Jpojilcs;' &c.
As for your profeffed Civility to Atheifts I
think you may be alliamed of it: For in my
Opinion a Govermyient would be fcandalous
both before God and Man, that fhould fuffer
them to/rcJ^^^j/t' their Opinions, or treat them,
if
<c
<c
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
C(
cc
cc
24 . Mr. Wefley's Second Letter
4* O Sir, whence is that Zeal which makes you talk in fuck
St Manner to his Grace of Canterbury ? I lay before you the Dif-
tojit'ton of an Enemy njjho threaten our Church ^ith a general Al-
teration or total Subverfion : Who interrupt us as ^ue nx>alk the
Streets y (Whom ? When? Where?) in that^ay Drefs^ nvhich dif
tinguifkes us as Servants of the State, {^Altogether Servants of the
State ?) in the 7io^v fad Capacity ofMinijiers of the falling Church
£,^ England. Such being /l^ proftrate, miferable Condition of the
{j,h\xrQh, and fuch the X.n\im^\\2int State of itsYjXi^miQS, none of the
Englifh Priellhood can expe^ better Security or longer Continuance
than the ref, l^hry all /ubjiji at VitYCy. — Tour Grace and thofe of
your Order <vjillfare no better than thofe of our own. Sir, are you
in earneft ? Do you really believe Lambeth is on the Point of being
blown up ?
Dr, Free*5 Comment^ C?r.
if they difcovered themfelves, with Gcntlenefsy
or Meeknefs: And as for that exqilifite Bitter^
nefs of Spirit and extreme Virulence of Language
which you have the Modefty to fay, I efteein
my Duty-y 1 muft tell you, fince you will not
apprehend, that thefe Phrafes are none of
mine, but the impudent Imputation of your
own Party.
P'erfe 4. My Zeal (fince you afk me whence
it is) which impelled me fo earneftly to ad-
drels his Grace of Canterbury, proceeds from
my Concern for the Church of England.
I fee it deferted by fo??ie People at the JM;/,
who, if they were Confitutionijis^ would think
themfelves in Duty bound to preferve the po-
litical Syftem of England, of which the
Church and Clergy are a Fart : The Fio/atmi
of thefe is a Violation of the Co7ifiitution\
and therefore I put them in Mind, that in this
Department, we are the Legal Servants of the
State, and as fuch ought not to be injured,
fenfiblc
upon Mr, Weiley's Second Letter. 25
fenfible though, at the the fame Time, tha
we fuftain a much higher Charadlcr, namely
that of the Embaffadors of "Jejus Chrifi) but
to what Purpofe would it be to mention fuch
a Circumftance to People, whofe Behaviour
^afFordsyou the ftrongeft Reafon to fufpedl how
little they regard him. As for the Minijiers of
State in England, is not long ago fmce fome
of them were taxed with a Jira?ige Inclination
to the ^' Jews.
Others have the Credit of being Authors
of a very extraordinay 4: Law, which compells
the Clergy without their Confent, firil: obtained
(their h^\x\^x\o Convocation then fitting) to per-
form a certain Ojfice at the Hazard of their
Lives and Liberties; which is a kind of Treat-
ment very imchrifiian: Others again, who
have borne high Offices and been >f Secretaries
of State have been open Patrons of li]fidelity.
The religions Frinciples therefore of thefe
People being unfettled and unknown, (as yours
may be) it would be idle to apply to them in
fuch their loicertain Charader, but as they
alwavs profefs to be Servants of the Coji/htntion,
and of his Majejly King George ; I there-
fore appeal to them, in what they profefs-, de-
firing them to be confiftcnt with their FrofeJJion ;
being afiured, that they will hurt his Majejiy
very much, if they appear to ufe his Authority,
to hurt the Church of England.
The Infults offered to the regular Clergy in
* The Jevj'Blll. \ Mr<yria^-A:i. I Bollu^hrcki.
D " every
26 Dr. Free'j Comment^ ^c.
every Place, where the Methodijh have been
permitted to encreafe, have been for fome
Years pafl fo notorious, that every one, who
refides in fuch Places, muft wonder at your
want of Modefty in making thefe Things a
Queftlon. I am perfaaded that you yourfelf
are not a Stranger to the — whom? "when?
ivhere ? as you term it. You are well ac-
quainted with Brijhl . Did you never hear,
that Dr. 'Tucker now Dean of Gloucefler, when
it was his Fortune to be engaged with the
Methodijh^ as it is now mine, gave this Ac-
count of their Behaviour?
Some of Mr. Whitfielis Followers have
ifij lilted and rrcUed me in p^Jjing along the
Streets^ and declared, that they looked up-
on me as the E?iemy g/God^ and his Reli--
gicn. This was owing to Mr. Whitfield'^
pointing at me fo often in his Prayers, and
" defcribing me in his Harangues to the
" People, &c." See more of this in the Lon^
^c// Magazine. For July 1739. Pag. 341.
Of fuch Abufes offered to the Clergy in
iheje Parts^ as well as Brijiol^ there have been
Inftances too many to be here recited, for they
would fill a Volume of themfelves. Nay, the
Outraj^es are fometimes foexcedive as to be at-
tended not only with great Danger to the Per-
fon who is the Objedl of their Fury, but alfo
with fuch an infolent Breach of theP^^^^r^as ihews
that in their religious Phrcnzy, thefe People fet
the LawsdiTid M^-'-gifi rates themfelves ^.iDeJiance.
\Ve fee this in the Cafe of the Revd. Mr.
C—
(C
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter, 27
C — who after Preaching at St. Olaves was
not only infulted in the Church, but purfued
by thele People on the Lord'^ Day^ like fo
many Hcll-homidi quite over London Bridge.
What their Behaviour was to me at Bermond-
fey Church is related in the Renionftrance to
the Bipop oiWincheJter perfixed to my Speech
to the London Clergy. And befides the Riot
then committed by their colleffive Body; they
have often met me lingly fince, threatening
me with the Confequences of giving Oppofition
to their Caiife, and fignifying amongll other
Things, that they had it in their Povvxr to
hurt the Income of my LcBureJJnp at Newington,
and that I muft expe6t to feel their Poiver and
Lijhence in that Qiiarter.
Was it a Wonder, Sir, that in Times like
thefe I fhould fay, that the Clergy '' fubfift: at
*' Mercy" or teil his Grace, " that in a
general Defedion of the People his Grace^
and thofe of the Epifccpal Order, would
fare no better than oiirJelvesJ' You afk me
indeed upon this very trrur/ipha?iily. — " Sir,
'' are you in earneft ? Do you think that
'' Lambeth is on the Point of being blown
tf ^ip." — Since you will have it then, lee me
tell you, Sir, that this >S;z6'rr carries with it an Air
of Confidence and Complaceyicy -^ which had bet-
ter been concealed. For it difcovers your in-
ward AJjurajKe of Siiccefs, which however
covered upon fome Occafions, is at other
Times puliped in a very particular Manner,
You may imagine, that we Ibmetimes fee the
D 2 publick
(C
<c
ir
4 » *-» 1
28 Dr. Free's Comment^ &c.
publick News Papers^ which are continually
made the Trumpeters of the Succefs of your
Part)\ and the Increafe of your Power and
Fame.
When one of your Saints departed, the G^-
zetteer of IVedneJday Jaii, 1759. Informed us,
" from Abergavenny^ that 2iGe?itle%vo7na?ioi xhzt
*' Place to teftify her Regard for the Memory
'* of the late Worthy^ the Reverend Mr. James
*' Hervey^ went into Mourning, though no
" Ways related to him." — From Mr. Whit-
fields great Booths we had a pompous Article
on Saturday tht 20th of Oclober^ ^7593 in the St.
yamess Evening Poft.
How that the Day before " the Reverend
" Mr. Whitfield preached three Thankfgiving
" Sermons, two in the Morning at the 'Taher-
" 7iacle^ and one at his Chapel at Tottenham
^' Court, to numerous Audiences of Perfons of
'' Difcindion." By which it appears that being
without Law^ he did not think it Decency to
wait till his Majesty appointed the Day of
Thdjikfgivi/ig ; but pert, forward, an Etitkii-
thufiiaflick founds his own Trumpet, fets up his
own Standard, and is attended in his Irregula-
rities by numerous Audiences of Perfons of
DifLinction : Though if there be fuch a
Number of them, it may be fome Importance
to the People of England to knov/ who thefc
Perfons of Dlilindtion w^cre. — But to return
IVIi*. W' — is not fin^^ular in this Pradlice. There
is fomething of the fame Magniiicence in your-
felf. When your Grace leaves your Cafile
' of
vpon Mr\ Wefley's Second Letter. 29
of * Mock-fim-man in Ireland^ to return to En-
gland^ it is given out as an Event as conliderable
as the Return of a Lord Lieutenant,
And when the other Mock-ArchbiJJjop^ Mr.
Whitfield returns from his Vifitation in Scotland^
he publiflies it more than once. The Daily
Advert i I er of Friday October ^ 27, 1758, has
this Paragraph. '' For this Month paft, we
'' hear, the Reverend Mr. Whitfield has been
" preaching twice a Day to very large Audi-
** tories, in various Parts of Torkjlnre^ Laiica^
^^ JJjtre^ and Stafford/hire ^ and is expedled in
'' Town this Week." — And again Saturdav^
Ovtoher^ 28. *' On 'Lhitrfday Evening the
" Reverend Mr. Whitfield came to Town from
*' Scotland^ and the North of E?2gland, and we
" hear, preaches To-morrow at T'ottejiham
" Court Chapel^ and the Tabernacle in Moo? fields.'*
— That is, in plain Englifld^ giving us to un-
derfland, that in all thefe Counties or Places^ he
had been feducing many of his Majesty's
poor SubjeBs from their proper Pafiors, and
(which is the Confequence of their Revolt)
leaving them in a State of Cabal and Fermcjit.
Thefe are the Proceedings, which in my
Opinion threaten the Church of England,
with a general Alteration, or total Sub-verfion,
in which Cafe, I apprehend his Grace, and thole
of his Order, would be in fome Danger, as well
as the inferior Clergy, in this Crifis though, it
feems you have your Eye upon the Palace at
Lambeth, which I had never mentioned : but
* This Letter of Mr. lVeJley\ is dated from FoH-mo?i Caille.
howe\'cr,
30 Mr. Wefley's Second Letter:
5- You go on. In the remote Countries o/'England, I ha'vefeen
a It: hole Troop of thefe Dl'vines on Horfeback, travelling ^with each
a Sijier behind him. O Sir, " what Ihould be great, you turn to
Farce." Have you forgot, that the Church and Nation are on
the brink of Ruin ? But pray when and where did you fee this ?
In what Year ? Or in what Country ? I cannot but fear, you
take this Story on truft : For fuch a Sight, 1 will be bold to fay,
was never feen.
Dr. Free's Comment, &c.
however, as you afk me whether I think it on
the Point of being If/own up. I anfwer very feri-
oufly, that I fuppofe, when he has gotPoJ/eJion of
it, John by Divine Providence, will take Care
of THAT.
Verfe 5. " You fay, O Sir, what fliould be
" great, you turn to Farce/' — By the Commas
about this Sentence, I faw that it was meant as
a Rotation, and had Reference to fome Author ,
but 1 could not prefently recoiled: from which
of our Englijh Divines you gathered it, at
Length I was informed that it belonged to
a Poem of Mr. Priors, called the Ladle, and
that the Couplet of Verfes flood thus.
Whatfiould be great, you twn to Farce.
I would the Ladle in your
This Ladle Sir, which you kept in PettOy
confidering how the Author has placed it, will
make but an odd Appearance in a Theological
Treatife. It is really furprizing to fee how
Dolors differ ; fome of them, as I have heard
have written de Virginibus velandis, and others
it feems de nudandis Vetulis, But did you
really take your Quotation from the Paffage
above-
Dr. Free'i Comment y &c. 3 %
abovementioned ? If fo, it is a Farce indeed.
But it is a Farce of your own makingy and
wherein you are likely to be the principal
Actor. Let any one conceive the Apojiolical
Mr. John Wesley. How old are you ?
Well, fuch a one as JVeJley^ (5 Tr^ia^t^T*,?) the aged,
with the fame demure Countenance, that you
wear in your new Pidlure, where your are re-
prefented as a Firebrand', — (Who bid you
call yourfelf a Firebrand?) I fay with the
fame demure Countenance fixed in deep Con-
templation upon fuch an Object as is here re-
prefented, — [quod Ego nu?2quam vidiy neque
^elim) and I defy Mr. Hogarth with all his
Humour to entertain us with a Scene^ which
fhall have more of the higjj Ridiculous.
But, Sir, your Merrimenty though at your
own Expence muft not divert me from my
ferious Purpofe. I look upon the Times to be
dangerous, and feditious, when a Parcel of
fanatical People, Men and Women-preachers
fhall thus travel the Country difturbing his
Majefly^ poorer Subjeds, and giving them ill
Impreffions againft the National KtYigioUy as
it is taught by their regular Minifters.
If the fame Liberty was allowed to a i:'rcop
of Popip Priefts, the Country, and that juftly,
would be up in Arms about it -, and therefore
I fee no Reafon, why People, who wifli well
to the Conftitution, fliould fo quiedy behold
the Incrcafe, and turbule?it Proceedings of the
Methodi/ls. Since their Enthufiajm is in many
Refpeds //////^/r, in other Refpeifts worfe than
Popery, and as capable of being heated to at-
tempt
32 Dr, Free*j Comment^ &c,
tempt any Revolution in the State. In fup-
port of this Affertion I appeal to the Obferva-
tion of a worthy Dutch Clergyman, who
though, what we call a Diffe?2ter or Frejhy-
terian^ yet being a truly fenfible ^ Man and
alarmed at the Growth of thefe People abroad:
(For all Religions ought to be aware of them)
fpeaks forth the Words of T^ruth and Sobernefs
upon this Occafion. '' When Fa?2aticijm' {ays
he, " has got the upper Hand, and works
with all ifs Forces, it is not only able to cor-
rupt Religion, but to overthrow civil So-
ciety, The Spirit, which animates it, is too
eminent, too divine, to fubjed: itfelf to any
human Power : On the Contrarj^ all muft
buckle to, and obey it's Orders. A Fanatick
in his J^r earns ^ often fees' an earthly King-
dom, where the Faithful are to exercife an
abjolute Power over the World. Now if
he IS, fupported by a powerful Party, why
fliould he not take it into his Head that
the ^Ti??ie is comeV The Author proceeds
farther and for the Convidlion of his Brethren
bids them caft their Eyes upon the Impieties
and Excefles committed at Muiajlcr, of which
the Reader mav fee more in my X Remarks up-
on the miracidous Letter read in the Pulpit by
Mr. Jones. When I behold Things fimilar to
thefe in Fjigland, we may begin to be afraid
of the like Conlequences. And as you affed
to doubt. Sir, of the Truth of fome FaBs
* Mr. Sthijfra on Fannticiim P. 44. tranriaied by Mr. Rimius.
X Remarks on Mr. Jo7:css Letter, p. 54, to 59.
here
Mr, Welley's Second Letter, 33
6. With an eafy Familiarity you add, My Lord^ permit nie here
to ivhijper a IVord (Is not this Whifpermg /«Pm//ibmething newf)
that may be worth remembering. In our Memory feme of the
Priefthood ha've not prcvedfo good Subje£ls as might ha<ve been ex-
pe^edy till they have been bought over with Preferments, that
were due to other People. PVleaning, I prefume to yoarfelf.
Surely his Grace will remember this, which is fo well n.vorth re-
tncmbringy and difpofe of the next Preferment in this Gift, where
it is fo juftly due. If he does not, if he forgets either this, or
your other Directions, you tell him frankly what will be the
Confequence. We ?nuji apply to Parliajnent : p. 6. Or to his Ma-
jelly. And indeed how can you avoid it .? Yoi it n.mllbe ufing
hiifi, you think, extremely ill, not to give him proper Informationy
that there are now a Set of People, offering fuch indignity to his
Crown and Government.
Dr, Free's Comment^ &c,
here related and attempt to turn them to a
Jeft, by afking when .? where ? in what Year,
and what County I faw this Cavalcade of Men
and Women Preachers } I will anfwer particu-
larly. The Tear was 1753, the Day of the
Months O^ober 8th or 9th, the Place's Name
was Gijburn in the County of Tork: The
Mercury^ or chief Speaker of this Company of
Deaconejjh and travelling Apoftles^ was a Man
who had loft an Arm^ I don't fay where he had
loft it, but perhaps by this Defcription, you
may know him.
/;/ Vcrfe 6. You think, that you obferve a a
*' eafy Familiarity' in my faying to the Arcb-
blJJzGp^ ^' My Lord permit me," &c. Sir the
Word permit^ has been ufed here in Englajid to
a c7-owned Head, and fure that is good enough
for an ArchbiJJjGp^ w^iich is good enough for a
King.
Where then is the Familiaritx ? If I aik Pei'-^
E viijjion
34 -Dr. Free'i Comment y &c,
-niijfion to approach ; it implies, that I find my
Self at a Dtjlance : And how a Pvlan can ht fa-
miliar ^ that keeps kis Dijlance^ I profefs I can-
not difcern : You may be affifted by a Jealoiijyy
which may enable you to fee Things in another
Light : I am not acquainted with vour Co?2-
tiexions Sir, fo leaving this Subjedl, let us ex-
amine your IVbifpei'iizg in Fri7it^ which you
obferve to be "-^fomething new.'' Something
7iew I believe it is : For I never heard of it
before. But I know it to be no new Thing j
to fee thdit in Pri/7t, -which a Man, at fome
Tinie or other, may have def.red to ivhijper.
And therefore to this Ckaffoi V/it, let us apply
the Biirning'glafs of Reason, and you fliall
fee \X.fmoaky and vanifh in a Moment.
Where have I ever faid " My Lord permiit
" me to whifper" iyi Print} You perceive now,
I fuppofe, that this is your Interpolation ; and,
that the Novelty and Nonjerfe are likewife all
your own. But how came you to fatber your
Abfurdities upon me .; when at tlie End of
your Letter you fay, that you are my Servant
for Chri/fs Sake ? If this be the Way, you fcrvt
me for Clmfi\ Sake : your Ckrifian Religion
is a very cdd Religion 5 1 defire no fuch Ckrifiaii
Service.
As for my next Words, fince you are not fo
jiifly as to give them either a fair ^.ctation^ or
candid ConjiricBion^ I muft tell you, that by Fre-
fermerits due to otkerPcople^ I meant cA^rr People
befide myfeif, who are negledied to this very
pay. I CO allow however, that in Ccnfidera-
tion of my Fathers Sufferings in the Time of
^ K.
upon Mr. Wefley's Sceond Letter 3 r
K. George xhtjlrji: And becaufe in the late
Rebellion^ I fo ftrenuoufly took the Part of his
prefent Majesty, fupported his Caufe, defen-
ded his Government, and made out his Pedi^
gree and Title to the Crown, better than all his
then Minifters of State, when put together, (for
which I was at that Time no more coniidered
notwithftanding the Importance of the Service,
than I have been now for writing for the
Church oi E?2gla}2d), I did exped: after all, that
I fliould h2iVQfome Preferment at /o7nc Time or
other : But Tho??2as Holies, Duke of Neivcajlle^
I believe was then Seceta?y of State; and
Philip now called Earl Hardwick was then
"Loi'^ Cha?2cellen They fay, that they went at
that Time, to refign together : But I believe
they did not, and 1 am fenfible as well as Mr.
Fitt and the >iIation, that they are in Power
Jim, which I take to be the true Realon why
I have been fo long negleded and oDprefTed,
and that one of your Sort lliould have it now
in your Pov/er to play \\xcjejuit, and laugh at me
for having thus miiapplied m.y Time and La-
b»iir in defending the prefent Kixg, and the
prefent Church-EsTx^BLisHxMENT. 1 am o-
bliged to you to be fure for opening my Eyes a^*
little, I fuppofe you meant among other Things,
that it (hould lave me for the future fome ex-
pence in Paper and Print, and teach me co re-
folve with Plorner^ Soldier,
IVhen bleeding Greece again
Stjall call AciiM.LES, fhe jhall call in vain.
Pope.
So
36 Dr, Free' J Cofnmenf, &c»
So let it pafs : But as Mattel's feem to reft
with thefe Lay?ne72^ I do not think it was right
in you to draw his Grace of Canterbury into
your CGnii??7(lrumy and refle(fr upon him. For
the World will be apt enciigh to do that, with-
out your Affiftance, if therebe Occafion. And
therefore I think it would have became you
better to have fyzx^Ayowr Refleclicfis and ftuck
to your Argument: For by introducing this
Epifode you have fo far forgot yourfelf that I
fliall convift youof a fliocking Falfhood in the
next Sentence ; where you fay, that '' /
*' frankly tell the Archhijl:op^ if he forgets
*' to diipofe of the next Preferment in his
*' Gift, 'where it is fo jullly due, we 'miijl apply
'^' to Parliament,'* The Words in my Dedica-
tion, Sir, have clearly another meaning; I
fuppofe you will be ailiamed to fee that they
are only thefe ! -j-
" My Lord, an hon eft y^&r Mind muft be
" Ihocked at thefe infernal Devices, thefe
'' ftrange Idols of a neiv Jesus, and a ne^io
*' Faith. If fuch wild Notions were propa-
'' gated only in our higb Ways and Hedges^
they muft fcon he attended with fatal Con-
fequences. Ei)t what (hall we fay, if the
'' Heathen are come into ciir Inheritance, and
' \\:\v*t Permifion io occupy our very Churches ?
t' Vv^ould any Earthy Power, at War with a-
^' nother, fuffer the Enemy to ere(fl their Bat-
'' tcriiS within their Walls? Or truft them
j- Dcuicalion toD:. i^/Vi's Scmicn zx Oxford new Edition. ^^.
V. a::d vi.
with
cc
c
<
Mr. Wefley's Second Letter ^ 7
7, However we are not to think, your oppofing the Methodifi^
Was owing to Self-intereji alone. Tho' what if it was ? V/as 1 to
4icp art from my Duty^ becaufe it happened to he my Inter c/i P Did thefe
Saints e'ver forbear to preach to the Mob in the Fields for fear leaji
they Jhould get the Pence of the Mob? Or do not the Pence and the
Preaching, ^0 Hand in Hand together ? No, they dent: For many
Years neither I nor any connefted with me, have got any Pence,
as you phrafe it, in the Fields. Indeed, properly fpeaking, they
nenjer did. For the Colleftions which Mr. Whitfield made, it is
well known, were not for his own Ufe, either in whole or in
part. And he has long ago given an Account in Print of the
Manner wherein all that was received, was expended.
8. But it is not my Defign to examine at large, either your
Dedication, Preface, or Sermon, I have only Leifure to make a
few, curfory Remarks on your Defnition of the Methodifls (fo cal-
led) and on the Account you give of their firll Rife, of their
Principles and PraSiice: Juft premifmg, that I fpeak of thofe
alone, who began (as you obferve) at Oxford. If a thoufand
other Sets of Men pafs under that Denomination, yet they arc
nothing to me : As they have no Connexion with me, fo I am
no Way concerned, to anfwer either for their Principles or
Praclice ; Any more than you are to anfwer for all who pafs un-
der the Deno7nination of Church o/' England-Men.
Dr. FreeV Comme?2t, C^c,
'' with the keeping of the Citadel? — We
^^ CANNOT AS Priests of the Church of
'' England stand still, and behold such
'' A Piece of Treachery as this. We
mufl: apply to oar Ccnimanders^ If Your
Grace, and my Lords the Bishops have
not Power fufficient to afford us Redrefs, —
We muft apply to Parliament." This is very
different from your Account. Where is the
Word Frefcrmeiit?
Verfe 7. The Subftance of the next Verfe,
as the Occafion required, has been confidered un-
der the Ysfovd Pickpocket, which you unfortu-
-nately put in my way, Page the 20. of this Com-
ment. There foFQ you and the Ilcader may
confiilt t'nat Paii-^gc if you plcafc. For I de-
llglit
38 Mr, Wefley'j Second Letter.
9. The Account you give of their Rife is this. 7he Metha--
oifts hfgan at Oxford. '1 he l^ame nj:ai Jirjl gr^-ven to afe^w Per-
jcnSy nv/jo n.vere fo unconwiorJy Methodical ^as to keep a Diary of th^
riofl trinjial Adiions of their Li'vef, as hoijo many Slices of Bread
and Butter tbe\i eat, hoixi many Difhes of Tea they drank., hoio
r//??y Counti'y- Dances they danced at their dana^tg Club, or after
a Fall:, ho^.x} mafty Pounds of Mutton they d-j^vourcd. For upon
thefe Occafiois they eat like Lions, hanging made themfelves uncom-
monly 'Voracious. Of this not one Line is true : For, i . It was
from an antient Seft of Phyficians, whom we were fuppofed to
refc'inble in our regjular Diet and Exercife, that we were origi-
nally lliled Methodiffs. 2. Not one of us ever kept a Diary of
the mojl trl-oial Aftions of our Lives. 3. Nor did. any of us ever
jet down, what cr how much we eat or drank. 4. Our Dancing-
Club never exifted : I never heard of it before. 5. On our Fci/l-
Days we ufed no Food but Bread ; on the Day following we
icA as on common Days. 6. Therefore our Voracioufnefs and eat-
ing like Lions is alio pure, lively Invention .
jDr. Free^j Comrnent^ &c,
light not in repeating Grievances, and I be-
lieve it will be quite as agreable to you, to
have thefe Matters forgot.
So v/e will proceed to Verfe 8. of this Let-
ter, which I have already obferved, contains a
Contradicftion to the Profeiiion you made in
in your frrji, 1 have only a fmall Remark to
offer here upon the Manner of Expreiiion ^
you fay with regard to the other Methcdijis^
that '* you are no way concerned to anfwer
*' either fov jheir Principles or Practice^ any
" more than I am to anfwer for all, ic7;c pafs
" imder the T>enominatton oi Qhxxxch. of England
" Men." I beg your Pardon, Sir, I think our
Cafi is fpmew^hat different. For in the firjl
Place, I never gave Pvife to any of the di[or-
dcrly People of the Church of England. &-
condh. I never ht>t them Ccmpa?i\", And T^hird-
i\y 1 never took upon me to is:rke in their De-
J'enc%
Dr. Free's Comment ^ &c. 39
fence. And therefore by Reafon of thefe Co??-
nexions you are much more anfwerable for the
P?^i?2ciples and FraBices of the Methodijh^ than •
I am for the Con dud: of the dijorderly People
of the Church of England, with whom I have
no fuch Connexions.
Notwithflanding your quibling and praevari-
cating (in P^erfe the 9.) I muft inhft upon it,
that the Account I give of the Rife of the Me^
thodijis at Oxford is in every Circumftance very -
true. The Perfon, who gave you this Name,
knew nothing in all Probability of any fuch
antient Se5l of Phyficians as you m.ention :
Nor was there any S-militude between your
Profeliion and theirs, that could induce him to
diftinguifli you by that .Title. _ Neither did you
ever at that Time of the Day pretend to de^
rive the Origin of your Namie from that Occa-
{ion yourfelves : But having fince dipped into
Dr. Freind's- Hiftcrv of rhv/ick and met with
fuch a Scci of Phy/icians^ you thought it w^ould
look better if you affeded to be tlieir P.ela-
tions, choofing rather to draw upon you the
Denomination oi ^acks^ than that the World -
fhould remember your being riick-vamed from
the ivhirnfical Method of keeping a Dinrv of all
vour Adions. Which however Iknowtobe
Fad, havino; feen at that Time a 'i'ournal of
that Sort in the Hands of one of your Djfdples.
And that the Reader may be convinced of the
fame from other Teftimonies, he will not only
fee the Word Diary in the Dealings cited bv the
Lord Bifliop of Exeter in his Book entitled the
Enthufialh of the MdhodiUs and FavilU cocn-
parcd
J. J
40 Mr. Wefley'j Second Letter.
lO. You go on. // nvas not long, before theje Gentlemen hegan
to dogmatize m a publick Manner ^ feeling afron Inclination to nsvv-
inodel almofi e^jery Circu?nfiance or Thi72g in the Sjjiem of our Na-.
tional Religion. Juft as true as the reft. Thefe Gentlemen were
ib far from feeling any Inclination at all, to ne^w-model any Cir-
cumftance or Thing, that during their whole Stay at Oxford^
they were High -Churchmen in the ftrongeth Senfe : Vehemently
contending for ^v^xy Circumftance of Church-Order^ according
to the Old-Model. And in Georgia too, we were rigorous Ob-
fervers of every Rubric and Cannon : As well as (to the bell of
our Knowledge) ever Tenet of the Church. Your Account
therefore of the Rife of the Methodifts, is a Millake from Be-
ginning to Ejid.
T>r, Free's Comtnent^ &c.
pared, part 2. p. 1 3 of the fmall Edition : But alfo
find the Pra^ice Arongly recommended by *Mr,
Hervey^ as a Method he had been advifed to by
anoUFricnd ( moil: probably yourfelf) in order to
fhew People, how often they were amufed with
'TrifeSy and therefore the Trifles muft be re-
glftered. And if there be any Difference be-
tween trivial Aolions^ and being employed on
*TrifleSy it is fach as, I confefs, I cannot difcern.
As for the Dancing-Club at Chrifl-Churchy how
came your Brother to make a Toe7n upon it, if
it never exiiled ? And for your Voracioufnefs,
I think, it might well be faid, that you eat like
'LionSy if iiJDG of you could devour a Leg of
Mutton.
Further you fey, Verfe 10. " That thefe
** Gentlemen wcvt io far from feeling any In-
*' clinaticn to ?2rd}-modeL &c. that durins^ their
** v/ho!e Stay at Oxjcrdy they were Htgb-^
** Churchmen in the flrongefl Senfe:" Part of
this may be true in one of the ftrc7ig Senfes.
For otherwife one of your firft Adherents would
fcarce have been ready with fo much Alacrity
I ■ i„ _ . .1 I - , II I — r jw 11 ■ n
7 heron and Jj^qftc, vol. 2. p. 280.
to
l)r. Free's Comment^ &c. 41
to have played the Chaplain to a certain Fcrfon^
whom they called bis Royal Highnefs, at a certain
Place. This, as you are Oitrue King George's
Man, can be no RefleBicji upon you ; but as
you are idMugoi old Models, I am obliged juli
to afk you, which of the old Models you mean :
Becaufe I remember, thatthe Gentleman afore-
laid, at the Time you mention, vehemently
contended for mixing Water with the TVrne in
the Holy Sacrament, which I fuppofe you may
not think quiteyi;/dYf/^r>'now, andam therefore
perfuaded you will allow me to put you in ?v'Iind
of this as a ?iew Model, fince I believe it to be
none of our Sa'viovrs I?i/iituti on ; and to con-
clude that, inftead of being a Miftake, all this is
true from the Beginning to the End.
CHAP. II.
