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«^i>c  ^'^ 


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FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY  HIM  TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Section      /^/3f 


■/ 


T  ti  E 


MAR  30  1932 


ENTHUSimM 


O  F 


ME  T  H  O  D  I  STS 


AND 

PAP    IS   T   S, 

C  O  Ivl  P  A  R*D. 

— -= — ■ ■ f-  •  '        •        '   ■ 

Thefe  Preacher^  and  Menciicants-^^ov  fome  time  rambled  uncon- 
troulM,  taking  upon  them  to  Confefs  and  Preach  wherever 
they  came,  without  the  confent  of  the  Bjjhop,  utterly  dc- 
fpifmg  all  Canom  and  Ecclejiajiical  Rules  :  and  profeffing  \o- 
\\inf3iry  Poverty,  2iX\d  Contempt  of  Riches,  wandering  like  .S/r^/- 
iers  from  place  to  place,  under  a  pretence  of  Piety,  the/ 
chous'd  the  fiUy  People  of  their  Money. 

Hc-wePs  View  of  the  Ppntificate,  page  406. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  J.  and  P.  K  n'  a  p  t  o  n,  in  Likiiate-Slreat 
mdCcxlix. 


PREFACE. 


E  V  E  R  A  L  Excellent 
"Treatijes  have  been  al- 
ready publidied  againft 
that  Enthufiajlic  and  Fa- 
natical Spirit  now  working  in  a  fef 
of  pretended  Reformers  among  us, 
call'd  Mtthodijls:  Which,  though 
they  have  not  been  able  to  fupprefs 
it,  have  effedually  fhewn  its  evil 
nature  and  tendency^  and  (as  the 
Methodijis  themfelves  confefsj  given 
fome  check  to  its  progrefs.  Nor 
need  I  any  Apology,  if  I  own  a 
fort  of  impulfe  and  imprejlion  upon 
A  me. 


PREFACE. 

nie,  and  think  myfelf  ohltgd  to 
throw  in  my  mite  towards  diicover- 
ino-  the  delufion  of  this  dangerous 
aiul  p?'efumptuous  SeSr. 

'Tis  my    principal  dejign^    as   a 
caution  to  all  Protefiants^   to  draw 
a  Comparifon  between  the  wild  and 
pernicious  Enthtifiafms   of  fome  of 
the    moft    eminent    Saints    in    the 
Popi/Jj  Communion^  and  thofe  of  the 
Mcthodijls    in    our     Q'wn    Cou?ttry. 
BifKop     Stillingfleet     hath     clearly 
prov  d^  and  fufficiently  expos' d^  the 
Fa7taticifm   of  the  Romijh  Churchy 
m  his  Incoraparahle  Difcourfe  can- 
cer 7wtg  their  Idolatry  ;   hath  fliewn 
to   what    Extravaga?2t     heights    it 
has  been    carried,    how    peculiarly 
encouraged  by  the  Popes  ;   hath  been 
the  foundation  of  their  feveral  Re- 
ligious  Orders^  and  Societies  ;    and 
the    engine    for    introducing    their 
falfcy  fuperjlittous^    and  Idolatrous 
DoEirineSy  a?id  PraBifes.      More  of 

this 


P  R  E  F  A  C  R 

this  nature  will  appear  in  the  fol- 
lowing Treatife ;  together  with  plain 
and  full  evidence^  that  our  modern 
ltinera7it  Knthufiajls  are  treading  in 
their  fteps^  and  copying  their  exam- 
ph ;  their  whole  conduct  being  but 
a  Coimter-paj^t  of  the  mojl  wild  Fa- 
naticifms  of  the  moji  abomiimble  Co7n- 
mti7iion^  in  its  moJi  corrupt  Ages. 

But  as  the  Spirit  of  Enthufiafm 
is  alw^ays  the  fame,  operating  in 
much  the  fame  manner,  in  all  SeSis 
and  Profefftons  of  Religion^  and  dif- 
covering  itfelf  in  fimilar  peculi- 
arities of  notions,  and  behaviour  ; 
I  fhall  take  the  liberty  to  produce 
firft  of  all  a  remarkable  inftance  of 
this  in  the  Seel  of  the  Montanifls  : 
which  arofe  towards  the  latter  end 
of  the  fecond  Century ^  before  Po- 
pery had  a  beings  or  Chriflianity 
an  Eflablifjjme?2t.  The  Hijlory  of 
Montanifm  was  written  by  the  late 
learned  Dr.  Lee^  of  St.  Jolms 
i\    2  Colleo'e^ 


PREFACE. 

College^     Oxford ;     compiled    with 
great  diligence  and  exadnefs ;  and 
publifli'd  with  Dr.  Hicks  s  Enthu- 
fiafm  Exorctsd^  in  the  year  1709  : 
and  herein  a  large  account  is  given, 
from  all  the  Records  q{  Antiquity^ 
of    the    riie,     progrefs,     difperfion, 
pretenfions  and  tenets  of  that  over- 
hearincr    SeB.      And    I    am    much 
miftaken  if  our  MethodiJIs  (though 
not  vet  arriv'd   to  the  fame  height 
of  madnefs)   may  not  here  fit  for 
their  PiBure^  and  be  traced  in  all 
their  lineaments, 

'Tis  indeed  a  misforttme  that  the 
Writings  of  the  Mmitanifis  are  lofl^ 
and  never  came  down  to  our  hands: 
what  accounts  and  Extra(3;s  we  have 
of  them  being  colleded  from  the 
beft  Hifiorians  cf  thofe  times.  But 
it  may  be  reckon'd  a  happy  Cir- 
cumftaiice^  that  v/e  have  the  mod 
foinmg  parts  of  the  Lives^  Charac- 
ters^ Sentiments  aitd  A8lio7is  of  the 


PREFACE. 

Methodtjls  from  themfehesy  and  that 
too  by  a  fandion  from  Heaven. 
They  have,  if  they  may  be  credit- 
ed ;  been  fo  preffed  i?i  Spirit^  re- 
ceiv'd  fuch  Divine  direEiions^  to 
preach  a7id  prints  and  God  has 
given  them  fuch  favour  in  the  Ryes 
of  the  Pri?tter  ;  —  that  the  Prefs 
has  cramm'd  the  PubHc  with  their 
Jour?2ah^  Letters^  and  other  Worh 

even    to    a    Surfeit.     Without 

thefe  confefftons  from  their  own 
mouths  we  might  have  wanted 
evidence  for  a  great  p:!rt  of  our 
Charge ;  and  been  ftrangers  to  ma- 
ny of  their  fanSiifyd  fiftgularitiesy 
low  fooleries y  a?id  high  pretenfions. 

And  yet,  for  want  of  leifure, 
opportunity  or  incHnation,  there  are 
feveral  of  their  worh  which  I  have 
never  feen.  Their  Journals  are  what 
I  have  chiefly  confulted,  and  referr'd 
to  ;  and  in  my  Rotations  (which  I 
hope  ^xtjufl  and  fair)  have  not  al- 
ways 


PREFACE. 

ways  taken  notice  from  what  Edi- 
tion they  are  taken.  Mr.  Wejleys 
two  jirji  yournals  are  of  the  fecond 
Edttio7t :  all  the  reft  are,  I  think  of 
the  firjl.  M^hat  few  Citations  are 
made  from  their  ColleSiioit  of  Let- 
ters (which  I  confefs  I  have  not 
perus'd,  or  feen)  are  taken  from 
'  Obfe7^vations  on  the  Co?idtici  of  the 
Methodifls  ;  and  the  jujinefs  of  thofe 
references  were  never,  that  I  know 
or  believe,  cali'd  in  queftion.  Thefe 
Citations  have  only,  in  the  margi7iy 
the  word  Letters. 

'Tis  certainly  matter  of  juft  con- 
cern, when  Men  of  a  good  under- 
itanding,  acquir'd  Learning  and 
knowledge  of  Scripture^  embarafs 
themfelves  and  others  in  fuch  Chi- 
mericaly  but  pernicious^  projeBs. 
One  at  leaft  of  the  Methodift- 
Preachers  muft  be  allov^M  to  have 
tliefe  qualifications  for  doing  real 
Service  to  Religion  :    And   did  not 

Ex- 


PREFACE. 

Experience  convince  us  how  ftrange- 
ly  Men  are  loft  to  all  reafon  as  to 
fome  particular^  wherewith  the 
head  is  touch' d^  who  yet  can  dif- 
courfey  and  write^  aiid  aSl  ratioit- 
ally  enough  in  other  refpecls  ;- — 
one  would  wonder  fuch  a  perfoa 
iliould  quite  loofe  himfelf,  when 
carried  away  into  the  Extravagant 
freaks  of  Met  hod fm. 

That  fuch  freaks  they  are,  will 
eafiily  appear.  And  if  in  proving  it 
I  am  fometiaies  guilty  of  a  levity  of 
exprejftony  'tis  to  be  hop'd  fome  al- 
lowance vvill  be  made  in  conddera- 
tion  of  the  77ature  of  the  SubjeB  : 
it  being  no  eafy  matter  to  keep 
one's  countenance,  and  be  fteadily 
feriousy  where  others  are  ridiculous. 
As  true  Religion  however  is  the 
mofl  ferious  thing  in  the  world  ],  I 
cannot  but  fmcerely  lament  the 
progrefs  of  Infidelity  and  hniitora- 
///;^  among  us :    I  cannot  but  ear- 

neftly 


PREFACE. 

neftly  defire,  and  pray  for  an  effec- 
tual Reformatt07t  of  ?nanners  and 
Propagation  of  the  Gofpel^  by  all 
fober  and  Chriftian  Methods :  but 
may  venture  to  foretel,  without 
pretending  to  the  Spirit  of  Prophe- 
cy y  that  this  Great  work  will  never 
be  accomplilli'd  by  an  Enthujiaflic 
and  Fanatical  head. 


End  of  the  Preface. 


T  H  E 


THE 

ENTHUSIAS  M 


O  F 


Methodists,  &c. 


S  E  C  T.     L 

jin  Extradl  fro?n  the  Hiftory  of  Montanifm, 
being  what  I  proposed  in  the  fir  ft  place  to 
lay  before  the  Reader  ;  I  have  taken  care 
to  do  tt  without  any  variation,  /  a?n  fure 
without  any  material  variation,  from  The 
Author's  own  Words :  that  I  may  not  be 
accused  of  forcing  a  likenefs,  or  warping 
any  circiimftance,  or  exprefjion^  to  the  dij- 
advantage  of  the  Methodilts. 

"    A/fO  NTANUS,  in  his  outward  ap-  Page  74. 
<c  IVl  pearance,  had  all  the  formofgod- 
''  linefs  and  fpirituality  j    and  got  the  re-  79- 
"  putation  of  no  mean  Sandity,    by  his. 

*'  Jujleritics 


Page  7: 


78. 


79' 


So. 


Si. 


(    2    ) 

Aufieritics  and  extraordinary  way  of 
living.  —  Had  a  zeal  for  Religion  — 
and  would  needs  let  up  for  a  mighty 
Refonner  in  the  Church  :  but  wanting 
Iblidity  of  Judgment,  and  coolnefs  of 
Thought,  was  driven  away  by  every  im- 
pulfe  that  feiz'd  him  ;— being  tranfport- 
ed  with  an  immoderate  and  irregular 
zealj  he  was  poiTefs'd  with  a  ftrcmge 
Spirit  :  —  Many  doubting  whether  it 
were  a  good  Spirit^  or  a  bad  one.  Hence 
he  fets  up  preteniions  to  Prophecy  and 
Miracles,  Some  indeed  faw  through 
him, —  and  took  him  for  what  he  after- 
wards prov'd  to  be,  a  falfe  Prophet ^  — 
and  one  agitated  by  a  Spirit  of  Deliifion  : 

—  and  thefe  oppos'd,  and  reprov'd  him, 

—  not  haflily,  but  upon  fober  and  ma- 
ture deliberation,  after  trial  m.ade  of  his 
Spirit^ — which  appeared  very  much  like 
the  fit  of  a  Frenzy^  or  dijlemper'd  Melaji- 
choly, 

''  Others  deem'd  what  they  faw  in 
Monta7ius  as  the  true  efFed  of  the  Holy 
Ghojt :  —  and  were  hereby  lifted  up  with 
an  extreme  vaiiity  and  confidence^  as  if 
nothing  could  be  greater  and  higher  than 
this  Difpenfation  of  Montanus :  —  who 
being  ravifli'd  with  the  Honour  of  fee- 
ing himfelf  fo  efteemed  and  liflened  to 

ufcd  divers  Artifices  and  St  rat  agejns  to, 

"  draw 


(    3    ) 

^'  draw  in  others,  and  did  fome  fober  and 

<<  fmcere  Chriftians.  P^S^  ^4- 

*'  He  look'd  on  the  Governors  of  the 
*'  Church  as  much   degenerated,    inverted 
'' onl}^   with  an  outward  CharaBer  :  —  /j^  S8. 
*'  had  more  of  the  Spirit  than  all  of  them  ; 

«' and  by  virtue  of  his  pretended  extraor- 

*'  dinary  Miffion  would  be  exempted  kom  the 
^'  infpedlion    of  his  rightful  Superiors  :  —  114- 
''  whofe  {landing  rules  muft   give  way  to 
''  whatever  was  taken  for  a  Prophetic  irnpe-  89- 

«'  tus, Montanus^  intoxicated  with  thefe 

^'  high  Notions,  went  up  and  down  and 
^'  drew  after  him  feveral  religious  Melan- 
*'  cholifts.     Several  of  the  weaker  S^x,  ex-92. 
"'  cited  by  his  high  pretenfions  were  feized 
''  upon— by  the  fame  Spirit  ^  —as  Prifcilla 
"  and  Maximilla  —  who  no   fooner   were 
''  touch'd  by  the  Power  in  Montanus,  but  93- 
"  immediately   they   left   their   Hujbands ; 
''  fancying,— that  henceforwards  they  were 
"  to  be  efpoufed   to  none  but  Chrift^  — 
«'  eloping  from  their  Hufbands  to  follow 
"  an  infamous  Cheat,  — Htucz  they  fancied  157- 
'^  themfelves  Heave7ily  Virgins,  efpoufed  by  94. 
'' Chrifi,  who  perfonallyi^^^^^  them,  con- 
''  veriing  with  them  as  one  Friend  converfes 
"  with  another. 

^'  Thus,  led  on  with  2ifalfe  Faith  —  and  95- 

*'  puffd  up  beyond  meafure, — they  fell  into 

"  fundry    Snares,  and   eafily   miftook  the 

**  imaginations  of  their  own  Hearts,  or  the 

B  2  "  fug- 


(    4    ) 

*'  fuggcflions   of  the  old  Impoftor,  for  the 
"  pure  Infpirations  of  the  Divine  Spirit, 
Pare  1C2.      ''  The  lame  Spirit  fell  upon  fome  of  the 
"  Men  alfo,  —  highly  efteem'd,  — as  extra- 
^'  ordinarily  commiflion^d  by  God  to  raife 

103.  '*  up  this  pre -ended  ncvj  Difpenfation  :  — 
''  though  fome  of  them  were  clearly  con- 
'^  vinc'd  of  havino:  been  all  the  while  under 
**  the  Condud  of  a  dtxeiving  Spirit,  that 
''  had  ufurp'd  the  Name  of  the  Holy  Ghofi, 
iC2-ico.  '' They  divide  into  P<^r//V^,  under  difFe- 
"  rent  Leaders  —  and  continue  under  thefe 
"  novel  and  ftrange  Influences  to  diftradt 
''  unwary  Minds.  —  Different  in  fundry 
"-  l^oints,  but  all  agrceiiig  in  pretences  to 
*'  hifpi ration^  and  a  heavenly  MiJJion. 

,ic.  "  Montaniis  begins  to  fet  up  his  little 
"  AJJemblies  :  —  they  give  forth  many  good 
"  exhortations  to  Holinefs,  rigoroufly  pref- 
*'  fing  a  Reformation  of  Difcipline  and 
**  Manners  j  —  their  Spirit  imitates  nearly 
''  the  Properties  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  in 
'^  producing  good  Works  —  difcerning 
*'  the  Secrets  of  the  Heart — by  Infpi- 
*'  ration  reproving  fome  prefent  for  their 
*'  hidden  Faults — with  fuch  a  fhew  of  the 
'^  Life  and  Spirit  of  Christianity,  as  made  it 
**  hard  to  think  all  a  mere  Connterjeit. 

*  2  4.  *  *  Thefe  new  Lights  fet  u  p  a  72ew  Church: — . 
"  fomething  doubtful  whether  they  firfl 
^\feparated  from  the  Church,  or  vj^vt  forced 
^'  oiit.     But  with  a  ftrange  air  of  Confidence 

■^  they, 


(    5    ) 

*'  they,    or    rather   thofe   deluding   Spirits 
"  which   fpoke    through   them,    did    re- 
"  proach  and  vihfy  the  Church-,  —  becaufe 
'^  (lie  every  where  rejeded  their  72ew  order  of 
'•  "^Frophecy. 

"  They   are  not  able  to  bear  with  the  Page  126. 
"  deadnefs  and  the  formality  of  the  Catholics^ 
"who  are  only  the  natural  or   criminal  135- 
"  Men ;    but   themjelves  the  Spiritual :  — 
'*  they  looked  on  the  Catholics  as  carnal  and 
'•  out  fide  Chri/iians^  that  had  not  the  true 
''  tafte  of  the  Spirit  :    and    the    Chrijtian 
"  Priefthood  was  undermined  by  thefe  Pre-  142. 
**  tenders  to  an  extraordinary  and  unlimited 
''  Mifion, 

''  They  were  eagerly  defirous  oi  Perfecu^ 
«  tion  ',  — provoking  and  irritating  the  Ltfi-  144. 
<«  dels^  —  to  draw  it  upon  themfelves:  but 
*'  this   vain   oftentation    did    often    in   the  206. 
"  hour  of    Trial  moft  wretchedly  betray 
*'  itfelf. 

«'  By  their  rigorous  Difcipline  they  14^. 
''brought  many,  to  defpair  :  but  yet  are 
"  charg'd  by  the  Catholics  with  a  Morality  156. 
"  exceedingly  loofe  and  fcandalous,  painting 
*'  the  Chiefs  of  this  new  order  of  the  Infpir  d 
''  in  very  black  Charadlers ;  —  which  muft 
*'  depend  on  the  fairnefs  of  the  Accounts 
"  tranfmitted  to  us: — fuch  as  making  their 
"  markets  with  pretended  Revelations  and 
''  Converfatiom  with  God — fcraping  up  all 
^^  they   could   get  under  the  pretence   of 

''  Charity^ 


1/ 


/:>' 


20I 


A 


■■^^■ 


(    6    ) 

«^  Charity,  and  voluntary  Oblations  5  —  un- 
^'  der  the  Mafk  of  Godlinefs,  defiled  with 
"  Impunities,  0c. 

*'  They  diftinguilli*d  themfelves  by  an 
''  affeded  fingularity, — againft  the  moft  in- 
*'  nocent  Recreation  of  Mind  or  Body  — 
''  againft  Games,  Sports  and  Plays  s  Drefs, 
*'  Furniture,  ^c, 

''  But  all  knew  the  Pretenfions  of  the 
"  Mo?2ta?ttfts,  and  that  the  Foundation  of 
*'  all  the  Extravagancies  they  run  into,  was 
*'  the  pretext  oj  a  Divine  Spirit  and  Fewer ^ 
''  extraordinarily,  and  even  vifi])ly  ading 
''  them.  —And  they  took  themfelves  to  be 
*-'  pe7^fe5l,  having  the  Perfedion  or  Con- 
*'  fummation  of  the  Spirit. 

"  They  cali'd  themfelves  the  Infpird, 
''  the  Pure,  the  Saints,  the  Ek^,  the  A- 
'' poftolical :  while  the  Orthodox,  who 
''  could  not  bear  their  Trefimption,  gave 
*'  them  generally  other  fort  of  Names, 
*'  which  they  thought  they  better  de- 
"  fcrved. 

*'  In  the  Progrefs  of  Montanifm  they  pro- 
'^  ceeded  from  one  Degree  to  another,  never 
**  flopping,  or  knowing  w^here  to  ftop  :  — 
"  Hence  giving  themfelves  up  to  the  un- 
*'  certain  Didates  and  Imptdfes  of  a  ftrange 
"  Spirit,  they  were  infenfibly  led  on  whi- 
*'  ther  they  leaft  fufpedled  :  — and  all  man- 
''  ner  of  Extravagancies  were  committed  by 
"  them,  as  if  tliey  had  an  exprefs  Com- 

'^  mand 


{    7    ) 

^  mand  for  fo  doing  from  Heaven,  —  And 
'  the  firiBnefs  of  the  Monfanifi  DifclpHne 
'  at  firft,  was  the  Means  of  introducing 
^  the  Mahometan  kofenejs  in  the  end. 

^yThtM  Knthujiafm  had  the  van  too,  and  Pi»ge  303. 
^  was  very  confident  with  Atleljm,  And 
'  there  is  a  flirewd  fufpicion  that  fome  got 
'  in  among  them  from  the  very  beginning, 
^  and  managed  the  weak  well-meaning 
'  People,  who  were  of  no  Religion  them- 
'  felves,   but  put  on  a  mafk  to  deceive. 

*^  After  an  Account  how  Montanifm  af-. 

*  terwards  was  blended  and  interwoven 
^  with  the  moft  abominable  Herefies ;  we 
'  come  to  its  Declenfion  in  the  fifth  Cen- 
'  tury,  and  Extindion  in  the  fixth — which 

'  made  way  for  ajiother  ?iew  pretended  Dif-  317, 
^  pen  fat  ion  ^  tint  oi  Mahomet -^  rifing  as  out 
'  of  its  Allies ;  and  founded  chiefly  upon 
'  fome  Principles  of  Montanifm. 

■*  In  the  Cojjchifiony  the  Author  fays^  we 
'  have  feen  how  a  well-meant,  but  indif-  33S, 
'  creet  Zeal  was  furprifed  by  the  cunning 
'  Artifices  of  Satan ;  and  led  on  from  flep 
'  to  ftep,  for  want  of  being  guarded  by 
^  Humility ;  till  at  length  it  fell  into  the 
'  contrary  extreme.  How  from  an  affeBa- 
'  tion  cf  Spiritual  Gifts  —  the  Deceiver 
'  eafily  infinuated  himfelf  with  moil  fair 
'  Pretences,  and  led  both  hi?n  and  his  Jilly 

*  JVomen  captive, 

^c  xhey 


(     8    ) 


Page  3|2. 


350. 


348. 


cc 


They  were  accounted  by  the  Malti- 
'  tildes  that  were  converted  to  them  as  the 
'  very  Apojtles  of  the  Lamb  -,  they  expedted 
'  nothing  lefs  than  that  the  JVorld  fhould  be 
'  brought  to  own  them,  and  that  then  the 
'  ?iew  yeriifalem  out  of  Heaven  fhould 
'  come  down  upon  Earth, 

"  Whether  the  Enthiifiaftic  Fajfion  be 
'  confider'd  as  a  Difcafe  of  the  Mind  and 
'Spirits,  7:atiiralox  Jiipernatwal^  ox  mix' d^ 
^  or  as  properly  prcetcrnatural  \ — it  appears 
'  manifeftly  from  this  Account  —  that  it 
'  is  now  the  fame  as  it  was  then ;  as  much 
'  as  a  Fever  is  now  the  fame  as  it  was  in 

*  the  Days  of  Hippocrates, 

"  But  if  any  one,  through  Tride  or 
'  Vain-glory,  through  Rafhnefs  or  Curio- 
'  fity,  or  the  like,  be  really  acceffary  to  his 
'  own  delufion  ;— let  him  not  feek  to  caft 
'  the  blame  upon  God-,  but  be  content  to 
'  take  all  the  Shame  to  himfelf.  And  if 
'  this  fhould  not  work  any  good  in  the 
'  end  to  him  ;  but  he  fhould  be  totally  de- 
'  liver'd  up  to  the  Devices  of  his  own 
'  Hearty  and  the  lying  hifpirations  of  trea- 
'  cherous  Spirits ;  yet  it  may  be  a  Means  flill 

*  of  much  good  to  others,  and  a  warning 
'  to  take  heed,  lefl  they  be  alfo  overtaken 
'  with  the  fame  Temptation/' 

Thus  far  this  learned  Writer  ;  whofc  en- 
tire Difcourfe  deferves  well  to  be  perufed 
by    every  Pcrfon,    as    a   proper    Antidote 

againfl: 


(    9    ) 

againft  the  bane  oiEnthufiafm,  It  cannot  in- 
deed be  faid,  that  the  madnefs  and  prefump- 
tion  of  our  modern  Enthtifmjis  come  up  to  the 
MontanijU^  in  all  refpeBs,  and  to  fo  high 
a  degree  ;  but  ftill  the  Reader  may  eafily 
difcern  the  general  Nature  and  Effefts  of 
Rnthiifiafm  -,  and  a  conformity,  in  moft 
Particulars,  between  thofe  former  Fanatia 
and  our  Methodifls  and  Moravians. 

§.  2.  But  'tis  time  to  come  to  a  more  di- 
rect Comparifon  between  Popiflo  and  Me^ 
thodifiical  Enthufiafis,  And  if  the  Reader 
has  fome  Account  of  the  moft  wild  and  ex- 
travagant^ the  moft  ridiculous^  flroling^  fa- 
?2atical,  fra?itic,  delirious^  and  mifchievotis  of 
all  the  Saints  in  the  Romijh  Conuniinion  ;  he 
muft  confider,  that  otherwife  the  Parallel 
would  not  hold ;  but  come  off  lame  and 
defedive.  They  are  however,  fome  of  the 
moft  favourite  and  magnified  Saifits  among 
them,  and  moft  of  whom  had  the  Honour 
of  being  Canonized. — As  for  inftance,  the  Se- 
raphic Father  St.  Francis,  Founder  of  the 
Fryers  Minors,  thought  at  firft  only  a  well- 
meaning,  but  weak  Enthnjiaft,  but  after- 
wards turning  out  a  mere  Hypocrite  and 
Impoflor  :  St.  Dominic,  Founder  of  the 
preaching  Fryers,  a  Man  of  more  defign, 
ferocity  and  pride  ;  the  contriver  and  man- 
ager of  that  bleifed  Inftrument  of  Conver- 
iion,  the  In  qui  fit  ion  : — St.  Ignatius  Loyola, 
C  '  thai 


(     lO    ) 

that  errant  lliatter-brain'd  vifionary  Fanatic ^ 
Founder  of  the  moft  Holy  Order  of  the  Je- 
JuitSy  profefiedly  inflkuted  to  extirpate  the 
Reformation  : — That  }?nrroiir  of  PerfeBion, 
St.  Anthony  of  Padua:  —  together  with 
variety  oi female  Saifits^  Catherine  of  Sienna^ 
*Terefay  Clara,  Magdalen  ofPazzi,  &:c. 

I  would  not  be  underflood  to  accufe  the 
Methodi/ls  directly  of  Popery ;  though  I  am 
perfuaded  they  are  doing  the  Paplfts  work 
for  them,  and  agree  with  them  in  feme  of 
their  Principles; — defigning  only  to  fliew 
how  uniformly  both  adl  upon  the  fame 
Tlan^  (as  far  as  Enthiifafm  can  be  faid  to 
carry  on  any  Plan:)- — their  Heads  fill'd 
with  much  the  fame  grand  ProjeBs,  driven 
on  in  the  fame  wiid  Manner ;  and  wearing 
the  fame  badge  of  Peculiarities  in  their 
Tenets :  -—  not  perhaps  from  compaB  and 
defign  >  but  a  fimilar  Configuration  and 
Texture  of  Brain^  or  the  fumes  oi  Imagi^ 
nation  producing  fimilar  EfFeds. 

§.  3.  From  a  commiferation,  or  horrourj 
arifing  from  the  grievous  Corruptions  cf 
the  World,  perhaps  from  a  real  Motive  of 
fincere  Piety,  they  both  fet  out  with  warm 
pretences  to  a  Rifonriation.  Wherein  the 
Papifis  ftand  at  leaft  upon  an  equality,  if 
they  have  not  the  Advantage  3  it  being  im- 
pofliblc  for  any  Methodifi  to  exceed  the 
ftrong  Declarations  of  fervent  Love  to  God 
and  man,  of  burning  zeal  for  the  iialva- 

tion 


(II ) 

tion  of  Souls,  which  the  Legends  of  the 
Saints  afford   in  abundance.     The  Metho- 
diji,  if  he  pleafeth,  {hall  apply  to  himfelf 
the  moft  flaming  Characters  on  this  Score  : 
though  he  ihould  "  burn  with  unquench- 
able zeal  of  love  to  God  a7id  man,  like  St. 
Francis ;  or  be  inflamed,  like  St.  Ignatius,  Bonaven- 
with  a  zeal  of  promoting  God's  honour  ;  ^^^'  ^^^' 
referring  all   his   aftions  and  purpofee   to  cap  9. 
G<?/s  greater  glory :   this  being  his  Holy  Ribade- 
Ambition,    the   life   and    foul  of  all   hisL^^^^;  ^f 
aCtions".     Nor  do  I  believe  that  ^;^j)' £/2- the  Saints. 
thujiaft  ever  fet  out  otherwife  than  uponP^^-  5^9- 
a  zealous  pretence  of  this  Godly  nature, 

§.  4.  For  the  better  Advancement  of 
their  purpofes,  both  commonly  begin  their 
Adventures  with  field-preaching.  In  which 
particular,  though  the  pradife  of  the  Me^ 
thodifts  be  notorious,  it  may  not  be  amifs  to 
produce  fome  of  their  ov^n  words  -,  were 
it  only  for  the  fake  of  the  Cofnparifon, 

METHODISTS. 

Mr.  Whitefield  fays,  "  I  never  was  more  3.  Journ. 
acceptable  to  my  Mailer,  than  when  I  w^as^^^^  ^^* 
ftanding  to  teach  ni  the  opeji  Fields, 

''  I  always  find  I  have  mofl:  Poivcr, 
when  1  fpeak  in  the  open  Air,  A  proof 
this  to  me,  th  it  God  is  pleafed  with 
this  way  of  Preachiiig.  P^g-  69. 

Preached    at   Kennington,     But   fach   a 
C  2  Sight 


f    12    ) 

Sight  never  were  mine  eyes  blefled  with 
before,  —  fifty  thoufand  People,  —  near 
fourfcore  Coaches,  —  great  number  of 
Horfes.  —  I  find  myfelf  more  and  more 
under  a  neceffity  of  going  out  into  the 
Pag-  r-    Fields. 

I    defired   to    know   what   Law   could 

be   produced   againfl   my   preaching  :    In 

my  opinion  there  could  be  none ;  becaufe 

4  Journ.  there  7ieve?^  was  any  fuch  thing  as  Field- 

pag.  27.  preaching  before. 

A  frefh  inroad  made  into  Satan'^  Ter- 
Pag.  5.     ritories  by  Mr.  Wejlef^  following  me  in 
Field-preaching, 

And  Mr.  Seward  acquaints  us,  how 
Journ.  Whitefield  preached  from  a  balcony,  — 
P3gs— 7.from  a  fcafFold, — from  a  horfe-block." — 

Mr.  Wepy  fays,  '  Had  the  Minijler  of 
the  Parifd  preached  like  an  Angela  it 
had  profited  them  nothing  :  For  they 
heard  him  not'.  But  when  one  came 
and  faid,  '  Yonder  is  a  man  preaching 
on  the  top  of  the  mountains',  they 
ran  in  droves  to  hear.  —  Had  it  not  been 
for  Field-preaching,  the  Vncommonnefs  of 
which  is  the  very  circumftance  that 
App^el  ^c(^^^n77iends  it,  they  muft  have  run  on  in 
pag.   119.  error". 

T  A  p  I  ^  t:  s. 

"  Peter  of  Verona,  mirrour  of  Sandity, 
of  the   Holy   Order  of  Friars  Preachers^ 

had 


(  13  )       _ 

hed  a  Divine  talent  in  preaching  ;  neither 
Churches,  nor  Streets,  nor  Market-places 
could  contain  the  great  concourfe  that 
reforted  to  hear  his  Sermons.  —  He  was 
the  hammer  and  thunderbolt  to  break  and  L,'vefof 
crufli  Heretics,  ~~  and  made  Inqnifitor  to  the  Saints, 
puniih  and  perfecute  them/  ^F^-  ^9- 

St.  Nicolas  of  Nolafco^  one  day  as  he 
v/as  recolleded  in  prayer,  heard  a  Voice 
from  Heaven^  Crying)  '  this  is  not  the  Place, 
in  which  I  would  have  thee  to  be  ;  but  that 
thou  go  forth  into  the  'Sield^  and  treat  with 
men,  to  the  end  that  I  may  be  glorified  in  Id.i;)ec.6. 
thee;. 

St.    Anthony  cf  Padtca    was    forced    to 
preach  in  the  open  fields  and  largeji  meadows^ 
becaufe  the  people  followed  in  fuch  num- 
bers, from  cities,  villap;es,   and  camps,  that 
no  Church  could  contain  them.     They  got  l«J-  June 
up  before   day,  and  flocked  to  get  places  conformi- 
betimes. —  The  tradefmen  all  fliut  up  their  tatum. 
fcops,   till  his   Sermon  was  ended.      And  ^^^*  ^'^• 
he  was  guarded  by  fome  ftrong  and  flout 
men,  —  He  was  miraculoufly  heard  at  two 
leagues  diflance. 

St.  Ignatius  preached  in  the  open  fields^ 
as  the  Churches  could  not  hold  the  multi- 
tudes who  flock'd,  feveral  miles,  to  hear 
him.  Where  it  v/as  obferved,  as  a  thing 
more  fhan  human,  that  though  he  could 
not  raife  his  voice,  which  was  weak,  every 

word 


(  14-  ) 

Oriandius  word  of  his  Scrmon   was  heard  by  every 
^ifiib!^!.  ^^^y  *^bove  a  quarter  of  a  mile". 

No.  1 1 6. 

[I  think  Mr.  Whitefield  fpeaks  fome- 
where  of  being  heard  plainly,  at  a  greater 
difl.ince,  and  by  above  twenty  thoufand 
People.] 

Upon  this  Article  I  would  make  a  cur- 
fory  remark  or  two.  How  comes  Mr. 
JVhite field  to  fay,  there  was  never  any  fiicb 
thhig  as  Field-preaching  before  ?  Was  it 
from  the  mere  Vanity  of  being  thought 
the  jRj^W^r  of  it  ?  Or  was  he  ignorant  of 
the  pradice  feveral  years  ago,  and  even  in 
our  own  nation  ? 

Have  not  the  Mefhodijl-Preachers^  as 
well  as  St.  Anthony^  been  attended  with  a 
fliirdy  fet  of  Followers^  as  their  Guards, 
armed  with  clubs  under  their  cloaths,  me- 
nacing and  terrifying  fuch  as  fliould  dare 
to  fpeak  lightly  of  their  Apojtle  ?  I  have 
heard  it.  often  affirmed.  So  that  Mr. 
Whitefield  may  well  boaft  of  preaching 
^jcurn.  '^^^'^^  irrefijtible  Tower ^  and  Jinking  all 
peg.  24.  Oppofers  dumb.  'Tis  plain  he  feems  him- 
felf  to  be  aware  of  this  tiirbtilent  Spirit ^ 
this  fighting  Fjithufiafm,  when  idly  '  fup- 
pofing  his  enemies  fliould  think  they  did 
God  fervice  to  kill  him\  he  adds,  '  I  dread 
nothing  more  than  the  falfe  Zeal  of  my 
pal'^ri.   ^'^'ic^ids  in  ^xjuffering  hour\ 

Again. 


(  15  ) 

Again.  'Tls  highly  probable,  that  if 
any  Parochial  Minijier  fliould  acquaint  his 
Parijloy  &c.  that  next  Sunday  he  would 
preach  on  yonder  mountain^  he  would  have 
a  larger  congregation  than  in  bis  Church  ? 
But  would  this  do  any  real  good?  or  could 
he  juftify  the  irregularity  ?  But  Mr- 
Wejley  argues  for  the  fpecial  advantage  of 
Field-preachings  on  the  very  account  of 
its  irregularity  ;  ^  the  uncommonnefs  being  the 
very  circumflancethat  recommends  it\  Some- 
thing incojifijlently  :  for  he  feeins  to  forget 
what  he  had  faid,  but  a  Page  or  two  be- 
fore >  '  we  are  notjuffered  to  preach  in  the  * 
Churches ;  elfe  we  fliould  prefer  them  to  aI\^\. 
any  places  whatever*.  pag.  117. 

Mr.  Whitefield  too  *  highly  approves  of 
our    excellent    Li^turgy,    would   Minifters  4  Jo^rn. 
lend  him  their  Churches^  to  ufe  it'.  ^^^*  ^' 

They  are,  you  fee,  never  more  accepta- 
ble to  their  Majier  than  in  the  fields, 

Ciod  is  pleafed  with  this  way  of  preaching, 
—  they  have  raofl  Power  there.  —  But 
however,  that's  no  matter :  they  would 
not  mind  tliat :  Churches  are  preferable^  — 
if  they  could  get  them. 

§.  5.  After  the  Methodifts  had  traduced 
the  Clergy s  as  long  as  they  were  permitted 
to  do  it,  in  their  own  Churches  and  Pulpits, 
in  order  to  feduce  their  flocks,  and  colled: 
a  flaring  rabble  |  they  fet  about  this  pious 

work 


(  i6  ) 

work  of  Defamation  more  heartily  rn  {\\c 
fields.     Give  me  leave  to  2;ather  fome  of 
their  flowers  on   this  occafion,  \vhich  are 
publilhed  in   their  own  Journals,   &c. 

"  Went  to  St.  Pciurs,  and  received  the 
Blcfjed  Sacrame?if\  [He  might  have  add- 
ed, and  within  a  few  hours  undertook  the' 
hkfled  ofice  of  hlackcn'mg  the  Clergy ;  for] 
*'  Preached  in  the  Evcjiins;  at  Kenninzton^ 
Common :  God  gave  me  great  Power,  and 
I  never  opened  my  Mouth  fo  freely  a- 
gainft  the  Letter-learned  Clergymen  of  the 
Whitf.      Church  of  E?2gland.  —  I  Ihould  not  die  in 

4  journ.    Peace,  unlefs  I  bore  my  Teftimony  again  ft 
P^s-  :)2'     them.  —  My  power  and  freedom  of  Speech 

encreafed  daily ;  and  this  afternoon  I  was 
carried  out  much  again  iT  the  TJnchrifian 
principles  and  pradlices  of  the  generality  of 

our   Clergy, If  I  want    to  convince 

Church    of  England    "'Proteftants^    I    nmli 

prove  that  the  generality  of  their  Teachers 

.  do  not  preach,  or  live  up  to  the  truth,  as 

5  Journ.      .      .     .     V  /^  ^ 

p.ig.  32.    It  IS  in  J  ejus. 

Woe  be  unto  fuch  blind  leaders  of  the 

blind.  —  How  can  you   efcape  the  Dam- 

Indwell-    nation   of    Hell  ?  —  Wolves    in     Sheep^s 

Y"^}-    cloathing.  —  Numbers  of  fuch  as   would 

tell  the  people,  that  a  decent^  genteel^  and 

fapionahle   religion ^    is   fufficient   to    carry 

them  to  Heaven'', 


II,   12 


4  Joorn 
pig.    8. 


Th< 


(   17  ) 

*^  The  Scribes  and  Thar  [fees  of  this  ge-  Seward^s 
neration  (I  mean  xh^  Learned  Rabbi' s  ^pag!iY 
the  Church  of  England)  will  perfecute  the 

Preachers  and  Followers  of  our  Lord, j 

Our  Brother  {JVhitefield)    expeds  to  fufFer 
many  things,  to  be  fet  at  nought  by  the 
Rabbi's  of  our  Churchy  and  perhaps  at  laft  P^g.  lu 
to  be  kiltd  by  them. 

The  Scarlet  ^whore  of  Babylon  is  not 
more  corrupt,  either  in  principle,  or  prac-  Pag.  45. 
tice,  than  the  Church  of  England,  —  A 
fecond  Letter  againft  the  Traytor  Arch^ 
bifljop  Tilloifon,  —  fudas  fold  his  Lord  for 
thirty  pieces  of  Silver  :  the  Archbijhop  got 
a  better  price,  perhaps  thirty  bags  oj  gold^  ^^'  ^' 
or  more". 

For  the  Abufes  of  the  Clergy  from  Mr. 
We  fey  (which  are  not  fo  grofs^  but  more 
artful )   I  refer  the  Reader  to  Mr.  Church' i 
farther  Remarks,  Pag.  1  o  5 — 198. 

But  what  a  wickednefs  is  it,  to  throw 
out  {o  much  gall  of  bitter nefs  againft  per-* 
fons^  whofe  chief  Pov/er  of  doing  any  good^ 
and  promoting  the  conunon  Salvation^  de- 
pends upon  their  CharaBer  ?  And  how 
much  greater,  to  impute  this  black  art  of 
Calumny  to  the  Spirit y  and  Power  given 
from  God  ? 

§.  6.  But  though  thtk/lrolling  Predicants 

have  allured  fome  itching  earSy  and  drawn 

them  afide  by  calumniating    their  proper 

D  Taflors', 


(   i8  ) 

^djiors ;  they  have  Senfe  enough  to  know 
the  itch  will  go  off,  and  their  trade  not 
continue  long,  unkfs  they  can  produce 
fomething  /lOvely.  or  uncommon ;  what  the 
wandering  Sheep  have  not  been  ufed  to 
in  their  Churches.  Therefore  they  muft 
find  out,  or  ratlier  revive  fuch  peculiarities^ 
as  have  formerly  attended  EnthuftafmSy  and 
are  moft  likely  to  captivate  the  Vulgar. 
Hence  their  afFeded  phrafes,  fantaftical 
and  unintelligible  notions,  whimfical  ftrid:- 
iieiTes,  loud  exclamations  againft  fome  tri- 
fling and  indifferent  things ;  which  are 
matters  of  Pxiere  difcretion  3  things  innocent,, 
and  perhaps  fometimes  iifefid  ^  and  only 
jinful  when  carried  into  excefs.  And  great 
zeal  is  here  employed.  Accordingly,  if 
diverfc  particuiars  of  no  great  moment  in 
themfelves  are  here  draw^n  together  -,  'tis 
only  to  difcover  that  Family4ikenefs^  even 
in  the  fmalkji  features,  which  has  diftin- 
guifhed  the  Ejitbufiajh  and  pretended  Pie-- 
tifts  of  all  Ages ;  particularly  thofe  nov/ 
under  Comparifon.  It  may  be  fome  trou- 
ble to  run  over  the  whole  Bead-roll  of  the 
Saint's  Rofary.  But  it  will  appear  to  con- 
Sft  of  ten  Ave  Mary's  to  one  Pater-^iofter  : 
i.  e.  abundance  oi  fooleries  in  proportion  to 
any  fingle  y^omX.  profitable, 

§.  7.    The  firft  necefjary  point  for  draw- 
ing followers  is  to  put  on  a  fandlified  ap- 
pearance y 


(   19  ) 

pearnnce  3  by  a   demure  look,  precife  be- 
haviour,    in    difcourfe   or   filence,    apparel 
and   food  ;     and   other  marks   of  external 
Piety.     For  which  reafon  Mr.  Wejley  very- 
wifely    made,    and    refiewed^    that   noble 
''  refolution,     not     willingly     to    indulge 
himfelf  in  the  leaft   levity   of  behaviour, 
or  in  laughter^  no,  not  for  a  momefii.  —  To 
fpeak  no  word,  not  tending  to  the  GZ?ry  2  Joum. 
of  God :  and  not  a  tittle  of  worldly  things r  P^S- 1^- 
Which   may  ferve    to   ihew  what   ufeful 
members  of    Society    fuch  perfons   would 
make  ;  though  from  human  Infirmity  the 
Refolver  himfelf  has  fometimes  forgot  his 
vow.     But  perhaps  he  may  be  provoked 
to  a  more  exacl  conduct,  when  he  reads, 
'^  how  grievoufiy  the  Seraphic  Mechtildis     }^^f^ 
difciplin'd  and  tortur'd  herfelf  for  having  cap.\ 6.* 
once  fpoke  an  idle  word ;  and  what  a  hei-  Buiiar.  Pii 
nous  Sin   (he  deem'd  it  to  laugh :  —  that  ^'^""'^• 
not  a  word  ever  fell  from  St.  Catharine  of 
Siennay   that  was  not  religious  and  Holy  :  — 
That  the  lips  of  Magdalen  of  Pazzi  w^re 
never  opened,  but  to  chant  th^  prai/es  cf 
God.  —  That   a   certain   Aiiot  refufed    to 
afiift  his  friend  in  getting   his  Ox  out  of  a 
quagmire,  for  fear  of  meddling  with  world-  Marul.liK 
/y  tbi77zs ;  —  and  a  Monk  would  not  difco-  ^  ^^^  /' 

1  '   r    1  r     1  1       r      \  r       1  Dauroult. 

ver  a  tmej  that  jtole  a  horje,  becaule  then  cap.  7. 
he  muft  {"^^dk.  oi  fecular  matters''.  Tit.  So. 

D  2  As 


_      (    20    ) 

As  laughter  is  a  faculty  peculiar  to  the  Hu- 
man Species,  the  Refolution  of  a  Religions 
Melancholijt  entirely  to  difcard  it  may  be 
reckon'd  a  little  EJjay  towards  putting  away 
'     the  Properties  of  a  rational  Creature. 

§.  8.  At  firft  the  Methodijls,  as  lajhew  of 
Humility.,  made  it  a  point  not  to  ride^  either 
on  Horfeback,  or  in  a  Coach  :  though  occa- 
fionally,  and  for  Conveniency  fake,  they 
have  fince  thought  proper  to  deviate  from 
Dealing's  their  Rule.  "  I  could  no  longer,  fays  Mn 
^  eatings,   ^/^/^^^/^^  ^.^[j^  oufoot,  as  ufual ;  but  was 

conftrained  to  go  in  a  Coach,  to  avoid  the 
Hofanna's  of  the  Multitude."     Very  pro- 
fane, unlefs  it  be  a  falfe  print  for  Huzza's, 
Conform.       So  was  it  one  of  St.  ir^^^m's  i?z//^^,  ''ne- 
foi.  ,14,    ver  to  ride,  but  only  in  Cafes  of  manifeft 
''^-         Neceffity,    or    Infirmity."       St.    Ignatius 
Loyola,  and  his  meek  Society  of  J^T^/Vj,  al- 
ways walk'd  on  foot  5  and  could  never  be 

nir^efui"'  ^"^^^'^  .^^  ^^^  ^"y  ^^^^^  ^f  Carriage,  —  To 
"^^^^."^'ufe  Chairs,    and  Chariots  was  a   grievous 
Sin,  and  abhor'd  by  the  Society."" 

§.  9.  Upon  the  fame  Account/;/^  Cloaths, 
and  rich  Furniture,  ftand  abfolutely  con- 
demned-, though  in  many  Cafes  they  may 
be  proper  and  right,  as  fuitable  to  People^s 
Rank,  Condition,  and  Station.  And  when 
the  Cynic,  Diogenes,  trod  difdainfully  upon 
^fne  Carpet  of  Plato' ^,  faying, ' '  fee  how  I 

trample 


(     21    ) 

tmmple  upon  TIato's  Pn{ie\ -^The  Philo- 
fopher  iufdy  anfvver'd,    '  but  with  greater 
*  Pride  of  thy  oim,' 

Mr.  JVeJley  gives  us  this  as  the  general  Charaaer 
Character    of  a   Methodlft,    ''  He   cannot  ""^^^l^' 
adorn  himfelf,  on  any  pretence^  with  Gold^  No.  15'. 
Or  cojtly  Apparel'"     Hence  he  undertook 
that  unfuccefsful  Difpute  with   a  ^laker^ 
"  v/ho  could  not  be  convinced  of  any  harm  -  foumal 
''  in  coftly  Apparel,  or  Furniture,  fo  that  it  page  58.  ' 
''  were  Plain,'', 

"  St.  Francis  would  always  wear  Appa-  Conform. 
rel  of  the  vileft  fort  •  never  any  thing  that  ^"^^^  "J-^- 
was  Siunptiious  5  that  being  an  exti?iBion  of 
Grace,  —  A   certain  Jefuit  had    fuch  in-pranc.An- 
fluence  on   the   Ladies^    that   they  threw  "^1.  Jefuit. 
away  all  their  I'ain  Garments^  and  whatever^'  ^^'^* 
might  help  to  fet  off  their  Beauty'' 

St.   IgnatiuSy    by  preaching   powerfully  g,j.^^iyj_ 
againfly?;?^'  Cloaths,  made  the  Women  weep,  taignat. 
tear  their  Hair,  and  charming  Faces,  and  P'  ^'^^' 
throw  away  their  vain  Ornaments,  —  Mag-  Life,  No. 
d^alen  of  Pazzi^  when  but  a  Child,  would  -• 
rejedt  all  foft  and  delicate  Clcathi?ig^   and 
wear  only  what  was  coaffe  and  ugly. 

§.  10.  But  oh!    (as  a  part,    or  confe- 
quence  of  this)  how  good,  and  Saint-like  it 
is,  to  go  dirty,  raggedy  and  fovenly  ?    And 
how  pioujly  did  Mr.  "  Whitefield  therefore  id  journ, 
take  Care  of  the  outward  Man  ?  My  Ap-  ^^a.  z. 
parel  was  mean  —  thought  it  unbecoming  a 

Penitent 


(    22    ) 

Penitent  to  have  powder  d  Hair  :  —  I  wore 
Woollen  Gloves,  a  patched  Gown^  and  J/>/y 
Shoesr 
Rib-^den.        Thus  his  PrcdecefTor  in  Saintjfhip  "  ^- 
Vjt.lgnat.  natius  lov'd  to  appear  abroad  with  old  dirty 
Shoes,  us'd  no  Comh,  let  his  Hair  clot,  and 
would  never  pair  his  Nails,  —  A  certain 
Jefuit  was  fo  holy  that  he  had  above  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  patches  upon  his   Breeches, 
and  proportionably  on  his  other  Garments. 
Franc.  An — Another  had  almofl  three  hund^td  patches: 
nal.  Jeruit.  ^j^(j  j^jg   Garments  after  his    Death   were 
35^.^  '      hung  up  to  public  View,  as  an  incentive  to 
imitation  J'     And  was  there  not  a  Reafon  ? 
Conform.  For  ^'  St.  Fraucis  found  by  certiin  expc- 
fol.243.    rience,  that  the  Devils  were  frighted  away 
by  coarfe  rough  Garments ;  but  were  ani- 
mated by  foft  Raiment  to  tempt  the  wearers. 
And  Friar  Bartholomew  hath  laid  it  down 
as  a  Ruky  that  Men  muft  have  dirty  Bodies, 
if  they  would  have  pure  Soids,'' 

§.  II.  Of  this  nature  likewife  is   their 

utter  condemnation   of  all  Recreation  and 

Diverfion,  in  every  kind  and  degree,     Mr. 

iftDeal-    Whitefield    laments    that,    in  his   younger 

*"^'^*'^' Days,  *'he  was  not  yet  convinced  of  the 

ahjolute  tinlawfulnefs  of  playing  at  CardSy 

and  of  reading   and   feeing   Plays'",     But 

afterwards,  in  his  Letter  from  New  Briinf- 

page  7.      wick   he  declares,    "  that    7io    Recreations, 

confider'd  as  fuch,  can  be  innocent. — I  now 

began 


(     23    )      _ 

began  to  attack  the  Devil  in  \\\%  Jlrongefl  4  Journal, 
holds^  and  bore  Teftimony  againft  the  de-  ^'  ^°* 
tefliable  DiveiTions  of  this  Generation. — 
Dancers  pleale  the  Devil  in  every  ftep  —  lb.  p.  -]-]. 
Some  were  very  ftrenuous  in  defence   of 
what    they    call'd   innocent   Diver fions^  — 
but  are  contrary  to  the  "whole  tenour  of  the 
Gofpel : — not  only  fo  many  trifling  Amufe-  ^  journal, 
ments,   but  Things  v^^hich  fhew  that  theP-5S>59- 
Heart  is  ^ivholly  ahenated  from  the  Life  of 
God,  — I  hoped  we  had  demolifhed  Satan  s  Steward's 
ftrongeil  hold  in  Philadelphia-,  the  Dancing-  J^'^'""-  P- 
School^  A(jemhltes,  and  Mufic-meetings^  thofe 
Houfes  of  Baal 

And   v/hat  fays  the  Fapijl  ?   "  St.  Do- 
viinic  f  v/ho  had  fuch  Power  of  Adjuration 
over  the  Devil,  as  to  compel  him  to  anfwer 
truly  to  all  his  Queftions)  afked  him  what 
was    his  Opinion  concerning  the  place  of 
Recreations ;   who  anfwer'd,   with  a  loud 
and   fcornful  laugh,    *  all  this  Place  is  my  Ribaden. 
own  :  for  here  they  tell  impertinent  News,     "^" ''"  ^ 
^c,  —  St.   Ignatius  by  declaiming  againft  ^^if^^^' 
Cards  and  Dice  prevailed  upon  a   whole  p.  X^q. 
Town  to  throw  them  into  the  River  :* — and 
there  was  no  more  play   there  for   three 
Years.'' 

Our  love  of  Recreations  and  Diverfons 
has  indeed  confeffedly  exceeded  all  bounds ; 
and  calls  loudly  for  fome  redrefs.  But  to 
break  out  wildly  againft  every  inftance  and 
degree  of  them,  is  the  diredl  way  to  render 

our 


(    24  ) 

our  Complaints  fruitlefs  and  ridiculous.  It 
has  neither  Reafon  nor  Scripture,  to  fup- 
port  it.  But  Moderation^  Reafon  and  Scrips 
ture  are  Things  unregarded  by  Enthiifiajis ; 
who  muft  ad  in  Charader.  They  cannot, 
they  dare  not  allow  any  thing  that  carries 
the  name  or  face  of  Recreation  and  Chear^ 
fidnefs ',  for  fear  of  difperfing  a  little  of  that 
black  bile,  that  gloomy  humour,  which  is 
the  moil:  efjential  Ingredient^  in  their  Re- 
ligion. 

§.  12.  As  to  the  fee?ning  contempt  of 
Money,  you  may  fee,  if  you  pleafe,  and 
admire  Mr.  IVejley^  Declamatory  rant  ; 
''  As  to  Gold  and  Silver  I  count  it  dung  and 
drofs  :  I  trample  it  under  my  Feet.  I 
efteem  it  juft  as  the  mire  in  the  Streets, 
—  It  muifl  indeed  pafs  tlirough  my  Hands  j 
but  (liall  only  pafs  through  :  it  ihall  not 
ifi  Appeal  ^^^  there.  None  of  the  Accurfed  thing 
Ko.  i8.  fi:ia!l  be  found  in  my  'Tent,  when  the  Lord 
calleth  me  hence,  £ft\" 

But  even  this  falls  fhort  of  St.  Francis, 
*^  He  had  fuch  a  deteflation  of  Money,  that, 
if  by  chance  he  found  any  in  the  way,  he 
would  not  permit  himfelf,  or  Brethren,  fo 
much  as  to  touch  it.  Once  the  Devil,  to 
tnfnare  him,  laid  a  Twrfe  in  his  way, 
fcemingly  full  o't  Money,  But  he  knowing 
it  was  a  DeviN  trick  ibthids  his  Companion 
10  take  it  up :  who  ftrongly  preffing  to  do 

it 


(    25    ) 

k  for  the  (like  of  giving  to  the  Poor^  St.^onform, 
'Francis  affcnted  :    and   upon  opening   the^*^^" 
Purfe  out  iiarts  the  Derail  in  the  fhape  of 
a  Serpent^  and  fuddenly  difappear'd^  Purfe 
and  all.  —  Hence  he  folemnly  refolv'd  to 
ftick  to  Poverty  as  long  as  he  liv'd.— ikfow^^fol  217^ 
was  to  him  the  mofl  execrable  of  things ; 
he  gave  it  a  hearty  ciir[e^  and  fled  from  it 
as  from  the  Devil,    Ditng^  and  Money ^  and 
Satan  were  the  fame  Thing  to  him.  —  He 
orders  a  Friar ^  who  had  placed  in  a  Win-foi.219. 
dow  fome  Money  collected  at  the  Altar ^ 
to  take  it  in  his  Month,  [for  the  Rule  would 
not  permit  to  touch  it  with  his  Fingers^ 
and  go  out  and  throw  it  upon  the  dung  of 
an  Afs.''  —  St.  Ignatius  indeed  (as  well  as 
the  Metbodifts)   "  would   fometimes   con-  Bart.  Vit. 
defcend  to  accept  of  fome  fmall  pieces  of  ^"g^^*!*' 
Money,    to  give  to  the  Poor.  —  But  St. 
PbiL  Neriics  was  fuch  a  lover  of  Poverty, 
that  he  frequently  befought  Almighty  God 
to  bring  him  to  that  State  as  to  ftand  in 
need  of  a  Penriy^  and  find  no  body  that  Ribaden,_ 
would  give  him  one."  "^^Z^l  9". 

The  Profefjion  of  Poverty^  as  well  as 
Chajlity^  is  indeed  the  common  Vow  of  all 
the  Monaflic  Orders ;  the  Inflitution  of 
which  is  call'd  the  7nojl  perfeB  State  of  Life. 
But  either  by  means  oi  papal  Relaxations 
and  Indulgencies^  or  their  own  carnal  Af- 
feBions^  both  thefe  Vows  are  commonly 
obferv'd  alike.     One  ConjiitiUion  of  the  fe^ 

E  fiiits 


C  26  ) 

fuitsm  particular  is — Food,  Raiment,  and 
Conft.  25/Bed  of  the  vileft  fort,  for  their  gYt^lQV  fpi- 
ritual  Profxie?2C)\ 

^.  13.  Another  bait  to  catch  Admirers, 
and  very  common  among  Enthiijiajh,  is  a 
reftlefs  impatience  and  inlatiable  thirft  of 
travellings  and  undertaking  dangerous  Vcy- 
a^esy  for  the  Converfion  of  Infidels  5  toge- 
ther with  a  declared  Coyiterapt  of  all  dangers^ 
pains,  and  Sufferings.  They  muil  defire^ 
lo-ce  and  pray  for  ill  Ufage,  Perfccution:, 
MarUrdom^,  Death  and  lielh 

Accordingly,  our  Itinerant  Metkodifis  arc 
fond  of  expreffing  their  Zeal  on  this  Ac- 
count. Mr.  IVhitefield,  fays,  ''when  Letters 
came  from  Meffrs.  Wefieys,    and  Ingham, 
their  Fellow-Labourer,  —  their   Accounts 
fired  my  Soid,   made  m.e  even  lo-ng  to  go 
abroad  for  God  too  :  —  though  too  v/eak  ia 
body — I  felt  at  times  fuch  a  ftrong  Attrac- 
tion in  my  Soul  towards  Georgia^  that  E 
thought     it     almoft     irrcfijtible.   —  The 
Thoughts  of  it  crowded  continually  in  upon 
me.— Upon    reading    this    {Letters    from 
Partner     abroad  for  jnore  Labourers)  my  Heart  leaped 
Dealings,   ^yithln  me,  and  as  it  'WC7r  ecchoed  to  the 
\i^,\%^'    Call : — was  impatient  to  go  abroad.'' 

Mr.  Wefiey  fcts  forth  pathetically ^  and 
not  without  feme  Degree  of  ijifult  on  the 
rcgidar  Minificrs  who  ftay  at  home,  - — • 
*''  their  Defire  of  going  on  in  toil,  in  wea- 

rinefs- 


(  27  ) 
rinefs,  in  painfulnefs,  in  cold  and  hunger, 
— Summer-fun,  and  winter-rain  and  wind.,, 
upon  the  naked  head  3  perils  by  land, 
perils  by  water,; — hurried  away  to  America^ 
— a  readinefs  to  go  to  Abyjjinia  or  China. 
And  much  more  in  the  Spirit  of  rambling 
Sifff-eri?igs^  and  Martyrdom  J ' 

But  all  this  only  fliews  the  natural  un- 
fettled  humour,  the  rapid  motion  of  En- 
ihufiajlic  heads.  And  we  may  affure  them 
that  the  zealous  impatience^  and  real  wand- 
rings  and  fufferings  of  Popijh  Fanatics^  are 
by  all  Accounts  greatly  fnperior,  "  Oh  !  Life^N©. 
how  many  times  have  the  Nuns  feen  their  5°- 
Sifler  of  Pazzi  drunk  with  Zeal  for  the 
Can ver lion  of  Sinners  and  Irifidels.  —  run 
about  the  Cloyflers  and  Gardens^  and  other 
places^  bemoaning  herfelf  that  fhe  was  not 
a  Man  —  to  go  abroad^  and  gain  erring 
Souls." 

The  Wind-mill  is  indeed  in  all  their 
Heads.  And  in  fa^  'tis  almoft  incredible 
what  Miferies  were  endur'd  by  St.  Francis^ 
in  his  Heroic  Voyage  to  convert  the  Sultan 
of  Egypt  y  in  that  of  St,  Anilmiy  into 
Africa^  to  convert  the  Moors^  and  of  St, 
Ig72atius  to  convert  the  Turks:  Exploits 
much  more  dangerous  and  terrible  than  a 
Voyage  to  the  Weft-Indies^  &cc.** 

As  to  their  love  of  difgrace ;    it  mull 
fairly   be  owned,    in  a  great   meafure,  to 
be  true,     Otherwife  they  would  never  have 
E  z  Tu 


(    28    ) 

Publijled  that  CoIIccHqji  of  their  cum  Fool- 
eries and  faults,  extravagant  v/himfies,  and 
prefumptions,  pretenfions,  &c,  in  their 
'journals.  — 

Sometimes  indeed  we  find   Mr.   Wejley 
bitterly  and  feelingly  complaining   "  of  the 
Sccffs,  both   of  the  Great  Vulgar^  and  the 
fmall ;    contempt  and   reproach   of  every 
kind  ;  fometimes  more  than  verbal  affronts, 
ftupid,  brutal  violence  ;  —  and  (in  a  moft 
elegant  flyle)   from  the  Scum  of  Cornwal, 
ike  rabble  of   Bilfton   a72d  Darlefton,    the 
/pp/pag. 'zcvY^  beafts  of  Walfal,  and  the  Turnkeys  of 
119,  13^- New^gate".     But,  at  other  times,  the  note 
is  changed^ —  *'  and  with  regard  to  con- 
tempt,   hate,    calumny,    Ferfecution^    &c. 
—  till  he  is  thus  defpifed,  no  man  is  in 
a  State  of  Salvation,  —  Being   defpifed  is 
abfolutely  neceffary  to  our  doing  good  in 
3  journ.    the  world.  —  God  forbid  that  you  Hiould 
P-  35—7-  be  otherwife  than  generally  fcandaloiis  5   I 
^^'  had  almoft  fiiid  iiniverfally\ 

3  Journ.        "  Mr.  Whitefield  rejoices  exceedingly  at 
P-  45-       the  thought,  that  they  fhould  one   day  be 

fent  to  Prifon,  —  Refreflied  with  the  news, 
that  the  Landlord  would  not  let  us  flay 
under  his  roof  3  —  and  at  the  fv/eets  of  op- 
pofition  ;  —  receiving  a  blow  from  a  Cud- 

4  Journ.    gel-player  with  the  utmoft  love'\     Again, 
p.  8.        he-  is  quite  in  hafte  for  Terfeciition^  call- 
ing upon  the  Devil  to  bring  it  on.     "  The 
hour  of  Perfecution  is  not  yet  come.     I 

k  really 


(     29    ) 
really  wonder  it  comes  no  fafter.     Satan^  4  Journ. 
why  Jlecpejl  thour'  ^''^/^' 

Mr.  Seimrd  -  trufts  that,    for  the  Brr-  ^^^^-P^^' 
threij^s  Hike,  he  could  leap  into  a  burning 
Jiery  furnace^  without  fear  of  the  flames, 
which  would   ferve  as  a  fiery   Chariot  to 
carry  his  Soul  to  God", 

l^he  f\me  love  of  contempt,  abufe  and 
injury ;  the  fame  arde?2t  thirft  after  Perfe- 
cution  and  Martyrdom  pofTcffed  their  Com- 
petitors in  propagating  true  Religion, 

"  St.  Francis  wiflies,  and  gives  orders,  ^^"^^''^^ 

that  he  may  be  difgraced  by  all.  He  ^o/Rjb'a- 

was  not  able  to  reft  for  the  burning  defire  den.  pag. 
oi  Martyrdom" ,  ^62. 

St.  Ignatius  defired  to  be  mock'd,  and 
laugh'd  at  by  all ;  —  in  the  fervour  of  his 
mind  would  have  gone  about  the  fl:reets 
naked,  and  like  a  fool ;  that  the  boys  of 
the   Town   might   have   made   fport   with 
him,    and    thrown  dirt  upon   him.  —  St.  Ribaden, 
Dominic    defired    to   be    contemned,    and  pag.  535- 
trampled  upon  by  all  the  world  j  —  took 
great  pleafure  in  vifiting  the  Villages^  where 
he  was   affronted    and  abufed  j  —  had  a 
longing  to  die  for  Chrijl  by  the  moft  ex-  ^^^'^;  P^^' 
quifite   and    bitter    pains.  —  St.    Anthony 
moft  earneftly  begged  of  Almighty  Gody  the  ibid.  pag. 
favour  and  grace  oi  Martyrdom.  393- 

The  zealous  Magdalen  of  Pazzi  made  a     Life 
Protefiaticn  to  delight  in  contempt  arid  con-  ^^40. 
fufion^  as  God  delights  in   himfelf.      For 

<'  that 


(  30  ) 

"^         that  confufion  is  iny  Centre ^  as  God  is  his 
cuon  Centre, 

St.  'Terefa  ftrongly  burns  for  Martyr- 
dom at  Jix  or  y^i;^;;  years  of  age  ^  —  and 
afterwards  for  many  years  had  wifhed, 
that  her  whole  hfe  were  full  of  Sufferings 

Ibid-  psg.  and    Perfecr.tions.     And  the  yefuits  have, 

'  '  'in  an  eipeclal  manner,  with  great  alacrity 
devoted  themfelves  (and  I  wifh  they  had 
never  devoted  any  but  themfelves)   to  the 

VYzncAn-fMmeSy  th^fword,  or  any  fpecies  of  Perfe- 

xial.p.  i4.cution". 

'Tis  obvious  here  to  remark,  —  how 
httle  the  Aiethodijh  know  of  their  ow?i 
Spirits^  and  what  danger  they  would  be  in 
oi failing  (which  may  be  proved  too  in 
fah  )  in  a  fnffering  hour :  — -  That  they, 
who  are  of  fuch  an  iinfteady  temper,  and 
fo  often  fall  into  fears^  de'jeBions^  defers 
tions^  defpondcjicies^  &c,  are  fome  of  the 
laft  men  living  that  ihould  be  fo  impor- 
tunate for  expofing  themfelves  :  —  And 
that  this  condu6l  may  well  be  looked  upon 
as  a  falfe  ojtefitatmi  of  zeal^  and  high  pre^ 
fumption  in  any  of  the  moft  fteady  Chrif- 
tians ',  feeing  the  Lord  hath  commanded 
*  to  watch  and  pray,  left  ye  enter  into 
Temptation  ;  to  pray,  that  God  would  not 
lead  us  into  Temptation,  but  deliver  us 
from  evil ',  and,  when  ye  are  perfecuted  in 
one  Cityy  fly  unto  another'. 


(  31  ) 

§.    14.    The  pious  cruelty  of  Corporal 
Severities,  or  mortification  by  tormenting 
the  flefh,  is  another  common  method  of 
gaining  a  reputation  for  SanBity,     Such  as 
long  and  rigorous    faftings  ;    gafliing   and 
flaying  the  body  with  fcourges,  and  thofe 
armed  with  rowels  and  £l:iarp  tags  5  rolling  - 
naked   in   thorns  and   thirties,  G?c.     The 
accounts  we   have  of  thefe  unnatural  ex- 
ercifes  among  PopiJJo  Fanatics  are  of  that 
nature  and  degree,  as  fcarce  to  be  credit- 
ed,  or  exceeded  \  and  what  our  own  D//^ 
ciplinariam  cannot,  in  any  tolerable  mea- 
fure,  pretend  to  come  up  to.     Something 
however  of  this  kind  we  have  from  their 
own  relation. 

Mr.  Whitefield  fays  of  the  Methodijfs  in  /•  ^eal- 
general  at  Oxford^  that  "  they  kept  their  ^"^^"  ^'^* 
bodies  under,  even  to  an  extreme,  —  And 
of  himfelf,  —  though  I  fometimes  fell  in-  y 
X.0  Senfuality  \ — I  left  of reating  fruits,  and 
the  like  ;  —  I  faded  twice  a  week.  —  In 
Le7it  eat  nothing  (except  on  Sunday)  but 
[age  tea  w^ithout  fugar,   and  coarfe  bread, 
—  eat  the  word  fort  of  food  y   conftantly 
walked  out  in  the  mornings,  till  part  of 
one  of  my  hands  was  quite  black.     This, 
with  continued  abftinencc  and  inward  con- 
flii^s,    fo    emaciated   my    body,  —  that  I 
could   fcarce  creep  up   flairs,  —  and   wasib.  Sea.  2. 
obliged  to  have  a  Fhyfician\^ 

Under 


(    32    ) 

Builar.  Under  fuch  a  high  principle  of  mortifi- 

''°'-^\,    cation,  *' St.  Bridget  refolved  to  eat  no- 

^*     '    thing  but  bread  and  water,  and  (becaufe 

that  was  not  bitter  enough)  would  needs 

hold  Gentian-root  commonly  in  her  mouth. 

gj.g^^        . —  St.  Alcantara  chofe  wormwood  for  his 

Rom.        diet.  —  A    Francifan    would    always   dip 

mu"  Fol.    l^is  bread  in  wormwood-water.  — St.  Francis 

64.  of  Rome  would   eat  bitter  herbs  without 

Ribaden.       -yy 

St.  Ignatius  was  always  exercifing  fuch 
kind  of  aujierities,  and  always  dangerouf- 
ly  ill  by  them.  He,  and  many  others, 
brought  themfelves  to  death's  door ;  and 
were  compelled  to  have  recourfe  to  Thy- 
ficians  and  Surgeons. 

Mr.    Wejley    oftentatioufly   boafls,    '   of 

bearing  heat  and  cold  on  the  naked  head, 

rain  and  wind,   froft  and  fnow,   as  fome  of 

Laft  App  theiryk^//^  inconveniencies'.  —  And  ano- 

pag.  119.  ther  time  he  tells  us,    '   Our   bed  being 

wet,  I  laid  me  down  on  the  floor ^    and 

flept  found  till  morning.     And  I  believe 

I  {hall  not  find  it  needful  to  go  to  bed^   as 

1  journ.   *tis  called,  any  more".    But  his  old  Friends 

jan.^  30,    Q^t.fli-ip  hin^^     St.  Ignatius  ufed  no  other 

bed  than  a  boards    or  the  bare  growid.     St. 

liominic  the  fame ;  and  fifty  others  of  the 

chojen  AnticbrijUan  Saints. 

St.  Francis  happening  once  to  ufe  a 
pillow^  on  account  of  illnefs,  the  Demi 
got  into  his  pillow^  and  made  him  uneafy 

all 


53- 


(  33  )  ^ 

all  night.     But  upon  his  ordering  the />//- Confo^- 
loWy  with  the  Devi/  in  it,  to  be  carried  "^' '  ^^' 
away,  he  prefently  recovered". 

Whether  Mr.  Wejley  has  not  went  to 
I?ed  fince  that  time  others  may  know  as 
well  as  himfelf.  But  'tis  eafy  to  forefee, 
that  in  fome  future  Cale?2dar,  or  Legend  of 
the  Saints^  with  what  probability  it  may 
be  inferted,  Jan.  30,  1735.  *  From  this 
day  Mr.  J,  Wejley  never  went  to  bed  any 
more  ;  but  always  lay  on  the  bare  ground^ 
in  imitation  of  the  Saints^  Ignatius^  Fran- 
cis^ &c.' 

And  however  ridiculous  or  improbable 
this  may  be  thought  ;  I  am  fully  per- 
fuaded  that  /7/^;/y,  if  not  mojl^  of  the 
Stories^  with  which  the  Pope's  Religious 
Romances  are  fluffed,  have  been  raifed  upon 
a  Jlighter  fciindation.  Other  inftances  of 
this  nature  will  come  afterwards. 

But  hov^ever  that  may  happen  ;  the 
Apofilcy  I  am  fure,  condemns,  as  ujelefs  and 
fiiper/litioiis^  that  a.:^tiyict  cco{/,ct70iy  the  not 
/paring  of  the  body.  And  it  has  frequently 
proved  nothing  lefs  than  Self-fmirther. 
But  'tis  requifite  this  voluntary  falfe  fhew 
of  humility  fhould  be  fometimes  kept  up, 
that  common  Chrijtians  may  be  thought  to 
walk  according  to  the  flefl^ ;  and  the  ncm^ 
Reformers  alone  be  prefumed  as  followers 
of  an  abftemious  and  Spiritual  life, 

F  §,  15. 


(  34  ) 

§.  15.  To  theie  fufferings  may  be  added- 

—  the  ftraggles  and  pangs  of  the  72ew 
birth,  almoft  to^^jLiX  to  \ht  torments  of  Hell y. 

—  dereliffions,  terrors^  defpairings,  com- 
bats with  Saia?2,  &c\  Of  v/hich  more  in 
the  Sequel. 

A  word  or  two  at  prefent  of  their  will- 
ingnefs,  and  ardent  delire  to  endure  pam- 
and  torment y  even  Hell  itfelf  for  the  Love 
of  God^  and  advancement  of  his  Glory. 

Among  fome  Enthiifiaftic  Ranters^  Pa- 
ptftical  Myftics,  and  others,  fuch  an  ex- 
ceffive  and  difmterefted  hove  of  God  has 
been  infiiled  on,  as  Ihould  oblige  us  to 
love  him.j  though  w^e  were  fure  of  being 
damned 'j  and  even  to  keep  up  that  love 
during  the  whole  eternal  State  of  damiia* 
tion. 

As  I  have  been  no  great  dealer  in  fuch 
Authors,  I  fhall  let  the  Jefuit  Niere?nberg 
De  Ado-    fpeak  for  all ;  who  makes  this  a  neceiiary 
cao.  s'^'  ''  GonfeJJion  of  a  true  Penitent.     *^  I  would 
willingly  for  the  lighteft  and  moft  venial 
Sin  fufter  the  torments  of  Helly  —  and  even 
for  another's  Sin.  —  I  dejire  to  go  to  Helly 
and  he  at  the  feet  of  Lucifer^  JudaSy  &c. 
But  am  fo  great  a  Sinner,  as  to  be  unworthy 
even  of  a  place  there.  —  There  is  ?w  per-* 
^>b.  3.   fe^  Love,  or   repentance,    unlefs   for    the 
^''^'  ^'     leaft  Sin  you  are  willing  to  bear  the  tor- 
tures oj  Hell". 

Mr.. 


{  35  ) 

■  Mr.  We/ley  plainly  adopts  this  doclrine 
for  his  own,  when  he  fa3'S,  *'  I  was  fur- pj^^g"* 
prifed  to  find  one  of  the  moft  controvert- 
ed Queflions  in  Divinity,  difaiterefted  LovCy 
decided  by  a  poor  old  man,  v/ithout  edu- 
cation, or  learning,  or  any  inftrudor ;  but 
the  Spirit  of  God,  I  asked  him  what  he 
thought  of  Fnradife  ?  —  He  faid,  to  be 
fure,  it  is  a  fine  place.  But  I  do  not 
mind  that.  I  do  not  care  what  place  I 
am  in.  Let  God  put  me  ipjhere  he  will, 
or  do  with  me  what  he  will,  fo  I  may 
fet  forth  his  honour  and  glory". 

One  might  here  obferve,  how  eafy  a 
thing  it  is  for  perfons,  who  deem  them- 
felves  Favouf'ites  of  Heaven,  in  the  heat  of 
imagination  to  talk  at  this  rate.  But  does 
the  DoBrine  of  Afjurances  convince  them, 
that  they  could  dwell  in  Everlafting  bur?!" 
ingSy  without  complaining,  or  any  abate- 
ment of  the  Love  of  God  ?  And  befides, 
how  idle  is  it  to  be  putting  an  impoJHbk 
cafe  J  and  to  fuppofe  it  corififtent  with  the 
glory  of  God,  his  efjential  good?iefs,  and 
good^iefs  to  mankind^  that  any  true  Penitent 
and  true  hover  of  God  fliould  finally  be 
condemned  to  Hell-torments'? 

Mr.  Wefley  in  that  exorbitant  flrain, 

4  Journ. 

T>oom,  if  thou  canft,  to  eiidkfs  painSy 
And  drive  me  from  thy  face  ^ 

F  2  feems 


(  36  ) 

leems  daringly  and  prefumptuoufly  to  bid 
defiance  to  the  power  or  Juftice  of  God. 
^'^2  37-  But  in  his  Anfwer  to  Mr,  Church  he  ex- 
plains himfelf  thus ;  "  If  thou  can'ft  de- 
ny thyfelf,  if  thou  can'ft  forget  to  be  gra- 
cious, if  thou  can'ft  ceafe  to  be  truth  and 
!ove\  All  thefe  amiable  Attributes  it 
feems  mufl  be  forfeited,  if  Heaijeji  could 
doom  to  punifliment  fuch  a  precious  Soul. 
But  this  explanation  of  his  looks  like  eva- 
fwfty  and  could  fcarce  be  his  original  mean^ 
Ing :  But  God's  power ^  or  juftice  muft  be 
intended  -,  becaufe  he  fpeaks  of  God's 
Love,  in  the  very  next  lines,  by  way  of 
dijiinBiofi^  or  as  the  oppojite  altemmtive^ 

But  ij  thy  ftronger  love  conjlrains^ 
Let  me  be  faved  by  Grace, 

§.  1 6.    We   find   other   expreffions  and 

notions,  which  imply  either  a  Stoical  in-^ 

fenfihility   under  pain  and  torture  5  or  elfe 

a   deflre   of  them ;  not   the  leaft  defire  of 

having  them  removed^    or  ajjuaged^  though 

felt  in  the  highell  degree.     As  that  of  Mr. 

IVefiey,  produced  for   "  ^n  inftance  of  that 

XlT'lo,   ftrange  truth,  ih^^t  the  fervaitts  of  God  fuffer 

\u  nothing, — I  dined  with  one,  who  told  me 

in  all  fimplicity,  '  Sir,  I  thought  laft  week 

tPiere  could  be  no  fuch  rcfi  as  you  defcribe^ 

none  in  the  world,  wherein  we  fhould  be 

fo  free  as   not  to  defire  cafe  in  pain*     But 

God 


(  37  ) 

God  has  taught  me  better.  For  on  Friday 
and  Saturday^  when  I  was  in  the  firongeft 
pairiy  I  never  once  had  one  moment's  defire 
ofeafe'\ 

Mr.  Wejley^  having  difcourfed  of  this, 
and  defcribed  it  to  the  perfon  concerned, 
fufficiently  lliews  it  to  have  been  his 
dodrine.  Let  us  fee  if  it  cannot  be  paral- 
lelled from  the  Papacy, 

*'  St.  Francis  vifited  with  the  moft  grie- 
vous fufFerings  would  by  no  means  allow 
them  to  be  called  pains-,  and  throv^ing 
himfelf  on  the  ground  with  a  violence, 
that  almoft  broke  his  bones,  begs  of  G(?i^;^"^''^"' 
to  addx.o  bis  fufFerings  an  hundred  fold  ^ —  i^.'  ^^^* 
deiires  a  continuance  and  reneival  of  tor-  ^    r 

1  7  r     '  t     7       J'      Confor- 

ment,  —  and  even  to  dejpair  and  derelic-  m\t.  Foi. 
tion''. — At  another  time,    hovi^ever,  he  is  4^,  4^- 
in   a   quite   different  m.ood  -,  and  his  zeal 
tempered  with  prudence^  when  a  real  and 
very  fenfible  torture   was  before  his  eyes. 
For  ''  being  obliged  to  undergo  a  Caute- 
rizing for  a  difeafe  in  his  eyes,  he  was  fo 
frighted  v/ith  the  Sight  of  the  red-hot  iron^ 
that  he  commanded  the  iron  in  the  name 
of  Chrift   fo  to   temper   its   heat,    that  he 
might jfe;^^//)'  feel  the  burning.     And  v/hen 
the  hijfing  iron   was  plung'd  into  his   ten- 
der flefh,  he  cried  out  exultingly,    *  Bleffed 
be  God',  for  to  fay  the  truth,  the  burning  ^^^^• 
fire  gave  me  no  moleflation,  nor  did  any  F°!!Jcirc. 
pain  of  the  flefh  affed:  me,  oa.  lo. 

St, 


(  38  ) 

Bartol.  St.    Ignatius  felt    and   experienced   the 

Vit.ignat.  ^1^^^^^^  of  regeneration   to    be   as   bad   as 
Tit'ssa    Hell;  and  yet  is  all   on  fire   to   promote 
God's  glory,  though  at  the  lofs  of  all  the 
earth,    and  even  Heaven, 
Ribaden.        St.  Tcvefa  was  under  great  aridifies^  for 
FS-799-  2  2  years;  yet  never  in  all  that  time  did  it 
come  into  her  thoughts  to  defire  more  com- 
fort, and  fhe  asked  of  the  Lord,  that  fhe 
might  never  be  v^ithout  pain.     She  even 
bore  the  pangs  of  the  new  birth  for  ano- 
ther, a  new  Convert ;    '  v^ho  having  at  her 
perfuafion  left  certain  abominable  Sins,  but 
fuch  Temptations  frill   remaining,  that  he 
knew  himfelf  to  be  in   Hell-,  —  She  be- 
fought  the  Lord  to  aiiuage  the   pains  of 
that  poor  Soul ;  and  that  the  Devils,  who 
were  the   caufes  of  it,    might   come  and 
torment  her.  —  And  (lie  fuffered  for  the 
fpace   of  a   month   the   mojt  furious  and 
Ibid,     fir ange  pains, —  And  we  have  a  Fope's  Bull 
to  affure  us,  that  Catharine  of  Sienna  was 
Eullar.      often  fo  carried  beyond  herfelf,  that  when 
Vol.  i.     prick'd,  or  beaten,  flie  had  not  the  leaft 
I^'2-29i-/^^//;;^of  pain". 

M,  Magdalen  of  Pazzi  (a  Canonized 
Saint)  carries  this  point  fo  far,  that  "  Ihe 
defires  and  entreats  her  Saviour  to  grant 
her  fuch  a  fuffering  as  is  pure  gall,  the 
bottom  of  the  cup  mixed  with  wormwood, 
myrrh  and  vinegar,  which  he  drank  on 
the  Crofsj  without  the  leaft  confolation  ei- 
ther 


(  39  ) 

ther  from  Heaven  or  earth,  —  And  flie  re- 
peated often,  ^  I  am   not  forward  and  in 
haft  to  go  to  Paradife  ^   for  that  is  not  a  gee  her 
place   of  ftifferingy   but  delight.     This,  in     Lire. 
my  opinion,  is  what  is  '^joanting  i?i  the  State  ^^^'  ^ 
cf  the  Bk[jU\ 

With  refpedl  to  all  tliis  patient  enduring^ 
or  rather  love  of  hardlliips,  dangers,  pain, 
&c, — it  hath  been  remarked  by  learned 
Authors^  that  fome  perfons  from*  conjtitii^ 
tional  temper  and  complexion  have  even 
been  fond  of  bearing  the  worft  that  could 
befall  them  ;  could  not  be  eafy  and  con- 
tented without  them :  —  that  otiiers  from 
a  flurdy  kiirnour  and  pertinacious  refolution, 
egg'd  on  by  the  force  of  education,  emu- 
lation, a  point  of  honour  or  obflinate  pride, 
have  brought  themfelvcs  to  make  light 
of  the  moft  exquifite  fufterings  and  tor- 
tures; fcarce  feeming  to  feel  them,  and 
even  laughing  at  them :  —  That  when  £;/- 
thiijiafm  comes  in,  in  aid  of  this  natural  or 
acquired  fturdinefs;  and  Men  fancy  they 
are  upon  God'i  work^  and  entitled  to  h.is 
rewards ;  they  are  immediately  all  on  fire 
for  ruihing  into  fufterings  and  pain ;  and 
forrow  is  turned  into  joy  before  them.  The 
Iblid  and  juft  comforts,  v^^hich  a  true  Mar- 
tyr receives  from  above  are  groundielly 
applied  to  the  Counterfeit, 

And,    at  beft,  whatever  degree  of  7nerit 
our   Mcthodifs  may   clain)  on  this  fcorc; 

all 


(  40  )         _ 
:J!    is    but   an  humble    imitation    of   the 
moft  Fafiatical  Deceivers  in  the  moft  cor- 
7'upt  Commimion  in  the  Chrijlian  world. 

It  may  moreover  be  obferved^  that 
both  antient  and  modern  Ejithiifiaft s  al- 
ways take  care  to  fecure  fome  advantage 
by  their  Sufferings  5  and  thereby  prove 
their  Love  of  God  not  fo  very  difmterefted. 
For  they  brag  of  receiving  larger  favours^ 
and  freer'  Conimunicatiom  with  God  under 
their  preffures,  or  have  fuller  Manifefta-^ 
tio?2s  of  his  goodnefs  immediately  after. 
And  efpecially  their  chief  Security  lies  in  a 
pretended  arrival,  or  approach  to  a  State 
of  PerfcBion^  and  to  an  Affurance  of  Sal- 
vation. And  v^ho  then  fhall  be  afraid  ? 
A  man  need  not  much  fcruple  throwing 
out  fome  expreffions  of  a  readinefs  to  un« 
dergo  pains  equal  to  Hell^  or  Hell  itfelf ; 
who  is  afiired,  knows  and  feels  that  he  is 
going  into  PerfeBion^  and  may  depend 
upon  Salvation. 

§.  17.  But  previous  to  this  elevated 
State,  (that  we  may  not  wander  too  far 
from  the  Saijifs  progrefs)  comes  their  Con- 
'verfim  ;  which,  as  another  inftancc  of  Fa- 
natical peculiarities^  they  reprefent  ':L^fudden 
and  inftantaneous ;  and  prepare  their  FoU 
lowers  to  expeft  it. 

And 


(  41  ) 

,  And  though  I  do  by  no  Means  deny  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  may,  or  fometimes  doth,  by 
fome  extraordinary  Adl  of  Grace,  throw 
fuch  a  light  and  influence  on  the  Mind  of 
Man,  as  fuddenly  to  arrefl  him,  as  it  were, 
in  the  midft  of  a  wicked  and  unbelieving 
courfe  :  Yet  furely  this  is  not  to  be  ex- 
peded  of  courfe ;  the  ordinary  Method  of 
Heaven  being  that  of  drawing  us  by  gradual 
M^ans,  good  Education  and  Initru(fLion  \ 
improvements  by  Learning,  Reading  and 
Studying  the  Holy  Scriptures;  which  di-  / 
reft,  in  an  honcft  and  good  Heart,  to/ 
^  grow  i?i  Grace,  and  build  up  ourf elves  irv 
our  holy  Faith  3  and  not  prefume  that  v/e 
fhall  ftart  up  perfeB  Men  at  once." 

Thus  "  Faith,  and  being  borji  of  God:,  We/ley, 
are  faid  to  be   an  Inflantaiieous  work,    at  2  Jo^^n. 
once,  and  in  a  tnoment,  as  lig-ht-ning-,    yulti-  \^^'  !^' 
jication,  the  lame  as  Regeneration,  and  hav- 
ing a  livi72g  faith,— in\^  always  in  a  moment,  xb.  p.  39. 
— My  being  born  of  God  was  an  Inftanta- 
neous  ad,  enabling  me  from  that  moment  to 
be  more  than  Cojiqueror  over  thofe  Corrup-  3  journa?, 
tions,  which  before  I  w^as  always  a  fiave  to.  P-  J^- 
—  Very  many  Perfons  chang'd  in  a  mo- 
ment, —  always  fuddenly,  as  far  as  I  have  lb.  p.  49. 
known. — 

By  the  Words,    being  faved  by  Faith,  ^TiAppi. 
we  mean,  that  in  the  moment  a  Man  re-  ^^^'  ^''' 
ceives  that  Faith,  be  is  fav'd  from  doubt, 
G  fear, 


(42) 
fear,    forroiv,    from   all   his    Sins,    vicious 
Defires,  &c,'' 

And  how  ftands  the  cafe  of  Topiflo  En- 
Rrb".der.    thufiafts  as    to  this    Article?    ^' After    St. 
pag.  750.  f^.^^ja  had  long  tried  to  be  Holy  to  no  pur- 
pofe,  the  Lord  of  hearts  did  it  all  m  a  mo- 
ment y  and  (he  was  from  that  time  effedtu- 
ally  changed.  ■ — 

St.  Ignatius,  by  a  fiidden  light  receives 
Faith,  and   the  complete  Pej^feBion  of  Di- 
vine Sand:ity :  —  fo  that  he  rifeth  up  a  7jew 
Orland.     ]^an—2i  pcrfeB  Man  in  Chrijt.^ — The  fame 
fuit.hb^'i.  ^^int,  by  a  vifit  from  the  Virgin  Mary  and 
cap.  22.     "Jejiis  Ckrift,    has  all   Images  of  obfcurity 
fui'T^'     wiped  from  his  Heart,  and  from  that  i7jftant 
Kbaden,    finds  no  morc  any  fenfe  of  Luft. —  Another 
P^S- 391-  of  their  Converts  is  iiiftantly  dehver'd  from 
Concupifcence  by  putting  on  St.  Anthony's 
Garment. — St.  Conrade^  a  Domiizican^  after 
having  cruelly  difciplin'd  himfelf  to  extin- 
guifh  his  irregular  Emotions,  by  the  Virgin 
Mary's,  coming,  and  anointing  his  Reins, 
never  more  felt  the  Thorn  in  the  Flejh.  — 
TJallngh.    Tho?n.  Aquinas  had  a  ^cijion  of  Angels  bind- 
ing his  Loins,  and  thence  forward  had  not 
Brev.        the  leaft  feeling  of  Concupifcence. — And  I 
mT-      could  produce  feven  or  eight  of  his  Holi- 
nefs's,  Sai^its^  who  Vv^ere  cur'd  of  the  fame 
defire  by  vijioiis  of  Angels  appearing,  and 
caitrating  them  with  proper  Inftruments.*' 

It 


(  43  ) 

tt  muft  indeed  be  confefs'd,  that  moH  of 
the  above  mention'd  Inftantanecii^  Converfio72S 
were  from  carnal  ConcupifceijceMut  unfortu- 
nately, no  fuch  violent  Meafures  have  been 
taken  with  fome  of  our  eminent  McthodiftSy 
and  their  behaviour  has  been  fuch,  as  to 
hinder  the  Comparifon  frorii  tallying  in  this  .. 
particular. 

§.  1 8.  After  thefe  fiiddcn  Cojiverjions  ufj- 
ally  they  receive  their  Ajjiirances  of  S  ah  a-  j 
tion  ;— and  thefe  (as  alfo  the  proofs  of  their  ' 
Co?2verfon)  are  certainly  kjiown^  beard ^  feen  • 
or  felt  'y  they  can    afcertain   the   particular 
time  and  place  of  their  receiving  them  j  as 
fo  many  Seals  of  the  Spirit, 

"  All  this  while  I  was  afjurd  God  had  7;''^^*- 
forgiven  me.  —  It  is  a  dreadful  mifcake  to  \z^^^i^, 
deny   the   Dodrine   of  Afjuranccs :  —  all 
ought  to  labour  after  it.— I  know  numbers, 
whofe  Salvation  is  written  upon  their  hearts, 
as  it  were  with  a  Sim-beatn,  —  Prayer  for 
Ajjlirance  oj  eternal  Salvation.  —  Oh  !  (fays  '^-  P-  ^^* 
another)  I  cannot  be  freed  from  doubting,  ^' 
till  I  have  more  Infallible  Afjurances : —  ^   ,pi  ^^ 
till  I  bear  Chrift  fpeaking  to  me,  fo  that  I  Whitfield's 
may  be  fenfible  in  that  very  hour^  that  it  is  ^^^'^\    ^ 
he  that  fpeaketh."  L.  p.  2. 

Then  for  Mr.   Wejley^  "  I  felt  Faith  in  ^  Journal, 
Chri/iy   and  an   Afjurajice  was  given  me,  P^S-  3o- 
that  he  had  taken  away  my  Sins,  even  7nine, 
—The  ufual  method  of  the  Spirit  is  to  give 
•G  2  at 


(  44  ) 

at  one  and  the  fame  time  the  forgivefiefs  of 
Sins,  and  the  Jull  AJ]ura?2ce  of  that  forgive- 

2  lourn.    ri^fs :  yet  thefe  not  always  given  together. 

p,  '60.  —  In  that  moment  (fays  a  Moravian)  I  be- 
held the  Lamb  of  God  taking  away  my  Sins. 

Jb.  p  66.  ^i^d  from  that  time  I  have  had  Kedemption^ 


c 
74 


^ee?-/^»  -^nd  full   j^/Jiira?2ce  of  it, — admitting   720 


doubt,    or  Jear,  —  My  Si/ier  receiv'd   the 
-  Jcurn.    Atonement  on  St,  Peter's  Day,  —  At  that 
P^g-^7-     hour  ont  v/ho  had  long  continued  in  Sin, 
from  a  dejpair  of  finding  mercy,  receiv'd  a 
pill  clear  fenfe  of  his  pardoning  love,  and 
lb.  p.  42.  pocii^er  to  fin  no  ?j2ore.     One   Perfon  could 
Seward's    neither  eat,  nor  fleep,  nor  read,  till  Cbrift 
journ.p9.  haJ  afured  him  of  his  Salvation"' 
Bonaven-        By  Way  of  Parallel  to  thefe  Trefumptu-* 
tur.  Vit.    ^^j  i7naginatio22S,  we  read,  that  St.  Francis^ 
cap.'s.  &  bewailing  his  Sins  in  the  bitternefs  of  his 
Conform,  heart,  was  by  the  Holy  Ghojt  fully  certified 
346.^^'     ^^  ^^-^^  ple72ary  remifjion  of  all  his  Sins.  — 
And  once  deiiring  a  Barber  to  fiave  him 
gratis,  for  the  love  of  God,  the  Barber  re- 
Conforin.  fus'd,  till  the  Sai?2t  had  given  him  full  af 
Fol.  238.  furance  of  Salvation,— Anothei'  holy  manjelt 
himfelf  lo  vehemently  mov'd  and  illumi- 
Mannlfel   natcd,  that  many  fecrets  of  God  were  re- 
H.rt.  pag.  ^,^^/y  ^Q  j^lj^^  ^^^  YxQ  was  certified  of  his 

forglvenefs  and  Salvation. —  AJefuit,  who 
had  much  commerce  with  God  a?2dthe  Saints, 
was  afjur'd  of  his  Salvation  before  the  Image 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  by  an  interior  voice  ; 
filling  him   with  fo  much  joy,    that  he 

could 


(45  ) 

could  fcarce  contain  himfelf.     And  another  Franc. 
had  all  poffible  Security  of  it/'  ^""-  J^' 

288,  417. 

§.  19.  No  marvel  then,  if  the  Prefump- 
iion'nitth  ftill  higher  into  a  fancy  o{ Per-  -^ 
JeBion,  an  unfmning  State  and  iinfpotted^ 
while  other  wretched  mortals  lye  grove- 
ling in  the  mire  of  Vice,  or  at  leaft  in  an 
imperfeB  way.  To  fuch  a  high -flown 
pitch  may  a  frantic  Imagination  be  carried. 

This  conceited  notion  feems,  in  a  great 
nicafure,  to  have  crept  into  Mefhodifm  from 
the  Moravian  Secfl  5  one  of  whom  tells  Mr. 
Wejley,  ''  I  received  that  rjitjiefs  of  the  Spi-  2  Jo'^™- 
rit,  that/////  ajjiirance  of  Faith,  which  is  a  P'^'  ^"^^ 
deliverance  from  every  flefiily  defire,  and 
fi'om  every  outward  and  inv/ard  Sin." 
Other  Moravians  tell  him,  ''  The  moment 
a  man  is  jiiflified  he  is  a  ne^.v  Creature ;  yet 
ftill  remains  the  old  heart,  corrupt  and  abo- 
minable. —  Is  there  then  (fays  Wejley)  cor- 
ruption in  your  heart  ?  Yes,  there  is  corrup- 
tion in  my  old  man,  but  not  in  my  ne^u) 
man,  —  This  fort  of  corruption  they  affirm 
to  be  the  Experience  of  the  Moravian 
Church,  But  Mr.  Wejlef^  People  declare 
their  Experiences  to  the  contrary  (viz.) 
that  Corruptions  are  taken  away  5  —  Mr. 
Wejley  urgeth,  «  was  there  then  inward 
Corruption  in  our  Lord?  or,  cannot  the 
Servant  be  as  his  Mafter  ?" — It  muft  be 
cjwn'd,    that  xMr.  IVePy  contends  againft 

the 


(46) 

the  Moravlam  for  the  ufe  oi  external  means ^ 
for  Frayer^  Sacraments^  reading  the  Scrip-^ 
tiircy  &CC,  And  for  this  reafon  he  fays, 
**  I  met  with  a  furprifing  inftance  of  the 
Tower  of  the  Devil -^  Mrs.  J — s  on  a  fud- 
den  threw  away  the  Bible y  faying ;  1  am 
good  enough.  I  will  never  read,  or  pray 
more. — I  don't  defire  to  be  any  better  than 
I  am. — I  am  fav'd.— I  ail  nothing  ;  fhe 
fpoke  many  things  to  the  fame  effect, 
-->_         plainly  fhewing  that  the  Spirit   of  Pride 

4Tourn.    ^"^    ^^   -^^^^    ^^^    ^^^1    Dominion    over 

pag.  66.    her.'' 

I  fhall  make  a  few  JlriBures  upon  this 
Article,  By  that  fiibtle  diJUnSiicn  of  the 
Moravians  we  may  be  drawn  into  a  conceit, 
that  any  Perfon  may  indeed  Sin^  and  be 
obnoxious  to  Divine  wrath^  when  he  con- 
siders only  the  old  man  in  him ;  but  by 
pleading  that  his  new  man  is  innocent  and 
guiltlefs^  he  is  in  no  danger.  Juft  as  if  one 
among  ourfelves  fliould  allow  himfelf  to 
Jwear^  or  drink^  as  he  is  a  Gentleman  ;  but 
not  as  he  is  a  Clergyman, 

In  the  difpute  whether  or  no  Corruptions 
are  taken  away^  Experiejtcies  are  produced 
on  both  fides  of  the  Queftion  :  we  have 
'Experiences  againft  Experiences  -,  thofe  of 
the  Moravians  againfl  thofe  of  the  JVefleyans. 
Which  tallies  exadly  with  the  Revelation 
and  Miracles  alledg'd  by  both  Parties  among 
the  Tapijis^    in    their  grand  Controverfy 

between 


(  47  ) 

between  the  'Dominicans  and  Fr  and  [cans  y 
concerning  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the 
Virgin  Mary. 

Again;  the  Moravians  have  no  regard  to 
outward  fforksy  Prayer,  Sacrament,  &c. 
but  yet  are  zealous  for  fome  remainders  of 
Corruption  neceffarily  fticking  to  us.  The 
Wejleyans  contend  ftrongly  for  outward 
Works ',  but  at  the  fame  time  are  eagerly 
maintaining  the  poffibility  of  an  iinfinning 
TerfeBion.  A  rare  choice,  take  which  you 
pleafe. 

Mr.  Wefiefs  Text  of  Scripture  brought 
in  proof  of  fuch  a  perfefl:  ftate  (cannot  the 
Servant  be  as  his  Majler?)  is  evidently 
mi  [applied.  For  it  relates  only  to  outward 
Sufferings^  which  our  Lord's  Dijciples  were 
to  undergo  as  well  as  himfelf -,  but  has  no 
relation  to  freedom  from  inward  Corruption^ 
to  a  finlefs  Perfeciion ;  which  belongs  to 
Chrift  alone.  But  on  this  head  I  refer  the  ' 
Reader  to  Mr.  Church'^  Remarks  on  V/efley^ 
Journal,  page  30 — and  60. — Efpeciaiiy  to 
jF^rZ/^^T  Remarks,  page  11 4. — 

But  not  to  forget  our  Parallel    'Tis  faid  Erev.Fr. 

«  I  U I     "  I 

in  the  Pcpifrj  Liturgies  of  St.  Francis  (and  conform. 
indeed   oi   feveral    others)    '  This    man  Foi. 89,5.- 
tranfgreiTed  not  one  jot    or    tittle   of  the  '^'''' 
Gojpel'y  —  t\\2iX.  Ada7n  did  not  Sin  inhim-, 
he  being    fo  perJeB,     And  this  purity  of 
bis  is  given  as  a  reafon  why  he  fometimes 
appears    in    public  fa?'k    naked ^    without 

being 


(    4:8    ) 

being  afhamedy  for  had  he  been  polluted] 

Fd^r-^:  he  muft  have  had  fome  fenfe  of  fiame.  — 

'  '  His    twelve  Jpoftles  too  (v^hom  he  chofe 

in   imitation  oi  .Chrift)    tranfgreffed  not  a 

Trithem.   tittk  of  the  GofpcL     Noi  did  Adajn  fin  in 

^h'  ^5^4-     St.  EG72aventiire'\ 

"  The  Fratricelli^  or  little  Brothers^  a 
branch  of  the  Francifcans^  ftifHy  main- 
tained the  Dodrine  of  PerfeBion ;  affert- 
ing,  that  a  man  may  in  this  life  attain  to 
fo  great  perfedion,  as  to  live  without  Sin  5 
—  and  then  he  is  above  Ordinances  in 
Church  and  State''.  See  Stillingfleet  of 
Idolatry.    Page  255. — 

Almoft  all  the  Sai?2ts  and  Founders  of 
their  Societies  and  Orders  gained  the  Sum- 
mit of  Evangelical  "FerfeBion  :  as  a  foun- 
dation for  ?72erit,  and  adoration.  Nor  do 
I  fee  but  that  their  modern  Imitators  may 
one  day  or  other  be  advanced  to  thefe 
infolent  claims. 

§.  20.  And  where  will  thefe  bold  En-- 
thufiafts  flop  ?  For  we  find  them  next 
fearing  above  the  earth,  taking  a  flight  to 
Heaven^  and  ftealing  thence  the  facred 
light  and  fire ;  in  order  to  compafs  efieftu- 
ally  their  own,  and  other's  delufion-  No- 
thing lefs  than  Infpirations^  Revelations^ 
IlluminatiofiSy  and  all  the  extraordinary  and 
immediate  aBions  of  all  the  Perfons  in 
the  Sacred  Trinity   will   ferve   their  turn. 

So 


(  49  ) 

So  that  now  every  flcifi  of  zeal  and  den)o^ 
tion  3  every  'wild  pretmfion^  fcheme^  tenet ^ 
and  over-bearing  dilate  ;  impidfes^  im- 
preffiG?2S,  feelings,  impetuous  Tranfports  and 
Raptures',  intoxicating  valours  and  fumes 
of  Imagination  ;  Phantoms  of  a  crazy  brain ^ 
and  uncouth  effedls  of  a  diflemperd  mind^ 
or  body  5  their  fleepifig,  or  waking  dreams ; 
their  actions  and  pafficns,  &cc, — all  are  af- 
cribed  with  an  amazing  Prejumption  to 
the  extraordinary  interpofition  of  Heaven^ 
fctting  its  Seal  to  their  Miffton.  In  fhort, 
whatever  they  think,  fay,  or  do,  is  from 
God,  and  whatever  oppofeth,  and  ftands 
in  their  way,  is  from  the  DeviL 

Here  we  have  the  true  Spirit,  and 
very  Efence  of  Enthuflafm,  that  unground- 
ed pretence  to  Infpiration -,  which  of  courfe 
makes  men  peremptory  and  pertinacious, 
fets  them  above  car72al  reafonings,  and  all 
convidion  of  plain  Scripture ;  and  oblig- 
eth  them  upon  their  own  Principles  to  af- 
fume  an  Infallibility.  This  is  what  the 
whole  Tribe  of  Fanatics  have  caught  hold 
of,  as  the  moft  fpecious  Engine  to  delude 
the  credulous,  fimple  and  unwary,  and 
what  is  neceffary  for  carrying  on  their  En- 
terprifes  in  the  moft  dextrous  and  fure 
manner.  For  though  Enthufiafm  may 
fometimes,  or  ufually,  fet  out  with  an  in- 
nocent and  well-meaning  hearty  yet  fuch 
a  fimplicity  is  of  no  long  continuance  : 
H  Proje^s 


\  y 


(50) 
Projecfs    increafe,    and    oppofition   arifetb  5 
and  then   it  quickly  takes  to  its  affiftance 
the   feveral   artitices    of   management    and 
eraft. 

PRESENCES,   &c. 

§.  21.  The  ipecial  and  extraordinary 
^refences  of  God  lb  much  boafted  of  by 
the  Methodifts^  efpecially  Mr.  Whitefield, 
are  almoft  v^^ithout  number :  So  that  'tis 
needlefs  to  mention  particulars.  Such  as, 
*'  The  Prejence  of  the  Lord  was  with  me 
wonderfully  : — I  felt  more  than  common 
of  the  Divine  Pr^/t';2(:^ ; — Felt  an  efpecial 
Prefence  of  God  in  my  private  bufinefs'^j 

But  they  fometlmes  give  us  fuch  gj'-cfs 
accounts,  and   fuch  ftrong  expreflions,    as 
if  God  were  perfonally  attending  upon  them 
in  a  vijihle  and  corporal  manner. 
Letters.  <<  Qod  was  indeed  there,  riding  in  the 

Congregation,  and  breathing  life  and  cou- 
rage into  his  Lambs. — ^efus  has  been  with 
me  much  to-day  ^  —  at  another  time  he  was 
with  me  on  the  road:  —  but  Oh!  how  was 
he   with  me    at   Ahergave?i?iy?  —  I    en- 
treated him  to  meet  again,  and  he  ca?ne'\ 
Orlandin.       In  like  manner,    *'  Brother  Ledefma  (a 
(Uifp^^'   y^'^^^O  ^^'^'^  ^^^  mind  flrongly  confirmed  by 
a.pag,  15  frequent  experiences  of  God's  indulgences. 

God 


(  50 

God  was  with    him   at    Cohgn,    then    at 
Aiifburg,  then  at  BruJJels^   next  at  Rof?2e. 

More   grofly  ftill.     *'  In  the  morning, 
fays  Mr.  Whitefield^    I  talked  with  God  in 
the  garden,    as   a    man    t-alketh    with    his 
friend".     And  would  you  have  the  Coun- 
terpart of  this  ?     "  St,  Patric  abfolutely  Meffing- 
refufed  to  go  forth  to  preach,   till  the  Lord'^^'^'^'''^^- 
met   him  face  to  face ;  —  and  the  Lord 
did  fo, —  Chrijt  fpoke  to  the  beloved  face  Brev.  Mo- 
of  St,    Gertrude,    as   a   man    is  wont    to^^l^^^^^' 
/peak  to  his  friend, — St.   Ignatius  adually 
faw  Jefus  walking  before  him. —  And  G^JJ^^^S-^^"^^ 
often   talked  with  him  face   to  face,  as  ^^84. 
man  fpcaketh  unto  his  friend". 

See  again  how  God  attends  them  in  their 
Sermons,     '*  The  Lord  gave  me  the  Text 
I  preached  upon ;  —  and  direded  me  to  a 
method,  as  I  was  going  up  the  Pulpit  f  air s"\  7^°^'^"' 
So    fays  IVhiteficld  of   himfelf.      And   we  ^  ^' 
have  as  good  Authority,  that  '"^  the  Virgin 
Mary  came  and  held  the  Book  for  a  Donii- 
7ncan  while  he  read  his  Sermon ;   and  that 
{h^fuggefted  every  w^ord  to  another,  as  he  Baiingb. 
was  preaching  an  Extempore  Serjmn.  —  A  ^^^'  '^^ 
certain  Jefuit,  ^  who    had     enjoyed    God's  p^anc. 
Prefn-ce  continually,  fees  Chrijt  in  the  Pal-  Hiit-  je- 
pit  lifting  up  his  hands,  and  blejjing  him.       "^^^^^  P' 

Then   for  the  Divine  Prejence  at  their 

Love-Feafts :    "  The  Lord  came,  brought 

us  into   his  Banqueting-houfe,  and    fet   his 

Banner  over  us,  that  the  Enemy  could  not 

H  z  come 


(  52) 

come  nigh  us."  And  in  an  account  the 
moji  grofsj  *  at  a  general  Lovefeaft  our 
Dear  Maftcr  being  Invited,  cnme^  and  fat 

Letters,      ^f  fjj^  jj^^^  qJ  ffj^  'Tabky  and  bid  me  give 

his  people  to  eaf\     Would  one   think  fuch 

Stuff  could    be  paralleled  ?    But,    among 

the  Papi/ts,  Bzovins  affarcs  us,  that  J  ejus 

^  being   invited  comes  and   eats   v/ith   Tome 

cap.  3.  Children,  and  invites  them  again  to  his 
Heavenly  Tabled  —  And  the  Author  of  the 
Life  of  St.  Veronica^  a  modern  Entbufiajtic 

P3g.  5^-  Saint  (publifl^ed  by  Dr.  Geddes)  fays,  that 
Veronica  at  a  Banquet  Jaw  cur  Saviour  jcat 
himjelf  at  the  bead  of  the  Table  in  a 
chair' \ 

Nor  is  one  egg  more  like  another  than 
this  Parallel  \  except  that  the  Methodifi 
expreffeth  the  thing  more  ftrongly  and 
circumftantially. 

And  feeing  I  am  upon  the  Subjed  of 
God's  Prefence '^  one  thing  more  may  be 
added,  tending  to  encourage  the  notion  of 
the  real  corporal prefence  in  the  Sacrifice  of 

3  journ.    ^hc  Mafs.      ''    A  "  Wethodift,     fays    Mr. 

p.  16, 17.  Wejley^  went  to  receive  the  5^ct^;;7£';?^5  but 
with  a  heart  as  hard  as  a  Hone  3 —  when 
God  was  pleafed  to  let  him  fee  a  Crucified 
Saviour:  —  I  faw  the  fountain  opened  in 
his  fide,  —  At  the  evening  Sacraments^  — 

pag.  22.     cified^  and  evidently  let  forth  before  us  ?" 

And 


(  53  ) 

And  why  is  not  this  as  good  an  Argu- 
ment for  iranfuhji antiation  as  the  feveral 
flefily  appearances  produced  by  the  Papijfs^ 
by    Bellarmin^    and     others  ?    Or,    as   the  De  Sa- 
reafon    of  inflituting   the  Fealt  of  Corpm^'^^^i^'^'' 
ChrijU  (the    Body  of  Chrifl)  by  Pope  Ur-  lib.  3/ 
ba?2  IV.     Becaufe  he  was  aflured    it  had  cap.  8. 
been  revealed  to  certain  Catholics  ?  Which  ^fb^j^* 
was   only   to  two  fanatical  Wonmt    in  a  Coniiitut, 
Vifion. — Or  v/hat  more   is  there  in   the  ^• 
account  that  '  St.  T ere  fa  often  faw  Chrift  Ribaden. 
in  the  Sacrament  ?  —  Or   that,    while  St.  p-  797- 
Hugo   was   celebrating    Mafs^    the    Sacred  ^'^JJ-  ^«- 
'Rojt  being   elevated    appeared   plainly    inAngi.pag, 
the  form  of  ChrijY  ?  1 84.       ' 

One  can  hardly  Indeed  believe,  that 
our  Methcdifts  in  thefe  grofs  expreffions 
intend  to  be  underflood  in  a  Literal  Senfe : 
But  we  know  not  what  eftcd:  they 
may  have  upon  weak,  credulous,  and  fu- 
perftitious  minds  -,  efpecially  when  improv- 
ed by  future  Comments^  or  the  help  of 
tradition.  'Tis  certain  that  diverfe  Rhe- 
torical flourifhes  of  this  fort,  and  other  little 
Super jtitions^  have  gradually  fwelled  into 
the  moft  falfe  and  abfurd  Dodlri?ies^  as 
well  as  into  rank  Idolatry ;  and  the  world 
is  covered  with  a  deluge  of  monftrous  Le- 
gefidary  tales,  which  were  derived  from  as 
fmall  a  fountain. 

§.    22.^ 


(  54  ) 

§.22.  Clofely  connefled  with  Prefences 
are  th oie  familiar  Commimicatio?2S  and  Con- 
verjcitiom  with  the  Deity -,  full  of  the  mofi: 
fweet,  tender,  amorous  Sentiments  and 
expreflions. 

"  Oh  !  what  fweet  Communion,  fays 
Mr.  Whitefield^  had  I  daily  vouchfafed 
from  God  ?  —  I  cannot  tell  how  tenderly 
I  am  carried  by  our  Dea?-  Saviour  from 
day  to  day :  —  I  lean  on  Jefus's  kofom  from 
morning  to  night  3  yea,  all  the  daylong. — 
I  fweetly  leaned  on  my  Saviour  s  bojom^ 
zv\d.  fucked  out  of  the  breafls  of  his  Confo- 
lafion'\  And  how  wonderfully  Poetical 
and  morcing  is  that  Divine  imitation  of  fome 
earthly  rapturous  Lover  ?  *'  Early  in  the 
morning,  at  noon-day,  evening  and  mid- 
night, nay  all  the  day  long  did  the  Blefed 
Saviour  vifit  and  refrefh  my  heart.  Could 
the  trees  of  a  certain  wood  near  Stonehcufe 
fpeak^  they  would  tell  what  fweet  Commu- 
nion I  and  fome  more  Dar  Soids  en- 
joyed with  the  ever  Blefed  God  there. 

For  thefe  five  days,  fays  Mr.  Seward^  I 
have  kept  my  bed,  had  every  day  fweet 
•  7»  Communion  with  my  Dear  Lord  fefuSy 
'  who  filled  me  with  his  fulnefs.  — Went 
to  reft  in  the  arms  of  my  Lord  JefuSy — 
of  my  Jweet  Saviour ^  —  in  his  bofojn.  — 
Went  to  reft  full  of  a  Senfe  of  my  own 

Jiothingnejs^ 


(  55  ) 

nothirignefs,  and  fighing  for  the  prefence  of  Page  32. 
my  Dear  Lord  Jefus'\ 

This  bids  fair  for  coming  up  in  due  time 
to  his  Rival  Saints,     For  Chrift  appeared 
to  St.  Francis  and  his  Brethren  ;  and  giv- 
ing   them   his   Blejjing   they    felt  fuch    a  jpoj"  ^^l^' 
fweetnefs  as   quite   ravijhed  them.  —  He 
was  indeed  often  vifited,  and  recreated  by 
our  Lord  with    ineffable  fweetnefs  ;  —  had 
many   fuch    Viftations^    Illuftrations,    and 
Cherifnngs. — St^  Ig?iatius  receiving  a  vifit.  R^baden. 
from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  —  The  Fa-  P'^^^"*^* 
ther  turning  to  the  Son  recommends  to  his 
favour  Ignatius  and  his  Brethren  -,    which 
the    Son  promifeth  locking  Jweetly  and  a-  ^^i^'lJ^^' 
Pliably  upon  Ignatius, 

St.    Felix,    a   Francifcan,    burned   with 
fjch  an  exceffive  love  towards  the  Virgin 
Mary  and  Jefus,   that  not  able  to  bear  it, 
he  requefted    her  to  come   to  him,    and 
bring  her  Son.     She  did  fo  :  and  it  cannot 
be  expreffed   what   a    power   of  Heavenly 
Confolations  he  felt.—-  St.  Anthony  had  often  Ballngh. 
familiar   Converfations   with  God, —  recre- ^^^y  *8- 
ating  him  with  extraordinary  comforts,  and 
Divine  Vifitations. — The  little  Jefus  would 
come  fometimes  and    lit   upon   his  Booky 
fometimes  be  under  his  arms ;  whom  the  ^l  ^ 
holy  man  embraced   with    wonderful    De-  p.'  3^^"* 
votion'*.  394- 

^'  The   fefuit  Berman   for    a  relief  in  ^^^Z^'l 
all   his    complaints    takes    refuge    in   the  &  20. 

brcalt 


Idem 


(  56  ) 

breaft  and  bofom  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  For 
fhe  was  fometimes  plealcd  to  come  and 
give  her  Votaries  Suck,  Once  Ihe  brought 
her  Son,  and  put  him  into  bed  to  St. 
SfarJJIaus,  which  cured  him  of  his  ill- 
r>eis ;  comforting  and  recreating  her  Cli- 
ent, and  refrefhing  him   with   a  very   co- 

Aug.  14.  j)iciis  fuavity, — Nor  was  it  any  uncommon 
thing  for  her  to  bring  the  beloved  Child  to 
fome  of  her  precious  Saints^  to  be  dandled^ 
kijjed  and  e?nbraced  in  bed,  which  quite 
overcame  them  v/ith  joy:  as  it  did  St. 
Lticiay  who  had  him  with  her  for  three 
nights  together".  See  Brevinfs  Samuel 
and  Said,  Pag.  396.  For  it  was  not  ufual, 
or  fit,  to  deprive  the  Female  Devotees  of 
this  delightful  Communion.  Accordingly 
we  are  affured,  that  ''  once  Chrift  came, 
in  company  with  St.  Dominic^  to  vifit  Te- 
refa :  thrift  foon  withdrew,  and  bad  her 
recreate  herfelf  with  his  friend  Dominic -^ 

Ribaden.    -^j^q  flayed  with  her  two  hours,   took  her 

^  '^  '^'  by  the  hand,  and  fpoke  many  comfortable 
words  to  her.  —  J^l^^  indeed  was  her 
Spoufe-y — and  fhe  had  certain  enjoyments 
of  great  gufts  and  confolations, — and  cried 
out  to  him,  O  my  Lord,  and  my  Spoufe, 
'tis  now  time  for  us  to  fee  one  another ; 
and    fhe    fpoke  to  him  fuch   high,  f'iveefy 

Id.  p.8oz.  ^^2d  amorous  things,  &c." 

Such  is  the  language  and  effeB  of  fpiri- 
tual  love  among  Poptfh   Fanatics^   in    the 

very 


i  57  ) 

very  words  of  their  applauded  and  Licenfid 
JVritei-S',  enough  to  give  one  a  furfeit^ 
and  a  thorough  diflaile  of  their  Mdhodif- 
iical  imitators, 

§.23.  I  cannot  here  forbear  tranfcribing 
that  Seraphic  Rhapfody  of  Divine  Love  Pag.  19, 
from  Mr.  Wejleys  Third  Journal,  (  though 
I  am  not  certain  whether  he  is  defcribing 
his  own  cafe,  or  that  of  another  Saint) 
wherein  he  fo  pathetically  paints  out  the 
TKvyMiTiKrj.v^'^l-^jou  the  Sweet-hitter  of  love  y 
the  alternate  languifhments  and  exultations, 
the  finkings  and  nfings  of  the  animal. 
Spirits  3  the  fighings  and  fingings ;  the 
decent  and  elegant  mixture  of  a  facrcd 
and  profane  amour,  attended  with  a  rap- 
ture aiid  ecftacy,  and  every  Symptom,  wliich 
feizes  the  Adepts  in  this  Paiiion,  deeply 
fmitten  and  diflraftcd  Inamoratos,  either 
ipiritual,  or  fenfual. 

"  The  Love  of  God  was  flied  abroad  in 
my  heart,  and  a  flame  kindled  there,  with 
pains  fo  violent,  and  yet  Ho  very  ravif^in^, 
that   my   body    w^as   almoft  torn    afunder. 
I  lov'd.     The   Spirit  cried  ftrong   in  my 
heart.     I  fweated.     I  trembled.    I  fainted.      ■' 
I  fung.  —  My  Soul  v^as  got  up  into  the 
Holy  Mount.     I  had  no  thoughts  of  coming      • 
down   again     into    the    body.  —  Oh !    I      ^ 
thought  my  head  was  a  fountain  of  water. 
I  w^as  diffolved   in  Lov-e.     My  beloved  is 

I  mine. 


A 


( 58 ) 

mine,  and  I  am  his.  He  lias  ail  charms- 
He  has  raifed  my  heart.  —  He  is  now  in 
the  Garden,  feeding  among  the  LilHes. 
Oh  !  I  am  fick  of  Love'\  With  more  of 
this  ranting  flame. 

This  defcription  is  fo  ftrongly  expreffed, 
and  fo  many  particulars  contained  in  clofe 
concife  pericdsy  as  may  feem  incomparable. 
But  many  of  the  Symptoms  may  be  gather- 
ed from  the  account  of  St.  Catharine  of 
Sienna  under  the  fame  affedions.     "  Fler 
burning  Love  for  Chrijl^    her  moil  fweet 
Stou[e^  was  fo  intenfe,  exceffive,  and  Bi- 
^ine^  —  that  flie  was   ahnoft  always /'c;J, 
langiiijling,  faint ^.  and   in  a   manner  con- 
fumed  with  pure  love  and  aitecftion. —  She 
had  fo  great  ccnfolation  in  her  foul,    that 
flie   wondered  how  it  could  abide  in  her 
body.     And  the  fire  burning  in  her  breaft 
was  io  exceeding  great   and  violent,   that 
in  refpeft  of  it  material  f  re  feemed  cold  and 
frozen.     Once  this  fire  was  fo  intenfe,  that 
it  took  away  her  life  for  four  hours ;  in 
Ribrden     which  time  fhe   had  a  Vifion  of  Heaven^ 
Apr.  30.    HelU  and  Pu?^gatory'\ 

St.  Tere[a\  heart  was  inflamed  v/ith  fo 
great  a  love  of  Gody  fo  high  a  fire,  that 
flie  was  even  burnt  up,  and  ready  to  die 
out  of  defire  of  feeing  him^  and  after- 
wards fl^.e  had  thofe  torrents  and  inunda- 
tions of  love  with  more  force,  and  greater 
rapti  than  before",     Nay,  the  Authority 

of 


la.  oa 


(  59) 

of  the  Roman  Church  affures  us,  that  "  her 
heart  burn'd    with   fuch  a    fire  of  Divme 
Love,  that  ihe  defervedly  had  a  Vi/ion  of 
an  Angel  piercing  her  bowels  with  a  dart 
tip*d    with  fire ;  and  of  Chrijl  taking  her 
by  the  hand,  and  making  her  his  Spou(e  ; 
—  and  file  died  not  fo  much  by  the  force 
of  any  diftemper,  as  the  intolerabie  burning     Brcv. 
of  uWrnc   Love".-—  ''  St.  Gertrude  a72d ^^''^^'^: 
Chriji  vjtxt^  mutually  fmitten   with  the  ar- 
rows of  Love, —  and  ihc  died  of  this  amo-  ^^V'Yl^' 

^     ,,  '  -^  nail.  May 

rousjire  .  27. 