Contents, Mr. Wesley begins ^lihl'mg at my Definition; U
guilff of fca7idalou% Miiqiiotations om after another, ly ^hich
means he gets guite he^wildared in his o^vjn Mi (lakes : drops ihe
the name of Methodifl, that they may ha-je no Namcjakes ; takes
it up again, difliuguijhing the Sc^ ir.to Originals and Non-ori-
olnals ; excepts agafnji //?^ Non-originals, as their Tefiimoty hears
a^ainji him, yet =v:hen he comes at length to the main ^ejiion alont
their Principla, n.vitnefj'cs the jame 'Thing a^ainji himjelf. Talks
.rvAldofthe Monthly Reviewers, Conncdirigthcm ivith on' Roger
Ball^ a Method: jU ccjn^'ains cf my Se-Tr4ty, thovgh guilty of fa
much Difonefiy in mif citing my Works, and :hen reiirst in Ccn.'
fufion to appeo'- m mors.
C H A P.
[42 ]
C H A P. ir.
l.Tproceecj to your Definition of them : By //?'<? Methodifts tea:
JL t^J^'^ ^'"^ ^^ fio^^'-' under ftoody a Set of Enthuiialh n.'sho preUna-
,.ihg to be Members of the Church of England, either offend agahft
the Order f7?/rt'Difcipline of the Church, or per'vent its Dofirines
relating to Faith and Works and the Terms of Sahatio/:.
Another grievous Miilake. For whatever is f:on.v, by the Me-
thcdifis then n.'jas not iindtrftood^ any Set of Enthuftajlsj or not En-
thufjalh, offending againji the Order tf»</ Difcipline of the Church.
They v/ere tenacious of it to the laft degree, in every the leaft
Jot and Tittle. Neither were they thm u'lderfiocd oi freuert its
DoJirine.'y relating to Faith and Vvorkb, and the Terms of Saliva-
ticn. For they thought and talk'd of all thefe juft as you do now,
'till fome of them after their Return from Georgia were per-verted
into ditferert Sentiments, by reading the Book of Homilies.
Their Prrverfion therefore (if fuch it be) is to be dated from this
Time Confequently, your Definition by no Means agrees with
the Perfons dehned.
Dr. Free's Commeiity (s'c.
In this Chapter you take a moft unwarrant-
able Liberty, in altering and curtailing my De^
JinitioTL of a Methodiji, and introducing it as mine
in that imperfe(ft Form. This you had no
Right to do, as it was to ftand or fall by its
own Meaning ; and that remaining entire, and
not clfe, you were at Liberty to difpute, if you
could, what I had eftabliflied therein as the
Marks and Ckaradfcrs^ that denote a Mefhodift,
This vou attempt indeed, but how infignificant
your Objedlions are, you will foon difcern ; for
\f you were fo tenacious to a Title at your lirft
fetting out of the Order and Difciplirie of the
Li.'urch of England^ why did any of you fo long
ago
Mr. We/Iey's Second Letter. 45
;?. However, As a Shibboleth to dijlinguijh them at pre/e>2t*
"johen tbcy pretend to conceal themfeliies, thror.v out this or Juch like
Propcjition, "•* Good M'orksy are nectjfary to Sahation** You might '
hfive i'pared yourfclf the Labour of proving this ? For who is
there that denies it; Not I : Not any in Connexion with mei
So thi.t this Shibboleth is jull good for nothing.
And yet we firmly believe, That a Man is juftified by Faith,,
without the Works of the Law : That to him that worketh not,
but b>?iicvcih on him that juftifieth the Ungodly, his Faith, with- .
out any Good Work proceeding, is counted to him for Righte-
oufnefs. We believe (to exprefs it a little more largely) t,ha.t we
are accounted Righieous before God. only for the Merit of
ChriJ}', by Faith, 'and not for our own Works or Defervings.
Good Works lolio.v after Jufti^.cation, fpringing out of true,
living Jaith. fo that bv them living Faith may be as evidently
known, as a Tree difcerned by the Fruit. And hence it follows,
that as the Body without the Soul is dead, fo that Faith which
is witfiout Works is dead alfo. This therefore properly fpeak-
ing is not Faith ; as .i dead Man is not properly a Man
Dr, FreeV Ccmmenf^ &c,
ago begin to diftinguifh yourfelves by a riotous
Preactiing in the Fields, when it is abfolately
forbidden by the Laws of the Land ? As to your
Conceffion concerning the powerful Change
that was wrought in /or/ieofyoii, by reading the
Homilies^ after your Return from Georgia^ I want
it not in this Argumervt, having Proof enough
without it, and for its Merit in another View,
you have bad my Sentiments ah'eady in the
Notes upon your firji Letter, p-ag. 39 of my
Edition, to which I refer the Reader, that I may
not fwell this Pamphlet beyond all Size, hy
needlefs Repetitions.
Verfe 2nd. Notwithllanding your Remarks
upon my Shibboleth (Verfe 2.) I fancv, it will
anfwer the Purpofe very well, for 1 find, that
you do not care ^o proncunce it. You lay indeed,
that I Height have fparcd mvlclf the Trouble
F 2 ^ of
44 Dr. F'ree^s Comment^ &e.
of proving this Proposition, " thai good Works
" are abiolutely necejf'ary to Salvation' " For
" who is there denies it? not Tou!' And yet
you endeavour to contradiB it in the next Para-
graph. For otherwife, you are guilty of idle
knavifli Sophijlry^ by introducing the Sentence
with, arid yet ; that is, by a Phrafeof Oppojitioriy
where you pretend to mean no Oppofition, to
which Oppofition notwithftanding, what imme-
diately follows, in all Appearance correfponds.
For Vv^ho is there amongll us now, that thinks
ChriJiia?2S are to obferve the Ceremonies of the
yewiJJj Law^ ? And therefore, if by the Works of
the Law^ you mean, that a Man is juftified ^without
the Works of the Law of Jesus Christ ; you
affirm, and deny in the fame Breath; it being
a direct Contradi Ellon to the Pixfofition^ which
juft before, you faid, I might have Jpared niyfelf
the Trouble of proving^ as it is like wife a Contradic-^
fion to our Saviour's own Declaration, that he
ivill reward " every Man according to his Works ;"
the very Thing 1 charged upon the Methodifts
as abominahle^ Vv^hich you have all along on your
own Part pretended to deny, and yet appear
to hold it at the laft. Sir, are you fuch a Stranger
to your own Opinions, as not to know yN\\2Xyoii
hold} or what yow do ?20t hold? In this dlfor-
dered and bewildered State, are you fit fovDlf
putaiion ?
Again, If in the next Sentence by ^^him^ that
njoorketh not^' you do not mean the NcgleB of
cBnal Obedience^ and do not think, that without
fuch Obcdiejice^ Abraham was accounted Righ-
teous
t^pG?i Mr. Welley's Second Letter. 45
teous, then it is very idle to oppoji this Text to
my DoBrine^ if it contain in it no Oppofition :
But if on the Contrary, you fo underftand the
Words "workdh not^ as to infer from thence that
Abraham obtained Salvation without any WorkSy
then you are again guilty of the Charge I
brought againft the other Methodijls ; and though
but the Minute before, you affeded, to difown
it, are now again ^ if doing any Thing, adually
preaching Salvation without Obedience. And
indeed, unlefs it were to countenance fuch an
Opinion, why fhould you fay in the very
next Sentence, *' We believe (to exprefs it a
" little more largely) that we are accounted
" Righteous before God^ only for the Merit of
Jefus Chrifl," without adding, that though this
be the file Attornment for our Imperfedions,
yet, that we cannot be faved without Obedience:
For otherwife. Sir, the Word Only\ taken as you
call it, more largely^ and in its fidlExtefit^ would
exclude from our Rigkteouf?iefs all Morality, and
all Obedience^ which is once again the Doctrine
I charge upon the Methodijls -y and at the fame
Time that it is, as I contend, a Perverfon of
the Dodirine di the CZ''iY/T/5 of England. For
I have already explained, the Force of this Ex-
preffion as it is ufcd in the Church of Knglandy
in a Note upon the Preface to my Sermon^ ^
and fliewn that in this Senfe, and upon the like
Occafions, the word Only does not iignify e:---
* Ser?r.Gn bef:u-e the V7ii"jerftty of Ox for D^ Prt^ice, png. vi i.
new Editior:.
ch^lveJy
46 D r, Frcc's Comment^ &c,
clufrcely but co?JcIuJively^ meaning oii^Vi primarily
gr chiefly^ being put to denote Fre-ernincnce^ as
it is to be underftood in the Communion-Servke*
^^ Thou only O Chrift with the Holy Ghoft,
*^ are moft high," &c. For if the word OfJy
were here to be idktn JlriSIly and exciujively, it
would fignify ^' thou Only O Chrift, ^without
" the Holy Ghoft, art moft High in the Glory
^' of God the Father."
Further, the word ^ufiijication^ as you have
ufed it here^ Cdinnoivatzn Jinaiyujlijication^ (the
Nature of which I have explained in the Pro-
legomena^) but only Conver/ion, If it means the
former, you relapfe again deeply into the fame
Error w^ith the other Metbodijisy from which
within the Compafs of two or three Sentences
you pretepdtd fo vehemently to demand anAb-r
folution. For if a Man were to htfifiallyjujli-r
Jied before he grew virtuous, good Works would
be utterly excluded from any Way eftedtinghis
Juftification. Becaufe if they only follow after
it, they could not be the conditional Caufe of
cfFefting it, which excludes Morality from any
Share or Operation in the Bufmefs of Salvation :
And if by Juftification you mean only the
initial "Jiijlification^ oxConverfwn^ then theWord
has here a very dehijive and dangerous Ten-^
dency amongft common People, as it is fo Con-
necfled, unleis you had added withal the pror.
ptrDi/tin^iom and Explications.
I refer the Reader therefore to the
Maxims and Explications in tny' Prolego-
mena, particularly Maxim the 2, 3, 5, 6, 8,
lOyii^ J 2 ^ind Explicaiion the 3, 5, 6,7, 8, &€,
And
Mk WefleyV SecofiJ Letter. 47
3. You add, The original Mclhodifts affe^ to call them/il-ve
IVIethodifts o/*/-^f Church o/" England : Byivhich they plainly in-
form uSf there are others of their Body., 'who do not profefs to belong
to it. Whence nve may infer, the Mcthodifts nvho take our Natne^ do
yet by accnoivledging them, at Namefakes and Brethrtn, gi've them-
felnjes the Lky njohen they Jay they are oj our Communion ! Our Name!
Oar Communion ! Apagecum if a tud magnifcentid ! How tame
it, I pray, to be your Name, any more than Mr. Fenn^s ? But
waving this: Here is another Train of Miflakes. For i. Wc
do not call ourfehes Methodifls at all. 2 That we call oul-felves
Members of the Church of England is certain. Such we ever
were, and fuch we are at this JDay. 3 Yet we do not hy this
plainly inform you, that there are others of our Body, who do
not belong to it. By what Rule of Logic do you infer this Con-
clufion from thofe Premifes. ^ You have another Inference full
as good. Hence 07ie may infer, That by achionvledgifig Them, as
Namefakes and Brethren, they give themjelves the Lie, nvhen they
fay they are of our Communion, As we do not take the Name of
Mtthodifs 2X. all, fo we do not acknowledge any Namefakes la
this. But we acknowledge as Brethren all DifTenters (whether
they are called Methodif or not) who labour to have a Con-
fcience void of Oftence, towards God and towards Man. What
lies upon you to prove is this : Whoever acknowledges any Dif-
fenters as Brethren, does hereby give himfelf the Lie, when he
fa}^s he is a Member of the Church of England,
Dr. Free J Comment^ &l\
And now what are we to think of all thefc
Sayings^ and Uiifayings^ this incoherent Series
of jarring Propofitionsfoftrangely put together }
Have not I detedled you at your old Trick of
entanglinglhtDoBrines of theChurch oi England^
\Y\i\\AbJurdities and Contradi5lio7n r Can you be a
Friend to that Church, who affed thus to fhew
yourDexterity in formingDifficulties, from fome
of it's improper and ill-chofen Phrafes, which
through Time perhaps have loft or chang'd
their Meanings and thus by your Cobweb- Sc-^
phiftry to expofe it to the Derifion of its Ene-
mies ?
If
48 JDr. Freehs Comment, &c.
If this be your Condud: with Refped to the
Church, Sir, it is noWonder that the next Ferfe
(3) affords a notable Specimen of your Ini-
quitous Dealings, with Refpeft to me. For
your Co72vi^io?iy I fliall firft produce the Pqffhge^
which you have fo disfigured by a falfe Quota-
tion, as entirely to alter the Meaning. My
Words are thefe * " This may be the Way
*' then to difcover the Original Methodifts^
*' who it feems for DiftinBions Sake affcft to
" call themfelves Methodijis of the Church of
" Rjigland.
" By which however they plainly inform us,
*' that there are others of their Body, who do
'' not profefs to belong to our Communion : And
" therefore it isjuft to infer that the Methodifts
" who take our Name, do notwithftanding
" difavow fomething, which thefe difavovi^^j
*' and embrace fcmethhig^ which they embrace ^
*' and therefore by Acknowledging them as
" Namefakes and Brethren^ give themfelves the
*' Lie, (which they are not afhamed to do)
" when they fay, that they are entirely with us,
" and ofno other Coinmunionr
Thefe are my Words, Sir, this Paragraph is
mine, and I do not fee that you could find any
thing to contradift in this: Though after the
Mifinterpretation you have madeinmifcitingit,
what a Parcel of Nonfenfe is here of your own
coining, which you would impudently afcribe
to me ? You afk me ignorantly enough as well
• Pa'^e viii. of the Preface to my Sermon at Oxford, the Third
Ediuon.
to
upon Mr. WtQcy's SveokJ Leffer 4^
ks well as difhoneftly by what Rule of Logick, I
infer this Conclufion from thefePremiffes? I an-
fwer by none in theWorld. For none but aMan
that was an entire Stranger to Reafon, could
ever have made it, let me bring you to a Senfe
of Shame if I can, if you are not part Feeling.
Are thefe my Premijfes ? Sir, or are thofe my
Words at the End of the other Conclufion ? am I
tofollowyouinyourBlunders, andto bcdiredled
by aMan, who is fo bewildered, that he knows
not what he is about ? Let ilie afkyou, Sir, how
you came to be fo bafe ? As to put in thefe
Words, " of our Commimio?i' when my Words
were " of no other Commimio?i'' Had you made
fuch an Erafeme?tt^ and Alteration in Papers,
conveying property, your Z///^' might have been
inDanger. Do you think that anyPerfon, who,
has any Regard for his Reputation, will have
any farther Dealings in Contrcverfy with one,
that can be guilty of fuch foul Play as this ? To
fuch Reproach, Sir, is your Condudt liable whea
examined by the Rules of Co7?jmon HoneJIy :
And if there be this Defed of conunon Ho?2efiy ?
What are v/e to think of your Religion,
your Chrijlian Religion "^ Can we believe, that
when capable of this Falflioodyou were under
the Influence of that? No, Sir, that would
have deterred you from fuch an Attempt. And
as a Chrijiian you would have reafoned thus \
" I am going to do by Dr. Free as I would, by
*' no Means, be done by : I am going to alter
*' his JFords, and fnifreprefcnt his Meaning tn
" Print ', which Is mifreprcfenting him, as hs
G ' ^* as
(C
50 Dr, Free 5 Comment^ &c.
*' as I can to <^// the World-, at leaft this Pamph-
" let of mine will go into the Hands of Him-
" dreds of the deluded Methodijls^ whofe Preju-
dices will never let them perufe any Reply ^
which Dr. Free may puhlifh in his Defence y
and fo I fliall fix all thefe poor People at leaft
in a wrong Notion of his Meaning znd Ujtder-
*^ Jlandingy — A pretty Soliloquy ! — And could
. you as a Chrijlian do all this ? — No, Sir ! The
Chrijlian Religion would not permit you. And
therefore from henceforth you oblige me to con-
iider you as ari Heathen Man^ and a Publican^
how much foever you may complain of -my
Severity, I cannot leave this remarkable Para-
graph without making a diftindl Remark upon
a very fingular Paffage, towit \ — '' That you do
*' not call yourfelves Methodifs at all." — Why
did you then, write the CharaBer of a Metho-
dijl? " You fay that it is certain you call your-
*' felves Me??ihers of the C&/r<:Z? of England!"
— Thus much by my Defiiiition of a Metho-
dist you find I know. — " Such, you ever
*' w^re, and fuch you are at this Day." — But
how can this be, Sir, when your Meeting at the
Foundcry^ if licenfed at all, muft be licenfed as
a DissEiSiTiNG Meeting , o f fo m e Denomiiiation
or other ? And again, — when the People you
often employ ^o preach there, and elfewhere,
have never had Epijcopal Ordination and confe-
quently oppofe the 23. Article of the Church oi
Envla}id^ Vv^hich proves, that you are not of the
Church of England: — And that you are ftill
Metko'
Mr, Weiley'i Second Letter, ^i
4. However you allow, there may be Place for Repentance
For if any of the Founders of this SeSi^ renounce the Opinions they
once Hx:ere charged nvith., they may be permitted to lay ajide the Namt'
But what are the Opinions which you require us to renounce ?
What are, according to you, the Principles of the Methcdifs ?
You fay in general, They are contradidory to the Gofpel, con-
tradidory to the Church of England, full of Blafphemy and Im-
piety, and ending in donjcnright Atheifm :
1 . For I . They exponnd the Scripture in Juch a Manner y as to
make it contradid itjelf:
2. With Blafphemy, Impiety and Diabolical Phrenzy, they
ccntradid our Saviour, by denying that he ivill judge Men, according
to their Works.
3. ^y de7iying this they dejiroy the ejfcntial Attributes o/* GoD,
and ruin his Charader as Judge of the World.
In fupport of the Firft Charge, you fay, // is notcrious, and
feix) Men of Common Senfe attempt to prcve nvhat is notorious, 'till
they ?neet wcith People offuch notortous Impudence as to deny it.
I muft really deny it. Why then you will prove it, by Mr.
Ma/onh own Words. Hold, Sir : Mr. MaJo}2^s Words prove
nothing. For we are now fpeaking of original Methodifis.
But he is not one of them : Nor is he in Connexion with them ;
neither with Mr. Whitfield nor me. So that what Mr. Mafon
fpeaks, be it right or wrong, is nothing to the prefent purpcfe.
Therefore unlefs you can find fome better Proof, this whole*'
Charge falls to the Ground.
Well, here it is. Roger Balls — Pray, who is Roger Balls P Na
more a Methodift than he is a Turk. I kno-w not one good
Thing he ever faid or did, befide the telling all Men, I am na
Methodifi-i which he generally does in the iiril: Sentence he fpeaks,
when he can iind any to hear him. He is therefore one of your
own Allies. And a Champion worthy of his Caufe !
If then you have no more than this to advance in fupport of
your Firft Cbarge, you have alledged what you are not able to
prove. And the more heavy that Allegation is, the more un-
kind, the more unjuft, the more unchriftian, the more inhuman
it is to bring it without Proof.
5. In fupport of the Second Charge, you fay. Our Saviour-
declares cur Works to be the Object of his fudgynevt. But the Me-
thodift, for the Perdition of the Souls of his Follovjers, fays ouy
Wsrks are of no Confideration at all.
Dr. Free's Comment^ &c.
Methodijls, and within the Terins of my Def?!:-
tion^ fhall be proved to every Body's Satisfac--
it on J except your own.
G 2 Verjd'
52 Mr. Wefley's Second Letter.
Who fays To ? Mr. Whitfeld? Or my Brother ? Or I ? We
fay the diredt contrary. But one of my anonymous Correfpon-
dents fays fo. Who is he ? How do you know he is a Metho'
diji ? For ought appears, he may be another of your Allies, a
Brother to Roger Balls.
Three or Threefcore anonymous Correfpondents, cannot yield
one grain of Proof, any more than an Hundred anonymous Re-
marks on Iheron and Afpafio, Before thefe can prove what the
Method'ijls hold, you muft prove, that thefe are Metho dljh :
Either, that they are original Method'ijls^ or in Connexion
with them.
jDr. Free'.; Co?nme?2ty &c.
Verfe 4. and 5. Suppofe we fet about it now ?
Indeed I have not your Orders or DireBion for
it, juft yet; but to be plain ; as I am not quite
fatisfied with your Manner of laying out a Sub-
jed:, I am not always bound to follow it ; nor
do I choofe it here: and therefore I attack a
diflantPaffage firft, and tell you, that I think, I
have taken a right Step, by frovi72g^ firft what
Opinions the accufed Parties hold in order ioprove
that they are Methodifts. You fhall fee in the
Courfe of the Difpute whether I am miftaken
or not. It may be neceffary firft to premife^
tliat in this Chapter you raife a Difficulty about
the promt Jcuous Ufe of the Word Mcthodijl^ dif-
tinguiiliing them, for the geater ExaBnefs^ in-
to Originals and Non-originals. In the firft
Clafs you put yourjelf^ your Brother^ and Mr.
IVhitfield^ as People of \k\tfame Opinion^ — In
the other then, as you only make an Excep-
tion for ^^/^r/?/)^ and Cc. we are at Liberty, \
fnppofe, to rank all the reft; fuch as Mr.
ir'Hervey, Mr. Rornaine^ Mr. Venn, Mi. Elliot,-
Mr. ^ones, Roger Balk^ whofe Lay-Pro fefl^on, I
know not; and the Ckck-viaker Mr. Majon.
np07i Mr. Wefley's Second Letter - 53
&;c. Should we not add another Layman fup-
pofed to be a A^ — L — , who in his Anfwer to
Dr. Free difcovered (a Thing more furpriz-
ing than the Longitude) the Medium between
T^ruth and Falfiood^ and tells us * that fome
•^ Accoimts oi Things (though containing many
Propofitions) *' may be received as neither
" true novfalfe, this muft be a Coiyurer to be
fure ; (hall I add him to the reft ?
Well you tell me, that " before thefe can
* ' prove "what theyi ethodists hold-, I muft prove ^
** that thefe are Methodists," &c. that is I
fuppofe you mean, that I cannot from their
Dodrines prove, what the Methodifs hold,
till I ha ve iirft proved thefe People to be
Methodifs — An Hferon-Proteron may be a Fi-
gure in Rhetoricky but it makes a ftrange Fi-
gure in LoGiCK, vo fee the Conelufion before
the Premifes. By your Leave I muft afic the
Audience, before wliom you fay, you are
making your Defence, (that is, the Arch-bis-
hop, the University, the Nation) whether
this be a Scholar-like Arrangement of the Pro-
pofuio?is, which you require me here to prove.
Fori think, that lought^/// to fliew, that the
Dodlrines, which thefe People hold, are the
Dodrines of the Methodifls^ and then the Pro-
fofiticn^ which you would have me prove ffU
muft be lafi in Sense and Reason and follow
the other as a Consequence : For the Argument
will ftand thus, " they hold fuch Opinions <kc.^*
L ay >;: anh An(\yev to Dr. Free. Fag. i6,
t Letter from the Ma^Jl-ns above.
an«-l
54 Dr, Free'i Comment^ &c.
and therefore they are Methodijls, For fuppofe
I was to prove a Man to be a Papist. Muft'
I not firft ihew, that he holds the Opinions
of a Papist ? Or can I any way (hew, that he
is a Papist, without his holding the Opinions
of a Papift? I think not. — My Lord Arch-
BSHOPj Gentlemen of the University, and
YE Men of common Serife throughout the Na-
tion— I appeal — (fince he will have it fo) to
you all to know, whether Mr. We (ley has not
put a very injudicious Tafk upon me ? And
whether I may not be permitted to go on in
my own Way^ fince he appears fo incap:.ble of
djrefting me? Now then, having, as I fuppofe,
obtained this PermifTion : Remember your
Names Originals, and Non-originals, as
you flood before ; and my Definition fliall hold
the Place of an IndiBment. — But is this my
Definition Sir ? — No ! — My Definition ftood
thus. —
" A Set of Enthufiafis, who under the Pre^
" tence of being true Members of the Church
^' of Englaiid, either prevert its Doctrines
" relating to Faith and Works^ and the Therms
" of Salvation, fo as to make them repugnant x.o
'* xkizYid^"^ Scriptures \ or elfe offend againft the
" Order and Discipline of the Church, or
^^ farther, even attack the Ffinciplcs of iiatural
** Religon, and ftill under the Pretence of be-
" ing Members of the Church oi England^ or
•' at 'leaft Chriftians."
..And now. Sir, pardon me if by the Prac-
tices^ in which you ftill pcrnfl, and by the O-
pinions:
upon Mr. Wefley's Second Letter. 5 j
-pinions^ you have held or hold, I prove you to
be a Methodiji: and that I comprehend in this
Definition^ Difcription or JndiBmenty the Cha-
racter of you the great Original, the o-
ther ORiGiistALS, the Non-originals and af-
terwards of the Secundarians^ Subalterns and all
the reft : For I believe, that every Perfon will
find his Place herein, who is, or has been e-
fteemed or called either Methodijlical or Metho-
dijt.
But Firfi^ again ft you Gentlemen, who are
Originals^ fuppofe I call in the Evidence
of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of
Exeter^ the reputed Author of a -f- Book en-
titled the Efithufiajm of the Methodifls and Pa-
PisTS compared. What fays his Lordfliip of
the Revd. Mr. John Wejley, Mr. Whitfield and
the reft ? Why he proves you to be Enthufiaflsy
from your own Journals and Accounts of
God's Dealings: Among other Paffages, to
the fame Purpofe; fuppofe we conlider thefe.
Mr. WhiifiAd fays, firft Dealing Pag. 16." God
filled me with fuch unjpeakable Raptures^
particularly in St. Johns Church, that I was
carried out beyond myfelf" Again Mr.
Wefiey fays, 3 Journal Pag. 19 '' My Soul
«' was got up into the Holy Mount, I had no
<' Thouo-hts of comins: down a^-ain into the
«^ Body."
By thefe Paflages then, it appears that you
arc both Enthujicijls \ which mart make good
the
^6 JDr. Free'i Comment ^ &c,
the FIRST Article \x\ my Definition*. I fliall
now make it appear likewife, that you are En-
thiifiafts perverting the Dodtrines, and offending
iigainft the Difcipline of the Church c/'England
&c. For the Church oj England does not al-
low of any irregular and unqualified Teachers 5
it does not allow it's Paftors to preach in ir-
regular Places ; or to call themfelves Difie?2ters : ■
This is offending againft its Discipline: and
for offences againft it's Doctrine, I reckon
them to be fuch Opinions as thefe. * Mr. Whit-
field izy^^ " it is a dreadful miftake to deny the
'' Doctrine of AJjurayices^ he knows Numbers
" whofe Salvation is written in their Hearts as
*' with a *Sz/;z-B^^;7?." — 8 Journal^ Page 17,
Mr. iVefiey fays, '^ Juftification the fame as
" Regeneration and having a living Faith,—
" this always in a Moment — Faith and being
born of God — an infiajitaneous JVcrk^ as
Lightenijig, — My being born of God was
an injtantaneous Aft, enabling me from that
Moment X.obe 7nore than Cc?iqucror over thofe
Corruptions, which before I was always a
Slave to," — 'fiournal 2. And again Jotirnal y
At that Hour, one who had long con-
** tinued in Sin from a D^^^Wr of finding Mer-
" cy received a full clear Senfe of his pardon-
'^ ine Love, and Poiver to Sin no more," Now
cill this is diredly oppofite to the 16 Article of
the Church of England, which fuppofes in
the beft of Men a Pojjibility of Sinning and
Ep. of E;Keter\ Bo^k Part l. P. 32. 35, 34.
that
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter, 57
land that they may after fuch their Failings be
reftored.
But befide the Oppofition of this Do6lrine to
that particular Article of our Church : 1 ob-
ferve by thefe Accounts of an inftantanecus liv^^
ing Faith, and of being irrejiftibly born of God ^
that the Man is reprefented as no longer a Ra-
tional Being, or moral Agent. For all thefe
Operations are defer ibed as entirely the Ads of
God. The Man then in thefe Cafes is alto-
gether pajjive and not capable of ariy Works.
And therefore if this be the JVefieyan, or Metho-
dift kind oi Faith ^ it is a kind of Faith, from
which the Man's own Actions are utterly ^a-
cluded: (very fimilar to Mr. Herve y's Doftrine,
as you will fee hereafter) For being more than
Conquerers^ not by the Ajjifiance^ but by the en-
tire Force and Agency of another Power, he
has no longer Occafion to work out his Salvation
with Fear and 'Trembling, So that T!ext of
Scripture is fuperfeded, as well as all other Scrip--
tare, which is a Ride of Conduct 3 and with it
another fundamental Dodrine of the Church of
England, which fuppofes a Man's good Ac-
tions to be his, by faying, that they are pic a/in g
in Gods Sight, For if the Adions were God's
Adions it would be iuft as much Senfe as fay-
ing, that God was pleafed with God, or that he
diverted himfclf with his Ingenuity in moving
our Limbs, and determining our weak mc-
chanick Powers to every particular Adion. AikI
thus God is reprefejited as the Maftcr of the
Shew, and we a^^ trie PipilI'. :hat SQu^ak
li a::d
58 Dr. Free*s Comment ^ &c.
and Da72ce, but at his Direction : From fuch
frightful Akfurdities in a National Reli-
G I ON ! Good Lord deliver us.
But beiide this Doctrine of a State of
nnfmning and unalterable Perffction in this
Life; which is fet forth as th^fudden and /r-
rehjlible Giit of God, and which reprefents
Man as a Machine, fo totally po[[eJled and ac-
tuatcd by Divine Power as to leave no Room
for human Frailty, or human Endeavours:
You have been accufed of advancing another
IjGclrine as dejiruciive of Morality, even that,
which I charged upon the Metbodijls from the
iiriL, and which all the V/orld is now con-
vinced they hold. " The Dodrlne of Saha-
" tio72 by Faith alc7ie as it is underflood to ex-
'' chide the Necefjity of good IVorh!" Even in
this Pamphlet w^here 1 had faid '' they were
*' abjolutely neceffary to Salvation," in repeating
my V/ordSj you drop the Word ahfolutely 3 and
in the next Paragraph, fo connect fome £.v-
frach from the Articles as confidering the dou-
bJe./Meaning of the Word Jujiificatmi mull ac-
5^.)rd!ng to vulgar Apprcfifion look mod favoura-
'bie to fuch an Opinion : *Tis true you pro-
felled to deny it before \ nay you have wj'itten
againll it, as I am informed, thei-efore this
veering about again looks very inconfiilent.
Tijat y^>u were once inclined to fuch an Opinion,
I think, Sir, is pretty evident. Mr. C Grangey
:^: you remember, tePdues in the ^4 Page ofmv
. .:s upon yoiii: firil Letter, that he heard
one
upon Mr, Wefley*s Second Letter, ^g
one of tlie Lay-brothers^ whom you hady?/ up
cloft to harangue in your Conventicle at the
Founder V, inculcating the fames and tells us
the Hymn, which was Sung upon the Occa-
fion.