'*  'Tis  true  indeed,  as  the  Legendaries 
own,  that  St.  Catharine  was  flandered  as  a 
fond  and  light  ivoman  ;  and  Terefa  kept  ^i--^--^- 
fuch  bad  company^  that  mofc  perfons  con- 
cluded that  Cekjiial  vijions  were  not  com- 
patible with  her  kind  of  life'\  —  ^\M  all 
may  be  reconciled.  For  tfeefc  exceffes  of 
the  fpiritual  and  carnal  afFeclions  are  near- 
er ^//i^^  than  is  generally  thought^  a'rifing 
from  the  fame  irregular  emotions  of  the 
blood  and  animal  Spirits.  And  the  Pa- 
tient is  hurried  on  either  way  according  to 
the  nature  of  the  ObjeEi.  And  I  am  m.uch 
miftaken,  and  fo  is  Hiftory  too,  if  fome 
of  the  warmeft  and  niofl  Enthufiajtic  Pre-- 
tenders  to  the  Love  of  God  have  not  enter- 
tained the  fame  violence  of  Pafjion  (not 
quite  fo  Jpiritual)  for  jo7ne  of  their  neigh-' 
hours. 

I    2  §.  24. 


(  6o  ) 

v/  §-24.  Let  us  proceed  to  that  fnoft  pre-' 
Jtimptiicus  claim  to  Infpiration  \  to  Extra- 
cr dinar y  Revelaticns^  emanatiom^  direBions, 
fo^iocrs^  and  affifta?Kcs  of  the  Holy  Gkoji ; 
i?i  their  Preachi?ig  and  DoBrine,  iinpuljes 
and  impreJjiGns,  This  hath  always  been 
the  chief  and  moft  effe&ual  deceit^  wherc^ 
by  Enthiifiafts  have  impofed  upon  them- 
felves  and  followers.  They  jcel  fuch 
fallies  of  a  tumultuous  imagination,  fuch 
ftrong  emotions  within  ;  as  eafily  to  per- 
luade  thcmfelves  this  can  be  nothing  lefs 
than  the  ^wor kings  cf  the  Holy  Spirit  -,  and 
fome  Madme7i  have  carried  it  fo  far,  as  to 
think  they  were  the  "oery  Holy  Ghojl  them- 
felves. 

Nor  can  it  be  a  difficult  matter  to  fix 
a  perfuafion  of  this  nature  upon  their  eager 
and  credulous  Admirers^  who  have  neither 
judgment  nor  inclination  to  difprove  or  exa- 
mine \  but  are  violently,  though  voluntari- 
ly and  fweetly,  carried  away  by  their 
teacher's  good  words ^  and  fair  Jpeeches ; 
by  their  eloquent,  elevated,  affuming  and 
confident  difcourfes,  zealoufly  and  fervent- 
ly poured  out. 

Hence,  no  doubt,  they  talk  fo  confi- 
dently of  '*  fome  great,  unufual,  extraor- 
dinary and  wonderful  work,  which  God  is 
vGw^  even  now\  beginning  to  work  over  all 
the  earth,    whereof   they   are   to    be  the 

Inftru^. 


.(  6i   ) 

In[iriimentSy   the  trumpets  to   proclaim   it 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord'*, 

Mr.    JVhit (field ,    in    particular,     is    ever 
flying  upon   the   wings  of  lufpiratiofi^  and 
talking   iubhmely    in    the    Apofiolic   ^.V.  5 1^"/^^ 
"  I  experience  frelh  teachings,  and   com- 
munications  from   God's   Holy    Spirit^  — 
from  himfelf.  —  I  felt  the  Power  of  God 
come  upon    me,    and  I  fpoke   with   De- 
monftration  of  the  Spirit, — I  felt  the  Holy  Pag.  72, 
Ghoft  come   upon  me   at   that   time.  —  I 
fear  I  Ihould  quench  the  Spirit^  did  I   not  3  journ^ 
go  on  to  fpeak  as  He  gives  me  utter ance'\    p-  »7- 

The  fame  extraordinary  Infpiration  is 
poured  out,  or  rather  the  Holy  Spirit  de- 
fcends  upon  their  Followers,  Societies  and  Letters. 
Bands,  ^'  Such  as  had  Tublic  gifts  were 
fettled  as  Siiperiiztendants  over  the  reft.  — 
Heard  of  one,  favs  Mr.  Whitefield,  that 
received  the  Holy  Ghoft  immediately  upon 
my  Preaching. — A  moft  remarkable  out- ^^^J^^ 
pouring  of  the  Spirit  has  been  feen  in  this 
Afjmibly. — The  Power  of  God  was   in  an  5 1°^''"; 


pag.    4 


\ 


unufual  manner  prefent  at   the  meeting  of  weil 
the  Bands,  —  God  mightily  confirms    the  Jo^^rn-  P- 
words   I  fpeak,   by  the  Holy   Ghoft  given  ^^' 
unto  thofe  that  hear  them. — The  Power  of  P^g-  S^- 
the  Lord  came  upon  the  Congregation^   and  Whuf.  6 
the  Holy  Ghofi  overfhadowed  them".  ^,3"'"'  P* 

There  is  fomething  in  the  following 
Rotations ^  which  deferves  particular  no- 
tice.    "  The  Holy  GhgP"  feemed  to  come 

into 


(    62) 

^  Journ.   into  the  Congregation  like  a  mighty  riifbing 

P*  5^'      "wind"'.     Here  he  fpeaks  fomething  dubionf-- 

l\K     But  elfewhere  he  is  more  po/uive  and 

peremptory.     *^  The  Spirit  at  length  came 

down  like  a  7nighty  rujloi?ig  wind,  and  car- 

7  Journ,    ried    all  before   it.  —  In  my   Prayer   the 

F^S-57-     ^ower  of  God  came  do%vn,  and  gave  a  great 

JJ^Gch  —  Such  an  abiding  icniverfal ^jock   I 

never    knew   before.  —  In  the   afternoon 

again    the  ficck  was  very  great,  —  The 

place   was  almofl  rent  by  the  Power  and 

Letter;,     prcfence  of  God'\ 

Some  of  thefe  latter  Exprefllons  imply, 
that  the  Holy  Ghoff  dejcended  on  the  Me- 
thodifts  in  the  fame  manner  as  upon  the 
Apojtles  at  Pentecojt,  V/hich,  without 
much  better  proof  than  they  have  given  of 
their  Infpiration^  I  v/ill  by  no  means  un- 
dertake to  excufe  from  Blafphemy,  Other 
expreilions  imply  fom.e  ftrange  tum.ultuary 
fhaking  of  the  Fabric,  or  elfe  of  the  Preach- 
er  and  Hearers,  like  a  violent  Hurricane, 
And  yet  perhaps  after  all  the  fock  was 
only  in  the  Preacher's  own  brains. 

'Tis  hard  to  know  what  to  make  of 
thefe  Jlmks  and  Jl:aki?igs,  if  truly  repre- 
fcnted  by  the  Meihcdifis,  We  know  how- 
ever, that  fuch  focks  and  concufjlons  of 
Hoifes  have  been  reprefented  by  Heathen 
Authors^  as  indubitable y^;^^  of  {ovncjuper- 
natural  Tower  and  Prejence,   either   of  a 

Celeftial 


(  63  ) 

Celejlicil  or  Infernal  Diitj.     At   the   Pre- 
fence  of  PlutGy 

"Jam  mihl  cernuntur  irepidis  Delubra  movcri 
Sedibiis^  &  chrcim  difpergere  ciihnina  lucem^ 
Jdvenium  ieftata  Dei. 

Claud.  Rapt.  Proferpin.  lib.  I.  vcr.  7. 

At  the  Prefencey  or  by  the  efficiency  of 
Bacchus  y 

Tc5fa  repent}  qiiatu 

Cvid.  Metam.  lib.  IV.  ver.  402. 

At  confulting   the   Oracle  of  Apollo   at 
Delphos, 

Et  locus^  i^  Lanrus^  &  qua$  hahet  ilia,  pharet-ra 

Iniremuere  fmml — — 

Ibid.  lib.  XV.  ver.  634. 

In  a  Poetical  reprefentatlon  of  Apollo'^ 
coming  and  Infpiration, 

Oiov  0  T~  ''7roh?-^c-y.o?  Id^ccLjo  cTct^r/cTo?  c'prjj; 
oTct  cT  oKQv  TO  lAhct^^ov ; — 

Kxi  S'f]  irz  70'.  9/p?Tpit  }ia,KU>  'TTOtPl   ^oT^O-:  'Z^'1t7H. 

Callimach.  Hymn,  in  Apoll.  ver.  i, — • 

Vix  ea  fatus  erain^  trern're  omnia  vifa  repenie 
LimiJiaqiie  Laurufqiis  Dei,  iotufque  7noveri 
Mons  circum.'^ — 

Virgil,  ^neid.  IIL  ver.  90. 

You 


(   64  } 

You  fee  houfes,  temples,  dens,    moun- 
tains—  all  fliaking,    and    trembling   from 
their  foundation  3  in  atteflation    of  the  Pre- 
fence  of  their  Deities , 

After  fuch  accounts  given  by  the  Me- 
thodijisy  and  efpecially  when  confirmed  by 
PaganSy  it  would  be  fomething  like  a  Mi- 
racle ^  liPcpery  fhould  not  afibrd  a  ParalkL 
Accordingly  the  Writers  cf  St.  Ig7iatius^% 
Life  inform  us,  that  ''  while  the  Saint  was 
at  Prayers,  and  dedicating  himfelf  to  the 
Blejjed  Virgin  J  the  whole  Hoiife  trembled 
with  a  fuddcn  concuffion  ;  but  mod:  of  all 
Ignatius^  own  Chamber ^  the  windows  be- 
ing broke,  and  many  chinks  open'd,  — ^ 
Rut.  Vit.  and  that  this  was  generally  believed  to  pro- 
J^^natii,     ^gg^  fj-Q^  ^}^g  ^^gg  of  ^he  Dra//' — And  in 

cap.  9.      another  place  he  relates  a  ftory  of  the  fame 
Lib. 5.C.    nature,  and  afcribes  it  to  the  fame  canje, 

Ribadeneira,  in  the  Li-ves  of  the  Saint s^ 
Pag  518,  relates  the  fame  jlory  of  Ignatius ,  but  with- 
out mentioning  what  might  be  the  caufe. 
But  in  his  Life  of  St,  Anthofiy  he  tells  us, 
that  ''  the  Devil  threatning  to  fall  upon  this 
Saint  with  great  fury,  at  his  voice  all  the 
room  was  (Imken,  the  walls  cpend,  and 
many  Devils  ruflied  in". 

As  to  Papiflical  pretenfions  in  generd  to 
Infpiration,  they  are  without  number  or 
end.  There  is  fcarce  any  part  of  their  Re- 
ligious  (i.  e.  Irreligicus)  Worfnip^  and  DgC" 

trine  ; 


(  65  ) 

trine 'y  fcarce  a  Monaftry,  Nunnery,  Order 
or  Society  ;  fcarce  a  petty  faintUng  of  their 
Com77mnion^  —  that  was  not  taught^  and  In- 
fpired  by  the  Holy  Ghojt. 

"  St.  Francis  was  not  only  Infpir'd  him-  Conform: 
felf  in  Teaching,  but  all  the  Rules  of  his'°^^-^^°- 
Order  were  didated  by  Heaven,     He  v/as  a 
mofl  wonderful  Preacher ,  by  virtue  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft.~M\  heard  the  Voice  oi  Chrift 
in  the  air,  faying,  '  Francis,  there  is  no- 
thing of  your  own  in  your  Thile,  but  all  is 
7nine\     St.  ^Paid  propheffd  of  it,  and  un-  FoL  no: 
derftood  his  ov/n  words    as  belonging  ,to 
this  Rule  of  St.  Francis,  '  Whoever  walketh  ibid,  fo!* 
according  to  this  Ride,  peace  he  o?i  them.'- —  ^^7* 

Which  paflage  being  the  very  fame  that 
'  Mr.  Wefley  open'd  upon,  when  he  confult- 
ed  the  Oracle  by  lot,  and  begged  an  anfwer  3  Jo«^n» 
of  peace',  may  perhaps  afford  him  no  fmallP^^^"^* 
comfort  5  as  having,  the  fame  honour  with 
St.  Francis,  and  his  Ride  equally  eO-ablifli 
ed.    St.  Ig7iatius  was  carried  on  by  a  ftrong 
hifpiration,  and  guidance  of  the  Holy  Ghojly 
which  fpoke  thfougli  him.    And  his  Spiri- 
tual Exercifes  had  the  famxC  Sandtion.  Fcpe 
Paid  III,  indeed  (fays  Dr.  Geddes)  fyfdk^ 
modeftly  of  Igjiatius  and  his   Companions,  Trads, 
Spiritu  'SanBo,  ut  creditur,  aflati,  hifpir'd,  v^^-  3; 
as  is  believed,  by  the  Holy  Spirit.     But  Ju- 
lius  III.   leaves   out,    as   is   believ'd,    and- 
roundly  pronounceth   they   were   Infpir^d. 
And   Gregory  XIII.   iliith   exprefsly,    that 
K  Ignatius 


(  66  ) 

Ignatius  was  Lifpir'd  in  modelling  the  So- 
ciety of  the  Jefnits'\    So  that  it  fcems  there 
are  degrees  of  Infallibility^  fome  Popes  being 
more  hifallible  than  others. 
De  Rem.       Bellarmin  affirms,  that  the  Orders  of  Be- 
^°^p.  18.   nedidi^  Romualdus^  Bruno ^  Dominic^  Fran* 
cis^  "were  from  the  Holy  Ghoft.  —  Pope  Hil* 
debrand  adually  faw  Chritl  himfelf  fitting 
Brev.  Mo-   by  St.  Hugo  iu  Chapter  J  approving  all  his 
naftic.  May  jj^^^^^g  ^^^^   a   jiod,    and   fuggefting   the 
Rules    of  the    Prcetnonjiratenfians  brought 
from  Heaven  by  St.  Auftin.     It  were  eafy 
to  produce  a  hundred  Inftances.    But  what 
need  we  more,  when  Popes^  and  the  Church 
ofRo77ie  have  affur'd  us  of  thefe  } 

§.25.  The  claim  oi  Extraordinary  Af- 
fiftancey   and  Tower  from  above y  ftands  fo 
much  upon  the  fame  footing,  and  is  fo  fre- 
quent in  the  Methodiji's  Mouths,    that  I 
fhall  mention  but  a  few  Inftances. 

"  I  felt  more  and  more  of  the  Divine 
Affiftance  to  Day,  fays  Mr.  Whitefield :  — 
The  Lord  endowed  me  with  Power  from 
on  high. — In  the  midft  of  my  Difcourfe  the 
Power  of  the  Lord  Jefus  came  upon  me.— 
5  Journal*  God  cnablcd  me  to  fpeak  with  fuch  irre^ 
440?'  ^°'  fiftible  Power y  that  the  Oppofers  were  quiet 
ftruck  dumb,  and  confounded''. — And  af- 

3  Journal,   tcrwards  he  makes  this  infolent  demand  on 
p.  24,  114.  ii^^<^Qj^^ 

Pad 


(  67  ) 

Paft  is  thy  word :   I  here  demand y 
And  confident  expedl  thy  aid. 

A  confidence  and  imperioufiiefs  fufficient  3 
a  Parallel  to  which  I  do  not  remember 
among  Fopip  Saints, 

§.26.  Upon  fpecial  Diredlwts^  MiJJiom 
and  Calk,  by  immediate  Revelation^  I  fliall 
dwell  a  little  longer. 

"  I  ajjuredly  felt —  I  knev)  it  was  "Jefiis  wiiitef. 
Chri-ll  that  reveatd  himfelf  unto  my  Soul,  i  dealing. 
—  I  Iznow^  and  am  ajjur'd  that  God  fent  ^gfley's 
forth  his  light  and  his  truth.  —  It  was  re-  iiijourn. 
'veal'd  to  me  that  nothing  griev'd  Satan  fo  P^S-  34- 
much  as  the  private  Societies, — Our  glo- 
rious Soid-brother  had  it  reveal d  to  hirn 
thefe  two  years,     that  fome  fiich  as  him  Letters, 
would  be  fent  into  thefe  parts''. 
More  particularly  as  to  MiJJions  and  Calls, 

"  Bleffed  be  God,   fays  Mr.  TVhiteJield, 
he  fhews  we  are  Teachers  fent  by  him. 
For  [modeftly  comparing  themfelves  with 
Chrijil  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^f^  "Things,  except  3  journal, 
God  were  with  him, — I  told  the  People  God  P^g^  38. 
call'd  me,  and  I  mull  away. — Intended  to 
preach  at  Fort'Sif?2ons,  —  but,,  Lord,  thou 
called'ft  me  elfe where. — God  fhewed  me 
and  my  Friends,  that  it  was  his  Will  that  I 
fhould  return  for  a  while  to  England. — To  2  Journal, 
preach  the  Gofpel  at  Frederica  alfo  >    for  P^^'^'''^' 
K  2  therefore 


(  68  ) 

1  Journal,  therefore  am  I  fent. — The  Eternal  Ahnighty 
psg^S-      I  AM  hath  fent  me". 

See  now  how  clofely  they  have  copied 
Ribaden,    their  great  exemplars,     "  St.  Igjiatius^  and 
P^g-529-  his  Companipns,  Vv^ent  to  Ro7ne^    whether 
God  called  him  to  fettle  his  new  Order  and 
Society. — St.  Peter  and  St.  Taid  bring,  one 
a  Staff]  the  other  a  Book^   to  St.  Dominic^ 
faying,    begin  thy  journey ;    go,    exercife 
the  Office   which   God  hath  given   thee ; 
preach  the  GofpeL — -His  friends  perfuading 
.  ,..      him  to  ftay,  St.  IDominic  full  of  the  Holy 
Ribaden,    Gho/l  anfwer'd, — Let  no  body  go  about  to 
pag.  595-  flay   me.     God  co-mmands^    and  his   orders 
muft  be  obey'd.     St.  Francis  returned  from 
the  Infideh^  whom  he  was  unable  to  con- 
vert, warn'd  by  2,  Divijie  P^ei: elation,  —  A 
tur.  Vit.    venerable  Brother  and  St.  Clare^  having  con- 
Franc,       fultcd  the  Will  of  God^  are  agreed  by  the 
C2P-9'  ^--  Revelation  of  the  Spirit,  that  the  Holy' man 
fliould  go  forth  to  preach  the  Gofpel", 

Some  fpecial  UireBions  are   as  follows, 

''  Truftcd  to  God,  fays  Mr.  WhiteficJd,  to 

direft  me  to  a  'Text ;— and  God  flievv'd  me 

tiag.46.'    what  I  fliould  do.  —  The  hord  gave  me  a 

7  jouiii.     Text,  and  dire^cd  me  to  a  Method, — I  have 

pag-  ^^'-    \^^i^x\   direBcd   in    this   manner,    (  reading 

Scripture  on  the  knee)  even,  in  the  minutefi: 

circumftanccs,  as  plainly  as  the  Jews  were 

!iL^l^rli.  ^^y  ^^'''l^^^  and  Thummi'nu — The   directions^ 

lays  Mr.  Wefiey,  I  received  from  God  this 

day. 


iTig:.  b«JC;l. 


(  69  ) 

day,    touching  an   affliir    of    the  greateft  ^  Journal, 
importance''. 

Let  me  mention  a  few  Dh^eBions  com- 
ing by  way  of  Command^  and  I  affure  you  of 
no  fmall  importance.     "  I  am  going  to  the 
Houfe  of  a  wealthy  Goitleman^  fays  Mr.  journal, 
Wbitejield^  whom  God  has  commanded  to  re-  P-  29*  32. 
ceive  me.  —  How  does  he   every  where 
command  fome   or   other   to   receive   me  ? 
—  Indeed  Mr.  Seward  affirms,    that  the  Journal, 
Lord  commandeth  Perfons  every  where  toP^S^*^* 
provide   for   us.  —  Mr.   Wejley^  not  to  be 
left  unprovided  for,    "  came  to  Mr.  De- 
lamotte's^  —  where  I   expedled   a  cool   re- 
ception.    But  God  had  prepar'd  the  way 
before  me  —  I   was   welcomed  in  fuch  a  2  Journ. 
manner — '*.  P^2- 7- 

Nor  is  this  cafe  without  a  proper  Prece- 
dent.  For  we  read,  that  '  An  Honourable 
Matron  was  commanded  by  an  interior  Voice 
to  reverence  St.  Ignatius^  and  provide  him 
with  a  Ship. — And  Hkewife  a  Noble  Senator  ^  ,    ,. 

-     .      f  TO-  1  •  Orlandin. 

at  yenice  heard  a  yoice  —  directing  him  to  Hift.  je- 
entertain  the  Saint  hofpitably  at  his  houfe'\  Tuit.  lib.  ^i 
In  what   manner   the  Entertainers  are"'^^*^^' 
convinced,  and  whether  they  are  convinc'd, 
of  this   Divine   Command^    I   cannot   fay. 
But  I  perceive  it  is  convenient  for  the  Itine- 
rants to  give  it  out  that  it  is  Goi^  Tleafure 
and  Command,     Otherwife  they  would  not 
order   what  they   want  at  a  Public-hotife^ 
and  then  tell  the  Landlord^  that  he  will  be 

damn'd 


(70) 

damrid  if  he  takes  any  thing  of  them.     This 
{hall  be  prov'd,  if  required. 

As    I    have   mentioned    internal  Voices^ 
perhaps  the  feveral  Impiilfes  and  hnprejjions 
of  the  Methodijis  may  be  of  this  Nature. 
4  Journal,  But  that  inftauce  of  *'  an  old  hardened  Sin- 
P^g-S--    ner  (given  by  Mr.  Wejley)  feems  rather  of 
the  external  kind.     ''  The  Saviour  of  Sin- 
7iers  has  faved  me.     He  told  me  fo  on  Sun- 
day morning.     And  he  faid,  I  fliould  not 
die  till  I  had  heard  his  Children  preach  his 
2  journal,  GofpeL — And  that  of  "  the  Moravian^  who 
pas^  7  '•    deilring  God  to  fliev^  him  whether  he  flhould 
leave  his  Wife  and  Children,  immediately 
hears  a  loud  Voice  faying,  Fort^  Forty  Forty 
Go  on^  go  071  \ 

We  can  77Jatch  thefe  inftances  too  from 

Popip  Fanatics,      '*  Brother   Buftamantiiis 

was  admonifhed  by  a  vehement  Lnpuljey 

and   interior   Voice y    to    go   to   Gutpufciia, 

This  Voice  of  God  was  fo  efficacious  and 

vehement  in  his  ears,  that  inftantly  he  left 

obnd.     his  Houfe  and  Bufinefs.  —  G(?;72;^^^  hears  a 

peg.  394.  clear  and  manifeft  Voice  from  Gody  direding 

B'ilingh.    him  into  the  Society  of  the  fejidts,—K  boy, 

Aug-  13-  about  twelve  years  old,  hears  conflant  in- 

ward  Voices  calling  him  to  PerfeBiony  and 

Orlandin.  the  Society. — God^  fpeaking  inter7ially  to  the 

vol.  2.      heart    of    St.   AlcxiiiSy    told   hirn   that   he 

Kibad/r/*  ^*^^il^  i^ot  touch  his  Spoufcy  but  leave  her. 

pag.  484,  —  And  he  left  his  wife  the  very  firft  day 

-._  ^  -      -  of 


(  71  ) 

of  marriage,    by  the  peculiar  warning  ^/^^ 
God,  Jul.  17, 

One  may  here  be  allowM  to  ajfk  what 
fort  of  Voice  that  was,  which  direBed  the 
Methodifl-preacher  at  Salijhury  to '  debauch 
oncy  at  leaft,  of  his  Congregation,  to  run 
away  with  her,  and  leave  his  own  Wife. 
And  in  general,  with  refped  to  Extraordi- 
7iary  influences  of  the  Spirit^  and  pretences 
to  hifpiration  5  whether  Mr.  Wefley  might 
not  as  well  have  been  warned,  as  offended 
by  his  friends  the  Moravians,  "  for  talking  4  Journal, 
much  againft  mixing  72ature  with  Grace,  P^§*  '°^' 
againft  imagination,  and  concerning  the 
Animal  Spirits  mimicking  the  Pov/er  of  the 
Holy  Ghoji. 

§.27.  Should  the  preceeding  Gifts  of 
Infpiration ,  Revelation ,  and  Dire5lions 
fail  ;  they  have  another  way  of  know- 
ing the  Divine  will,  which  is  by  cafl- 
ing  Lots-,  and  particularly  by  openiiig  the 
Bible,  where  the  firji  paffage  that  offers  it- 
felf  to  the  Eye  is  to  be  their  Rule. 

The  Methodifls  probably  learned  this  Be- 
termination  by  Lot  of  the  Moravians  5 
who,  fays  Mr.  Wefley,  "  have  a  peculiar 
efteem  for  Lots  to  decide  points  of  im-  2  Joumalp 
portance  -,- — as  the  only  way  of  fetting  afide  P-  ^'• 
their  own  will,  and  clearly  knowing  what 
hih^willofGod\ 

Sometimes 


(72)        ■ 

Sometimes  Lots  in  general  are  fpoken,  of 

without  2Siy  Jpecification  of  what /or/,  or  in 

5  Journal,  what  manner,     *'  What  we  were  in  doubt 

pag-  5-      about,  after  prayer,  we  determined  by  Lot^ 

fays  Mr.  Whitejield,  —  I  am  come  to  know 

2  Journal,  affuredly,    fays    Mr.    Wejley^    that    where 

P-  7'  ^*     Reafon  failsy  God  will  diredl  our  Paths,  by 

Lof\ 

Reafon  certainly  may  fail  them  ;  nor  do 
I  think  they  can  be  ajjured  of  God'^  Direc- 
tion by  Lot :  but  may  be  under  the  fame 
perplexity  with  their  Relation  St.  Ignatius  ^ 
who  being  on  his  Adventures^  and  *^  com- 
ing to  a  place  where  two  ways  met,  flood 
doubting  whether  he  fhould  follow  a  Moor 
that  had  blafphem'd  the  Virgin  Mary^  and 
Jtab  liim ;  or  elfe  take  the  other  way  to- 
Orlandin.  wards  Montferrat.     In  this  great  perplexity 
lib.  I.  n".  he  took  counfel,  Vv^hich  the  fimplicity  of  a 
Maff.  Vit.  P^^^^  ^^^^"^  '^oxx^  could  excufe  ;    namely, 
jgn.iib.  I.  to  lay  the  bridle  loofe  on  his  Mide^  and  let 
«3p-3-       him  go  which  way  he  would''. 

But  opening  the  Bible  for  direftion 
feems  to  be  their  general  way.  Thus  Mr. 
Wejley  under  feme  doubt,  *'  I  deiir'd  my 
Majtcr  to  anfwer  for  me,  and  open'd  his 
2  Journal,  Book. — when  tempted  by  Satan^  '  All  thefe 
P-  3i>  33-  days  I  fcarce  remember  to  have  open'd  the 
Tejlamcnt,  but  upon  fome  great  and  pre- 
cious promiife.  —  In  great  perplexity,  about 
being  weak  in  the  Faith  ;  —  and  in  trouble 
and  doubt  concerning  his  own  State,  and 

whether 


{  73  ) 

whether  he  fhould  wait  mfilejice  and  retire- 
ment, the  Oracle  oiGod  is  confulted  twice.  3  journii. 
' — Under  great  concern  for  thofe  who  were  ^'  ^'  ^""^ 
driven  about  with  [ira?2ge  DoBrines^  I  be-  4  Journal, 
feeched  God  to  fhew  me  where  this  would  ^^^'  ^°' 
end.  — Whether  he  fhoald  take  a  Journey 
to  Brlfiol^  and  what  would  be  the  Con- 
fequence  ;  defiring  not  to  be  accounted  Su- 
perjiit ions' \  3  Joui-n. 

'  The  Moravians  caft  Lots,  whether  one,  ^^^'  ^^' 
over    whom   Satan   had    almoft    orot   the 
maftery,  fhould  be  admitted  to  the  Lord's  2  Journal, 
Table-,  are  direded  to  admit  him'\  P'S-  ^9» 

This  Method  of  being  directed  by  Lot^ 
hath  been  much  in  vosiue  in  feveral  A^es, 
and  parts  or  the  World  -,  making  no  fmall 
fhare  of  their  Siiperjtition,  The  Heathens 
had  various  ways  of  doing  it :  —  as  by 
jumbling  together  loofe  Letters,  or  Wordsj 
in  an  Urn,  and  making  what  Senfe  they 
could  of  fuch  as  were  taken  out  by  chance; 
—  by  dipping  into  fome  Book  of  high 
efleem,  as  Homer,  or  Virgil,  and  then  ap- 
plying to  their  purpofe  the  firfl  paffage  that 
offered  itfelf,  Gfc, 

Reland  tells  us,  that  among  the  Mahome-  Rel.  Mo- 
tans,  the  Alcoran  is  fo  confulted  by  way  ^^"^^^^^5, 
oi  Lot, — ^And  the  fame  Cuflom  crept  in     ^'^^^' 
among  the  Chriftians,  and  efpecially  in  the 
worfl  Ages,  about  the  i  ith  and  12th  Ceji- 
furies,  by  dipping  in  the  Bible,  which  was 
called  the  Saint  Lots.    Hence,  '^St,  Francis^, 

L  after 


(  74  ) 

after  betaking  himfelf  to  Trayer,  was  in- 

Ipired  by  the  Oracle  of  God,   to  open  the 

Gofpel  y  which  being  opened  three  times, 

always  lighted   on  the  TaJJion  of  Chrift  y 

whereby  the  Saint  was  prepared  (as  by  a 

Bonavent.  prophetic  Wanting)  to  receive  xh^fve  marks 

cap.! 3.     qJ-  Jefus,    exadlly  anfwering   thofe  of  his 

F0LT72.    Ma/ter^  by  the  hand  of  an  ^/^^r/". — 

So  again,  The  f^vnt precious  Saint ^  **  be- 
ing refolved  upon  taking  up  the  Rule  of  £- 
*va?igelical  Perfection  in  conjundlion  with 
Friar  Barnard,  goes  to  Prayers,  and  thrice 
opening  the  Gofpel  was  confirmed  in  his  pur- 
Bonavent.  pofe,  by  luckily  hitting  on  thefe  theje  three 
cap.  3-      parages, — If  thou  wilt  be  perfeB,  go  and  fell 
fX T-tT.    ^^^ — ^^^^  7iothing  with  you  on  the  way  : — If 
anyman  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himfelf. 
St.  Francis,  you  fee,  managed  the  matter 
fo   well,    that  he   opened   upon   I^exts  of 
Scripture  much  more  to  his  purpofe'than 
any  of  our  Methodifts  have  done. 

This  pradlife  has   generally   been    con- 
demned by  grave  Authors  and  Councils,  as 
juperjtitious  and  unwarrantable:  And  if  the 
^    Methodifts  will  pretend  to  juftify  themfelves 
from  the  Example  oi  Matthias,  (the  only 
inftance  in  the  ISew  Teftament^   and  that 
divinely   direded )    they    only    incur    that 
almoft  conftant  Prefumption  of  fetting  them- 
^'- 115-4-   felves  upon  an  equality  with  the  Apojtles,  &c.. 
Let  me  here  add  the  Obfervation  of  Mr. 
Church,  in   his   Farther   Remarks    on   Mr. 
y,  Wefley.  "  The  Refledions  of  your  friend 

Mr. 


(  75  ) 

Mr.  Whitefield  on  this  occafion  were  worth 
your  obferving.  Having  mentioxned  your 
drawing  a  Lot  about  preaching  on  free 
Grace^  and  receiving  the  Anfwer  Preach 
and  Prints  he  adds,  '  I  have  often  quef- 
tioned,  as  I  now  do,  whether  in  fo  doing 
you  did  not  ws^  tempt  the  Lord,  A  due  ex- 
ercife  of  Religious  Prudence^  without  a  Lot, 
would  have  directed  you  in  that  Matter'. 
Afterwards  he  mentions  your  drawing  ano- 
ther Lot^  about  his  returning  to  London  5 
which  in  a  Letter  to  him  you  after v/ards 
fuppofed  might  have  been  a  wrong  one. 
This  therefore  he  rightly  calls  an  i?naginary 
Warrant  >  and  well  obferves,  that  the 
wrong  Lot  was  juftly  given  you,  becauje 
you  tempted  God  in  drawing  onj'\ 

A  movQ  judicious  Sentiment  perhaps  never 
idropt  from  Mr.  Whitefield's  pen :  and  yet 
he  may  be  taxed  with  an  inconfiftency  in 
thus  declaring  againft  what  had  been  his 
■own  praBife,  Had  thefe  two  Lots  turn'd 
out  agreeably  to  his  own  Dodlrine  and  in- 
tentions^ they  might  have  been  allow'd  to 
come  from  God.  But  as  they  were  for 
Jree  Qrace  (not  fuiting  with  his  Calva-- 
nijti^al  notions)  and  for  taking  a  journey 
he  did  not  like  ;  they  are  become  of  no 
Authority  with  him.  Which  puts  me  \\\ 
mind  of  the  condufl:  of  Pope  Honorius  to- 
wards St.  Fraficis,  **  The  Saint  had  ob- 
;ain'd  a  grant  Jro?n  Chrijt^  that  whoever  at 
L  2  any 


(  76  ) 

any  time  ihould  enter  his  Chapel^  fhould 
have  the  Benefit  of  Plenary  lndulge?7ce  ;  or- 
dering him  however  to  go  to  his  Vicar  the 
Pope  for  his  Corjirmation, 

The  Holy  Father  allows  the  order  of  Chrift 
in  the  cafe,  but  thinks  the  Grant  is  too 
large ;  and  accordingly  confirms  indeed  the 
Plenary  and  free  Indulgence^  but  curtails  the 
'  time,  and  confines  it  to  one  fjigle  Day  in  a 
year,  and  no  more."  A  ftrange  inflance 
either  of  the  Pcpe'^  inconfftency ^  or  of 
fetting  himfelf  above  our  Lord, 

You  have  the  Account  in  one  of  the 
Le[jons  in  their  Eftablifjed  Liturgy,  Brev, 
Rom.  Francifc.  Aug.  2.  and  more  fully 
in  the  Book  of  Conformities ,  fol.  197. 

§.  28.  Though  I  had  fome  Reafons  for 

referring  to  another  place   their  Exftacies 

and    Raptures,    Apparitions     and     Vifons 

(reprefentations  to   the  imagination  either 

in  Sleep,  or  in  a  'Trance  \)  yet,  as  thefe  have 

fome  pretenfion  to  a   Divine  direction,    \ 

ihall  fay  fomething  of  them  here, 

r^Deal-       IVhitefield,    "  God  fill'd  me  with  fuch 

■Z^'V-^^-  icnfpeakable  raptures,    particularly  once  in 

St.  Johis  Churchy  that  I  was  carried  out 

beyond  myfelf. 

loarnal,         Se^ucard.     '  I    was    fo    fill'd    with    the 

Spirit, — that  I  was  carried  beyond  myfelfj 

and 


_( 11 ) 

and  had  fuch  things  Revealed  to  me  as  I 
never  had  before. 

Wefley,     '  My   Soul  was   got  up   into  3  journal, 
the  Holy  Mount.     I   had   no  thoughts  of  P-  »9- 
coming  down  again  into  the  body.     "  The 
Lord  reveal' dhimMi  to  her  (a  girl  of  about 
feven  years  old)  in  an  amafing  manner : 
and  for  fome  Hours  (he  was  fo  wrapt  up  in 
his  Spirit^    that  we  knew  not  where  fhe    -x 
was,  —  finking  to  Jiotbing  in  the  difcovery 
of  his  Majejty  and  Glory,  —  Many   fuch 
inftances  of  the  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  we  Letters, 
have  among  us'\ 

Tales  of  this  nature  are  fo  numerous 
among  the  Popi/lo  Saints,  efpecially  the 
Female,  that  fome  of  their  Lives  confifl 
of  little  elfe. 

Mary  of  Agreda  was  not  a  year  old,  be- 
fore fhe  had   fuch  Raptures  that  flie  funk 
down  to  the  Centre  of  her  own  nothiiignefs.  Lire. 
-—Magdalen   of  Pazzi's   Life   was   almoft 
one  continued  Ecftacy. — And  St.  Gertrude,  Breviar. 
who   confecrated   her    Virginity   to  Chriji  \^''^{^^'..^, 
wdien  only  five  years  old,  was  illuminated 
by  7na?2y  Revelations  and  Vifions, 

St.  Alcantara  at  fix  years  of  age  was  fo  ^^rcv, 
contemplative,     that    frequently    he     was  ^°"'- 
wholly   abjorpt    in   God,    a7id  carried  into  ^^^  *^' 
Raptures. — He  caufed  his  Followers  to  be 
in  an  Ecjlacy  at  the  Sacrament, —  and  often 
enjoyed  the  Prefence  of  ChriJl,  the  Virgin 
Mary,   and  St,  Francis^  &c.  ""      oa.  2-> 

§.29. 


(  78  ) 

j.   29.    If  you   want   any  thing    more 
particularly    concerning    Apparitioits    and 
Vi/ims',   the   laft  mentioned  Saint,   "  Al- 
cantara^   was  conduced  by  the  admirable 
oa.  25.     Apparition  of  a  new  Star,  when  he  was 
1  Dealing,  going  to  cojnfort  St.  Terefa''.     Something, 
P2g-  49-     yQ^  j^^y  fuppofe,  hke  that  of  Mr.  V/hite- 
journ.      fields  "  After  a  long  night  of  defer tion,  the 
pag-  47*    Star,    which  I    had    feen    at   a    diftance 
before,  began  to  appear  again''.     And  Mr. 
Seward  may  be  deemed   fuch  a  Vifionary^ 
when  "   though   fo   weak,    fo  mean,    fo 
vile,    fo  nothing  an  Inftrument,    yet  fur- 
rounding  the  Throne  of  his  Dear  fejus^ 
he   thought   he  faw    his   Siflers  as  bright 
Seraphims  in  the  manfions  of  blifs^ — -with 
a  refulgent  Splendor  above  the  reft  of  the 
Heavenly  Hoji'\ 
Conform.       Juft  ^s  a  Francifcau  Fryar  was  feen  by 
l^ol.  84.     ^  Brother  fhining  in  glory  and  brightness 
with   St.  Francis  among  Choirs  of  Angels  : 
Life,  No.   —  Or,  as  Magdalen  of  Pazzi  faw  a  Nun^ 
V-'  ^^»     and    other   Souls,   which  flie  had  gained, 
^'  raifed  upon  a  Throne  oj  Glory.     We  have 

^'^''*  again  infallible  proof,  that  *'  Alcaiitara 
oa  2"  "^^^  invited  to  the  Heavenly  Marriage  by 
all  the  Holy  Trinity,  appearing  to  him  in 
the  utmoft  clearnefs  and  brightnefs  ^ —  and 
ht  died  at  the  very  horn  foretold' \  And 
we  find  in  moft  of  their  Legends,  that 
fcarce  a  Saint  died  without  previous    no- 

tkc 


(  79  ) 

fice  from  above ;  the  Mejfenger  too  com- 
monly difFufing  a  light  over  all  the  room. 
Which  may  help  to  give  fome  Credit  to 
that  relation  of  Mr.  Wejley  concerning  Vet, 
Wright.     ''  In  bed,    but  broad  awake,  I  i  journ. 
heard  one    calling   aloud,    Feter  I    Peter  P^S-  ^S- 
Wright !  And  looking  up,  the  room  v^as 
as  bright  as  day.     And  I  faw  a  man  in 
bright  cloaths,  v^ho  faid,   '  Prepare  your- 
felf,   your  end  is   nigh'.  —  He  recovered 
from  the  illnefs  -,  but  died  Vv^ithin  a  month''. 
As  to  the  Authority  which  fuch  fort  of 
Revelations  carry,    Mr.    Wejley   fays   this  5 
"  God  does  now  give  remijjion  of  Sins^  and 
the  Gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  3    and  often  ^  ^^^^.^ 
in  dreams  and  vifons  of  God'\     But  after- Pag.  49. 
wards  he  fpeaks    more  dijtruji fully :    "I 
told  them  they  were  not  to  judge  of  the 
Spirit  —  by  any  dreams^  vifons^  or  revela^ 
tions ; — v^hich  were  of  a  doubtful  and  dif- 
putable  nature, — might  be  from  Gody  and  ji,.  p.  r.^ 
might  7iof\ 

This  might  be  a  caution  to  themfelves 
never  to  be  over  confident.  For  my  own 
part,  I  will  not  deny  that  fuch  DireBions 
may  fometimes  come  from  God:  but  am 
perfuaded  that  moft  of  our  late  ones  are 
the  effect  of  imagiiiation  or  dijtemper^,  and 
fome  of  them  mere  counterfeits  and  impojiures. 
Many,  I  know,  even  of  Popiflj  Enthiifiajls^ 
have  fufpeded  worj\\  and  alcribed  them  to 

Diabolical 


(    8o  ) 

biabclical    delujiom.      Bat    more    of   this 
hereafter. 

§.  30.  Our  Methodifts  talk  much  of 
"  the  great  work^  which  God  is  ?2ow  be- 
ginning to  work  over  all  the  earth.  If 
you  had  been  told,  fays  Mr.  IVeJley,  that 
t  Appeal,  the  jeakus  God  woiild  foon  arife,  that  he 
§.  98,  99.  would  pour  dovvn  his  Spirit  from  on  highy 
and  re?2ew  the  face  of  the  earthy — would 
you  not  defire  to  fee  that  day  ? — Behold, 
the  day  of  the  Lord  is  come :  he  is  again 
vifiting  and  redeeming  his  people.  — •  At 
this  very  hour  the  Lord  is  rolling  away  our 
reproach". 

Parted    with   full   conviclion,    fays   Mr, 
,  Journal,  J'^hitcfeld,  that  God  was  going  to  do  great 
pag.  6.^  *  things  among  us.  —  Oh  !  that  we  may  be 
any  way  injlrumental  F' 

I  am  far  from  queftioning  the  truth  of 
that  happy  State  to  come,  having  fuch 
ftrong  Authority  from  the  [acred  Writings. 
But  it  may  be  asked,  how  they  hiow  this 
prefent  time  to  be  the  day  of  that  great 
work  ;  whether  from  Infpiration,  or  inter^ 
pretation  of  Trophetic  Scripture  :  —  and 
they  may  be  reminded,  that  diverfe  warm 
and  Enthufiafiic  heads,  as  Madam  Boiirig- 
nouy  the  French  Prophets,  &c.  have  all 
fet  out  upon  this  pretence,  have  pronounc- 
ed it  to  be  coming  in  their  own  days,  and 

tkemjelves 


(  Si  ) 

themfehes    to    be    the    happy    Inflriwients. 
And  how  have  they  been  deceived  ? 

About  the  middle  of  the  1 3/i  Century 
was  publKhed  a  Book  by  the  Mendicant 
Fryers^  called,  the  Eternal  Gojpel^  or  Gof- 
pel  of  the  Spirit 'y  afferting,  that  the  Reign 
of  the  Spirit  was  to  commence  within  fix 
years.  The  Book  was  full  of  many  wicked 
and  blafphemous  fancies,  which  I  lay  not  to 
the  charge  of  the  Methodifls :  but  leave 
them  at  liberty  to  ruminate  upon  the  Cha- 
raBer  given  of  them  many  years  ago  by 
Mr.  Howely  which  they  may  fee  in  the 
Title-fia^e, 

§31.  I  fliall  now  relieve  myfelf  and 
reader ;  referving  what  remains  for  a  fe- 
cond  Part,  I  have  already  made  fome 
exciife  for  quoting  and  comparing  feveral 
little  2inA  trifling  things,  in  themfelves  too 
light  to  deferve  our  attention ;  and  am 
afraid,  that  in  the  Sequel,  a  frefli  Apology 
will  be  requifite  -,  as  I  fliall  be  obliged  to 
relate  fome  things  too  horrid  and  flocking 
to  the  mind. 

It  will  however,  I  perfuade  myfelf,  ap- 
pear,— that  this  new  difpcnfation  is  a  Compo- 
Jition  of  Entbufiafm,  Superftition,  and  Im^ 
poflure.  When  the  blood  and  fpirits  run 
/6%/',  inflaming  the  brain  and  imagination  ; 
it  is  moit  properly  Enthifwf?n ;  which  is 
Religion  run  mad :  -r-  when  lew  and  de- 
jccicd^    caufing  groundlefs   terrors,    or  the 

M  placing 


(       82      ) 

placing  the  great  duty  of  man  in  little  Ob« 
fervances ;  'tis  Superj}itio?iy  which  is  Re- 
ligion feared  out  of  its  Senfcs :  —when  any 
fraudulent  dealings  are  made  ufe  of,  and 
any  wrong  projeds  carried  on  under  the 
mask  of  piety  ,  'tis  Impofture^  and  may  be 
termed  Religion  turned  Hypocrite, 

Should  any  thing  I  can  offer  make  fome 
improvement  of  a  ferious  and  fiber  Senfe  of 
true  Religion  among  us,  free  from  Enthu- 
fiaftic  Delufions^  with  regard  both  to  Faith 
arid  good  works,  it  will  be  fufficient  fatis- 
faftioji :  And  the  benefit  will  be  doubled^ 
if  by  means  of  the  Cotnparifin  with  Popery^ 
a  juft  deteftation  of  that  wicked  Communion 
be  prefervedy  and  efpecially  if  encreafed. 


The  END  of  the  First  PART* 


ERRATUM. 

^*g«  %<)y    in  the  Note,  fcr,  4  Journ.  p.  24,  rW,  p.  at'- 

3Frd/>r,  Ibtd,  p.  21,  r«?«s/,  p.  24. 


THE 

ENTHUSIASM 

O    F 

METHODISTS 

AND 

PAPISTS 

C     OMPARED. 
PART       II. 


Vanity  or  Self-Conceit  is  another  Circumjiance  that  for  the  moji  Part  prevails 
in  the  CharaBer  of  an  Enthufiaft.  It  leads  Men  of  a  •warm  Temper ^  and 
Eeiigicus  Turn,  to  think  themfehes  ivorthy  of  the  fp(c:al  Regard^  and  extraor- 
dinary Favours  of  God ;  and  the  Breath  of  that  Infpiration  to  ivhich  they  pre-- 
tend  is  often  no  more  than  the  Wind  of  this  Vanity,  ivhich  pufFs  them  up  to 
fuch  Extravagant  Imaginations.  This  flrongly  appears  in  the  Writings  and 
Lives  of  fame  Enthufiaftical  Heretics,  in  r^e  Myftics  both  Antient  and  Modern, 
in  many  Founders  of  Orders,  and  SaintF,  both  Male  and  Female,  among  the 
Papifts,  tn  feveral  Vxot&^Sint  Sectaries  f  the  laji  AgCy  and  even  in  fame  of  the 
Methodifts  «ow.  ^////->f  Divine  Communications,  Illuminations,  <:«</ Ecftacies, 
to  ivhich  they  pretended,  evidently  fprung  from  much  Self-Conpeit,  ivsrking 
together  ivitb  the  Vapours  of  Melancholy  upon  a  warm  Imagination,  &c. 

L  V  T  T  E  J.  T  0  N  on  the  Converfion  of  St.  Pa  u  r.. 


LONDON^ 

Printed  for  J.  and  P.  K  n  a  p  t  o  n,  in  Ludgate-Strest, 
M.DCC.XUX. 


!_ 


(  iv  ) 
Your  firft  Objetlion  is  to  my  Manner  of 

Page  6.  Writing  ;  that  ''  If  I  am  a  Clergyman^  the 
whole  Strain  of  my  T^erjormance  difcovers  a 
Le'-jity  unbecoming  my  Charafter.'*  And 
here  I  am  afraid  you  have  the  Advantage  \ 
as  writing  with  a  Le^oity  quite  becoming  your 
Character y  i.  e.  with  that  Sort  of  Levity , 
which  confifis  in  a  Privation  of  Weighty 
and  exemplifies  (to  ufe  your  own  Expref- 
lion)  "what  Feathers  ive  all  are.  Nor  could 
you  have  been  more  light  and  infignificant, 
unlefs  your  Name  had  been  Ferronet, 

As  to  the  Force  of  the  Objedlion  of  r/V/- 
cuhus  and  irreligious  Banter  3  —  I  read  that 
one  of  Bifiop  Stilling feef s  Fopifio  An- 
iagoni[ls  called  him  '^  a  'Theological  Bufoon^ 
impioufly  and  profanely  employing  his  Wit 
in  deriding  and  blajpheming  the  Saints.'" 
And  yet,  fuch  is  m.y  Modefiy,  and  humble 
Imitation  oi your  Humility^  I  defire  to  fuc- 
ceed  no  better  a2;ainft  Metbodijm  than  he 
did  againl!:  Popery.^ — But  here,    it  feems,    I 

\tiA.        am  greatly  miftaken.-    For,  *'  By  irreligious 
.Banter y  I  have  unhappily  fixed  upon  a  mofl 
improbable   and  ineffeBual   Remedy   for   re~ 
.covering  tht  IVletbqdip  out  of  their  Extra- 
•vagant  Freaks,"     If  fo,    why  are  you  fo 
pettilTa  ?  Why  lb  wrathful  ?   I  might  rather 
cxped  an  Addrefs  of  Flanks  from  White- 
field  and  Compa72y\ 

But,   to  compound  tfee  Matter  with  you 
by  a  plain  Truth,  nay  Manner  of  writing 

(whether 


(V) 

(whether  with  Levity^  or  Graijify)  afFe<S$ 
not  in  the  leaft  the  Merits  of  the  Caiife, 
The  Enthujiafm  is  exadtly  ihtfamey  neither 
more  nor  lefs,  better  or  worfe.  The  only 
^eJUon  to  the  Purpofe  is,  whether  I  have 
made  my  Rotations  jiiftly  and  fairly  ?  Let 
this  be  /uppofedy  till  'tis  difprovcd.  — Some- 
thing  however  more  jerioiiSy  horrible  and 
Jhocking,  will  appear  toward  the  End  of 
this  Second  Part,  and  efpecially  in  the 
Third 'y  where  the  Nature  of  the  SiibjeEl 
will  be  apt  to  raife  Abhorrence  and  Indigo 
7iation  rather  than  Laughter.  For,  con- 
trary to  my  Intention,  I  am  forced  upon 
a  Third  Party  your  Enthufiajms  are  fo 
many.  Nor  had  I  exadly  enough  com- 
puted the  Number^  or  confidered  the  Vir" 
flics y  of  your  Confec rated  Beads. 

Before  you  Attack  my  Comparifon  in 
Form,  I  find  you  fiibbling  at  my  Title- 
Page  :  In  one  Place,  "  'Tis  ?20t  rejirained^-  7- 
enough  to  Anfwer  my  Principal  Defign  :  " 
In  another  Place,  "  'tis  too  much  reftrained  >P-  20^ 
you  would  have  me  make  an  Addition  to  it, 
and  let  it  run  thuSy  The  Enthufiafm  and  Im-^ 
pojlure^  &c."  I  ftand  corredled,  and  have 
no  Objed-ion  to  your  Amendment.  Con* 
iider  however,  that  before  you  meddled 
w^ith  my  Title-Page^  you  fhould  have  con- 
fulted  your  Grammar^  and  made  Senfe  of 
vour  own. 

A  2  But 


(  vi  ) 

But  I  fhall  not  fo  eafily  give  up  my 
Parallel  of  the  Montanifts,  I  find  it  (ticks 
too  clofe,  is  pinching,  and  makes  you 
Wriggle.  You  want  fadly  to  get  rid  of 
it ;     for   which   you   affign   fome   doughty 

P.  8..  Reafons,  "  Ton  omit^  you  fay,  .making 
any  Repiy  fo  my  Account  of  the  Montanifts^ 
becaufe  'tis  quite  foreign  to  my  "Title-Page^ 
and  alfo  to  my  Principal  Defign% "  that  of 
Comparing  you  with  Papijis.  You  know 
that  J  introduced  tlie  Montanifts^  to  fhew 
that  the  Spirit  of  Enthufiafm  is  always  the 
fame.  And  though  the  Montanifts  were  no 
Papijls,  they  were  Heretics,  full  of  //;/- 
pojhires  and  Impieties ;  in  a  Word,  the 
'Methodifts  of  their  Times.  And  why 
-fhould  you  turn  away  your  Face  from  your 
Cdcn  Likenefs  ? But  you  have  another 

^t,ij.        Reafon  3    ''  The  Account  of  the  Montanifts 
beifjg  not  founded  on  Writings  of  their  own  \ 
and-    fo     at     the    befl    very    Precarious." 
Did   I  fiy,    the  Account  was  not  founded 
"on     their     own    Writings?     Did    I    not 
•exprefsly    fay,      that     our    Accounts     and 
ExtraBs  of  their  own  Wr-itings  were  col- 
"leded    from   the   heft   Hiftorians   of    thofe 
'Times?    And  fnppofing  they  had  ;^^^ been 
founded  on  their  own  Writings  3  mufl  they 
therefore  of  Courfe  be  Precarious  ?     Doth 
-no  Hiftory  d'eferve   Credit,    but  what  was 
written  by  the  ABors  ?     What   then  be- 
comes of  the  Faith  of  almofi  all  Hiftory  ? 
And  is  every  Thing  right  and  true  which 

Men 


(  vli  ) 

Men  write  concerning  Themfehes  ?  Well 
then !  Tour  Accounts^  "Journals^  &c.  are 
wrote  by  your  Faithful  Self:  Therefore 
not  fre carious  and  iincertai?j.  But  yet, 
you  now  own  you  have  written  Things 
worfe  than  Precarious  -,  Things  abjolutely 
and  confefjedly  Jalfe.  And  had  you  died, 
and  the  Myjlic  Dove  fled  away  to  Heaveny 
before  your  Recantation-^  thefe  Falfities 
muft  have  paffed  upon  the  World  for  ///- 
fallible  Truths^    Revealed  from  above. 

In  the  fame  Page  you  catch  me  tripping, 
and  even  falling  into  an  Inconfifiency.  I 
had  charitably  fuppofed,  that  the  Methodijis 
might  perhaps  fet  out  from  real  Motives 
of  foicere  Piety,  adding  afterwards,  "  their 
fetting  out  with  warm  Preteiices  to  Re-P.s- 
formation."  Your  Remark  is,  "  If  by 
'Pretence  I  mean  a  mere  Hypocritical  Pre- 
tence^  I  am  then  guilty  of  a  Self-Contra- 
didrion/'  But  may  not  your  M^^/rj^'^  be 
fmcere ;  and  yet  your  Pretences  to  Reformat 
tion  be  idle^  and  vai7i,  and  ahfurd?  (For 
I  did  not  fay  Hypocritical.)  And  is  not 
-the  World  fully  fenfible  -Lvhat  Sort  of  Re- 
formation  has  always  been  the  Aim  of  En- 
thufafls  ?  As  to  your  ^ejlion^  how  can 
Pretence  and  Reality  be  reco?2ciled?  We  are 
agreed :  my  whole  Comparifon  has  proved 
they  cannot ;  and  your  Recantation  has  con- 
firmed it. 

But  I  am  like  to  be  in  a  ivorfi  Condition:  p.  ^■ 
^'  having  faid  what  I  can't  prove^   and  con^ 

f^fedly 


{  ^'iii  ) 
fejjedly  exceeded  the  Bounds  ofTrutL''  And 
how  fo  ?  Why  it  feems  I  have  faid  that 
*'  the  Methodifts  began  their  Adventures 
with  Field-Treaching ;  and  yet  quite  the 
Contra?'}'  is  notorious  from  my  own  Words, 
yifter  the  Methodijls  had  traduced  the 
Clergy  in  their  own  Churches  and  Pulpit s^ 
they  fet  ahout  this  pious  Work  of  Defama- 
tion more  heartily  in  the  Fields.  Here^  you 
fay,  viy  Parallel  fails  at  jirjl  Jetting  outy 
my feJf  being  Judge.'' 

And  was  I  not,  my  good  Friend,  ki72d 
and  candid  in  not  reckoning  your  Pulpit- 
Abiifes  among  your  idld  and  extravagant 
Adventures ;  in  not  laying  the  Adventures 
to  your  Charge,  *till  you  broke  into  Open 
Irregularities  by  inviting  a  Rabble  into  the 
Fields?  And  was  I  not  right  in  dating 
the  Commencement  of  your  Adventures  from 
P.  15, 15. that  Time?  You  fay,  No.  "  That  in 
Reality  the  Methodijl  Adventures  were  be- 
gun in  the  Churchy  before  you  took  the  Field.'* 
Be  it  fo.  But  this  is  your  own  frank  Con- 
ffjion-y  and  no  Part  of  ;;a'  Charge. 

Do  you  think  the  PopiJJo  Field-Preachers 
did  not  firft  learn  their  Lefon^  took  no 
previous  Steps,  mLidc  no  Trovifion,  before 
they  fet  out  upon  their  Expeditions  ?  Read 
their  Legendsy  and  be  convinced.  Read 
but  the  Beginning  of  the  Hiftory  cf  that 
Renoiiued  Knight-Errant  Den  ^ixote,  (a 
good  Catholic  too)  and  you  will  find,  how 

''  he 


(  ix  ) 

"  he  prepared  himfelf  by  reading  Books  of 
Chivalry^  for  which  he  had  an  Extravagant 
Fondnefs ;  filled  his  Head  with  wild  Fro^ 
jedls^  which  turned  his  Brain-,  had  fre- 
quent Difpiites  with  his  Fanfld^Friejl  % 
furbiilied  up  his  Armour^  and  buckled  it 
on  :  —  All  this,  before  he  adlually  fallied 
forth  upon  his  Adventures^  in  order  to  re- 
drefs  all  Grievances,  and  correft  all  Ex- 
orbitances :  bejore  he  defperately  encountred 
the  Windmill  y  or  combated  the  Devils  in 
the  Shape  of  Cats-y  or  (as  Sa72C0  brags) 
lodged  at  the  Inns,  all  at  Difcretion,  and 
the  D — 1  a  Farthing  to  pay.'* 

And  now,  Sir,  how  have  I  been  guilty 
oi  2iV\  Untruth ',  or  how  doth  my  Parallel 
fail,  myfeJf  being  Judge  ?  The  FaB  you 
own,  both  of  Fopifo  and  Methodiftical 
Field'F reaching ;  you  glory  in  it.  And  of 
what  Moment  is  the  precife  Time  of  the 
■Commencenient  of  your  Adventures  ?  What 
h?iVt  you  gained?  Unlefs  it  be  throwing 
Duft  into  the  Air,  to  blind  the  Eyes  of 
your  Followers  5  or  maintaining  your  Right 
to  a  Litigious  and  Cavilling  Humour. 
;  '.'  Ton  thank  me  for  ififorming  you,  that^ 
Field-'Preaching  was  Jormerly  praBifed  in 
this^  Nation  :  you  are  glad  it  was  fo  ;  and 
immediately  ajiz.  Why  then  fuch  a  Noife  about 
it  now""  This  Pradice,  Sir,  occafioned 
an  A^t^  or  ABs^  againft  Field-Fr cachings 
(and  I  conceive  not  yet  formally,  or  vir- 
tually. 


II. 


tually,  Repealed)  becaufe  fuch  Meetings 
were  Entbu[iaftical^  Seditious,  and  Mif- 
chinjcus.  You  indeed  are  glad  of  this : 
but  it  affords  fufficient  Reafon  for  making 
Jh?ic  Noife  about  it  ?iow.  Obferve  only  the 
Weight  and  Tendency  of  your  Argument : 
The  Dominicans,  Jefuits,  Francifcans,  &c. 
did  formerly,  in  a  IVild,  Fanatical  and  Ir- 
regular Manner,  employ  their  Talents  in 
corrupting  and  deceiving  Mankind  with 
many  falfe,  Jcandalous,  and  wicked  Tenets, 
to  the  prodigious  Injury  of  the  Public  and 
True  Religion  :  This  Havock  they  made 
of  Civil  and  Religious  Truth  and  Happinefs, 
under  the  Majk  of  Sanclity  -,  by  Blafphe- 
mous  Pretenfions  and  Claims  to  Inspiration, 
Divine  Calls  and  DireBions,  and  Variety 
of  other  Frauds,  Why  then  fuch  a  Noife 
about  them  now  ?  Or  what  Occafion  of 
any  Oppofition  to  thofe,  who  are  720W  Re- 
viving the  Method,  and  are  compaffing  the 
fame  B^d  by  the Jame  Means  ?  Thus  Fotent 
is  your  Way  oi Reafoning  :  and  fo  effeclually 
you  get  clear  of  thefe  unlucky  Papifls. 