Believe and all your Sins forgi'-Ocn^
Only believe and ycurs is Heaven,
He fays that other of your Hymns have the
fame Tendency, and mentions particularly the
44. Look and be fav'd by Faith alo?ie.
This Opinion then, if you have not renoun-
ced it, will bear hard againll: you, and if you
have even given it uo^ yet coniidering the Evi-
dcnce v/e have juit gathered from the Lord
Bishop oi Exeter s difplay oi yoMV Journals^
which contain your Enthusiastick Flights
and Fancies ; and your itrange Notions of Fa i th,
as though in fome Subjeds attended with fuch
a Pejifection, as implies an Annihilation cF
human Agency: You mud forgive me, if I
find you guilty of the ludidimetit^ 'awdi by the
Terms of my Definition, pronounce You,
■ and^// the Originals, v>'hich you defcribe to
be in the Ja772e ivay of thinkings to be figCtfjO-*
Difi,*j« For it appears that You
■ 1 J |—
" A Set of Entljii/iafls, who under the P;r-
*' te?ice of beinp true Members of the Church
o
*' of England, either prevert its Doctrines
'^ relating to Faith and Wcrks^ and the I'crms
-' of Salvation, fo as to make them repugnant
-' to the Holy Scriptures: or clie offend ii^^-'ainft
"- theORrri^ and DiscirLiNE of the Church,
'' or
cc
cc
<c
60 Dr, Frec's Comment ^ &c.
or farther, ev-en attack the Principles of na-
tural Religion, and ftill under the Pretenfe
of being M embers of the Church of Eng-
land^ or at leaft Chriftians/*
And having affirmed this of You and your
declared Associates, from the Knowledge
you have given us in Writing of your Belief zni.
PraBice-, let me now examine how far this
Appellation may fuit the Rest: I fhall al-
low them the Title^ as by their DoSrines^ they
may appear to merit it; juft in the fame Man-
ner, as I gave it you. Mr. Hervey\ then (whom
as I have heard, you called the Father of
Metkodijm in your Ca?ignization Sermon) whether
that be true I cannot tell ; but Mr. Hervey (for
whorci iYiQ Gazetteer oi Jan, 10. 1759, tells us
the Woman at Abergave?2?i)\ though unknown
to him went into Mourning at his Death: If
llie hadunderftoodhis Doftrine fhe might have
mourned for that — This Mr. Her^uey) though
our Saviour had declared, Matth. xvi. 27.
To Him, to Me, and every Man alive, that he
iJDtll reivard every Man according to his Works ^
had the Frefumption to new-model the 'Terms of
the Gospel and to reply. 1 '' We are I grant
" jufiified by Works — kit not cur own.'' If
you alk him, Whofe then? he anfwers, " TZy
" V/orhoi Chrift^' fo that the Man is required
by his Scheme in Oppofiticn to our Lord'^, to
do juft nothing for himfelf. And therefore here
is no more room for Mo7-ality in this Syfie^n
than there v^^'as ia Your State of urifrrjiiiigVv.R-
FECriON.
upon Mr, Welley'i Second Letter, 6 1
FECTioN. The fame § Mr. Herijey adds in a-
nother PalTage (where he introduces one oi his
Sort of C/6r////^z;wreafoning thus.) — " Tis true,
" I cannot fullfill the Conditions, and 'tis e-
" qually true, that this is not required at my
" Hands — Jesus Christ has performed all
^' that was ConditionciryT — What is become
then of our Lords Declaratioyi and all his In-
jiinciions? Why this 77ew Cbrijiian Religion
hath fet the old one quite afide : And makes no
manner of Account of any human Adions. For
that there is not in the Eitimation of the divine
Being any Diftindion between Vice and Vir-
tue.— To this Purpofe, hear the Paffages be-
fore produced from the ano7iymous Rernarker on
Theron and Afpajio^ he may be one of your
own People for ought I know ; but w^ho .he is,
or what his Name may be, does not concern
the Argiimejit^ provided that he has made his
Quotations fair and rights fo as to fpeak
the Meaning of the Author; that the World
may judge of this 3 the PalTages are thefe, that
follow.
" He who attempts to do any Thing eafy
^' or difficult, under the Notion of an Adl of
'' believing, or any other Ad, in Order to his
'' Acceptance with God, only heaps up more
*' Wrath againft himfelf " — And again,
" The whole New Teftament fpeaks aloud,
*' that as to the Matter of Acceptance with
§ Page 56
" God,
62 Dr, Free J Comment^ &c.
' God, there is no Difference between one
*' Man and another : — No Difference betwixt
' the moft accoiTjplifhed Gentleman, and the
* moft infamous «SVcw;?<:/r^/:— No Difference
*' betwixt the moft virtuous Lady, and the
*' vileft Proftitute : — No Difference betwixt
*^ the moft Reverend Judge, and the moft o-
*' dious Criminal ftanding convidled before
^^ him, and receiving the juft Sentence of
'' Death at his Mouth: — In a Word, no Dif-
" ference betwixt the moft fervent Devotee,
" and the greateft Ringleader in Profanenefs
" and Excefs."
In another Place he fays, — ^^both G^race and
" I'ruth ftand in diredl Oppofition to Work?,
*'' all Works v/hatever, whether they be JVorks
^^ of the LaiVy or Works of the Gcfpel, done in
*^ a State of Nature, or ujider the Injhicnce of
" Grace. — vol. i. P. 273."
Thus much for 'T'kcron and Afpafio, and the
Doctrines of the weak and crazy Mr. Hervey,
one of the reputed Fathers of Methodifm,
whofe laboured Anikhrifian Theology, and
religious Blafphemy have been fo zealoufly
propagated through the Land, and revered as
the Bible, by the Metkodifs, Now for the
Opinions of Mr. Tioraaine, -, becaufe you are fo
apt to aflc me, '' WIjo fays fo? Who is he, hom
*' do y oil know he is a Meihodift? — I muft beg
leave to refrefh your Memory, by referring
you to a Tittle Tieatife, faid to be your own,
entidcd a Letter to a Gentleman at Brifiol,
which contains Remarks upon a Pamphlet
alcribcd
iipo7i Mr, Wefley's Second Letfef 6 3
afcribed to Mr. Romaine, Let us hear fome of
your Converfation,
Mr. Romaine, But a Man is not juftified by
" Works ^ but by the Faith j/'Chrift. This ex-
" eludes all Qualifications.
Mr. JVeJley. Surely it does not excuhide
the Qualification of Faith ^ &c.
Mr. Rornaine. But '' our Church excludes
" Repentance and Faith from dejerving any
*' Part of our Juftification. Why then do yoii
** infill upon them as ^alificatiGns requijite to
'^ our Juftification."
Mr. Wejley, Becaufe Chrijt and his Apoftles
do fo. . Yet we all agree, they do not deferije
any Part of our Juftification. They ae no
Part of the meritorious Caiife ; but they are the
Conditions of it. This and no other is " the
" Dodlrine of Scripture, and of the Church of
*' England!'' Both the Scripture and " our
" Church allow, yea infift on thefe ^alijica-
" tions or Conditions!'
Mr. Rornaine, *' But if Repentance and
" Faith would not be valid and acceptable
" without the Righteoufnefs of Chrifiy then
" they cannot be neceflary Qualifications for
*' our Juftification."
Mr. Wejley. I cannot allow the Confequence.
They are not acceptable without the Righte-
oufnefs or Merits of Chrijh And yet He Him-
felf has made them necefary Qualifications
thro' his Merits.
But the grand Qbjcdlcn of this Gentleman
lies a::^ainft the Dr'iJ. next i-arai^rarh ; the Sum
of
64 -D^. Free*i Comment^ &c.
of which is: '' The Merits of Chrift were
'' never intended to fuperfede the Neceffity
*' of Repentance and Obedience" (I would fay,
Repentance and Faith) " but to make them
*' acceptable in the Sight of God, and to piir-
" chafe for them" (I would add that obey Him)
'^ a Reward of immortal Happinefs."
I am not afraid to undertake the Defence of
this Paragraph, with this fmall Variation,
agalnfi: Mr. Chapman^ Mr. Nyberg, Count Ziti"
%endorf\ or any other Perfon whatever. Pro-
vided only that he will fet his Name to his
Work: For I do not love fighting in the Dark.
And I (as well as Dr. 7". affirm, That '' to
" fay more than this concerning Cbrijfs im-
" puted Merits," to fay more than, that ''they
'' have purchafed for us Grace to repent and
*' believe, Acceptance upon our believing,
'' Power to obey, and eternal Salvation to
" them that do obey Him :" To fay more than
this '' is blafphemous Antiiiomianifm^' fiich as
'' Mr. Cahin would have abhorred, and does
" open a Door to all Manner of Sin and Wick-
ed nefs"
"I muftlikewife affirm,Thattotalkof i:V//z/.W
FJghtcGiiJhefs in the Manner many do at this
Day, is making the itnaginary 'Tra?2sfer ^/ Chrifl's
Rightcczifnefs ferve as a Cover for the Unrightecuf-
ncfs of Mankind, Does not Mr. Cb-p-n do this
at Briftcl ? Does not Mr. M—rd—n, 2X London ?
Let them fhudder then, let their Blood run cold,
who do it: Not theirs, who tell them that
thev do fo/' ThusfarMr.7/^^?^vagainilMr./?.
Eli!
tipm Mr, Wefley's Second Letter 65
JE« / Nofter laudo^ in melius qumiiiim mufatus
nb illo^ why could not you write as well when
you wrote to me ? You here condemn Mr*
Ro?naine's Opinions, as contrary to Reafon and
Scripture ; and the Articles of the Church of
England, But did not you know that thefe
Pvlen were Methcdifts ? Ridiciihim, non enim cogi-
taras. They may not be Wejleyans indeed, as
Wejlcy fhews himfelf in this Letter to a Gentle^
man, but notwithftanding that, they are all
Alethodifts to a Man-, if you are not already
fenfible of it^ you muft fee it prefently, idem
hoc tiite meliiis quanto inveniffes 'Tkrafo ?
For by the Way, will not this Remark,
which you have made upon the tie^iu Terms
and Phrafes, ufed by Mr. Romaine^ bear a little
hard upon your Friend Mr. Ve?2n? Has not he
printed a Sermon under the Title of Imputed
Right eon fnefs^ and Obedience not to be feparated^
You obferve, that there are no fuch Terms in
the Article y as, ON LT through Chrifl's imputed
Righteoufnefi : We remark alfo, that fuch
Terms do not accord v/ith the Church Liturgy.
For I do not remember, that it any where ufes
this Langitage of LmpuTx^vtion. It calls the
Death of our Lord indeed, " a full perfed: and
•^ fufficient Sacrifice Oblation and Satisfadlion
" for the Sins of the whole World" which ena-
bles him to intercede^ and nominate fuch as ful-
fill his CcjiditionSj or, are in their fcveral Cap-
tivies, the proper ObjcBs of llEDirMPTioN.
But here is not a Word oi Imputation. Ycu and
Mr. Fe7m, may poffibly fettle that Point be-
1 tween
66 jDr. Free i Comment, £?c.
tweeriyou, but here is another J/;;^//i'^//W-Man
who cancels all Obligation to Obedience. What
ihall we do with him ?
Mr. Elliot, late Chaplain to the Hofpital at
Hydc-F ark-Corner , in a Sermon, entitled £72-
coiiragement for Sin?i7iers, &cc. After giving us
his Account of /;;2/jz//6'^ Righteoufnefs, pag. 10.
lays, '' Laftly it is concluded,, that we are Jii/ii"
" ^ed by Faith 07ily, whereby all Works of every
'^ Kind, are fi:ut Out, as being wholly umiecejjary
*' and lifelefs in this great Matter^ even a Sinner's
*' Jultification before God." And it is plain, that
he means final Jaftification by what follows.
yames ii. Ch. and 23. v. is alledged by this Man
and others, as the Ground or Foundation for
this Doctrine of />>^^2i(/6'^Righteoufnefs,^^r^-
ham believed God, and it was imputed to him for
Right eoiifnefs. But \i thefe poor Feople could read
their T^eft anient in the ofignal Greek, (and till
they can, they are not fit to be 'Teachers) they
would fee that there is no fuch Word as im-
puted there, the Greek is ixoy'.cr^T, computed, con^
fidered, acccimtcd, reckoned, and never bore any
other Signification, in that Language : that it
fliould here be rendered by imputed, is wholly
owing to the Ignorance, or Bafencfs of fome
Translators. For \s\^ genuiiie Interpretation
of the Pafiage is, Abrahaim put his Confideiice
in God, and for this he was accounted aju/l, or good
Man, and was called the Friend of God. But I
only offer this by Way, as one Instance of a
thoufand, tliat might be produced to fliew how
the Doctrines of thefe People are founded en-
tirely
upo?2 Mr, Wefley^s Second Letter, 67
tirely in Ignorance and Deception^ and have no
Place in the true Goospel. This Man hath
lately publiflied a Vi?tdication of the fame Scr-
mon, under the Tittle of Sin destroyed, &c.
By which I fuppofe we are to underftand, that
there is now no fuch Thing as Sin, I have
not feen this Pamphlet myfelf, for it is by no
means pleafing to rake in fuch Filth.
But by the Account of it in the Monthly Re-^
view for OBober^ it appears to be full of the
fame jQiocking Principles, which the Author
impudently attributes to the Articles of the
Chmchoi England', And to ihew how well
this tallies with the Opinions of your acknow-
ledged Affociate, and Fellow-methodifi: Mr.
Whitfield, I have heard, that this Man has been
prayed for, at his Tabernacle as ^ Brother
under Perfecution.
The next upon the Lift, I think is Roger
Balk, but you difclaim all Acquaintance with
him, and make him an Ally of my ov/n, is not
this extremely Jocular ? For I cannot fay, that
I ever heard of Roger, or knew there v/as fuch
a Being in the World, till a good Woman,
who fent me your Affize Sermon, accom.pa-
nied it with a Piece of his wonderful Compo-
fition. I exprefled my Concern to fee you in
fuch Company : But yet I think we muft fet
him dov/n for a methodiflicarvtVio\^\ if not a
Methodijl. I cannot fay indeed whether he calls
himfelfof the Cfer^r/^' of England: But he
profefTes to be a Minijler of the Gospel, and
under that Prcfeffion difcards the oU Jesus
Christ
6S Dr, Free's Commeyit^ &c,
Christ, that was born in Bethlehem^ and all
his Injundions and Commands, as of no worth
at all, if compared to a certain yefus^ which
he carries about him, a Chrifais Efzgajtrimu-
tkus, et Gafuimargus^ which' " he J eels within
*' him ftirmig to be horn' And upon his bring-
" ing him forth, he calls out lujtily here's a
*' G6r//Hndeed, that will do you all (ome good' --
O brave Kcger ! But if you think he has been
guilty of a Mifdemeanor, his Evidence fliall be
fet afide,as we can fpare him -, to make Room
for the next. I hope you will admit of him, it
is W, M. (thatis WilUamMajon) Clockm aker,
oi'Rotherhithe Wall. He is 'very bold and faith ^
that he the faid William Mafon, '^ is a Metho-
*^ dift of the Church of England, &c. And
*' he concludes ffor himfelf and Brethren) that
*' a Man is juflified, (his Sins pardoned, his
" Perfon accepted to God's Love and Favour,
*' and his Title to Glory evidenced to him)
" by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law^
*' either natural , cereinonial^ -f* or moral ^^ &c.
But you cry Hold! " Mr. Majhh Words prove
" nothing," why fo ? Is not Mr. Mafon a Man
of Veracity ? I think this is cruel Treatment, to
baulk the Gentleman fo, and make him bluili
before fuch an Audience. You reply, that you
are fpcaking of thzcj'iginal Mcthcdi/ts, and '' he
*' is not one of them." This DiftinBicn is novv^
of no Service, he fays he is a Mcthcdift of the
"* p- 13. Myftery of Chrill crucified.
■f Remarks &c. in a Letter to Dr. Frec, p. i8.
Church
Mr. WefleyV Second Letter. 69
16. Will you fay, " Ifthefe were not Methodip thtmkXvc^^
they would ' not defend the Methodijli?'''' I deny the Confe-
quence : Men may be far from being Methodijisy and yet willing
to do the Methodtjis Juftice. 1 have known a Clergyman of
Note fay to another, who had juft been preaching a very warm
Sermon, " Sir, I do not thank you at all for this. I have no
Acquaintance with Mr. Whitfield or Mr. Wefiey. And I do not
agree with them in Opinion. But I will have no more Railing
in my Pulpit."
T)r. Free'i Comment^ &c.
Church of England. And did not you at the
Beginning of this Letter, make that the Cka-
radierfiick of the original Metbodijh; that
they were tenacious of its Kubricks, &c. yes,
but " he has no Connexion with Mr. Whitfield
" or Jc^j" fo then now Connexions with Ton
and .Mr. Whitfield make the Methodifis. Then
is not Mr. F^/^;^ of the Number.?^ And with
Regard to Mr. Mafion^ I have really been in-
formed, that he had fo far Connexions^ as to be
one of vour Hearers, at Mrs G/Vs Meetino;-
Houfe in Sonthwark.
Ah think at leaf}, thy Flock defeyve thy Care ;
Plants of thy Hand, and Children of thy Prayer, * Pope-
Verfe i6. But without dwelling upon this; I
fhould have thought, he had been a Methodijl
by his 'writing for the Cause, as you doy and
appearing fo zealous, as to be before Hand
with Mr. Wifiley himfelf; but you fay, that
this is no Confequence : For you knew '' a
Clergyman of Note.^ who faid to another,
*^ after he had been preaching a very warm
*' Sermon, that he would have no more Rail-
*' ing at Mr. F/hil field, or Mr. Weficy in liis
'' Pulpit." — And yet he was no Method? iW
Sir, 1 cannot believe it, I take this old Thief
yo Dr. Frets Commenf, dSc.
to have been a Methodiji in Disguise: One
of thofe, who eat the Bread of the Church,
and betray its Caufe ; or leave it to be defen-
ded by the poor Creatures, that ftarve by it.
I am countenanced in my Opinion, Sir, by a
Man of the beft common Senfe that ever
wrote, who fays: Ni hcecita ejfent^ nonciim illis
flares Phcedria, And Divine Wifdom itfelf has
affured me, that he, who is not against
A Thing,, is for it.
But as you and I cannot agree about thefe
I muft for other ReafoiiSy which the World
will ajfent to, if you do not; pronounce
Mr. Mafon and the reft of the People afore-
named, whether they have at prefent perfonal
Connexiojiswi^ you, who are Originals or
nor, (a Circiimjlance not efjential to the Cha--
raBer^ if they are conne(fLed in Opinions) to
be all Methodists. For they are ■—» —
" A Set of Efithiifiafts^ who under the Pre-
^^ fence- of being true Members of the Church
"of England^ either prevert its Doctrines
" relating to Faith and Wcrks^ and the I'errm
" of Salvation, fo as to make them repiig7iant\.o
" \ki^Y{o\^ Scriptures ', or eife offend againft the
*' Order and Discipline of the Church, or
*' further, even attack the Pri?2ciples of 'natural
**Religon, and ftili under the Pre^'ence of be-
'* ing Members of the Church oi England, or
**at Icaft Chriftians."
And now Sir, you fee what is become of
vourr/jVa*Vi/z/.\QuTBELE,that the People, who
held and publiiiied thefe dangerous Doctrines,
though
Dr, Free'j Comment ^ &c, 71 '
though proved upon them, and though thev
profelTed at the fame Time, and gloried in the
Name of Metbodi/isy were not to be called fo :
becaufe for the prefent, they were not in
Cojinediion with You : What is that to the
World , or Me? It is enough for us, Sir^
that they all correfpohd fo well with theZ)g/?-
riition. You cannot be ignorant of a noted
Maxim in LogicL — ^.od ccjivefiit Defaiitioni
convenit Definito — " What anfwers to the
" Definition^ anfwers to the Tubing defined.
(Well, the T^biizg defined was a Methodist)
and you and thefe People anfwering to the
'Defimition^ you and thefe People anfwer to the
Tbing defined \ and therefore you and thefe
People are all Metbodifls. And are as eafily
difcovered by the Marks, as a fi?'ay-Ho?fie at
Coimtfy^Fair,
Mr, Wefley's Secojid Letter,
17 From the Principles of the Method ifls you proceed to
their Pradlice. They hunt^ fay you, for extraordinary Marks and
Revelations. <vjherehy to kno-jj the State of the Soul. The Marks
by which i know the State of aay Soul, are the inward Fruit
of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Poace, Mseknefs, Gentlenefs, Good-
nefs. Long- Suffering, Temperance, Patience : Shewn not by
Words only, but by the genuine Fruit of Hclinefs.
Again. Thsy magrufy their Offxe heyo?id the Truth, by high Pre-
tences to miraculous bfpration. To this AfTertion v\e have an-
fwered over and over, we pretend to no other hf^iraiion than
that which not only every true Gofpel Miniiler, but eveiy real
Chriiliah enjoys.
Again. T^he End of all ImpoRors is fonie Kind of ixjor Idly Gain:
And it is d'lficult for them to conceal their Views entirel\\ The
Loi'e (t/^ filthy Lucre ^will appear, either fy the Ufe chcy make of
it, or the Means of getting it. As to the U/e made of it, you
are filent. But as to the Means of getting jt, \ou fay, Ceiides,
Inhumanity wringing/r£?w the Pcor^ the helplfs rfidovjs, the ^veep-
Verfe
72 Mr, Welley*^ Semtd Letter.
i?2g Orphans, (The Proof! the Proof!) they creep into Hou/esy an
lead capti-ve Jilly Womm., laden 'with di-vers Lujis. 'Tis eafy f^
Jay this, and ten Times more. But can you pro^e it? And
ought you X.0 fay it, 'till you can ?
I fhall not concern myfelf with any Thing in your Appendix^
but what relates to me in particular. This Premifed, I ob-
ferve on No. i. There are feveral Inftances in my Journals, of
Perfons that were in Agonies of Grief or Fear, and roared for
the Difquietnefs of their Heart : Of fome that exceeding trem-
l;/ed before God, iperhcips/ell doivn to the Ground, and of others
whom God in his adorable Providence, fuiFered to be lunatic
and fore vexed. The particular Inftances hereof, to which you
refer, have been largely vindicated already, in the two Letters
to the Rev. Dr. Churchy as well as that to the late Biihop of
Lo7don,
In the fix following Numbers I am not concerned. The
ei<rhth contains thofe Words from my fecond journal, ** The reft
of the Day v,'e fpent in hearing the <v:ondsrful Works, which
God is heginniiig to work all over the Earth." On this likc^
wife I have fpoken at large, to Dr. Church and Biihop Gihfon.
The Sum is : It is a goeat Work when one notorious Sinner is
throughly changed in Heart and Life. It is wonderfully great,
when God works this entire Change, in a large Number of
People : Particularly when it is done in a very fhort Time : But
fo He hath wrought in Kingfwood, Cornwall, Newcaftle. It is
therefore a truly r^vonderful Work which God hath now more
than begun to work upon Earth.
Dr. Free's Comment ^ (ic.
Verfe, ij. By Apologizing only for yourfelf
\\\ this Place: It is plain, that you acknow-
ledge the Charge againft the other Methodijis,
ofhu7iting after extraordinary Marks j;/^ Kt-^t-
hXionSs, /iii)hc7rby to hiow the State of the Sou!.
The Reader may lee a Proof of all this, by
perufing Mr. jo?2eis miraculous Letter from
the Ma'n/Io?is akve, and the other l^efimQ72ies
printed in the Appendix to my OA^/ir^ Sermon.
And as you profefs Connexions with Mr.
7Vkitfield\ you and your Company of Comedians
oui^ht to be told of k afrcfli, as it is no longer
ago
Mr, Wefley J Second Letter, 73
I have now, Sir, briefly anrwered for myfelf, which if re-
quired, 1 will do more at large. But 1 truft, it does already ap-
pear, to every impartial Reader, that of the many and heavy
Allegations you have brought, with an unparalled Bitternefs of
Spirit, and an Acrimony of Language almoft without Precedent,
you have not yet proved One. How far you are to be com-
mended for this (unlefs by Meflrs. Balls and the Monthly Re-
^ieivers) it is not for me to judge : Let all Lovers of Truth, of
Humanity and Candor determine. At prefent I have no more
to add, than that I befeech the Father of everlafting Com-
panion to fliew more Mercy to you, than you have ihewn to.
Reverend Sir, 7^our Servant for ChristV Sake,
John Wesley.
Dr, Freehs Cmment^ &c.
ago than about the 8th. of this Month, fince
Mr. V/hitfield \nmk\i cxhihiicdi a Farce of the
like Nature, before Sir Ch — iJ— and his Fa-
mily. One would have thought that zNcrth-
Country Baronet fhould have been a Man
of keener TJnderJianding than to have perjuaded
his Dependents^ or co?nmanded his Serva?2ts to
give Ear to fuch Delufions. For the Subjed:
of the diforderly Harangue^ it fecms, was this,
(if not in the very Words, to the fame Fur-
pofe) ''That it i^asthe Duty of Christians
" to he continually as inquijitive after New?, from
'' Heaven, as it is the Ciillom of Politicians
7 7 • • ^
'' to be aiways tjiqmring what is dcjie on Earth.
'Which ?.fter all xS?.^ impudent "^ Evasions and
Affidavits fliews us the /r//^ Meaning of
Mr. fones\ Letter, fmce one of your Origi-
nals could thus pubiicldy irxulcate amons:
bis Followers, the dckiiive Notion of 7!^ fettled
^-^ omnium c aft on 2.rA Correfpondence betv/een the
* See the Audiors Remarks upon Mr. Jonps\ Letter and
the A^]da^us. S:o. ?ag. 21. &c. Sea. UJ.
K 2 in\:i/Jl?le
';4r -Z^^'- Free's Comment^ &c,
mvifible World, and this. Does Mr. Jones ^
Lr -i TER pretend to mere t^-Crimineahuno'Dij'ce
Cmnc.^ — o little Diiference is there between
you Or iGiNALS, and the Non-originals,
that you may well be comprehended under
the lame Definition. And therefore from this
recent Inflance, it appears, that the Obfer-
vation in my \ Sefinon was juft, where lay-
ing down Rules for the Difcovery offa/fe Pro-
phets, I admonidied m.y Hearers to take
Notice, whether they did not magnify their Of-
fice beyond the 'Truth y by highFrete^ices to 7?tira-
cuhiis Inspiration^ &c
To this Aflerticn you fay, you have an-
fwered ever and over: but if this be the Cafe,
you fee there is ftill Qccafion to anfwer again.
And hov/ well you have anfwered before^ pro-
vided he v/ill take this Relation with him, the
Reader has my ixzQ Confent to enquire, if he
pleafes ; I would advife him alfo at the fame
Time to perufe Mr. Stokes ^ Letter to the injpired
Mr. Jones y upon alike Subjedt, to wit; when
be had his Text immediately from God, Vvdiich
Will expofe the weaknefs of all fuch Apolo-
gies.
For the Matter in the next Faragraph^ as
it came in Queftion before, it has been re-
plied to (p. 21 of this Pamphlet) already,
in the following Sentences, I obfervc that you
drop your Chicken ?vlr. Whitfield, which
till now you had taken under Wing, leavin^^
all vour Incumbrances to fliift for vourfclf The
i Sermon before the Uaiverfiry of Oxford. P?.2-. 1 1 new Edit.
Apo-
upon Mr, Wefley'i Second Letter, ^-
Apology for the Roarers will never do you
any Service, they roar fo loud, that you cannot
be heard. And for the wonderful Work, as it
ftands recorded, it remains a Wonder ftill. You
claim indeed fome Merit for reforming fome
bad People. I anfwer do that which is goody
Sir, and you fhall have Praife of the fame.
But is not here a ftrange Dwindling or falling
off from the magnificent Account of Thino-s,
which 1 took Notice of in the ^ppejidix to
my Sermon? Does not this put you in Mind
a little of the Story related by /Elian, concern-
ing Socrates and Alcihiades, when ^the latter
entertained fuch an high Conceit oi xki^ Extent
of his Poireiiions, Socrates, fays the Hiftorian,
took him into a Room, where there was a
Map of the World. He bid him lock for
Attica, or the Athenian 'Territory which for
it's fmallnefs could fcarce be {Qth-, and for his
own PofpJJiofis, they were 720 where to be found
Taking this Story along with you, pray con-
fider what Proportion does Kingjwccd, Corn-
wall, or Newcajile, bear to all the Earth.
Your joining the Meihodlji Roger Balls
with the Monthly Reviewers, I am afraid,
will do me an injury with thofe Gentlemen ;
as it muft put them in Tviind, how I once ex-^
alted ike Horn of William Romaine againft
them, through which, he has fince^'been
tooting his Solomons Song. I fiy I am afraid,
that this was meant as an Artyice to move
that forrnidable Body to another Engagement
with me, in order to take me off your Hands :
As
76 Dr. Free'j Comment^ &c.
As you have feit what they can do, and know,
that they and i are net always Friends. If
this fliould come to pafs, you will be fufficiently
revenged no Doubt for my Severities -, which
however are meant for your good. For not-
withflanding your dijldonejl Quotations; and
though for the prefent, I am obliged by the
Times to take my Leave of you, yet in any
Thing, that may contribute to your Eftablifh-
ment in the Truth, you may perhaps find me
occafionally,
Your very Humble Servant,
Scuihwark^Nov, 14, John Free.
1759-
Apjort Observation upon Ap fear an ces^
i^n^I Mr. Wefley's Maimer 01' njjrittng^ in this.
Controvcrfyy addrelTed to the Pi-hlkk.
The Reader muft perceive, from the His-
tory of thefe People, and the Accounts they
give of their Opinions and of th^mfelves, that
their Growth and Increafe muft be afcribed to
other Crtufes, than the Truth of their Do6lrine.
Since it appears beyond Contradiclion, that
their Notions in Religion, are many of them
contrary to the L-gkt of Nature, tkvo. Attri-
butes of God, and \Xit fundamental DoBriiies of
Jesus Christ.
As their Syftem is thus ^eneralh fliockino:
and deteftable in \x{€'.i\ no Art of Man can
ever make it worthy of an?//(?/W Afient. And
theicfcre it is, that we fee their great Apolcgiji
Mr. JVc/Icy, thus fnifting from one Opinion to
another, as he is reduced to Difticiiltles, chang-
ing
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter. 77
ing his Pofture, and even denying his Charac-
ter to gain fome little Adva?2tage in his Defence.
In one Place he is no Methodift at all, in ano-
ther. He is a Mtthodift from the BegtJining^
^nAthe Father of it. In his^r/? Letter, he engages
to refute my '' five vehement Pofitions againft
"the Methodift s^'mthis, "hehasnoCc;^^^r;2at all
" for th^wPrinciples orFrcSticer In the/r/?Let-
ter he declares, that ih^Methodifs would be high-
ly blameable if they '' held fach Pofitions, but
*' that they deteft them, that they never did/'
And yet if the Letter to a Genthnan be his, it
appears, that he, has v^ritten againft the other
Af^/fo^^j for holding fuch Opinions, himself.
In his Charadier of a * Methcdift 3 they are
fuch Latitudinaria72%y "as not to afient to this,
" or that Scheme of Pvcligion ; they thijik, and
" let thiiiki'm this Letter, the Note is changed,
" they are rigid Members of the Church of
" England. This muft be a wretched Caufe,
which in it's Defence, fliall lead a Man of
Parts and Learning into fuch Inconfftencies^
that from hence forv/ard, as a Writer of
Apologies, we muil deem him quite extindt.
"Thus all Things ha^e their Stages and their Date ;
And Man's Dc-vices Hill fubmit to Fate,
This great Arch-methodist, who heretofore ;
Roar'd till he {hook the Bogs | of Tullamore,
And making Converts compafidSca and Landy
Now falls to pieces, like a Rope of Sand.