P-  "•  As  to  "  fo?ne  Degrees  of  VaJiity,  unob- 

ferved  Vanity,  which  you  fay  you  cannot  now 
remember  j"  have  but  a  little  Patience,  and 
your  Memory  will  foon  be  refrefhed. 

In  Defence  of  your  Condudt,  ycu  aik, 

P.  12.  "  Can  you  recolledl  no  earlier,  or  rnore 
**  unexceptionable  Field-Preachers  than  the 
''  Papijh  ?  What  think  you  of  Jefus  Chriji, 

''  and 


(xi) 

"  and  his  Apoftles  f  Were  they  not  Field* 
*'  Preachers  ?*'  And  will  you  never  leave 
off  your  inexcufable  Pride  in  comparing 
yourfelf  to  Chriji,  and  his  ApoftUs  ?  Will 
you  ftill  perfift  in  this  Pjejumptuous  Sin? 
Will  you  do  it  again  and  again  in  this  very 
Pamphlet y  wherein  you  have  fadly  bewailed 
your  Speaking  iii  a  Stile  too  Apojlolical  ?  You 
have  owned  your  Pretences  to  Infpiratlon^ 
and  fpeaking  from  the  Spirit  of  God^  to  be 
Falfe  :  and  if  you  own^  their  Infpiration  and 
Divine  MiJJion  to  be  True  %  your  Com-- 
parijon  fails  in  the  moft  EJJential  Point. 
You  have  but  Two  Ways  of  making  your 
Parallel  ftand ;  and  you  may  take  your  . 
Choice.  You  muft  prove,  either  that  you 
are  Infpired  and  Comniiffiofjcd  from  on  Highy 
hke  Chriji  and  his  Apoftles ;  —  or  that  They 
were  fuch  E?2thufajis  as  yourfelf. 

Your  Attempt  to  wipe  off  the  Black  Art?.  lyiZ. 
of  Calumny^  and  even  to  retort  it  upon 
rnyfelf  is  really  a  Mafier-piece.  "  You  own 
your  Speaking  againft  the  Clergy  was  not 
in  the  Spirit  of  ChriJ}^  or  with  the  like 
Divine  Authority,  and  that  there  was  too 
much  Severity  in  youx  firjl  Zeal,  All  there-^ 
fore  you  would  infer  is  this,  that  what 
fome  may  term  Gall  of  Bitter nefs  and  black 
Art  of  Calumny,  may  be  Nothi?ig  but  an 
Honeji  TeJ}imo?iy  againft  the  Corruptions  of 
a  Degenerate  Church,  And  you  juftify 
your  Zeal  by  the  Exa?nples  of  John  Baptiji 
a  and 


(  xii  ) 

and  St.  Stephen,  who  called  the  impenitent 
and  hardened  Jews,  A  Generation  of  Viper s^ 
jiiff-necked,  and  imcircumcifed  in  Heart  and 
Ears,  always  refifting  the  Holy  Ghojl :  —  of 
our  Saviour y  denouncing  no  lefs  than  Thir- 
teen  Woes  again  ft  the  Scribes  and  Pharifees : 
— oi  Ifaiah  and  Jeremiah,  condemning  the 
wicked  Men  of  thofe  Days. 

Truely,  Sir,  you  have  much  mended  the 
Matter  -,  and  drawn  a  moft  Conclujlve  In- 
ference, from  your  Confeffiofi  of  7iot  fpeak- 
inc;  againft  the  Clergy  with  a  Chrijl-like  or 
Apoflolical  Spirit, — of  too  much  Severity  in 
your  Zeal ;  and  when  you  fay  '^  The 
Methodijis  for  fome  Time  have  laid  down 
a  Trade,  which  I  am  taking  up. 

And  how  am  I  taking  up  this  Trade  of 
?.\j,  i%.Calu?nny}    To  prove  this,  "  You  gather 
fome  of  my  Flowers  on  this  Occafion ; — 
This   Dangerous  and  Prefumpttious   Se6l — 
Strolling   Predica?2ts — Itinerant   Enthu/iajis 
—  Methodijtical  Enthufiafis.""     To  which 
I  anfwer-y  If  this  be  Calumny,  it  comes  out 
of  your  own  Mouth  :  you  have  confefjed,  or 
hoajled  of,  every  Word  and  Syllable  of  it. 
^•3',  33, r— You   have  Confrffed  ''  mingling    Wild- 
'^'>-  Fire  with  your  Zeal  :    to  groundlefs  Pre- 

tences to  Injpiration,  to  impofmg  your  own 
Spirit  upon  the  World  inftead  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  (the  very  Efjence  of  Enthufiafm) 
you  pkrd  guilty  :  Prefumption  among  fome 
<bf   vcnr  Sed:  you  readily  grant :  — And 

you 


(  xiii  ) 

you  boaj}  of  wanderinginto  fevcral  Parts  of  the  P-  n»  4  J- 

World,  2iS  2i  Preacher  :    Yon  glory  tn  taking 

the  Field,''     And  now  I  readily  agree,  that 

*'  thefe  Flowers  (growing  in  your  own  Gar-?.  i8. 

den)  are  not  of  a  very  Scriptural  Scent,'* 

But  you  afk,  "  why  muft  I  dijliirb  the?.  i8, 19. 
Dead^  rake  into  their  very  AJloes^  and  call 
up  Mr.  Seward's  Ghoft  in  order  to  terrify 
the  Reader?"  If  this  be  fuch  ^Tc?^rible 
Crime,  who  has  done  it  more  than  the 
Methodijls?  Who  more,  than  yourfelf  ?  You 
have  treated  the  Author  of  the  whole  Duty 
of  Man,  and  Archbifhop  'iillotfon,  in  a 
moft  Scurrilous  Manner :  in  this  very 
Pamphlet  you  have  raked  into  the  Afhes  of 
Luther,  Calvin,  Zuinglius,  Cranmer,  Rid- 
ley, a?2d  Hooper  -,  nay  of  Paul  and  Bar-  p.  45. 
nabas'y  and  have  freely  cenfured  their 
Faults,  You  urge,  "  that  Flowers  enough?.  ,'8. 
might  have  been  gathered  out  of  Mr.  Wef-^ 
leys  ^Journals  and  yours :  and  I  might  let 
your  dear  warm  Friend,  your  Fellow-- 
traveller  Seward,  lie  undifturbcd.  What 
hath  he  done?'*  I  doubt.  Sir,  your  have 
been  dabbling  in  a  Play,  and  learned  your 
Reafoning  from  the  Facetious  Knight ; 
**  No,  my  good  Lord,  banifh  Peto,  banifh 
'^  Bardolph,  banifli  Poins ;  but  for  fweet 
''  Jack  Fnljhff,  kind  fack  Faljfaff,  true 
<*  Jack  Faljtaff,  valiant  Jack  Fcdflaff,-^ 
*'  banifh  not  him, 

a  2  In 


(  ^iv  ) 

In  plain  Truth,  (for  I  beg  Pardon  for 
rafhly  touching  upon  a  Play)  Mr.  Seward 
V\ih\\(htd  2i  Journal  iu\\  oi  Calumny^  En- 
thujiafm,  dangerous  and  prefiwiptuous  Tenets^ 
ftill   working   warmly    in   the  Methodijis : 
but  he  muft  not  be  touched,  becaufe  he  is 
dead.     And  your  Ride  muft  be  acknow- 
ledged a  very  Expedient  one.    For  then,  had 
yonr  good  Self  died  before  your  Reca?ttationy 
all    your   Confejj'ed  Falfities   and  Impoflures 
muft  have  paffed  for  Sacred  Truths,  with- 
out any  Examination  or  ContradiBion.  Then 
no  Antient  Heretic,  no  Infidel,  no  Enthu- 
Jiafl,  no  Broacher  of  the  moft  wicked  Doc- 
trines,    could    ever    be  called    in  ^efiion. 
And  (to  the  great  Comfort  of  your  Heart) 
then  the  Fanatical  wandering  Ghcfis  of  St. 
Francis  and  Ignatius  had  not  been  called  up, 
to  7:?^^;^/  and  fi are  you   in   the   Face,     To 
make  you  as  eafy  as  I  can  ;  — Seeing  I  fhall 
have  Occafion  to  call  up  the  fame  Ghcfis 
again  -,   I  give  you  previous  Notice,    that 
you  may  not  he  frighted. 

In  the  mean  Time  you  don't  coniider 
what  a  Fright  you  have  put  me  into.  For, 
befides  ''  leaving  me  to  Mr.  Wefiefs  Cor-^ 
reEilcn,''  you  bolt  out  fuddenly  with 
30.  "  Something  S  O  Extraordinary  in  my 
17th  Se5iion,  that  it  calls  for  ^Remark:' 
You  fiartle  me  5  you  put  me  in  a  Panic. 
But  I  muft  ftand  the  Shock.  —  Out  it 
comes,  that  ''  I  have  called  Inflantaneom 

Converfion 


( X'^ ) 

Converfion  a  Fanatical  Peculiarity,''  Is  this 
your  Something  S  O  Extraordi?iary  ?  I  fup- 
pofe  not.  It  mull  lie  in  your  following 
Remark;  ''  I  prefiime  Inftantaneous  Re- 
*'  generation  muft  be  a  Fanatical  Teculiari- 
"  ty  alfo.  What  then  becomes  of  that 
^'  Diana  of  the  prefent  Age,  Baptijmal 
*'  Regeneration,  which  muft  be  Injlantane- 
''  ous?  "  By  this  Time  I  begin  to  recover 
my  SenfeSy  and  be  able  to  fpeak,  ToUy  Mr. 
Whitejield^  may  be  as  Prefumptuous  as  you 
pleafe :  /  prefiimed  not  to  fay  any  fuch 
Thing  :  I  neither  mentioned,  nor  thought 
of,  Baptijmal  Regeneration,  But  IF  I 
had  ;  Oh!  how  you  would  chaftife  me? — 
I  anfwer  very  Laconically^  IF. — Moreover 
I  ajk  you,  why  you  will  talk  at  this  idle^ 
and  even  v^icked  Manner  ?  What  St.  Paul  Titus, 
exprefsly  calls  the  Wajloing^  or  Laver^  of^'  3- 
Regeneration,  you  profanely  Chriflen  by  the 
Heathenijh  Name  of  Diana,  ''  Baptifmal 
Regeneration  is  the  Diana  of  the  prefent 
Age/'  Take  again  therefore  your  own 
Words,  Tretty  Language  this.  Sir  !  Such  P.  15. 
as  ought  once  more  to  bring  you  to 
your  Penitentials^  and  extort  another  Alas  ! 
Alas!.  ^ 

Again,    you  charge  me  with    "  calling  p, .,. 
Afjurances  of  Salvation  another  Trefumptu- 
ous   Imagination,''      I   did   fo.      And  you 
return  to  your  old  prevaricating  Trick  of 
making  me  Jay,,  what  I  did  7wt  fay ;  and 

changing 


(  xvi  ) 

changing  the  Term  by  flipping  in  the  Word 
Faith  inftead  of  Salvation^  you  immediate- 
ly aflc,  "  Is  Affarance  of  Faith  then,  in 
"  your  Opinion,  a  Prefumptiious  Imagina- 
"  tionV  Whence  you  run  on  Arguing^ 
— as  wifely  as  you  did  before. 

As  I  have  chiefly  confulted  your  ^oiir- 
p.  33, 34.  nahy  you  tell  me,  ''  that  in  this  I  have  afted 
wifely  enough  for  my  Purpofe,  but  not 
candidly  3  fince  there  were  Later  Writings 
of  yours,  which  might  as  eafily  have  been 
procured.**  Indeed,  Sir,  I  did  not  care  to 
loofe  fo  much  Time,  Nor  probably  would 
your  hater  Writings  turn  out  much  to 
your  Advantage,  But  fuppofing  the  beft, 
mind  the  Prettinefs  of  your  Argument :  — 
It  was  the  Comparer's  Purpofe  to  difcover 
Mr.  Whiteficld's  Enthufiajrns  3  and  therefore 
he  ought  not  to  look  for  them  where 
they  were  to  be  founds  but  where  they  were 
not. 

So  much  for  your  acute  and  judicious 
Remarks,  Let  us  proceed  to  your  Confejfion, 
^•9'  and  Recantation.  For  ''  undcferving  as  my 
Pamphlet  was,  it  has  ferved  a  good  Purpofe^ 
and  been  the  Meajis  of  your  reBifying  Some 
Miftakes,''  And  you  have  kindly  given  us 
a  Lick  of  the  "  Hofiey  that  came  out  of  the 
Eater:' 

After  you  have  rcBified  your   Miflakes^ 
P.  ^4.      and  Confefjed  them,  you  fay  indeed,  ''  that 

this 


(  xvii  ) 

this  was  not  extorted  from  you  by  rr?y 
Pamphlet:'*  Which  a  Captious  Pcrfon 
might  take  f®r  a  Sort  of  Self'Co7itradi5lion. 
But  I  regard  not  that ;  feeing  either  Way 
the  fame^W  Turpofe  is  ferved. 

Accordingly,  a  Regard  to  the  Common 
Benefit  inclines  mc  to  enumerate  your  Re- 
traced  Mijlakes^  and  Common  'Jujiice  to 
acknowledge  a  great  Appearance  of  your 
Ingenuous  and  Sincere  Mind,  and  Conduct. 

*^  You  confefs  too  ?nuch  Severity  in  yourp  ,-,  iq, 
^^  iirft  Zeal,  by  far  too  much  againft  Arch- 
"  bifliop  Tillotfon  : — Young  awakened  Per- P.  22,  34. 
'^  fons  are  apt  to  run  into  Extremes,  which 
''  fall  off  when  they  have  received  the 
"  Spirit  of  Adoption ', — your  Journals  wcro 
^'  fome  of  your  moft  early  Performances, 
^*  in  the  very  Heights  of  your  firft  Popu^ 
^'  larity ;  which  is  apt  to  make  \h^firongefi 
''  Head  run  giddy ^  and  do  Things,  which 
'*  After -Experience  and  riper  fudginent 
''  teach  them  to  correB  and  amend, — You  p.  27. 
*^  retra<fl  with  all  your  Heart  your  having 
"  defined  or  prayed  for  IH-Ujage,  Terje- 
*'  cution,  Martyrdom,  Death,  &c.  as  pro- 
''  ceeding  from  an  Irregular,  though  welU 
"  meant,  Zeah,  now  finding  yourfelf  no 
''  Ways  fo  difpofed, — As  to  the  Dodtrine  of  P.  jt. 
''  Affuranccs,  you  readily  grant  that  fome 
"  of  the  Mcthodifts  who  really  had  not  this 
''  Ajjiirance,  have  Prefumptuoufty  imagined 
^*  they  had  it  -,  there  being  Counterfeit  as 

'*  well 


(  xviii  ) 

P-  3S.  «  well  as  Current  Coin. — You  confefs,  you 
*'  were  followed  with  the  Hofannas  of  the 
"  Multitude ;  and  your  too  ftrong  Ex- 
"  preflions  concerning  Abfoliite  Reproba- 
"  tion-,  —  and  your   expofing   your   Friend 

P.  59.  "  Mx.Wefky: — that  in  the  ColkBion  of 
"  Letters  (written  by  the  Methodifts)  many 
"  Things  were  very  Exceptionable  ;  which 
"  therefore  have  been  SuppreJJed  for  fome 
**  Years:  —  that  you  don't  now  approve  of 
*'  making  a  Lottery  of  the  Scriptures :  — 

P,  40, 41."  that  your  Miflakes  and  Blunders  have 
*'  ht^\\  frequent ',  and  when  you  are  made 
"  fcnftbk  of  any  more,  they  fliall  be  pub- 
**  lickly  acknowledged  and  reiraBed :  —  that 
"  when  you  carried  high  Sail,  running 
"  through  a  whole  Torrent  of  Popularity 
**  and  Contempt^  you  have  been  in  Danger 

P- 42.  "  of  overfctting:  —  that  you  mentioned 
''  Divine  Communications  with  fome   De- 

P.  43.  "  grees  of  Vanity  :  Something  of  our  own 
**  Imagination  may  pofjibly  be  ble?ided  with 
*^  Methodifm  j  nay,  that  Imagination  has 
**  mixed  itfelf  with   the   Work   cannot  be 

P'  45-  *'  denied: — You  confefs  many  Offences  and 
"  Divifions  among  yourfelves,  and  own  it 
"  mufl  needs  be  that  fuch  Offences  come." 
—  Laftly,  when  I  charged  the  Methodifts 
with  ftealing  the  Sacred  Fire  from  Heaven, 
by  bold  Pretences  to  Revelations,  Infpira- 
tions^  6cc.  and  afked  where  will  thefe  bold 
E?ithufiajls  fop?    (  Compar,   p.  48. )   your 

Reply 


(  xix  ) 

Reply  isj  "  I  anfwer  for  one^  even  here, 
"  Sir,  And  I  will  freely  and  readily  ac- 
"  knowledge y  that  you  and  others  have  had 
"  too  much  Occafion  for  RefleBion,  by 
"  feveral  Things  that  have  been  unwarily 
"  dropped  up  and  down  in  my  Journals  J* 

Remember  then,  that  by  Jiopping  here 
you  gi''oe  up  the  remaining  Parts,  and  plead . 
guilty  to  the  moft  Capital  Articles  of  my 
Charge  5  which  were,  •*  Divine  PrefenceSy 
particularly  Chrift  vijible  in  the  Sacrament, 
fitting  at  the  Head  of  the  l!able^  and  talk-- 
ing  to  Mr.  Whitefield  -, — familiar  Communi- 
cations, a?id  amorous  Conversations  with  God% 
—  Extraordinary  Revelations,  Lifpiration  5 
Special  DireBions^  MiJJions,  and  Calls -^ 
Ecjlacies  a?id  Vifions,  &c/* 

I  would  now  proceed  to  your  famous. 
7e7iitential  Letter  of  Retractations :  but 
delire  firft  to  make  a  few  Obfervations  upon 
the  above  ConfeJJions. 

As  to  thofe  Extremes  common  in  your 
young  Perfons,  and  falli?ig  off  when  they 
receive  the  Spirit  of  Adoption ;  pray  ac- 
quaint us  with  the  precife  "Time  of  your  own 
receiving  it,  that  we  may  be  certified  when 
you  got  clear  of  all  fuch  Extremes,  and 
attained  a  Jujl  Medium. 

When     you    make    Excufes    for    your 
groundlefs  Pretences  to  hfpiration,  a  Di- 
vine CommiJJion,  &c.  on  Account  of  your 
moft  early  DaySy  and  in  the  Height  of  your 
b  firft 


(XX) 

firft  Topularity^  when  your  Head  was 
giddy  y  you  hereby  confefs^  that  you  was 
mojl  Topular^  when  you  was  the  greatejl 
Liar ;  be  ft  loved  and  admired ^  when  you 
feduced  the  Multitude  by  Cheat  and  //;/- 
pojlure.  And  what  a  fine  Compliment  is 
this  to  yoUr  Folloivers  Jlnderflanding^  and 
your  cic';?  Integrity  ?  What  F^(?/j  have 
you  made  of  thej}?^  and  what  a  i&/ —  of 
yonrfelf  ? 

When  you  received  the  Hofanna's  of  the 
Multitude^  I  really  thought  it  an  Error  of 
the  Prefs  for  Huzza's.  But  you  confefs 
that  ^'  Hdfanna  was  your  ow^n  Word  : 
wro7ig  and  unguarded^  but  not  intended  to 
convey  a  Prcfane  Idea,'*  Wrong  and  un- 
guarded !  What  a  tender  Expreffion  of  this 
great  Offence?  And  how  poffibly  could 
your  own  Mind  abftraft  from  Trofanenefs 
— an  Application  to  yourfelf  of  the  Divtne 
Hcnoiir  .^'^xd  to  the  Adorable  Redeemer  of 
Mankind?  The  Word  indeed  hatfi  for- 
merly been  ufed  in  Acclamations  to  fome 
cutragecus  Enthufafis.  And  particularly, 
Sir  James  Ware  (Hunting  of  the  Romijh 
Pox,  P.  229 — )  'relates  of  *'  one  Anth, 
Ni^gcnt,  a  Popifi  Prieji^  that  he  was  one 
of  Jafncs  Naylor's  Difciples,  and  went 
before  him  through  the  Streets  of  Bri/lol^ 
crying  out  Hcfannar  I  prefume  yqu  again 
'/  tbaiik  me  for  acquainting  you  with  thefe 

former 


(  xxi  ) 

former  Injiatices,  and  are  glad  they  \ver,e 
pradifed  in  our  Nation  feveral  Years  ago." 

Whereas  you  was  in  Danger  of  cwr- 
fetting  from  a  Torrent  of  Popularity  and 
Contempt  ^  —  I  congratulate  you  on  your 
pre  fen  t  lefs  dangerous  Situation  :  your  Popu- 
larity is  pretty  well  over  5  for  the  other^^ 
you  rnuft  take  your  Chance. 

Whereas  you  fay,  "  The  Offences  and 
DIvifions  among  yourfelves  were  about 
fome  Non-Ejjentials  3 '' — Is  this  the  'Truth  t 
And  will  yow  Jland  to  your  Words?  Can 
differing  about  Non-Ejjentiah  be  reconciled 
to  your  accufing  each  other  of  preaching 
Damnable  and  EJ/hitially-Erroneous  Doc- 
trines, —  horrid  BlafphemieSy  another  Gofpel^ 
&c?  (Which  will  appear  anon.)  This 
being  the  Cafe,  'tis  plain  you  quarrelled 
about  Ejjentials^  or  elfe  you  are  mutually 
Falfe  udccufers  of  your  Brethren,  Either 
Way,  there  is  fomething  Ejfentially  Un^ 
chrtjiian  among  you. 

But  come  we  now  to  your  Penitential 
Letter^  wherein  fome  of  your  Cant  is  Re-- 
canted^  and  we  are  taught  to  confefs  your 
ingenuous  and  fine  ere  Dealing.  *^  To  con-p^ 
vince  me  that  this  is  the  real  Language  of 
your  Hearty  and  not  extorted  by  my 
Pamphlet^  you  produce  an  Extra5f  of  a 
Letter  to  a  worthy  Friend  in  South  Ca-- 
rolina-^  and  publifhed,  with  very  little 
b  2  Jilteration^ 


34' 


(   XXll    ) 

"Alteration^  in  Scotland  Months  ago.  Dated 
June  24,  1748."  Whereby  I  am  indeed 
convinced  of  your  Temper.  You  will  do 
nothing  by  Compulfion :  nothing  fhall  be 
extorted  from  you.  But  let  you  alone; 
and  you  will  confefa  as  much  Enthiifiafrn 
and  Impojlure  as  one  could  wifh.  May  I 
have  the  Liberty,  Sir,  to  alk.  Why  this 
Confejjion  was  fent  privately  to  a  Friend  in 
Carolina^  and  not  to  your  own  Countrymen  ? 
Why  did  you  fuffer  your  Followers  to  lie  fo 
long  under  a  Delufion  ?  And  not  publifli 
your  Recantation  immediately,  as  foon  as 
you  found  yourfelf  both  deceiving^  and 
being  deceived'?  Why  publiihed  in  Scotland 
rather  than  in  England  ?  And  who  knows 
whether  this  Part  of  the  Nation  would  have 
been  bleffed  with  any  Publication,  unlefs 
it  had  been  extorted  by  my  Tamphlet  ? 

That  you  may  have  full  Jujlice  done 
you,  and  as  your  farther  Refra5lation  will 
appear  cleareft  in  your  own  Words,  it  may 
be  proper  to  reprint  the  Letter^ 


O:. 


(  Xxili  ) 

On  Board  the  Bngg  Betfey,    Captain    p.  35— 
Efteen  Cojn?nander, 

Jtme  24//^,  J 748. 

Reverend  Sir^ 

"  \7"Efterday  I  made  an  End  of  revifing 
"  j[  all  my  Journals — Bleffed  be  God 
"  for  letting  me  have  Leifure  to  do  it — I 
"  purpofe  to  have  a  new  Edition  before  I 
"  fee  America  —  Alas !  Alas !  in  how 
*^  many  Things  have  I  judged,  and  adted 
"  wrong  !  I  have  been  too  rafh  arKi  hafty 
*'  in  giving  Characters  both  of  Places  and 
"  Perfons — Being  fond  of  Scripture  Lan- 
'^  S^^^S^^  I  ^'^^^  often  ufed  a  Style  too 
*'  ApoJlolicaU  and  at  the  fame  Time  I  have 
"  been  too  bitter  in  my  Zeal — ^Wild-fire 
*'  has  been  mixed  with  it;  and  I  find  I 
*'  have  frequently  wrote  and  fpoke  too 
"  much  in  my  own  Spirit,  when  I  thought 
"  I  was  writing  and  fpeaking  entirely  by 
"  the  Affiftance  of  the  Spirit  of  God — I 
*^  have  likewife  too  much  made  Impref- 
*'  fions,  without  the  written  Word  my 
*^  Rule  of  afting  ;  and  too  foon,  and  too 
^*  explicitely,  publifhed  what  had  bettdr 
*'  been  kept  in  longer,  or  left  to  be  told 
*'  after  my  Death.  By  thefe  Things,  I 
^S  have  given  fome  "ucrong  Touches  to  God's 

''  Ark 


{  xxiv  ) 
"  Ark,  hurt  the  bleffed  Caufe  I  would 
"  defend,  and  ftirred  up  needlefs  Oppofi- 
*'  tion — This  has  humbled  me  much  fince  I 
*'  have  been  on  Board,  and  made  me  think 
"  of  a  Saying  of  Mr.  Henrfs^  Jofeph  had 
"  more  iionefiy  than  he  had  Volicy\  or  he 
<c  ^f,^^^  Hx)Oidd  have  told  of  his  Drearm — At 
*'  the  fame  Time,  I  cannot  but  blefs,  and 
*'  praife,  and  magnify  that  good  and  graci- 
"  ous  God,  who  imparted  to  me  fo  much 
"  of  his  holy  PirCy  and  carried  me,  a  poor 
"  weak  Youth,  through  fuch  a  Torrent 
"  both  of  Popularity  and  Contempt ^  and 
'^  fet  fo  many  Seals  to  my  unworthy  Mi- 
*'  niftrations — I  blefs  him  for  ripening  my 
"  Judgment  a  little  ^nore^  for  giving  me  to 
''  fee,  confefs,  and  I  hope  in  fome  Degree 
«*  to  correS  and  ame?id  fome  of  its  Miftakes 
^'  — I  thank  God  for  giving  me  Grace  to 
*'  embark  in  fuch  a  ble(]ed  Caufe y  and  pray 
''  him  to  give  me  Strength  to  hold  on, 
^'  and   increafe  in  Zeal  and  Love  to  the 

"  End Thus,    dear  Sir,    I  have   un- 

"  burdened  my  Heart  to  you  —  I  look 
"  upon  you  to  be  my  F:diis  Achates^  and 
''  therefore  deal  thus  freely. — If  I  have 
^'  Time  and  Freedom  before  wc  land,  I 
"  think  to  begin  and  write  a  ihort  Account 
of  what  has  happened  for  thefe  fcven 
Years  laft  paft ;  and  when  I  get  on  Shore, 
God  willing,  I  purpofe  to  revife  and 
corred  the  iirft  Part  of  my  Life/' — 

The 


<% 


(C 


(    XXV    ) 

The  Principal  Point  here,  and  what  im- 
mediately ftrikes  the  Eye,  is  your  free  Con- 
fejjion,  and  doleful  Lamentation  of  having 
frequently  Impofed  upon  the  World,   and 
fediiced  your    Followers^     by   Falpcod    and 
Deceit ;  and  that  too  in  a  Matter  of  the 
higheji  Concern^  the  Salvation  of  their  Souls. 
You  have  Confefled  yourfelf  an  Enthufiafi^ 
and  confequently  juftijied  me  in   bringing 
fuch  a  Charge,     "  In  many  Things  adled 
and  judged  wroiig,  been  bitter,  particularly 
in  giving  CharaBers:"     Which  proves  your 
Trade  of  Calmmiy.     ''  Often  ufed  a  Style 
too  ApoftolicaW     And  why  will  you  con- 
tinue it,  and  fo  often,  again  in  this  very 
Pamphlet?      "  Wild-fire   has   been   mixed 
with    your   Zeal,    and    with   God's  Holy 
pire  J  —  you  have  wrote  and  fpoke  in  your 
own  Spirity    and  put  it  upon  the  World 
entirely  for  the  Spirit  of  God : — have  made 
ImpreJJionSy  and   not  the    written  Word  of 
Gody    your  Rule  of  ABing:'     And  this  I 
hope  you  will  own  to  be  Ge^mifie  Enthu^ 
flafm,  and  in  the  bad  Senfe  of  the  Word. 

Thefe  Things  you  have  Acknowledged^ 
Bewailed,  ajid  Retraced:  and  would  be 
thought,  no  Doubt,  to  aft  Ingenuoufiy^ 
and  fpeak  Sincerely* 

Confidering  therefore  all  your  Confefiiom 
and  Retradlatiom  of  your  Fanatical  Sallies, 
had  I  the  Honour  and  Happinefs  of  being 
one  of  your  SeB^  I  (hould  propofe  an  Ad- 

drefs 


(  xxvi   ) 

drefs  to  vou  (with  great  Submiffion)  m  the 

following  Manner.     ''  We  are,  Sir,  of  the 

"  Number  of  thofe,    who  have   attended 

*'  your  Terfon  and  DoBrinc -,     allured  by 

"  yom  fan&ifiedT^rcfaices^  and  high  Claims. 

'^  Being  perfwaded  firft  into  a  bad  Opinion 

'*^  oi  onii  prope?'  P a/lor s  and  Churches^  w^e 

"  followed  you  into  the  Streets,  the  Fields 

*'  and  Defarts.    We  crowded^  hugged ^  kijjed 

"  you ;  made  you  Trefents  and  Eiitertain 

*'  ments   receiving  you  as   an    Apojlle^    or 

"  Angel  from  Heaven.    And  this  too  at  the 

"  very  Junfture  of  7/W,  when  you  was 

'^  the  rnoft  Deceitful  Worker^  and  grievouf- 

"'^  ly  feducing  your  precious  Lambs,     For 

*'  at  length  we  find  you  declaring,    that 

^'^  your  Infallible  JnfiruBions^     and  which 

*'  we  devoured  as  fo  many  Oracles^  were 

•"  but  {o  many  Mijlakcs,  Blunders^  or  L/Vi. 

'^  Your  being  guided  by  Impulfes  and  7;^;- 

•'*  prefjiojis,^  and  teaching  ^/^  to  depend  upon 

\"  them  as  certain^  is  now  acknowledged 

'^  to  be  a  precarious  and  even  j/^^  i?w/^, 

"  Oiurping    the     Place    of  God's    IVord: 

'  Though  you  once  affured  us,  it  was  as 

''  eafy  to  know  when  the  Spirit  made  an 

^'  Imprefjlon  on  the  5oul^    as   to  feel   and 

''  know  when  the  Wi?2dm2kt^  an  Impref- 

''  fion   on   the    Body,      You  taught,    that 

''  our  Afurance  of  Salvation  was  clearly 

''  written  upon    the  Heart,  as  by  a  Sun* 

'*  Bcamx  v/hereas  now,    Alas!  Alas!   we 

^'  only 


{  xxvil  ) 

''  only   PrefumptiioiiJIy   imagined  that   wc 

''  had   it.     You   made   your   Boaft   of   a 

"  Divine  Mijjion  ;    Special  Calls  and  Di- 

"  regions  from  Heaven-,  Infpirations,   Com- 

"  municatiom,  Converfations    Face  to  Face 

"  with  God ',  which  by  your  later  Account y 

''  and  ConfeJJion,  were  all  mere  Fancy,  and 

''  FiBion,  and  the  Produd:  of  a  fertile  In- 

"  vention.     You   have   climbed  up,     and 

"  Jiole    the    facred    Fire    from    Heaven ; 

"  have   everf    Deified    yourfelf,    and   put 

"  your    own   Spirit  in    the    Seat    of    the 

'«  Holy    Ghoft,      You    confefs    you    have 

"  fcattered  Wildfire  among   us,    whereby 

"  we  felt  ftrange   and  unufual  Burnings, 

^'  and  fome  of  us  have  been  terrified  out 

''  of  our  Senfes ;  without  any  Warning  to 

''  keep  our  Difiance,  out  of  the  Reach  of 

*'  this  dangerous  Coinpofition,     Seeing  then 

"  you   have   thus  (hammed  us   off  with 

"  Counterfeit  Coin  inftead  of  true  Sterlingy 

**  and  have  owned  yourfelf  a  Cheat   and 

*'  Impoftor-,     what  remains,     but  to  leave 

<'  you  to  yourfelf,  and  return  to  our  native 

"  Fold  ?    A  Stranger  will  we  not  follow, 

''  but  will  flee  from  him  -,    who  Confefjedly 

*'  came  not  in  by  the  Door,  but  clim&ed  up 

''  fome  other  Way,     Remember,  that  at  beft 

*'  you  are  now  but  a  common  Mortal,  upon 

•'  a  Level  with  ordinary  Churchmen  :  ftrip- 

''  ped     of    your    Extraordinary    Cekfiial 

"  Endowments,  and  Superjjatural  Powers, 

,c  ''  vou 


(  xxviii  ) 

"  you  can  henceforth  only  make  a  Figure 
"  from  your  natural  or  acquired  Abilities ^ 

Oh !    what  a  Fall  is  there  ? 

I  was  going  on ;  but  am  fuddenly 
flopped  by  your  feafonable  Monition  5 
P.  20.  "  But  hold,  Sir :  And  before  you  run 
"  yourfelf  quite  out  of  Breath,  I  intreat 
**  you  to  flop  a  little,  while  I  put  to  you 
"  a  few  Sluejtions.  Believe  you  that  I  am 
"  perfeftly  in  earnejl^  and  have  made  an 
"  Abfolute  Recantation'?  Do  not  I  infert 
"  divers  Softenings^  Referves^  Salvo's^  and 
"  Exceptions  to  my  general  Confejfion  V — 
I  cry  your  Mercy,  Sir;  'tis  very  true.  And, 
to  fave  you  the  Trouble,  I  fliall  recoUeft 
■fome  of  them :  But  then,  I  fear,  fome 
Doubts  may  arife  about  your  Sincerity. 
Accordingly  here  follows  an  imperfe^  and 
rough  Draught  of  what  you  might  triiely 
endjujlly  plead  ;  and  to  which  I  fhall  not 
have  the  Face  to  make  a?iy  Objedfion, 

"  Whereas  I  George  Whitefield  have 
•*  made  ample  ConfeJJion  and  Retra^lation 
*'  oivny  E?ithu/jafms  and  I?npofiures\  I  do 
•^  hereby  (to  prevent  all  MifconJlruBion) 
**  claim  the  Privilege  of  explaining  myfelf, 
*'  m  what  Se?ife^  and  how  far ^  my  Words 
•'  are  to  be  underftood.  Saving  to  myfelf 
"  likewife  the  Benefit  of  futwe  Ex- 
"  ccptiojiSy  &c.     In  general  I    plead,  that 


*'m 


(  xxix  ) 

''  ill  my  deepeji  Confeffions  of  my  moft 
"  hei?2oiis   Offences,     I   only   acknowledge 
"  Mi/iakesy     or   Blunders,    fpeaking     and 
<'  writing     fome     wrong    and  unguarded 
"  Things,  Things  unwarily  dropped  up  and 
^'  down,  Want  of  Caution,  with  other  tender 
''  and  ge?2tle   Expreffions.       And    Malice 
"  itfelf  muft  allow  thefe  Softenings  to  be 
*'  an   Extenuation  of  Guilt.  —  Moreover, 
«  even  of  thefe  Miftakes,    &c.  I  have  not 
«'  relinquifiied,    nor  defired  to  relinquifli, 
«  All ;  but  only  a  Part  of  them  \  and  that 
*^  Part   too   not   Entirely.      For  my  'u^r;^ 
*^  Words  are,  '  I  blefs  God  for  ripening  my 
«  Judgment  a  /////^  ;;2or^,   for  giving  me  to 
'^  /2'^  and  Confefs,  and  I  A^/>^  mfome  Degree 
<^  to  corred:  and  amend  fome  of  my  Mif- 
'^  takes/     And  am  I  not  here  fufficiently 
''  upon  the  Referve  ?— 'Tis  true,  I  confefs 
''  and  lament  many  Faljlmds  and  Enthuji-- 
''  (ifms  publifhed  in  my  Journals :  but 'tis 
*'  true  alfo,  that  I  am  only  forry  for  doing 
^<  this  '  too  foon,    and  too  explicit ely ;   and 
-**  declare  that  what  I  am  now  afhamed  of 
'<-  had  been  better  kept  in  lojiger,  or  left  to 
^'  be  told  after  my  Death:     And  hereby 
'*'  I  mi^ht  have  avoided  this  Shame  of  a 
*'  Recantation;    a  noble  L^^^O'  ^^^  t)een 
*<  left  to   the  Bands  and  Societies-,    who 
<«  would   have  been  entitled  to  the  Honour 
"  and  Pr^//i  arifing  from  my  pious  Fal- 
"  lacies:  my  Untruths  Sind  Deceits  had  never 
c  2  bec^ 


(  ^xx  ) 

*'  been  known  5  becaufe  no  Candid  Perfon 
"  would  have  raked  into  my  Afoes  to  con- 
"  tradid:  me  3  and  I  coidd  not  have  con- 
''  tradidled  myfelf,-—!  do  indeed  publickly 
'^  acknowledge  that  my  Dreams  were  not 
"  from  Heaven^  but  mere  llliifiGnsqf  Fancy  : 
**  and  yet  obferve  how  Artfully  I  compare 
"  my  Cafe  with  that  of  Jofeph  ;  and  fay,, 
*^  that  my  publifhing  them  as  Divine 
"  might  perhaps  be  Impolitic^  but  was  no 
"  Impeachment  of  my  Honejly. — 

"  To  be  more  particular.  As  to  Vanity 
"  and  Pride,— -I  have  often  confelTed  and 
*^  bewailed  the  Naught inefs  of  my  proud 
"  Heart',  and  when //■tyZif^//£7///7j Thoughts 
^'  ufed  to  crowd  in  upon  me,  have  Prayed 
"  to  God^  '  Give  me  Humility,  or  I  peiifli.* 
"  — But  pray  remember  how  I  fojten  this 
''  into  fome  Degrees  of  V'anity,  and  thofe 
"  either  unoifervcd  Qv  forgotten  :  and  that  I 
'*  flill  dcfirc  to  retain  a  proper  Share  ofdecejzi 
Dealing/^  Pride.  For  when  my  Heart  was  ftirred 
'^^'  ''up  to  pray  againft  Spiritual  Pride,  my 
''  exprefs  Words  w^ere,  that  God  would 
*'  always  keep  me  humbled  only  in  fome 
"  Menfure.  The  very  worf  and  higheji 
"  Inftance  of  Vanity,  that  of  applying 
''  Hfannas  to  my  dear  Self,  which  too 
*'  hath  laid  me  low  before  God  and  Man  ^ 
''  — this  I  have  brought  down  to  a  Thing 
•  3^^  "  wrong  and  unguarded,  but  not  intended 
^'  to  convey  a  "Profane  Idea, 

''  I  have 


(  xxxi  ) 

"  I  have  inaintained  the  Dodlrine  of 
*'  Abfolute  Reprobation  iojiijly,  and  to  that 
"  Degree^  as  to  be  charged  by  Mr.  Wejley 
"  with  horrid  Blajphemy  j  and  my  'Enemies 
*^  fay,  he  hath  confuted  me  in  a  fiirong 
"  and  majierly  Manner.  But  by  my  Con- 
*■  JW^^  ^^is  dwindles  away  into  my  having 
"  dropped  fome  too  jlrong  ExprrJJions. — 

*'  If  I  am  forced  to  own  that  I  have 
'^  traduced  the  Clergy ;  but  for  fome  Time 
*'  laid  down  the  iLr^dc  oi  Dejamation  *,  you  p.  15-ig. 
"  fee  how  foon  I  take  it  up  again  ;  and 
*'  defend  myfelf  by  the  Example  of  the 
"  Apofdes  j  (though  I  own  not  with  the 
"  fame  Spirit ^  or  Authority)  and  make 
"  them  as  great  Sla?2derers  as  myfelf. 

"  If  I  lamentably  acknowledge  my  hav- 
"  ing  often  ufed  a  Style  too  Apoftolical  y 
*'  you  fee  how  quickly  and  frequently 
*'  I  ftart  up  again  in  the  Form  of  an 
"  Apoftle. 

'•  One  of  my  moft  important  2ind  glaring 
*^  Recantations  is  this.  The  Author  of  the 
''  Comparifon  afking,  '  Where  will  thefe 
**  hoX^Enthufiafls^X.o'^V  Proceeds  to  our 
"  moft  a\  vwed  but  moft:  Prefumptuous 
*'  Claims  of  Infpiration^  Revelations^  Com'- 
"  munications  with  God^  Special  Calls y 
'^  Divine  Miffio72s^  and  the  like.  Here  I  p.  33. 
"  in^2iU.\\y  flop  Jhort ',  am  pricked  in  Con- 
**  fcience,  howl  and  cry,  renounce  and 
''  give    up    thefe    Blafphemous    Pretences* 

Bui 


(  xxxii  ) 

*'  But  then  fail  not  to  obferve  with  what 
*'  Softening  and  Rcferve  I  make  my  Re- 
"  treat.  They  are  Things  unwarily  drop- 
"  ped  up  and  down  in  my  Jourjtah,  And 
P.  41,42.*'  I  pofitively  infift,  that  fome  of  my  In- 
''  fpirations,  &c.  are  not  groundlefs  and 
"  pretended^  but  really  from  above,  Ac- 
*'  cordingly  mind  how  I  have  confounded 
''  the  Ingenious  Author  of  Conf  derations  on 
"  the  Converfion  aiid  Apoftlcfoip  of  St,  Paul; 
*'  who  has  ventured  roundly  to  Aflert  that 
"  ALL  the  Divine  Communications^  II- 
'''  hani nations  and  Efiacies  of  the  Methodifts 
*'  fprung  from  no  other  Sources  but  Self- 
"  Conceit^  Vapours^  and  Imagination,  I 
"  fay,  this  is  quite  unbecoming  fo  Young 
*'  a  Convert.  Nor  fhall  I  regard  any 
*'  Reply,  as  if  this  were  a  malicious  or  un- 
"  mannerly  Reflexion  upon  an  Excellent 
*'  Terjon  ;  or  quite  milbecoming  me,  who 
^*  was  fo  Young  a  Convert  to  Enthufiajm,  and 
*'  but  fo  Young  a  Convert  again  to  fome 
*'  fmad  Share  of  Common  Senfe,  This  is  a 
*'  mere  7r//?t%  in  Comparifon  of  the  Ad- 
*'  vantage  I  gain  by  my  Referves  and  Eat- 
*'  ceptions:  whereby  it  lies  ftill  in  my 
•'  Power  to  fix  what  Portion  Ipleafeof  my 
''  Fancies  and  Trgtences  upon  Heaven ; 
*'  and  henceforward  to  put  the  fame  Trick 
*'  again  upon  the  Dear  Innocent  Lambs. 

*'  Nor  can  the  Comparer  himfelf  efcape 
*'  the  EfFefts  of  my  Saint-like  Artifice  and 

'•  Management . 


(  xxxiii  ) 

''  Management,  I  own  the  Enthujiafms 
'*  which  he  has  ferretted  out  of  my 
"  'Journals:  but  then  I  have  cunningly 
"  fent  him  to  an  e7npty  Bitry\  my  later 
"  Writings,  where  he  can  find  nothiiig, — 
"  I  own  too,  fome  of  his  PopiJJ:  Taralleh 
''  are  exadt  enough.  But  what  am  I  the 
*^  worfe  for  treading  in  a  Popifh  Track  ? 
^'  Once,  or  twice,  however,  I  have  fairly 
*'  caught  him  without  any  Parallel  at  all  ^ 
^'  and  fo  left  him  to  that  poor  Excuje^ 
''  that  fome  of  our  Entbiifiafim  are  im- 
"  exampled, 

"  What  Wounds  I  have  given  to  Mc^ 
*^  thodifm  by ,  my  ConfeJJmiSy  I  endea- 
*'  vour  to  bind  up  again,  and  heal. 
*'  Have  I  given  any  liTong  Touches  to  God's 
''  Ark  ?  Still  I  fay,  it  is  God's  Ark.  Me- 
"  thodifm  is  ftill  Gcd's  Caiifi,  the  Bleffed 
"  Caufe,  I  ftill  glory  in  having  taken  the 
"  Field,  continue  the  Trade,  and  will  con- 
*^  tlnue  it,  while  I  can  get  Cuflomers,  If 
*^  our  Zeal  be  Irregular ,  'tis  like  wife  well- 
"  meafjt.  If  Counterfeit  Coin  be  ftirring 
"  amongft  us,  we  deal  in  fome  True 
"  Sterli72g,  Though  I  have  been  throw- P.  43. 
^'  ing  about  my  Wild-fire,  'tis  qualified 
"  with  a  Mixture  of  God's  holy  Fire. 
"  Though  I  confefs  it  Undeniable  that 
*^  Imagination  has  mixed  itfelf  with  the 
"  /Fori  ^^  Methodifm  ;  yet  in  the  very  pre- 
*^  ceding  Words   it  comes   with  a  ^(J/^^/^- 

**  PeradventurCy 


(  xxxiv  ) 

*'  Ter adventure y  '  Something  of  our  own 
**  Imagination  may  pojjibly  be  blended 
"  with  it.' 

<*  As  to  the  grievous  ^{arreh  and  Bf^oih 
''  among  ourfelves ; — 'tis  true,  we  accafed 
"  each  other  of  teaching  Damnable  Doc- 
*'  trines,  DoBrines  Ejjentially  -Erroneous, 
''  a  New,  and  Another  Gofpel,  Gfc.  But 
*'  I  have  now  'whittled  ^c'-^-^^  all  thefe  rough 
"  and  hard  Names,    and   fmoothed    them 

P-  45-  "  down  into  '  Offences  and  Divifions  about 
''  fome  JSlon'Ejjentials,  fuch  as  muft  ;/£W^ 
*'  be  among  good  Men/  And  however 
''  intemperate  and  raging  our  i/^^^/^  may 
''  be  fuppofed,  I  prove  they  were  not 
*'  properly  the  EfFeds  of  our   own  Spirit  -^ 

P.  46.  ^'  becaufe  Satan  flood  clofe  by  us,  blow- 
''  ing  up  the  Coals,  in  order  to  raife  a 
**  5;;/i?/^Y',  to  blacken  the  Work  of  God, 
'*  And  whatever  be  xht  Guilt,  I  have  taken 
'*  Care  that  our  Firjl  Reformers,  and  even 
*'  Barnabas  and  Paul,  fhall  come  in  for 
"  Snacks,  and  be  as  /^^i  as  ourfelves. 

"  Judge  now,  my  Friends,  whether 
"  the  Spirit  of  Whitefield  is  not  Jlill  the 
"  fame  ?  Whether  by  thefe  Saving  ClaufeSy 
*'  Softenings  and  Exceptions,  I  have  not 
"  in  Jo  me  Me  a  fur  e  Unconfefjed  my  ConfeJJions^ 
"  and  Retraced  fny  RetraBations  ?  My 
"  Enemies  perhaps  may  be  fo  very  un-- 
*'  rcafonable,  as  to  charge  me  with  Saying 
"  and  Unfaying,   Prevarication  and  Incon-' 

''fifiency. 


(    XXXV    ) 

*^*'  fijlency,  Difingeniiity  and  Injincerify. 
*'  But  when  the  Way  of  Duty  is  the  Way  P.  37. 
*'  of  Safety y  I  regard  not  Confeqiiences,  I 
^'  have  plainly  proved,  that  at  prefent  Ip.  25. 
*'  am  too  Serious  to  make  Sport  v^ith  my 
"  own  Deceivings ;  and  they  are  very  wel- 
*^  come  to  confer  what  T'itle  upon  me 
*^  they  pleafe.'* 

I  am,  Sir,  a  little  afraid  that  fome 
Doubts  may  arife  about  your  Sincerity. 
But  for  my  Part,  I  acknowledge  your  Plea 
to  be  true^y  and  fhall  keep  my  Word  and 
Promife  of  making  no  ObjeBion.  How- 
ever, for  this  Inftance  of  my  Love  and 
FricndJJjip^  I  may  exped  you  to  pay  fome 
Regard  to  my  Advice,  as  to  the  following 
Particulars :  (  wherein  too  all  Metbodifis 
have  Reafon  and  Right  to  join)  efpecially 
as  you  fay,  and  your  Demi -Recant at  ion 
proves,  that  *'  you  are  not  altogether  lu- 
corrigible.'' 

You  begin  your  Penite?itial  Epiftle  thus  :^-  Vr^^'^^ 
*'  Yefterday  I  made  an  End  oi  Revifing  all 
'*  my  "Journals.''  May  it  not  be  Expedient 
to  revife  them  again^  and  again  3  that  all 
Mijlakes  may  be  Rectified,  For  you  add, 
"  Alas !  Alas !  in  how  many  Things  have 
"  I  judged  and  acled  wrong."  For  the 
Sake  of  Truth  and  Right,  fpecify  exadly 
in  what  Particulars.  "  I  have  been  too 
"  rajh  and  ka/ly  in  my  CharaBers  of  Places 
"  andTerfons."     Take  care  to  do  Jufiic^ 

d  to 


(  XXXV i  ) 
to  fuch  as  may  have  loft  their  good  Name ; 
and  make  Rejlitutio?!^  as  becomes  a  "True 
Penitent,  ''  I  have  often  ufed  a  Style  too 
'^  Apojlolicaiy  Be  PiinBual^  in  relating 
fairly  when  you  fpoke  as  an  Apoftle,  and 
when  not,  "  I  have  been  too  bitter  J' 
Let  nothing  but  Honey  drop  from  your 
Pen,  ''  I  have  mixed  Wild-fire  with  my 
*'  Z^^/,  and  with  God's  Holy  Firer  A 
^72^  Com f  0 fit  ion  ^  Sir,  this  !  But  diftinguijh 
precifely  the  Proportions  -,  fay  when  and 
where  you  were  this  Da7igeroiis  Incendiary ; 
feparate  your  Sulphur  and  other  Combuftible 
Ingredients  \  Extinguifld  the  Flames ;  rcc/ 
^'^wr  Brain,  and  meddle  no  more  with 
Wildfire,  "  I  have  frequently  wrote  and 
"  fpcke  in  my  (Ji^^/z  Spirit,  when  I  thought 
*'  it  entirely  the  Spirit  of  God,'"  An  jE/^ 
fentially-Enthifiafiic  2ir\A  fatal  Prefu7nption  ! 
Be  therefore  very  Exadi  and  Explicit  in 
determining  what  came  from  God,  and 
what  from  the  Delufion  of  Fancy.  And 
when  you  have  done  this,  your  Readers 
and  Followers  will  expert  fome  clear  and 
dijiinguijlnng  Marks,  how  they  may  judge 
for  the  future  between  Divine  Injpiration, 
and  the  Operations  of  your  own  Mi?id, 
Retire  into  your  Mint-Office',  call  in  all 
your  Counterfeit  Coin ;  melt  it  down  ; 
Circulate  no  more  bafe  Money,  Let  your 
new  Coinage  be  all  true  Standard,  and  with 
a  Mark  that  may   certainly   be  depended 

upon. 


(  xxxvii  ) 

upon. — To  this  End,  perufe  diligently  and 
calmly  my  Comparijon^  which  will  afford 
you  fome  gejitle  but  ufefid  Hints  towards 
your  CorreBions  and  Emendatwis,  Thumb 
it  by  DaVy  and  dream  of  it  by  Night, — 
'^  I  have  too  much  made  hjipre/Jioits,  with- 
^^  out  the  Written  Word^  my  Rule  of  acS- 
*'  ing.''  Invert  your  Rule;  The  Written 
Word  without  hnpreffions,  "  I  have  Fiib^ 
"  liJJoed  too  foon  what  had  better  been  kept 
"  in  longer.'"  Take  the  preceding  Ad- 
vice, A^^  Lnprejfion,  ^'  By  thefe  Things 
"  I  have  given  Ibme  wrong  Touches  to 
"  God's  Arkr  This  was  Vzza'^  Offence.^ Sam.  vi. 
He  was  fmitten  for  his  Raflinefs :  fo  are  '  ^* 
you.  He  was  an  Intruder ;  and  meddled 
(however  pious  might  be  his  Intention) 
where  he  had  no  Bujinejs  :■  io  have  you. 

But  as  you  have  farther  Dejigns  ^  our 
Advice  fliall  attend  you.  "  I  think  of  p.  37. 
"  writing  a  fhort  Account  of  what  has 
'^  happened  for  thefe  Seven  Tears  laft 
''  paft.'*  Take  at  leaft  Seven  Tears  in 
doing  it.  You  have  ktn  the  Fate  of  your 
former  Journah  :  and  if  the  reft  appear 
abroad  in  the  fame  Exceptionable  Drefsy 
you  may  occafion  fome  needle fs  Merriment^ 
and  fo  be  guilty  of  a  moft  Horrible  Sin. 
You  know  how  warmly  you  have  declared 
againft  Diver/ions  of  all  Kinds.  And  think 
you  an  Account  of  more  Adventures  will 
jiot  caufeyi;;;^  Diverfwn?  You  may  not 
d  2  perhaps 


(  xxxviii  ) 

perhaps  inteiid  fuch  a  Confequence;  but 
remember  Mr.  Wejley  has  proved  Laughing^ 
Fits  to  be  fometimes  Irreji/lible,  Cafes  hap- 
pening when  720  Mortal  can  help  it, 

p  _  »«  I  purpofe  to  revife  and  corredl  The 

"  Firjl  Tart  of  my  Life.''  An  arduous 
Labour  I  confefs.  But  fend  up  a  Petition 
to  Hercules^  to  come  and  help  you  cleanfe 
this  Augean  Stable.  And  when  this  Dung 
is  eieded,  I  am  afraid  your  Second  Tart 
will  want  cleanfmg  as  much  :  and  likewife 
the  &c.  &c.  &c.  of  your  ^journals.  If 
you  fliould  happen  not  to  \yt  debarred  the 
Ufe  of  Pen,  Ink,  and  Taper,  and  my 
Advice  would  be  kindly  received  ;  I  would 
put  you  in  Mind  of  the  Toef%  Sentence,  — 
Una  litura  potefl :  One  Univerfal  Blot  will 
ferve ;  and  ferve  better  than  fo  much  blot- 
ting and  blurring,  as  will  otherwife  be 
needful.  Or,  for  another  Effedlual  JVay^ 
you  may  Purify  your  Works  by  Fire,  And 
as  you  have  already  Confejjed,  and  Jhewed 
your  Deeds  ;  it  might  be  of  Service  to  the 

Aas,  xix.  Gofpel  (tho*    not   to    Methodijrn)  to  bring 

'  *  '^  ycur  Curious  Books  together,  and  burn  them 
before  all  Men.     Your  Method  was  fome- 

p.  39.  thing  of  this  Nature,  when  you  ''  Sup-^ 
prefed  your  Letters  -,  becaufe  many  Things 
in  them  were  very  Exceptionable,  though 
good  in  the  Main.'' 

But  hold !   I  had  bcft  Retrad:  this  Ad- 
vice, fo  impertinent,  fo  hafty,   fo  unnecef- 

fary. 


(  xxxix  ) 

fary,    fo  detrimental  to  the  Public.      For 
''  After  ^Experience  and  riper    Judgment?,  ^s^^n, 
have  taught  you  to   correal  and  amend  all 
your  Performances, :  and  for  the  future  you 
are  to  come  out  in  a  more  imexceptionable 
Drcfs:"     What  a  defnable  and  delightful 
Spe^acle  I    I  almoft  long  to  have  a  Peep  at 
you  in  your  Unexceptionable  Drefs. — I  begin 
to  be  in  an  Ecftacy. — Now  methinks  I  fee 
you,  hke  a  Player  after  he  hath  ABed  his 
Part,  ftripping  off  the  dazzling  Tinfel^  in 
which  he  f  rutted  upon  the  Stage :  —  Now 
like    Prejbyter   John    tearing    away   your 
Points,  Tags,   Ribbands,  Fringe,    Lace  and 
Embroidery  :  —  Now  again   (Paulo  major  a, 
canamusj    methinks    I   fee    you    diverting 
yourfelf  of  your  Celejlial  Garments  and  Or- 
naments-,   plucking   off  your   appropriated 
Blojjoms  of  Aaron'^  Rod,    flipping  off  the 
Child    Samuel'^    Linen    Ephod,    throwing 
Elijah  Mantle  from  your  Shoulders ;  and 
modeffly   ftanding   forth    in   the   ordinary 
Attire  of  a  plain  Gown  and  Cafjock, 

And  here  I  am  carting  about  for  fom.e 
of  my  Popifo  Parallels.  But  Alas !  they 
all  prove  DefeSfive,  I  find  indeed,  in 
turning  over  the  Legends^  the  Virgin  and 
other  Celejlial  Inhabitants  often  defcending, 
and  bringing  Flowers^  Ribbands.,  and  Gar- 
lands to  adorn  their  Male  and  Female  De- 
'uotees  on  Earth.  I  find  too  Copes^  Cowles^ 
and  other  Veflmeuts  fent  down  from  Heaven^ 


(  xl   ) 

for  Founders  of  Orders,  and  Favourite 
Saints,  But  I  find  not  that  Humility  and 
Simplicity  in  any  of  them,  as  to  furrender 
up,  and  fend  back  their  Heavenly  Prefents, 
and  condefcend  to  make  their  Appearance 
in  Mortal  Raiment. 

This  Particular  being  fo  much  to  your 
Honour,  I  had  a  fair  Opportunity  of  taki?ig 
my  Leave  decently.     But  a  certain  Critical 
Friend,  pulling  me  by  the  Sleeve,  would 
needs  put  me  in  Mind  of  an  Omi[]ion  of  a 
Pajjage  or   two,    wherein  you  difcovered 
fomething  of  Management,  and  Incon-fijiency . 
P.  12.      "  When  you  begun  your  Adventures  of 
Field-Preaching,    you  had    (you   fay)    in 
your   Eye  the   Apojlles^    St.   Paul,     Peter 
and  John :  you  exprefsly  call  thefe  Field- 
Preachers,  becaufe  one  of  them  Preached 
an  Excellent  Sermon  from  a  Place  called 
Adis.xvv.. Mars-Hill',    and  the  Two  others  in  Solo- 
^^'         mon's  Torch"'     Now  my  Friend  remarks, 
that  this  fame  Mars-HtU  was  the  Court  of 
the  Areopagites,  the  higheft  Court  of  Jujiice 
in  Athens  J    before   w^hich    St.   Paul  was 
brought  by   Force.      Which    you    might 
have  feen  in  the  Margin  of  the  Bible  ;  nor 
could  your  Profound  Learning  fufter  you 
to  be  Ignoratit  of  it.     Nor  was  Solomon  s 
Porch  a  Field,  but  a  Part  of  the  temple. 
John,  X,    cc  fefus  walked  in  the  Temple  in  Solomon's 
^^'         Porch:\     This    Sort    of   Management   he 

looks 


(  xli  ) 

looks   upon   as    an  Impqfition  upon   your 
Readers. 

He  obferves  again,  that  you  often  make 
yourfelf  a  Champion  in  Defence  of  our 
Liturgy,  Articles,  and  Canons -,  of  the 
Canons  particularly  in  thefe  very  "Remarks. 
But  afterwards,  fpeaking  againfl  "  thofe  p.  47,  ^g. 
who  are  for  clipping  the  Wings  of  the  Myjlic 
Dove,  you  blefs  God  that  there  are  Men 
of  greater  Latitude,  among  whom  you 
are  fure  of  finding  hearty  Friends  and 
Well-wiihers  -,  though  your  Work  be  not 
according  to  the  exad:  Meafure  of  Canonical 
Fitnefs,''  This  he  looks  upon  as  an  In-- 
confijiency :  and  adds,  that  you  yourfelf  (by 
your  Recant atio7i)  have  effedtually  clipped 
one  Wing  of  the  Myjlic  Dove,  and  that  any 
future  Attempt  to^  mud  be  very  ridiculous 
and  auk'ward. 