* Pamphlet of Mr. WeJIeys pag. i
I A Place in Ireland^ from whence Mr. Weslby dated
his firft Letter to Yiv. Free.
F I N I S.
In this Pamphlet, fome of the captal Errata may be thus cor*
refted.
pag. 1 8. In the Note at the Bottom of the p. nad v. 7 of
this Edition.
19. In the Note at the Bottom, read pag. iv.
25. Line i, forth a read that, 1, S. for is not, read it
is not, 1. 14. for their, read there.
28. Line 5. read Jan. 10. 1. 23. for an, read and En-
thullaftick.
29. Line i, read Mack fun- man:
31. Line 8, readiine new Pidure.
63. for ae, read are. Infert at Bottom, Dr. Tucker^s,
65. At Bottom, read Captivities.
69. For 16, read 6.
70. For or nor, read or not.
71. For 17, read 7. ^
72. the fame (the Author craves the learned Readers
Indulgence for the reft.)
V
Dr. F R E E's
REMARKS,
UPON
Mr. Jofjes's LETTER,
And the Affidavits relative to the Compo-
fing, then publifhing from the Pulpit;
and afterwards printing that fcandalous
Forgery, the pretended Letter from the
Manfions above.
^oquo diffiiglas pavens^ Mahilt^
Nojirum non poteris latere Nafum,
Lilly's Gram^
* ' Id vifo^ tune^ an illi infaniant ?
Ter.
L O N D O Ni
Printed by E.-Owen, in Holborn, for the Author ;
And fold by W. Sandby, at the Ship^ oppofite St. Dunftanh
Church in Fleet-ftreet. 1759.
[Price One Shilling^
[ iii ]
TO THE
Right Reverend Father in GOD,
Benjamin, Lord Bifliop of ^/;^-
chejler^ &c.
My Lord,
HE following Pamphlet owes its Original' to
a very uncommon Event, no lefs than a Let-
ter from the other World ; about which, - 1
have had a Difpute with one of your Clergy, to whom
your Lordfiiip was pleafed to give a particular Ordi-
nation, and introduce by your Authority (for I am
confident it will appear, that he has no other) to be 4
Preacher in the great Church of St. Saviour^s South-
wark, where through your Lordfhip's hidulgence firft,
and now perhaps by the InterceJJtGn of, thr Lord knows
who, he has Permijfion to exercife on the fiy? Day of the
JVeek^ that gainful, but unlawful Trade of amazing^
confounding, deluding or da?nning fome Hundreds of higf
Majesty's poor illiterate, and difordcred Subjects, who
are here v/ith all perfevering Impudence openly encou^
raged to defpife their proper Pallors., and wander fronjt
their own Parifh-churches.
My Lord, You cannot be fo much a Stranger, \
think, to what pafies in your Diocefs, efpecially in this
great and populous Borouyh, as not to have heard of
the l^etter fro?n the Manftons aho\xe, which vv^as commu^
nicated to this lower IVorld in the Church aforefaid — >
the mojl rem. r!:able Rei-^lation perhaps, that has hap-
pened thefe hundred Years I For, it feems Mr. foJies
declares, that before he came there, it was more than
fo long, fince the People of that Place had heard of
the Gofpel of Chrifi,
The Connexion between your Lordfhip, and the in-
ijpired Faftor^ to whom we owe the Publication of thi*
A 2 pr>:-
[ iv ]
precious Specimen of new Gofpel-preachingy made ?ne
think it my Duty to lay it before your Lordihip, tho', I
confefs, 1 do it with fome Degree of Reluctance and
Concern.
Becaufe, I knov/ it muft give your Lordfhip not a
little Uneafmcfs^ to reflect, that at your venerable Years,
after having maintained through Life the Character of
a ftrenuous Advocate for reajonable Chriflianity, your
Lordfhip (hould be fo unfortunate as to defeat your
own Purpofes, and then fo unable to help yourfelf as to
be confidered by the undifcerning World, whileThings
remain \Vi. their prefent State as the Patron^ and Protcclor
of Enthufiafm^ and Deceit,
My Lord, as this your Situation is unplcafmg to
yourfelf, fo it is ungracious to the Eye of every Be-
holder to fee that Samfon^ who could not be bound
down by the Cords of the Convocation^ fo perplexed in
the Brieis, and hampered in the Nets of our new
Protejlant Popery^ as to want the AlTiffance of that very
Convocation^ and the oldConJiitution^ to deliver him from
the Jnjults and Mockery of a fmgle Enthufiafl.
There was a Seafon, my Lord, when the Minifters
of the Gofpely and your Lordfhip, among the refl, were
not afham.ed to preach up Right P^eafon^ and the Fit-
nefs of Things^ and after the Example of their Lorq
and Master, to deal out every Mans Salvation accord"
ing to his IVorks : but now the Gospel (variable as the
Humour of the Times, if we will let it bj fo) is to take
another Form, it's Precepts are to be ftruck out, as
with a Spunge : and xXx^'Tcnns of Acceptance^ the Pub-
lication, of which coft your Lordjhip fo much Pains and
Care^ and gained you fo much Glory^ are now no
more.
The Laws of the G:?//*^/ are confidered -asyezvifihAws^
and treated with the fameNegle(5t: and becaufe theChurch
of England mCiUs upon their divine Authority, and prciTcs
their Obfervance as neceffary to Salvation; fhe is left
as folitary as a Ccttage in a Vineyard^ or a Lodge in ^
Garden of Cucumbers. The Terms and Conditions.^ your
Lordjoip once enforced, are become odious, Becaufe the
Offirvation of Conditions implies [omc Merit in it -, but if
Gon
[v]
God huth fo ordained it; how can it be othervvife ?
God's Ordlrumces thcle Conditions are, written
in the Gospel in the largcft eharaders, and thofc,
who opoofe them are truly Antkhriji, as magnifying
themfelves in his Houfe againft his Authority, and op-
pcfwci themfek'cs to God himielf.
Oh ! my Lord, (you will pardon my Groaning^
'but I think we have more Reafon to groan than the
Mcthodijh.) What a ftrange Face of Things is here?
And if ihefe erratick Stars, to whom the Scripture at-
tributes the Blackncfs of Darhicfs, fhould reach their Me-
ridian^ what a difmal Face of things are thofe to behold ^
who fhall furvive a little longer ; your Lord(hip's De-
clination towards the Eve of Life, as the Clouds are now
gathering, leads me rather to felicitate thaii condole
your occidental Situation.
For my Lord, as far as I have been able to make Od-
fervations onEnglijh Hiftory, and I believe I have ftudied
it as much, as any of my idle Countrymen, I never knew
an Innovation^ fo extenfiye as this, begun in the Churchy
but it ended in the Alteration of the State. Thefe People
iiiy, that a Door is opened : But let us remember when
a ftrong Door is once flung off the Hinges, if it be a
little unweildvj it is not eafy to life it on again, and that
then there will be a wide Entrance for great Confufion.
If your Lordfhip fhould chance to get out of the Way
oitk\\s Mob and Hurry ^ by another ^iranjlation, I thinlc
the reafonable Part of Mankind, who live to fee that
Chano-e, may comfort themfelves upon your Departure,
as Tully did himfelf and Friends upon the Lofs of HoR-
TENSIUS,
Sed quoniam perpeiua quadam fdicitate nfids ilk cejjtt e
vita^ fuo ?nagis^ qiiamfuorum civium tempore,^ turn occidii^
cum lugcrc facilius Rempublicam pojjet^ ft viveret^ quam
juvare : vixitque taindiu.^ quam liciiit in civitate hene^ hea~
teque vivere : nojlro incornmodo^ dctrnncntoque^ fi eji ita nc-
ceffe^ doleamus : illius vero mortis opportunitatem hencvo-
lentia potius^quam mifericordiaprofequa?nur^ ut^ quotiefcun-
que de clariffuno^ ^ heatiffimo viro cogitemus^ illu?n potiuSy
quam ncfmctitfn^ diligere videamur, 1 wifh in this, and
every other Trial, if any other await your Lordiliip ; that
you mav find the Means of Confolation, and am, my
Lord, Tour ever rcfpeofful^ and obedient Son and Servant^
SoiuU<ark,Feb.io,iTS9^ JOHN FREE.
(6 )
R E M ARKS on Mr. Jones's Letter, &c.
'Ere one to analyze this notable Jpo^
logy for Reading in the Fulpit ac
St.Saviciirs, the yZ'j;;; Letter from theMan-
fions above, the Argument, fiich as it is,,
being reduced to an Epitome amounts-
to this.
" That Mr. Jones would have the Woild
" forgive fuch an Attempt upon their Ua-
'* derilanding, becaufe (Page 8.) he confef-
" fes himf.lf to be a foolilh Man." It will
be nJitural I fuppofe for the Publlck to en-
quire upon this Declaration, whether he
takes this whole Defence of his, with all its
Decorations, to be a /hi/io!e Apology? a
perplexing Kind of Queuion ! For if he
lays, that it is Jen/idle^ they will hr.r Jly be
prevailed upon to think it his own, as coming
confejfedly from a fcolifh Man : And if he
fiys, that it is not jenfible : Would they not
be perfwaded, that it would have been bet-
ter for him never to have appeared at all
in his own Defence ? However, as the
Thing is printed, they are to confidtr its Me-
rltu And in Oider, to this, I fliall briefly lay
before them. L The Letter it felf, and my
former Pvcmarks upon it, as printed in.tlie
Nute^ and Appendix of my Sermon U. I
fiiall examine Mr. y^/7c.j's own Account of
tiie Mcans^ by which he got Poff.iiion of
the
(7 )
the Miraculous Letter, and prove, that It was
not capable of being applied to the Ufes
which he pretends, and therefore, that his
real Defign nuift be of another Sort, and
fuitable to the Letter, which was to delude
the People. IIL 1 fhall offer Remarks upon
the Cr<:d\t odht JJidavits, and their De-
ficiency in difcovering Mr. Hayward de-
ceafed to have been the Author or Contriver'
of the Letter. IV. 1 Ihall confider the heavy
Complaints about the Charge of Forger)' and
Impojlure^ and then conclude with Mr.
Stinftra\ Reflexions on the temper and Ef-
fe^s oi Enthuftafm mgeneral 2iS it has (hewn
itfelf in all Religions, &c.
Section L Contains the miraculous LefUr
^jvith Dr. Free*j former Remarks upon it^
as theyjiand in the Noi^, and Appendix of
his Sermon,
N my Sermon before the Vniverfity of
Oxford, on JVhitfunday, 1758, I obfer-
ved (Page 9) that our Saviour in his Ac-
count of the Operatio72S of the Spirit, fays
not a Word of any unintelligible inward
Feelings, di\i\.on\ugAgonieSy or irightful Co?!-
vul/ions. For thefe he knew might proceed
from bodily Diforders ; and Enthufafs have
no Mark to diftinguifh when they do not.
Whereas a good Life can proceed but from
Qne
I
( M _
one Caufe ; and therefore Is zfoiid "fejlimoriy
that God is with us, ZSc,
Upon the Words Jol'id T^eJlimon)\ is the
following Note.
But not content with this, the Methodijls
have carried their Ciiriojity io far in hunt-
ing for extraordinary Marks^ and Revelations^
whereby to know the State of the Soul ;
that one of their Teachers, in Order to gra-
tify their Humour, and take as great an Ad-
vantage of it as he could, is faid to have
forged a Letter,- f?^cm the Manfiom above ^
which he read without Shame in the'Pulpit,
to the People of St. Saviour s SoutlmarL
NUMBER II.
From the Appendix of Dr, Free's Sermom
TT ERE follows as an Inftance of dire^
•*■-■' REVELATiON,the famous Letter,which
was read in Sermon Time at St. Saviour s
the biggeft Church in Southwark, and then
croudedwithM<f/ZW//?j,by oneMr.yo;^^5,who
fmce the Death of Dr. Slococky has had Per^
miffioJi to adt as Ckaplaifi there, it is taken
from the printed Copy, publickly fold in
the Borough^ for the Edification of fuch of
the Parijhioners as were abfent, they being
generally excluded their Seats by the Rabble,
who are his Followers.
From
(9)
Fir^m the Manfiom above ^
My dctir Chrijlian Friend and Brother^
SUCH you was, v/hen I was clgad/d
with Mortality, and fuch you are yet,
though 1 am now in an unbodied State.
The Change there is made as to me, makes
no Alteration as to the Relation there is be-
tween us. We are both Members of Chrifl:*s
myftical Body. We were borh Members of
the Church militant together/ and we iliall
both join the Church triumphant. I am
only come hither a little before you, foon
fhall I fee my dear Fido^ and my other dear
weeping Friends, and rejoice with them for
ever. Don't be afraid. Jefus Chrifl is a
faithful Saviour. He will keep that which
you have committed to him. You may
trud him both in Life and Death. Death
is the moft trying Seafon ; but here the dear
Mediator will not fail you. I am an Evi-
dence of it. There is a Solemnity in Death
which cannot be expreffed, yet the PafTage
is fafe. Oh what a glorious Change ! What
new furprizing Sceiies appear ! No fooner
was my Breath gone, but a Convoy of mi-
niftring Spirits, who were attending, con-
duced me to the Manfions of Glory j where
the ever adorable Jefus, with a Smile incon-
ceiveably tranfporting, invited me to take
Poffeflion of that Happinefs which he pur-
chafed at fo dear a Rate as his own Blood.
And now, my Brother, think; yea think if
B yon
( lo )
you can, what I now feel, what I now en-
joy ! Did Paul fay it was better to be with
Chrifl: than in the Body ? 1 now know ic.
Did the diftant View of Glory, make Mojcs
refufe the Grandeur of Egypt ^ No Wonder,
when ic is fo great, fo great that none can
tell it. Oh the Exchange I have made ! Oh!
the Happinefs thac Grace has exalted me to!
I am now no more watering my Couch with
Tears, but filled with Fulnefs of joys which
will remain for evermore. I am now no
more fipping at the Screams, but drinking
a full Draught at tlie Fountain-Kead. I
am no more clogged with a Lump of Clay,
or pining under Diforders and Pains of
Body 3 I am fct at full and per fed Liberty,
and am got where Sorrow never comes. I
am now perfedl in Holinefs. J am no more
fubjed; to Sin ; every Faculty of my Soul is
freed from the fad Contacrion, and all find
fweet Employment in the noble Services of
Heaven. Now I fee clearly that myfterious,
but glorious Scheme of Salvation through
JefusChrift ; its Beauties ravifli my Soul, and
till me with Admiration. I now fee the va-
rious Beauties of Providence, and find the
higheft Entertainment in the Views of what
once fo much puzzled and perplexed me,
1 now feel a divine Ardor filling my whole
Soul, and running through every Service,
without that Slothfulnefs and Indolence
v/hich oncee attended me^, and was bur
feebly
( lO
feebly complained of, I am no more that
formal, indifferent, languiflnng Creature I
was on Earth, but my Soul now feels the
Fire of Divine Love, which burns with a
perpetual and uninterrupted Flame, being
fed with the conftant and glorious Maniief-
tations of the Love of him that fitieth upon
the Throne and the Lamb. Here I have
found your dear PareiH^ and many of my
dear and valuable Friends. What a nume-
rous Affembly, and all harmonious. Here^s
no Envy, no Jealoufy, no Shynefs or Cold-
nefs, but perfed: Love, and a fweet Conten-
tion, who fhall ftrike the loudeft String, and
fino: Grace ! Grace 1 the loudeft. Here are
no depreciating Speeches of JefusChrlft, no
Attempts to rob him of his Glory ; but all,
as with one Voice, cry out. Worthy is the
Lamb to recehe^ Sec, Oh where am I got !
What is my Happinefs ! Beyond Expreffion !
I was once a Warrior, now a Conqueror, yea,
more than a Conqueror. No more upon
Mount Pifgah, I have got o'^ttjorda?!, I
am beholding; the Glory of Chrift 5 and, in
fine, my Veffel is as full as it will hold. My
Pen cannot defcribe the Glories of Paradife*
Oh, my Friend, be trimming your Lamp.
Hailen the Time, fly away ye lingering Mo-
ments, and bring my dear Fido, and my o-
ther dear Friends, to the Arms of Jefus, to
eeand enjoy what I enjoy.
B 2 And
( 12 )
And now what wait I for ? To fee my
dear Friends with me, to fee the Number
of God's EhCt compleated, and to hear the
Trumpet found on the glorious Refurredtion
Morning. What is my Employment but to
love, adore, and praifc throughout Eterni-
ty ? Farewcl till I fee you here. Go on
your Way rejoicing. Chrill: has your In-
heritance fafe in his Hands, and you (hall
furely have it. Oh love him, love him
more and more, and lay out yourfelf for him.
My Love to your dear Companion ; tell
her to prefs forward, and fhe fhall not be
difappointed.
Adieu, adieu,
Tour eternally affeBionate Friend^
And triumphant Brother^
Samuel Hayward.
My Flrjl Remarks upon the Letter.
As this Letter has thus undergone a dou-
ble Publication^ the first from the Pulpit^
the OTHER from the Prefs, we mufl ima-
gine, that the Piiblijher was heartily con-
cerned, that the World fliould believe the
Contents of it. But if {o, let us enquire
whether he believed the Contents of it him-
felf, to wit ; that it came from the Place
from whence it was dated, /. e. the Man^
Jims above ^ that it was a true and real De-
fcription of T^ranfaBiom in the other World,
penned*
( 13 )
penned, and com po fed and cGmmuicateJ by
the Mlniflry of the •S'piric of a Perfon de-
parted, as it is plainly, and in diredt Terms
ajj'erted in the Letter itfelf.
If he did belie^oe all this, he his a Mad-
7nan^ and a very dangerous Leader to fuch
of his Followers as are in the fame Condi-
tion : But if he did not believe it, then his
Chai'aBer mull appear much blacker; be-
caufe, if he was not mad, the whole Affair
was the EfFed of fome De/-g?i^ and that a
very bad one, impious with Refpect to God^
and villaijwus with Refped: to Men, as
being no other than to try how far the
common People might be impofed upon^
and made fubfervient to evil Purpofes:
But if it be a cur fed Thing to fead thofe,
who are deprived of their Bodily Sight from
the fafe Way that is diredl before them :
How much more unpardonable mufl it be
to feduce a Number of poor blind Souls
from the Paths of right Reafon? and when
they were expefting to hear, what they call
the true Go/pel oi Christ, to make fuch a
cruel E>:periment upon their Credulity, by
prefentiiig them a Revelation of another
Sort^ and in the pretended Charader of
their Pafor^ and Guide, to afcend the Pul-
pit, and deliver that as an Oracle of God,
which he knew in his Heart to be an abomi-
nable Lie,
With
( H)
With what Horror muft all Imiejl and
fenfible Men behold this Hypocrite -y in the
very AB of Delufwn, lifting up his Eyes
to Heaven^ and thundring out Damnation
to other Sy while he himje]fv^2,^ offending a-
gainft common Honejfy,
Were there no Officers of the Parifli to
take Notice of his Condudt, and report it
to his Superiors?
No Superior to reftrain fuch an Impostor
as this? who could thus abufe his Truft,
and proftitute his CharaBer as a Priejl of
the Church of England to ferve the vi-
kfl Purpofcs, to delude the People he un-
dertook to inftru^, and make Religion a
Jeft, by mixing it with lyi?ig Tales and pre^
tended Revelations.
Section II. Containing an 'Examination
of Mr. Jones'i o'jcn Account of the Means,
by which he got Fofjcjjlon of the miracu-
lous Letter^ and of ilx Ufe he made of it
among the People : by which it will appear y
that he could not read fuch a firange De-
z'ice in the Pulpit ^ but with a very bad
Defign ; namely y to make a Trial, how
how far he could delude the ig?2ora?2t Part
of the Congregation,
np H E preceding SeBion contains, what I
formerly urged againft Mr. fones, and
his rairacuious Letter. When it was pub-
liilied
( IS ) ^
lidied from his Copy with thofe Remarks
upon it, in the Appendix to my Sermon,
his Friends in the Borough were in a great
Ferment and Confufion ; and the firft £.v-
aife then formed and propagated in the
Hurry was, that Mr. Jones had dreamed,
on the Saturday Night, of receiving fuch
a Letter, or of having a Converfation with
Mr. Hayivard deceafed, the fame in Sub-
fiance v/ith what is contained in the Letter ;
which afFeded him fo much, that on the
Sunday Morning he wrote it down, and
it ftill harrafling his Imagination, he could
not forbear reading it in the Afternnon to
the People.
There was another i?6^cr/ at the fame
Time, which fhewed, that this Letter was
then fpokeof as coming immediately in fome
Shape or other from Mr. Hay ward. For
it is faid, that Mrs. Hayward, the Widow
of the deceafed, hearing of the Liberties,
which Mr. Jones took with the Name of
her dead Hufband, and being grieved at the
fame, went to a certain worthy Magiftrate
to inquire, if there was no Remedy at Law
againll him ; fince the Matter related was
fuch, as (he could in no wife believe; her
Hufband having never intruded any fuch Let-
ter to her Care, or given the lead Intima-
tion, that any other Perfon had been en-
trufted with it. And 1 have been, fince
well informed, that tho' Mr. Hayward died
ac
( i6 )
at his own Houfe, fiie.perfifts to this Day,
to declare, that (lie know& nothing about it.
Moreover, At the Time when my firft Re-
marks were publiflied, there was no men-
tion made of any intermediate Me [fen-
gers or Coadjutors, I'uch as Meffrs. Pear^
Jo?iy Webber, or others ; the Plot all lay
very fniig between the deceafed Mr. Hay^
liard and Mr. Jones ; and there it had been
.better, that it fhould have relied ; if Mr.
TTavward had chanced to have been like
to other dead Men, a Perfon that told no
Tales.
But now, as Mr. Jofies has put his De-
fence upon another Footing, I proceed to
erramine it in its prefent Form.
Fie confeiies, that *' he read this very "Let-
*^ ter in Sermon-'T'inie, in the Pulpit ; in the
Manner, that I have related : but denies,
*' That he -was concerned, direcUv or indireBl\\
*' in the Printing of it \' gives his own Ac-
count, how he came to the Po[JeJ]ion of it,
and the Ufe he made of ir,and to clear him-
idi from the Sufpicion of Forgcj-y, would
have us believe, that Mr. Hay ward was the
Author, upon the Strength of the Depofi-
iions, which he has procured for that Pur-
pofe. Thefe are the Heads of his Defence,
As for denying his being concerned in
the Printing of it, he mufl not expedl to
be credited ; unlefs he hadykw7/, in his ov^'n
Perfon, or produced others to Jivear, that
it
( 17 ) . _
it was done entirely without his K?2Gw!eJge or
Confent : becaufe it is reported, by Perlons
of Veracity, that printed Copies of this Let-
ter were diflributed to the -f* Congregation
as they came out of St. Saviour ^ Church,
which affords a Arong Prefumption, that
this Way of pubHdiing it had at leaft his
Permiffion, or Approbation.
Thus much, by the Way^ concerning the
Friiiting of it ; now let us hear, what he
has to jQiy about the Author of the Letter,
and how it came into his Hands. He tells
you, * " That Mr. Hayward, a Dijfmting
" Miniller, towards the Clofe of his lafl
" Illnefs, wrote it, and gave it to a Friend'^
— Very well ! — Pray, who was this Friend
of Mr. Hayward'^ ? Why is not his Na?Ne
mentioned throughout the whole Narra^
five, fince the Appearance of this Principal
Perfon is fo material^ that his Teftimony
would have gone much farther than Mr.
Fearjmi\ has done, to fix the Forgery upon
Mr. Hayward^ and prove that Mr. Jones
was clear of the liril Confpiracy^ namely, the
Compojition of the Letter ; the Want of this
material Witnefs then, makes a great Defi-
ciency in the Evidence^ and throws a dark
and difmal Cloud upon the Whole, —
* Mr. Jones's Letter to Dr. Free. Pag. 5.
t In like Manner his late Letter, to nie, was hawked
about among his Followers at the Church-Door, on the 30th
oi January lail, and will any one afle^t to doubt, v\hcih."r
thii v.as done with his jifprohation >
■ C Well!
€4
( 18 )
Well I — but Mr. Hayward gave this Let-
ter to this Frte72d of his, (which is no where
to be found out, being no where defcrlbed,
or named, and who perhaps never exiiled,)
wMth an Injundion to fend ir, hut not till
after his Deceafe — ^are. Why not {\A after
his Deceafe"^ unlefs it was to favour the
Deception of bringing News from the Man--
fens above ? Well ! — '' 'To Mr, Pearfon, a
" Linnen- draper in Cheapfde. The Letter,
accordingly, - foon after Mr. Hayward's
Deceafe, was received by Mr. Pearfon^
and he not a little furprifed at the kind
drtifice his P after had ufed to con\ ty fiich
Ipiritual yld^cice and Comfort!' — But I
don't fee any Matter for Surprife^ if the Let-
ter be confidered as a Fable -, for then the
Artifice or Trick was very mean, and filly ;
and the fpiritual Advice and Comfort juft
none at all : bccaufe in this View, it was
all a Ficlion, from Beginning to End.
Now for the Ufe he made of this Letter
ter, let us hear how he relates it himfelf, ^^he
procured, he fays, a Copy, "which agrees ''Jinth
that, which 1 have printed in every Re/pecf, ex^
cept theWovd FiDO,'which ftands in the Room
of Mr. Pearfyns Chriftian Name, which
w-as in the Original!' — he owns this Letter
{ijfcd'fed him. — Pray how did it affedt him ?
^■<?^ii.^ as a Fable or as a Truth? If, as a Fable -^
'\ he was affeded, as other Hypoc7'ites may
.. pretend 10 be,, by a filly Lye; — —but
- <c
(19)
if he was affefted with it, as a Truth i
why then he publifhed it as a true Lettevy
that is, as a Letter, really fent from the
Manfiom above, which is confefling the
Fadl, that I charge him with.
As for what he now fays on the other
Side, " that he told the People dijluiBly and
plainly, that the Minister ivrote it before
be died, and gave it to a Friend to convey
to Mr. P ajter his Deceafe!' there
is good Reafon to think, that it is entirely
falfe, and that he never told the People
any fach Thing. Becaufe his Deponents
have not fworn, that he made any fuch De-
claration ; a Circumftance, which would
never have been omitted in the Affidavit of
Meffieurs ColUfon, Adams and Roberts-, if
they could any way have been prevailed
upon to have vouched it to be true.
But now for the Motive, which indu-
ced him to attempt this ftrange Publication
of the Letter. — '' He thought it ivould not be
'' amifs to read it in the Pulpit -f* — and in-
troduced it in the following Manner — Jje
'' took Occajion to J peak oj the [olid Comforts
" real Religion, injpires again]} the Fears of
" Death' — And would have it believed, that
he produced the Letter to this End ; name-
ly, to (hew the Supports and Jblid Comforts^
\ Mr. Jones's Letter to Dr. Free, Pag, 7.
/
C 2 iji^hich r j
^ J
( 20 ) .
'which real Religion infpires ogatnjl the Fear
of Death — for that the Author of that Let-
ter was then, *' in the near and certain Prof-
feB of it V — But how could he argue thi^
from the Letter^ when the Letter repre-
fents the Man to be in Heaven. He could
not be in two different States at the fame
Time ; if he were on Earthy in the near
and certain ProJpeB of Death, as Mr. J ones
friys, he told the People, that he was^ —
then, the Letter contradicicd Mr. Jonep,
by faying, that- he was in Heaven, Is it
pofiibie, that any one iLould go about to
frove the Truth of what he iays, by al-
Jedging fomething, that abfolutely contra-
d'lBs it? From Mr. ''yones^ own Account it
^-ippears, that his Introduclion to the Letter,
and the Letter itfclf were contradidor-^ ;
and therefore it is impofjible^ that the Let-
ter fliould ferve as a Proof of the Intro^
duBion, It is plain then, that the Story is
incredible in itfelf, and never can be made
credible by any 'I'ellimony whatever. It may
difgrace any Man's "Tcjiimony, but no Man's
'■Tejiimo?iv can procure it Re/peBj or Credity
where it is fo deficient in itfelf.
Well !^ After giving us this incredible
Account of the Squabble in the Pulpit,
between the Letter and himfelf about which
fhould be mod believed by the Congrega-
tion— -—-he pleads *' tl^t ^L^hen it is cc?i'
^^ fdcred how JavGtirabk a Reception Mrs.
" Rowt's
* Rowe'-s'- Lett en from the Dead to the
* Living have met with from PerJ'ojis of all
' Ranks y Dr. Free ??/ighty furely, have paffld .
'' it by y at leajl but Jlightly cenfured ity as
*^ a pardonable Crime!'
Thefe Letter ^ of Mrs. Rowe's, if fo fa-
vourably received, as he reprefeiits, were
yet never received in any other Light, I
fuppofe, than as ingenious, Fables, and thus
much may be faid of JEfof^ Fables, Don
^uvedo's Vifions, or any orher inftrudtiv^ ;
Romance ; but thefe are never carried in-
to the Pulpit, There is a great deal of
Difference then, between the private Ufe
of Mrs. Rowe's Letter^, which are con-
feffedly Fabulous , and a Letter promifed to
a Ferjbn before a Man's Deceafy expcBcd
by the Living after his Death, tranfmitted .
and received at the Time appointed y and
then read to an ignorant Multitude as actu-
ally dated from the Manfom above. Foe
thefe are tombous and uncommon Circum-
ftancca, and {\\^\^ a bold Effort towards the
Jniroduciion and Revival of thofe Miracle Sy
which never could gain Credit in this Coun-
try^ but in Tiimes of deep Popery y to which
thefe PraBices may foon give a freili E-
ftahlijhment.
Further, befides the utter JJnfuitahk"
nej's of the Letter to ferve the PurpofCy for
which Mr. ^ones pretends to have made
L'f? of it, there are CircumjlanceSy both in
his
( 22 )_
his owa Account^ and In the Affidanjits,
which {hew it's Intention to have been oif
anojfier Sort.
It is there faid, that this Letter was not
cxpefted to appear till after the Perfon's
Deceafe. For ii'by ? Becaufe a Perfon could
not, with any Propriety, pretend to give a
real and exadl Detail of the Joys ofHeaveji^
till he was fuppofed to have arrived there*
This is an additiojial Proof, that there was
a Dejign in the Cafe; the T^ime of delivering
the Letter was to give it an Air of really-
coming from ih^^other World : for other-
wife no Caufe can be affigned, why it
might not as well have been delivered, while
the Man was in This,
I fay this Management of Times and Ap-
pearances, fo as to make them coi?2cide
exadlly in their Order y the one after the other^
is fuch a Regulation of Circu?njtances as evi-
dently fliews a DeJIgny and a Dejign that
was a very badon^y The Evidence of which
is not a little confirmed by the FraBice and
CharaBer of the Perfon then performing his
Part, to wit, a notorious Gatherer of the
Moby who were then adlually furrounding
him, fubfervient to hisPurpofe, and all agape
to fwallow his Delufions. I think the Ccn^
fideration of thefe Circiimilances will enable
any of the weakeft Underftanding to judge
of the prefent ^.eflion. For (hould any of
thofe DeceiverSy which are vulgarly called
Gamblers
[ 23 ■]
Gamblers be detected at a Gami?ig Houfe in
the Ufe oifalfc Dice could any Body doubt,
but that his Defign was to defraud and cheat
with them ? In jufl the fame Manner fliould
^fpirittial Decefuer^ as notorious in his Way,
be deteded with his l^okem of Deceit in
his Hand, and aBually ufing them, would
any but Fooh, or his Brother Knaves pretend
to doubt, whether his Rjid and Defign was
Deception ? In Truth there are fome Adiions^
which fpeak their own Defign, without any
additional Explication -, and again fome ^o^
kenSy which you cannot miftake the Ufe of.