But,  to  wind  up  my  Bottoms*, — whatever 
Lnthufiafms  you  have  given  up,  ftill  you 
tenacioufly  adhere  (in  Opinion  and  Prac- 
tice) to  Field-Preaching,  And  v^\r3X  candid 
Peribn  can  expert  otherwife  ?  To  be  the 
Head  of  a  SeB,  diflinguiflbed  by  a  Peculiar 
Denomination,  and  notable  Singularities  j 
— to  frifk  in  the  Air  of  Popiilarity^  be 
hugged,  and  followed  with  wijhful  Looks, 
—  Digito  7nonfrari,  et  dicier  Hie  ef  -,  — 
This  is  too  fweet  a  Morfel  to  be  thrown 
up  at  once  -,  a  Phrenzy  too  Delegable  to  be 

willingly, 


(  xlii  ) 

willingly  cured  of;  a  Devil  too  bewitching 
to  be  Injfantaneciifly  cajl  out.  But  as  you 
have  declared  a  Month's  Mind  to  get  feme 
good  Churchy  if  you  can  ;  'tis  poffible  your 
Diftemper  may  go  oft"  in  Time. 

In  the  mean  While,  Let  your  Enemies 
envy  the  Glory  you  get  by  Fi  eld -T  re  aching  : 
You  have  an  Unexceptionable  Parallel  from 
the  high  Encomium  given  by  a  Fope  to  one 
of  your  Fredecejjors.  No  Doubt  but  you 
have  every  Thing  relating  to  St.  Francis 
at  your  Fingers  Ends :  and  muft  have  {^tn 
the  Bull  of  Gregory  IX.  in  his  Favour. 
But  that  the  F^ublic  may  be  acquainted 
what  a  proper  Example  and  Incitement  juftly 
provoke  your  E^nulation^  I  fliall  fet  down 
the  Tope's  own  Words,  "  The  Lcr^/raifed 
"  up  St.  Francis,  to  demolifh  the  Phi- 
*'  Itftines  who  were  deftroying  his  Vine- 
"  yard.  Who  hearing  inwardly  a  Voice 
^^  calling  him,  courageoufly  flarts  upj 
*^  like  another  Sampfon,  the  Spirit  of  Fer- 
"  vour  coming  upon  him,  he  breaks  the 
"  Cords  that  bound  him,  and  fnatching 
*^  up  the  Jaw-Bone  of  an  Afs,  that  is  to 
**  fay,  his  own  Simple  Preaching,  not 
"  adorned  with  the  perfwafive  Colours  of 
^'  human  Wifdom,  but  w^ith  Divine 
"  Tower,  which  chufeth  weak  Things  to 
**  confound  the  firong:  and  he  who 
'^  toucheth    the    Mountains,     and    they 

*^  fmoke, 


(  xliii  ) 

"  fmoke,  enabling  him  5  he  deftroyed 
*'  manyT^houfandVhiliJlines.  AnA  from  the 
*'  JaW'Bone  itfelf  went  out  a  copious  Water  ; 
"  refrefhing,  wafhing  and  fruftifying  the 
*'  Lapfed,  the  Sordid,  and  the  Arid." 
Cherubin,  Bidlar,  Vol.  I.  in  Gregor.  IX. 
Con/lit.  2. 

If  your  Peregrinations  (hould  lead  you  to 
Romey  (whither  you  feem  to  be  fetting 
your  Faces)  fail  not  to  kifs  his  Holinefs's 
Slipper  for  this  Honourable  Teflimony  of 
an  Itinerant  Field-Preacher. 

You  continue  likewife  a  Refolution  to 
Write  on.  But  take  care  :  Be  upon  your 
Guard.  No  more  of  your  Miftakes^  Blunders^ 
Want  of  Caution y  tmguarded  Tubings  dropped 
lip  and  down^  your  Referves  and  P)oublings, 
Don't  do  Things  by  Halves.  Be  open  and 
fincere,  confiftent  and  uniform.  Aifed 
not  Jefuitifms.  Wafte  not  your  Time  in 
making  Patch-Work,  or  Loop-Holes.  Steal 
not  into  the  Game  of  Brag  while  you  are 
Writing. 

Remember,  Grand  and  Important  is  the 
Work  you  have  undertaken.  The  Eyes 
of  all  Europe  are  upon  you.  The  World 
fiands  a-tip-toe  in  ExpecSation.  And  fhould 
Failure  and  Fallacy  again  be  the  Refult; 
fome  jnalicious  Perfon  will  certainly  have 
a  Stroke  at  you,  or  fome  kind  Friend ^  like 
me^  put  you  in  Mind  of  it. 

e  /^  Thus 


(  xliv  ) 

"  Thus,    Dear  Sir,    (for  I  zm  fond  of 

your  Expreffions)  I  have  unburdened  my 

Heart  to  you :    and  as  I  have  dealt  thus 

freely  w^ith  you,  I  hope  you  will  look  upon 

me  to  be  your 


Fidus  Achates. 


55 


THE 


THE 

ENTHUSIASM 

O    F 

Methodists,  &c. 


PART     IL 


SECTION    I. 

IN  order  to  difcharge  a  Promife^  and  in 
hopes  of  doing  fome  little  Service 
to  the  Caufe  of  true  Religion,  I  have  ven- 
tured to  publifh  a  Second  Part  againft  the 
Methodijis:  Wherein  I  fhall  farther  con- 
fider  fome  of  the  Cfrcumftances  attending 
their  Nenju  Minifiration ;  its  Tendency,  In- 
fluence and  Effe^fs :  not  forgetting  to  ho- 
nour them  with  the  Company  of  their 
correfponding  Friends,  the  Entkufiajiic  Saints 
of  the  Papacy. 

B  What 


(      2      ) 

What  firft  occurs  to  my  Thoughts  is 
the  boafied  Succcfs  of  their  "breaching  ^ 
proved  by  the  Numbers  of  their  FolIowerSy 
and  Co?rjerts. 

Here  they  triumph  beyond  Meafure : 
and  perhaps  not  without  fome  Degree  of 
Foundation.  For  confidering  how  incon- 
fiderate  and  injudicious^  how  unlearned 
and  unjiabky  a  large  Portion  of  Mankind 
is,  together  with  their  various  Infirmities 
and  Difeafes  of  Mind  and  Body  5  it  muft 
be  allowed  that — The  OJierttation  of  a  fanc- 
tified  Look,  fpecious  Addrefs,  fantaftical 
Oddities,  Innovations  in  Dodfrine  and 
Places  of  Teaching,  zealous  Profeffions  of 
Piety,  AfFeftation  of  Godly  and  Scripture 
Phrajes,  and  high  Pretenfions  to  Infpi- 
ration,  &c.  will  hardly  fail  of  drawing 
and  deceiving  the  Multitude.  Whoever 
is  endowed  with  (uch  fuitable  Salifications 
need  not  fear  gaining  an  Audience,  and 
leading  Numbers  into  a  hundred  Delufions. 
He  may  find  Perfons  enough  not  difpofedy 
or  not  able,  to  diftinguifh  "  the  Illapfcs 
and  Infpirations  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  from 
the  Illufions,  Inftinfts  and  Suggeftions 
of  the  unclean  Spirit ;  from  natural  and 
Fanatical  Enthufiafm,  from  the  Swel- 
lings and  Vapours  of  a  difeafed  Spleen 
and  heated  Melancholy,  and'  from  the 
extravagant  Rovings  of  a  dijiemper*d 
Imagiruition.'^ 

We 


cc 


cc 


(    3     ) 

We  may  too  reafonably  hope  and  believe^ 
that  fome  very  profligate  and  wicked 
Wretches  have  been  prevailed  upon  by  tha 
Methodijts  to  relinquifh  their  evil  Courfes, 
and  ferioufly  repent.  But  then,  if  v^e  fub- 
du6l  from  the  Account — fuch  of  their  Fol- 
lowers as  went  only  out  of  Cimofity^  or 
Derijion  ;  —  fuch  as  were  well- difpo fed  arid 
pious  Perfons  (though  I  can't  fay  judicious) 
before  ;  —  fuch  as  have  left  and  bad  them 
adieu  upon  good  and  jufl  Reafons  ; — fuch 
as  have  been  led  into  grievous  Perplexities^ 
DiftraBion^  and  Defpair  ;  —  fuch  as  were 
fcarce  in  their  Senfes  when  they  went  a- 
mong  them,  and  have  quite  lofl  their 
Senfes  fince ; — fuch  as  have  efpoufed  con- 
felTedly  dangerous  and  wicked  'Tenets  y-^ 
and  confider  the  Danger  all  the  reft  are  in, 
of  being  betrayed  into  Notions  and  Evils, 
which  they  don't  perhaps  fufpeft : — after 
thefe,  and  other  DeduBions  which  might 
be  named,  the  Number  of  their  Converts 
will  be  confiderably  lejjened ;  and  the  Good 
they  do  nothing  like  an  Equivalent  for 
the  Mifchief. 

But  let  us  hear  themfelves.    Mr.  White- 
field  fays,  "  Thoufands  and  Ten  Thoufands 
"  follow  us : — the  Fire  is  kindled  ;  and  I 
"  know  that  all  tht  Devils  in  Hell  fliall  not  3  joura. 
*'  be  able  to  quench  it.— Well  may  the  jD^-Pag.  40. 
"  vil  and  his  Servants  rage  horribly  :  their 
"  Kingdom  is  in  Danger. — I  could  think  ofPag.  6r. 
B  2  *'  nothing 


(    4     ) 

^^  nothing  {o  much,  as  yojhua  going  from 

^'  City  to  City,  and  fubduing  the  devoted 

?flg.  69.    ?^  Nations. — With  what  Efficacy  and  Suc- 

Letters.     "  ccfs    I    have    been    enabled    to    preach 

"  T'ongue  can't  exprefs!' 

Mr.  Seward :  *'  Our  Enemies,    like  the 

''  CanaaniieSj    feem  to   have  no  Spirit  left 

*'  in   them  j    but  fail  every  where  becauib 

Toarn.      *'  oi  US ;  —  afiiamcd,   as  it  were,  to  fliew 

Pag.  61.    *^  their  guilty  Heads." 

See  with  what  a  magnificent  Air  Mr. 

Wejley  boafts  of  "    converting  the  Drunks 

^^  ard^  the  Whoremonger ,  the  OppreJJbr^  the 

Farth.      ^^  Swearer^  the  Sluggard ,    the  Mijer  ;    and 

^Pf'^^g?"  elfewhere,  (cvtml  common  Pro/ikutes. — • 

^  *'  No  Work  has  been  wrought  (o  fwiftl}\ 

*'  y&  extenjively^  fince  Conflantine  the  Great  J' 

This  is  a  Specimen  (for  I  might  recite 

fifty  times  as  much)    of  their  Succefs  in 

Converjions,     And  yet  we  can  match  them 

among  their  Elder  Brethren. 

"  St.  Ignatius y  faid  Gregory  XV,  was 
like  yc>pjua^  Z^^^^y  according  to  his  Name, 
for  Jai>ij2g  the  EleB  of  God  -,  (Ecclus. 
46.  I.)  He  was  fo  ardent^  [iot  Ignatius 
fignifies  fery)  that  when  he  fent  forth 
his  MiJJicnaries  to  gain  Souls,  he  ufu- 
Bart.  vit.  ally  faid,  Go,  Jet  on  fire,  and  inflame 
320!    ^   every  Thing'' 

"  St.  Francis  ufed  to  call  People  toge- 
ther with  blowing  a  Horn,  (as  the  Me^ 
tbcdijis  by  Advert ijements)    when  he  was 

to 


(     5     ) 

to   preach ;    and    his  Preaching    was    fo 
wonderfully    moving,  —  that    prodigious 
Multitudes  of  Men    and  Women,    ^^^^^ qq^^ 
all   Number    and  Computation,    and    thepoi.  ,4^; 
very   Harlots    were    converted.  —  Many  54- 
inflamed    with    Devotion,    and  Defire  of 
PerfeBion,    contemning   all  mundane  /^^- Bonavent. 
nities,  followed  his  Footfteps  5  andy^itv//'- J^^'^^^"^' 
ly  did  this  Succefs    increafe    to   the  Ends 
of  the  Earthr 

"  St,  Anthony  had  fuch  a  Power  over  Men 
and  Women,   that  he  converted  j/Z/^r^j  ^/Conform. 
Sinners,   even  Ufurers,  and  com??wn  Stru?n^^[  ^^: 
pets, — A  ccvtsiin  jejmt  went  to  the  otewSyUia.jQf. 
and    made    a    furprizing   Converiion    of  ^^^f-  2. 
Multitudes  of  Proftitutesr  ^'  ^^* 

"  St.  Francis  of  Sales  brought  over  fe- 
venty-  two     thoufand     Heretics    to    theBrev.  Mo- 
Catholic  Faith. — St.  Dojninic  fo  ftrangely"^^- 
aftoniihed  and  fet  on  fire  the  Minds  of  ^"*  ^^' 
his  Auditors,  his  Difcourfes  were  fp  forci- 
ble and  ravifjing  3  -r-  that    he    converted 
almoft    an    hundred    thoufand  Souls,  thatj^jbajen. 
were  flrayed  and  loft.'*  pag.  519. 

§.  2.  And  if  we  duely  weigh  Matters, 
how  can  the  Methodifi-'ieachers  be  other- 
wife  than  powerful  Converters  ?  What 
Heart  can  ftand  out  againft  their  perfuafive 
Eloquence,  their  extravagantly  fine  Flights 
and  Allufions  ?  Where  is  any  thing  fo  fub- 
lim?  and  elevated  f  or  fometimes  what  fo 

melting. 


(     6     ) 

meltings  tender  and  amorous^  fo  foft  and  fo 
fweet  ?  You  will  be  in  a  Rapture  by  read- 
ins;  their  own  Words,  —  In  the  Stiblimey 
"  God  gives  them  a  Text^  diredts  them 
*'  to  2.  Method  on  the  Tulpit-Stairs -^  the 
*'  Lamb  of  God  opens  their  Mouth,  and 
*'  loofeth  their  Tongue ;  and  Sijier  Wil- 
'*  liamsy  who  is  near  the  hord^  opens  her 
**  Mouth  to  confirm  it : — fo  that  all  Op- 
"  pofers  are  ftruck  dumb  and  confounded. 
"  Jefiis  rides  from  Congregation  to 
*'  Congregation,  breathing  Courage  and 
*'  Strength  into  his  Lambs^  and  carrying 
"  all  before  him. — He  rides  in  the  Chariot 
"  of  his  Gofpel  moft  triumphantly  in- 
*'  deed: — And  the  Preacher  fits  in  the 
■^  Chariot  of  his  Lord's  dear  Arms^  lean- 
"  ing  every  Day  on  his  Bofom^  and  fucking 
*'  the  Breafl:s  of  his  Confolation  ;  while 
"  his  Bajiner  of  Love  is  fpread  over  him  : 
*'  —  the  Arrows  of  the  Lord  fly  through 
"  the  Congregation,  and  Mr.  Wbitefield 
*'  gives  them  a  home  Stroke, — Heavily  in- 
"  deed  do  they  drive,  when  God  takes  off 
*'  their  Chariot-wheels,  But  when  God  is 
"  anointing  the  Wheels  of  their  Souls ; — 
"  'tis  fweet  to  be  at  fidl  Stretch  for  God  -, 
*'  — to  come  to  a  faving  Clofure  with 
"  Chrifi  'y  to  lay  all  their  Concerns  on  his 
*'  Shoulders ;  —  or  leap  into  a  burning  fiery 
'^  furnace  without  Fear,  which  would  ferve 
"  as  a  fiery  Chariot  to  carry  their  Souls  to 

"  Heaven. 


(     7    ) 

"  Heaven.  While  they  fee  poor  Sinners 
"  hanging  as  it  were  by  a  fingle  Hair,  in- 
"  fenfible  of  their  Danger,  over  the  Flajnes 
"  of  Helir 

How  pretty  is  it,  when  "  the  Infants^ 
"  Babes,  and  Weaklings  of  Grace  require 
*'  dayly  to  be  born  on  the  Sides  of  Chrifl^ 
*'  and  be  dandled  upon  his  K?2ees — till  they 
*'  come  to  walk  continually  under  the 
"  Droppings  of  his  Blood  ?  They  fee  the 
"  fweet  Jefus  fhewing  his  lovely  Face ; 
*'  and  his  Favours  and  precious  Promifes 
^'  drop  down  his  Lily-lips  like  fweet-fmel- 
"  ling  Myrrh.  They  know  that  his  Arms 
''  are  round  them  •  for  his  Arms  are  like 
"  the  Rain-bow.'' 

To  which  may  be  added  Part  of  a 
Sacred  Lilliputian  Hymn,  compofed  by 
Count  Zi?2zendorf,  the  Moravian's  Infallible 
Bijhop : 

Chicken  blejjedy  Hymn  s^, 

And  careffed. 
Little  Bee  on  Jefus'  Breajl^ 
F^-om  the  Hurry 
And  the  Flurry 
Of  the  Earth  thoiCrt  now  at  reft. 

What  tender,  fweet,  and  endearing  Ap- 
pellations ?  ''  Our  glorious  Soul-brothers^ 
"  and  Societies  of  Women  5  fweet,  precious, 
**  choice  Love-Feafls',  poor  Souls  under 
•'  Concern,    fweet   Societies    of    feeking 

''  Souls  ^ 


(     8     ) 

^'  Souls ;  —  dear,  precious,  poor  little 
"  fweet  Lambs ;  —  among  them  a  gra- 
"  cious  Melting  is  vifible.  —  Their  alf^ 
''  fenf  Friends  they  hope  are  on  the  Top 
*'  of  Pifgah,  and  they  fend  them  a  thou- 
"  Jhid  Kiffes  :  —  their  deceafedy  in  their 
*^  filent  Grave,  fweetly  fleep  in  that  Bed 
*'  perfumed  by  cur  Dear  Lord,  —  The 
*^  Hearers  (fays  one)  were  melted  into 
*'  Tears ;  my  Heart  was  full  of  Love  5 
*^  theirs  alfo  were  much  affefted  : — they 
*'  would  run  and  flop  me  in  the  Alleys^ 
*^  hug  me  in  their  Arms,  and  follow  me 
*'  with  wip^ful  Looks. — They  had  an  over^ 
"  weening  Fond?iefs  for  me. — Many  faid, 
*^  where  thou  goejt  I  will  go  :  where  thou 
*'  lodgefl  I  will  lodge. — Brother  Whitejield 
*'  preach 'd  ;  —  'twas  enough  to  melt  the 
"  hardcfl  heart  -,  for  the  Smiles  of  a  Cheru* 
*^  bim  were  in  his  Countenanced 

Can  you  then  think  it  poffible  fuch  CZy- 

Brev.Fran.;-//^/^  Charms^  and  fuch  fublimated  and  per^ 

Bon'avtnt./^''^^^^'^  Eloquence  can  be  refifted  ?  Or  can  you 

Leg.  Fr.    blame  the  Methodijls,   if  they  vie  with  the 

'^P-  4-    Seraphic  St,  Francis  ? — ''  who  appeared  to 

"  his  Followers  in  the  Form  of  a  Jiery 

"  Cljariot,  whirling  up  and  down  3 — and 

*'  was  indeed  ordained  of  God,  like  EliaSy 

"  to  be  the  Chariot  and  Charioteer  of  Spi- 

*'  ritual  Men  : — his  Soul  rambling  thro' 

Id.  cap.  9."  the  World,    as  bright  as  the  Sun,  like 

*'  Phaeton  in  his  Father's  Chariot : — Chriji 

-  Jefus 


(9     ) 

*^'  Jeftis   remaining    in   the  Bofom   of   his        -    .^ 

''  Mind,   like  a  Hajidjul  of  Myrrh.  —  In-  Leg.  Fran; 

"  flamed  both  Men  and  Women  with  an^^^'^- 

^'  ardent  Defire  to   follow  his  Footfteps  * 

*'  and  particularly  St,  Clara,    that  Virgin  Cap.  4. 

''  dear ,  to  God  converted  to  Celibacy,  the 

"  firft  Plant  and\  beautiful  white  Flower-; 

"  gave  a  Jweet  O^fe^r,  and  fhined  as  a  Star 

^^  above    the.  reft.  — ^  One    was    fo    in- Conform, 

"  ftariied  by  hearing  him,  as  to  fay,  that^"^^  '^^ 

''  none   ought   to   mention  the  TSluvie  (k 

''  that  Blejed  Man  without  h'cki?7g  their 

*'  Lips  for  Joyr    . 

Nor  need  We  think  it  at  all  Grange, 
that  "  Divine  Ma?rifeJt'atio?is  come  in  fo 
*'  faft,  that  the  Lamb's  are  fcarce  able  to 
"  contain  themfehes ;  they  flow  in  fo  fait, 
''\  that  their  yrj//  Tabernacle  is  fcarce  able 
"  to  fufl:ain  them. — They  know  not  whe- 
^\  ther  they  are  in  the  Body,  or  out.  of  the 
"  Body  :—■  know  .hot  ^-s^Afr^  they  are,  and 
*'  fink  into  Nothing.— -The  Soul  makes  fucH 
"  Sallies,  as  if  it  would  go  out  of  theif 
*^  Body,  conftraining  therh  to  throw  them- 
"  felves  upon  the  Ground.  —  The  Love 
*^  of  God  fo  kindles  in  the  Heart,  with 
*^  Pai?2s  fo  violent,  and  yet  fo  ravi/hing- 
"  that  the  Body  is  almbft  torn  afunder.'' 

Such  are  the  ecfiatic  Raptures  and  Ra- 

vifhments  of  the  Methodifts,    in  their  own 

Words :    which    we   may   compare   with 

thofe  of  Philip  Nerim,  a  Canonized  Saint  -, 

Ov  "  who 


(      lo     ) 

*^  who  was  fo  full  of  Heavenly  lltapfes,  and 
'Divine  Love^  that  oftentimes  he  threw 
himfelf  upon  the  Grd?«W,  and  was  forced 
to  cry  out,  it  is  enough ^  my  Dear 
JjOrd^  it  is  enough c  Withold  a  little^  — ' 
/  am  not  able  to  endure  fuch  Abundance 
of  Celeftial  Sweet nefs.  Whereupon  the 
Lord  in  fome  medfure  abated  the  Vio- 
lence of  his  Heat.  But  ftill  wounded 
with  the  Love  of  Gody  he  inceflantly 
languifhed,  and  his  Heart  was  fo  agi- 
tated with  the  impetuous  Motion  of 
the  Spirit^  that  it  fell  a  beating  and 
leaping  with  fuch  Violence,  as  muft 
Ribaden.  have  killed  him,  without  a  Miracle. 
^^^y^*  But  the  Lord  miraculoujly  enlarged  his 
May  6,  Breafi^  broke  and  elevated  two  of  bis 
Ribsy  to  give  the  Heart  Room  to  play^ 

More  correjponding  Circumftances  occur 
in  the  Life  of  M.  Magdalen  of  Tazzi  ^ 
whom  Clement  IX,  infpired  with  the 
Lights  of  the  Holy  Spirit ^  canonized^  April 
28,  1669.  ''  The  Spirit  of  God  threw 
her  upon  the  Ground  in  an  Ecfiafy^ 
when  her  Countenance  was  fhining  like 
that  of  an  Incarnate  Seraphim.  — *-  Chrifi 
gave  her  fo  large  a  Share  of  the  Myrrh^ 
pofy  of  his  Paffion,  that  frequently  un- 
der an  Aliejiation  of  her  Senfes  fhe  would 
throw  herfelf  on  her  Back  on  the 
Ground,  exclaiming,  O  JefuSy  I  can 
endure  no  longer  ^^    I  cannot  partake  any 

more 


(  "  ) 

more  of  thy  Pains.  —  Often    in    thefe 
amorous   Tranfports   fhe  would   join   her- 
felf   clofe  to  a:  Crucifix^    and  fuck  a  di- 
vine Liquor  thence,     which     filled    her 
Soul   with   unfpeakable    Sweetnefs, — rHer 
Heart  was  fo    inflamed,    that   fhe  feemed 
to   be  difjohed^    and  about    to   return  to 
her  Jirjt  Nothing.^  —  Her  private  familiar 
Entertainments,    and  Communications  with 
God,      fo     fired     her    Breaft,     that    Ihe 
would     exclaim,      O    Lovcy     I    can    no 
longer  fupport  your  Flames^  —  my  Heart 
is     not     able     to     contain     you  :  —  and 
flie  was   oblig'd   to  fetch  a  Bafon  of  JVa-r 
ter,  and  pour  it  into  her  Bofom  to  cool 
herfelf.  —  Her  dead  Body  was  beautiful^^^^^^^' 
as    a    precious    Rehc    of    Taradijcy    ex-^o.  26, 
haling   an  agreeable  Odour:  and  the  Bull  S7»  69* 
of    her    Canonization    begins    with    the^°'  ^'* 
Incorruption    and    fweet    Odour    of    her^^. 
Body  3  ufually  term'd  the  Odour  of  Sanc^ 
tityr 

We  are  tolA  hy  Spinellus^  «  ihzt  Chrifi^^^^^^ 
himfelf  came  and  performed  the  Funeral- •pz^^^eo. 
OJice  for  a  holy  Virgin  at  her  Death : 
and  that  he  anointed  with  the  facred  Oyl 
St.  Lyduina  when  fhe  was  dying."  And 
'tis  obfervable,  (and  I  could  bring  a  hun- 
dred Inflances)  that  mofl  of  the  Popijh 
Saints  dead  Bodies  always  remain  odorous 
and  uncorrupted  (while  thofe  of  the  Wickr 
cd  flink  and  rot)  tho'  ever  fo  many  hi^n- 
C  2  ired, 


(       12      ) 

dred,  Years  after  their  Burial.  This  Mi- 
rack)  I  fuppofe,  in  due  Time  will  be  re- 
newed on  the  Body  of  the  Methodifiy 
*'  who  in  her  filent  Grave  fweetly  fleeps 
in  that  Bed  perfwiied  by  our  dear  Lord'' 
For  how  can  a  Body  be  otherwife,  which 
Chrifl  hath  perfumed  and  fpiced  with  his 
own  Hands  ?  Let  her  Grave  be  opened,  I 
dare  engage  fome  of  t\it  Believers  will  at- 
teft  it.  'Tis  certainly  a  greater  Honour 
than  the  Topijh  Graves  receive  by  being 
fprinkled  with  Holy  Water  and  Ince?jfe : 
and  may  be  the  Effed:  of  fome  Prayer^ 
like  that  in  their  OJice  of  the  Sick  for  the 
life  of  the  Carmelite Sy  ^^  O  moft  merciful 
Lord^  let  her  Soul  joyfully  expire  in 
thy  mo[i '  delicious  Embrace^  and  7?2o/i 
fweet  Kifsr 

Through  this  whole  Parallel  you  fee 
all  is  Rapture  and  Ecftafy ;  Divine  Love 
infupportably  violent,  but  ravifhing ;  all 
Infpiration,  all  Heavenly^  all  ^i7iteffencey 
all  Nothingnefs.  And  why  do  not  the 
Methodijis  equally  merit  a  Canonization? 
Either  fomething  like  this  is  their  Due,  or 
elfe  they  m'uft  be  thought  to  be  adluated 
by  a  Diabolical  lllufio?!,- — or  innocejit  Mad- 
mc7i, — or  i?]famo,us  Cheats. 

§.  3.  And  ijiay  not  Perfons  io  highly 
loved,  favoured,  and' valued  by  God  and 
the  World  be  allowed  a  little  decent  Pride, 

and 


(     13     ) 

an4  be  jtiftly  vain  of  their  own  Worth  ? 
Such  indeed  has  been  the  Cafe  with  the 
Methodijis  -,  and  their  great  /welling  Words 
of  Vanity^  and  proud  Boa/iingSy  have  been 
carried  to  a  rnoft  immoderate  and  infuffera- 
ble  Degree. 

Firft  for  Mr.  Whitefield.  His  firft  Ac- 
count of  God's  Dealings  with  him  (befide$ 
a  deep  Tiadure  of  Super jlition^  Enthu^ 
Jiaf?n^  a?id  Fain-glory }  is  fuch  a  boyifh, 
ludicrous,  filthy,  naily,  and  fhamelefs  Re- 
lation of  himfelf,  as  quite  defiles  Paper, 
and  is  Shocking  to  Decency  and  Modefly. 
'Tis  a  perfedl  Jakes  of  Uncleannefs.  And 
yet  he  alSures  us,  that  "  he  was  much 
''  preffed  in  Spirit  to  publifh  it,— the  Holy^^''''^''^' 
**  Spirit  bringing  Things  to  his  Remem- 
"  brance  j— he  had  for  three  Years  prayed 
''  for  Strength  to  write  it,  and  at  laft  hadpag^V".' 
"  Tower  given,  and  was  q/^Jled  in  it.*' 
What  any  Man  in  his  Senfes  would  be 
ajljamed  to  own,  is  pioujiy  afcribed  to  the 
Holy  Ghojl,  In  Conformity  with  the  wild 
and  Fanatical  Terefa,  who  having  pub- 
Hihed  her  own  Life,  with  all  her  Faults 
and  Vanities,  faith  of  it,  "  I  make  this  Preface  to 
"  Relation^ — which  to  my  Knowledge  our^^^  ^^^^• 
"  Lord  himfelf  defired  long  fince,  but  I 
"  durft  not  undertake  it.  And  her  other 
*'  Writings  the  Lord  exprejjly  commanded 
*'  her  to  publifh.  —  And  becaufe  Our 
•*  Lord  told  it  me,  I  make  a  great  Scruple 

*«  of 


(     H     ) 
'^  of  either  adding,   or  fubftrafting,   one 
"  only  Syllabkr 

His  fecond  Dealings  is  fuch  a  thorough 
and  fulfome  Strain  of  VaiJi-glory  and  Boafl- 
ing^  Self-conceit^  Self-applauje,  and  Self- 
(tifficiency^ — as  fhews  Spiritual  Pride  in  full 
Length,  and  in  its  true  Colours.  The 
fame  Spirit  runs  through  all  his  "Journals^ 
&c.  And  I  verily  believe  it  hath  not  its 
^Parallel  in  the  World.  Many  have  been 
fo  bloated  with  a  Conceit  of  their  own 
Perfections,  as  highly  to  be  delighted  with 
the  moft  naufeous  Flatterers  :  but  fuch  an 
Inundation  of  Commendation  from  a  Man's 
own  Mouth  is  furely  unexampled.  No  Man 
ever  fo  bedaubed  himfelf  with  his  own 
Spittle. 

It  iTiews  fome  Degree  of  Modefty  and 
Humility,  when   "  he  thinks  himfelf  not 

'  ^^!^1"^'''  ^^  f^^  Orders, — till  a  worthy  Friend  told 
P^s  37.   cc  }^jj^^  ^^^  jf  5^^  -p^^i  ^gj.g  ^^  Gloucefler 

*'  he  would  ordain  him.-^-Or  when  God 
"  gives  him  Favour  in  the  Printer's 
"  Sight,  or  in  the  Sight  of  t\it  Jaylor -;' 
and  it  furnifheth  him  too  with  a  Scripture 
Phrafe.  But  he  has  fome  Grounds  for 
Elevation y  "  when  liis  Name  is  firft  in  the 
News-Papers,  though  he  can't  tell  upon 
what  Occafion  ;  —  began  to  grow  popu- 
lar, and  had  Honour  even  in  his  own 
iT>€^ymg. Country :  — when  Sifter  Sermon  Enquiry 
Ts!  zi".'    was   made   vvho   he  wa^,  and  there  was 

fuch 


(     i5     ) 

fuch  Crdwding  to  hear  him  :  —-  Wh«n  ^ 
bearfy  G?^oa?2  runs  through  the  Congrcga-* 
tion,  when  he  fpeaks  any  Thing  affeB^ 
ing  ; — and  he  owns  the  Pleafure  of  hearing 
the  Succefs  of  his  Difcourfe  upon  two 
little  Children^  whom  he  made  to  cry^^ 
and  go  Home  to  their  Prayers  ;  —  and 
when  a  little  Girl  of  thirteen  comes  to 
enquire  about  the  State  of  her  Soul,  and 
fays  flie  was  priclced  through  and  through  3  Jou^n, 
with  the  Power  of  the  Word.''  l,^^'  ^' 

All  through  his  Joiirnah  he  oftenta- 
tioully  difplays  the  y^pplaufes^  Accla7jiations'y 
and  Huzzas  of  the  People.  ' '  The  Tide 
'^  of  Popularity  began  to  run  very  high  : 
"  —  I  carried  high  Sails,  Thoufands  and 
*'  ten  Thoufands  came  to  hear  me,  —  my 
*'  Sermons  were  every- where  called  for, — 
''  when  I  preached,  one  might  walk  upon 
"  People's  Heads :  —  God  fuffered  them 
*'  (the  Oppofers)  not  to  move  a  Tongue 
^^  againft  me  :  —  Trees  and  Hedges  full^ 
"  all  hufh'd  when  I  began.  —  God  only 
*'  can  tell  how  the  Hearers  were  melted 
**  down  :  —  they  would  have  plucked 
"  put  their  own  Eyes,  and  have  given 
"  them  unto  me.  —  I  was  crowded,  ad* 
*^  mired, — faluted,  Hands  kiffed,  hugged, 
<<  —  they  melt,  weep,  hang  upon  me, 
*'  want  to  falute  me ;  —  receive  me  as 
an  Angel  of  God :  —  their  Hearts  leap 
for  Joy,  —  Bells  ring,  — -  cxprefs  their 

''  Love 


(C 


<c 


<c 


C    16    ) 

"  Love  to  me  many  Ways.  All  agreed 
^'  it  was  never  feen  on  this  wife  before. 
«  —  Great  Shouts  of  Rejoicing  at  my 
"  Staying." 

But  what  a  fad  Tartiiig  is  it  ialways  be-- 
tween  him  and  his  Admirers?  "  Strong 
"  Cries  and  Tears,  Sighs  and  Groans  j 
"  —  ready  to  break  their  Hearts,  and 
^/j.*— ^Youhg  and  Old  burft  into  a  Flood 
of  Tears,  like  Water  giifhing  out  of  the 
ftony  Rock.  —  'Twould  melt  every  one 
down  to  fee  it.  —  Tongue  can*t  ex- 
prefs  the  Sorrow  :  they  weep  aloud  and 
forely ,  as  though  mourning  for  the  Death 
of  their  Firji-born''  . 
What  Bragging  of  Favours,  Entertain- 
ments, Liberalities  and  Prefents,  from 
Gentlemen,  and  efpecially  Ele^l  Ladies^ 
and  Honour  able  Women  ? — '^  A  Bank-bill  of 
"  ten  Pounds,  as  a  Prefent  to  myfelf :  This 
*^  I  took  as  a  Hint  frOfnTrovidence  to  go  on: 
[very  rightly  judged]  — **  and  ^various  Pre- 

3  Journ.   "  fents  as  Tokens  of  theif  Love.  — Thus 
pag.  66.    «c  jj,^ii  If  ^^  ^^^^  f^   fjj^  j^^^^  ^i^Q^^  Q^J 

"  delight eth  to  honour," 

What  Proclamations  of  ViSfory  and 
Triumph  ?  *'  They  go  on  conquering^  aJid 
"  to  conquer y  —  and  fee  Satan  like  Light- 
**  ning  fall  from  Heaven  ; —  the  Devil  m^d 
"  his  Servants  rage  horribly.** 

Mr.  Seward  is  Witnefs,  that  as  to 
y  Entertainments^  they  find  good  MeafiirCy 

*^  frejjed 


(    yj   ) 

«"'  prc[jed  dow72,  aJid  i^u?ining  over  : — that 
**  /Zt^'// trembles  before  om  Brother  Whiter 
"  field  wherever  he  comes  5   the  Kingdom  !<'"''"•  ^ 
*'  of  Dark?2efs  toiitxs,  and  is  fliaken  ^  and  73,*^'^ 
*'  Vice  fculks  its  guilty  Head,  and  retires 
"  to   iecret  Corners." 

Whitefield  again,  flu(hed   with  Succefs ;  4  Jo^^rn. 
"  Come  ye  Pharijces,  come  and    fee  the  P^^*  '" 
*'  Lor^  Je'/^/i  getting   himfelf  the  ViBory, 
*'  Every  Thing  falls  before  me  :  —  Dear  3  Jo'^^n. 
*'  Brother  Harris  reminded  me, — and  G^^^^d  Le^ 
"  f^gg^ft^d  to  me,    that  now  I   was  like  ters. 
"  Jojhiia,  fubduing  the  devoted  Nations, 
*'  and  dividing  the  Land." 

But  all  this  will  rather  remind  others 
of  SacheverePs  triumphmit  Progrefs  through 
the  Land,  difpenfing  his  KilTcs,  and  col- 
leding  his  Prefents,  &c.  —  or  of  a  Royal 
Ocidiji  undertaking  infallibly  to  cure  all 
Dcfedis  of  the  Eyes,  —  or  to  make  them 
ftark  blind. 

Whether  their  Treatment  be  ff?iooth, 
or  rough  ;  all  is  Food  for  their  Vanity. 
"  Blc[jed  be  God,  —  who  difpofed  the  Re- 
"  verend  Mr.  Penrofe,  and  others,  to  3  journ. 
''  lend  me  their  Pu/pits.  — Forbid  toP-32- 
*'  preach  in  a  Churchy  which  rejoiced  me 
*'  greatly.  Lord,  why  doji  thou  thus  ho- 
"  7702ir  me!'' 

He  has  indeed  the  Grace  to  feel,  and 
be  afjured  of,  this  fpiritual  Pride,  and  often 
makes  'Confejjion  of  it. 

V  "  HypQ- 


(     i8    ) 

1  Dc.il.         "  HypGcrify  crept  into  every  A6lion  :  •— 

P-  -^»  38, ''  Self-love,  ^Selj'WilU   Pride  and  Envy,   fo 

-^9'  40.     jc  i^uffeted  me  in  their   Turns  :  —  Proud 

*'  Hdlijh    Thoughts   uicd    to    crowd    in 

**  upon  me. — Out  of  Tride  put  down   in 

"  my  Diary  what  I  gave  avvay  :  —  find 

*'  Pride  creeping  in  at  the  End   of  alrnofl 

,'  journ.    ''  every  Thought, —  frequent! v  enhghten- 

F-  '4-       "  ed  to  fee  the  Pride  and  Seljijhnefs  of  my 

''  Heaft." 

Whatever  Liberty  the  Sahiis  may  have 
to  boall  fuch  great  Things,  and,  as  the 
Propbcif  fpeaks,  to  burn  Incenfe  imto  Va- 
vaH ;  or  however  coniiftent  it  be  with 
the  Characler  of  an  E?itbufia/i  )  it  is  per- 
fectly inconfiftent  with  that  Charity,  the 
Love  of  God  and  Man,  whicli  vaunteth 
not  itfelf,  is  not  puff ed-up,  doth  not  be- 
have itfelf  iinfecmly. 

In  com.paring  the  Popifi  Fanatics  on 
this  Article,  the  Parallel  will  be  a  little 
defective,  becaufe  they  were  not  fuch  con- 
llant  and  naufeous  Trumpeters  of  their  own 
Praifes  3  leaving  that  Work  to  their  Bre- 
thren and  Legendary  TVriters :  from  whom 
we  may  pick  up  enough. 

**  St.  Bernardin  was   the   vi^oik  £imous 

Preacher  in  all  Italy ;    the    Hearers  hung 

upon  his  Lips,  —  they  are   perfedlly  afto- 

niflied,    immoveable, — admire  him  as  ano^ 

CiZc.Ord.^hcr  Apofile  fent  from  God,  —  Both  Sexes 

^/"*    ^^  come  before  Djy   into  the  open  Places,  to 

get 


(     19     ) 

get  a  Place  to  hear  him, — cry  and  figh  at 
his  Diicoiirfes/' 

Brother    Syhejtcr  (  a    Jcfuit  )    run   up 
and  down  every-where  hunting  for  Souls  ^ 

—  all  Sores  of  People  flocked  from  Towns 

and  Villages,  offering  tbemfehcs  and  their  Orlardln. 

W'Thi?2(rs.     Such  Stren2:th  did  God  2\ve  ^^^' ^• 
,  .  '^  ^  ^       p-  260. 

him. 

St.  Francis'^  Words  were  not  empty,  ^^^ev. 
and  meriting  Laughter  ;  but  perfumed  q^^V 
with  the  Odour  of  Divine  Revelation^  and 
turning  his  diidience  into  a  vehement  Stu- 
por and  Admiration :  Young  and  Old, 
Small  and  Great,  both  Sexes  crowded  af- 
ter this  new  Man  fent  down  from  Heaven^ 
this  frefh  Flower  of  the  World  3  —  not 
Room  to  hold  the  Company,  —  no  tread- 
ing on  the  Ground,  —  His  Words  were  a 
burning  Fire^ —  iliarp  Arrows  drawn  from 
ih^^nverofGody  piercing  the  Heart. — 
God  fo  exalted  him  with  Glory,  and  made 
him  to  be  honoured  wherever  he  came  3 
that  all  came  out  to  meet  him,  to  re- 
ceive him  with  the  utmoft  Reverence  and 
Devotion,  not  as  a  Mau^  but  as  an  Angela 

—  making    him    valuable    Frefcnts^    and 
begging  him  to  ftay   with   them.  —  And  Conform. 
happy  were  they,  who  could  hear^  or  fee^  ^si'  "^"* 

jpeak  to  him,  ox  touch  him. —  Even  Dr^- 
tures  void  of  Rcajhn,  Sheep  and  AJJes, 
would  run  to  hear  him  preach  in  the 
Fields. 

P  2  The 


(       20       ) 

Ibid.  Fol.       The  Saint  can't  help  owning  Ids  Pride, 

'^^'  and  particularly   in  giving  a   Majitle  to   a 

Woman    out  of  Vanity  \     and   that  when 

the  People  honoured  him  for  his  SanBitj\ 

and  kijjed  his  Hands,  he  received  it  with 

great  Delight.  —  Their  Refpea:   to   him, 

he  fays,  is  nothing  in  refpedt  of  what  they 

ought  to  fhevv  ;  — they  are  Gainers  by  it, 

becaufe   they   hereby   recognife   God,    and 

honour  him  in  his  Creature, 

Ribaden.        St.  Anthony's   Words   were    as   Flames 

^J,^  ^^''    kindliftg  the  Heart,  —  drew  Sobs  and  Tears 

from    his   Auditors,  —  who    were    happy 

could  they  but  kijs  his  Hand,  or  touch  his 

Garment, 

St.  Ignatius  was  remarkable  for  his  fre- 
quent Relapfes  into  his  old  Strain  of  Vain- 
Ribacci.  glory, — St.  Peter  of  Verona  was  reverenced 
^-  ^^'^  through  all  Italy  like  an  Apoftie -,  received 
every-where  with  public  and  jblernn  Joy, 
• —  with  Throngs  who  came  to  kiJs  his 
Hand,    and  his  Habif\ 

As  to  the  Methodijts  being  the  chief 
Objed  of  the  Devih  Hatred,  becaufe  they 
are  to  deftroy  his  Kingdom,  their  Boafting 
comes  too  late;  that  having  been  effedled 
Conform,  before  by  their  Elder  Brethren,  For 
^ol.  52.  cc  jj^^j.^  ^^^  ^  horrid  Commotion  in  Hell 
at  St.  Frajicis'^  Birth,  becaufe  the  Devils 
knew  that  Hell  was  to  be  deftroyed  by 
him,  and  his  Society  :  For  which  Reafon 
they  aimed  their  Spite  principally  againft 

him. 


(       21       ) 

him. — The  Devil  was  enraged  with  Spite 
and  Hatred  againft  St  Ig?iatius  for  the  fame 
Realon  ;  and  they  often  declared  in  what 
Fear  and  Awe  they  ftood  of  him ;  know- 
in*^   that  he  was   to  demohfh  their   King-  ^'^^'^^n- 
dom  :  —  they  acknowledged  that  no    ScB  Gomez. 
in  the  Univerfe  was  more  odious  to  them  ^^^^S-  J«- 
than  the  Jefuitsr  Js'/'S- 

Mr.  JVejfle\\  I  confefs,  is  not  fo  nau- 
feous  and  conftant  in  this  Strain  of  Vain- 
glory :  He  feems  to  lay  his  Plot  deeper^ 
relating  moftly  what  may  redound  to  his 
Honour,  and  then  leaving  his  Projelytes 
and  others  to  judge.  Some  times,  how- 
ever, he  can't  help  breaking  out  into  this 
fame  ConJide72ce  of  Boafting,  ''  I  think 
'^  verily,  if  the  G(5/^^/ be  true,  I  am  fafe  : 
"  for  I  give  all  my  Goods  to  feed  the 
"  Poor,  —  give  my  Body  to  be  burned^, 
"  drowned,  or  whatever  God  (hall  ap- 
*'  point, —  I  fJ:ew  my  Faith  by  my  Works, 
*'  by  ftaking  my  All  upon  it  3 — therefore  i  Joum. 
"  are  ?ny  Ways  not  like  other  Men's ,L^7»  68, 
"  Ways."  —  Again,  ''  Are  they  read  in 
*'  Philofophy?  So  was  I.  In  antient  or 
/'  modern  Tongues?  So  vv^as  I  alfo.''  — 
With  a  long  String  of  Self-Commenda- 
tion. 

^'  I  left  London,  —  went  to  Brijlol, — 4  joum. 
*'  furprized  when  I  went  into  the  Room,  P-  ^5- 
''  juft   after   my   Brother   had   ended  his 
"  Sermon.      Some    wept    alpud  :     Some 

"  clafped 


(      22      ) 

^*  ckfped   their   Hands:    Some- fhou  ted  ; 
*'  the  reft  ilmg  Praife.  —  Art  thou  come, 

Pag  ^6.  *'  fays  another,  thou  BkJJed  of  the  Lord.'' 
A  ftrange  Sort  of  tumultuous  Triumph  at  a 
religious  Meeting  to  hear  the  Word,  But 
—  fuch  Honour  have  all  the  Saints, 

*'  In  applying  which  my  Soul  was  fo 
^'  enlarged,  that  methought  I  could  have 
'"  cried  out  (in  another  Senie  than  poor 
'*  vain  Archifnedes )    Give   me   where   to 

p.ir"'  '"  ft^nd>  ^^^'^-d  I  will  (hake  the  Earth." 
Were  Archimedes  alive,  furely  he  would 
fee  Reafon  to  return  the  Compliment. 
But,  high  as  this  Boaft  is  of  his  Abilities^ 
I  think  there  remains  a  higher  Inftance  of 
his  Stifficieiicy  and  Prefumption^  in  fpeak- 
ing  of  himfelf  and  his  Brother.  "  The 
^'  Wifdom  of  God  has  for  many  Years, 
*'  in  a  remarkable  Manner,  guarded  againft 
"  this  pretence,  (i,  e,  of  not  employing 
"  Jit  Injirume72ts  )  wath  Refpeft  to  my 
*'  Brother  and  me  in  particular.  —  What 
*'  Perfons  could,  in  the  Nature  of  Things, 
*'  have  been  (antecedently)  lefs  liable  to 
*'  Exception,  with  Regard  to  their  moral 
'*  CharaBer  at  leaft,  than  thofe  the  AlU 
*'  wife  God  hath  now  employed?  Indeed 
^'  I  cannot  devile  what  Manner  of  Men 

^"''^^^'"     "  could  have    been   more   unexceptionable 

114,  115.  "  on  all  Accounts.'' 

One  might  here  well  ask  the  Queftion, 
which  himfelf  puts  to  the  Infidels^    "  May 

''  you 


(       22       ) 

^^  you   not  dlfcover,  through   a  thoufand  p^rther 
'*  Diiguiies,  Pride^  Vanity,  Thirji  ofFraife^  App. 
''even    (who    would    believe    it?)    ofP^S-7i- 
''  Knaves  and  Fools?"   Or,  do  you  think, 
that  if  any  Regular  Clergy??ian  (hould  vaunt 
at  this    Rate,    and    proclaim   himfelf  the 
Jit t eft  on  all  Accounts  for  the  higheft  Em- 
ployments, he  would   not  foon  loofe  his 
Charader ;    perhaps   become    the    public 
Laughter,  and  be  hijjed  out  of  his  Place  ? 

I  can  at  prefent  think  of  no  Comparifon 
adequate   to   this   of  Mr.    Wejley  and  his 
Brother^    but  that  of  St.  Francis  and  St. 
Dominic ;  the  Story  of  whom  we  have  in 
many  authentic  Writers.     ''  When  Chriji  Ribaden. 
"  had    lifted    up    his   Hand,    with   three  BaHngh!* 
"  Lances  in  it,   ready  to  deftroy  Mankind  Aug.  4. 
''  for  their  Wickednefs,  the  Virgin  Mary  xom!^ 
"  prevailed  upon  him  to  flop  his  Hand,  Aug.  5. 
*'  till    two  Servants   and  Clients   of  hers^ 
"  St,  Dominic  and  St.  Francis^  ihould  be 
"  fent  to  Reforjn  the  World  by  their  La- 
"  hours  and  Preaching''.      They    are   the 
fame  Pair  of  Saints.,  whom  the  Pope  in  a 
Vifion  faw    manifcftly   fupporting  the  tot- 
tering Lateran  on  their  Shoulders  :  Where* 
by  his  ifjfallible  Holinefs  found  himfelf  im- 
mediately dircBed  by  Heaven  to  cotifirni  their 
rcfpedlive  Orders  and  Rules^  though  averfe 
to  it  before.     Brev.  Roman.  Odl.  5.  Led:. 
6.  &  Ribaden.  pag.  574. 

Mr. 


1   Journ. 
pag.  64. 


Pag. 


10. 


Pag.  85, 
88,   94. 


(       24       ) 

Mr.  Whitefield,  I  obferved,  often  owns 
his  own  Pride  :  and  Mr.  ^Fi^ey  fays, 
<^  By  the  moft  infallible  of  Proofs,  in- 
"  ijDard  Feeling  ;  1  am  convinced  of  Pride^ 
''  &c/\  I  fliall  take  their  Word  for  it, 
and  proceed  to  obferve,  how  their  Followers 
ibon  catch  the  Contagion,  and  are  naurally 
and  t^G\y  pufj-'ed-tip  with  a  fancied  fuperior 
Knowledge,  Gifts,  and  Graces  ;  after  being 
cajoled  by  their  Leaders  with  ample  PrO'^ 
mifes,  ExpeBations  and  Jfjurances, 

'  The  accurate  Author  of  Obfer'vations  on 
/^^/r  Cc;?^/?/^  juftly  asks,  "  Whether  thofe 
"  exalted  Strains  in  Religion,  and  an 
"  Irriagination  of  being  already  in  a  State 
^'  oiPerfeBion,  are  not  apt  to  lead  Men 
*'  into  Spiritual  Pride,  and  to  a  Contempt 
''  of  their  Fel/ow-Cbri/lians ;  while  they 
"  confider  them  as  only  going  on  in  the 
''  low  and  imperfeB  Way,  —  and  into  a 
"  Difefteem  of  thc'w: Superiors,  as  in  a  much 
''  lower  DifpefifationV"  And  Mr.  Law 
(whom  they  fo  much  adm/ire  on  other 
Accounts ;  and  whom  I  fliall  have  Occalion 
to  quote  af>;ain)  in  his  Treatife  of  Regeriera- 
tion,  "  Now  who  may  be  thought  the 
moft  likely  to  come  into  this  Religion  ? 
[He  is  fpeaking  of  the  Methodifts,  and 
tb.eir  DoBrines]  Not  he,  who  is  deeply 
humble,  that  abhors  Selfjuftification.  — 
Is, there  not  likely  to  be  Self-feeking, 
Self-confidence,    Self-truft,    Self-deceit  ? 

''  —  Par- 


<< 


<c 


(  25  ) 

—  Particular  Imprejjmis^  fenfible  Con^ 
viBions,  ftrong  Taftes^  high  Satisfac- 
tions^ —  if  much  fought  for,  or  refted 
in,  they  minifter  Food  to  a  Spiritual 
Self-love^  —  and  lay  the  Foundation  of 
*'  Spiritual  Pride. — They  may  fill  us  with 
*'  Self-fatisfaBion^  and  Self-ejteem^  and 
*'  prompt  us  to  defpije  others  that  want 
"  them,-  as  in  a  poor,  ?nean,  and  repro* 
^^  bate  State,''  With  much  much  more 
well  deferving  the  ferious  Confideration  of 
the  Methodifts. 

Of  fuch  a  'Tendency  to  Pride^  exemplified 
in  Fad:,  Mr.  Wefley  himfelf  gives  us  feveral 
Injtances,  "  I  met  with  one,  who  hav- 
"  ing  been  lifted  up  with  the  Abundance 
''  of  Joy  which  God  had  given  her,  had 
'*  fallen  into  fuch  Blafphemies  and  *vain 
''  Imaginations,  as  are  not  common  to 
"  Men.  In  the  Afternoon  I  found  ano- 
''  ther  Inftance,  nearly,  I  fear,  of  the 
*'\fame  Kind:  One,  who  after  much  of 
"  the  Love  of  God  fhed  abroad  in  her  4  Jo«rn- 
"  Heart,  was  become  wife  far  above  what  ^^^*  ^'^' 
*'  is  written.  —  I  earneftly  befought  them 
*'  all  to  keep  clear  of  vain  Speculations,  — 
"  While  we  were  in  the  Room,  Mrs. 
*^  y — s  took  the  Bible  to  read  :  But  on  a 
"  fudden  threw  it  away,  faying,  I  am 
"  good  efiough,  1  will  never  read  or 
"  pray  more  :  —  /  don't  dejlre  to  be  any 
*'  better  than  I  am.  She  fpoke  many 
E  ''  Things 


(       26       ) 

4  Journ.    "  Things    to    the    fame   Effeft ;    plainly 
pag.  66.    ,,  {hewing  that  the  Spirit  of  'Pride,  and 
*'  of  Lyes,    had  the  full  Dominion   over 
"  her. — 

I  was  with  one,  who  told   me,    ''  that 
"  hitherto   Ihe   had   been  taught  of  Man, 
*'  but  now  llie  was  taught  of  Gcd  only^ 
She  added,   ''  that  God  had  told  her,   not 
^'  to   partake   of   the  Loris   Supper   any 
''  more,  fince  ihe  fed  upon  Chriji  continu- 
^'^^^'        «'  ally''     O  who  is   fecure   from   Satan's 
^^*    ^*    transforming  himjelf  into  an  Angel  of  Light.  ? 
It  were  to  be  wiflied,  that  the  Teachers 
themfelves  w^ould  duely  weigh  their  own 
RefleEiions ;   and  that  all  others  would  ab- 
ftain  from  fuch  a  Bifpenjatlon,  which  con^ 
feffedly  leads  People  into  thefe  horrid  Ex- 
periences of  Blafphemy  and  Pride. 

The  famous  Enthufiait  Mrs,  Bowignony 
who  affumed  the  Charader  of  an  Infpired, 
(with  whofe  Writings  I  find  fome  of  the 
Metbodifts  are  not  unacquainted  ;  as  if  they 
had  not  Wildnefles  enough  in  their  own 
^  fj  ^v  Brains ;)  has  theAcutenefs  to  obferve,  "  that 

Solid   Vir-  ^  '       ,  •  r      ACT  '     ^\.       T\ 

tue.p.iio."  the  Prejumptwn  oj  Ajjnrances  is  the  De- 

"  vil's  Device,  deluding  People  by  fenfible 

**  Cojifolations  and  S^vcetnefs,  and  bringing 

*'  them  into   the  iitmofi  Peril: — that  the 

««  Devil  faftens  Men   to  thefe  Senfibilities^ 

«'  and  makes  them  t'lereby  W/^  and  proud, 

"  —When  we  take  Pleafure  in  them,  we 

"  turn 


(       27       ) 

"  turn    from    God,  —  'Tis    the    Devil's 
"  Snared 

§  4.  One  would  think  their  Bladder  of 
Pride  and  Vain-glory  were  now  fufficiently 
/welled :  but  it  feems  it  muft  be  blown  up 
more.  One  of  their  Preachers  efpecially, 
and  fometimes  others  of  them,  are  fo  pre- 
fumptuoiis  as  to  be  fond  oi  comparing  them- 
felves  with  Patriarchs^  Prophets^  and  A- 
poflles  ;  and  even  with  Chrijl  himfelf. 

They  cannot  open  the  Bible ^  and  there- 
by turn  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  a  Lottery ^ 
but  they  are  fure  of  a  Prize  y  fome  Pane-- 
gyric  upon  themfelves  and  Profelytes  ;  or 
fome  fpecial  DireBion  and  Injlrudfion, 
They  cannot  read,  or  hear,  LeJjhnSy  Pfahis, 
Epi/iles  and  Gofpels ;  but  they  have  Saga- 
city enough  to  find  fomething  peculiarly 
concerning  themfelves.  And  they  feem  to 
be  intent  upon  this  very  Pufpofe.  As  if 
the  whole  Bible  were  a  fort  of  Prophecy 
(defigned  at  leaft  by  way  of  Accommodation^ 
of  their  MiJJion  ;  and  entirely  intcrefted  in 
the  Honour  and  Advancement  of  their  va-r 
luable  Perjons^  and  important  Whims. 

Former  Fanatical  Saints  will  fupply  us 
with  fufficient  Parallels  of  this  Nature ; 
particularly  the  ilime  Mrs.  Bourigjion^ 
whofe  Sagacity  found  out  ''  many  Things 
in  Scripture  which  were  fulfilled  in  her  ;?— » 
fhe  was  the  Woman  foretold  in  the  Apoca- 
E  Z  lypfe. 


(     28     ) 

lypfe,  that  had  the  Church  m  herfelf,  chaih- 
ed  with  the  SuJiy  and  having  the  Moon  iin^ 
der  her  Feet,  She  made  herfelf  equal  to, 
if  not  greater  than,  the  ylpo/iles,  who 
iindei-jtood  only  in  Fart,  J^fa^  was  but 
partly  the  Seed  of  the  Woman  ;  with  fome 
A  Hints  that  j}:)e  and  her  Works  were  com- 
pletely fo  A 

But  for  this  Sort  of  Frcfumption  I  don't 
know  a  fuller  Cornparifon  than  The  Book  of 
Conformities  between  the  Lives  of  Jefus 
Chrift  and  St,  Francis.  'Tis  a  large  Folio, 
written  by  Barthclomceiis  de  TifiSy  applying 
moft  of  the  magnificent  Tredi5lions  in  the 
Bible  to  St.  Francis,  making  him  better 
than  feveral  of  the  ApoftleSy  and  even  fu- 
perior  to  Chrift  as  to  Miracles,  The  Book 
was  printed  at  Milan,  i5io>  with  the 
Licence  and  Approbatio7i  of  the  General 
Chapter  of  the  Francijcans ,  as  written  by 
the  Favour  of  God,  a?2d  wanting  no  Cor^ 
re5lion.  From  this  Edition  was  extracted 
The  Alcoran  of  the  Francijcans,  But  it 
feems  CorrcBion  was  afterwards  found  ne- 
ceffary  5  and  the  Book  was  re-piiblijhed  at 
Bononia,  in  1590,  (which  is  the  Edition 
I  ufe)  wherein  many  of  its  extravagant 
Fables  and  Blafphefnies  are  omitted, 
I  Dealing.  To  begin  then.  "  God,  fays  Mr.  White-* 
Pag- «i-  *^  fildy  feparated  me  even  from  my  M?- 
"  thers  Womb  for  the  Work,  i.  e.  Metbo- 

*'  difmr 


(        29       ) 

''  difm.'"     As  he  did  Ijaiahy   Ch.  xlix.  i. 
and  Jeremiah^  i.  5. 

Cbriji    10    loved    Magdclen  of  Pazzi\  Life.  §.  i. 
that  he  chofe  her  for  his  Spoufe  from  her 
Mother's  Womb. 

''  My  Sufierings  were  of  an  uncommon  i  Dealing. 
'*  Nature  -^-^Satan  feem'd  to  have  defired  ^^'  ^ 
*'  me  in  particular,   to  Jift  me  as  Wheat.'' 
Becaufe  Chriji  faid  this  of  St.  Peter, 

When  he  is  ill,  "  fully  convinced  that  jbid.  p. 3^. 
"  Sata72  had  as  full  a  Poffeffion  given  over 
*'  my  Body,  as  he  had  once  over  Joi's/' 

When  ftupid,  and  ''  unable  to  compofeibid.p.67. 
"  any  Thing, — I  found  a  Quotation  out 
**  of  Ezekiely  that  Young  Prophet^  Thou 
"  Jhalt  be  dumb ;  hut  ivben  1  /peak  unto 
*'  thee^  then  jldalt  thou  fpeak.  Which 
*'  made  me  quite  eafy."  The  fame  was^^^/i^; 
St.  Fra?7cis'^  Cafe. 

When  in  his  Surplice  to  be  Ordained^  \  Dealing, 
he  is  like  Samuel  jtanding  before  the  Lord^^^'  ^^' 
in  a  Linen  Ephod, 

After  Ordination,  "  I  feel  thei7^/v  Ghoft3  Jo^n. 
"  as  much  as  Elifia  did  when  Elijah  dropt^^^'  ^^' 
*'  his  Mantle, — A   double   Portion   of   his 
"  Spirit  is  upon  me  indeed,'' — St.  Francis  Conform. 
was  like  Eli/ha,  by  poffeffing  a  double  Pro-^"^^'  ^'^^' 
phetic  Spirit. 

With  a  Rabble  at  his  Heels,  ''  he  is 
*'  like  Jofiua^  conquering  the  devoted  Na- 
^'  tions,  and  dividing  the  Land/' 

With 


(     30     ) 

With  refpcd  to  the  EftabliJJoed  Clergy^ 
"  Though  we  are  but  few,  and  fland  as  it 
*^  were  alor-e,  Hke  Elijah  -,  and  though, 
"  Hke  the  Priefts  of  Baal^    they  are  many 

5  Journ.    "  in   Number;    yet   I   doubt  npt  but  the 

P-  5'*       *'  Lord  will  appear  for  us." 

In  one  of  his  Reveries,  ''  he  walks  with 
God  in  the  Garden — and  fees  him  Face  to 
Face:* — Ks. Adam  and  Mofes  did. — "  Bro^ 
ther  Sylvefter^  a  FranciJcaUy  talked  with 
God  as  one  Friend  doth  with  another, 
like  another  Mofes,  Mrs.  Bourignon 
had  Communion  with  God,  as  familiar  as 
one  Child  with  another :' 

On  reading  the  jirft  LeJJon,    ''    about 

3  Journ.    <f  the   Oppofition    to    Aaron  s    Triefthcod ; 

p.  3o-  t:  Qq^  determining  who  was  in  the  right, 
*^  by  caufing  his  Rod  to  blojjm,  when  the 
*'  other  Rods  produced  nothing.  So  let  it 
"  happen,  O  Lord^  to  7ne,  thine  unworthy 
"  Servant:' 

On  reading  the  fecond  LefTon,  "  where 
*'  St.  F^aul  recounted  his  Sufferings  for 
*'  Chrift,  againft  the  Infinuations  of  the 
"  Falfe  Apoftles  ;  Blefed  be  God,— I  have, 
"  in  mojl  Takings  there  recorded,  in  fome 
"  Jmall  Degree  had  Fellcwf:)ip  with  the 
"  Apojtle  ;  and  before  I  dye,  I  doubt  not 
*'  but  I  fiall  fympathize  with  him  in  moft 

Ibid.  "  ^^^^^^  Articles. — The  People  were  intent 
**  upon  me ;  their  Eyes  belpoke  the  Lan- 

"  guage 


(     31     ) 

"  guage  of  their  Hearts :  Each  feem*d  to 
*«  fay,  Thou  art  the  Man.'* 

*'  The  Lefjons,  you  fay,  Sir,,  were  fo 
very  remarkable^  that  in  reading  you  could 
not  forbear  hlii[}ding  much',''  which  fhews 
that  you  made  the  Application,  The  Clergy 
are  the  Rebels  againft  Aaron's  Minifiryy 
the  Clergy  are  the  Falfe  Prophets :  you  are 
Aaron^  you  St.  Paul.  And  did  not  you 
blujh  in  writing  this  ?  The  Infinuation  is 
as  modeft  as  your  Prayer  is  charitable^  that 
no  Teacher's  Labours  and  Preaching  may 
produce  any  Thing,  except  your  oison. 

You  was  obferved  to  be  a  Cherubim  in  Conform, 
preaching  :  and  St  Francis  one  of  the  aS^--^^^*  ^^^' 
raphims. 

And  yet  this  will  not  fuffice  :  you  muft 
even  co?npare  yourfelf  with  Chrifty  and 
boldly  apply  to  your  own  Reverence  what 
was  fpoken  of  hi?n. 

Thus,  '^  At  my  firft  fetting  out — I  grew  i  Deal. 
in  favour  both  with  God  and  Man,"  ^^^'  33- 

At  fome  Oppofition  from  the  Clergy  you  3  Journ. 
fay,  "  Had  another  came  in  his  own  NamCy^^^'  ^^' 
him  they  would  have  received."     They  have 
no  Mi[jion,  come  when  they  are  not  called ; 
you  are  the  Sent  of  God. 

Accordingly,  "  Lord  ttou  caJledft  me.jbjd, 
"  Lo  !  1  come  to  do  thy  Will.    And,  bleffedp^g-  64. 
"  be  God,  there  is  one  coming  after  me" — • 
Meaning,  I  fuppofe,   Mr.  Ifejley. 

In 


(     32     ) 

3  Journ.        In  preaching,  "  my  Heart  was  full  of 

pag.  los.  <c  Q^j^  ^„j  lypake  as  one  having  Autbo- 

"  rityr     Spoken  of  Chrift,  Matt.  vii.  29. 

Ribaden.    So  alfo  St.  Ignatius  fpoke,  tanquam  potej- 

P3g-  549-  /'^/^f/;/  babensy  as  one  having  Authority. 

3  Journ.        "  Had   the  Pleaiiire  of  feeing  my  Au- 

P^g-  55-    *^  dience  fo  much  increafed  —  no  lef?  than 

*'  twenty  ThGufand  prefent.     Blejjed  are  tbe 

*'  Eyes  wbicb  fee  the  Things  "which  we  fee'' 

Words  pecuHar  only  for  thofe  who  Jaw 

Chrift  in  the  Flefi.  Luke  x.  23. 

So  the  Difciples  of   St.  Francis^    fore- 
knowing his  Destination  to  Honour,  were 
Conform,  like  Abraham^  who  rejoiced  to  fee  Chrift' s 
fol.  3^-    Day^    and   were   glad -^    and  this  foretold 
their  feeing  St.  Fra?icis, 

During  his  Attendance  on  publick  Jfor^ 

floip ;    "  In   the  fecond  Leffon  were  thefe 

Tourn     "  remarkable  Words,  And  the  High  TrieftSy 

pag.  50.    '^  a72d  the  Scribes^    and  tbe  Chief  oj   the 

"  People  fought  to   deftroy  him^    but  they 

"  could  not  find  what  they  might  d^  to  him : 

"  For  all  the  Teople  were  attentive  to  hear 

''  bimr 

In  Expeftation  of  meeting  his  Difciples ; 

— **  V/hen  Jefus  was  returned ^   the  People 

Journ.       *'  gladly  received  him  -,  for  they  were  all 

pag.  18.     "  waiting  for   him,     Thefe    laft   Words 

'*  were  remarkably  pref'ed  upon  me^  when 

''  I  was  confultin'^  God^ — whether  I  fhould 


«c  jr^fiiyji  to  England. 


In 


(     33     ) 

In  the  melancholv  Hour  oi parting  from  3  Jou^n. 
his   DijUples  ^  — ''  th^   weep    for    Mr.P"--^^* 
Whttejield  as  though  they  were  mourning 
for  the  Death  of  their  Firfl-borny  —  "  At 
"  the  Thoughts  of  parting,  fays   Mr.  Se^ 
*'  ward,  with  ib  dear  a  Companion  as  Bro- 
*'  //j(fr  IVhitefeld,    I   could  think  of  no- 
*'  thing,  but  ChrijVs  parting  from  his  Dif- joum, 
^'  cip/es,   and   his  telling  them,  It  is  expe^?-  ^S>  ^^* 
*'  ^'/V;2^  yir  j)'^/^  //6^/  1  go  away  :  for  if  I 
"  go  not  away^  the  Comforter  will  not  come  : 
*'  hit  if  I  depart y  I  will  fend  him  unto  you. 
*'  And  Jefus  Chrift  was  not  worfe  than 
^^  his   Word. — I  was  comforted  for  the 
^'  Abfence  of  Brother  Whitefield   by  this 
^'  Tiext^  A  little  While ,  afid  ye  pall  fee  me^ 
*^  and  again  a  little  While ^  and  ye  Jk-all  not 
''  fee  mer 

Had  any  one  but  a  Saint  thus  applied 
our  Lord's  Words,  it  would  have  looked 
like  profane  Drollery,  But  luckily  it  jumps 
in  with  St.  Dominic''^  Words,  at  whofe 
Beck  the  Devils  trembled^  when  he  was 
leaving  this  World  -,  *'  Weep  not,  my  dear- 
"  eft  Friends,  nor  let  my  corporeal  De- 
"  parture  trouble  you  :  I  ftall  be  more 
'^  ufeful  to  you  in  the  Place  whither  I 
^  am  going,  than  I  was  here  :  and  yoa 
*'  will  have  me  a  ^^^/^r  .^^i;^^/?/^  after  my 
"  Death,  than  you  could  have  me  in  this 
''  Life.'*  Anthonin,  Florentine  Sec  Mor- 
nai  Myflerium  Iniquitatis.  Pag.  346. 

F  ''  One 


(     34     ) 

"  One  Day   perceiving  an   uncommon 

Droughty    and    difagreeable  Clammmefi   in 

my  Mouth,    and    ufing  Things,    bat  in 

vain,  to  allay  my  Thirjl,  it  was  fuggeflcd 

to  me,  that  when  Chrift  on  the  Crofs  cried 

out,  I  thirft^  his  Sufferings   were  near   at 

an  End.       Upon    which  I    cried    out,  / 

^Vi^sW^Z.thirJi !  I thirft  I — foon  after  I  Was  deliver- 

^^^*  "^  *   ed/'     Is  not  this  enough  to  make  one's 

E^rs  tifigle  ? 

But  there  is  worfe  ftill.  He  prefumes 
to  rob  our  Saviour  of  his  very  Offce  of 
1  Deal.  Redee?ner,  "  Tho'  Satan  for  fome  Weeks 
pag.  46.  c<  Y\:i^  been  bitifig  my  Heel,  God  was 
"  pleafed  to  fliew  me,  that  /fhould  foon 
"  iruife  his  Head,'*  In  another  Place 
indeed  he  allows  his  Brother- Metbodifts 
3  lourn.  a  Share  of  this  Prerogative  :  ''  Though 
I'^S-  ^-  <«  (Si^^^;.?  is  permitted  to  bruife  cur  Heel, 
"  yet  ^^-e  fhall  in  the  End  bruife  his 
''  Head/'  But  in  both  Places  this  Rob- 
bery is  committed  without  any  Allow- 
ance to  Chri/ly  or  Intimation  of  his 
doing  it  by  Mr.  Whitefidd's  Meajis,  or  7;?- 
ll}'umentality  oj  the  Methodijls,  The  Pa-- 
pijis  affign  this  favi?ig  Office  to  the  Virgin 
Mary,  ipja  center et  ferpentis  caput,  (he  fhall 
bruife  the  Serpent's  Head  :  And  Madam 
Bourignon  is  vain  enough  to  publifli,  that 
yefns  Chrifi  was  partly  the  Seed  of  the 
Woman,  but  that  her  Do5frines  and  Wri- 
tings v/ere  to  be  fo  in  the  full  AccompUPd" 

ment. 


(    35    ) 

ment.  Bat  at  kngth,  it  feems,  the  Ho- 
nour belongs  to  Mr.  V/hitejield  and  Com' 
party. 

Nor  is  this  much  unlike  the  blafphe^ 
mous  Saying  of  the  Francifcans,  *^  that 
''  Jefus  Chrijt  faved  the  World  before  St, 
'^  Francis  came,  but  he  afterwards'' 

Whatever  Excufs  may  be  made,  00 
however  Mr.  Whitefieid  may  diiclaim  any 
iuch  exalted  Intention-,  to  this  high  De^ 
^ree  of  Prefumption  the  Words,  as  they 
fland  m  his  fournals^  do  in  Reality  ar- 
mount.  And  v^e  may  reafonably  think, 
that  fuch  Perfons  by  iuch  Expreffions  ei- 
ther are  burlefquing  the  Scriptures, —  or  run 
mad  with  Tride.  According  to  a  very 
favourable  Conftru(^ion,  "  Va^iity  of  Va- 
''  nities :  all  is  Vanity  J"  And  feeing  not 
another,  but  their  own  Lips  thus  extol 
them,  it  brings  to  Mind  the  CharaBer  of 
that  Antichriflian  Power  (Rev,  xlii.  5,  6.) 
To  whom  was  given  a  Mouth  fpeaking 
great  Tubings,  —  and  he  opened  his  MoutJ? 
in  Blajphemy, 

Upon  oar  charging  thci  Mcthodifts  "  with  Farther 
*'  making  themfelves  like  the  ApoftJcs,  Mr.  ^PP^"' 
*'  Wefey  calls  this  a ///y  Objedlion,  — •  be-^^^ 
^^  caufe  every  Man  ought  in  fome  RefpeBs 
^Mo  be  like  ApoftleSy  —  in  holy  Tempers, 
'^  Exemplar inefs  of  Life,  Labours  for  th^ 
''  Good  of  Souls."  Who  doubts  it  ?  or 
flames  any  Mortal  for  it  ?  'Tis  not  for 
F  2  making 


06, 


(    36    ) 

,■  making  the  Apoftks  2in  Example  of  HoIh 
^'nefi^  &c,  that  we  fix  our  Charge  on  the 
Methodifts ',  but  for  XJjihoUnefs,  in  proud 
BoaJii?2gs  of  a  like  Dig?2ity  and  Authority  ; 
for  Pretenfions  to  Infpiratmz^  and  other 
extraordinary  Gifts,  and  miraculous  P.owers^ 
(as  will  farther  appear  anon  )  and  even 
comparing  themfelves  with  our  Lord. 
Inftead  oi  cm  OhjeBion  h^mg  filly ^  their 
Solution  of  it  \%  Jhujfling  and  prevaricating. 
The  Wind  hath  bound  them  up  in  her  V/ings, 
and  carried  them  away  into  the  Regions 
of  Vanity^  to  the  Borders  of  Blafphemy. 

§.  5.  Another  prefumptuous  Flight  ufu- 
^  ^mong  Eftthufiafts  IS  the  Affe6ration  of 
Prophefyijig,  and  other  miraculous  Gifts  and 
Operations :  A  fuppofed  '  Power  of  this 
Nature  not  only  fwelling  their  Vanity^ 
but  promoting  their  Caife ;  as  it  gratifies 
a  natural  Itch  of  peeping  into  Futurity^ 
and  tends  to  induce  a  Belief  of  their  jD/- 
vine  Infpiration,  And  this  a!fo  is  an  Ar-- 
tide  in  Charge  againft  Methodifm. 

Fir  ft  for  Prophecy.  Mr.  White  field  was  a 
very  early  Nibhler  at  this,  and  a  great 
Dealer  in  Omens,  Prefages,  and  other  Z)/- 
vi?iations  concerning  himfelf  and  his  7iew 
Difpenfation.  Nor  can  we  read  the  Lives 
of  any  great  Men,  but  we  find  fuch  Kin4 
of  Auguries,  relating  to  their  Birth,  Ex^ 
ploits^  and  Fortunes.     And  although  what 

•        Ifhall 


i     37    ) 

1  ftiall  mention  may  feem  trivial  and  ri- 
diculous ;  it  will  however  JJoew  the  Man^ 
and  has  no  doubt  had  a  due  Influence 
on  his  Followers, 

Firil:  in  Order  's  the  "  Circumftance  of 
"  his  being  borfi  in  an  Inn^  the  Bell -Inn 
"  at  Gloucefter^—\Nh\c\\  was  of  great  Ser- 
*'  vice  to  me,  fays  he,  and  excited  my 
''  Endeavours  to  follow  the  Example  of 
"  my  dear  Saviour ,  who  was  born  in  a  i  Dealing, 
"  Manger  belonging  to  an  Inn^  /.  e.  Be-  P^^'  ^* 
ing  boj-n  in  an  Inn  makes  him  Hke  Ckrift^ 
who  was  72ct  born  in  an  Lm  ;  —  nor,  that 
I,  or  he,  can  tell,  in  a  Manger  belonging 
to  an  Inn,  From  the  Circum.flance  of  the 
Sign  of  the  Bell  he  might  more  aptly 
have  frcphefied^  that  in  Time  he  fhould 
become  as  founding  Brafsy  —  or  the  Bells 
every-where  ring  for  him,  on  making  his 
public  E?2tra72ce, 

His  Gfnefi  however  correfponds  to  that 
of  the  famous  Tope  Hildebrand^  whofe 
Father  being  a  Carptnter^  it  was  thence 
prefaged,  that  he  fhould  htChriffs  Vicar y 
and  have  univerfal  Ijominion, 

And   no   lefs   a   Man   than   the   Pope's  Ar\n^\^ 
Champion^  Baronius^  hath  aflbred  us,   that^°j''3- 
his  being  like  his  Saviour^  the  Carpenter  s 
Son  ;  and  his  carving  out  merely  by  Chance 
before    he  knew  Letters^    Dominabitur  a 
mari  ad  mare^    he  JI:all  rule  from  Sea  to 

Sea^ 


(     38     ) 

Sea^    were   certainly  divine   Oftcnts. 

To   compleat   the    Comparifon    too,    it    is 

poffib^e  Mr.  TVbitefield  may  have  been  fo 

happy  as  to  write  this  Frefage,  before  he 

kne\V  Letters, 

Anna!.  xhe    Other    Circumftance,    that  "  his 

N°^i6.     "  Mother  ufed  to  fay,  while  he  was  an 

"  Infant y  that  (he  expedled  more  Comfort 

^'  from  him  than  any  other  of  her  Chil- 

*^  dren,'*  has  Variety  of  Parallels  in  the 

Pcpijh     Legends y      where     the      Mother  s 

Dreams  are   fo  often    made  Prophecies  of 

Conform,  the  Sor's  Grandeur,     "  When  St.  Francis 

^^^•^7      .^^g    t^ut   \y^  ^  fecular  State,    his    Mother 

by   divine    Influence   faid.    What    do   you 

think  that  Son  of  mine  will  turn  out  ?  By 

Grace  he  will  be  a  Child  of  God.  — —  St. 

Ribaden.    St.  Dominic's  Mother^  befides   her  Dream 

p3g-  570-  of  having  a  Dog  in  her  Womb,  with  a 

burning    Torch  in   his    Mouth,    had   the 

good  News  by  Revelation,  that  fhe  fhoulc} 

have  a  Son  endowed  with  many  Gifts  and 

Virtues.'' 

Ibid.  pag.      "  One  Morning  I  faid  to  my  Sifter^  — 

'^'  "  G<5^  intends   fomething  for   mCy^-^wiW 

'^  provide    for    me   fome    Way    that  we 

*^  cannot   apprehend.      How   I    came   to 

"  fay   thefe  Words,  I    know   not.      But 

"  God  afterwards   fhewed  m.e  they  came 

^'  from  hi7n.  —  I  dreamed^  that  I   was  tp 

"  fee  God  on  Mount  Sinai  :  —  this  made  a 

"  great  Imprefjion  upon  me,  and   a  Gen^ 

"  tleivoman^ 


(     39     ) 
''  tlewoman,    to    whom     I    told    it,  faid, 
''  George^  this  is  a  Call  from  God,  —  One  Ribaden. 
"  Night  an  unaccountable,  but  very  ftrong  P^S-  ^^• 
''  ImpreJJion  was  made   upon    my   Heart, 
*'  that  I  fliould  preach  quickly.  —  G^<^  has 
*'  fince    (lie wed    whence  that  Impreffioa 
'*  came.'*      A   notable   Impreffion    truly, 
that    one   defigned    for   a   Scholar    jfhould 
come  to  preach.     But  in   th^  fecond  Edi-?z%.  13. 
tio7i  of  his  Dealings,    when  he  recolled:s 
that  he  was  now  in  Frint,  he  cunningly 
flips  in    by  Way  of  Amendment    to   his 
Dream,/'   that  I  fliould  preach  ^nd  print 
*'  quicky",  which  \% prophejying  of  a  Thing 
after  it  came  to  pafs. 

He  has  prophetic  Notice  of  a  future  Gon- 
verfation  with  a  hord,  and  of  his  Money 
jingling  in  his  Hand.  '^  God  was  pleafed  i  Dealing. 
''  to  give  me  previous  Notice  of  it.  —  I 
"  dreamed  that  I  was  talking.;  with  his 
'^  Lordfjip^  and  that  he  gave  me  fome 
*^  Gold^  which  feemed  to  found  again  in 
"  my  Hands. —  Afterwards  he  made  me  a 
"  Prefent  oifive  Guineas,  which  did  found 
"  again  in  my  Hands." — 

You  hereby  fee  the  Man^  and  his  fu* 
perftitioufy  Enthufiajlic  Head.  Otherwife 
it  would  be  as  tdle  a  Thing-  to  repeat,  aS 
in  him  to  write,  thefe  frivolous  Omens ^ 
Dreams,  ImpreJ/ions,  Revelations, —  all  pro^ 
pheticaL 

There 


(     40     ) 

There  is  a  plain  Intiniation  alfo  of 
this  prophetic  Spirit  in  Mr.  Wefley. 
"  For  fome  Time  I  had  vifited  a  Soldier 
*^  in  Prifon  every  Day.  But  —  I  told 
"him,  Do  770t  expeB  to  fee  ??ie  any 
"  more^  —  1  believe  Sa<-an  imill  fep urate  us 
"  for  a  Seafon.  Accordingly^  the  next 
"  Day  I  was  informed,  that  the  G?//7- 
4  Journ.  <c  yyi^nding  Officer  had  given  flrict  Orders, 
pag-30'  cc  ti^^t  neither  Mr.  P/efiey,  nor  any  of  his 
"  People,  ihould  be  admitted.  *' 

•But  in  the  Trogrefs  of  their  Miniilry 
they  rife  higher^  and  come  to  Prediclions 
cf  greater  Things,  with  regard  to  them- 
[elves,  and  Increafe  and  Dilatation   of  the 

2  Journ.  Faniily  of  Mcthodifni.—  Hence  "  the  great 
p.  19.  35.  <c  Work,  which  God  intends^  and  is  now 

"  beginnmg  to  work  over  all  the  Earth/' 

3  Journ.  —  Hence,  fays  Mr.  Whitefield,  ''  God  will 
p.  3>  '6>  "  make  his  Power  to  be  known  in  me,— 
^^'  "  And  y^t  I  Poall  fee  greater  Things  than 

"  thefe. — -I  fall  he  exalted,  - —  There  cer-- 
"  tainly  will  be  2i  fulfilling  of  thofc  Things 
**  which  dod  by  his  Spirit  hath  fpoken 
"  unto  my  Soul. — There  are  many  Pro- 
"  mifes  to  be  fu^lfilled  in  me,  —  This,  I 
"  know;  what  I  have  fpoken  from  God 
"  will  come  to  pafs :  Lo  !  it  will ! — 
Letters.  "  ^^^  glorious  Soul  -  Brother   had    it 

*^  revealed  to  him  iri^  Spirit,  thefe  two 
"  Years,  that  fome  fuch  as  he  {hould  be 
*'  fent  of  God  into  thefe  Parts.'' 

^'   The 


(    41     ) 

^*  The  Lord  revealed  himfelf  to  a  Child 
"  about  feven  Years  old  in  an  amazing  ._i  . 
^^  Manner: — in  a  Rapture^  and  by  the 
"  uncommon  Earneflnefs  the  Spirit  gave 
^'  her  to  vvreftle  for  the  Churches^  fhe 
''  thought  that  an  uncommon  Work  would 
"  be  wrought  on  the  Earth.  Many  fuch 
"  Inftances  of  the  Outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
"  we  have  among  us." 

Sometimes   Mr,    Wbitefield  throws  out 
his  PrediBiom  of  the   Perfecutions  he    is 
to  undergo,    and  (according   to   his  ufual 
Modefty)  in  Analogy  to  the  Sufferings  of 
Cbrift^    "  Yet  a  Httle  while,    and  a  fuf-  ^  y^^^^^ 
*'  fering  Time  will  come.     1  cannot  follow  Wy  12., 
^'  him  noWy  hut  I  Pmll  follow  him  hereafter.  ^5»  9o» 
^'  —  My   Hour  is   not  yet  come.  — - 1  find 
^'  the  iiifinite  Wifdom    of  God  in  fending 
^'  me  to  England.     But  God  will  manifeft 
*'  his    mighty   Arm  in   the   Salvation    of 
"  Georgia'' 

Where,  befides  the  Gift  of  Prophecy^ 
we  have  a  new  Argiime^it  for  the  Infinity 
of  God's  Wifdom^  which  I  hope  all  future 
Writers  on  the  divine  Attributes  will  re- 
member, {viz,)  the  fending  of  Mr.  George 
Wbitefield  from  Georgia  into  England, 

PopiQi  Legends  are  fluffed  with  Boafis 
of  this  Sort.  "  St.  Francis  riling  frona 
Steep  in  great  Joy,  and  being  asked  the 
Reafon  of  fuch  a  Tranfport,  anfwered 
prophetically y  '  /  know  that  l/J^all  be  a  great 
G  PrifJceJ 


(     42     ) 

TrinceJ     Another  Time  being  in  Prifon^ 
yet  highly  exulting,  cries  out,    *  What  do 
Conform,  y^^  think  cf  mz  ?  I  jhall yet  be  adored  over 
^^^'  all  the  Earth,'  —  One  Day  he  prophefied 
with  a  loud  Voice  —  of  a  Church  which 
fhould  hereafter   become   a   Monajlery    of 
Females,  by  whom  God  fhould  be  glori- 
fied.     And  it   was   fulfilled  to  a  Letter^ 
ibid.      becoming   in    Time  the  Mo?2aftery  of  St. 
Clara.     Once  being  in  a  Rapture,  and  the 
Bofom  of  his  Mind  dilated,  he  faw  clearly 
what  {hould  happen  in  Futurity  to  him- 
felf  and  Children.  —  Be  comforted,   and 
Bonavent.  ^gjrjice  in   the  Lord,*  my   Dearejt,   nor  be 
Cap'.  3,*    dejeBed  or  afraid^  becaufe  we  are  few  and 
fimple  ;  becaufe  it  has  ver-ily  been  fjew?i  me 
from  the  Lord,  that  he  will  i?icreafe  us  into  > 
a  great  Multitude,    midtiply    and   enlarge 
lis, 

God  gave  the  Gift  of  Prophecy  to  St^ 

Ribaden.   Anthony  ',  —  he  foretold  to  a  certain  Lady^ 

P^§-  593-  that  God  would  give  her  a  Son  that  fliould 

be   great  in  the  Lord's  Church,    a  Frafi- 

cifcan  Friar,  and  a  Martyr,      And  fo  it 

happened. 

Orhndin.       A   holy  Nun  declared,    that  while  flie 

!?af  i^^    ^^^  praying  for  the  Good  of  the  Churchy 

pag.'37o.  and  Reformation   of  Manners^    God  fore- 

fiiewed  her  from  above,  that  the   Society 

of  ^cfuits  (liould  arife,  who,  as  7iew  Apo^ 

Jlles,  fhould  take    Pains  in    working  Co7i- 

verjions  over  all  tlie  World*" 

Num- 


(     43     ) 

Numbers  of  young  female  Prophefeffes 
are  eafily  fupplied  out  of  the  To[>e's  Bud- 
get^ (as  St.  Bridget,  Gather  1726  of  Sienna y 
Hildegard^  St.  Rofa^  Terefa^  Sec.)  who  all 
foretold  wonderful  Things  of  themfelves, 
and  the  feveral  Religious  Orders,  The 
Light  of  Prophecy  is  indeed  one  of  their 
boafted  Marh  of  the  true  Churchy  of 
which  they  give  a  hundred  Inflances,  and 
challenge  Protefta?its  to  produce  the  like. 
Would  they  but  come  among  the  Metho- 
diflsy  they  might  fee  their  Challenge  an- 
fwered,  and  perhaps  be  induced  to  em- 
brace them  as  Brethre?!,  or  even  to  give 
them  the  right  Hand  of  Fellowpip, 

§.  6.  The  fame  may  be  faid  with  regard 
to  MiracleSy  another  Mark  of  the  true 
Church,  which  their  Enthufiaftic  ImpofiorSy 
and  moft  others,  have  been  fond  of,  as 
one  of  the  chief  and  moft  awful  Proof  of 
their  Pretenfions,  They  know  the  Vul- 
gar are  ever  delighted,  amazed  and  drawn 
by  any  Thing  of  the  Marvellous^  efpecially 
if  heightened  into  the  Miracidous  ^  and 
thereby  ealily  perfuaded  of  the  Wonder^ 
monger-  s  divine  MiJ/ion. 

Here  alfo  the  Methodijh  have  been 
dabbling> — Some  Inftar.ces  of  an  extraor- 
dinary Nature y  procured  by  the  Me-rits  and 
Intercejfion  of  the  Methodijis,  I  fliall  re- 
l^rve  for  another  Chapter ;  and  (hall  here 
Q  ?  only 


Seward 
Journ. 
pag.  S6. 


Ribaden. 
pag.  360. 


Meffingh. 
Vit.  Sana, 
pag.  175- 


Whitef. 
5  Journ. 
P-  34- 

FranciAn- 
nal.   pag. 
361. 


3  Jcurn. 
pag.  4. 


(     44     ) 
only  point  out  a  few  Cafes,  containing  the 
miraculciis    Favours    of    Heaven    towards 
themfelves :  fufficient  however  to  prove  a 
Claim  oj  Miracles  among   them. 

Thus,  when  *'  Mr,  Seaward  fell  from 
his  Horfe  without  the  leaft  Hurt,  not  fo 
much  as  of  his  Foot  againft  a  Stone  -,  the 
Reafon  given  is,  —  God' $  jending  bis  Angel 
to  preserve  him,''  Which  is  much  fuch 
a  Favour  as  Philip  Nerius  received,  ?'  who 
falling  into  a  deep  Ditch,  was  miraculoujly 
held  partly  in  the  Air  by  an  Angel ^  and 
partly  drawn  forth  by  the  Hairs  of  his 
Head,  without  any  Harm  f*  —  Or  that  of 
St.  Columb,  ''  who  feeing  a  Boy  falling  from 
the  Top  of  a  Houfe,  commanded  a?!  Angel 
to  fly  in  the  Twinkling  of  any  Eye,  and 
hold  him  up  before  he  could  touch  the 
Ground.  The  Angel  obeyed  ;  and  the 
Boy  was  unhurt ^ 

"  Loft  in  a  Wood  :  —  God  fent  a  Guide 
''  to  dired  us  right,"  fays  Mr.  White- 
field,  In  the  fame  Manner,  ''  God,  pity- 
ing a  certain  holy  Jefuit  who  had  loft  his 
Way,  immediately  fent  him,  a  Guide,'' 

In  order  to  receive  Power  to  preachy 
and  preach  the  more  effeBually  ;  —  Mr. 
IVhitejield  Hiys,  *'  I  had  a  great  Hoarfnefs, 
"  and  was  dcferted  before  I  went  up  into 
"  the  Tulpit,  hut  God  Jlrengthe?2ed  mCy  fq 

as  to  be  heard  by  all. — -God  took  away  my 

"  Hoarfnefs^ 


IC 


(     45     ) 
'<  Hoarfnefs ,     that  I   could    lift    up    my  3  W^^- 
"  Voice  like  a  Trumpet/' 

Mr.  Wcjley  in  the  fame  Cafe  is  fuper- 
naturally  cured  feveral  Times.    ''  So  weak 
''  that  "l  could  hardly  ftand, — or  get  out 
*'  of  Bed, — at  length  made  a  Shift  to  drag 
''  myfelfto  Short's  Gardens, — read  thofe 
''  Words  (tho^  fcarce  intelligibly,  for  my 
''  Voice  too   was  ahnoft  gone)  l^Vhom  he  did  4  Joum. 
^'foreknow,  he  did  alfo  pre  deft  inate.     In  a  ^'S- 79- 
*'  Mojnent   both    my   Voice   and    Strength 
''  returned.      From'  that  Time    I   found 
^'  fuch    bodily    Strength.  —  My    bodily 
•'  Strength  quite  failed-, — yet  my  Weak- 
''  r.efs  was  fufpended,  while  I  was  calling  Pag.  83. 
''  Sinners  to  Repentance. —  At  our  Love- 
''  Feaft,  befides  the  Pain  in  my  Back  and 
''  Head,  and  a  Fever,  I  was  feized  with 
«'  fuch  a  Cough,   that  I  could  hardly  fpeak. 
»<  At    the     fame     time    came     ilrongly 
««  into  my   Mind,    Tbefe   Signs  fh all  fol- 
<«  low  them  that  believe,     I  called  on  Jefus    ^ 
''  aloud  to  increafe  my  Faith.  —  While  I 
«<  was  [peaking  vay  Pain  vanifbed.     The 
«'  Fever   left    me.      My   bodily    Strength 
'«  returned.     And  for  many  Weeks  I  felt 
«<  neither  Weaknefs  nor  Pain.  —  Another  ibid. 
<«  Time  feized   with  fuch  a  Pain,    that  I  P'^S- 77- 
<'  could  not  jpeak.      I    knew   my   Remedy, 
"  and  immediately   kneeled  down.      In  a 
"  Moment  the  Pain  was  gone.  —  I  quite 
"  loft  my  Voice  :    But  it  vi^as  immediately 

"  rcftored; 


4  Journ. 


(    46    ) 

*^  reilored ;  and  I  fpent  half  an  Hour  in 
*^  Exhortation    and     Prayer    without    any 

Pag.  92.    ''  Hoarfnefsy 

Some  Obfervations  concerning  thefe  Pre- 
tences to  infiantaneom  and  fupcrnatural 
Cures  will  follow  hereafter.  I  Ihall  here, 
as  ufually,  fubjoin  the  Parallel^  as  to  the 
Cure  of  xhz  Hoarfnefs, 

Brev.Rom      ''  St.   Bemardin^  a   Francifcan^  finding 

^^  ^°'  himfelf  unfit  to  preach  on  account  of  the 
Weaknefs  of  his  Voice ^  and  0  Hoarjnefs, 
by  imploring  the  Afllftance  of  God,  was, 
not  without  a  Miracle,  relieved  from  that 
Impediment.  —  A  religious  Nun  devoted  to 
St.  Xavier,  famed  for  Skill  in  Mu/ic  and 
a  Jine  Voice,  had  her  Voice  loft  by  a 
Iloarfnefs  for  ten  Years,  At  laft  deter- 
mined  to    fing   on    St.  Xavier's  Feftival, 

Francl       fhe  declares,   that  the  Saint  would  reftore 

Ann       Tef  .  n  ,  ^ 

P  '  J3 '  her  Voice*  Behold  a  Minacle  I  On  the 
Morning  of  his  Feftival  her  Voice  is  re- 
covered to  its  antient  Sweetnefs,  and  fhe 
never  fung  better  in  her  Life.'' — -St  Rofa, 
I  confefs,  did  not  come  off  quite  fo  welL 
For  ''  being  very  ill  of  a  fore  Ihroat, 
yefus  Chrift  her  Spoufe  came  to  vtjit  her, 
and  invited  her  to  play  with  him  to  di- 
'vert  her  Pain,  She  infifted  that  the 
Winnings  fhould  be  whatever  the  Winner 
pleafed.  The  Cards  were  played,  and  fhc 
won  the  firft  Game ;  and  demanding  in- 
ftantly  a  Relief  of  her  fore  'Throat  -,  it  was 


(     47    ) 

fo  immediately.     But  her  Spoufe  infifting  to  Vit  Rofe, 
play  another  Game^    flie  loft  it,    and  the  ^^^"  '^' 
Pain    of  her    Throat   returned    and    in^ 
ere  a  fed  J' 

The  fame  Accounts  we  have  of  God's 
clearing  up  the  Weather,  for  the  Sake  of 
the  Methodifts  and  Company, 

*'  — It  rained  'very  hard:  —  but  upon  Whitef. 
''  Prayer   that   G^^' would   be  pleafed  to  ^  j;"^'3"; 
'^  withold  the   Rain,    it  was   done   imme^ 
'^  diately. 

"  Preached  at  Kennington  : —  not  above  Pag.  94. 
"  ten  thoufand  People,  and  thirty  Coaches. 
"  —  Rained  moft  Part  of  the  Day  :  — * 
*'  However  God  was  pleafed  fo  mfibly  to 
"  interpofe  in  caufing  the  Weather  to 
"  clear  up,  and  the  Sun  to  fhine  out  juft 
*'  as  I  began,  that  I  could  not  avoid  tak-- 
''  ing  Notice  of  it  to  the  People  in  my 
"  Difcourfe/' 

Does  he  think  the  Weather  would  not 
have  cleared    up,  and   the  Sun  fhone,    if 
he  had  not  preached  ?  But  a  Sort  of  Mira-- 
cle  muft  be  made  of  it.     And  yet,  it  feems, 
the  Miracle  is  much  the  fame,  if  it  hap- 
pens to    rain.    For,  ''  preached    at  Ken-^^'"^- 
*'  nington,    and  God  was  pleafed   to  fend^^^"^  ' 
"  Rain  :  —  and  as  foon  as  the  Rain  came, 
*'  /  received  uncommon  Strength  from   a^ 
"  bover 

—  Mr.   Wefey    too   fays,    "   A  t)iolent  4  Jou.m, 
"  Storm  of  Rain  began  about  the  Middle  P^S-  ^^• 

"  of 


<c 


u 


(  48  ) 

"  of  the  Sermo?t.  But  fo  much  the  more 
"  was  his  Tower  prefent  to  heal,  • —  Our 
"  Hearts  danced  for  Joy." 
4  Journ.  Mr.  IFeJley  "  travelling  on  Foot  in  the 
pag.  69.  <«  Nighty  in  a  /6^^'z;j  i?^/;;,  weary ^  and  not 
"  knowing  his  ^^^, — has  a  Gr^^^/)  ij/'  i\^/- 
^'  r^<:fo  to  relieve  him  in  each  Particular. 
'"  O  that  thou  wouldfi  ftay  the  Bottles  of 
'*  Heaven  !  Or^  at  leaft,  give  7ne  Lights 
or  an  honefi  Guides  or  feme  Help  in  the 
Manner  thou  hioweft  !  Prejently  the 
Rain  ceafed ;  the  Moon  broke  out ;  and 
a  friendly  Man  overtook  me,  who  fet 
^'  me  on  his  own  Horfe,  and  walked  by 
^'  my  Side,  'till  we  came  to  Mr.  Gani- 
"  hold's  Door." 

A4r.  Wejley  being  reproved  by  Mr* 
Church  for  this  Enthufiajm  and  Frefumf- 
iion^  fays,  "  he  would  not  have  us  look 
"  upon  it  as  miraculous,  —  but  a  (ignal 
''  lnfta72ce  oiGod'^  particular  Providence*' 
But  notwithftanding  this  Diftinfrion,  if 
this  fignal  In  fiance  of  particular  Provi- 
dence be  effeded  in  a  tniraculous  Manner, 
where  is  the  Difference  ?  He  adds,  how- 
ever, with  a  feeming  Submiffion,  "  Let  it 
*'  pafs  then  as  a  Trife  not  worth  re^ 
*'  latingy  We  Unbelievers  may  deem  it  a 
Trifle  ',  but  he  has  a  better  Security  in  the 
Faith  of  his  Followers. 

By  Way  of  Comparifon  we  might  pro- 
duce hundreds  of  Inllances  oi  Popiflj  Sai?jts 

beine 


(     49     ) 

being  quite  dry  in  the  Midft  of  Rain ;  or 
no  Rain  falling  where  they  are  preachings 
though  Showers  all  around  them ;  or 
Storms  turned  into  Calms  by  their  Prayer, 
&c. 

Ealinghem  (in  his  Calendar  of  the  Virgin  Ballngh. 
Mary)  gives  us  two  Inftances  togethers  J""*  *2' 
one'^of  St  Anthony^  "  who  being  on  a 
Journey,  arrd  a  heavy  Shower  falling,  he 
puts  the  Rojary  on  his  Head,  and  prays 
for  Succour  to  the  Virgin ;  and  inftantly, 
the  Words  fcarce  out  of  his  Mouthy  the 
Rofary  becomes  a  complete  Cover ,  and  he 
gets  to  the  City  without  being  touched  by 
the  leaft  Drop  of  Rain. — Another,  of  one 
Brother  George^  who  being  in  a  violent 
Storm  of  Rain  without  a  Cloak,  no  fooner 
repeats  his  Rofary,  but  he  goes  on  to  his 
Monajiery  perfedlly  dry. 

St.  Edmund  preaching  in  the  open  ^/>,Henri- 
a  black  Cloud,  hanging  over  the  Company,  ^[Jfj]; y\' 
threatened  a  terrible  Storm  ;  but  he,  mak-P.  424. 
ing  the  Sign  of  the  Crofs^  commanded  the 
malignant  Spirit  of  Water  to  depart,  and 
not  to  diflurb  his  Audience,     Prefently  it 
rained  ail-about,   but  not  a  Drop  fell  upon 
them. 

St.  Aridius,  (whofe  Name  is  adapted  ^o^^^^f^^^^ 
Lis  Miracles)  and  his  Society  f  often  were  Tom.  4. ' 
perfeO:ly  dry  in   the  Midft  of  prodigious  P-  95- 
Shoivers, — And  St.  Beuno  had  always  the  Fieet- 

1^^^  Works, 
P.  623, 


(     so     ) 

fame  Privelege  ;  for  which  Reafon  he  was 
called  Dry-Coatr 

You  fee  the  peculiar  Privileges  of  fuch 
conceited  Fa'vourites  of  Heaven.  The  com- 
inon  Courfe  of  Trovidence  muft  be  altered 
for  their  Sake  ;  and  all  Nature  be  made 
fubfervient  to  their  iMmfical  Dijpenfation, 

"  St.  Terefa  having  obtained  of  the 
Lord,  that  a  Well  of  very  bad  Water  fiiould 
become  fweet,  and  be  conveyed  too  into 
her  Monaftery  by  a  feemingly  impoffible 
Current,  has  the  fame  prevaricating  Plea 
with  Mr.  Wejley  :  I  reckon  ?iot  this  for  a 
Miracle,  hut  'to  Jljew  our  ftrong  Faith  ;  for 
the  Thing  happened  jujt  as  I  have  related 

itr 

But  as  to  thefe,  and  fuch-like  Miracles, 
it  were  to  be  wi(hed  that  the  Methodifls 
would  be  clear  ^  and,  in  exprefs  Words, 
either  claim  or  renounce  their  Pretenfions, 
We  fbould  then  know  upon  what  Foot 
the  Argument  with  them  (lands.  But  they 
are  manifeftly  Evafve,  And  though, 
when  hard  preffed,  they  feem  to  difclaim 
Miracles,  and  declare  them  unnecejjary,  and 
the  like  ;  yet,  in  the  above-mentioned  In- 
ftances,  xhty  feem  alfo  to  retain  them  :  The 
Stories  are  evidenty  told  with  that  Air,  as 
if  they  would  have  them  thought  mira- 
culous 5  often  with  Words  plainly  implying 
it :  And  they  well  know  their  eager  Fol- 
lower Sy  for  the  Credit  of  their  Caufe,  ftand 

ready 


(    51     ) 

ready  to  fwallow  any  Thing  5  and  are  as 
willing  to  ifuprovey  as  to  believe,  any  tnar- 
vellous  Tale.  They  are  fo  well  trained-iip^ 
that  they  eafily  acknowledge  the  Authority 
God  has  given  their  Teachers  from  above.'' 

§.  7.  Hitherto  wc  have  confidered  the 
ConduB  of  the  Methodijis  under  their  moft 
plaiijible  Appearances,  highefi  FretenfionSy 
and  a  Flow  of  Exultation,  But  they  do  not 
always  go  on  fo  frnoothly  and  fwimmingly  j 
meeting  with  various  Rubs  and  ObftruC" 
tions,  and  grievous  Enemies  and  Sufferings^ 
in  their  Way.  I  obferved  before,  that 
whatever  favours  and  promotes  their  Caufe 
is  from  God  5  whatever  Oppofition  or  0^- 
JlruBion  they  meet  with,  from  the  DemL 

I  fliall  therefore  now  give  fome  Account, 
or  rather  they  themfelves,  of  their  grievous 
ConfliBs  and  Combats  with  Satan:  Who, 
though  the  Enemy  to  all  Truth  and  Good- 
nefsy  and  therefore  their  Enemy,  and  fure 
to  be  conquered  at  laft,  yet  perfecutes  and 
opprefjeth  them  in  a  moft  grievous  Manner; 
by  Force  and  Fraud  ;  in  Body  and  Mind. 

To  begin    with    Mr.   Whitefield,      St.  Conform. 
Francis  once  faid,  ''  that  if  his  Brethren  Fol-  25 j. 
did  but  know  what  Tribulations  he  en- 
dured from  Satan,  there  is  none  of  them 
who  would  not  greatly  compafGonate  his 
Cafe.''-    And  Mr.  Wbitefield  fays,  "  Go^i  Dealing, 
''  only  knows  how  many  -Nights  I  have  ^ag- 3 8» 
H2  "lain 


(       52       ) 

*^  kin  groaning, — and  bidding  Satan  dc- 
*^  part  from  me/' 
1  Dealing,      <«  I  had  then  Tower  over  my  fecret  and 
?ag.  2  1.    cc  Jarling  Sin,    But  being  fome  Time  after 
*'  overtaken  in   Liquor — Satan  gained  his 
«'  ufual  Advantage  over  me.     An  experi- 
*'  mental  Proof  to  my  poor  Soul,    hov7 
'^  that  mcked  One  makes  ufe  of  Men  as 
<'  Machines,     working  them  up    to    juft 
"  what  he  pleafes." Which  is  an  art- 
ful Way  of   throwing    the   Blame  upon 
Safan^    and    making  Sin    an    involuntary 
Thing;    when   the   Man   was   led    av:ay 
voluntarily  by  his  own  Lufi  and   Intempe- 
rance.   And  Satanh^.^  Reafon  to  complain 
of  Injuftice  done  him. 

We  have  next  a  grievous  Complaint  of 

a  bodily  Opprejfwn  from  the  wicked  One.    At 

Ibid.  Vag.Oxford.—  "  *The  Comforts  oi  fenfible  De-^ 

37,  38.    u  r^^otion  were  withdrawn,    and  a  horrible 

*'  Dread    overwhelmed   my   Soul,  —  One 

*<  Morning,  riling  from  my  Bed,  I  felt  an 

*'  unufual  Impreffion  and  Weight  upon  my 

"  Breafl  :  —  In  a   fliort  Time  the  Load 

''  gradually  increafed,  and  almoft  v/eighed 

"  me  down,  and  fully  convinced  me  that 

'  i**'  Satan  had  as  real  a  PoflefTion  of  my  Body^ 

*'  as  once  of  Job's,     All  Power  of  thinking 

■   "  was  taken  away,  —  my   Memory   quite 

•^i*  failed, — my   Soul    barren   and   dry. — I 

»^' fancied  myfelf  like  a  Man   lacked  up  in 

.  -^^  Jrm  -Armour . — I  felt  great  Heaving:  in 

''my 


(     53     ) 

^*  my  Body ;  prayed  under  the  Weight 
*'  till  the  Sweat  came.  How  many  Nights 
*'  did  I  ViQ  groa?itng  under  the  Weighty  bid- 
"  ding  Satan  depart  from  me  in  the  Name 
"  oiJefusV 

Here  again,  I  doubt,  he  has  charged 
Satan  wrongfully  3  in  laying  his  diabolical 
Weight  upon  the  Body,  while  it  under- 
goes but  the  ufual  Effeds  of  a  common 
natural  Diftemper^  called  the  Incubus^  and 
Night-Mare,  To  prove  this,  the  Devils 
in  Revenge,  might  perhaps  tempt  him  to 
borrow  the  Defcription  of  his  Cafe  from 
Chambers'^  DiEionary  under  thofe  two 
Words;  which  I  fhail  fubjoin  :  "  Incubus^  i^c\ih\i^. 
"  Night-Mare^  a  Difeafe  coniifting  in  an  Night- 
"  OppreJJion  of  the  Breajfy  fo  very  violent,  ^^^' 
*'  that  the  Patient  can't  Jpeak,  or  even 
"  breathe. — The  Senfes  are  not  quite  lojty 
'*  but  drowned  and  a/io72iJJjed  *,  as  is  the 
*'  Under (iandi?7g  and  Imagi?jation,  So  that 
*'■  the  Patient  thinks  fome  huge  Weight 
*'  thrown  on  him,  ready  to  Jirangle  him: 
*'  And  frequently  imagines  fome  Spe6ire^ 
*'  or  Fhant07n^  flopping  his  Breath,'' 

The  fame  Author  afcribes  *'  to  the 
Hypochondriac  PaJJion  (Spleen,  or  Vapours) 
the  fame  Symptoms  of  a  Tain  in  the  Stomachy 
a  ConftriBion  of  the  Breafl,  Difficulty  of 
Breathing  ;  —  as  likewife  Wakefulnefs^  In-- 
quietudes^   Fear^  Sifpicions^    Delirioufnefs  j 

— afFefting 


(     54    ) 

— affeding  the  Patient  more  in  Mind  than 
Body:' 

Nor  is  it  to  be  doubted,  but  the  greateft 
Part  of  thefe  ({range  Feelings  and  Sufferings^ 
D ejections  of  Miftd  and  dreadful  Appre- 
henfionsy  &c.  proceed  from  Difeafe^  caufed 
perhaps  by  a  Flatulency  from  much  Faftingy 
or  the  Fumes  of  Indigejlion,  or  Want  of 
Exercife^  deep  Intention  of  Thought^  and 
various  Affediions  and  Fafjions ;  which 
^hyficians  can  much  better  account  for 
than  myfelf.  And  we  may  eafily  conceive 
that  the  Effedls  of  fuch  Difeafe  muft  of 
Courfe  be  ftronger^  when  the  indifpojed 
Body  wears  a  melancholic  and  enthujiaftic 
Head',  Strength  of  Imagination  and  Di- 
fiemper  concurring.  —  For  a  Cure,  Mr. 
Wbitefield  ''  applied  to  his  Friend,  Mr. 
Charles  Wefley,  who  advifed  him  to  keep 
upon  his  Watch,  and  referred  to  a  Chapter 
in  Ketnpisy  Had  he  applied  to  a  Fhyfi^ 
cian,  he  w^ould  perhaps  have  prefcribed, 
befides  Flebotomy,  Cathartics,  Carjninatives, 
and  Emetics.  And  one  may  the  rather 
think  fo,  becaufe  both  Naturalijts  and 
Divines  have  aflbred  us,  that  the  Devil 
often  goes  out  of  the  Bodies  of  the  Fojjeffed 
in  a  Vomit  or  a  SiooL  Gregory  of  'Tours 
fays,  '^  a  mofl  atrocious  Devil  having  pof- 
*^  iefled  a  certain  Perfon,  by  the  Help  of 
**  Oil  he  went  out   of  his  Body  by  the 

"  Draughty 


(     55     ) 

^'Draught',  per  jiuxum  ventrisy*     Glor. 
Confeff.  Cap.  9. 

''  We  read  in  the  Malleus  Maleficarum^ 
^'  (Tom.  4.  Pag.  25.)  that  the  Devil 
^'  fornetimes  rumbles  about  the  Intejlines  in 
"  the  Shape  of  a  Pill  (for  lb  I  conftrue  the 
*'  Words  in  fimilitudinem  pilc^e)  until  he 
"  goes  out  by  xht  Draught  5  per fecejjum:" 

"  Thyrceiis^  (de  Damoniacis^  Cap.  52, 
&  54.  j  gives  us  feveral  Inftaiices  of  Devih 
being  caft  out  by  Vomit  and  Stool ;  and  then, 
tlie  learned  Author  wifely  obferves, — that 
thefe  Paflages  are  the  fitteft  for  the  Egrefs 
of  fuch  unclean  Spirits  ;  —  and  that  (tho' 
Devils  commonly  go  out  with  a  Stench) 
in  thefe  Cafes  they  are  expelled  with  a  more 
than  ordinary  fetid  Sinelir  'Tis  true  thefe 
Authorities  are  taken  only  from  Fopiff:> 
Writers^  and  therefore  may  not  obtain 
Credit  from  a  Protejiant  Reader ;  but  the 
Patient,  who  hath  fo  often  followed  their 
Example,  might  for  once  have  taken  their 
Prefcription, 

Hence  again  we  may  account  for  what 
Allows  in  Mr.  Whitefield.  "  At  this  Time  i^ Dealing, 
*'  Satan  ufed  to  terrify  me  much;  and '^S*  38. 
'^  threatened  to  punifh  me,  if  I  difcovered 
"  his  Wiles.— 1  thought  the  Devil  would 
*'  appear  to  me  every  Stair  I  went  up. — 
"  And  he  \o  troubled  me  when  I  lay  down 
"  to  Rejt,  that  for  fome  Weeks  I  fcarce 
^-  flept  above  three    Hours  at  a  Time. — 

'^  Wanted 


(     56     ) 

"  Wanted  to  fee  Sm  as  it  was^  but  feared 

*'  left  the  Sight  fhould  terrify  me  to  Death, 

1  Dealing,  u  — Satan  fo   impofed  upon   my  Under-- 

^g^  39-  a  Jlanding^  that  he  perfuaded  me  to  Jhut 

"  myfelf  up  in  my  Study ^  till  I  could  do 

^^  Good  with   a  fmgle  Eye.''     This  Mr. 

3  journ.    //^/6/V^^/^  explains  clfewhere,  ^'  Satan  kept 

Page  84.    a  j^^^  jj^  ^^^^  C/^^^^  near  fix  Weeks,  becaufe 

"  I  could  not  do  any  Thing  with  a  /ingle 

"  I?2tention  :  **  /.  ^.  was  a  Hypocrite. 

Why    &/y7;2  fliould  endeavour   to  cure 
him  of  his  Hypocrify  I  can't  conjecture. — 
But  if  that  infernal  Fiend  did  really  ufe  the 
poor  Man  fo  unmercifully,  or  if  a  wrong 
Caufe   be  afiigned  for   his  Diforders;    'tis 
certain  he  has  fiiared  with  many  Saint-like 
Perfons  in  thefe  Calamities. 
Ribadoi.       As  to  Suffocation,  &c.  '*  One  Night  the 
^^^■h^i'  wicked  Fie?2d  did  what  he  could  to  choak 
St.  Anthony,    prefling  his  Paw  upon  his 
ihA.        Throat. — At  Ro??2e  this   malignant  Spirit 
Bartoi.    *  vvould   have   choaked  St.    Ignatius  in   his 
Vit.ignat.SJeep:  the  fo/v  M:7;2  awaking,  called  upon 
ag  409-  |.jjg  Nanne  of  Jefus ;  but  he  was  fo  hoarfe, 
and  liis  Throat  fo  fore,  that  he  could  hard- 
ly fpeak  for  a  Fortnight.     At  another  Time 
two  Devils  whipt  him  cruelly  in  his  Bed. — 
•Ribaden.  The  wickcd  Fiend  would  often  throw  him- 
Pag  180.  felf  upon  St.  i^^;;7Z/^A///^,  as  he  was  lying  in 
his  Bed,  kneeded  him  with  his  Knees,  and 
prefled  fo  heavily  upon  him,  as  almofl  to 
/mother  him. — He  would  often  cry  out — 


S^ 


(     S7    ) 

^0    thou    malignant   Serpent.  — A  ^^^^^'^  ^""*^- j^^ 
Jefuit,    being   in   a  haunted  Hpufe,    had  p^g"'^^!/ 
Icarce  fhut  his  Eyes,   but  he  felt  the  De- 
i)iN  Hand  taking  him  by  the  Throat".— 

"  The  Prince  of  Darknefs  ufed  to  fall  Mcffingh. 
upon  St.  Pdtric  m  his  Sleep,  and  to  lay  a^^^;^^^^"^' 
heavy  Stone  upon  his  Breaft^  —  fo  as  to  de- 
prive him  of  all  Motion  and  Senfation  ;  and 
bring  a  Darknefs  and  Torpor  upon  him 
for  feveral  Days,  till  the  Saint,  by  calling 
upon  Elias^  the  Prince  of  the  Prophets,  was 
at  length  relieved". 

Nor  will    the    cruel  Enemy  fpare  the 
tender  Sex.     "  I  was,-  fays  St.  Elizial^eth,  vit.  Eliz. 
"  that  Spiritual  Virgin,  fo  fhut  up  by  the  ^^P-  7- 
^'  Adverfary,  that  I  could  fcarce  fpeak,-^^ 
'^  I  felt  my  Throat  fo  violently  comprejjed 
«'  by  his  Hand,  that  my  Breath  was  al- 
*^  mod  flopped." —^  "  Mary   of   AgredaUkom, 
was  never  free  from  bodily  Infirmities,    and  ^S^^^* 
fome  painful  Diftemper.     The  Devil  too 
had  a  Commiffion  to  torment  her  *  —  and 
fometimes  he  would  lie  upon  her  with  fo 
heavy  and    infupportable  a   Weight,    that 
her  Breath  was  ready   to   go  out   of  her 
Body."     The  Confeffion  of  her  Diftempers 
explains  what  the  Devil  was. 

The  Want  of  Sleep  is  a  Circumftance 
belonging  to  Variety  of  Diftempersj  and 
if  the   Devil  would  allow  Mr.  Whitefield 
but  little  ;    he   ferved    ''  one  Thomas  the  "f^^^^^ 
Simple  as  bad^  who  was  all  Day  dirtying  ^^^^,  ^^l 
I  his 


(     58     ) 
his  Body,  in  order  to  have  a  pwe  Heart : 
For  feeing  fo  much  Piety  in  fuch  2.  Ji?nple 
Man,    he  was    perpetually   plaguing   him 
with  72oBur?ial  Terrors,   Noifes,  Dread  of 

Conform.   Thieves,    &c:' And  "  he  ufed  St. 

Fol  54.  pj^ancis  in  the  fame  Manner,  always  dif- 
turbing  his  Reft  171  the  Shape  of  Mice  and 
Ratsr 

As  Satan  threatened  Mr.  WbitcficJd  with 
Punifliment,    if    he    ever  difcovered     his 
'  Ibi^-     Wiles  j    fo   he    "  threatened  St.   Francis, 
^*^^'    that  unlefs  he  would  defift  from  his  pious 
Method,  he  would  make  him  crooked,  and 
clap  a  Hump  upon  his  Back." 
Lib.  2.  In  the  romantic   Life  of  St.    Bernard, 

^^P-  •  2i  Woman  grievoufly  oppreffed  by  an  In- 
cubus, who  had  applied  to  St.  Bernard  to 
beTcIieved,  is  terribly  menaced  by  the  De- 
vil  what  he  would  do  to  her,  as  foon  as 
the  Saint  was  gone  out  of  tl>e  Country,"^ 
Hibadcn.  —  Terefa  too  he  *'  threatened  to  be  re- 
2g-  797-  venged  on,  belides  giving  her  many  griev- 
ous Blows." 

Did  Satan,  as  it  were,  lock  np  Mr, 
IVhitefield  in  Armour,  and  Jlmt  him  up  in 
Conform.  ^^^^  Clojet  ?  He  ferved  a  religious  Francifcan 
FoL  66.  the  fiune  Trick,  ".  not  only  took  away 
his  Speech,  but  got'  upon  his  Back,  and 
heavily  weighed  him  down  -,  and  thruji 
him  into  a  Hole,  fo  narrow  that  he  could 
xiQi  ftir-,  till  by  the  Help  of  a  Y\it\t  Holy^ 
water  he  put  tlie  Devil  to  Flight." 

Nor 


C     S9     ) 

Nor  do  we  want  Inftances  among  the 
moj?  refo/ute  Popifh  Fanatics  of  over-power^ 
ing  Fears ^  and  Apprehenfions  of  the  De- 
vif^  appearing  to  them  :  wherever  they 
are,  efpecially  if  in  the  Dark^  whatever 
Object  xhty  feey  or  thi?2k  they  fee,  be  it 
Man  or  Beaft,  it  is  immediately  their  HelU 
ijh  Enemy  ;  and  they  are  plucking  up  their 
Courage  to  fight  with  him,  or  calling  upon 
Divine  Help  to  fend  him  packing. 