For with Regard to this Letter, it is as
evident a Token of Deceit in it's Ki?2d, as a
falfe Die, in the Hands of a Gambler,
It is granted by thefe Advocates them-
felves, that it was a FiBion. And we can
make it appear, that it was a Fiftion intended
to delude^ and therefore an Infiriiment of De^
lifion. This is evident from the vtvyfirofig
ExpreJ^ons, vjh'ich are made Ufe of through-
out to encourage the People to ^ferious Be-
lief oi it.
For it profefles, in moA folemn and affed-
ing Terms, " That it come from the
'* Manfons above-, it defcribes the State of
" Things there j the Condition of particular
*' Ferfons in thofe Regions of Blifs, deals our
*' Revelations concerning the State of others,
*' who were to arrive hereafter: and declares
*' that the Author of it was then, at the
" Time
(24 )
l^ime of that Writing in this T^riumfhcmt
State \ and fays in order to be believed, iis
'much as a Man ca7i jay in a Court of J a die a-
*' turt\ when formally called upon to give
*' his Teftimony, -That he is an Lvi*.
*' DCNCE of thefe Things."
Can any ExpreJJion in the World htjlro?!-
ger^^ the internal Eiji deuce or Compojition oi
the Letter (liews, that the Author endea-
\'ours as far as the Force of Words could
carry him, to make the Articles therein con-
tained to be believed. And that theF^*^^r
are capable of being mifled by the grofjejt
Errors and Deh/fions is remarkably plain in
the Cafe of ^ames Nayler^ who in the Year
3656, iox perfofiating cur Sa^ciovj\ and fuf-
fermg his Folh'wers to %vorlhip him, and pay
him divine Plonours, was fcntenced to be fee
in the PillorXy and to have his Tonsiue bored
thro' with a red hot Iron, and to be whipped,
and fiigmatized in the Forehead with the
Letter i^. that is, Blasphemer.
A.nd I make no Doubt, but that this At*
tempt ol Mr. 'J ones ^ and his Afjociates upon
the MetboJiJis^ if it had not been ftopt in
Time, and brow-beat by fome rroublefome
Enquiries and Reflexions, would have pre-
pared^ the Way for an whole Packet of
/ntciligc?7ce upon the Death of Mr. Hervey.
For why fliould not his Correfpondence have
been credited as well as Mr. Hayward's?
when this firit Communication as they con-
fefs
(25 )
fcfs themfelves, made fnch an ImprcJJiQii
upon the Minds of the People, that Co-
pie^ of the Letter could not be obtained
fad enough by writhig, and that therefore
they were obliged to print it, to gratify
their Curio fit y.
Upon the whole then, it appears, that
this Letter from the Manfions above was
a falje "Token, or an Injlrument ot Error and
Deception , and he, that could give it fuch
a ferious Recommendation as to read it from
the Pulpit, kno'wing it to be fuch, was
thereby guilty of z Jolemn Endeavour to de^
hide the People,
How near this will come to Forgery and
ImpoJJure, I fliall confider in it's proper
Place ; I now proceed from Mr. Jones's
Account of this Matter, to examine the
Tejtimofiy of his Friends.
Section IIL Containing Remarhnpon the
Credit of the Affidavits, and their De-
ficiency in difcovering Mr, Hay ward de-
ceajed, to have been the Author or Con-
triver of the miraculous Letter.
n^H AT the Reader may have a fair Op-
portunity of judging upon the Cafe,
I iliall firft introduce the Affidavits them-
felves j and then fubjoin my Cenjure upon
the fame, to which he may give his Affcnr,
as he finds Occafion.
p N u M-
( 26 )
Number I.
7 A M E S Pear/on of Chenpfide, in the
Parifli of 'iiMicbael Le^iernCy Linnen-
Draper, maketh Oath, and faith, that He,
this Deponent, was at Lyjuingto?!^ in the
County of Southampton^ in the Month of
7///)', ^757 ; ^nd then and there did fee and
converle with, the late Rev. Mr. Samuel
Ilaywani, who was at tjiat Time, and had
hecn for a long Time before, in a very ill
State of Health. And as this Deponent was
converfing with, the £aid Samuel Haywardy
among otherThings,the f^idSafiiuelHayward
fald, if I (liould die, 1 have left a ^Letter for
You to be delivered to You after my De-
ceafe. And this Deppnent farther faith,
that after the Deceafe of the /aid Mr. Hay-
ward^ which happened about three Weeks
after the faid Converfation, He this Depo-
nent received a Letter by the Poft from a
Relation of the faid Mr. Hayward's, then
at Poo/, in Dorfetfbire^ which inclofed ano-
ther Letter fmned Samuel Hasivard, Which
laft mentioned Letter this Deponent verily
believes to be the proper Hand- Writing of
ti:ie faid Samuel Hay ward \ He, the faid De-
ponent, having many Times {*t^x\ him wTite,
and torrefponded with Him many Years
before his Death ; and which faid Letter
\% the fame in Suhftance with that which
is pubhihed in a certain late Pamphlet, laid
to be written by the Rev. Dr. Free, there
l)cing no other Alteration than in the proper
Name
( 27 )
Name of the Pcrfon to whom it was addref-
fed, And which ftid Letter the Rev, Mr.
^mei is charged to have read in the Pulpit
of St. Saviour s Soutbivark,
LONDON. Sworn
Jan. 19, 1759, before me. James Pear/cn.
R. Ladbroke.
E
N U M B E R II.
DWARD Webber, of Leadenlall-
Jireet, in the Parifli of St. Peters Corn-
hilU Stationer, maketh Oath and faith, thac
He, this Deponent, on or about the thirtieth
of 7^/)' 1757* was at the Funeral of Samuel
Uavocard, together with Mr. Jamei Fearjbn
oi'Cheapfide, Linen- Draper. And this De-
ponent farther faith, that as He was return-
ing from the faid Funeral, in Company with
the faid Mr. Pf^r/i;/, the faid Mv.PearJon
told this Deponent, that he had received
from Pool in DorJet/J:ire, a Letter, which
the faid lare Mr. Hayward told him He
would leave for Him at his Deceafej and
the faid Mr. Pearjbn did then and there
deliver into the Hands of this Deponent a
certain Letter, figned Samuel IJayward ;
and which faid Letter this Deponent read,
and this Deponent does verily beheve the
laid Letter to be the proper Hand-Writing
of the faid late Mr. Hayivard-y He, this De-
ponent, having often feen Mr. Ha\%i'ard
write, and having often correlponded with
him by Letter. And this Depon(£nt further
fdidi.
( 28 ) _
faith, that the faid Letter Is the fame in
Subftance with that which is publillied in a
certain late Pamphlet, fald to be written by
the Rev. Dr. Free, fave only the Alteration
of the Name of the Perlbn to whom the
faid Letter is addrefled ; and which the
Rev. Mr. yo?2es is charged to have read in
the Pulpit of St. Saviour s SoutLivark,
MIDDLESEX,
Sworn Jan. 19, 1759. Ed-ivardlViooEr,.
Before Thomas Quarrell.
N U MB E R IIL
JJ/'ILhlAM CcUiJQn, of St. Olaves,
^^ Southwarky Brewer ; Henry Adarn^
of St Saviour's South'ujark, Ho Tier \ ycwies
Rohefts^ of the Pa'rilh of St. Savionf^ South-
'li/'^r/^, Coal-Merchant ; feverailv make Oath
and fay.
And firfl:, this Deponent, WiUiam Colli-
fon^ for Himfelf, faith, that fometime in the
Month o{ Augu[i,\\\ the Year 1757, ss this
Deponent beheves, he was at the Pariili
Church of Sc. Sa^-jiours Southicarky and did
then and there hear a Sermon from the
Rev. Mr. ^Tbomai "Jonei^ one of the Chap*
iains of the fud Parilli ; during which, He,
the laid Deponent did hear the faid Mr.
''j'jnes read a certain Paper, the Contents of
wliich are, as near as this DeDonenr can re-
iiollecl, the fame in fubibnce with that
which tliis Deponent has unce i^^^ in a
certain
(29 )
-certain Pamplilet, laid to be written by the
Rev. Dr. Free, And this Deponent farther
laith, that he did not hear the faid Mr.
Jonesuic any Expreflions in Order to induce
the Auditory to beheve that He, rhe faid
M^i'.yojies^ thought the Contents of the faid
Paper came from the other World, or to
perfuade any Perfon then prefent that did it :
But this Deponent faith, that the Manner
in which the laid Mr. Jones introduced the
reading of the faid Paper, was as follows:
After fpeaking of the Comforts true Reli-
gion will afford Perfons in a dying Condi-^
tion, and the Happinefs of a firm Perfua-
tion of future Blifs; He, the faid Mr. Jone-y^
then holding a Paper in bis Hand, faid, He
could produce an Inftance of it in a Perfon
lately deceafed, who w^s a faithful Mini-
fter of Chifv'y and who left behind Him a
Letter to be delivered to a Friend after his
Deceafe ; a Copy whereof, He, Mr. Jofies,
faid, He had in his Hand ; with thefe or
the like Expreliions, He, the faid Mr. Jones,
introduced the Reading of the faid Letter ;
and this Deponent farther faith, that the
faid Mr. Joijes^ either before or after Read-
ing ihti laid Letter as aforefaid, did not, to
this Deponent's Knowledge or Belief, make
Uie ui'any Expreflions to any other Purpofe
than as aforefaid. And the faid Henry
Adam% and James Roberts do for themfelves,
fa) , that They were prefent w'ith the faid
JVllliam
( 30 )
William Collifon, at the Time and Place
aforefaid ; and that they do verily believe
that what the faid William ColliJoJi has above
fworn is ftridtly true.
Sworn this i8th Day of William Collifon,
January, 1 7 59. Before Mc f '^'^ ^T*
After the Perufal of thefe Affidavits^ it
may not be improper, for the Reader s In-
formation, to offer in xhc frft Place, fome
general Remarks upon the Nature of legal
Evidence , and then more particid(^r Ob-
servations upon the Merit of thefe.
There are two Things then neceflary to
tlie Credit of every Testimony : the per-
Jonal CuAiRACTER ofihc Witnefs is one;
the OTHER, the Cleanjefs or Probability of
the Thing related.
The Cbaradler of the Witnefs depends
upon the Knowledge of his Principles. If
thefe are fufpecled to be bady which every
Man may difpute in Court, as he fees Oc-
cafion J the fufpe(fled Party is fet afide ; as
a Perfon unfit to give a Teftimony, fo foon
as the Sufpicion of his bad Principles is
confirmed againft him, by the ObjeBions of
another Evidence.
As to the two firfljof thefe Deponents
yir.PearJbn and Mr. Webber-, I do not recol-
ledl, that I have the leait K?ioicledge of their
Chara&erSy or their Perjons^ and confe-
quently
(31 )
quently have no AJfurance of their Credit:
but I have this to obferve, that if they are
Methodifts ; that is, profefs the Tene'ts ol
feme Perfons of that Namej particularly
of that mad Blasphemer Mr. Hervey^
whom the Methodifts in their funeral Ser-
mons have fo univerfally ca72onized for a
Saint : that then I objed: to their Princi-
ples ; For the Principles I mean are fuch
as thefe.— *' That there is no Diiference
'* between one Man and another : — No
'' Difference betwixt the moft accomplifli-
«' ed Gentleinan^ and the moft infamous
«' Scoundrel \ — No Difference betwixt the
*' moft virtuous Lady^ and the vileft Pro-
'* ftitute : — No Difference betwixt the moil
*' Reverend Judge, and the moft odious
<' Criminal ftanding convided before him,
*' and receiving the juft Sentence of Death
" at his Mouth :— In a Word, no Difte-
" rence betwixt the moft fervent Devotee,
" and the greateft Ringleader in Profane-
" nefs and Excefs." — this being the Cafe
there is no Difference between Virtue and
Vice^ and R^ight and Wrong. Jf thefe De-
ponents therefore entertain fuch Opinions,
and liave moreover an Inter ejim the Cau^k,
they may as wcIUware wro?ig^ as right. And
iho' fome of them fliould allow that there
is Jiich a Thing as wrongs yet it is of very
little Confequence, while they maintain an-
other 'T€?iet of the Mcthodijls^ '' that a/m-^
gh
t 32 ;
gle AcS of Faith abjhhei ihem' of iheij
Wickednels.
Believe^ and all your Sins forgiven ;
Only belie'-Qey ap.d Yours is Heaven.
, T; / ilf(f/y6c?^. Hymns*
Men of fach Principles can have nd
Scruple of ConJ'ci^nce to reflraln them from
forging any Story : nor is it to be won-
dered at, if after fuch an uncommon^ and
impudent Invention as this, to delude the
SiMiTE, there fliould be fome of them ca-
pable of the more praBicable Falfliood of
imitatiiig another Ma?is Writirig.
- Ail that thefe Deponents pretend to fwear
r6, is the Similitude of the Hand-y which
leads me to make- fome Obfervations, upon
the Deficiencv in the Matter of the Evi-
DENCE as well as in the Principles of the
/Vit?7eJ/l'Sy fuppofing them to be Methodifts.
For, with Regard to the Matter, it is
required of an Englij7j Evidence, that he
iwcar the li'bole' T?iit'b, as well as, ?iothi?ig
hut the 1'ruth, Whereas thefe People
have not brought the whole; ihcy have,
made their own Narration dark and de^
feBire^ there is a great Gap or Chajm be-
tween the prime Mamvuvre or Operation
aiiributed to Mr. i?<7;"iC'^r J himfclf, and the
Came of the Perfon, who played laft into
ihe Hand of Mr. Pearfon : and I make
110 Doubt, but if this Aftair were to come
to
J 33)
to a T'rta/, but ir would be demanded in
Court of this Mr. Pi'ar/m (provided his E-
vidence, as a Methodiji^ could it be taken) to
declare ; and produqe the Perfon^ who in-
clofed^ and fent him this Letter, For being
indofedy there could be no Pojl-jnark upon
it, to afcertain the Place it came from in
this loii:er World -Thofe from above^
perhaps have no fuch Mark upom them.
— 'But we are now fpeaking of &/w^;z Cor-
respondence, and in this Cafe the Per/on
being produced who inclofed it, it will be
jiececefiary for him like wife to declare on
Oatl\ in order to prove, that it came from
Mr. Play ward', that he either received it
from him himfelf, or he muft trace it ulti-
mately to thofe, who had a Charge of it from
him in Perfon.
As the Cafe now (lands.
Here is a dead Man charged with fend-
ing a Letter to Mr. P ear/on^ and yet no
living Creature produced, who faw the de-
ceajed Perfon deliver fuch a Letter^ or who
can fay, that they took Charge of it; nor
indeed fo much as the Person namcdy
who is faid to have inclofed it.
Moreover, there is in Mr. Webber's
Affidavit notwithlfanding the Mention of
Mr. Hay ward's Funeral, fuch a /tudied.
Concealment of the Place, wliere he was,
buried, as cannot well be attributed to any
other Caufe, than the Defirc of avoiding
■ E • • • -Queft-
(.34 )_^
Qneflions, tliat mighc ariie from compa-
ring the Circumftances of 'Time and Place.
For as to the Time of the Date, they
give us none ; perhaps the new Style may
not yet be received in Heaven. So that
upon the whole their Teltimony is very
deficient and very fcandaloiis ; as they charge
•a Facl^ not at all to his Credit, upon a
Perfon dead and defencelefs, which, with
all tticir afFedcd Solemnity, they have not
been able to prove. Bccaufe, for any T^b'ing,
that is depofed,, this Letter, and it's Procefs,
may yet have been contrived by the Eji-
thufiafticli Mr. Jones, or an Imp might
have brought it long ago from tfee Taber-
uaclc- — —" God knovveth" — But in either
Cafe it will not be Mr. Hayward's Com-
pofition: and thefe People contrary to the
third Commandment, (which being con-
iidered as a 'Jewijh Law, is not perhaps to
be regarded by Gojpel-follo\vers) will have
taken God's Name in vain.
And fo for the Prefent, the Witne-fjes Mr.
James Pearson and Mr. Edward Web-
ber may go out of Court -^^ that in their
Turn we may attend to the Evidence, or
crops examine^ if there be Occaiion^ JVil-
Ham Collijm of St. Olave's Sonthwarh^
Brewer; Henry Adam of St. Saviour % South-
wark, Hofier ; and -yames Roberts of St.
'Saviour s Southwark^ Coal-merchant, feve-
rally
.1"' ^
I Iv^i- Jows'& Lettei-, Page ;.
( 35 )
rally (or rather jointly) making Oath as
before related.
Obfervations upon their Affidavit.
Mt. Tones flivs of this AMa-oit, that it
will clear him of endeavournig to make
People believe that the Letter came from
the " Manfions above."-— How fo ? w^hen
by his Account and by the Aflidavit, he
told them it came frorn^ the Manfiom a^
hove. Is not this attempting to make them
believe it?- But let any one attend to
the Affidavit^ and he will foon fee how
little it will anfwer Mr. Jones's ExpcBa-
t'lGn, And firft in Regard to a Facf^ which
in his own Account he has fo roundly af-
ferted — '^ that he told the People diilind:-
" ly and plainly, that the Minifter wrote
'' the Letter (from the Manfions above) be^
" fore he died, and gave it to a Friend to
^' convey ic to Mr. P. after his Deceafe.'*
But thefe Arfdcvuit-meJi Avear to no fuch
Matter, and therefore, I think this Omif-
llon is a Circumfcance, fo far from giving
Satisfaction, that their Silence upon a Point
fo material, cfpecially as they were all io
well dij poled to ferve him, muft be to Mr.
Jones, as it is to the World, a terrible Dif-
appointment,
2^/)', By fwearing that Mr. Jones at-
tempted to frovc a Propofition, or make
E 2 good
(36)
good his Argument by contraditVmg it (as
is before aircned in his own Account, which
I have ah'cady examined, Pag. 20.) — they
fwear to an Adion which proves him to be
ignorant of the very ElemExNTS, oi ^rgu-
mcntaiicny and void of common Scnfe.
A very ftrange Way of appearing to the
Ci'edit of a Man ! What a blind Leader,
and blind Followers are thefe r Tlie Friend-
fiipy they protefs would induce one to be-
lieve, that they came to give a ^ejti-
7nony^ that would do him Reputation: but
while they mean and profefs to do one
Thing they go and do another-^ but People
that mean to do one 'Things and again ft their
intc7ition 2:0 and d^o another, muft be miehtv
ilrfiaent in their Under ft aiiding. Here then
Mr. Jones's Credit depends upon the Tefti-
rnoijy of three Men mighty deficient in their
Underftanding.
And ldh\ To give You the ftrongeft
Proof, that they are fo, their Deposition
I' out radios itfelf.
. For \hty frjl fwear, that they heard Mv,
Jones read the Letter^ I have printed ; by
\hc i;e?j firji IFcrds then, thev heard him
declare that it came from the Manfiom a-
l^ovc and then immediately after they
fvvear as boldly, that they did not hear him
tife any Exprejjions io perfuade any Perfon
xh^n prefent that it did — So they did hear
him— -r^apd yet they did not hear him,
Sure
(37)
Sure the '^ujike mull: wonder at fuch a
wretched Depofitio?t as this.
" You 6'ev, Sir, fays Mr. Jones to me^
what I have offered in my Defence," •
7^6^ indeed! and I fuppofe the World
fees it, to wit \ that the only i^^^^, which
is clearly made out by thefe Depojkiom is^
that Mr. Jones acl ually xtii the Lczttv from
the Man/ions dbo've^ in the Manner that has
been related, with which (liocking Bkf-
phemy and Impoiition he feems fo little af-
feded, that he calls the Fropagatioji of
thefe Lies aqd Fciljhoods promoting a Senfc
of Religion, and fiys, that their fole Aim
is the Glory of t^^"'
To gioriiy God. in this Manner^ by de-
ftroying all Sense of his Wifdoin^ Jufiice^
T^ruth^ and oiher Attributes,, is paying
him much fuch a Sort of Reverence as
thofe Tc'i^^/ Subjecls ftew to a King, who
levy Forces in his own I^ame to wage War
agalnfi his Person, and drive him from
his Throne.
• How dangerous is this hifinfMHty^ whe-
tlier real or affecled'? After all thefe Affi-
davits to the contrary, he ftill fliews a Pro-
penlity for making this horrid Contrivance,
what they call the IVork of God, and won-
ders at my -giving them Oppofition in a
Thing, that tended fo much to his Glory,
In the Conclufion too, he mixes Threats
&nd Menaces with a pretended Frayer.
Here
( 38 )
Here is rare Hypocrify for you ! will any
but Fools be caught with fuch bare-faced
Deceit as this ? Is this the Spirit of Prayer-
amongft the Methodifts ? to pray and
threaten in a Breath ?
He fay* that I have given \\\m Advantages-'
If he means by this, that I have given nim
Advantages in Difputation, he is wel-
come to take them where he ca?i find them ;
for I believe they are only to be obferved
by himfelf : But if he means Advantages
in a Court of Law % he is welcome to take
them likewife, after he and his Counf;::ller
have confidered, what I have to fay in the
next Sedion upon the Subjedt of Fcrgery,
and Impo/lure.
Section IV. Co?itains an 'Examination of
the Grounds of Mr. JoNEs'i Complaints
about the Charge of Forgery and Impof-
-' tiarcj and what Reafojis there may be for
^^^ him to efieem himfelf fo innocent.
TV/TR. Jones complains (Page 4 of his Let-
ter) that I charged hioi with forging
Mr. Hayward's Letter, &c. — which is
flraining of my Wordy a little difoneflly.
The Reader may fee Page 8 (of thefe Re-
ma]ks)that the Expreffion is — " he is /aid
to \\2iVQ forged a Letter, &c." that is, the
World charged him with the Forgery ; and
if they do fo ftill, can I help it? As
Things ftand at prefent, there is not any
great
( 39 ) _
crreat Sbeiv of a Clearaizce^ whkh I belie\;e
iinv one will be inclined to conkfs, who
ilvall perufe the following Obfervations
upon I'orgery and Impoflure.
The Woi^d .f OtfJCtg is derived, accord-
ing to fome, from the German fUtgCtJCn,
to ailcge^ or pretend -, according to others
iVom the French JForgCr io forge. If from
the latter, the Word originally fignifies
fomething made dudile or pliable in the
Fire, fo as to take fuch a Form upon the
Anvil as the Craftjman fhall pleafe to give
it. From this general Meaning, the Word
Forgery becomes applicable to any Sort of
Contrivance, which is attended with fome
cunning Device, Invention, or Deceit.
Hence it may fignify '^falfe Copy of a true
Original. Or an original Writing is a
Forgery^ where there is contained any Mat-
ter or SubjeB tending to Impofitim or De-
ceit : becaufe that Matter or SubjeB did
never exij}^ but was hammered out of the
Man's own Brain, to delude and millead his
Neighbours ; which the Law fuppofes to
be a Trefpafs ; becaufe Error of every Sort
is generally attended with fome Hurt : and
for this Reafon the Mofaick Law fixes a
Curse upon thofe, who remove a Land-
mark, or lead the Blind out of his IVay. Be-
caufe fuch Deceits may produce Errors of
very bad Cmfequena : the one to the Fro-
ferty.
( 40 )
ferty, the other to the Ferfon of the Man
that's injured.
It is the Importance of the Error^ which
makes a Forgery of great or little Confer
quence. If a Man dates a Letter from
Rome, and yet ivrites it at Oxford, a?id
fends it incloled in another Letter to a Corref-
pondent : Jo that wanting the Poft-Mark it
may be delivered in London, as a Letter
coming from Rome inclofedin another Packet^
and it defcribe Things paffing there, which
yet are fabulous'; as for Infiance^ the Burn-
ing cfthe\ATiQAi^^ ^^^ Death of the Pope,
cr the Departure of the Pretender:" —
— • — why this Letter is 2i forged Letter , and
the Hurt it does, when pitbli(loed^ for ther
Hurt lies in the Fublifmng^ will be efti-
mated by the Damage occafioned by the
'Error,
Again, " If a Man invent a Letter from
Heaven, and fend it to another figned hy his
own Hand, ^/r^lealed with his own Signet,
givtJig the other certain Information, that
there is an * Eftate aBually fallen to him in
/Z^^ other World, and that the Steward had
procured him Seifin in Law^ or xi^t^ofjef
foiij without ^;2y Fealty, Fine, or Condition,
exaBed by the -f- Lord of the Manor; and
that fje is an Evidence of the TranfaBicn ;
and the other deluded by this falfe Account
makes
* The Letter from the 'hinyifions. Sec. fays, it is an L//j€~
ritancf„ f God Alciighty.
(41)
makes himfelf eajy about the Conditions, and
when he comes to take Pofleflion of the
Eftate Jifids himfelf excluded, and oufted,
and then imprifoned in moft horrid Darknefs,
for offending the Lord of the Manor, in ne-
gled'ing Homage, and other Conditions:
by Reajbn that his lying Correfpondent toki
him that the * Steward would do all that for
him without any trouble of kisy which the
Steward never faid, 7iay had left a ^, Wri-
ting to the contrary!' — Why here is a forged
Letter, and the Offence will be effi mated
by the Damage, or Danger, attending fuch
an 'Error: For this falfe Intelligence (to
drop the Allegory) is really Hurt to the
Souls of Men, deluding them in the great
yiffair of Salvation j/^? /izr of greater Con-
cern, than any earthly Lofs or Damage, that
our Saviour, making an Eftimate of the Da--
7nagey fays, what fhall it profit a Man if
he gain the w^hole Worlds and lofe his own
*SW? Matt. xvi. 26.
And if our Law has been careful to fe-
cure to us, our ^^^r/^/)' Property, by pu-
nifliing thofe, who fliall be guilty of cer-
tain falfe Pra^ices to defraud us of it ^ it
is not to be doubted, but that it intends to
make the fame Sort of Pra5iices as crimi-
naly to diftinguifh theai by the fame inr
famous Name, and load tbem with ih^fame
heavy Puniil:iment, where the Obje& of the
* i:\\Q Me.iiator Jesus Christ, J The Gofpel.
F Fraud
( 42 )
Fraud Is deluding us in the Title^ not to any
temporal Po'i}\l]ion^ but to one, more ^-oalu^
able, which is eternal in the Heavens.
' Let us here then examine a Law of one
of our irreateft Princes, the famous Statute
of Since?' Elisabeth, and learn, what are
the Circumjlances^ in the "Eye of the Law,
v/hich make z Forgery : and then let any
one judge, whether the Efjmtial Articles
of the Crime are not to i3e found in the
Cafe before us ; with no other Difference
than the ObjeSI- : the Contrivances in one
Cafe being fuppofcd to rob us only of our
temporal Property, but in the other, the
Deliifion affedls our ^'/^rz/j/ Welfare. To
judge of this Reafoning, let any one attend
to the Words of the A<fl.
By which it is enaBed, *' That if any Per-
fon upon his own Head and Imagination, or
by falfe Confpiracy and Fraud with other Sy
Jljall willingly, fubtilly, and falfly forge er
make, or fubtilly caufe, or willingly alfent
to be forged or made, any falfe Deed, Char-
ter, or Writing fealed, Court-roll, or the
Will of any Pofon in Writing, to the hi^
tent that the State of Freehold or 3!nf)eri-
t^nC0 of a?2y Per Jon, of any Lands, Tene-
ment S:> or Hereditaments, Freehold or Copy-
hold, or the Right, Title, or Interefl of any
Perfon in theja?ne may be niclefted, troub-
led, defeated, recovered^ or cha^'ged\ or pall
pro-
(43 )
pronounce, publifli, or fliew forth in E-
vidence the fame as truey knowing the lame
to be falfe or forged, to the Intent as above
'■ ' ■ • ; and fiiall be thereof convicfted, etlber
upon jAdtion at the Suit of the Party, or
otherwife according to the Order and due
Courfe of the Laws of this Reahn,
he JJjall pay to the Farty double Co/is and
Damages^ and be fet in the Pillory^ and have
both his Ears cut off] and his Nojlrils Jlit^
and feaj^ed icith an hot Iron, and Jlmll for-
feit the Profits of his hand during Life^ and
be irnprijcned alfo during Life!' Sc6l. 2.
And all Jujiices of Oyer a?id Terminer,
and "Jujiices of Afiizej fall have Poiver to
acquire of\ hear^ and determine all Offences
in this Acir
Let any one only obferve in the A61:,
the Words — pronounce^ publifh, or fbew forth
irj. Evidence and he will fee how the
Letter correfponds to a Title. For it fays, it
comes in Evidence — ■'* I am an Evidence'' —
are the exprcfs Terms.
I imagine by this Tim.e, that the Reader
begins to think that Mr. Jones has been a
little guilty^ fince in the Reafon of the
Thing, and by all the Analogy of Law he
comes within the Intention and Letter of
the Statute, and that, tho* I may acquit
him ; yet, if he isoere tried in fonn, there
are Circumftances in the Statute^ which
would bear hard againf him. For tho' the
F 2 Ideas
( 44 )
iVcas of the conimGu Law are in theie Cafes
^\\ix\^ confufed', by Reafon, that fome of
our Lawyers of late Years, waiitiiig the
Education of Coke or Selden, are not ac-
quainted with the primary Signijication of
LaW'ivords^ which conveyed ihtjlricl No-
tions of antient PraBice^ yet the Ideas in
the Statute are determinate and clear^ and
where the common Law is wanting in Pre-
cifion^ it helps irfclf out, in thefe Cafes, by
trying the Perfon for a Mifdcmeano-r^ as an
Impostor, or a, Cheat.
And upon this Iffiie Mr. Joneses deny-
ing himfelf to be the Jirjl Framer, or
■Composer of the Letter will not ^^w/ him,
any more, than in the Ccrfe of Forgery
above related: it will be fufficient for his
Convidion, i\\d.ih.Q pub lijhed^ or in his ow72
Pfrson prcmotcd the Deceit.
For as in the Cafe oi counterfeit Money,
which is likewife a Species of Forgery,
the Perfon who utters it, knowing it to be
Counterfeit, as we!} as the Coiner becomes
a Principal in the Treafon or Plot ; fo in
t'he Cafe of Faljhood by Prophecy , or rr//-
gious FalJ]:ood'y the Perfon publijinng the
Prophecy^ as well as the Maker of it be-
comes a prtncipal Cheat. For by the
Ciaufe of the Statute of Queen Eliz. which
is printed in the 27th Page of my Notes
upon Mr. W^efley^ firft Letter, it is de-
clared, ** char if any Perfon^ fl^iall advi-
"- iedty
( 45 ) . ■
fedly and dlredly advance, piibliflj and
fet forth by Writing, Printing, Singing,
or any other open Speech or Deed, any
*' fond, fantadical, or fallc Prophecy, th^re-
•' by to make any Diflention, or other Di-
*' fturbances in the Realm, he fliall for the
'' firjl Offence be imprifoned for a Year,
'' and forfeit ten Pounds ; and for the fe-
^ cond Offence be imprifoned for Life^ and
" forfeit his Goods ; half the Forfeitures to
" the King, and half to him^ who fliall
" fue for them in any Court of Record."
5 Eliz. c. 15.
This is the Law: and as Mr. Janes has
now furnifhed the World with Atjidavits to
fhew the certainty of the Fah^ hy him
committed, which moreover he cojifeffei in
Print ; I think, every Man oi Senje has Ma^
termis enough to judge in this Affair for
himfelf^ without my inrerpofing any farther
upon iht Suhje5l', only 1 could wifb, that
after the Reader has decidedupon this par^
ticidar Cafe ; as the Difiemper of the Times
runs fo high^ and may be nurfed and in-
flamed, by fome Hands, which ijoe can^
not fee, he would be fo good as to give fomc
Attention to what I have further to relate
in the Conclufion, which may make him
more aware of our prefent Danger.
The Relations following are not my own^
but, as they fitthe^//;^^^, I thought they might
be quite of as much Service to the Pnl?-
lick,
46 Mr, Stinstra'^ Reflexions upon,
lick^ though they came from another ^/^r-
ter.
Conclusion, coittaiiting Mr. Stin-
ft ra's Reflections upon the Temper and
Effeds of Enthufiaim in general : to
'which are added fome particular Rela-
tions of the Troubles in Germany, and
the Exit of a Jlrange Emhufiaft in Eng-
land.
^'n^HE lafl Means, fays the Author, which
I have to lay before you, for fecuring
you againft the Snares of Fanaticism, is,
that you (hould confider,that this Monster
has infinuated Itfelf into all Religions and
SeBs j and always with the fame CharaBer
and effefitial Qualities, though it has af-
fumed different Forms at different Times.
This Conjideration will prevent your being
farprifed at feeing this Spirit of Delujion
appear again in our Days. You will be
lefs amazed at the mai^oellous Things, that
attend it, and eafily comprehend, that thefe
Marvels are far from being a Proof of it's
Truth and Divinity^ becaufe the Fanaticks^
who in this Refpeft, don't in the leaft
■give way to each other^ neverthelefs main-
tain contradiBory Propofitions."
/' The Heathens had formerly their Fa-
ticks in their Priejls and PrieJleJJes^ who,
Vv^hen they were, according to their Opi-
nion, poffcfs'd or influenced by their Gods,
made
Eiithiifiafm in general. 47
made the ftrongeft Motions, falling into
ConvuUive-Fits, foaming with Rage, and
running up and down like mad People:
All thefe Signs of Madnefs and Fury were
then moft vifible, when they delivered their
pretended Oracles, We find that the fame
i^pirit reigns to this Day in modern Foga-
nijm J and that in many Places, the blijid
Multitude is miferably cheated by Impojlors,
who perfwade them to any Tubing they pleafe.
Many of the Ancient Philojhphers follow-
incr the Chifnera's of their Imagination mov^
than Reafon were caught in the fame Snares..
They dreamt of, I know not what Revela-
tions, Illumi?2atio?2s,kcrtt Co?2verJatiom, with
divers Sorts of Spirits of the firft Order,
and imaginary Deities, They boafted here-
by to come at FerfeBiony and by a certain
magical Power, to bring " many Jurprizing
Things to pafs/*
*' This dangerous Pradlice communica-
ted itfelf from the Philofophers to the Chri-
ftians, among whom it foon made a fatal
Progrefs. Faith became fophiflicated, Man-
ners corrupted, and the Church disfigured :
So that St. Paid had more than one Rea-
fon to exhort the ColojjianSy to beware, left
any Man fliould fpoil them, through fuch
a philofophy and vain Deceit. It feems that
the Apollles themfelves, had in their Time, ,
to ftruggle againft Fanaticifm : For what
NecefRty waa there elfe to admonifli the
Faitlv
4^ Mr. Stin^tra'^ Reflexions ii-pon
Faithful, not to believe every Spirit. From
this poifonous fource, all the foolifli Opi-
nions of the Hereticks afterwards fprung
forth. The fime Spirit made Julian to
become an Apojiate, Fanaticifm chiefly
fixed itfelf in Egypt^ and continuing gra-
dually to make greater Progrefs; it arrived
at laft to its higheft Pitch, in thofe dark
Ages^ when the Religion of Christians
conflfted in nothing more than Fables^ and
Imaginatiom^ or ridiculous Ceremonies.
" Monachifmy or the Injlitution of Monks
and Friar Sy took its Rife from Fanaticifm,
This is the Origin of that Number oi reli-
gioiis Orders^ which the Church of Rome
is over-burthen'd'with. The Founders of
liiofl: of them were fuperftitious and enthu-
fiaftick Perfons. They eftabli{h'd their dif-
ferent Inftitutions upon Revelations, they
fancied to have received,. Fanaticifm in one
and the fame Centiir\\ viz, the Thirteenths
made appear all the Extravagancy 'tis
capable of, in FranciSy who preached to
Sivallo'-jvs and FiJJ:es? and all its Fury and
Barbarity in Domini cus, who was the
firft Author of the Ivquifition, Each of
them made an infinite Number of Disci-
ples; and thus forming two great Parties^
they by their Jealoufyy En^iy, and Hatred^
have oftentimes been prompted to attack
one another with Fiercenef and Fury. Has
there ever been a more ra?ik ^ndflly Fana-
tick
'Enthufiafm in general. ^p
TICK than the famous Spaniard^ Ignatius
Loyola, Founder of that powerful and
formidable Order of the Jesuits, who
through the many villainous and execrable
Undertakings they have been guilty of, have
juflly drawn upon themfelves the Hatred oi
all, that love Virtue^ Religion and Peace.
'Tis by that fame Spirit of Enthufiafm^ that
Francis Xaverius^ and others, have acquired
fo great Power to their Society in the Indies'.
" The Janfenijls^ who are the greatefl:
Enemies the Order oijefuits can have in the
Church of RG?ne, have neverthelefs not been
more free from the Infection of Fanati-
cism. What Scenes have the CowouJfonifls
of that Party not played in our T>ays^ on the
Tomb of Abbot V^V Paris? Very little Time
however was fufficient for feeing thefe Pro-^
digies vanifli into S?noke,
The fame Spirit has alfo often ihewed
iifelf in the Proteftant Churches: Even
the Times of the Reformation were not
free from it. The Lutherans had a Jacob
Boehmy with his Adherents, befides a S'wartn
of^xorrupted Pietifls.
^Among the Cahinifis^ what Advantage
did not the crafty Cromwell draw from
lanaticifmy with Refpedl to the Part, he
chofe to act ? And how powerfully did the
fame Spirit operate in the laft CV;//^r^', in the
Smet^ oii\it§jiakcrs? Thev talk'd of no-
G thin^j:
50 Mr, SxiNsTRA'i Reflexions ?^/?^«
thing but hifpiraiions^ Fijions, and Dreams -j
and fliewed an incredible Zeal for propagat-
ing their Sedt. They found but too many
Followers in tbofe Provinces^ and even in
our Communion. There are old People who
11:111 remember yhtoi;iette de Boiirig7wn ; ihe,
Labadiey and Poiret^ made in their Time as
much Noife as any Fanatick in our Days
can make.
Don't be furprifed at my telli;ig you, that
Mahwtet was not only an Impojior^ but alfo
an E7itk/Jiaji, and great Fanatick, The Hi-
story of his hife^ and what is contained in
\\\%^ Alcoran^ leave no Room to doubt of it.
The Cal^alaoi the Jews, what is it elfe
but a Vrodudiion of difordered Brains^ a
Medley of hnagifiations^ and a Chaos of
Dreams, on the different Orders of Spirits^
and their jnarvellous Operations ?
Compare all tbefe different Appearances
of Fanaticijm with one another, and you
will find, that though it has varied in a great
many Refpeds, and has not always^ carried
its Extravagancies to the fame Degree; it
has neverthelefs, always had the fame dijlin-
guijlnng Character, and the i^unt ejjential
^talities. By thefe Meajis, I am apt to be-
believe, you will be fecured irovafacrijicing
the rcafonable Faith^ w^hich you make Pro-
ieHion of, to its iicild and cfjimerical Opi-
nions.
': Thus
Entbujiafm in general. 51
" Thus I think I have made good what I
propofed. All that remains for me to do, is
to bejeech Almighty God to pour forth hlsBlef-
fing on this Work, that it may be to many
an effeBual Prefervative againft the TnfeBlon
oiFanaticifm, As for thofe, that actually
are the Sport of its Illufiom, my Exborta-
tions are not directed to them. I rather
fear that my Leter will exafperate and /;2-
cetife them againft me, inftead curing them.
Nor do I know, what means I could make
ufe of, with an Appearance of Succefs, to
bring about this laft Effedi. Good Sense
Solid Reason only could reclaim them :
But all this is to them an O^V^^ oi Contempt y
and fometimes even of the bigbejl Averfion,
The ftrongeft Arguments are in vain, as
foon as they imagine they/^^/withm them-
felves the coiitrary. They take this Eenfa-
tion^ or Feelings for a filfficient Anpwer to
all, that is objeBedio them. When a Man
is come once to this Pafs, w^e muft expeft his
Recovery only from the Grace of God-, from
forne lucid Iittervaly 'v^\i\c\i may give his
Ima<rination Time to cooly from the Affl-
ftance, which MedicijieszSoxA in fuch Cafes;
or, in {[\oxty ivoni forrowful Conviolion of his
Folly, produced by Experience,
" For fuch as are Brain-ficky deferve more
our Pity and Compaflion, than to be hated
G 2 and
^2 Mr. Stinstra's Reflexions, G.V.
and pcrlecuted. Are they not indeed to be
lamented^ who have not the Ufe of their
Heafon in Things of the highejl Importancey
that is in Religion^ or which is the fame
Thing, who perfvvade themfelves that its>,
Ufe in fuch Matters, \%frjrhidden them?
Persecution for religious Opinions is
always very unjuft, and confequently is nor
permitted to be made ufe of again ft Fa^ia-
ticks ^ unlefs they dijlurh the pub lick Traiiqui^
lit\\ or Dpenhj violate the Laws of the Civil
Society.
" Such as boaft of having ^within them-
felves an infallible Spirit^ whofe Decijions
rhevfet on the fame Level Wiih the ivrit-
ten IVord cf God^ and openly and defignedJy
Jeek to dij credit Virtue^ can have no Pretence
to be tolerated in our Churches^ or to hold a
brotherly Communion with us: For the Holy
Scripture is the Rule r.nd Eajis of that T^ole-
ration and Communion \ and as they join to
its Authoritv another Authority as infallible y
they form of their own Accord, a feparate
Society: And befides, this Demand can fo
much the lefs be granted, as their T'enct^
utterly deftroy the very Nature and Efence
oid\\ rational Ky.i.igio^'\ See Page 98 of
a Pastoral Letter againji- Fanaticifm, to
the People of Frielland, by Mr, Stinftra,
mi of their Minijicrs at Hariingen.
I chofe
Dr. Vkl^'s Remark?, ^c. 53.
1 chofe that this w'oxthy. For eig?2er fhould.
fpeak in his Tfordi the very Sentiments^
which in the Dedication of my Sermon, I
laft Year fubmitted to the Coniideration of
his Grace the Archbifhop of Caiiterhury ;
to iliew that I am not lingular in my Opi-'
nion, but that by the Eftimation of others in '
the like Circumftances the State of our
national Religion is really fuch at prefent, as
demands fome immediate Effort for it's
Preservation.
The Church muft certainly from Its ort-'
ginal Conjlitution have been invefted with
Powers to defend itfelf againil any Adver-*-'
fary^ at leaft againfl: thofe pretending to be
of its own Communion : becaufe, if it have
not Authority fufficient, to keep its Doc-
trines uniformy and prelerve its interjial
Peace; the ejtahlifhed 'Religion would be left
more defencelefs than anv of our tolerated^-
Societies, who have all of them a Power to
rejlrain^ or jeparate from them rebellious •
Members: ForGtherwife their Society could
not fubfiil:. Therefore, I fay, as xhtejiablijljd
Church requires in this Particular, as high
a Degree of the ProteBion of the State
as is enjoyed by Dijjaiters : an Authority
of this Sort muft be Jomewhere lodged in
our Ecclejiaflical System. And fince the •
People^ to whom it moft properly belongs;
to make this Enquiry, are many of them fo
bafiful
£[4- Troubles in Germany,
bajhful and unwillmg to exert themfelves
upon this Occafion : I could wifli that fome
Gentleman of the Law, well affefted to the
Church, or fome Pried of E?mnence, who
has Leifure and Fortune would be pleafed
to take into Confideration, and commuicate
what he thinks the proper Conjlitutional
Means for fuppreffing this Diforder in the
Church, which otherwife may foon effect
its Downfall.
For that the Spirit of Enthujiafm will
not reft, but pufli on either to ifs own or to
our DeJiruBion \ I fhall give th^ Reader con-
vincing Proofs,'from the following ExtraSs
both of German and English Hiftory.
troubles in Germany.
TH E Boors in the Abby of Kempten in
SwABiArofein a Body, Anno 1524,
againft their Superiors, upon whom they
exercifed babarous Cruelties 5 they maflacred
many Perfons of Diftinftion, without Re-
gard to Sex or Age, roafted the Nobility and
Gentry on Spits, and forced their Ladies to
turn them at the Fire, ravifliing all the
fjuns, and other Virgins, Nor was this un-
paraleird Rebellion only in Swabia, but,
like a Plague, in a (hort Time it infedled the
greateft Part of G^rw^;2V ; for in Thurin-
GiA flourifh'd their Chief and Ringleader,
an
from Enthufiafm. 55
an impudent Prleft, call'd T:homai Munzer^
who perfwaded the poor and filly People,
that They <ivere God's redeemed ones, and
fiouldnot therefore abide Slaves to MeUy but
affert their glorious Liberty ; nay, he even
boafted he would catch the Cannon-Balis in
his Gown-Sleeve, and affured them, that in
Battle none of the Eleft fhould be burty with a
vaft deal more of fuch whimfical Stuff.
But at length the Neighbouring Princes ut-
terly routed and deftroy'd this diforderly
Mob, when Munzer and his Companion
Pfetffer were catch'd and beheaded for a
couple of audacious Knaves, and after above
looooo of the unhappy Boors were flain,
the Uproar was quell'd, and the rebellious
Difeafe by much Bloodjhed cured.
Anno i^2Z began the aew SeB of the
Annabaptists in Switzerland^ under Gre-
bel and Mans which was much oppofed by
ZwiNGLius the Reformer, and alfo in Saxony
by Nicholas Stork; and An?2o 1524, they
were pretty numerous in Germany and the
Netherlands-, but as fromTime to Time they
in^realed in Numbers, they fell into a vaft
Variety of Enthufiaftical and riciculous O-
pinions, which very often proved dangerous
to the State, as well as pernicious to them-
felves: For, A?2no 1533, fome of the Dif-
ciplcs of the fi^id Munzer, and of Mekhior
/ Hoffman^
'5^ T'roubles in Gcririany,
■Hoffman, and j.:'m Matthijon the Baker of
Harlem; Vii2.At ihcmfelves Mailers of the
City of MuN^TER in V/eflpJjaliay wWch ha-
ving eari\ {liook of the Popc^ Yoke, they
pitch'd upon it as their Place of Refuge,'
and Capital', and having affembled vafl
Numbers of their Seel from all Parts, they
-foon became too ftrong for the Magijlrates^
whom they baniih'd with the Clergy ^nd
■Burghers that would not fubmit to their
Madnefs. Tht Principah of this Rebellion,
befides the faid Matthijon^ (who called him-
felf Enoch,) were John oi Ley den, Knip-
perdolwg, Rctman^ van Kampen, and van
Gcelen, who plundered the Churches, and
the Goods of -all that fled or were drivea
out of Munfier^ burnt ail Sorts of Books, ex-
cept the Bibiey violated all the Virgins above
fourteen Ye^rs old, and openly declared for
Folygamy,<iii\^^ that ^"s^txy Thing lliould be
common amungft them.
Soon after the Bilhop of Munjier laid
Siege to the City, Matthijon was killed in a
Sally: Ai.id the faid John of Ley den a Tay-
lor, and afterwards a Comedian, having run
about flark naked by the Influence of the
Spirit, (as he faid) took upon> him firft to
appoint twelve Judges to govern this new
Pvcpublick of i/r^^/; and having maffacred
fifty one Perfons that confpired againft him,
by
From Enthufiafm. 57
by Knipperdoling his Executioner, he pro*
claimed himfelf John^ King of Sion^ and
during the Siege was obey'd as a King, and
ferved in Royal State ; took to himfelf fif-
teen Wives, but made Matthifon's Widow his
Queen, and had a Crown of Gold fet upon
her Head ; told the deluded People that
God had prefented him with the three
Cities of Amflerdam^ Deventery and JVefel ;
fent forth privately about twenty-eight
jipojilesy who were moftly feized and put
to death, conftituted his Accomplice van
Kempen the Bifhop of Amfterdam^ and van
Geelen the General of the Anabaptifts, whom
he fent to Holland and Friezeland with a
great Sum of Money, (tho' both of them
fail'd of their Plots, and were executed with
their Accomplices j ) publifh'd his Book
call'd. The Work of Rejioration, in which
he affur'd his Subjefts, that the Kingdom
of Chrift was foon to be eftablifh'd, in
which the Godly or Eledl fhould reign, and
all the Wicked be rooted out ; and that he
was to prepare the World for that King-
dom, by fubduing it to himfelf, and di-
vided amongft his Followers the feveral
Parts of the Empire, which they were, like
Princes, to take Poffeffion of, as foon as
the Siege was raifed, and he could march
abroad for that Purpofe with them,
H But
58 Troubles in Germany.
But this King yoh7t of Munfler^ having
heard of the ill Succefs of his Plot upon
Amflerdaniy with the Death of his faid
Bifhop and General, he was much per-
plexed in his Mind, and his Matters run
into the utmoft Confufion ; yet kept the
City as long as poflible ^ for the Siege lafted
eighteen Months, King John having not
only fortify'd it much, but furnifh'd it alfo
with an incredible Quantity of Provifions,
At laft the Famine began, and increased
apace, and when People faw that thofe
Succours, which King John had fo often
propheiied and affured them of, were 'not
like to arrive, one of his Officers offered to
go out for Provifions, and took the Oppor-
tunity of betraying the City to the Com-
mander of the Bifliop's Army, who, by his
Guidance, furpriz'd it, and took the Mock
King Prifoner alive on the 28th of M^^;
and when brought before the Bifhop of
Munjier^ John propofed that the Bifhop
might well reimburfe himfelf the Charges
of the Siege, by fending him about in a Cage
for a Show^ and by receiving a Penny from
every one for the Sight of him: But the Bi-
fhep was above any Advice from him 5 and
therefore on the 23d oi January^ I535> ^^'
dered his Body to be pinched with red-hot
Pincers for the Space of an Hour, and then
being ftabb'd to the Heart with a Dagger,
he
Dr. Free's Remark. ^g
he was hang'd upon the Top of the Steeple
of Munjlcr between his two Friends Knip^
perdoling and Mattheo.
Dr. Free's Remarks upon thefe Paflages
in German History.
From this View of their own History,
if they ever read it, one would think, that
all German Princes, and their Defcenda7its
ihould be particularly afraid of giving £;/-
couragement to Enthusiasm ; which made
fuch dreadful Havock in their own Coun-
try 3 it would have done the fame in Eng-
land, in that very Century, had not the
wife Princess Elizabeth been upon the
Throne, who confidering the Meaning of
Principiis ohjla — applied the Remedy in due
Time, fecuring the Ringleaders, as you fee
in the following Hiftory of William Racket,
related by the great Mr. Camden^ in the An^
nals of her Reign.
This Hacket was a Man of the vulgar
Sort, born at Oundle, in the County of
Northampton, unlearned, infolent, cruel, and
fo eager upon Revenge, that he bit off his
honeft Schoolmafter's Nofe as he embraced
him in token of renewing their Love, and
like a Dog (as they report) eat it down be-
fore the poor deformed Man's Face, while
he intreated him to reftore it to him, that it
might be fowed on again whilfl the Hurt
wa$ yet frefh and green. So averfe was he
H 2 from
6o T'he Hijlory of William Hacket.
from all Piety, that the heavenly Dodtrine
which he had heard in Sermons he repeated
amongft his drunken Companions at their
Cups, to be derided and abufed. After-
wards, when he had riotoufly wafted his
Eftate which he had with his Wife, a Wi-
dow, he fuddenly took upon him the pre-
tended Difguife of one of admirable Sanc-
tity, fpent all his Time in hearing of Ser-
mons, and being acquainted with the Scrip-
tures ; and by pretending I know not what
Revelations to be made him from Heaven,
and an extraordinary Call, he infinuated
himfelf into certain Divines which with a
burning Zeal laboured to bring the Prelby-
terian Difcipline of the Church of Geneva
into England : amongft whom was one
Wiggington^ a filly brain-fick Minifter, and
a Defpifer and Enemy of Magiftrates. By
this Wiggington\ Means he became fami-
liarly acquainted with 'Edmund Coppmger^ a
Gentleman of a good Family, who had per-
fwaded firft himfelf, and then Arthington^
a great Admirer of that Difcipline, that he
alfo was extraordinarily called by God for
the Good of the Church, and that a Way
was revealed to him from Heaven to draw
the Queen and Council to a better Mind,
meaning, to admit of the Difcipline of Ge-
neva, he himfelf having been taught by
fomc Minifters, that God daily raifeth up
extraordinary
The Hijlory of William Hacket. 6i
extraordinary Labourers in his Church.
And this (triumphing'as it were in Spirit)
he joyfully imparted to Hacket 5 who, by
his counterfeit Holinefs, his unceffant and
fervent Praying ex tempore ^ his Falling upon
the Lord's Day, his frequent Boafting that
he had been buffeted by Satan, and by pre-
tending Revelations and often Conferences
with God, which with moft vehement and
direful Imprecations, by the Salvation and
Damnation of his Soul he fware to be true
and real, found fuch Credit with thefe two,
that they believed and affirmed him to be
the beft beloved of God, and greater than
Mofes and Saint John. And he himfelf
openly avowed that he was the Prophet of
God's Vengeance wherefoever Mercy is re-
je6tcd 5 prophefying that from thenceforth
there fhould be no more Popes, and that
England fliould this Year be moft lament-
ably afflided with Famine, Peftilence and
War, Qxct^t x\\Q Difcipline of the Lord (for
fo he called it) and Reformation were ad-
mitted in the Realm. To bring in this
therefore, theyconfpired (as was proved by
their own Letters) toaccufe the Archbifhop
of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor of
Treafon, who were Men that oppofed In-
novations ; to kill them and fome others, if
they (hould give Sentence in the Star-
Chamber againft; thofe Minifters who were
Innovators ;
62 Tfje liijlory 0/ William Racket.
Innovators ; to ftir up the Multitude to
Rebellion by printed Rythms, wherein a-
mongft other Things they maintained, that
it was lawful for a true Chriftian, though a
Country Peafant, to inform Kings how to
fway the Sceptre, and to depofe the Queen
herfelf, unlefs (he would advance the Re-
formation. That Hacket bare an impla-
cable Hatred againft the Queen appeareth
by this, that he had often given out that (lie
had forfeited her Right to the Crown, and
had in a Rage defaced her Arms and Pid:ure
drawn upon a Board, ftriking his Dagger
through the Breaft of it. And no Marvel :
for he had perfuaded himfelf that he was
ordained by God to be King of all Europey
and could not brook a Confort ; and he
made Coppinger and Arthington believe that
they were infpired not only with a Prophe-
tical, but even with an Angelical Spirit.
Who now being full of the Spirit, as they
thought, performed all Obedience to him
as their King ordained by God, and en-
deavoured to raife Sedition. To which
Furpofe in the Month of 'July they came
to a Nobleman, offered him the higheft
Command under the Queen, and prefented
him with a Defcription of Hackefs Life,
together with Arthi?igtons Prophecy : But
he being bafy about fomething elfe rejected
the Men. Not long after they told JVig-
gintofiy
The Hijlory ^William Hacket. 63
gintoriy " That Chrijl had appeared to them
the Night before, not in that body
wherewith he dwelleth'in the Heavens,
but with that principal Spirit wherewith
he inhabiteth in Hacket more fully than
in any other : and that Hacket was
that very Angel which was to come
before the laft Day with his Fan and
Sheep-hook, to feparate the Goats
from the Sheep ; and that he {hould
tread down Satan under his Feet, and
totally fubvert the Kingdom of Anti^
chrijl,'' From Wigginton they betook
hemfelves to Hacket^ near to whom, as
he lay in his Bed, they caft themfelves
proftrate on the Ground, and poured forth
moft fervent Prayers. Hacket arifing joined
with them, praying earneftly with many
Words, that the Spirit would dired them
to God*s Glory, and then went to Bed
again.
Arthington prefently advifed Coppinger^ to
anoint the King with the Holy Ghoft in the
Name
* Whether it was for the Business of ^«o/«///7^,
or not, we cannot tell, hut. on ^^ Monday the 12th
of February^ 1759? ^" ^^^ Evenings there was a
Meeting, as it is faid, of veryy?r<3?z^^ Personages,
at a Woman's in the Borough, who is one of the
People called Quakers. Jofeph Rule formerly a
Waterman, who goes about in a broad-trimmed white
Hat,
64 The Hi/lory of William Hacklet.
Name of the Lord Jefus Chriji, Copping er^
with all Lowlinefs, kiffing the Floor thrice,
and bending the Knee with all Reverence,
came to Hackety who put him back, fay-
ing, You need not anoint me, for the Holy
Ghoft hath anointed me already. Do ye
my Commandments. Go and tell through
the City, that Jefus Chriji is come with his
Fan in his Hand to judge the World. If
any ask where he is, fliew him this Place ;
and
Hat, with long Beard, and white Cloaths, and ufed
to preach on Walworth-Qommon againft the ejiahlijhed
Churchy was feen to ^//^w^upon the Occafion, Whether
he preftded in the Aflembly, or Mr. Jones, or Mr.
Jones's Wife, or either of the two Countes's, who
were fuppofed to come in one Coachy is uncertain ; but
there they were all together. The Meeting continued
Three Hours, the Bufinefs of it is unknown 5 but if it
was that of anointing, they were all well oiled in that
time to be fure. I make this Matter publick, that any
Officer of the State, who bears true Allegiance to his
Sovereign, and AfFeclion to his Houfe, may farther
inform himfelf of the Fa£t, and report it to the Royal
Ear, to the end that thefe Countejfes^ if they were
fuchy may be forbid his Majesty's Court, and like-
wife that of the Prince of Wales ^ and Princess
Dowager.
For if Women of this Rank are permitted to have
no6turnal Cabals with fuch Sort of People as thefe,
and likewife Admijfion and free Accefs at the feveral
Courts of our King and Prince s||, it will caufe
very ugly Sujpic'ions^ and be detrimental to the Inter ejl
of his Majesty's Succ^Jovy his Royal Highness
the Prince oi Wales,
^hc Hiftoryo/ William Hacket, 65
land if they will not believe let them come
and kill me if they can. As it is mod cer-
tain that God is in Heaven, fo is it no lef
true that Chrijl is now come to Judgment
Scarce had he fpoken the Word, but pre-
fently they ruflied forth, crying through the
Streets that Chrijl was come, and what other
Things he had commanded them, often-
times redoubling with a loud Voice, Repent y.
Repent^ untill they were come to the *^ prin-
cipal Street of the City. Where, by reafon
01 the Throng of People, they climed up
into a Cart, and partly by Help of their
Memories, partly cut of a written Paper,
proclaimed aloud, "'' TXyxvHacket in a glo-
" rifled Body participated with Chrijl by his
" principal Spirit, and was now come with
" his Fan to propagate the Gofpel through^
*^ out Eiiropey and to eftablifh a Dijcipli?2e
'' and Commonwealth in Engla?2d. And
'' thefe things they affirmed upon the Sal-
**' vation of their Souls to be certainly true.
They added farther, ** That Ilacket was the
*' higheft and fupreme Monarch, and that all
*' the King's of Europe did hold their Kincr- '
** doms of him as his Vaflals : that he alone
*' therefore was to be obeyed, and theQueea
*' to be depofed. Laftly they curfed the
arcbbilljop and the Cfjaiiceliot to the
Pit of Hell, as Oppojcrs of the fincere Re*
ligjon,
I Shortly
66 The blaphemous Life^ and Deathy
Shortly after being apprehended, they be^
haved themfelves fo ccntemptuoufly and in-
f )lently towards the Queen's Council and
the Magiftrates, that they would not un-
cover their Heads to them, and anfwered
faucily and peremptorily, that they were
above all Magiftrates. Hacket being after-
wards ifidided of Treafon confeffed himfelf
guilty, and by his blafphemous Anfwers.
ftruck the Auditors into Horror and Afto-
nirtiment: which perhaps, was done craf-
tily, to make the Judges of Opinion that he
was mad ; w^hereas notwithftanding by his
other Geihires, and a kind of compofed Gra-
vity, he fliewed no fign of a Mad-man,
Being condemned he was laid upon a Hurdle^
and drawn to the chief Place of the City,
inceflantly roaring out with a dreadful Noife,
Jeho'Va Mejjlas, Jehova Me/Jias ; Behold the
Heaven open, behold the Son of the mofl High
defcefidiiig to deliver me. At the Gallows,
being admonifhed to acknowledge his Sin
agah^ift God and the Queen, the execrable
Wretch, inveighing moft bitterly and con-
tumelioufly againft the Queen, cried out
with a Stentors Voice, O heavejily God^ AU
Tnightv Jehovah, Alpha and Omega, Lord of
Lords, Ki?ig of Kings, God everlafing, thou
k'lowejl that I a?n the true Jehovah ivlmn thou
b ^Jl jent, Ihew fome Miracle out of the Clouds
to convert theje Infidels, and rejcue me from
mine Enemies, But if not (I trem.ble to repeat
Of William Hacket. 6y
it) / m/ljk the Heavens on Fire, and with
tbcfe Hands pluck thee from thy Throne.HMvn^
ing to the Hangman as he was putting the
Rope about him, Thou B^Jlard, (faid he)
w// thou then hang Hacket thy King? Hav-
ing the Rope about his Neck, he lifted up
his Eyes to Heaven, and grinning faid, Doji
thou repay me this injiead of a Kingdom ? I
come to reven^re it.
FINIS.
/f Catalogue of BOOKS^ which have been
written hy the Rev. Dr. Free, and fold z^;^ jWilliam
Sandby, at the Ship, oppoftis St. Dunftan*^ Church in
Fleet-Street.
I . TT I S T O R Y of the jE'/^^/^Tongue, with the Author's
Xi intended Dedication to his Royal Highnefs Prince
George ; now Prince of Wales, Part I, printed in 1 749,
and containing an Account,
I. Of the Roman or Latin Tongue, as once fpoken in Britain,
Il.Of theBritifi or Welch, and it's ancient andprefentZ/W//.