''  Five  furious   Devils   attacked    M,  of^^^^^  N°. 
Pazzi  one  after  another  -,  - — and  this  hor-  ^*'  ^^' 
rible  Sight  terrified,   haunted  and  purfued 
her  in  all  Places.     Sometimes  they  throw 
her  down  Stairs, — bite  her, —  and  feem  to 
devour  her  •  fo  that  flie  had  no  Manner  of 
Repofe  Day  or  Night.     She  armed  herfelf 
againft   thefe    furious    AfTaults    with    the 
Buckler  of  Prayer,"     But   St.  RonmalduSy 
as    became    a   Alan^    had    moi'e    Courage, 
'^  The  Devil  lay  upon   his  Feet  and  Legs  Stillingfl. 
ail   Night,    that  he  could   not    eafsly   ftir  ^1^%^ 
himfelf ;  and  he  was  fo  poiTeffed  with  the      or, 
Thoughts  of  him,  that  a  Mojtk  could  not  ^-  ^^"^*' 
knock  at  his  C>//,  but  he  asked  the  Devil,  Romuai. 
What  he  did  there  3  and   was  ready  to  e?j^  cap.  15  — 
counter  him. —  All    the    Crows   and    ugl^ 
Birds  he  faw  in  the  Wilderncfs,  he  fancied 
to  be  Devils,  and   chaUe?2ged  them  to  fight 
with    him ;    and.  exceedingly    triumphed, 
when  at  his  loud  Cries  they  flew  away.*' 
I  2  "  The 


/^ 


(     6o     ) 

Bartol.  «  The  Devils^  who  had  declared  they 

Vitignat.  j^^^^^  none  more  than  Ignatius,  haunted 
his  Bed-chamber  with  terrible  Noifes  and 
Spedres,  to  {hake  his  Conllancy.  He 
was  grievoufly  frighted  j  but  by  Degrees 
recoUefting  himfelf^  he  boldly  defied  them, 
and  called  them  a  Pack  of  Cowards,  for 
coming  in  fuch  Numbers  to  difturb  one 
Man's  Reftr 

But  notwithftanding  thefe  bodily  Afaults 
of  the  Devil  upon  Mr.  Whitefield,  the 
worft  is  ftill  to  come ;  as  you  will  fee  by 
his  following  perplexed  and  inconfijient  Ef^ 
fujions. 
I  Deal.  *^  Henceforward  he  transformed  him- 
p.  40.  cc  fgif  jj^|.Q  ^^  Angel  of  Light  s  and  worked 
^'  fo  artfully,  that  I  imagined  the  good,  and 
''  not  the  evil.  Spirit  fuggefted  to  m^ 
''  every  Thing  that  I  did.  —  His  main 
**  Drift  was  to  lead  me  into  a  State  of 
"  ^ietifm,  (  he  generally  plowed  with 
*'  God's  Heijer)  and  when  i\\(tIioly  Spirit 
*'  put  into  my  Heart  good  Thoughts  or 
**  Convictions,  he  always  drove  them  to 
"  Extremes.  For  In/lance-,  having  c?^^  of 
*'  Fride  put  down  in  my  Diary  what  I 
*'  gave  away,  Satan  tempted  me  to  lay 
"  my  Diary  quite  afideJ"  Afluredly  a 
moft  malicious  Devil  I  who  would  rob  us 
of  that  Treajury,  which  has  furniihed  the 
World  with  fuch  incomparable  Dealings 
and  Journals.     But  ferioully,  Sir,   did   the 

Holy 


(     6i     ) 

Holy  Spirit  put  it  into  your  Heart  to  fet 
down  your  Charities  out  of  Pride?  And  did 
Satan  tempt  you  to  the  contrary  ?  The  very 
Reverfe  of  both  fhould  have  been  the  Cafe. 

"  When  Cajlaniza  (the  Author  of  The  '  Deal. 
''  Spiritual  Combat)  advifed   to   talk    but '^^^' '^'^' 
"  little^    Satan  faid  I  muft  not  talk  at  alL 
"  So   that  I,  who  ufed  to   be  the   moft 
*'  forward   in  exhorting  my  Companions, 
''  have  fat  whole   Nights  ahiioft  ^without 
''  /peaking  at  ally     Where  a  fullen   Hu- 
mour^ perhaps  a  Lownefs  of  Spirits^  is  im- 
puted  to  Satan's  attempting  to  lead  him 
into  ^ietifm.     I  find  too,  that  not  only 
Mr.  Whitefield^  but  Mr.  Wefley^    was  ad- 
vifed by   a   Spiritual  Cafuift  to  obferve  a 
very  high  Degree  of  Silence,     The  latter 
"  was  often  and  earneftly  prefled  to  make  4>^''n. 
an  Experiment  of  this  Nature,  —  and  he  ^' 
fpoke  to  none  at  all  for  two  Days,  and 
travelhng  fourfcore  Miles  together/'  — 

The  fame  Whim  has  run  through  the 
My/licSy  and  feveral  of  the  Religious  Orders^ 
who  have  enjoined  abfolute  Silence  (  I 
think  too,  bound  it  on  the  Confcience  by 
P^ow)  except  at  fome  Jlated  Times  ;  as  a 
Point  greatly  tending  to  PerfeBion,  Hence 
St.  Bonaventura  fays,  "  that  Silence  in  all  DeP«rfca. 
"  the  Religious  is  ncceflary  in  order  to  ^^^'  ^' 
"  PerfeBion  :  ^nd  that  in  order  to  obferve 
*'  it,  you  ought  to  do  as  St.  Agatha  did, 

"  who 


(       62       ) 

"  who  held  a  Stone  in  his  Mauth  for  three 
'^  Years,  till   he  could  learn  Taciturnity :' 
^oZ^T      "  ^"^   ^^'     Alcantara    carried     leveral 
Tebbles  in  his  Mouth  for  three  Years  like- 
wife,  and  for  the  fame  Reafon.  —  Theon 
obferved  a  continual  Silence  in  his  Cell  for 
Conform,  thirty  Tears,     St.  Fraizcts  obferved  it  him- 
0  •  ^74-  ^^ijT   g,^^  enjoined  it  upon  his  Brethren, 

The   Rule  of   Silence    was    moft    reli- 

gioufly  obferved   by  St.    Do^ninic -,  which 

provoked  the  Bevil  to  put  a  Trick  upon 

him.     Accordingly  he  appears  in  the  Shape 

of  a   Monk,  and    tranfgreffing  one  of  the 

Orders  of  the   Saiizt,      The   Saint  fome- 

thing  haftily  chides  him  for  Difobedience. 

LocT'  '^^''^  '^^''!^  immediately  fell  a   /^z/^/:^%  at 

feii.  pag.  St.    Do7ninic,  and  upbraided  him  for  the 

136.         Violation  of  his  Rule  of  Sileijcey 

But  our  Pair  of  Methodifts  were  not  to 
befo  caught.  Neither  the  Spiritual  Ca- 
fuifts,  nor  Satan,  could  bring  them  to  any 
long  State  of  Silence,  but  were  both  mif- 
taken  in  their  Men.  For  their  Enthufiafm 
is  of  that  loquacious  Nature,  that  it  mujl 
have  Vent ;  and  the  black  Humour  be  dif- 
charged,  either  through  a  %///,  or  at  the 
\Mouth  ; — or  they  would  bur  ft, 
I  Dealing.  *'  Again,  adds  Mr.  iVhitejield,  when 
Pag.  4c.  <c  Cajlaniza  advifed  to  endeavour  after  a 
*'  ^lent  Recoiled  ion,  and  waiting  upon  God ; 
"  Satan  told  me,  I  muft  leave  off  all 
''  Forms,  and  not  ufe  my  Voice  in  Prayer 

''  at 


(     63     ) 

"  at  ally — Where  are   we   now?    But 
a  few  Lines   before,    Sataiis,  main    Drift 
was  to  lead   you  into  ^ietifm ;  and  now 
your  Spiritual  Guide  joins  with  him,  ad- 
vifing  the  very  Ejjence  of  ^ietifm.     You 
obey;    "  leave   oif  keeping   your  DiaryJ^^^^- 
ufing  FormSy   fcarce  a  Voice  in  Prayer^  vi-^^^      * 
iiting  the  Prifoners^  &c.  till  better  advifed 
by  Meffieurs  Wejley,  and  God  was  pleafed 
to  make  an  open  Shew  of  thefe  diabolical 
Devices,'' 

And  it  muft  be  allowed,  that  the  Wejleys 
generally  difclaim  this  Dod:rine  of  the 
Moravians,  ''  Our  old  Friends,  Mr.  Gain- 
"  bold  and  Mr.  liall^  came  to  fee  my  Bro- 
^^  ther  and  me.  The  Converfation  turned 
"  wholly  xx^onfilent Prayer^  and  quietWait- 
"  ^'^g  fo^  God  y  which,  they  faid,  was  the 
"  only  pofible  Way  to  attain  living,  favifig 

'^  Faith.  Weiley. 

4  Journ. 

Sire72um  cantus^  &  Circes  pccula  nofli?     ^nlVeeV 

113. 

"  Was  there  ever  fo  pleafing  a  Scheme  ? 
"  But  where  is  it  written  ?  Not  in  any  of 
"  thofe  Booh,  which  I  account  the  Oracles 
''of  God,  s^cr 

We  may  eafily  imagine,  that  much  Jt^ 
lent  Prayer,  and  quiet  U  aiting,  are  Doc- 
trines not  likely  to  recommend  themfelves 
to  our  rambling,  warm-headed,  Itinerant 
Teachers. 

Thefe 


(64     ) 
Thefe  Moravian  Myfiics  are  the  Perfons, 
whom  (  by  an  unaccountable  Inconfijtency 
of  Condud:   not  to   be   reconciled  )    Mr. 
Wejley  reprefents  by  Viciflitudes  as  the  beft^ 
and  as  the  iDorft,  of  Men.     Who  has  fo 
much  Fondnefs  for   them,    or  Averfion  to 
them?  Who  fo  high  in  their  Commenda* 
tion  'y    or  who  fo  eager  in   running  them 
down,    and    difgracing    them  ?    Who    fa 
loves^  efteems  and  encourages  them  \  or  who 
fo   effedually  expofes  and  confutes  them  ? 
Who  fo  ardently   defires    to  join  them  > 
and  yet  who  produceth  fuch  {lFt)ng  Rea- 
fons   againft  joining  them,  *— as    Mr.    "J 4 
Wepy  ? 
1  Dealing,      But  to  return  to  Mr.  Whitefield.     *'  The 
pag-4J'    <c  j)gyii  ^Ifo   f^diy  impofed   upon  me  in 
"  the  Matter  of  my  College  Exercifes,  — 
*'  I  had  no  Power  to  eompofe  or  write-  a 
**  Word, — had  a  violent  inward  Check  not 
*^  to  go  down  into  the  Hall.  -^  The  next 
<'  Week   he    ferved  me  foagain.  —  My 
*^  Tutor y   as  well  he  might,  took  me  to 
*'  be  really  w^J.-— Being  urged  with  the 
"  Command  in  Scripture,  to  be  fnbje^  to 
"  the  Higher  Powers  5   I   anfwered,  Yes  ; 
"  but    1  had  a  new  Revelation.     Lord, 
«  What  is  Man?" 

What  is  Man  indeed  ?  When  he  muft 
charge  upon  Satan  his  own  moody  Ter- 
verjenefs^  or  Inability  to  eompofe  j  and  pre- 

tend 


(    65    ) 

tend  a  new  Revelation  againft  Obedience^ 
enjoined  by  the  old? 

"  After  leaving  off  my  Diary ^-^^Fnrms »  Dealing, 
and  Voice  in  Prayer ;  and  vifiting  the  '  ^^"  * 
Prifons,  nothing  remained  for  me  to  - 
leave,  hut  public  Worjhipy  and  my  religious 
Friends,  Nov^  it  vidisfuggejied  (by  Satan^ 
as  an  A7igel  of  Light)  that  I  muft  leave 
them  alfo  for  Chriji's  Sake.  —  A  fore 
Trial, — but  rather  than  not  be  Chriji's 
Difciple,  I  refolved  to  renounce  them. 
Accordingly,  inftead  of  meeting  my  Bre-- 
thren  as  ufual,  I  v^ent  into  the  Fields^ 
and  ^vzyQA/llently  by  my f elf.  Our  Even- 
ing'Meeti?ig  I  negledled  alfo  -,  and  went 
not  to  Breakfaji,  according  to  Appoint- 
ment.— 'Till  at  length  by  Mr.  J,  Weflefs 
excellent  Advice  and  Management,  un- 
der God^  I  w^as  delivered  from  thofe 
Wiles  of  Satan :  —  and  took  up  my  £x- 
ternals  again.'* 
I  fliall  omit  many  fuch  Appearances  of 
Sat  any  like  an  Angel  of  Light ,  to  the  Pcpijh 
Saints-,  and  be  contented  with  2.Ji?2gle  In- 
fiance  attended  Wuhfrnilar  Circumftances, 

"  Brother  Rufin,  before  he  arrived  at  Conform, 
his  full  State  ot  Sa?i5lity  and  Grace,  was  ^'^^^^  ^3*4: 
tempted  of  the  Devil  no  more  to  follow  the 
Footfteps  of  St.  Fra?2cisy  who  was  but  a 
fimple  Man,  and  under  Pretence  of  fending 
them  among  the  Hofpitah  drew  the  Bre-- 
thren  away  from  their  Prayers  5  but  that  he 
K  mould 


(    66    ) 

Ihould  live  Jolitarily  in  the  Dejert.  Thus 
Satmt,  appearing  as  an  Angel  of  Light,  fug- 
gejiing  this  to  Ruffm  confirmed  him  in  his 
Purpofe.  And  he  retired  into  the  Woods  to 
pray  ;  would  not  come  to  St.  Francis  at 
Eating-Hours  as  ufual, — would  not  come  to 
Slipper, — nay  would  not  come  to  the  Sa- 
crament ^  —  and  fent  Word  to  St.  Francis, 
that  he  had  a  better  Way  to  Salvation  than 
by  following  his  Simplicities  ;  and  fo  the 
hord  had  revealed  to  him.  This  he  affirmed 
again,  and  again.  At  length  St.  Francis, 
deeply  concerned,  and  defirous  to  bring  him 
back  to  the  Community,  goes  to  him  him- 
felf,  and  afks  who  perfuaded  him  to  this  ? 
Rtiffin  anfwered,  he  had  a  Divine  Revelation 
by  an  AngeL  I  will Jloew  you,  fays  Francis, 
who  this  Angel  is,  that  fuggejled  it  to  you ; 
and  prefently,  by  Prayer,  the  Angel  ap- 
peared in  a  moft  amazing  Beauty  and  Splen^. 
dor  3  which  made  Ruffin  rejoice  and  exult. 
Then  Francis,  by  Prayer  again,  command- 
ed the  Angel  to  appear  vi/ibly  who,  and  what 
he  was.  And  prefently  he  was  transformed 
into  fuch  a  horrible  Shape,  and  made  fuch 
a  horrible  Stink,  that  Ruffin  fell  to  the 
Ground  as  dead  ;  but  was  rajfed-up  by  St. 
Francis,  comforted,  and  confirmed  in 
Righteoufnefs.'' 

I  would  afk  now,  with  Refpedl  to  Mr. 
Whitejield,  what  otherwife  than  has  hap- 
pened could  be  expciSed  from  one  v^ho  Jets 

cut 


(     67     ) 

mty  and  begins  his  new  Difpenfafion  with 
fuch  Phrenzies,  as  himfelf  has  publifhed  ? 
Touth,  Impious  Intention,  fancied OpprciTion 
of  Satan,  2iX\i  real  Indifpofition  of  Body, — 
rnay  perhaps  be  pleaded  in  his  Excufe,  And 
no  doubt  very  juftly ;  had  not  his  whole 
future  Condud:,  his  uncharitable  Characters 
and  Accufations  of  his  Brethren,  his  inde- 
cent and  rude  Treatment  of  his  Superiors 
and  Governors^  his  Vanity  arid  proud  Boajt- 
ings,  his  unwarrantable  and  high  Prefiwip^ 
tions,  his  obtruding  upon  the  World  his 
own  Panciesfor  Divine  Inspirations,  carrying 
on  all  along  a  New  Revelation  againjt  the 
Old  in  facred  Writ,  and  thereby  deceiving 
many,  Qc. — had  not  all  this,  and  more, 
rendered  him  inexcufable,  Excufes  are  fcarce 
allowable  to  fuch  Exorbitances, 

His  Companion,  Mr.  Seward,  has  like- 
wife  great  ConfiBs  with  Satan,    "  He  often  jQ^^n. 
"  turned  himfelf  into  an  Angel  of  Light,?-  ?;,  zg. 
"  and  made  me  think  Brother  Whitef  eld's  ^9^  4o. 
*^  Zeal  was  not  fo  great  as  my  own ; — which 
"  Mr.   Whitefield  faid   was   Impetuofity, — 
"  Was  exercifed  \^\th.  ftro?2g  inward  Trials ^ 
"  fuch  as  I  ncvQi- felt  bcforc—Satan  darti?ig 
'*  infuch  horridThoiightS',—\\trc\idi^  me  en- 
*'  tertain  hard  Thoughts  of  my  Brother-, — 
**  exercifed  again  with /;2W^7r<iQ?;?/?/^jj  and 
*'  could  not  pray  for  my  Friends.     There 
"  feemed  a  Cloud  of  evil  Spirits  hovering 
"  round  me,  and  brought  my  Soul  to  the 
K  2  "  Depth 


(     68     ) 

"  Depth  of  HelL  —  O !  the  horrid  Sug- 
*'  geftions,  that  Satan  has.  Day  after  Day, 
^'  followed  me  with  !  He  has  endeavoured 
*'  to  caft  a  Cloud  over  all  the  Manifcftations 
*'  I  have  had  of  the  Divine  Favour. — Tho* 
"  the  Lord  has  a  Thoufand  Times  over 
"  told  mcy  that  he  loved  me  with  an  Ever^ 
"  lajting  Love  y  yet  Satan  had  the  Impu^ 
*'  dence  to  tell  jne^    in   the  Midft  of  my 
*'  Prayers,    that  I  was  not  one  of  God's 
*^  EieB^  —  that  I  was  Hke  JudaSy  —  and 
*^  fhould  betray  Chrift, — He  is  generally  fo 
"  bufy  with  me  in  Prayer ,   that  my  Time 
'*  is  chiefly  fpent  in  keeping  him  off. — 
"-^  TThus  has  my  poor  Soul  been  toffed'A^  in  a 
*'  Tempefty  till  brought  almofl  to  Defpair^ 
"  — Satan  bad  me  worfliip  hirriy  or  Stocks^ 
"  or  StoneSy  or  any  Thing  but  God. — -On^ 
^'  remarkable  Temptation  was,  that  know- 
*'  ing  how  little  jS/f^/)  I  allowed  myfelf — 
''  he  terrified  me  with  this  Scripture y  It  is 
"  but  loft  Labour  that  you  rife  up  early  y  and 
'■^  fit  up  late,  and  eat  the  Bread  of  CarefuU 
"  nefs.     Here  he  flopped, — for  it  was  5^- 
*^  tan'^  Bufinefs  now  to  hide  xhz  latter  Part 
^^  of  the  Text  from  me." 

This  is  the  fame  Mr.  Sewardy    of  whom 

Mr.  Whitefield  gives  fuch  a  particular  Ac- 

3journ.    count,  "  whofe  Circumftauces,  ho\h  before 

*^  and  in  his  Converfion,  much  refemble 

<^  thofe  of  St.  Paul — It  pleafed  God  to  re* 

*^  veal 


(    69    ) 

"  veal  his  Son  unto  him,  and  to  caft  him 
"  down  to  the  Earth — by  eight  Days  Sick- 
*'  nefs ;  in  which  Time  he  fcarce  ever  eat, 
*^  or  drank,  or  flept,  and  underwent  great 
"  hiward  Agonies  and  Tortures :  —  When 
"  God  fent  a  poor  travelling  Woman^  that 
*'  came  to  fell  Straw  Toys^  to  inftrud:  him 
"  in  the  Nature  of  our  Secoijd  Birth''  And 
what  better  than  Straw  Toys  did  fhe  fell  to 
him  ?  Of  what  did  flie  deliver  him,  after 
going  through  the  Tangs  of  the  New  Birthy 
and  what  has  he  brought  forth,  but  a  mod 
weak  and  extravagantly  wild  Journal? 
What  other  Proof  need  we  bring  of  a  weaky 
or  disordered  Read,  than  his  being  fo  ter- 
rified by  that  remarkable  Temptation  of  Sa- 
tan^  alledging  only  a  Fart  of  a  Scripture 
Paffage  ?  As  if  the  leaft  Degree  of  Thought, 
or  turning  to  the  Place,  might  not  eafily 
have  fupplied  the  Defedt, — for  Jo  he  givetb 
his  Beloved  Sleeps 

IvA  I  could  tell  him,  from  a  Book  of  Au- 
thority, of  a  vaoxt  fagacious  Saiiit,  who  out^ 
witted  the  Devil  in  a  like  Cafe.  "  The 
Devil  onct  told  St.  Bernard,  that  he  knew 
certain  Vejjes  in  the  "TJaltery  that  whofo 
fayeth  fliail  not  perifh ;  and  fhall  know  the 
Day  of  his  Death.  But  the  Fiend  refufed 
to  name  them.  Theny  faid  the  Saint,  I 
will  fay  the  whole  Pfalter  daily.  The  Fiend 
confideiing    how    much    more  Good   that 

would 


(     70     ) 
would  do  him,  fhewed  him  the  Verfes.'* 
Hora-  B,  Virgifiisfec,  tifum  Sacrum,  P.  124. 

P^^'^f'  1534- 

In   Reference  to  the   other  Al&iilts  of 
Satan  upon  Mr.  Seward,  I  fhall  only  men- 
tion one  Popijh  Inftance  among  a  Thou- 
fand  ;  which  is  that  of  St.  Guthlac,  agree- 
able in  divers  Circumftances.     ''  The  Ene- 
Aasana.^^y  ^^  Mankind  envying  the  Humility  of 
Vol.  3.     the  Man  of  God,    by  the   Force    of    his 
Pag.  271.  Temptations  almoft  drove  him  to  the  Pit  of 
Defpair, — One  Night  an  infinite  Multitude 
of  Devils  furrounded   him^  filling  all  the 
Air  with  their  ugly  Forms,  as  i^o  many  black 
Clouds 'y  threaten  him  with  Death,  and  car- 
ry him  away  to  the  very  Jaws  ofHelL  'Till 
at  length  St.  Bartholomew  comes  to  his  Af- 
fiftance,  and  commands  them  to  carry  him 
fafe  Home."  Nov,  Legend,  AngL  FoL  169. 
Nor  can  Mr.  Wejley  efcape  the  Attacks  of 
jjourn.   t\{is  infernal  spirit,    ''  Soon  after  receiving 
'  *  "^  ' '  '  *'  an  Afurance  of  Forgivenefs,- — The  Ene- 
^  my  fuggefted,  This  cannot  be  Faith  :  for 
*'  where  is  thy  foy  ? — I  was  much  buffeted 
*'  with   Temptations  5    but  cried  out,    and 
they  fled  away.     They  returned  again, 
and  again. — The  Enemy  injedted  a  Fear, 
If  thou  doft  believe,  why  is  there  not  a 
more  fenfible  Change? — lanfwered,  (yet 
"  not  I)  That  I  know  not. — But  is  not  any 
*'  Sort  of  Fear,  continued  the  Tempter,  a 
*^  Proof  that  thou  doft  not  believe  .?•  '* 

You 


<i 


€C 


(    7^     ) 

You  obferve  here  a  regular  Converfa^ 
tiotiy  and  Difcourfe,  between  Satan  and 
Mr.  WeJIey  :  —  that  Satan  /poke  to  Mr. 
Whitefield^  and  threatened  hnn:  —  had  the 
Impudence Xo  /peak  to  Mr.  Seward^  and  ter- 
rify him  with  a  PafTage  in  Scripture,  And 
elfewhere  "  the  Devil pe?juades  them  to  go 
no  farther  ;  — and  they  have  great  Rea/on^ Letters, 
ing  "with  Satan.'' 

And  does  not  this  give  too  much  En- 
couragement to  the  many  fabulous  Tales y 
with  which  Popijh  Legends  are  fluffed,  of 
vifible  and  perfonal  Appearances  of  Devils  to 
their  Saints,  of  their  Combats  Hand  to  Hand, 
and  Difcourfes  in  an  articulate  Voice ,  &c  ? 
True  Catholicks,  i,  e.  ignorant  and  credulous 
People,  firmly  believed  thefe  Tales.  The 
Methodifs  perhaps  are  not  much  wifer\ 
and  may  be  equally  ready  to  conilrue  fuch 
Expreflions  in  a  literal  Senfe. 

One  more  Satanical  Operation  I    fhall 
mention  in  this  Place,  becaufe  Mr.  Wefley 
was  concerned  in  it :  He  relates  the  Cafe 
of  "  feverai  breaking-out  into  horrid  Fits  ^joum. 
of  Laughter  -,  —  buffeted  by  Satan  by  fuch  a^'^S-  94- 
Spirit   of  Laughter^    as  they  could  in   nop.  3^7"^ 5 g. 
Wife  refift,  though  it  was  Pain  and  Grief 
unto   tliem  :  —  one  laughing,    till  almoil 
fir  angle  d  '.-—{ovciQ.  "wtvQoffndedy  and  would 
not  believe  but  they  could  help  laughing.,  \i 
they  would  :  —  but  God  fuffered  Sata?i  to 
teach  them  better.     They   were  fuddenly 

feized 


(  72  ) 
feized  in  tlie  fame  Manner,  laughing  almoft 
without  cealing.  Thus  they  continued  for 
two  DaySy  a  Spedlacle  to  all. — And  both 
himfelf  and  Brother  had  been  buffeted  in  the 
fame  Manner,  when  they  walked  out  to 
fing  Pfahm  in  a  Meadow.  Nor  could  they 
poffibly  refrain,  though  ready  to  tear  them- 
felves  in  Pieces  5  but  were  forced  to  go 
Home,  without  finging  another  Line." 

Though  I  am  not  convinced  that  thefe 
Fits  of  Laughing  are  to  be  afcribed  to  Satan  -, 
I  entirely  agree  with  Mr.  ^ejley,  that  they 
are  involuntary  and  unavoidable ;  and  don't 
in  the  leaft  queftion  the  Facls.  Phyfical 
Writers  tell  us,  that  Laughi?ig-Fits  are  one 
Species  of  a  Delirium,  attending  on  fome 
Diprnpersy-iwdi  particularly  on  the  Hypochon- 
dria, or  Spleen,  {i\\Q principal higredient  of 
Enthuliafm)  called  by  fome  the  Organ  of 
Laughter ;  whence  laughing  People  are  faid 
to  vefit  their  Spleen, 

I  don't  remember  any  of  thefe  Laughing- 
Fits  among  Papijis.  But  they  were  very 
common  among  the  French  Prophets  m 
their  Agitatiojis.  Mr.  Aubrey,  in  his  Mif- 
cellanies,  (Page  117)  relates  the  fame  Thing 
of  Oliver  Cromwell  "  Oliver,  fays  he, 
"  had  certainly  this  Afflatus,  One  that 
"  was  at  the  Battle  of  Dunbar  told  me  that 
"  Oliver  was  carried  on  with  a  Divine  Im- 
**  pulfe:  he  did  laugh  fo  exceflively  as  if 
••  he  had  been  drunk — The  fame  Fit   of 

Laughter 


(    7Z^   ) 

"  Laughter  feized  him  juft  before  the  Bat- 
*'  tie  of  Nafeby:'  ■  'Tis  a  Qoeftion  unde- 
cided, whether  Olher  was  more  of  the 
Enthu/iaft^  ov  the  Hypocrite  :  and  I  prefume 
the  Fits  are  no  Proof  of  a  good  Caufe  either 
in  the  ProteBor^  or  the  Methodijl, 

I  took  Notice  before  how  the  Methodijls  . 
make  Hell  tremble^    and  Satan  s  Kingdom 
totter.     No   wonder  -therefore  if  he  rage 
horribly y  and  ftir  up  all  poffible  Oppofitivn 
to    their  Progrefs.     Hence  Mr.  Whitefield 
aflures  us,  that, .  "  the  Devil  painted  him  in  3  Jo«rn. 
mofl  horrible  Colours;  and  raifed  a  Report ^^^' '^^' 
that  he  was  mad'^  —  that  when  he  went  ^4  Joum. 
attack  the  Devil  in  his  ftrongejl  Holds ^  the  ^^^'  ^*^* 
Devil  would  not  permit  the  People  to  give 
him  Audience; — and  that  Satan  endeavour-  5  Joum. 
ed  to  interrupt  his  Preaching,  by  fending  a^'^'  2^* 
Tannic  upon  his  Audience  in  the  Midft  of 
his  Difcourfe." 

Hence  too  Mr.  Wefiey  fays,  that  while 
he  was  preaching,  ''  the  Devil  knew  his    y^y^^^ 
*'  Kingdom  (hook,    and    therefore  ftirred  pag.  37. 
*'  up  his  Servants,  to  ring  Bells^  and  make 
^^  2iNoife. — The  Trince  of  the  Air  madepag.  57 
*^  another  Attempt  in  Defence  of  his  totter- 
'*  ing  Kingdom  ;  great  Numbers  of  Men 
"  beyan  to  fpeak  big,  fvvelling  Words :  — 
'^  The   many-headed  Beaji  began  to   roar  pag.  60 
*^  again:  —  The   Devil's  Children  fought 
^^  valiantly  for  their  Af^^r.  —  One  Azr^^Pag.  82, 
"  Stone  (many  of  which  they  threw)  went 

L  '  juft 


(     74     ) 

"  jull:  over  my  Shoulder.     But  no  one  was 

p.  6q!"    "  h^^'^  ^^  ^^y  Degree.     For  thy  Kingdom 

3  journ.    «^  rulcth  ovcv  all.  —  One  Man   took  up  a 

pag.  91.    cc  great  Stojte^  which  he  many  Times  at- 

"  tempted  to  throw.     But  that  he  could 

''  not  do." 

To  pafs  over  at  prefent  thefe  Intimations 

of  a  miraculous  Deliverance-, — we  find  the 

Spirits  of  Darknefs  oppofing  themfelves  to 

•  Fanatical  Popijh  Saints,  and  for  the  fame 

Reafon,     "  The  Devils  confelTed,  that  St. 

^ra^afc^  jFr^^;?m  was  the  Man  in  the  World  whom 

Jan.  3,      they  moft  feared  ;  the  Man  fenf  of  God  (on 

the   Reformation  of  Mankind-,    for   which 

Reafon  they  plagued  him  to  the  utmoft  of 

their  Power  ; — and  that  feveral  Councilsh.2idi 

been  fummoned  in  Hell,  to  confider   how 

to  deftroy,  or  put  a  Stop  to,  the  Francif- 

Conform.  ^^^^^' — The  Dcvils  knowing  that  Hell  was 

Fol.53.54.  to  be  deftroyed  hy  him,  and  his  Society, — 

perfecuted    him   a   Thoufand    Ways,    by 

Terrors,  Calumnies,  perfonal  Combats  with 

him   Hand  to  Hand  ;  once  by  flinging  a 

large  Piece  of  a  Rock  at  his  Head,  which 

the  Sai7it  made  foft  as  Wax,   by  a  Miracle, 

Fol.  140.  tl^^t  it  could  not  hurt  him,  &c. — Another 

Time  a  noify  Woman  difturbed  his  Preaching 

by  beating  a  Cymbol  -,  but  St.   Francis  bad 

the  Devil  take  her ;  and  inflantly  he  came, 

and  carried  her  Way." 

Ribaden.        *'  The   Devils   looked    upon   the  pious 

?3g-  544*  Ignatius  as  their  irreconcilable  Enemy,  for 

refcuing 


(    75    ) 

refcuing  Souls  out  of  their  Hands,  and 
made  War  with  all  his  Foliowers,"' — I  could 
add  Hundreds  of  Inftances  of  fuch  Diaboli- 
cal Attempts  againft  the  Religious  Orders 
among  Tapijls,  on  Account  of  their  doing 
fo  much  Good  in  the  World,  What  Good  they 
have  done  can  be  no  Secret  to  a  Protejiant, 
But  'tis  to  be  hoped,  our  Jejiiitical  Me- 
thodifts  will  fall  very  fhort  of  fuch  goodly 
Co7jfequences,  Satan  can't  poffibly  be  their 
Efiemy,  if  they  proceed  in  the  fame 
Method, 

§.  8.    Another   Rub   in   the    Methodijl's 
Way,  and  partly  owing  to  the  fame  evil 
Spirit^  is  their  frequent  Complaint  of  Spi- 
ritual Defer tionSy  inward  Deadncjjes,  Dark- 
nefjes,  Drynefsy  Barrennefs^  and  in  general 
a  deflate  and  uncomfortable  State.     Their 
fancied  Illumination^  Infpiration^  Vrefences^ 
Calls^  DireBions  and  Afijlances  of  God^  &c. 
Thefe  have  rendered  their  Enthufafm  vio- 
lent and  fiery,    made   their   Breaft  like  a 
burning  Furnace^  with  a  vehement  Rapidity 
confuming  all  before  it.    But  as  the  Furnace 
can't  always  be  kept  up  to  fuch  an  uncom* 
won  Heat  -,  when  the  Fewel  fails,  and  before 
frefli  Recruits  are  collefled  ;  a  Drynefs  and 
Coldnefs  foon  fucceed  :  all  is  a  Sort  of  Caput 
mortuum    within,    a    dead    infipid   Lump^ 
when  the  volatile  6^/>/Viareexhaufl:ed. 

L  2  This 


(     76     ) 

This  State  of  Defolation  they  fometimes 
barely  relate,  and  fometimes  impute  it  to 
the  Efficiency  of  the  Gooci^  or  of  the  Evil 
Spirit, 

1  Dealing,      "  Comforts^  fays  Mr.  Whitefield,    were 
pag-  37-    '^  foon  withdrawn,    and  a  horrible  Fear- 

*'  fulnefs   and   Dread   permitted   to  over- 

''  whelm  my  Soul, — attended  with  inward 

*'  Darknefs ;  my  Soul   barren  and  dry. — 

"  Sometimes  I    perceive  myfelf  deferted  5 

pag°4!%, "  on  a  fudden  deferted,  and  ftruggled  like 

24»  o>    "  one  in  the  laft  Agonies, — without  any 

°'  ''  Life  or  Power — quite  friut  up. — Satan 

''  withftood  me  greatly  ;  for  on  a  fudden  I 

"  was  deferted.     I  thought    it    was    the 

4  journ.    <«  Devil's   doing. — Quite   fhut   up:    my 

p^g-  23.    cc  jjg^^f  and  Head  were  as  dead  as  a  Stone. 

"  — God  being  pleafed  to  withdraw  him- 

"  felf. — For  two  Days  God  has  brought  me 

"  low  by  Spiritual  Defer tioiisy 

2  Journ.        Wefley,     "  For  three  Days  I  was  forrow- 
p.  19,  29. «c  fui  3j^(j    y^ry    heavy;    could   not  read, 

"  meditate,    fing,  pray,  or  do  any  Thing. 

3  Journ.    "  — Continued  to  feek  it  (Faith)  but  v>^ith 
pag.  60.    <«  ftrange  Indifference,  Dulnefs,  and  Cold- 

"  nefs;  and  unufually  fi'equent  Relapfes 
"  into  Sin.— Had  no  Life  or  Spirit  in  me.— 
"  Our  Society  met :  but  cold,  weary,  heart- 

Icurn     "  '^^^   ^^^^  dead. Nothing  of  brotherly 

pag.  34.    ''  Djve  among  them  ;  but  a  harfli,    dry, 
*^  heavy,    ftupid  Spirit;  —  looking  as  if 


(   n   ) 

"  one  Half   of   them  was  afraid   of  the 
"  other.'' 

"  I   have  found,    (fays   Mr.    Seward ) ]o\\xn. 
"  during    thefe     "temptations,     a    general  P^S- 4o- 
"  Withdrawing  of  G(?/^  %>///' 

The  fame  State  of  Dereli^hn,  &c.  was 
the  common  Lot  of  their  tvtv  faithful  Allies. 
"  The  feraphic  St.  Francis   was   reduced  (>^^f^^^^ 
to  fo  great  Tribulation  by  Satan's  Tempt a^  Vol,  53, 
tiom,    and    the    Lord's    withholding     his^SS- 
ufual  Confolations,  that  he  thought  he  was 
forjaken  by  Chrifi -, — and  that  for    feveral 
Months  together. — The  fiery  St.  Ignatius  Bartol. 
often  found  all  the  liquid  Pleafures  of  the^''^''^°' 
inward  Man  quite  dried  away.     A  Woman  ibid, 
quite  deferted,  and  the  Fein  of  her  Spiritual '^^^'  44i- 
Delicioufnefies  dried  up  in  her  Aridities^  fo 
that  ihe  could  not  pray,  or  do  any  Thing 
to  recover  her  Sweetneffes,  was  reftored  by 
Ignatius  to   her  amorous   Motio?2S    towards 
God, — A  Jefuit  under  Defolations  and  De-Balingh. 
relrdions   was    reftored    by   flying  to  the^^S- *3- 
Bofom  of  Jefus  ajid  Mary. — M.  of  Tazzi  Br.  Man. 
had  a  long  Combat  with  the  Princes  oJ^^y^S- 
Darknefs  -,  was  dry,  defolate,  and  deferted. 

St.  Terefa   for  Two  and    Twenty  TearsKihz^tti. 

had  great  Aridities ; — yet  never  in  all  thatP^S-  799- 

Time  defired   more  Comfort. Mary  ofuk. 

Agreda  was  under  fuch  2i  Spiritual  Defer tion^ 
that  God  for  fome  Years  did  hide  himfelf 
from  her,  withdrawing  the  Regalo's  and 
Joys  of  his  Prefence."' 

The 


(    78    ) 

The  Methodijh^  who  complain  (o  often 
of  their  Dejertions^  and  other  occafional 
DejeBions^  and  gloomy  Apprehenfions, 
would  be  very  unwilling  that  we  fhould 
take  Advantage  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  Affer- 
3  Journ.  tion,  "  Let  Men  but  love  Chrijt^  and  fpend 
pag-  72-  tc  ^/;^/^  whole  Time  in  his  Service^  and  they 
*'  will  find  no  dull ^  melancholy  Hours.  Want 
''  of  the  Love  oj  Gody  I  take  to  be  the  chief 
*'  Caufe  of  Indolence  and  Vapours''  Nor 
need  we  haftily  recur  to  the  immediate 
Efficiency  oi  2i  [up ernatural  Agtricy^  celeftial 
or  infernal.  The  Force  of  Diftemper  and 
bodily  Diforder  will  eafily  account  for  moft 
fuch  dark  and  difconfolate  Thoughts.  A 
difeafed  Melancholy  alone  will  fuffice,  to 
which  many  pious  and  well-meaning  Peo- 
ple are  fubjed:.  Mr.  Mhitefield  himfelf  in 
5  Journ.  Effed:  imputes  it  to  Difeafe ;  "  I  was  de- 
p.  24, 25.cc  fei-ted,  and  then  taken  very  ///  in  Body, 
"  vomited,  went  to  Bed, — quite  fliut  up, 
*^  my  Indifpofition  ftill  continuing.  After 
*'  this  my  Spirits  revived,  Body  was 
"  ftrengthened,  and  God  gave  me  Ut- 
Life.  *'  terance — ."  '^  Mary  of  Agreda^  hefides 
*'  Spiritual  Defer  tions^  and  direful  Tempt  a- 
"  tations^  w^as  never  free  from  one  painful 
"  Diftemper  or  other.''  The  Defertion  in 
both  Cafes  is  conneded  with  the  Difeaje, 

But  even  this  Caufe  is  not  wanted :  after 
the  Spirits  have  been  wound  up  too  high, 
and    put    upon    extraordinary    Efforts,    a 

Weaknefs 


(  79  ) 
Weaknefs  and  Depreflion  of  Courfe  fucceed. 
And  we  may  look  upon  Enthufiafm  as  a 
Kind  of  Drimkennefs^  filling  and  intoxicat- 
ing; the  Brain  with  the  heated  Fumes  of 
fpirituous  Particles ;  but  no  fooner  do  the 
inebriation  and  Incalefcence  go  off,  but  a 
Sinking  of  the  Spirits,  a  Coldnefs  and  Dul- 
nefs,  take  Place:  and  the  lower  is  the 
Deprejfion  in  proportion  to  the  preceding 
Elevation, 

And  yet  thefe  very  Defertions  they  can 
turn  to  Account  ;  and  create  a  ftronger 
Notion  among  their  Followers,  that  at 
other  Times^  and  in  their  high  Flights^  they 
are  more  immediately  infpired^  and  receive 
extraordinary  Supplies  from  Heaven. 

For  a  clearer  and  fuller  Account  of 
thefe  occafional  Defertions,  Ehbings  and 
FlowingSy  Succejftons  of  hot  and  cold  Fits,— 
I  would  recommend  to  the  Reader  Dr. 
Henry  Mores  Difcourfe  of  Enthufiafm. 
Sed:.  1 8. — This  T^ra^;  fo  truly  defcribes 
the  Nature^  Caufes^  and  Kinds  of  Enthu- 
fiafmy  that  (were  not  this  Difie?nper  general- 
ly attended  with  the  fame  Symptoms)  one 
would  think  it  a  Trophecy  of  our  Fanatical 
Meihodifis. 

§.  9.  Of  the  fame  Nature,  as  an  Inter- 
ruption to  their  Progrefs,  and  genuine 
Confequmce  of  Enthufiafm,  may  be  reckon- 
ed their  great  Inequality  and  JJnflcadinejs  of 

Temper 


(     8o     ) 

Temper  and  Condu6l ;  their  Ebbings  and 
Plowings  of  Sentiments  and  A<ftions ;  their 
Joys,  Prefumptions,  AJfurances,  &cc.  con> 
trailed  with  various  Torme72ts  and  Scruples 
of  Confcience,  Relapfes,  Defpairiitgs,  &c. 
Whereby  they  are  loft  and  perplexed  in 
endlefs  Mazes ;  and  their  Cajiles  in  the  Air 
Shattered  to  Pieces. 

As  to  Mr.  Whitejield, — after  \i\spameful 
(I  mean  Jhamelefs)  Account  of  his  Strug- 
gles between  Nature  and  Grace,  and  his 
Viciffitudes  of  the  Pra5lice  of  Piety  and 
Senfuality  ; —  and  his  preaching  wath  more 
or  lefs  Power,  &cc, — I  fee  not  much  of  his 
doubting  Confcie?2ce,     He  fwims  fo  fecurcly 
on  the  Bladders  of  his  Vanity,  as  to  be  in 
little  Danger  oi  finking.     Something,  how- 
ever, of  this  Nature  appears  in  his  Fifth 
Journal,  pag.   17 — 19.      But  Mr.  Wejley, 
a  Man  of  deeper  Refledion,  is  much  more 
embarraffed,  and  toffed  up  and  down  with 
alternate  Ri/ings  and  Fallings, 
4  journ.        And  he  has  often  *'  taken  Occafion  to 
P^g-  3c.    defcribe  that  wildcjvjefs  State,  that  State  of 
Doubts  and    Fears,    which    fo    many   go 
through  after  they  have  received  Remiffion 
of  Sins.'*     Two  horrible  Inftances  of  this 
iwA    A,  Cafe  he  2;ives,    **  of  Pcrlbns  who,    after 
many  Years   mourning,    were   filled  with 
Peace  and  Joy  in  believing  ;  but  fuddenly 
fuch  a  Cloud  overwhelmed  them,  that  they 
could  not  believe  their  Sins  were  forgive7i 

at 


(     8i     ) 

at  all,  or  that  there  was  any  fuch  Thing 
as  Forgivenefs  of  Si/iSy  any  Heaven  or  Hell^ 
&c/'  Whether  they  ever  returned  to  their 
Faith  and  Peace  we  have  no  Account.  -— 
But  let  us  fee  what  he  foys  of  himfelf, 
and  the  Dijiracfions  of  his  own  Mind. 

—  "  My  Spirit  revived  ;  fo  that  fi^om  i  Journ. 
this  Day  I  had  no  more  of  that  Fearful-  ^^S-  ^^• 
nefs  and  Heavijiefs,  which  before  almoft 
continually  weighed  me  down.*'  And 
yet  he  writes  in  the  very  fame  Page,  "  I 
went  to  America  to  convert  the  Indiafis : 
But  oh  !  who  fhall  convert  me  !  Who, 
what  is  he,  that  will  deliver  me  from 
this  evil  Heart  of  Unbelief  I  —  I  think 
verily,  if  i\\q  Gofpel  be  trtie^  I  am  fafe, 
"^Ifhew  my  Faith  by  my  Worh,  —  But 
in  a  Storm  I  think,  what  if  the  Gofpel 
be  not  true  ?  —  I  have  learned,  that  I, 
who  went  to  America  to  convert  others^ 
was  never  converted  7nyfelf,  —  If  it  be  Pag  67— 
faid,  that  /  have  Faith  ;  I  anfwer,  fo  /o. 
have  the  Devils,  —  Thrown  into  great 
Perplexities.  —  I  cannot  find  in  myfelf 
the  Love  of  God,  or  of  Chri/l,  Hence 
my  Deadnefs  and  Wanderings  in  Pub- 
lic Prayer,  Hence*  it  is,  that  even  in 
the  Holy  Communion  I  have  rarely  any 
more  than  a  cold  Attention.  —  When  I 
hear  of  the  higheft  Inftances  of  God's 
Love^  my  Heart  is  ftill  fenfelefs  and  un- 
affeded.  Yea,  at  this  Moment,  I  feel  2  joum. 
M  "  noP-  ^''^'' 


(       S2       ) 

^  *  no  more  Love  to  hiniy  than  to  one  I  had 
*^  never  heard  of.  —  Troubled  at  what 
"  fome  faid, — doubtful  of  my  own  State. — • 
2  journ.  "  By  Feter  Bohler  (a  Moravian)  clear- 
p.  II,  16.  <c  jy  convinced  of  Unbelief; — immediate- 
"  ly  it  ftruck  into  my  Mind,  Leave  off 
"  Preaching.  —  I  asked  Bohler,  whether 
**  he  thought  I  iliould  leave  it  off,  or 
"  not  ?  He  anfwered,  by  no  Means.  I 
"  asked,  but  what  can  I  preach  ?  He  faid, 
*'  preach  Faith,  'till  you  have  it.  —  My 
''  Soul  ftarted  back:  — I  asked  P.  Bohler 
^'  again. — 

"  All  the  Time  I  was  at  Savannah  I 
"  was  thus  beating  the  Air,  —  I  had  wiU 
*'  lingly  ferved  Sin  :  7iow  it  was  unwil- 
*'  lingly :  but  ftill  I  ferved  it.  I  fell,  and 
*'  rofe,  and  fell  again.  Sometimes  I  was 
^'  overcome,  and  in  Heavinefs ;  fometimes 
"  I  overcame,  and  was  in  Joy,  —  This 
**  Struggle  between  Nature  and  Grace  con- 
"  tinned  above  ten  Tears''  —  At  length, 
"  my  Heart  was  ftrangely  warmed,  —  had 
"  an  Afjurance  of  Forgivenefs, —  The  Ene- 
*'  my  fuggefted,  this  cannot  be  P'aith,  — 
"  was  much  buffeted  with  'temptations  : 
"  but  cried  out,  and  they  fled  away. 
<*  They  returned  again,  and  again,  &c. 
**  I  asked  Mr.  Telchig,  the  Moravian ^ 
*'  what  to  do  ?  —  I  have  now  conjlant 
*'  Feace :  not  one  uneafy  Thought.  And 
*'  I  have  Freedom  from  Sin :  not  one  un- 

"  hcly 


(    83     ) 

"  holy  Defire.     Yet  on  Wednefday  did  I 

"  grieve  the  Spirit  of  God :  —  continued 

"  in  this  Heavinefs  till  the  next  Morning. 

<«  -^  Again  ftrongly  af]aulted, —  but  afte-r 

'^  I   had  prayed   faintly,   the  Temptation 

*'  vanifhed  away.  —  Had  ftill  more  Comr 

"  fort  and  Peace,  and  Joy ;  on  which,  I 

**  fear,  I  began  to  prefume,  —  was  thrown 

"  into   Perplexity   by   a   Letter,  afTerting, 

**  that   no  Doubting   or  Fear   could  conftfl 

*'  with  true  Faith.  —  Begging  of  God  to  2  Journ* 

"  dired  me,  I  opened  my  Teflament. —  P^S-  ^1- 

"  My  weak  Mind  could  not  bear  to  be 

"  xSxM^fawn  a/under,"'  — Once  more,   "  I  3  Joum- 

*'  preached,  —  but  had  no  Life  or  Spirit  ^^^"   °' 

*'  in  me ;  and  was  much  in  Doubt,   whe- 

"  ther  God  would  not  lay  me  afide,  and 

*'  fend  other  Labourers   into  his  Harveji. 

"  I    came    to    the    Society    full    of    this 

"  Thought/' —  In  another  Place  he  readi-  Pag  7S. 

ly  owns  his  frequent  Relapfes  into  Sin  for 

near  twice  ten  Tears,  &c. 

Such  is  the  Cafe  of  a  Perfon,  who  tells 
us,  that  "  he  carefully  confidered  every 
Step  he  took :  —  that  he  knows  ajjuredly, 
that  where  Reafon  fails,  God  will  direct 
our  Path  by  Lot,  or  other  Means ;  —  one, 
who  was  almoft  perpetually  dipping  into 
the  Bible  for  fuch  Diredtion  -,  and  one  of 
intimate  Communication  with  the  Deity '^ 
And  is  it  not  flrange,  that  fuch  a  one 
(hould  be  deilitute  of  Means  to  rejohe  his 
M  2  Scruples? 


(     84    ) 

Scruples,  ?  Should  be  ever  at  Variance  with 
himfelfy  and  find  no  Place  to  fix  his  Foot  ? 
But  this  is  the  Nature  of  his  Difeafe ;  and 
I  could  run  the  Parallel  through  Num- 
bers of  Fanatical  Papijis ;  but  fhall  be 
contented  with  only  two.  And  if  the 
Reader  will  pleafe  to  recoiled  what  was- 
faid  before  of  the  Methodijls  ConfiiBs  with 
Sat  an  ^  their  Spiritual  Defertiom,  their  un- 
equal Temper  and  JJujleadinefs  in  this  Ar- 
ticle \  ™  and  alfo  take  in  what  will  be 
farther  faid  of  their  general  Intanglements 
and  Inconfijiency  in  Sentiment  and  Condufl:^ 
i^c.  he  will  find  a  pretty  exaB  Agreement  -^ 
and  probably  conclude  the  Methodijl  to  be 
as  true  a  Saint  as  the  Papiji ;  and  like  to 
produce  as  ufeful  a  Society, 

My  -firfi:  Parallel  fliall   be   the  glorious 

Founder  cf  the    Jefuits^    taken    from    his 

Bart.  Vit.  Lije    by     Father    Bartolus.      ^'   Manifold 

Jgnat.       cc  ^£j.g  I^natius's    Experiences  of  Perils  : 

pag.  20.  ^  K     . 

''  but  none   more  capital,    or  more  trou- 

"  blefome,  than  his  Scruples,    It  fo  pleafed 

*'  God,    that  5^/<?;^  fliould  fill  and  vex  his 

"  Mind  with  infinite  Doublings,     He  flood 

"  in  Fear  of  {^vi\%  great  Sin  in  whatever 

"  he  did.      The  liquid  Joys  too  of  his  in- 

^.'  ward    Man    were  dried  up ;    bis   Mind 

"  difturbcd  and   tofiTcd   with   Perplexities ; 

"  rendered  unfit  for  tliofe  divine  Draughts^ 

"  which  in  its  ferene  Sti^te  it  had  drawn 

"  from  Heaven,     Moreover  he  was  then 

*'  more 


(     85    ) 

*'  more  grievoufly  anxious^  when  hfe 
*'  thought  upon  heavenly  mngs.  And 
*'  this  was  his  Occupation  by  Day  and 
*'  Night,  to  litigate^  wrangle^  and  be  per- 
''  plexed  with  himfelf ;  whether  this  and 
*'  t'other  were  not  Sins^  and  he  guilty 
**  of  any.  And  the  more  he  ftrove  to 
*'  extricate  himfelf,  the  more  was  he  in- 
*'  tangled,  —  His  Confefjor  forbad  him  to 
''  give  Ear  to  Scruples  -,  but  what  was  to  be 
*'  reckoned  a  Scruple  afforded  new  Matter 
^'  of  2iJcrupulous  Enquiry  :  every  Thing  to 
*'  Minds  thus  ill-affeBed  affording  Scruple 
*'  and  Doubt,  So  that  he  thought  God 
'^  was  turned  from  him-,  and,  as  is  ufual 
*'  in  thefe  Streights,  would  eternally  de^ 
^^  Jiroy  him. — Thus  did  the  Devils  wound 
**  him,  as  with  fo  many  Arrows  -,  demo- 
"  iiihing  his  holy  Reft  by  anxious  ThoughtSy 
*^  and  depriving  him  of  his  calm  and  fiill 
*'  Confidence  in  God ^  and  filial  Love,  But 
**  this  was  their  chief  Aim,  to  drive  him 
*^  into  Defpair^  and  make  him  put  an  End 
*'  to  his  Life.  So  that  he  was  ftrongly 
*'  led  to  throw  himfelf  out  of  the  Win- 
*'  dow.  Then  he  would  needs  fiarve 
"  himfelf,  till  his  Confefjor  made  him  re- 
*'  turn  to  his  ufual  Kefrejhments,  —  And 
*'  now  he  began  to  rejoice  as  a  Conqueror : 
"  but  fcarce  were  two  Days  elapfed,  when 
"  a  new  unfbrefeen  Te?72pefi  arofe^  ofScrU" 
"  ^les^    Diffidence^    Sadnefs    and  Defpair^ 

''  not 


(     86     ) 

*^  not  more  gentle  than  the  Torments  o^ 
^^  \ht  Damned. — But  in  a  lif tie  Time  this 
*'  fecond  Hemp  eft  ceafed.  The  Heaven  of 
**  his  Mind  became  calm  and  bright^  and 
*'  his  Alaaity  was  more  copious  than  be- 
"  fore. — God  gave  him  thefe  Experiences ^ 
*'  the  Difcipline  of  which  he  was  to  de^ 
"  //wr  ^0  others.  Certainly  from  thefe  fo 
"  different  and  oppofite  Viciffitiides  of  Soul, 
*'  the  irriguous  and  dry,  the  anxious  and 
^^  fecure,  the  fad  and  the  chearful-,  he  be- 
"  came  fo  well  skilled  in  thofe  alternate 
"  Motions,  wherewith  the  Divine  Goodnefs 
**  aBuates  his  own,  that  when  others  were 
*'  to  be  inJlruBed  in  them,  they  might 
"  transfer  the  beft  Example  from  him- 
-  felfr 

The    other   Parallel    is    the    Seraphic 

Virgin   St.  Terefa  ;    who  was  not   indeed 

troubled  with  fuch  a  very  fcrupuloiis  Con- 

fcience  as  the  former,  but  was  a  Lady   of 

a  very  dubious   CharaBer,    of  very  unequal 

and  defultory  ConduB,  generally  wavering 

between  the  Saint  and  the  Sinner ;  —  and 

that  according  to  the  Account  of  Popifh 

Authors.      What  follows  of  her    is  tran- 

fcribed   from   her  Life  written  by  Riba- 

deneira. 

Ribaden.         "  At  fix,  or  feven.  Years  of  Age  fhe 

oa.  15.    <c  took  great  Delight  in  reading  the  Lives 

P^g-  788.  a  ^j  ^/^^  Saints  ;   which  inflamed  her  with 

''  a  Defire  of  Martyrdom  :   at  twelve,   her 

"  Mother 


(     87     ) 

''  Mother  dying,  (he  chofe  the  Virgin 
"  Mary  to  be  her  Mother,  But  the  Devil 
'^  envying  thefe  happy  Beginnings  made 
"  her  re/ax  her  holy  Fervour,  by  reading 
^'  Roma?2ces,  vain  Companiofis,  trimming 
"  her  Hair,  and  ufing  Perfumer.  But  our 
"  Lord  did  not  long  permit  thefe  Vanities, 
"  but  ordered  her  into  a  Monajlery ; 
*'  where  fhe  began  to  re  fume  her  pious 
''  Cujioms ;  prayed  much,  defired  the  Pray- 
*'  ers  of  the  Religious,  but  did  not  wljolly 
"  defire  to  be  one  herfelf.  —  Being  twenty 
"  Years  of  Age,  ilie  enters  into  the  Order 
"  of  the  Carmelites ;  but  with  great  Con- 
"  tradidion  of  her  Soul,  Grief,  Refent- 
*'  ment  and  Pain.  As  foon  as  fhe  had 
"  taken  the  Habit,  immediately  flie  had 
''  great  and  lafting  Joy,  and  the  Aridity 
"  of  her  Soul  went  off.  At  the  End  of 
*'  the  Year  (he  made  her  Profeffion  with 
''  Joy  and  Contentment,  but  not  without 
*'  Difficulty,  on  account  of  rude  Ajj'aidts 
"  from  the  DeviL  She  had  not  been 
"  long  in  Religion,  before  fhe  grew  fami- 
*'  liar  with  Perfons  of  dangerous  Conver- 
''  fation,  and  lejt  off  her  Prayer  :  A  Year 
'^  after  fhe  returns  to  her  Prayer,  but  did 
*'  not  leave  off  her  acciijlomed  Converfa^ 
*'  tion. — A  Vifwn  of  Chriji  wounded,  and 
"  Hell  opened,  helped  her  towards  leaving 
^'  off  her  bad  Converjation  3  but  not  infant^ 
"  /y,  nor  entirely.  —  But  even  before   her 

"  full 


(     83     ) 

^^  full  Converfion,  fometimes  (he  would  be 
"  careful  of  offending  God  for  a  Month, 
"  or  a  Year. —  She  was  thus  about  twenty 
<«^  Tears  falling,   and  rifmg  again,  without 
"  fully  enjoying  the  Confolations  of  God, 
<c  —  She  has  a  new  Fear^  that  her  Sweet- 
"  nefs  in   Prayer^    and    Sufpenjion  of  her 
"  Soul,  were  llliilions  of  the  Devil,     And 
"  fome  Servants  of  GW  judged  it  was  fo 
"  indeed,  by  Reafon  of  her  ImperfeBions ; 
"  God's   Favours   being    incompatible   with 
«'  her  Kind  of  Life: — and  it  augmented 
«'  their  Sufpicion,  that  tho'   ilie  had  been 
«'  twenty  Years  in  Prayer,  fhe  was  never 
«  fufficientiy  changed.     Some  Jefiiits  how- 
«  ever  affure  her  all  was  from  God,     After 
«  this  file  was  in   a   Rapt^  wholly  tranf- 
"  Jported  out  of  herfelf  and  heard  a  Voice 
"  from  the  Bottom   of  her  Soul,    1  will 
"  that  thou  leave  the  Familiarity  with  Men, 
"  and  converfe    with    the  Angels,      From 
"  that  Time  flie  was  wholly  changed  in  a 
*'  Moment^  had  many  fublime  Fi/ions  and 
"  Fifits  from   Chrift ;  but  ftill   many    fuf- 
•^  pedled  all  was  from  the  Devil,     Things 
"  were  faid  greatly  prejudicial  to  her  good 
"  Na?ne ;  and  (he  went  on,  —  under  great 
"  Oppofition   from    Men   aiid   Devils,  — 
"  Now  under  great  Aridities  for   twenty- 
"  two  7ears,    without  defiring   Comfort  ; 
«  —  then  feeling  high  Gufts  and  Conflations^ 
"  called   Unions  ;    amorous^  jweety   raging 

"    Tor- 


(89     ) 

^^  Tormeiits  of  Divine  Love  ;  taken  by  the 
"  Ha?2ci,  and  dandled  by  St.  Dominic ; -^ 
*'  {iies  by  the  Force  of  Divine  Love,  —  is 
"  canonized,  G?^." 

Thus  ftands  the  Account  from  as  true  a 
Catholic,  and  zealous  Jefuit,  as  ever  wrote. 
And  what  follows  has  a  more  authentic 
Sealy  attefted  by  Infallibility  in  the  Roman 
Breviary,  051,  1 5  ;  and  efpecially  in  The 
A5is  of  her  Canonization  by  Gregory  XV. 
'Tis  in  the  Bullarium  Cherubini,  Vol.  III. 
Pag.  306.  —  Rom.  1638.  And  though 
it  may  feem  a  Digrefjion  3  it  affords,  alto^ 
gethery  a  juft  Notion  of  a  compleat  Topi/Ij 
Saint ;  and  helps  on  the  Comparifon  with 
Methodijiical  Saititpip. 