III. Of the Pj/jtasy corruptly called Pit^s, by the Romans ;
their Settlement in theAWi* of Britain ; the Original of their
Name, and the Nature Extent, and Duration of their Lan-
guage.
rV. Of the Scots from Ireland; and the Extent ofthcEerfe
Jlianguage ; in order to diflinguifh it from the Englijh in the
Xcrth qf Britain, which vulgarly palTes under the Name of
Broad Scotch,
yf CaTALOGVE of books, &CC,
^. A Volume of Sermons prfeached before tKe Univetiity
of 0;t/cr<3', printed in 1750. With a Pj-eface tending to re-
form fome remarkably bad Practices, both in Church and
State ;- to the Negleft of which, we principally owe our pre-
fent Misfortunes.
3. foZ/V/V^/SERMONSjard Discourses, colkft^d into one
Volume, under the Title of the Sentiments of a true Anti-
GALLiCAN ; and dedicated to his Royal Idighnefs the Duke,
1756.
4. Ay^roWANTiGALLicAN Scrmon preached in the Year,
1756, upon th« Terms of A'i3//<7/'^z/ Unanimity : With a G^-
?zm;V§;zV^/ Table, ihewing his Majesty's ancient Conhexioas,
with the Crowns of thefe Kingdoms, long antecedent inTime>
to the Marriage of his Anceftor with the Sten^ard Family.
5. Poems upon feveral Occafions, the fecond Edition 1757,
^onraimrjg an XDde to the King of PrufTm, an Ode of Corifo-
kiticn to his R.H. the Duke. Jephtba an Oratorio fetto Mufick
ky Mr. Stanley. Advice to the Fair Sex, 6r>. To which
IS prefixed a curious Account of the Origin and peculiar Na-
ture of V.r.glijh Poetry, in a Letter to a Member of Parlia-
HiCUt.
Controversy ifjith the Mtthodijis,
6. Certain Articles propofed to the ferious Confideratlon
of the Court of AlTiilants, of the worlhipful Company of
Saltp\s» In Lmdonj kc. Price Six-pence;
7. The Second Edition of Rules for the Difcovery of
falfe Prophets : Or the Dangerous Impofitions of the Peo-
ple called Methodljh detefted at the Bar of Scripture and
jkeafon. A Sermon preached before the Univerfity at St.
J^larfs \n Oxford, on Whitfumlayy 1758. With a Preface in
Vindication of certain Articles propofed to the ferious Con-
fideratlon of the Company of S alters in Lo7uio7i : And an Ap-
pendix, containing aufhentick Vouchers ; from the Writings
of the Mcthedifts, Sec. in Support of the Charge which h«s
been brought agaiiall thera.
8. Dr. Fr(e*s Edition of Mr. IFeJIe/s firft ^Penny-Letter,
with Notes upon the original Text, &c. and a Dedication td
the Reverend Author.
9. Remarks upon Mr. Jones' % Letter, ^c
THE
WHOLE SPEECH,
Which was delivered to the Reverend Clergy of
the Great City of London.
On ^uefday the 8thofM^_y, 1759, being the
Day appointed for their Anniverfary Meeting
at Sion College.
To which is prefixed^
A Remonjlrance to the Right Reverend the Lord Bifhop
of Winchefter^ complaining of Perfecntion from the
Methodijis : And likewife a Letter to his Lordlhip, re-
lating to the fame Subjedl.
By John Free, D. D. Sir John Leman's
Lecflurer at St. Mary Hill., in London.
NOLUMUS LEGES Anglic MUTARL
Didtuin Anglqrum ^uetemm*
LONDON:
Printed for the Author, and fold by Jortathan ^cott, at the
Black Sivan in PaUr-noft r-R<K»^ (Price Six-pence.)
( iii )
To the Right Reaver end Father in Gcd, Bcii-
jamin, by Divine PermiJ/ion, Lord BiJJ:dp
o/'Wmchefter, <3c. &c.
7'he Remonjirance of the Reverend John Free*
Do^hr in Divi?iity\ &c, co?nplaini?jg of
Perfecutionfvm the People calledMcihodiAs.
May it pleafe your Lord/hip ^
Y the Advice of my Brethren of the
CJergy, I beg leave to^ inform Your
Lordlhip, that in the Morning, on Sun-
day the 29th oi Aprils in the Parifh Church of
St. Mary Magdalene Bcrmondfey^ being then and
there preaching the Gofpel of Jefus Chrifty to
wit, explaining his own Words concerning the
new Commandment, which he gave to his
Diiciples, " to love one another^\ I was from
the Time of naming the Text, to the End of
the Sermon, in continual and mofl imminent
Danger of being murchered by the Methodifis.
They had often, fmce Ihave been a Parifhioner
in that Place, by the Artifice of fome of their
Perfuafion, who are concerned in the * Di-
redlion of a Charity-School^ introduced their
Preachers into the Pulpit at Charity Sermons,
* The Reader is dejtredto take Notice from this PaJJage', n.vhat
a dangerous Error it muji hcy in the Minifier and Inhabitants cf a
Parijhy to fuffer thefe People to be DiredorSy or^ ccen to ha^ve an
Hand in a Matter of fiich Confeqiience^ as the Education of the
Ciiarity-Children. For they may ke fure^ that Methodiils W//
endeavour to propagate ^lcthodi(m. And they can nc<ver gi've
them a fairer Opportunity than by putting it into their Ponxer to
in'vert the Vfe of thefe puhlick Semenaries for the lo^vjcr Clafs
of People y anddepri've the Church off ^reat a Part of the rifng
Generation, by poifoning their blinds iivVZ^ Enthufiafm in the njery.
Place of their Education. For inConfequence cf thisLibcriy, itfiemiy
they hate found the Means to put into the Hands of the Children
of Bermondiey alk'lQ.^hodd^ Catechifm irfead of the Catechifm
A 2 tQ.
(iv)
to the great Difiatisfadion and Annoyance of
ir.any of the principal Inhabitants, and of
the Minifler himfjji,. who about a Year ago
cxpreffed his Concern to me upon their being
then admitted: Notwitmcanding which, in his
Abfence, thefe People, perfevering in their De-
fign to infult and undermme the Church of
England^ took an Occafion to make an Attempt
ot. the famx Nature, but being dilappointed by
the Church-warden^ who interpofed his Autho-
rity, and interrogated the Preacher about his
Licence, they began to Ihew the diabolical
Spirit of their Religion, the Moment, that I
delivered out m.y Text ; and upon> hearing the
Command of their Lord and Mafter, inftead
of obeying it, immediately raifed this unchriflian
Uproar; theieby to convince the World, that
where People profefs to be faved by Faith alcne^
they thiuk there is no Occafion for Ohediencey
nor any R.egard to he paid to Laws Divine or
Human.
For the Infult was offered alike to the Laws
of God, and the Laws of the Land, The De^
votion of the Congregation was immediately
difturbed, and the People thrown into the
greatefl Terror and Confufion, upon feeing
the Rabble making their repeated Efforts to
force themfelves up into the Pulpit, and to do
Violence to my Perfon. In this Manaer the
F'=:rment continued, and in it's full Height all
the Time of the Sermon, with fuch Vocifera-
tion from Men and Vv"omen, fuch continual
Tumult, and Excefs of Phrenzy, that v/e could
t)f the Church ^"Eng'anr^ : So that at this Rate, the Pari/h are
fo fufport by iheir Suhfcriptwr.s and Expence, ^what njoill be in
Fafi a School for the Merhodills. Rare Mavagement in People
■^rcfejjing themjeh'^t to be Members of the ejlahlljhed Church !
expeift
(V)
cxpe(5l nothing butBloodfhed every Moment;
and which could never have been prevented,
but by the Dihgence of the Peace Officers, who
from Time to Time oppofed themfeives to the
fierceft of thefe rehgious Savages, and confined
fome of them in the Veftry, but new Diforders
flill arifmg, and requiring perpetual Attendance
near the Pulpit, thofe, who v/ere before in hold,
found an Opportunity to break away.
Sermon being ended, when after long tar-
rying, I ventured to go from the Pulpit to the
Veftry, the Church -war den informed me, that
they fpit upon us 2S we pafTed along, and not
llopping here, they purfued us into the Veftry,
and fullenly perfifted to remain there, till the
Pariihioners obliged them to retire, by threat-
ening to take them into Cuftody.
And when we imagined, that we might fecure-
ly get away, there were ftill Parties in thtChtircb
and Church-yard^ who gathered about the Rev.
Mr. Maltus and myfelf, and purfued us with
bitter Abufes to the very Door of his Houfe.
I think it my Duty to give your Lordfhip
this Information, that communicating it to the
Lords the Archbifhops, and Bilhops, you may
together be pleafed to make it an Occafion of
procuring fuch better Security for the Regular ^
eftabliihed Miniftry of the Church of England^
as their defencelefs Condition may feem to de-
mand, and as Prelates of your A ffedion to the
Conftitution, in your great Wifdom andGood-
nefs fhall think moftfit,
lam, Right Reverend Father^
2'^our mcfi obedient^
Sen and Servant^
John Free.
[vi]
LETTER to the Right Revd.
the Lord Bifhop of JVincheJier^ &c»
My Lord,
Efide the Remonflrance, which I have here
^^ inclofed to your Lorafhip, and which I
make in phe publick Charader of a Minifler !
an infulted Minifler of the Church of ^,ngland •,
I have a Petition to prefer in a private Capacity,
as a Parifhioner of the Parifh of St. Alary Mag-
dalene BermorJfey \ to wit ; that I may not for
the future be driven from my Parifh Church,
either through Fear of Danger to 7nj Perfon \ or
of having my Mind diilurbed and offended by
the blafphemous Preachmg of ignorant or de-
lufive Men.
My Lord, I make my Requefc in this Shape,
not barely becaufe an Argument of chis Sort is
molt likely to fecure me from being annoyed
by thefe People, in the Place of my publick
Devotions, and at my very Doors : but alfo be-
caufe I think the Matter fet in this Light mufl
fliew your Lordfhip, that here is a Caie (whe-r
ther mine or that of another Parifhioner) which
if not attended to, mufl do great Injury to your
own Reputation.
For if your Lordfhip fliould fcruple to exert
your Authority at this critical Seaibn, and per^
in it:
hiit fuch Teachers as thefe to drive the fober
Inhabitants from their ftated Place ofpublick
W'orlhip, in the Manner that they have lately
done : the World may be apt to fufped by
your Silence and Inacflion that you are inclined
to leave it in the Power of thefe People to force
the Members of the Church of England from
it's Communion.
For there can be no Communion without a
Place ot Communion : and where are the
people to find that Place, if they are to be thus
excluded from their own Pariih Churches ?
I would therefore for your Lordfhip's Sake '
and for my own, as a Parifhioner of the Parifh
of Bermondfey further requefl of your Lord-
fhip, in Behalf of myfelf and others of
my Neighbours, who are well-afFedlcd to the
Church of England^ that you would be pleafed
to fecure to us for the future, the free and quiet
Ufe of our Parifh-Chutch, by fending a {land-
ing Order to the Church Wardens, to forbid all
notorious Enthufiafts Accefs to the Pulpit:
and moreover to require of the faid Officers
that they ufe the Authority given them
by the Canon againft every ftrange Clergyman
who Ihall be fulpeded from the Rabble, that
attend him, or other Circumflances, to be an
Abetter of the Dodlrines of thofe malio-nant
Teachers, which are ufually diftinguiihed by
the Name of Methodijls.
Such an Order as this coming from your
Lordihip would give great Countenance to the
faithful Parilli Officer in the Difcharge of his
Truft, and defend him from the Slander of his
Enemies •, at the fame Time, that it will oblicve
thofe
[ viii ]
thofe, who are infe6fced with f Enthufuifm^ tho'
it be againft their Indination, to do their Duty.
If your Lordlhip therefore, would be pleafed in
this Particular to attend to my Requeft, I Ihould
have Occafion, in the Capacity of a Parifhioner
of Bermondfey^ to write myfelf
Tour Lordjhifs
tno§f obliged^
and obedient y
humble Servant ^
John Free,
Bermondfey,
May 22, 1759.
•f This Precaution muji appear to he ^very mcejfaryyin Caji thiil
tfMinifter Jhould be Jo o<verfeenyfo ifnpofed upon by others ^ or J§
apt to impoje upon himjelf^ as to cbaoft a notorious McthodiH /or
his own Church H^ardiu^
Dr. Free's speech
TO THE
London Cltr^Y ^ &c.
I
Dear Gentllemen,
y m -^HE Times require, that I now accoft
you as Fetlow-foldierSy as well as FeU
loW'ChriJtia72S,
You will wander perhaps at the
Solemnity of luch Appellations, as they feem to
found an Alarm in thefe Quarters, where we
were accuftomed to enjoy the profoundeft Peace,
and eat cur meat with gladnefs and fmglenefs of
heart. But I ufe them to befpeak your Attention
to Matters of fuch Importance, as, if not re-
garded in due Time, will efFedualiy put an End
to your Being as Clergy : and the place that knew
you^ will know you no more,
I take this Opportunity of introducing fuch
Difcourfe, becaufe I imagine, that the pious
Founder of the College, where we are now
affembled, had a View, by Means of this Annual
Feftivity to give us an Opportunity of converfing
together upon the State of Religion in this Me-
tropolis, as well as of enlarging our Acquaint-
ance with each other, and promoting a ftrider
B Friend"
io Dr. FREE's Speech to the London -CJci'gy^^
FriendPdip among ourfelves : a Thing very de^
firable,- no donbt upon its own Account j but
far the more fo, as this mutual Intercourfd,
which refults from Friendfliip, mud be natu-
rally produiftive of Intelligence., and may thereby
enable us the better to lay our Meafures for the
public Good.
As this feehi? to be the Defign of the Infti-
iution, it can be no unfit Sealbn to put you in
Mind of the prefent Danger of the Church of
England^ which I have often infifted on in the
Courfe of my Contrpverfy with the Methodifts *
wherein, though otherwife unfupported, I have
from Time to Time had the Ple^ftre to receive,
from one Quarter or another, your Approbation
or your Thanks.
WHERtFORE I am the more emboldened to
tell you, that you have novi^ a fair Opportunity
of taking this Subjeft into your ferious Confide-
ration, of communicating your Sentiments, I
fhould think, without Referve, and of forming
fome kind of Refolution, how to proceed in a
Matter of fuch Importance, and which fo appa-
i'ently requires you/ immediate Attention.
The advanced Age of our prefent excellent
Dioccfan, though it may not have impaired the
Vigour of his Soul, has yet occafioned great bo-
dily Weaknefsj the natural but fad Effedl of
^ime upon our mortal Fram.e 5 which has de-
prived us, in great m.eafure, of the Succours,
which we might exped: from him -, at a Time
iyhen we hot on^y fland in need of his Advice,
but
ci/pml^le J af Sion-CollcgCyM^LyS, 1759. 11
but aifo of his Adlivity, and a real Exertion of h(3
Power for our Proted:ion.
In this forlorn, unfriended, and unlucky fir
tuation, we muft apply to the Great Shepherd
fcr the Divine Affiftance;- and in our qarthly
Meafures chiefly look to find our Safety and
Succefs in Union. ForConfederacy gives Stiength
and Boldnefs againft an Enemy, affords that En-
couragement from our Companions, which fc-
iitary Heroifm cannot fupply ; and moreover
adminilters a Variety of Gouafel, for the Sup-
port of the common Caufe^ which we are to
give and take without Ceremony, when there
comes to be fuch a prefling Occafion. This
immediate Necelfity for fome Expedient was
what prompted mc, in my lafl: * Pamphlet to
obferve, -'^' That the Church muft certainly, from
its original Conliitution, have been in veiled with
Powers to deiend itfelf againft any common Ad-
verfary, (at ieaft againfl: tbofe pretendLng to be
of its own Communion ;) becaufe if it have ii.ot
Authority fuflicient to keep its Dodirines uni-
form, and prefei ve its internal Peace, t]ie efla-
bllfhed ReUgion would be left more de£ei5.cciefs
than any of our tolerated Societies, who have
all of them a Power to reftrain, or fepaiat^ frojn
them rebellious Members; tor otherwile, iheir
Communities could not iubfifl: : thertfore, I fiy,
as the Eftablifhed Church requires in this Parti-
cular as high a Degree of the Protedion of :.he
^tate as is enjoyed by Difienters: an Aiuhciity
of
■:^ Dr. FREE's Remarks upon Mr. ycr:£s's Letters, p, SZ?
1 2 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clergy,
of this Sort muft be fome where edged in our
Church-lyftem ; and fmce, many of them to
whom it moft properly belongs to make this En-
quiry, have been unwilling to excrt themfcives,
I exprefled my Wiihes that fome of the Gentle-
men of the Law, well afFedled to the Eftabiifh-
ment, or fome Prieft of Eminence, who had
Leifure and Fortune, would have been pleafed
to take into Conlideration, and to communicate,
what he thought the proper conftitutional Means
for fuppreffing this Diforder in the Church,
v/hich otherwife may foon efFed: its Dov/nfal.'*
But as it does not appear fince the Publica-
tion of this, that any Gentlemen have been pre-
vailed upon to give us their Advice ; the Talk, I
was willing to have fliifted off, reverts unexpec-
ted! v to myfelf, "and obliges me, fince Neceffity
fo requires, to contribute what litile Informa-
tion I am able, till better Lights fhali interpofe,
and more efFeftually difpel our Fears and Diffi-
culties,
Dicam equidem^ quoniam inftitui, petamque a
vobis ne has meas ineptias efferatis^ qucmquam mo^
derabor ipfe^ ne ut quidarn magifter atque artifex,
fed quafi imia e togatorum numero, alque ex ufu *
ecclefiaftico homo inediocrisy ?jeque ommno rudis
i}idear iicn ipfe aliquid a meprompfijjey Jedjortuito
■ in veftrtim Jermone7n incidijj'e.
Now then to the Queftion.- — What are the
propereft constitutional Means for fupprel-
iing the Diforders in the Church, occafioned by
the
* Forenfi, Tuil, De Or at or e^ Lib. i.
qffembled at ^lon-CQWQgQ^ May 8, 1759. 13
the Methodifts ? I anfwer, that the firft and
principal^ the moft proper, and truly conftitutio^
nal, would be the Meeting of the Convoca-
tion.
This is conftitutional^ in whatever Senfe we
underftand the Word, whether as refpeding the
Cuftoms and Government of the Church itlelf,
that is, the intrinfic Fabric of ecclefiaftical Po-
lity, as it flood at firfl: unmixed, and independent
of any Alliance j or fecondiy, as it has been
fince coi necSed, incorporated, and co-ejiablijljed
with any State, and moft particularly Vr'ith the
State of England,
For the life of fuch Affemblies belongs to the
Church in general : they have been coeval with
it from its Beginning ; are eifential to its Confti-
tution, if It exift at all, and therefore thefe f ri-
vileges have always been indulged to it in fome
Degree, more or lefs, wherever it has been for-
tunate enough to obtain Eftablifliment or Tole-
ration. Thefe Obfervations then muft put us
in Mind, that the Divine Auchority of thefe Af-
femblies is more ancient than their civil, and
bears Date from their iii ft Inftitution in the Timq
of the Apoflies, who convened them by Virtue
of the Powers committed to them by Jesus
Christ.
The firft, v/hich we read of, is the Council of
Jerufalem^ defcribed in the Ads of che Apoftles.
It appears, by the Delcription, to have been of
the very fame Form with the Convocation in
the Church of England^ confifting of the Two
fuperior
14 Dr. FREE s speech to the London-Clergy,
fuperior Orders, the Apoftles there mentioncij,
correfponding to their SuccefTors, the Bifhops ;
and the Elders, to our Priefts or Priefthood ^y
ytidas and Silas Legates to the Gentile Chrif-
tians, iTfQ(fa(ti ov'^i feem to have been Prolocu-
tors ; but, as they are called riyvfjievoi they were
probably of the Upper Houfe.
In the Epiftle to the Galatians, St. Paul alfo
feems to give a Detail of this, or as fome think,
of another Council, where the Matter in contro-
yerfy was nearly the fame : it happened, be-
caufe of foJ/e Brethren unawares brought in :
who, he fays, came in privily to /py out our Li-
berty^ which we have in Chrift^ that they anight
bring us into Bondage, He relates, who were
the Pillars or Prefidents of the Council ; who
the AffefTors^ mentions fome that oppofed him,
to whom he would not give Place by SuhjeBiony
710 not for an Hour^ that the l^ruth of the Go j pel
might continue to youy He tells us, thefe were
they, who feemed to be fomething ; what they
r.eally were, he does not difcover; obferving
that' it was a Matter of no great Confequence,
as God accp.pteth no Mans Perfon, and as thefe
People, who feemed to be fofnewhat^ when the
Conference v/as opened, did not think proper to
contradict him.
It
* See a further Account of them in an Ordmation Sdr-
mo7i preached by the Author in the Cathedral of Chij}-
Church in Oxford, Sept. 23, 1739, before the Right Re-
verend the Lord Bifhop of Oxford, now Kis Grace the
Lord Archbifhop of Canterbury.
ajfcmhled at Sioh- College, May 8, 1759. i^
It is worthy Obfervation here, that by thd
Apoftle's Account, the Caufe of thefe ecclefiaf-
tical Councils or Meetings was, that the T^riith
in Christ might conti?2ne to Pofterity, afid in-
deed confidering the Herejies predided to follow,
the grievous Wolves that were to make havock
of the Flock, the Ignorance of the filly Mul-
titude, running Giddily from one Extreme to
another, and often growing Refradlory, unlefs
reduced to order, and reflrained by the Wifdoiri
and Authority of fuch Affemblies^ I fay, thefe
Things confidered, it was almoft impofiible,
that the Truth in Christ fhould for any long
Time together, fubfift without them.
And fo fenfible of this aire all People of all.
Denominations of Chriftians, that with the View
of maintaining, what each of thefe contending
Parties take to be the Truth in Christ, they
not only admit of thefe Affemblies, where they
have that Liberty allowed 3 but to the utmoll
of their Powers fupport therri.
Wherefore a very eminent * Writer of
Gur Church, who has difplayed much Learning
and Eloquence in treating upon this Subjed,
very juftly obferves, '^ That fo far are the Clergy
of England from being unreafonable and fingu-
lar in their Defire of fuch Meetings, that there
is no Part of the Reformed Church befides, that
does not duly hold them; they are conftantlv
kept up in the United Provinces ; and even in
France they were never denied the Proteftants
in
* The Rigbt?5 ^£c. cf an £A^//i^ Cbhvocafiori,
1 6 Dr. PREE's speech to the London-Clergy,
in the Time of Lewis XIV, lo long as the U(c
of their Religion was ailoved them 5 thefe Af-
femblies having been always eftecmed by all
Chriftians, as the beft and propercit Means
for the Prefervation of Unity, and :he Suppref-
fion of Errors and Diforders in the Ciiurch of
God.
'to draw nearer home, what we plead for
has been allowed the prefent Scotch Kirk 3 nay,
and fomething more than we plead for I hope
it will not be thought foreign to mv Subjedl, if
I ftop to give feme fhort Account ot it. Their
Affembly has fat often * fince the Revolution,
and done Bufmefs with a Witnefb : If a thorough
Purging of Churches and Univj rfitie.- i if exer-
cifing their ecclefiaftical Jurifdidion, over the
whole Kingdom (as well over thofe, who re-
nounCtd their Government, as thofc wh > o^vned
it) be doing Bufmefs; if to excommunic:i*^f*P
fufpend and deprive at Pkafure ; jf to be P. * s
Geneial of all the Livings of the Kingdom, md
to iridudt, as well as ejed, what Perfons they
thought fit 3 if by an Ad: of theirs (for fo the
Stile runs) to appoint national Fafts, and to fettle
general Rules for Church- Difcipline and Go-
vernment, without fo much as afking Leave of
the Civil Power, be doing Bufmefs ; then I fay,
the Scotch Afiemblv have within thefe ten Years
laft
* I am Informed that they fit yearly ; and that His Ma-
jefty on thefe Occafiofis, honours them with his Letter, -
appears from their Addrefs of this Year, to be k^n at the
End of this Speech.
c?/lemblcd at Sion-College, May 8, 1759. 1 7
■iaft pafi: effedlually done it. They have adled
up to the utmoft Extent of their divine Charter
of Privileges, and have fcarce been withiiood ia
' any one Branch of it : for though the King's
Commiffioner has fat with tiiem, yet has he not
been allowed either tointerpofe in their Debates,
or to have a Negative upon their Refolutions :
No, nor fo much as to confirm them. And
^vhen he pretended to adjourn or diij.^lve the
Synod, they protefted againfl it 3 and appointed
a new Meeting without any Regard to his Au~
thority : and in the Intervals of their Seffions,
they have had a {landing Committee of their
Members, who have been, a§ it were, a perpe-
tual Affembly. Thefe are the high Favours and
Indulgeiices-, that have, with a liberal Hand,
been beftowed on our Neighbours in Scotland,
And the fame Author obferves, that thofe of
the congregational Way here at home, have not
wanted the Indulgence of a Convocation, as re-
gular and full, though not fc open as may be de-
fired by the Members of the Church oi England^
Nay, the Privilege we claim is not deiied
to any the moft wild and extravagant Sedts among
us. The Quakers have their annual Meetinp-s
for eccle£aftic2:l Affairs : they are known to
have, and are allowed to hold them," And I
piay add, that, by their own Accounts, the fam?J
J^iberties are taken by the Methodiils.
Shall Scbifm ajid Enthufiafm enjoy their
iDonfultations for the Propagation of their Inte-
if^ii, and for the Deftrudion of ^he Church ?
1 8 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London -Clergy,
and {hall an apoftolic and eftabliihed Church,
where its Prcl'ervition requires this Imin;inity,
be reftrained ; be forced to want it ? God forbid !
I believe we fhail not, if we properly apply
for Relief 3 for, the Two Houfes of Convocation
are as much a Part of the Englijh Conftitution
as the Two Houfes of Parliament ; and there-
fore neither the one nor the Qther can be totally
difufed. It has antiently been an Objedion to
the Conduft of fome of our ^" Princes, that they
laid afide the Ufe of the Convocation ; to others,
that they laid afide the Ufe of Parliaments. The
afore -mentioned writer alfigns, as a Reafon for
this, that the Cafe is the fame in our Church
Afiemblies, as in our great Lay Conventions ;
the affembling of which is not only a Part of the
Prince's Prerogative, but of the Subject's Right ;
*^ That Intermiffions muft not be fuppofed to
take away the Right of Affembling, except they
are withal fuppofed to take the Right of Conven-
ing: fo that the provincial Inferiors may well de-
mand to be aflemb]ed,as foon as thofeReafons im-
pedient fhall ceafe,and much more, when ftronger
Reafons Ihall arife on the other Side, fuch as
would juftify the Clergy's Deiire of an extraor-
dinary Convention, if they had not an ordinary
one to claim."
These
* William Rufus. Concilia non permtfit celebran in
Regno fuo^ ex quo Rex faclin tjl^ jam per 1 3 Anncs,
Anfelm, I. 13 Ep. 46. And what the Confequence of
this LitermiiTion was, the Synod which met at the Be-*
ginning of Henry I. declare^ : Miiltis vera Annis Syrodali
■ culture cejjante vitiorum vepribus fuccrefcendbus, Chrijlian a.
Rd'iglonh Fervor in AngUa nimis. rejrixerat^ JLadmer, p. 67,
affemhlrd at Sion-College, May 8, 1759. ^9
These Obfervativins lead mc now to confider
the high Antiqjicyof the civil Ajthority of
th^/e Aircmbues of the Clergy, an J how far
they have received the Countenance and Con-
currenct jf the State in England.
They were in Ufe here in the Times of the
Britons^ before our E?igliJJo Anceftors arrived
from Gc ' many. Bcde relates, how the Bifhops
of the Britons f j. iiied themfelves into a Con-
vo..aaon to artend the Propofitions of Auftin^
who came o -vT by order of Pope Gregory^ to
c-jnvei t tne Rnglifb Saxons^ who then v/ere Hea-
thens, .^ind though it may be objected, that
the Q\\\xx(zhPBritain^ and the BritiJJj Govern-
ment, fuch as it was, have both been deftroyed
and made way for the EngUfiy now more than
a th'..uland Years ago, yet this Account of their
Affairs fhews the Antiquity of fuch Ufages in the
Church of Christ, wherefoever planted among
different People, and for the Matter of civil
Eftabliflimcnr, we have no need to go to the
Ertiom tor Prefcription and Authority^ having
fuch a Sf ries of Acfs and Monuments to produce,
lince our own Settlement in this liland.
The EngU/h Saxons^ whofe Delcendenfs we
are, and whofe Laws and Cuftoms make that
Conftitution, of which, as far as we retain it,
we may juftiy boaft, gave an early Eftablifliment
to Cnriftianity, and eftablKhed it with all its
Privikges. Ethelbert King of Kent (for then
the EngliJJ:) were divided into feven Kingdoms)
firft introduced it into his Dominions, As the
C 2 Men
^o Dr. FREE's Speech to the London- Clergy;
Men of Kent made the fird EngUJJo KingdomV
lb they were the firft Englifi Chriflians ; and
one of the firft Immunities granted by this Prince
to the infant Church of E?7ghnd vjis of the
very Sort, of which I am now fpeaking : foi*
he afforded Aujliit his Affiftance and Aathoruy,.
which was very great among the Britous, to
to procure fome of their Bifhops to give the
Meeting, and form a Convocation with his own
Ecclefiaftics.
But,, though Ethelberf was the firf!, the
other Monarch s of the Heptarchy were not far
behind him in propagating the GofjDel, and
lending it fuch Affiftarxe from the State, aj
might give Force and Authority to its Ordi-
nances, and prevent their feeing negledled, op-
pofed or overturned by the Intrigues of knavidi
and deiigning Men, working upon the Caprice
or Humour of the common People„
In th? Year 694, Wightred his SuccelTor iri
the fourth Dcfcentj as foon as he cam^ to the
Crown, aifembled a mykel Council or mykel
Mote, . for regulating the Affairs of the Church.
There is a pompous Account of this Convoca-
tion, in the Saxon Chronicle, which being in
the Form of ihoxt Annals feldom relates an
Event in a Manner fo circumftantial and parti-
cular. The Speech of the King himfelf is very
remarkable; and (liews the Piety of the true
old * Saxon EnglifJo, Win ch
^axcn In EngUJ}) CbaraSfers,
* Forthon ic V/ihtred eorthlic Cing fram hcovenllce Cing*
Onbryrcl & mid andan thare ?vightv.'irnifie an^^^ld of uran
alderan
ftffemhied at ^lon-CoWcgt, May S, 1759. 21
Which Piety was not confined to the King-
dom oi Kent alone. It appears among the Laws
6f King Ina, that there was another Convoca-
tion about 547, which was honoured with the
Style and Title of the great Affembly of the
Servants of God. Magna Nervorum Dei Fre^
quentia.
And in 747^ EthelbaldKXn^oithQ Mercians^
held a Church-mote or Synod, wherein it was
ordered, that the Lord's Prayer and the Creed,
fliould be taught in the Englijlo Saxon * oft
Mother Tongue,
We read in the Compafs of a few Years more
of another fummoned at Whitby, by the Au-
thority of Ofwy King of Northumberland : at
which the King himfelf was prefcnt, and Cedda
the new made Bifhop appeared, as Prolocutor.
Thus you feethePradice was general through-
out the fe'{!)en EngliJJj Kingdoms in their feparate
State.
alderan Fcederan ic habbe geleornod, ^c. One may fee
alio in thefe Words a Specimen of the ancien? Engllfh
Oratory, which if exprefled I'crhatim^ as near as our
modern Language will admit, will fignify as follows ;
— - " For that 1 Wihtred ecrthly Kifig by the hcavnily
King incited^ and with the Spirit ofjuftlce fir d\ which of
our older Fathers I have learned^ 5cc."
Here the modern Engliftj gives us the Latin Word Spirit
for Andan^ and Latin Word 'Jujlice for Right wifenefs^ &c,
whereas the old Language borrowed nothing from foreign
Tongues, having fuch Plenty oi its own, cf Words the
icio^k e^preflivc.
* U'lherv de Scripturis ^ facris VernacuUs, p, 197.
2 2 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clergy,
State. And when the Heptarchy came to unite
and fubmit to the Direction of one powerful
Pnnce, whofe Title was King of all England ,
we had chac the Condad: of tiie fupreme Mo-
narch wab juft tac fame. Anno 975.
Edgar, one of our moft glorious Engltjh
Kings, not only convoked his Ciergy, but did
them the Honour to make a Speech to them
himiclf -f-. And that thefe Privileges we'*: not
violated by any of the true E^iglijI:} or Sa>:on
Ki' gs, till their Succeffion was intenupted by
the few No''>n:!n Princes api^ears trom the De-
fcnption ot the Office of a King of England, as
it ftands in ihe Laws of Edward, the Conf-ifor.
Rex quofi vicarius fummi regis ad hoc confliruitur^
ut regnum^ terram (^ populum dominiy & fuper
cmnui fantlani ecclejiam ejus vcneretur & regaty
& ab injurio/is defendat.
It is mentioned indeed as a Rep^'oach upon
the Memory of the fecond King of the Norman
Race, that for thirteen Years in his Time, there
were no Convocaiions ; which Omiffions gave
rife to great Dilordeis in the Kingdom.
But at the Refloration of the Saxon Line,
Things went well again, and m their own
Channel. For abojt 1175, a Synod or Con-
vocation was holden at London^ at which, King
Henry the Second, the great Anceftor of his
preknt Majefly appeared in ferion ^ and by the
Authority
"'fr Ufhcr, dc Scrlpturis & ficrh VernacuUs^ p. 126,
cjfemlledat Sion-College, May 8, 1759. 23
Auihoiity of the King and Synod, it was de-
creed, '' That every Fatron takii g a R ward
for any Prefentation, fhould for ever lole the
Patronage of the fame/*
In the Reign of King "John {Anno Domini
1255) all the Rights of the Church of Eiig--
land were confirmed by the firft: Article of
Magna Charta ; the Words are verv ftiong ^nd
expreffive. — " The Church of E?7gland fhau be
free, and enjoy her Rights entire, and Liberties
inviolable. And we will have them to be fo
oblerved, that it may appear from hence, that
the Freedom of Eledions, which was reckoned
rr.oft neceffary for the Church of Engknd, and
which we granted and confiin.ed by cur Char-
ter, before the Dilcord between us and our Ba-
rons was granted of mere free Will ; which
Charter we frail obferve, and do will it to be
faithfully obferved by our Heirs for ever."
To the fame Purpofe is the Charter of Kin^
Henry the Third, as it flands confirmed by
Edward the Firft.
" Inprimis conceffimm Deo, & hcc frajenti
charta nojtra confer in a^-cimus, pro nobis, (5 hare-
dibus no/iris in perpetmim, quod ecclepa Afigltcana
libera fit y & habeat omnia jura Jua tnttgra &
libertatesjuas i lice fas!'
And what our Kings undeiftood in thefe
their Charters, Oaths, and Lav/s by the Church
of England, was that Church or ccclefialtical
Conflitution, which they found eftablillied by
Lav/, when they came to the Crown uf England^
From
24 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clergy,
From which in all thefe Defcents, the Right of
Convocation as ejjential to its Conftitudon, was
never feparated : but remained notwithftanding
the Variations in Modes of Faith and Worfhip,
to all Effeds and Purpofes the fame. Nay, the
Privileges of this Affembly were ftill confirmdd
by fucceeding Princes, though fome of thcrr>
were open Enemies to the Popal Power.
In the Vlllth Year of Hmry the Sixth, it
was enaded, " That all the Clergy from hence-
forth to be called to the Convocation by the
Kine's Writ, and their Servants and Familiars
(hall for ever hereafter fully ufe and enjoy fucb
Liberty and Lnmunity, m coming, tarryingj,
and returning, as the g^eat Men o:- Commonalty
of the Realm of England, called qr to be called
to the Kinsf's Parliament hive ufed or ouo^iit tp
have or enjoy." "* Nay, Henry the VJlIth not-
withftanding his Oppoiition to the S::e of Rome^
allows the Authority of the Englifi Convocation^
in Subordination to the Crown: as likewife the
antient Conftitutions made in their provincial
Synods, by the Legate's Oiho or Othubon, or
the feveral Archbifhops of Canterbury,
And with refped to the Immunities, which
I am now fpeaking of, no fucceeding Times,
not even the great Events of the Reformatioi;i
in Religion, or the laft Revolution in the State,
have made any material Diflerence.
Queen Elizabeth, a few Days after her
coming to the Crown held a Parliament.
wherei;j
* Ccdolphin^ P* 5SQ.
ciffemhled at Slon-College, May 8, 1759. 25
ts^hereiri it was enadted, that flie and her Succeffors
mi^ht corred: all Manner of Errors, Herefies^
Schiims, Abufes, and Enormities, ii/ing the Ajjeni
of the Clergy of England ajfembkd in a Synods
who were to determine by the Scriptures, Coun-
cils, and Authority of Parliament, what was
Herefy.
The Revolution made no Alteration in this
Article ; for the ^ Coronation-Oath of King
William and Mary Queen Regent confirm all the
Rights and Privileges of the Church oi England,
And the Settlement of the Crown upon the Old
Saxon Line in the Houfe of Hanover^ which was
efFeded by the Policy of the faid King Wil^
liam of Glorious Memory, was a Declaration
to the World, that in his Opinion, the Princes of
the Houfe of Hanover would be fuch, as would
follow his example, and maintain the fame in-
violable Attachments to the fundamental Laws
and Conftitutions of England,
* The Coronation-Oath of William and Mart was tendered
to them by the Bi/^op oiSahJlury in three Articles : The laft of
which has Refped to the Maintenance of the Rights and Frinjileges
of the Church, and was propofed in the following Words.
Bifhop Will you to the utmoft of your Power maintain the
Laws of God, the true Profejjlon of the Qofpel, and the ?rotefiant
reformed Religion as efiahlijhed by Lanv ? And will you preferve
unta the Bi/hops and Clergy of this Realm, and to che Churcha com-
mitted to their Charge, ail fuch Rights and Pri-vilegeSj as by La^
do, or fhall appertain unto them, or any of them?
King and Queen. Ail this 1 promife to do.
After this, tne King and ^een laying their Hands upon the
Holy Gofpels, faid, the Things, ivhich 1 ha've before promifed 1 nAjiU
perform, and keep. So help me Gad. Then the King and Queen
kiffvd the E^ok.
D Such
26 Dr. FREE*s Speech to the London- Clergy,
Such being the Laws oi England, and fnchthe
orood Opinion of the Difpofition of our Prince, I
would beg Leave to propofe it to your Confidera-
tion, whether it would not be the heft Meafure
we can take, to petition our Superiors, and in
particular our Diocefan, who is Dean of the Pro-
vince of Canterbury y to concur with the Clergy
of the City of London in an Addrefs to his Ma-
jefty y moft humbly befeeching him ; '^ That
** he would be graciouily pleafed to permit the
•* two Houfes of Convocation to fit, and provide
" for the better fecurity of the Church of Eng-
** land, now in great Danger from licentious En-
^' thufiafts, under the Direction of certain malig-
'^ nant Preachers, diftinguiihed by the Name of
" Methodifts."
There can be nothing difloyal in this Attempt ;
becaufe, by preferving the Church, we preferve
one of the beft Supports that the Crown has left.
Queen Elizabeth thought fo. For, foon after
the Execution of the Impoftor Hacket for High
Treafon, Mr. Camden obferves, that others alfo,
who had hitherto in vain oppofed the Difcipline
of the Church of Englandy by condemning the
Calling of Bifliops, now employed their Tongues
and Pens again ft the Authority granted them by
the Queen in Eccleiiaftical Caufes : But fhe well
knowing, that in this Bufinefs her Authority was
fiiot at through the Sides of the Bifhops, broke
the Force of the Afiault without any Noife, and
maintained the Ecclefiaftical JurifdiCtion invio-
late againft all Oppofers.
And
9
c^fcmhkdat Slon-College, May 8, 1759. 27
And to come nearer to our own Times 5 I be-
lieve, that his prefent Majefty has found fome
Support from the Church as well as Queen Eli-
zabeth, In the late Rebellion there was a Me-
morial handed about, drawn, as it was faid, by
Mr. Kelly, or fome Ecclefiaftick about the Pre-
tender, wherein they complained, and took it very
henioufly, '' That the Pulpits in England had
" alarmed the Nation, and done great Injury to
" their Mafter's Caufe." They had Reafon to
complain : For as I had a * Share in it, I was an
Eye^ Witnefs of th e good Effeds produced through-
out the Kingdom by this timely Service, whereby
many of his Majefty's Subjects were excited to
take up Arms, and form fuch Affociations, as
quite difconcerted and amazed the Enemy.
There were at that Juncture no thin Councils
amoncrft the alTociating Clergy, whatever there
might'^be in other Places ; no Sicknefs feigned to
hinder their Appearance, no fhifting to remote
Countries under the Pretence of feeking Safety,
no Change in their Faces, no ! nor refigning of
Places.
If the Pulpits did his Majefly this fignal Ser-
vice, when his Crown was in Danger, it is not
likely (were our Cafe but properly reprefented)
that his Majefty could forget the Pulpits, thofe
little Fortrefles, which during that Scene of An-
archy and Confufion held out fo faithfully, and
protefted his Perfon, Family, and Crown.
But befides the Hopes, we may conceive from
* Sermon before the Univtrfity o{ Oxford, AVv. 5, 1745, &c. ^
D 2 his
28 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clercyy,
his Majefty's known Goodnefs, there are others
which arife from as long Experience of his un-
' queftionable Juftice. Magna Charta fecures
from Violation the Liberties of the Church of
E7igland', the Biil of Rights gives us the high
Privilege to addrefs our Sovereign upon this Oc-
cafion ; and the fame Magna Charta affures us,
^' That in a Cafe of Right and Juftice, the Kings
^^ of England (hall deny no Man, and make no
^^ Delay."
As there can be nothins; in this Undertakino-
difloyal to our Soverei:;n ; fo neither can it give
any Difturbance to the public Peace. The
Meeting of the Convocation is entirely legal, it is
conftitutional 5 and the great Prelate, whofe
Right it is to prefide in it, is onejW^hofe known Mo-
deration and great Prudence muft take away all
Sufpicion of his ever ftraining the Power of the
Church fo far, as to give the leaft Umbrage or
Difquiet to the State.
So that there is a Felicity in thefe Circum-
ftances prefaging an happy Meeting ; and for the
Bufineis in Deliberation, it is the Maintenance of
the- gentle inoffeniive Church of England -, the at-
tracting Centre, which keeps in Equilibrio and
Tranquillity the feveral adverfe Sedaries, which
otherwife by their extreme Doctrines, oppolite
Ufages, and high Animofity would ftart afunder,
barft the Bonds of the Community, and fly into
Confufion.
The Church then being confeffedly the Inftru-
mcnt of preferving Peace among all the numer-
ous
ajfembledat Sion-College. May 8, 1759. 29
<ous Sorts ofRecufants, which fettle amongft us;
%o preferve the Peace of this ufeful Church is to
preferve the religious Peace of his Majefty's
whole Dominions. — Well ! and to fecure the
Peace of the Church, and thereby the Peace of
the Nation are the Ends, for which the Convoca-
tion is ordained to meet : Therefore, where thefe
are both become fo extremely necelTary, is not
the Meeting of the Convocation alfo neceffary ?
It may be infinuated by our Adverfaries, that a
Convocation fhall produce Effeds of another Na-
ture : but the Idlenefs of this Objedion would
be fully ihewed, and all Apprehenfions of that
Sort entirely removed, if we defired at the fame
Time, that the Bufmefs of the Seffion might be
limited to the Decifion of particular Points, which
moft immediately require Attention. And what
can more immediately require Attention than fuch
an Article as this ? which to the Scandal of this
Nation has lately been made a Queftion amongft
us 'y to wit ; Whether the Opinion, " That Men
^' are to be faved without Morality be (as the
<^ Methodifts fay) a Doftrine of the * Church
of
* One Mr. Elliot a Bachelor of Arts, then Chaplain to St. George*^
Hofpital at Hide-park Corner, publifhed a Sermon preached at
Chrift-Church, Spital-FieUs, January 21, 1 75 9, with this Title —
Encouragement for Sin u rs : or Righteoufnefs attainable nuithout
Works.^ — Very good Encouragement indeed ! The Sermon was of
a Piece with tne Title ^For he declares Page 10. *' That our
Repentance Duties, and belt. Endsavours are hereby utterly rejec-
ted."—This Gentleman as 1 have heard, has fmce been difcharged
by thf Governors.
' But James Her<vey MaRer of Arts, Reaor of Wefon-Fa'vell m
Northampton-
30 p.'. FUEE's Speech to the London-Clergy.
** of England ?" an Opinion fo deftrucTtive to a
State ! fo oppofite to the Being and Attributes of
God. and our Saviour's own Account of a fu-
ture Judgment ?
You iec. Gentlemen, the Peril of the Times
and the Importance of the Subjcfts, which are
laid before you. It were to be wiflied, that you
J'TorthamptonJh'ire was permitted to go on in his own Way, till
Death put a ^ top to his Blafphemies.
In his Book c;ilied Theron and Afpajjo^ lie had the AlTurance to
declare to theWoiid an-^ong other Articles full as furpr^zing. *' That
the Goipti ru:.s counier to the Li^^ht of Nature.'* Vol. I. Dial. 6.
'* J h3t both Grace and Faith (land in diredl Oppoiltion to
•* Works 5 r;!] Works whatever. Whether they be Works of the
** Law or Works of the Gofpt] ; Exi rcif^s of the Heart or Adlions
•' of rhe Life ; done in a State of Nature, or under the Influences
•* tf Grace ; they are all, and t'^tx'j of them equally fet afide ia
•* this great Affair.
" That the Bill of Exclufion is thus Extenfive, ^>.**
And to ccnvirce u; rh.t he takes thefe to be the Dodlrines of the
Church cf Englurd,' he afHrms in the xx Pagi o^ his Preface,
•' That be catu.ot but reflect with a peculiar Pleafure, that every
** Djftri e of Note, maintained in thefe Dialogue?. anJ Letters, is
** cither implied in our Liturgy^ aff-rted in our Ariules^ or taught
** in our Homilies, ^r "
Again, tfijt Ignorant and Onmeiefs Impostor Mr. Jones in his
Eypojition^ as he c^lls it, of the Church-catechifm the ift Edition P. 7.
f lys, that' our troral Gentlemen in the tendereji and foftrjl Manner
Ticcmmcnd it to Tou, to t/ead in the prim role Paths of Virtue, and
not to Jkait in the flippery TraBs of P^'ice : but notnjoithfianding if we
be] eve CLr.BiOlts, njoe can nc^vir cotne into their Scheme^ Sec.
Whaif — vvi'l not rhe Bible permit us to tread in the Paths of
Virtm? Was tstx Virtue fo^infamoufly ridiculed, ox the Word of
G:d in openly bl.fphcTjeJ in any Ccuntrv ? and to add to the fla-
gr.mcy of the Detu, th s D.--ciaration is -* d-, in what he calls an
Ex^offion vf tlie Catechifm of the national Ccx^^'^n ? Good Heaven
is thf le no King in I/raeJP noChurch? no Payors of the Church?
nci Legrflatvre? That tor the Honour of- Goa and their Country
wi 1 Uep fortn, and i^op fuch optM Blafpht^my as this ? nor refent
fuch a villainous L/.W upon our natio::al Rel'gion, which muft
wake it fcandulous to ail the Cbiijiian and the Heathen World ?
would
afem!?led af Sion-CoWege, May 8, 1759. 31
would begin to confer upon them without Delays
w^hile you are here together in a Body ; that, if
poiTible, fome previous Refolutions might even
now be formed, and Meafures concerted, which
might feem to have had the Sand:ion of public
Suffrage, or common Confent.
And more effedtually to give your Counfels
this Appearance ; fuppofe the Clergy of this Me-
tropolis were to enter into a public AfTociation, as
they heretofore did in this very Place, when each
engaged to take his Part, and all heartily united
in the Defence of the Church againft the Ad-
vances of Popery under King James II. This
would be attended with great Advantages ; for
hereby fuch as meant well, would be enabled to
diftinguifh Friends from Enemies : which would
keep them from mifplacing their Confidence, and
give them, in other Refpedts, greater Influence :
for, ading in a Body, no odium could fo eafily
be fixed by the adverfe Party upon particular
Perfons : beiides, that they muft iiand more in
awe of a colledied Force, and decline, through
Fear or Prudence, many an x^ttack, to which
they might be invited by the Weaknefs of iingle
Combatants. We may fee the Utility of this
meafui-e of ailociating in every Step that we can
propofe to take, particularly in the following
Infiance, which I think ought to be one of your
firft Refolutions.
Suppofe the City-Clergy v/ere, one and all> to
agree never to admit a Methodift or vagrant
Teacher to play the Prize-Fighter in their Pul-
pits,
32 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Glergy,
pits, at that favourite Diverfion of the Mob, d
Charity-Sermon ? why then, no Church- War-
den who had been feduced, nor Trufltee of a
School of the enthufiaftic Turn, could pretend
to take offence at their Dodtor, as they call him,
for his particular Refufal : becaufe in this Cafe,
tho' the Denial came from a fingle Perfon, if
would be conlidered, as the Ad: and Deed of
the whole Body of the Clergy, by whom any
Perfon, offending againft the eftabliflied Rule,
niuft exped: (and the world would expecl the
fame) to be cenfjred and excluded the Society,
as a Time-ferving, falfe and unworthy Brother.
In a Word, fo great is the Utility of affociating,
that I beg Leave to recommend it as the very
firft Meafure you fhould chufe to purfue 3 being
perfuaded that no Meafures however important,
can ever fucceed without it.
In this ftep you may be followed by the Clergy
in every County, I might fay Diocefe, but that
muft explain itfelf ; I mean the country Clergy,
many of which are Men of great Learning -, great
Honefty, great Leifure, arid great Abilities y
who, in a crifis, may by their Writings prove
the Stay of the Church of England, This we'
may exped: from them : While they on their
Part exped, that, as our Situation is in the Capi-
tal, we fhould be the moft Vigilant, arid fee the
farthefl. And fince there is no Time for Delay;
Gentlemen, forgive me, if I prefs you this very
Day, in fome Form or other, to nlake fome be-
ginning. If you hefitate, the Thing is over and
paft
affembled at Sion-CoUege, May 8, 1759. 33
paft Recovery. Remember the Words of the
Athenian Patriot and Orator DemofihmeSy arid
apply them to the Church and to yourfelves.
TO "urpdrleiv tS ?^€y^v ^ '^eiporoveiv v<^spov^ ov Tvircc^et^
'srctp vfjiiv, iicrivy w avS'pss A^nvcct'oi^ S'vvdfj.&voi^ %^y^^^'^
VOA liTOLVTCjiV hfX.^S O^VTOLTOl TCt pH^iVTX Kj TSTpCi^ca S&
Tii'oc Koupovi (a a.vS'pes 'A^mcJoii tS ^ocpcvrog l3i?\.Ticj
aTTcwroc fAh r]f>Loov rcc x'^P^^ 7rpO?^An(p€r o sxP'f^ '^ ^ ^'^
^^acpte^x. [Second Olynthiack.]
If vve make this Cafe our own, and it is but
too fimilar , it will appear that fomething ought
to be done immediately, or- it muft be left undone
for ever. By permitting thefe enthufiailick
Teachers to have Accefs to your Pulpits, and
fwallowing the delulive Maxim of your Eneriiies
to let them alone, till they fhall decay of them-
felves 5 yoii have fuffered them, like Weeds ne-
gleded, to grow fo high and extend themfelves fo
** far, that they boaft of the Notice, nay, the Pro-
tedion and foftering Care of fome People in
Power, who may think that they have an Interell:
in ruining the Church of E?2gla?id : Why elfe
fhould they endeavour by working with fuch
Tools as thefe, to make its Difcipline contempti-
ble, and its Dodrines odious ? that fo the wife
and honeft Part of Mankind, may grow afhamed
E of
4 Dr. FREE's Speech to the Londori-Ciergy,
of a Religion fo disfigured and deformed,
^fid remove from its Gomrnunion. And thus
while the Name of the Church of England fub-
fifts, it will infenfibly take another Form, and
be bereaved qf all its ancient Members. There
may be fome Cunning in this Defign ; yet it is
not laid fo deep, but that it may be difcerned.
I have fhewn in my Writings, and every Day
produces frefh Inftances to the fame cffed, that
there are already Docflrines propagated under the
Name of Po6lrines of the Church of England^
vvhich for thejr Irreligion, the heathen Nations
\vere afraid to own, and for their grofs Tendency,
even Mahometans would be afliamed to adopt.
What is it to the rational Members of a Com-
monwealth, (and thofe are the moft valuable
Members) if the publick Religion be made up
of Iniquity, Blafphemy and Delufion, whether
that Gompofition be imported from Geneva^
Germany or Rome; whether it be the Invention
of Pope Calvin, Pope Zinzendorf, or Pope Be-
nediSi, The Impiety of every religious Delu-
fion, being ftill the fame ; the Deluiion will be
upon its account, alike offenfive, let the Authors
of it be, who they will.
Where fuch fhocking Errors are avowedly
propagated, and yet connived at by the People in
Authority, a Man will begin to look upon all jNa-
tional Religion as a Farce, he may be obliged
indeed, as in Popifa Countries to attend to it as a
publick Interlude or Fantomine of State : But he
niufl make tlie Reccffes of his own Heart the
Flacc
affembledat Sion-GoHege, May 8, 1759. 35
place of his Devotion, and retire to that little
Chapel, or fequeftered Cell, whicl> Heaven has
providentially fecured from the rude Intrufions of
the Vulgar, and referved even in Revolutions of
Government, and the worft of Times for the
very Service of the very God,
FINIS.
1
in
^^^^-'■^w^m-^^CMmiym^mm
This Addrefs is printed here to fliew tlis World, that the
Kirk o( Scotland k not abridged of this necefTary Prlvi-
Ug^. Why then eipccially in Times of Danger fhould
it be denied to the Church of Engla?7d? Is not his
Majesty bound as much to the Maintenance of
the Rights of One Chutch, as of the other ?
From the London Gazette.
tCenfigtPn, June 12. The following Addrefr^ of the Minifters
and Elders of the Church of Scotland ]Ta\ in^ been tranf-
iriitted by the High Commiflioner to the Right Honourabb
the Earl oi Holder-nrJJe, one of his Majeily's Principal Secre-
taries of State, has by him been prefented to his Majeflv x
which Addrefs hisMajelly waspleafcd to receive vqiv "ra'ci-
ouily. X
May it phafe your Mitjrjly\,
YOUR Majefty's moil gracious Letter to this A/rembly
was received with that humble Refpecl and Gratitude,
which is diie from loyal and happy SubjetTts to the bell of So-
vereigns.
It mull animate us with more ardent Zeal to difcharge oar
t)uty to God and ycur Majefty, that the Condud of former
Aflemblies is honoured with yoar Royal Approbation, and
that your Majelly is pleafed to take favourable Notice of our
undoubted Loyalty and Attachment to your Perfon and Go-
vernment.
Your MajcHy's countenancing the Meeting of this Aflembly
with yonr Royal Authority and Approbation, is a frefa Inllance
of your paternal Regard to this National Church, and of y>-;ur
pious Concern for the Interells of true Religion.
We have an entire Reliance on your Majeil/'s firm Refblu-
tion to maintain the Church o^ Scotland, as by Law eflab-
lifhed, in all its jull Rights and Privileges ; and we humbly
beg Leave to aiTure your ^l1jefty, that thro' the Grace of God,
we (hall be directed by the fame good Principles nnd Difpofi-
tions as heretofore ; by thefe we are prorated to exert oui-
felves to utmoft, in Defence of your Majefty's facred Perfon,
and in Support of that happy Conftitation and nufpicious Qo'>-
V'.^rnment, under which we er.joy fo many indlimable Blefling'-.
The Choice your Majefty ha-j been pleafrr-d tu liiake of the
Liit'i
[ii]
Lord Catchcartt to reprefent your Royal Perfon in this AfTen:;-
bly, gives the higheit Satisfa6lion to us, and to every Mem-
ber of the Church. The repeated Proofs your Majefty has
had of his Abilities, Fidelity, and Prudence ; and the Know-
ledge we have of his Zeal for your Majefty's Service, as well
as aifedlonate Concern for the Welfare and Profperity of the
Church of Scotland., cannot but render him intirely acceptable
to us, and to all the true Friends of our happy Eilablifhment in
Church and State.
Your Majeily^s Pvcnevval of your Royal Bounty, for the re-
formation of the Highlands and Iflands, and Places where Ig-
norp.nce and Popery Itill too much abound, we accept w\^
ail Thankfulnefs ; and (hall employ the moft proper and ef-
fedlual Means, in pur Power, for anfwering the important
Ends of fo pious and charitable a Donation.
To juilify the Confidence your Majefty is pleafed to repofe
in us, your Majefty may be aiTured, that we fhall moft heartily
concur in our Endeavours, to advance the Interefts of Religion
and Virtue, which is the great End of our prefent Meeting.
That the God of all Grace, the Father of Mercies, may
pojr down his chciceft Bleffings upon your Majetty's Perfon
and Royal Family; That your precious Lite may be long pre-
served for a Blelling to thiefe Realms ; That your Councils
may be directed by Divine Wifdom ; That your Fleets and
Armies, under the Condu6l of the Lord of Hofts, inay be fuc-
ccfsful and vidorious; and that the Calamities of War may be
ibon and happily terminated by a fafe and honourable Peace ;
That God may abundantly blefs their Royal Higneftes George
Prince of Waksy the Princefs Dowager of Waks^ the Duke,
the Princefles, and all the Branches of your Royal Family; and
that after a long and profperoys Reign upp" Earth, you may
at laft be received into that Kingdom, which cannot be mo-
ved ; and that a Race of Kings of your Royal Line, Guardians
of Religion, Liberty, and their Country, may always fway
the Scepter over thefe Lands, are the fmcere and hearty
Prayers of,
'^'^"' May it pleafe your Majefty,
Your Majefty's moft Faithful,
Moft Dutiful, and m[oil Loyal Subjefts,
The Miniftcrs and Elders met in this
National Aftembly of the Church of
Scotland.
Signed in our Name, in our Prefence, and at our Appoint-
ment, by • Ghorgl- ivAX* Moderator.
Edinburgh. Ma^- 26, I "59. '■■■"•/
Biroupb
Bcrozigboi South'vjarky June 15, 1759.
PROPOSALS
For Printing by SUBSCH-IPT ION,
In One Volume, Oda'vo,
Dr. FREE^s whole Controversy v/ith
the Methodifis.
Whereas the Enthufiafm oi the prefent Times, by the Encour-
agement of feme People in Po-juer^ and the Zeal oi it's Abhet'
terSi who fpare no Expence for it's Propagation, is now be-
come dangerous to the Conjiituiion^ and the i'tace of the
efcablilhed Church of England', and whereas the Reverend
-^-Dr. Free, at his o'wn Jole Charge, hath frunn Tipe to Tire,
occalionally publiihtd leverai ufeful Tracts and iiiiC' uri'es, as
a Prj?/f;-T.'^/ii;t' againfi thole popular Delufiom, which V/or>:s
of his, to the pubhck Lofs, are n^^w chiefly out of Pnnc :
Therefore Proposals have been made, and approved of
by fome Gentlemen in the Borough of Scuth^ark., for re-pub-
li'fiiing the fame, for the Benefit of the P^^ople in their
Neighbourhood, in the Manner following.
CONDITIONS.
IJ g *'* HE Whole to be comprifed in One Volume, Odmjo^
%^ and to contain,
lit. Certain Articles propofed to the ferious Confideration
of the Company oi ualttrs in London, concerning the Choice
cf a Methodiji, Sec.
2d. Kules (or (he D:7'cc^d'ay of fal/e Proihcfs, or the danger-
pus Impojitions of the People called Methodijls deteifbed at the
Bar of Scripture and Reajm : A Sermon before the the Univer-
lity of Oxford : With an ample Dedication to his Grace cf
Cantcrhury, and a controverfial Preface, and Appendix.
3d.- Dr. Free\ Edition of the R.ev. Mr. J. V/efiey'^fi-f.y com-
monly called the P-'iNny Letter, &c. With Notes, and a
Dedication to the Reverend Author, Scz.
4th. Y^r. Free's Edition of tj-'e Rev. Mr. 7- ^^'efliys :d Let-
ter, &c, in the fame iVIanner.
rth Re*
[Iv}
5f.h. Remarks upon Mr. 'Joneses Letter; and the Jfida'vits
relating to the compojmg, then publijhing from the Puipit^ and
afterwards printing, \)\2X fcandalous Forgery y the pretended Letter
from the Manfiom ahcve. Dedicated to the Ld. Biihop of Win-
chefler.
6th. The Whole Speech, as it was delivered to the
London Clergy, affembled at Sion College, on Tuefday the 8th of
May, 1759. To which is prefixed a Remonilrance, &c.
to the Ld* Biihop oUVinchcJiery complaining of P^rA'<r«//5/z from
the People called Methodijls, iffc.
II. The Vv Oik Ihall be put to the Prefs fo foon as the Num-
ber of Ft/?)? Subicribers Ihall be compleated; and printed off
with the greatel^ Expedition.
in. Each Subfcrlber to pay One Guinea at tlie Time of
fubfcrlbing, for wnich he fhall receive Six Books fewed, or
Five Books bound J as he (hall fignify at the Time of fub-
fcribing, by writing after his' Name, which of thefe he makes
his Option.
IV. All Perfons, who are difpofed to give the fame En-
couragement to this Work, as the Gentlemen in the Borough
of Southnx^ark., may do it upon the fame Terms.
V. The Names of the Fifty Subfcribers, who firft moved
and contributed to this re-publication, (hall be printed by
themfelves : And then the Names of fuch other Subfcribers,
as /hall fend them in Time> and exprefs no Objedlion to their
being printed.
VI. Subfcribers are defired to fend their Payments, Names,
and Places of Abode to the Author, at his Houfe, in King
John's Court, near Bermondfey Church, South^vark, to Mr. John
Winter, at the S^<:an, in the Borough, or Mr. J. Scott, Book-
Jeller, in Pafer-noJier-Rcw.
N^ B. Thofe, who are inclined to have fingle Books, may
enfily join. Five or Six together, and make the full Subfcrip-
tion in the Name of One of the Company, afterwards dividing
the Books among them, as they pleafe.
X
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