"  At  the  Time  fore -ordained  by  Gody 
"  he  raifed  up  a  new  Deborah,  xht  perpe^ 
"  tual  Virgin  Terefa,  the  Holy  and  EleB, 
*'  to  be  worfipped  and  venerated  by  Vapal 
*'  Apojiolical  Authority : — Godh^Vmg  pour- 
'^  ed  out  the  Abundance  of  his  Spirit  upon 
*'  his  Handmaid. —  When  but  a  Child,  by 
"  reading  the  ABs  of  the  Martyrs,  ihe 
*'  burned  with  Defire  to  go  into  Africa, 
"  and  fhed  her  Blood  for  Chrift.  At 
''  twe?7ty,  fhe  efpoufed  herfelf  to  Chrifl -^ 
"  and  for  twenty-two  Years  bore  with  in- 
**  vincible  Patience  the  mofl  grievous  Dif- 
"  eafes  and  Temptations,  without  any  Re- 
^'  frefhment  oi  fupernal  Confolatio?2s,  She 
"  was  fo  fully  convinced  of  the  Truth  of 
*'  the  Catholic  Church,  and  all  the  Doc- 
N  **  tri?2es 


(     90     ) 

*^  trines  of  Popery^  that  (lie  often  faid,  it 
^^  was  not  pqffiblc  to  have  a  greater  Certi- 
"  titude  of  any  Thing.  By  this  Faith ^ 
''  fhe  had  fuch  a  ckar  Sight  of  ChrijTs 
^^  real  Prefence  in  the  -Eiicharifl,  that  (lie 
*'  envied  not  thofe  who  had  feen  him  on 
*^  Earth.  —  She  was  often  in  Ecjlacies, 
^''  and  fnatched  up  to  the  Fruition  of 
*'  Heaven  upon  Earth,  Chrijl  wonder- 
*^  fully  filled  her  with  Vifiojis  and  Revela- 
^^  tions ;  he  came  and  efpoiifed  her,  by  a 
"  Ri?7g ;  and  faid,  Henceforth  J  am  wholly 
■'  ^yoiirSy  and  you  wholly  mine,  —  Nothing 
**'  could  exceed  her  hove  of  God:,  for  fhe 
^^  died  by  the  intolerable  Fire  of  it.  Nor 
*'  could  any  Thing  exceed  her  Love  of 
^'  Man, —  She  fo  ftridly  obferved  her  Vow 
^'  of  Obedie7tce^  that  as  a  remarkable  Ex^ 
*^  ampky  when  her  Superiors  fufped:ed  her 
*^  Vifits  from  Jefus  to  be  diabolical  Delu- 
^^  fions,  by  their  Command  ihe  humbly  de- 
*'  rided  and  contemned  her  Heavenly  Spot  fey 
'^  when  he  made  heraVilit: — not  with-r 
*^  out  being  rewarded  for  this  profound 
''  Obedience :  and  fhe  was  wont  to  fay, 
*^  Thatfje  might  be  deceived  as  to  difcern^ 
^  ^  ing  a  Vifion^  or  Revelation  5  but  could  not 
'^  be  deceived  in  obeying  her  Superiors, — 
'f  She  was  fuch  a  Lover  of  Poverty^  that 
*^  fhe  always  chofe  the  vilejl  Habit ;  and 
*-^  if  at  any  Time  fhe  wanted  IS ecefjaries^ 
'^  fhe  would  marvellouflv  rejoice ^  exult y 
^^  and  give  Thanks, — rShe  excelled  particu- 

''■  lar{y 


(     91     ) 

^•^  larly  in  the  Virtue  of  imdefiled  Chajlity  - 
''  preferving  an  Angelical  Purity^  unfpomdy 
**  from  Childhood  to  Death.  -^  Such  was 
"  her  Humility^  that   when  filled  with  the 
'^  fat  Tubings  of  Dhine  Graces ^  fhe  would 
''  often  cry  out  to  God  to  put  an  End   to 
"  thefe  Bleffings^  and  not  fo  foon  to  for- 
*'  get  her  Sins,     She  moil:  ardently  thirft- 
''  ed  after  Contumelies^   Derifwns^   and  Suf- 
^'-  ferings',  it  being  her  Motto ^  Either  to 
^'  fufer  or  die.  —  She  was  fo  watered  with 
''  the  Showers  of  Celefial  JVifdom,  that  ill© 
"  wrote  Books  of  Myjlic  Theology ;  and  un- 
"  dertook   the  Reformation  of  Women  and 
^'  Men,  —  She   kiilds   Monajieries  without 
''  Money ^   or  hicome  ;  —  works  numerous 
''  Miracles  by  her  Merits  and  Inter ceffions  5 
"  curing  Fevers^  &c,  in   a   Moment ;  dies 
"  with  a  Crucifix  in  her  Hand  5-^ her  Soul 
"  is  feen  flying   out  of  her   Mouthy   in  the 
"  Shape  of  a  little  white  Dove^  and  mount- 
^^  ing   up  to  Heaven  ;  — ^  many  Nuns  and 
''  Religious  faw   her   in  a  high  Degree  of 
^^  Glory  above  ;    as  another  had  feen  the 
"  Lord  Chrifi  fitting  by  her  Be d- fide ^  while 
*'  alive.  —  Her  dead  Body  was  furprifingly 
"  beautiful  and  odoriferous^   by    the   Odour 
'*  of  the  Ointments  wherewith  her  moft  Holy 
*'  Body  was  perfiwied  by  our   Lord  -,    and 
*'  it  remains  odorous  and  imcorrupt  to  this 
''  Day,''     So  glorioufly  ends  the  Struggle 
het%veen  Carnality  and  Enthufiafn. 

N  2  §.  10.  But 


(      92      ) 

§.  lo.  But  that  the  Saints  may  not  be 
left  comfortlefs  under  the  State  either  of 
Dejertion^  or  Incertitude  -,  we  are  to  con- 
fider  what  Advantages  and  Benefits  are 
drawn  from  them,  and  their  Confejjions 
of  being  thus  topd.  I  took  Notice  before 
of  their  creating  by  Defertions  an  Opinion 
of  being  extraordinarily  infpired^  and  at- 
tended by  Heaven^  when  free  from  them  ^ 
and  now  fubjoin  their  own  Accounts  of 
receiving  fach  Spiritual  Succours  and  Ad- 
vantages, either  duriiig  their  fevere  Trials, 
or  very  foon  after.  For,  as  Mr.  Seward 
elegantly  expreffeth  it,  *'  I  was  much 
"  humbled  and  oppreffed  by  the  Ridings 
"  of  my  Beloved:  but  lo  !  the  Goodnefs 
"  of  our  God :  if  he  feems  to  withdraw 
''"for  a  Moment,  it  is  only  that  his  Re- 
*^  turn  may  be  x\\e  fweeterJ' 
3  Journ.  Mr.  Whitefield  is  often  declaiming  in 
pag.3,4-  ^j^jg  Strain.  "  My  Body  was  weak,  but 
"  I  found  2ifupernatural  Strength, —  again 
''  a  little  oppreffed  with  Drowfinefs.  — 
'^  When  1  am  weak,  then  I  am  firong. — 
<'  Deferted  for  a  little  while,  and  much 
"  oppreffed,  efpecially  before  Breaching  -, 
"  hvii  CovcAoxX.  foon  after  ilows  in. — Had 
^*  a  Hoarfnefs,  and  was  deferted  before  I 
''  went  up  into  the  Bulpit -y  but  God 
"  ftrengthened  me  to  fpeak.  — Taken  illy 
^•i%'  v-    ''  but  God flrengthened  me  to  preach  to  a 

''  great 


(     93     ) 

''  great  Congregation.  —  I  was  very  fickl  Jouro. 
''  and  weak',  but  fuch   Power  was  given^^^'  ^^"' 
''  me  from  above,  that — .    At  firft  getting  ^  joum. 
"  up  I  was  weak  and  dry,    but  God  rd'-P^g-3S- 
"  newed  my  Strength, 

''  We  have   not  had  fuch  a  continued  3  J^^urn. 
"  Prefence  of  God,  as  fince  I  -^n^.^  threatened  zz,   '  ^  * 
*^  to  be  excommunicated,  —  I  never  am  fo 
*^  much  ajjifled^  as  when  Perfons  endeavour 
*^  to  blacken  me  ;  Numbers  of  Hearers  in- 
"  creafe  by  Oppofition, — Ever  fince  I  was  4  Joum. 
"  abiifed  at  Bafingj%ke  I  have  had  great P''^' ^'' 
*'  Communicatiojis  with  God. — The  more  I 
*'  am  contemned^  the  more  God  delights  to 
*^  honour  me''     Again,  on  the  other  Side, 
*'  I  obferve  thefe  imoard  Trials  always  fol-  5  joum. 
"  low  inward  Communications.     For  thefe  P-  15*^^^ 
''  two   Days   I  have  been   much   ajjijled.^'^' 
"  Left  I  fhould  be  pnffed-up,  and  to  pre- 
^^  pare  me  for  greater  Degrees  of  Lights 
"  God  has  fent  me  a  Thorn  in  the  Flejh, — 
"  God  took  off  my  Chariot-Wheels^  I  drove' 
"  exceeding  heavily,  but  this  latter  Part  of 
"  the  Week  he  has  reftored  me  the  Light 
"  of  his  Countenance, — Had  a  fiveet  Sacra- 
"  ment  a?2d  Lcve-Feajf,  felt  unfpcakable 
"  Comfort  a?id  IVarmth -,    but  at  Night  a 
"  Senfe  of  my  Sins  weighed  me  down  again, 
<f  — Was  much  te?}2pted :  a  Mercy  this  from 
^'  God,  to  prepare  me  for  future  Blefji?igs. 
'^  —  Much  Jlrengthe?jed  afid  qffifted  ;    an 
^'  ample  Recomficnce  for  the  Trials  of  laft 

^'  Week. 


(     94     ) 

^^  Week. — Deferted  ;  which  I  always  look 
"  upon  as  a  certain  Preparative  for  fome 
"  approaching  Mercy,'' 

As  to  thefe  ViciJ/ittides  of  Weaknefi  and 
Strength^  &c,  'tis  common  and  natural  for 
Clergymen,  when  out  of  Order,  to  be  fome- 
thing  low  at  the  Beginning  of  a  Sermon  ^ 
but  to  get  Strength  and  Spirits  as  they  go 
on,  and  mend  by  Exercife  and  Aftion.  I 
have  found  it  fo  myfelf,  and  fo  have  a 
Hundred  others.— The  Change  and  Emo-^ 
tions  in  Mr.  Whitejield,  after  being  threateii^ 
ed  and  abiifed,  may  only  fhew  that  his 
Spirit  ivas  provoked^  a7id  Paffions  raifed, — - 
When  the  Spirits  have  mounted  by  Tranf- 
ports  of  Joy,  we  know  they  will  naturally 
,  Jink, — And  whenever  Providence  removes 
any  of  our  Troubles  and  Sorrows,  we  hope 
we  are  not  infenfible,  or  unthankfuL  But 
in  all  thefe  Cafes,  we  leave  to  the  Methodifts 
the  Prefu?nption  of  bragging  oi  jiiper natural 
Stre?7gth,  and  a  Sort  oiiniraculous  Atteftation 
Ribaden.  to  their  peculiar  MiJJion,  2iV\di  favoured  Per '^ 
pag-  ^9l'fons; — after  the  Model  of  their  old  Affociates, 
"  St.  Catheri^ie  being  tempted  by  Satan 
with  foul  Images  and  impure  Dreams  ^  our 
Lord  afterwards  (hewed  himfelf  to  her* 
To  whom  fhe  moft  lovingly  complained^ 
Wider e  were  you,  O  deareft  Spoufe,  that  you 
did  fo  abandon  7?ie?  She  was  a  long  Time 
afflided  with  thefe  abfurd  and  impure 
Images ;  —  and  by  the  Devil's  Injligation  a 

wicked 


(     95     ) 

wicked  Woman  gave  out,  that  St.  Catherine 
was  a  fond  and  light  Woman,  But  her 
Heavenly  Spoufe  foon  came,  and  brought 

her-  a  viBorioiis  Crown^ and  the  falfe 

Accufer  v^as  compelled  to  acquit  the  Saint^ 
and   beg  Pardon  for  the  Slander^    having  ^"|^^-''' 
feen  a  Vifioii  of  her  in  Brightnefs  and  Ma--^^^,  291, 
jejly.  —  The   Devil  ftill  found  Means  of 
troubling  her  anew ;  but  Ch?^iji  always  comes 
in  to  deliver  and  recreate  her, — On  which 
Account,   as  the  Fope  himfelf  affures  us,  Ribaden. 
fhe  would  fay,  JVhen  1  am  weak^  then  am  P^^'  ^^^' 
Jlrong'' — "  The  Devil  raifed  terrible  Storms 
and  Oppofitions  againll:  Igjiatiiis  ;  but  his 
Injiitntion  took  deeper  Root  by  thefe  Con- 
traditions  : — and  when  he  was  moft  weary 
and/ickly,  then  did  he  appear  moft  courage-  Spinell. 
oils  and  jlrong-,  and  the  Force  of  God  did^^Jp 
more   clearly  manifcft  itfelf." — "   Father  pag.  524. 
Laynez  a  Jefiiit,  being  to  preach  on  the 
Immaculate  Cojiception^  was  forced  to  mount 
the  Pulpit,  though  very  ill  of  a  Fever  -^  but 
the  Virgin  Mary  fo  ajjijled  him,  that  he  Conform, 
came  down  ftronger  than  he  went  up/'— 
*'  St.  Francis's  Life  was  nothing  elfe  but  a 
Chain  of  Temptations  and  Confolations^  one 
Link  blacky    the  next  white  J" 

§.  1 1 .  Were  not  the  Talk  too  tedious^ 
one  might  trace  out  this  Inequality  and  Un- 
feadinefsy  merely  from  their  own  Writings^ 
in  Refpedt  of  their  whole  Conduct,  in  Sen- 
timent and  Pra&ice,  I  fliall  inftance  in 
fome  Particulars,  as  briefly  as  I  can. 

''  Sometimes 


(    96     ) 

*'  Sometimes  they  defire,  love,  and  pray 
for  Difgrace,  Hatred,  all  Manner  of  /// 
TJfage  ;  complain  of  civil  'Treatment  and 
kind  Reception  from  their  Friends ;  can't 
be  Chrijliaju^  unlefs  they  are  generally^  and 
almoft  tiniverjally  hated^  &c.  At  other 
Times  boafting  of,  and  thanking  God  for, 
their  Prefents,  Entertainments,  Benevolence, 
Bank-Bills,  and  comfortable  Receptions  ^ 
and  uncommon  Atfcdlions  towards  them  : 
— that  the  Number  of  their  Enemies  is  in- 
confiderable,  but  their  Friends  cannot  be 
numbered.  Not  virithout  feeling  and  bitter 
Complaints  of///  Ufage'' 

Sometimes  ''  they  forefee  Succefs  in 
Preaching  becmife  they  meet  with  fo  much 
Oppofition  :  The  Devil  and  his  Agents  are 
enraged,  and  endeavour  to  obflrudt  them  -, 
therefoi-e  they  hope,  and  know,  that  God 
has  Work  to  do  in  this  Place,  ^c.  Again 
at  other  Ti?nes^  they  depend  upon  Succefs^ 
becaiife  they  have  little  or  no  Oppofition  : 
and  nothing  confirms  them  more  in  their 
Opinion,  that  God  is  ^working  a  great  Work 
upon  Earthy  than  finding  Perfons  of  all 
'Denominations  ftruggling  for  them. — -God 
has  much  People  in  this  Place." 

One  of  them  muft  take  a  JVild-Goofe-^ 
Chace  to  hunt  for  Chrifi  in  Germany  among 
the  Moravians^  and  is  going  to  the  Country 
of  the  Chri/iians.  Returns,  and  is  con- 
vinced,   that  one  need  not  travel  thither 

for 


{     97    ) 

for   Chrijiianity. — He    reprefents   them  in. 
general  in  the  hlackejl  Colour Sy — dares  in  no 
wife  join  with  them  ;  — becaufe  thtw  Scheme 
is  in  eve?y  'Point  refined  immeafurahly  be- 
yond  the   plain    Gof[>el.      Darknefs,    and 
Clofenefs,'  and   Guile,    in  almofi  all  their 
Words  and  Behaviour ;  teaching  for  Doc- 
trines the  Commandments  of  Men;  Dealers 
in   Sopbifiry ;    and   of  all  Men  living  the 
wifejt  in  their  Generation  -,  —  by   no'  Meaiis 
zealous  of  good  Works  ;  utterly  defpiung 
and  trampling  upon  Self-denial  \  zealoufly 
cautioning  us  againft  the  natural  Love  of 
one  another  ;  and  having  in  Truth  well- 
nigh  deftroyed  Brotherly  Love  from  among 
US; — holding  many   deteftable  and    per- 
nicious Opinions.    G?r. ''       And  yet,    not 
only  doth  Mr.  Whitefield   "  admire  their  o^  Joum. 
great  Simplicity  ;"  but  Mr.  Wepy  himfelfP^S-  79^ 
declares  that  "  in  the  main,  they  are  fome 
of  the  beft  People   in    the   World,    only 
wrong  in  a  few  Points. — They  love  God, 
and  love  one  another,  and  excel  in  Sweet- 
nefs   of  Behaviour: — trample   under   the 
Luft  of  the  Flelli,  the  Luft  of  the  Eye, 
and   the  Pride   of  Life.      His   Love   and 
Efteem  of  them  increafes  more  and  more : 
he  even  marvels  how  he  can  abfiain  from 
joining  them,    'His  own    Difciples  among 
the  Metbodilh  go  over  to  them  in  Crowds. 
But  ftill  Methodifm  is  the  ftrongeft  Barrier 
againft  the  Moravian  Dodrines  and  Prin* 
O  ciples/ 


(     9^     ) 

ciples."  The  Moravians  juftly  charge  him 
with  this  Inconpjlency  of  Behaviour :  and 
we  may  fafely  defy  him,  with  all  his  Subtle- 
ties and  DiJiinBiom,  to  clear  himfelF. 

How  commonly  do  we  find  our  Mcthodif.s 
full-fwelled  with  Vanity  and  Pride,  Boaft- 
ings,  Haughtincfs  and  Arrogance?  In  a 
little  Time  they  feel  a  CompiinBion ;  the 
Bladder  is  pricked,  llirinks  and  flirivels  ; 
and  they  fall  into  the  moft  lowly  and  ab- 
jed:  State  of  Vikfiefs  and  Nothingnefs. 

Books  are  publiflied,  (as  The  CharaBer 
of  a  Methodijt,  &c.)  wherein  thofe  of  this 
Se5i  are  defcribed  as  having  all  the  Virtues 
and  Graces  that  can  adorn  or  exalt  the 
Chrijlian  Profeffion  j  'as  the  mildefl  arid 
meekeft,  the  moft  humble,  loving,  charita- 
ble, and  innocent  Creatures  upon  Earth. 
And  on  the  contrary,  read  but  their  own 
Accounts  in  their  Journals  ^  and  you  find 
them  wafpifh  and  peevifh,  cenfuring  and 
condemning  all  the  World  except  the??i" 
fehes',  and  among  themfehes,  Jealoufies, 
Envyings,  Divifions,  Quarrel?,  perpetual 
Broils,  Confufions,  and  mutual  Condemna- 
tions ;  with  various  other  Irregularities  ancf 
Vices. — And  fuch  is  the  Cafe  with  the 
Religious  Orders  in  the  Romijlo  Commiuiiori  : 
each  of  them  is  the  defl,  fuileft  of  Sai?2tSy 
and  moft  adapted  to  promote  God's  Glory  : 
all  are  hateful  and  hating  one  another  :  Srtd 
all  firmly  united  in  the  Spirit  of  Enthufafjity 

and 


(     99     ) 

mid  carrying  on  the^  Fanatical  Fopperies  and 
Errors  of  Popery  ;  to  the  infupportable 
Injury  of  Chriftendom. 

They  fet  out  upon  the  Footing  of  un^ 
common  SanBity^  and  carrying  the  Duties 
of    Religion    ,to    the   highejl  Pitch.      But 
neverthelefs  are   fond  of  publifliing   their 
Faults^  and  declaring  themfelves  the  Greateji 
of  Sinners,     Which   muft  beget, ^  in  their 
Believers  an  exalted  Notion  of  their  Humility, 
— Juft  like  Mary  of  Tazzi ;  ''  v/ho,  tho*  Life, 
the  Ahms  were  fully  fatisfied   of  her  Per-^'"^^' 
feBions^    loved  to  tell  her  Weakfieffes  and 
Faults^    to  fhew  her  Hiunility'' — Or  St.  Bonavent 
Francis^    "  who   delighted  in   blazing  a-^'''P 
broad  his  Faults^  and  calling  himfelf  the 
greateji  Sinner  in  the  World  ;  whereby  his 
Brethren  flood   amazed  at   his   marvellous 
Humility  J' 

Sometimes  they  will  vapour  apd  heftor, 
and  their  Courage  is  io  /l^arp^%vhettedy  that 
in    exprefs   Words,    they   proclaim    *^    ^"  w  fl 
offenfive  War    againft    Satan  i    and    fear  i  j(     ' 


ourn. 


neither  Men  nor  Devils :  are  ready  to  leap  P^S-  ^7- 
into  a  iurning  Furnace^  or  Den  of  Lions  ; 
and  go  to  M>yf}inia  or  China -^  are  fo  far 
from  fearing  Deaths  that  they  "imfl^  for  it. 
But  the  Keennels  of  the  Fdge  isfoon  blunted. 
They  are  every  Moment  afraid  of  meeting 
the  Devil  j  are  full  of  dreadful  Apprehen- 
fions  of  Defigjis  againjl  their  LiveSy  and 
that  the  Clergy  intend  to  murther  them,- — In 
O  2  Tim© 


(    100    ) 

Time  of  Danger^   they'  have  fo  Utile  Faith 
as  to  be  afraid.     Let   Death   look  me  in 
the  Face,  and    my  Spirit  is  troubled.     In 
a  Calm  flout   enough ;    but   in   a    Storm 
returns  a  Fearfumefs ,     Gh !  who  will  de- 
liver me  from  this  Fear  of  Death  !  " 
iMv^ne  Dav,  *'  Their  Preachments  are  fo 
powerful  as  to  be  Irrefiftible^  —a  Hammer 
that  breaks  the  Rock  in  Pieces^  —  a  mighty 
Wefley,     Wind  caufing-  a  prodigious  Shock  ; —  they 
i  •^^"'"'    fancy  they  can  fhake  the  Earth  Qut  of  its 
^     ]  Place. —  God  fends  them  to  preach,  and  it 
is  their   bounden  Duty."     The  next  Day 
perhaps,  "  they  preach  with  great  ReliiC'^ 
tance^  have  no  Power,  Life,  or  Spirit.  — 
They    propofe    fliaking   themfelves   out  of 
their  Places^  intend  to  leave  off]  and  fear 
that  God  has  dropt  them.     Ch,  Wejley  in- 
tended  to   preach    no  more,    and  actually 
left  off;  ibr   which    his   Enemies   jeered 
him,  as  becoming  JiilL     But  he  re-afjumed 
his  Office  ;  according  to  his  Brother's  Pro^ 
phecy^  that  he    fhould    roufe  himfelf  like 
Sampjon,  and  be  avenged  on  his  Enemies." 
Agreeable  to  this  are  their  alternate  Fits 
of  Loquacity   and  Silence :   Dumb,  till  the 
Ceremony  is  over  of  opening  their  Mouths, 
'^v^\     "  ^   ^^^  r^r^//?^^  by  God  from  Writing 
P.  b(ft().  "  and  Preaching.     I   mentioned  my  Cafe 
^*  to  a  Clergyman,      He  fa  id,    I   was  an 
"  Enthufajl, — At  lafl  this  Paffageof  Scrip- 
*'  ture  was  preiTed  much  upon  my  Heart, 

"  We 


(    loi    ) 

^:We  a  fayed  to  go   to   Bythinia,    but  the, 
\fr-  Spirit fuffered  us  not.  —  And  i  found  a 
i^  Quotation   out    of   Ezekiel^    that  yowig 
'-'-  Pt-ophet^  Thou  JJjalt  he  dumb  j  hut  when 
*'  /  [peak   unto  thee,  then  fialt  tkou  fpeak._ 
"  This  made  me  quite  eafy,  —  The   next 
''  Morning,    Speak  out    Pnuly   came  with 
"  great  Power  to  my  Soul.     Immedictre- 
''  ly  God  fpake  to  me  by  his  Spirit ^^  and  I 
"  W2l^  720  longer  duf7ih J'         giuiufi^-br 
-)[    Thus,  vou  fee,   he  is  quite  my^S  ftands 
^'Clear  of  Enthuliafm-^  and  no  doubt  too  of 
Prefumption^    in  comparing    himfelf   with 
Prophets   and  Apojiles,  -^i^9  Again  with-  5  Jo"^"- 
'-*  /&f /J  from  Writing, — at  length  r^/V^^,—      ^' 
'  •*'  to  write  freely  J'       'Tis    one    Comfort, 
that  his  talkative  Fits  have  been  much  the 
commoneft^   and  the  longejl,  —  Mr.    Wejley '  Journ. 
^Ifo  is   fometimes    *'  utterly   unwilling  to^*  ^'3—4- 
fpeak,  quite  averfe  from  fpeaking  j ''    and 
then   perplexed  with  the  Doubt,  *'  Is  it  a 
Prohibition  from  the  Good  Spirit  ?    Or  a 
Temptation  from  Nature^    and   the   Evil 
oneV 

'Tis  a  general  Thing  to  fee  them  car^ 
ried  up  to  Heaven^  by  Gufts  and  Tranf- 
ports  of  Divine  Joy ;  — and  immediately 
down  again  to  the  Deep,  almoft  fwallowed 
up  with  Darknejs  afid  Sorrow.  And  I 
could  bring  Troops  of  eminent  Popifh 
Saints  to  bear  them  Company,  befides 
thofe  before  mentioned. 

A  large 


(     102    ) 

'  A  large  Share  of  thefe  Vicijitudcs  of 
Ebbings  and  Flowings  no  doubt  proceeds 
from  the  very  Nature  of  E?2thi{fMfm,  which 
can  never  be  at  Refi ;  but  is  diverfe  in  dif- 
ferent Perfons,  and  inconflant  in  the  fame 
•Perfon;  fubjeift  to  numberlefs  Variations^ 
according  to  the  Kind  and  Degree  of  that 
Diforder  of  Body,  or  Paffion  of  the  Mind, 
which  creates  the  Enthufiafm^  and  which 
is  fo  frequently  caufed  by  Indifcretion^  and 
increafed  by  Indulgence.  The  Behaviour 
changes,  in  proportion  as  the  HumourSy 
the  Melancholy,  the  Phleg?natic,  the  Chole- 
ric, the  Sanguine,  are  more  or  lefs  predo- 
minant. And  therefore  the  Cafe  may  be 
thought  rather  to  deferve  Compajjion.  than* 
Blame.  ^  v : 

§.  12.  But  the  Methodifts  muft  excufe 
me,  if  the  fame  Allowance  is  not  made, 
where  Art  and  Cunning,  and  Sophijlry 
manifeftly  appear ;  when,  hard  preffed  by 
Argument  and  ObjeSlions,  they  run  them- 
felves  into  Inconfiflency  and  Self -contra- 
diSion,  merely  toferve  a  prejent  Turn  ;  and 
occafionally  either  defend^  or  give  up, 
fome  of  their  Favourite  Notions,  and  Prin- 
cipal Points, 

'Tis  a  Matter  of  no  great  Moment,  if 
Mr.  Wefley  at  one  Time  declares  for  a 
difinterefed  Love  of  God  -,  and  in  arguing 

againil 


ourn. 
Pag.  9. 


(     103    ) 

agalnftthe  Mcraviafis  declares,  that  "  there4  Joum, 
is  no  one  Caution  in  all  the  Bible  againft 
Self/hLcveofGod.'' 

'  But  'tis  a  confiderable  Offence  to  charge 
another  ^rojigjully,  and  contradict  himjelf^ 
about  the  Dodfrine  of  JJ/urances.  "  l3j 
"  went  to  the  Reverend  Mr,  Bedford^  to 
''  tell  him  of  the  hjury  he  had  done 
''  both  to  God  and  his  Brother,  by  Preach- 
*'  ing  and  Printing  that  ^oery  weak  Sermon 
•'  c?72  Jfjurance,  which  is  2Si  Ignoratio 
^'  Elenchi  (an  Ignorance  of  the  Point  in 
"  QiieRion)  from  Beginning  to  End.  See- 
"  ing  the  Affurance  W  E  preach  is  of  quite 
«'  another  Kind  from  that  he  writes  againft. 
*«  We  fpeak  of  an  Affurance  of  our  Prefent 
*'  Pa?'don  -y  not  (as  /;(f  does)  of  our  Final 
*'  P er fever ancey  Mr.  /F(y?t7  might  have 
confidered,  that  when  they  talk  in  ge- 
neral of  Afjurance  of  Pardon  and  Salva- 
tion, the  World  will  be  apt  to  underftand  the 
Words  in  their  iifual  and  obvious  Meaning, 
as  extending  to  our  Eternal  State  ;  and 
indeed  that  Prefent  Pardon  and  Salvation 
are  of  fmall  Moment,  if  we  zst  finally  to 
perilh.  —  But  after  all,  how  ftands  the 
Fa^  ?  Mr.  Tflntefield,  in  exprefs  Words, 
prays  for  ''  an  Affurance  of  Eternal  SaU'^  Jo^rn. 
vation,  as  one  of  the  Privileges  of  Chrijl's  P^^  9- 
Followers.''  And  I  have  a  more  Unexcep- 
tionable Evidence,  even  Mr.  Wejley  him- 
feif  •    who  in   his  Sermon    on  Free  Grace 

allows 


(   I04  ) 
§•  Ms  i4>  allows    and    teaches,    that    ^^   ma7i)\    very 
^^'  man)\  have  that  Witnefs  of  the  Spirit^  that 

A[jurance    of   Faith^    which   excludes  all 
Doubt  and  Fear  concerning   their    Future 
F  erf  ever  ance ;    that    a    fall    Affurance    of 
Faith  doth  not  necefjarily  imply  a  Full  Af- 
furance   of   our  Future  Perfeverance  -,    but 
he  owns,   and  afferts,  that  Affurance  of  the 
future  is  foffietimes  joined  to  that  of  prefent 
Pardon ;  and  that  fome  have  /70th  the  one, 
3  Journ.    ^i^j  ^i^Q  Other.     One,  who  long  continued 
^^' "^  '    in  Sin,  received  a  full,  clear  Senfe  of  God's 
pardoning   Love,    with   Power    to  fin  no 
morey      And    now  what  becomes  of  his 
Charge  againfl    Mr,  Bedford  ?    And    is  it 
not  mere  Evaflon  to  fay  afterwards,  *'-  This 
is  not  properly    an    Affurance   of  what  is 
Future  ?  " 

With  what  pertinacious  Confidence  have 

Impulfes,  Impreffions,  Feelings,   Tranfports 

of  fenfible  Joy,    ^c.  been   advanced   into 

Divine    Calls,    Commiffions,     Directions, 

and  certain  Rules  of  Condudl  ;  Proofs  of 

Sins  forgiven,  fufiificationy   and    Salvation 

cnfured  ?  How  have  they   been   convinced^ 

by  inward  Feelings  the  mofl  Infallible  of  all 

Proof  ?  And  yet  they  have  been  compelled 

by    Argument  to    bring    this    down    to  a 

*        Sort  oi  inward  Confcioufnefs,  which  no  Body 

Wefley.     dcnics :  To  tell  their  Societies,  "  that  they 

3  Journ.    vvere   not  to  judge  of  the  Spirit  whereby 

'.    '  any  one  fpoke,  by  their  own  inward  Feel- 

i77gS  ; 


(  ^^5  ) 

ifjgs ;— nor  by  Dreams^  Vifions^  or  Revelu^ 
tionsy  fuppofed  to  be  made  to  their  Souls  j 
—  being  all  of  a  doubtjul,  difpiitable  Na- 
ture :  might  come  from  Gody  and  might 
notr  —  To  complain  of  ''  a  Spirit  of  En-^ 
thufafm  breaking  out  among  themfelves  j 
many  charging  their  own  Imaginations  on 
the  Will  of  Gody  and  that  not  written, 
but  imprefed  on  their  Hearts, —  If  thefe  Im"  -^ 
prejjions  be  received  as  the  Rule  of  A5tton^ 
inftead  of  the  Written  Wordy  I  know  no- 
thing fo  wicked  and  abfurd  but  we  may  fall 
into,  and  that  without  Remedy"'  Thefe 
are  Mr.  Wejl&ys  Words,  who  likewife  ac- 
cufeth  the  MoravianSy  "  of  fubftituting  4  Jo'^rn- 
"  an  uncertain,  precarious,  inward  Motiony  •  ^°  "9* 
"  in  the  Place  of  the  plain  written  Word.'* 
And  thus  InipreJJioiiSy  Feelings,  &c.  are 
fometimes y^r^'G^^/J^^  and  infallible  'Proofs: 
fcmetimes  again,  not  only  uncertain,  pre- 
carious and  Enthiifiaftic  y  but  unavoidably 
productive  of  the  utmofi  Wickednefs  and 
Abfurdity.  And  what  muft  their  Followers 
do,  among  whom  thefe  Things  have  been 
fo  much  inculcated,  who  have  been  taught 
to  depend  upon  them  ? 

"  Mr.  Hammond,  (  another  of  their 
''  Teachers)  after  he  had  at  large  pleaded 
"  for  feeling  the  Holy  Spirit,  yet  owned 
"  at  laft.  That  fome  People  are  filled 
"  with  a  great  deal  of  Joy,  and  experience 
''  fudden  Flajhes  of  Co?? forty  which  they 
P  ^'  take 


(  io6  ) 

*'  take  to  be  from  the  Spirit  of  God.  Bat 
•'  how  frequently  do  they  deceive  them- 
"  felves  ?  Thofe  warm  Rmotiom  of  the 
*'  Mind  often  proceed  from  the  State  and 
"  Difpojition  of  the  Body,  —  the  Tempera- 
"  ture  of  the  Blood  and  Animd  Spirits,  — 
^^  Toimg  Converts  are  very  apt  to  afcribe 
"  to  the  Operation  of  the  Holy  Ghofi  what 
^'  is  owing  to  the  Mechanifm  of  the  Body, 
^'  — The  Hafly^  the  Carelefs  and  Unguarded 
**  are  in  mofi  Danger  of  being  carried 
"  away  with  jalfe  Joys,  and  imaginary 
^'  Tranfports:'  See  Churcff^  Farther  Re- 
marks y  Page  128,    129. 

You  fee  here  how  the  Force  of  Truth 
will  fometimes  break  out,  among  other 
'Eruptions  of  thefc  Fanatical  Heads -^  and 
extort  a  Confefion  of  the  very  Things,  of 
which  their  Adverfaiies  have  accufed 
them,  {viz,)  impofing  mere  Imagination 
and  Diftemper  upon  the  World  for  the 
Sacred  Dilates  of  the  Holy  Gho/l.  They 
tell  you,  "  The  Hajly,  the  Carelefs  and 
Unguarded  are  mof  in  I) anger  of  doing  it." 
Who  then  among  them  can  be  fafe  ?  For 
who,  but  Perfons  of  fuch  a  Charafter,  01' 
a  "worfe^  can  ever  be  of  their  SeB  ? 

§.13.  Among  fo  much  Saying  and  U?i^ 

faying,    would    you   believe   likewife  that 

Infpiration,    and    the    Extraordinary   Calls 

and  Guidances  of  the  Holy  Ghofi^  fliould  be 

•   '•  given 


(  107  ) 

given  lip?    And  the  Corne^'-jlone  of  their 
Spiritual  Tretences  be  removed  by    their 
own  Hands  ?   This,  however,  feems  to  be 
the  Cafe.     We  have  Mr.   Whitefield\  Con- 
fejjion  ill  the  follov^^ing  Words.     "  As  to  7  Jo"f"' 
"  an  Extraordinary  Call,    I   claim   none, 
^^  otherwife  than  the  Apojlle'^  Injundion, 
"  As  we  have  Opportunity^  let  us  do  Good 
"  unto  all  Men'"     What  he  hath  claimed 
was   fully  flieu^n  before  :    what   he  gives 
i^^ry^  appears  now.     *'   I   know   too  much  Letter  to 
''  of  the  Devices  of  Satan,  and  the  def-  Lo^^P„f 
"  perate  Wickednefs  and  Deceitfulnefs  of  p.  14.  ' 
^'  my  own  Hearty  not  to  be  fenfible,  that 
"  I  am  a  Man  of  likePaffions  with  others; 
^'  and   confequently  may    have  fometimes 
'^^  millaken   Nature  for    Grace,   Imagina- 
*'  tioii    for  Revelation,   and   the    Fire   of 
'^  my  own  Temper  for  the  pure  and  facred 
''  Flame  of  holy  Zeal,  which  cometh  from 
"  God's  Altar/'      Sufficient  Acknowledg- 
ment this,  that  he  has  fometimes  been  mi{^ 
taken  as  to  his  high  Pretenfions-y  that  he 
can't   be  Jure,  when  he   is   miftaken,  and 
when  not ;  nor  confequently  be  fure  that 
he  is  not  always  miftaken.     And  what  an 
igiiorant  and  blind  Guide  has  he  been  to 
his  Followers  ?  But  farther, 

In  his  laft  Perfonnance  he  has  clearly  Remarks, 
andexprefsly  given  up  the  Point,  "  — -Wild-  ^^S-  3^' 
"  Fire  has   been   mixed  with    my   Zeal  y 
^^  and  I  find  I  \\2mz  frequently  wrote  and 
.     P  2  '■  fpoke 


(  io8  ) 

^'  fpokc  too  much  in  my  own  Spirit, 
'*  when  I  thought  I  was  writing  and 
"  fpeaking  entirely  by  the  Affidance  of 
"  the  Spirit  of  God. —  I  have  Hkewife  too 
*'  much  made  ImpreJJionSy  without  the 
"  written  Word,  my  Rule  of  Ading. — '' 
Here  you  fee  Mr.  Whitejield's  direft  Con- 
feffion  of  his  being  a  Deceiver  -,  of  having 
drawn  away  People  by  Variety  of  Untruths, 
and  in  Cafes  of  the  lajl  Concern,  And  will 
they  ftill  adhere  to  him  ?  Or  is  he  to  be 
believed  in  any  Thing  ?  But  more  of  this 
in  the  Preface. 
Chinch  '^  ^^*  JVefley's  Concefions  on  this  Head  are 
p,  38^  .'^.  not  indeed  iq^^A'^r  and  exprefs,  but  rather 
ambiguous  end  evafive,  without  confeffing 
or  denying-  Being  cSiarged  with  Enthu^ 
fiafm,  he  fays,  ''  You  are  10  prove  (what 
^'  I  conceive  you  have  not  done  yet)  that 
'^  7J7y  Condu(ft  is  fuch,  as  is  only  to  be 
''  juftified  by  the  Suppofition  of  an  Ex^ 
'^  traordinary  Divine  Affiftaiice. —  I  claim 
*'  no  other  DireBion  of  God's,  but  what 
*'  is  common  to  all  Believers, — No  other- 
"  wife  infpired  than  you  are,  if  you  love 
"  God, — I  never  faid,  that  what  I  do  is  to 
''  be  accounted  the  JVork  of  God,''  Being 
charged  with  alledging  a  miraculous  Inter- 
pofition  of  Providence  in  his  Favour,  he 
?ag.  42.   replies,  ''  Let  it  pafs  then  as  r.  Trife  not 


*'  worth  relating.'* 


I  am 


(   109  ) 

I  am  far  from  thinking  that  in  thefe 
dubious  Expreflions  he  defigns  to  give  up 
any  of  his  high  Claims,  And  'tis  eafy  to 
fee  what  Shifti?igs  and  Referves  may  be 
ready  at  Hand  either  Way,  as  Occafion 
fhall  require  :  what  diffei'e?2t  Conftrucftions 
may  be  put  upon  the  Words,  among  his 
own  Society,  and  when  engaged  in  Co7i- 
iroverfy.  But  refer ving  miraculous  Gifts 
for  their  more  proper  Place,  I  fliall  leave 
him  to  {hake  Hands  with  his  Friend  St. 
Ignatius  5  who,  after  fome  Ramblings  up 
and  down  under  the  Colour  of  Injpiration^ 
was  clofely  quejlioned  by  Authority  at  Sala- 
manca^  ''  Whether  he  was  really  infpired  by 
the  Holy  Ghoft,  or  not  ?"  Some  Writers  fay, 
that  he  did  then  own  himfelf  720t  Injfired. 
The  Jefuits  will  not  allow  fo  much ;  but 
that  he  would  give  no  other  Anfwer  than 
this,  "  We  have  talked  enough  of  it/' 
[  See   Dr,    Geddes,    of  the   Orders,    &c. 

P.   102— 3.] 

This  Defultory  Conduct  puts  one  in 
Mind  of  the  Man  in  Martial,  who  would 
often  furreptitioully  intrude  himfelf  into  the 
Seats  in  the  Theatre  belonging  to  the  Order 
of  Knighthood  to  which  he  had  no  Right ; 
and  was  as  often  ferreted  out  by  the  Beadle^ 
and  taught  to  Jiatid  among  the  Populace. 
At  length  he  cunningly  gets  a  Sort  of  Half- 
.  Seat  at  the  End  of  a  Bench ;    where  he 

boafts 


Lib.  V. 
Ep.  14. 


(    ^10) 

boafts  to  the  Knights  that  he  fat ;  and  pre- 
tends  to  the  Beadle  that  \iz  flood, 

SubfclUoqiie  femifidtus   extremOy 

Et  7nale  receptus  altero  genu^  jaBat 

Equiti  federCy  Lecfioque  fe  Jlare, 


§.  14.  To  the  Moravian  and  Methodijli- 
cal  Injiitiition  belong  alfo,  either  as  con-^ 
flitnent  Parts^  or  genuine  Confequeijces, — 
Scepticifm^  and  Infidelity ;  Doubts  and 
Denials  of  the  Truth  of  Revelation,  and 
fometimes  Atheifm  itfelf.  This,  together 
with  their  Declarations  of  having  no  Senfe 
of  God,  or  Religion,  will  appear  from  their 
own  Narratives, 

"  Put  upon  confidering  7ny  own  State  j-^— 

3  jouTri.    "  I  cannot  find  in  myfelf  the  Love  of  God, 

pag.  II.    ««  or  of  Chrifi.     Hence  my  Deadnefs  and 

"  Wandering   in   Public  Prayer.     Hence 

*^  even  in  the  Holy  Communion  I  have  rarely 

'*'  any  more  than  a  cold  Attention,     Hence 

''  when  I  hear  of  the  higheft  Inftances  of 

"  God's  Love,  my  Heart   is  ftill  fenfelefs 

""^  and  unaffefted.     Yea,  at  this  Moment, 

*'  I  feel  120  more  Love  to  him  than  to  one  I 

^^  had  fzever  heard  of '*     Obferve,     Reader, 

by     the    Way,     this    is    the    Man    who 

.Farther     chargcs  oiir  Religion  as  no  better  than  ''  the 

Appeal,     "  Turkifh  Pilgrimages   to  Mecca,    or  the 

pag.  82.    <c  popijh  Worfhip  of  our  Lady  at  Loretto. 

'^  What  elfe,  adds  he>  can  be  foid  even 

''  of 


( III ) 

"  of  Prayer  (Public  or  Private)  in  the  ' 
"  Manner  wherein  you  generally  perform 
''  it?  Asa  Thing  of Courfe,  n/«;2/;7g'r(?//;2i  _ 
**  and  rounds  in  the  fame  dull  Track,  with- 
*^  out  either  the  K?20wledge,  or  the  Love  of 
"  God;  without  one  Heave?ily  Temper: '— 
But  what  Sort  of  Heavenly  Temper  is  his  ? 
How  can  he  pojibly,  confidently  with 
Charity,  call  this  our  general  Performance  ? 
How  pofjibly,  without  being  Omnifcient^ 
affirm  that  we  pray  ^without  one  Heavenly 
Temper  ?  Or  know  any  Thing  at  all  of  our 
Private  Devotions?  How  mo7iflrous  is  all 
this  from  the  Man,  who  owns  that  he 
himfelf  even  in  the  Holy  Communion  has 
rarely  no  more  than  a  cold  Attention,  —  in 
the  Highejl  Liflances  no  Senfe  of  God's 
Love?  Let  bis  own  Exclamation  be  the 
Jnfwer,  "  Oh !  what  Mockery  of  God  is  ^ 
''  this  !" 

To   proceed.      Upon    the   People's    ill 
Ufage  (or  fuppofed  ill  Ufage)  of  Mr.  PFefle)^ 
at  Georgia,  and  their  fpeaking  all  Manner 
of  Evil  falfely  (as  he  fays)   againft  him  ; 
and  trampfing  under  Foot  the  Word,  after 
having  been  very  attentive  to  it;- — what 
an  Emotion  in  him  is  hereby  raifed  ?    "  I  j  journ. 
"  do  hereby  bear  witnefs  againft  myfelf — p^g  14- 
*'  that  I  could  farce  refrain  from  giving 
*'  the  Lie  to  Experience,  and  Reafon,  and 
''  Scripture  all  together, — -When  Holy  Men  3  joura. 
*'  have  told  me,  /  had  no  Faith,  I  have  P^S-  »- 

"  often 


2  Journ. 
pag.  60—. 


Ibid. 

pag.  6^-. 


(  X12  ) 

often  doubted,  whether  I  had  or  no.- 


-In 


(C 


a  Storm  I  think,  what  if  the  Go/pel  be 
not  true  ?  a  Dream^  a  cunningly  devifed 
"  Fable?  &c/' 

And  to  fliew  that  this^  or  worfe,    is  no 

uncommon  Cafe  among  this  Species  of  Re- 

ligionijis }  one  of  the  Teachers  among  the 

Moravians  fays  of  himfelf,  ''  Sin  no  longer 

'  reigned  over  me.     But  foon  after  I  fell 

^  into  grievous   Tempt atio?is, Then  it 

^  came  into  my  Mind,  I  take  all  this  Pains 
'  to  ferve  God,  What  if  there  be  ?20  God? 
'  How  do  I  knov^  there  is .?  And  on  this 
'  I  mufed  more  and  more,  'till  I  faid  in 
'  my  Hearty    There   is   no  God.     Every 

*  Day  for  a  full  Year,  from  Morning  to 
'  Night,  I  groaned  under  this  Unhelief\ — 

*  I   then  faid  to  myfelf,    /  nvilly  and  do 

*  fuppofe  there  is  a  God,  Immediately  I 
'  felt  a  ftrange  Sweetncfs  in  my  Soul; 
'  which  lafted  for  fix  Weeks,  I  then  fell 
'  into  Doubts  of  another  Kind,  I  believed 
'  in  God^  but  not  in  Chrifi,  Yox  above 
'  four  Tears  I  found  no  Rcfty  by  Reafon 
'  of  this  Unbelief,      'Till   one   Day—." 

Soon  after  another  Moravian  owns,  "  See- 
ing the  great  Diverfity  of  SeBs^  I  began 
to  doubt  whether  any  Religion  was  true  ? 
For  Half  a  Year  thefe  Doubts  perplexed 
me  greatly;  and  I  was  juft  upon  the 
Point  of  cafting  off  all  Religion'' 

"  Mr, 


(  "3  ) 

*^  Mr.  Seward  too  had  fuch  wicked  Journ- 
Siiggejlions^  that  he  could  not  pray  for  his?_^^^' "^^^ 
Friends: — tempted  to  worJJjip  Stocks  and 
Stones  ;  any  Thing  kit  God : — fometimes  to 
think  he  had  fome  Fahh,  at  other  Times 
none  J"  And  this  was  long  after  his  Con- 
verfion. 

Doubts  fomething  lifcp  thefe  fo  horribly 
got  Pofleffion  of  St.  Ignatius  (  whofe  Ex- 
ample  is  fo  often  followed 'by  our  Methodijls) 
that  ''  they  fucked  up  al^the  Juice  of  his  ^^^^"'^^'n* 
Piety  J — his 'Pr^^^r  was  dry  and  barren  jjvf'c*' 
his  Contemplations   had    no  Savour inefs ;   to 
f peaky  or  hear^  any  Thing  ofGod^  was  a  loath-  Bartol. 
fome  and  odious  Thing." — We  read  in  the^^^*  ^^' 
Life  of  M.  of  'Tazziy  "  that  fhe  ufed  toN«.  35. 
approach    the    Holy    Table    with   Dijgtijls 
and    Diifatisfadions ;  "  in    the  Life  of  St, 
Veronica,  ''  that  a  Holy  Nun  died  in  hor- 
rible  Convidfions    and   Dijiortions,    becaufe 
at  that  Time  the  Devil  was  urging  her  to 
deny   fefus   Chrijh     She  appeared  after  her 
Death   to  fome   of  the  Holy   Sifters,  aifu- 
ring   them  of  this   Fadl,  adding,  that   fhb 
was  now  happy,'' 

Nor  need  we  at  all  wonder  at  fuch 
wicked  and  unbelieving  Thoughts  arifing 
in  the  Minds  of  {mc\\  ftuBuating  and  in- 
conftftent  Perfons.  'Tis  but  a  genuine  and 
ufual  EfFed  of  Enthifiajjn.  Cool  Reafon 
and  plain  Scripture  are  laid  afide  :  Variety 
of  wild  Fancies  and  Opinions  croud  iti, 
Q^  and 


'      '  (  "4) 

and  dlftradt  the  Head  ;  Mpreffiom  and 
Feelings  require  to  be  liftened  to,  and  made 
a  Ride,  Men,  who  in  Imagination  ^XQjhit 
ofGod^  and  about  his  grand  Work^  are  in 
Times  of  Z).^«^^r  and  Dijlrefs  particularly 
alarmed  :  Things  not  going  to  their  Mind, 
and  Heaven  feeming  to  fail  them,  pre- 
fently  ftart  up  Doubts  and  Diftrufts  of  the 
Beings  or  Providence  of  God^  who  jnain- 
tains  ?iot  his  own  Caufe,  So  that  the  moft 
impious  Siiggejliofis  will  in  their  Turn  get 
uppermoft,  and  reynain  uppermoft  too,  and 
even  make  the  Jlronger  and  more  lajiing 
Lodgment,  as  'tis  the  very  Nature  of  En^ 
thufiafm  to  be  head-jlrong  and  pofjtive.  Our 
Methodijis  may  reckon  thefe  AlTaults  of 
hijidelity  for  a  Part  of  the  Throws  of  Rege-- 
neration^  and  all  to  be  done  away  by  fettled 
Belief  and  AJjiirai^ces  of  Salvation,  But 
they  will  certainly  be  apt  to  return,  ac- 
cording to  the  Variation  and  Succeffion  of 
their  Fancies,  Humours,  Difeajes  and  Paf-^ 
fions.  The  Methodifis  fometimes  tell  us> 
that  Satan,  is  very  bufy  in  driving  them 
Pag-  22.  ^Q  Extremes.  Bartolus  fays,  *'  That  the 
Devil  '■  fent  his  Lifc-Gitards,  the  Affec- 
tions of  the  black  Bile  ( i.  e.  melancholy 
Enthufiafm)  to  impel  St»  Ignatius  upon 
Meaiures  co72trary  to  the  Love  oj  God, 
&c/*  Msiny  learned  ffriters  hsiVG  ihewn, 
that  as  Entkifiaftic  and  Superftitious  Per- 
fons  are^  in  many  Cafes,  prone  to  Atheifni: 

fo 


(  115  ) 
fo  Atheifm  often  partakes  of  Enthufiafm 
und  Superfiition  \  —  and  that,  like  Ice  and 
Water^  they  beget  one  another.  Dr.  H. 
More's  firll  Se5iion  againft  Rnthufiafm 
£hews  ''  the  great  Affinity  and  Correfpond- 
ency  betwixt  Enthufiafm  and  Atheifm ; 
which  though  they  feem  extremely  oppo^ 
fite^  yet  in  many  Things  very  xi^^sX^  agree -^ 
and  are  commonly  entertained  fuccejjively 
in  the  fame  Breaft.  For  that  Temper 
which  difpofes  a  Man  to  liften  to  the 
magifterial  Didlates  of  an  overbearing  Fa?!- 
cyy — very  eafily  gives  Harbour  to  this  ;;2/7^ 
chievous  Gz^6^;— and  will  as  confidently 
reprefent  to  their  Fan<:y\  that  there  is  No 
Gody  as  ever  it  was  reprefented  that  there 
is  oney — '^  Si  non  ftatim  rekvantur.  faith  p,^7^"  ?^ 
Merjennus^  dubitant  an  fit  Deus :  n  they 
be  not  relieved  forthwith,  they  queftion 
whether  there  be  any  God  5  becaufe  they 
have  not,  as  they  think,  their  Dejerts'^ 

§.  15.  All  that  oppofe  themj  however^ 
are  like  to  have  their  Deferts  -,  if  we  may 
depend  upon  the  Denunciations  of  that 
Uncharitable  Spirit ;  the  next  Thing  I 
ihall  confider  as  conne6led  with  Methodifm  j 
and  as  no  fmall  ObjeBion  and  Objlacle  to 
their  Progrefs  in  other  People's  Opinion, 
whatever  it  may  be  in  their  own. 

Read   Mr.   IVtflefs  CharaBer  of  a  Me-, 
tbodifi,    "  And  the  Love  of  God  has  pu-  §.  ro,  i^ 
0^2  rifled 


(ii6) 

rifled  his  Heart  from  every  unkind  Tem- 
per and  malign   Affection ;    from    all   re- 
vengeful Paffions,  Envy,  Malice  and  Wrath. 
— He  cannot  utter  an  unkind  Word  cf  tiny 
one.''     But  read  his  Controverfial  Writings 
with  his  Oppofers,  and  all  thefe  fine  Pro- 
feffions  are  vanifhed,  and  contradifted  ;  and 
that  in  fome  of  his  latefl  •Ferjormances, 
4  Jo^^rn.        One  of  the  WejJeys,  when  his  Dodlrine 
^'  '^^'      was  contradicted,  fays,  "  While  I   in  the 
"  m-ean    time    was    as  a    deaf  Man   that 
"  heard  not^    neither  anfwered  a  Word." 
Farther     jhe  Other  fays,  "  We  have  behaved  with 
pig^^ii6,  *'  all  Meeknefs  and  Tendernefs  towards  all 
u7-         <«  Men, — efpecially  with  om  Brethren  the 
"  Clergy.  —  When  a  Clergyman  had  vehe- 
"  mently  accufed  me  (of  doing  the  con- 
"  trary)  I  kept  my  Mouth  as  it  were  with 
"  a  Bridle,  and  committed  my  Caufe  to 
Bonav^ent.  x.  ^  hig^^r  Hand.'*      A  perfedl  Copy  of 
^^'  ^*     St.  Francis,  "  who  being  infiilted  and  a- 
bufed,  pajjed  through  them  all   as  a  deaf 
Manr  -^'di  o3 

As  a  Proof  however  that  Mr.  Wejley 
can  fpeak,  and  in  bitter  Words  too,  in  the 
f  Journ  Fiii^^f^  ?/  ^^'^  Heart,  he  brings  himfelf  to 
pag.  64!  Confeffion.  "  By  the  mod  infallible  of 
"  Proofs,  Inward  Feeling,  I  am  convinced 
"  of  Unbelief  —  of  Pi^ide,  —  of  grofs  Fre- 
"  colleBion, — of  Levity  and  Luxurianey  of 
*'  Spirit,  —  by  fpeaking  Words  not  tend- 
^'  ing  to  edify;  but  moft,  by  my  Manner  of 

"  fpeaking 


(  1^7  ) 

'f  [peaking  of  my  Enemies.''  Such  Con- 
fejjions  m^ght  be  confidered  as  the  Efi^dt 
of  tender  Co?jfdences,  frequently  apt  to 
overcfjarge  themfelves  ;  if  their  Writings 
did  not  fufnciently  prove  the  Charge. 
For,  not  to  repeat  their  Calmnnies  again  ft 
their  Brethren ,  —  nor  to  foreftall  their 
Rancours  among  tbemfehes ;  —  nor  to  re- 
gard Mr.  m:it\field's  R^nU  that  '^  all  Mo- 
ra/ity  fet  up  in  Oppofition  to  bis,  pall 
Jink,  ^dcith  its  Trofejjors,  into  Hell,  &c." — 
Let  any  one  but  look  into  the  latter  Part 
of  Mr.  J'FeJlef^  Farther  Appeal,  and  he 
will  find  Q,nongh  oi  iincha7'i table  and  dam- 
natory Claufes  *^  difpatching  all  Mankind  to 
Hell  (as  far  as  lies  in  hcnian  Power)  who 
are  not  Methodijls,  —  Not  thofe  in  general, 
as  they  would  pretend,  who  are  void  of  a 
due  Love  to  God  and  Man,  who  believe 
not  in  Chriji,  and  keep  not  his  Com- 
mandments, and  promote  not  Repentance 
and  Refortnation  :  But  all  v/ho  fubmit  ;not 
to  their  fpecial  Difpenjation  oj  Methodifm. 
''  Tliey  are  infpired,  taught  of  God,  fent 
by  God,  upon  God's  Errand,  to  make  a 
Tender  of  his  laft  Offers,  his  lajl  Call  tp  a 
guilty  hand.  The  Apparatus  of  Provi- 
dence m  employing  the  two  kVefeys  is  fur- 
prizing  ;  thev  can't  devife  what  Manner 
of  Men  would  be  more  unexceptionable  on  all 
Accounts, — All  their  Oppofcrs  are  labour- 
ing   heartily  in  the  Caiife  of  HelL     Thofe 

who 


(  iiS  ) 

who  would  hinder  People  from  joining 
them,  or  would  bring  them  hack^  are 
mojl  inexcufable  j  they  are  Blafphemers^ 
openly  fight  againfl  God,  fight  under  the 
DeviTs  Banner,  are  taking  Part  with  the 
Droil  againjl  God, —  Some  Honourable  Op- 
poferSy  whom  they  defire  to  be  excuied 
fi:om  naming^  are  ivorje  than  the  Scum  of 
Coniivall,  the  Rabble  of  Bilfon  and  Dar^ 
lefion,  the  wild  Beafts  of  IVaifal,  and  the 
Turnkeys  of  Neicgatc. 

Th ofe  who  have  iih-nt  out  from  them^ 
and  left  them,  are  iaid  to  return  to  their 
Vomit  again,  are  called  Apofiate^^  two- 
fold more  the  Children  of  Hell  than  be- 
fore. —  Thcfe  who  can  €'::en  doubt  of 
Mtthodifm  being  God's  Work,  or  of  their 
Divine  Mifjion^  are  inexcufably  infatuated,'* 
This  furely,  befides  high  Prefumption^ 
and  Sclffiifficiency,  is  Uncharitablenefs  with 
a  Vengeance.  But  fuch  always  is  the  Ef^ 
Wefley  fed  of  Infallibility :  The  Popif  fuch,  the 
pag°7o-,  M-Oravian  fuch,  and  the  Metbodi/lical  fuch. 
ic8.  And  yet,  notvvithftanding  their  dealing  out 
Hell-fire  with  fuch  a  liberal  Hand,  I  am 
not  in  the  leaft  difcouraged  from  giving 
them  what  Oppofition  I  can.  Thofe  that 
herd  not  with  them  may  be  as  good  as  they 
'Will  without  it;  and  fuch  as  have  left 
them,  have  not  done  it,  I  know,  with- 
out ////^  Reafon.  Mr.  JVefley  feems  aware 
of  this,  when  he  fays,  That  ''  they  who 

were 


(119) 
were  with  us,  bat  went  out  from  us,  will 
aiTcrt  Thins^s  that  may  caufe  your  Ears  to 
tingle,'"  That  fuch  Things  are  among 
them,  I  make  no  doubt :  and  if  this  doth 
not  appear  already,  it  may  before  I  have 
done. 

§.  1 6.  Of  the  fame  Uncharitable  and 
Prefianptucwi  Nature  is  their  Application 
of  Divine  Judgments,  and  accounting  di- 
verfe  Misfortunes  and  AffiiBions,  which  be- 
fall private  Perfons,  or  the  Nation,  as  fo 
many  extraordinary  Puni/h?nents,  zn A  penal 
Trodigies,  for  their  Oppofition  to  thein- 
fihes,  or  their  Caufe,  They  are  the  Fa- 
vourites, for  whom  all  is  done. 

Whether  Mr.  Whitefield  has  often  taken 
upon  him  this  Direclion  of  God's  Judg- 
ments, I  don't  recoiled :  But  Mr.  Wefiey 
will  fally  make  amends.     The  former  in- 
deed,   hearing  of  one  Great  Oppofer' s   be-Whitef. 
ing  given  over,  and  the  Death  of  another,  \}Ti^'''-x 
immediately  cries  out,  **  That  they  are  go- 
ing to  give  an  Account  of  their  hard  Speeches 
and  Writings  again fl  the  Methodijls''     But 
-the  latter   more  peremptorily  and  plainly: 
**  Mr.   Molther  [once  his   Spiritual  Giiide'^^'^^^y 
and  Confejjur,    but   afterwards   q^^cirrelliiig^^^^^J^' 
with  him  J   ''   was  taken  ill  this  Day,     1 
"  believe    it  was   the    Hand  of  God  upon 
'^  him. — I  was  informed  of  an  awful  Pro- 
"  vidence,     A  Wretch  curfing   and    blaf- 

*'  pheming, 


p.  238-9. 


(     120    ) 

Wefley.     *'  phcming,    and    labouring   with   all    his 
'^^T'eo  "  Might  to  biTider  the  Word  of  God -^  and 
'^''       "  threatening  to  do   it   again.       But   God 
"  laid  his  Hand  upon  him,  and  on  Sunday 
V  he   was  buried y      Some   of  his  Judg- 
ments attended   with    Miracles    I    referve 
for  their  proper  Place  :  and  fliall  only  men- 
tion a  remarkable  Inftance  of  God's  fend- 
ing Judgments  on  the  Land,  in   proportion 
to  the  Oppofition   made  to  the  Methodifts. 
This  was  at  the   Time  of  the  late  Wars, 
Farther     and  Rebellion.      "   I   cannot   but   believe, 

t^V^ly  "  ^^  ^^  ^^^^fly  ^"  ^^^^  Account  (oppofing 
''  the  Metbodijh)  that  God  hath  now  a 
•'  Controverfy  ivith  our  Land,  —  You  can- 
"  not  poffibly  help  obferving,  that  when- 
^'  ever  there  has  been  any  Thing  like  a 
^'  Public  Attempt  to  fupprefs  this  iiew 
*'  SeB,  another,  and  a7iother  Public  Trou- 
"  ble  arofe.  This  has  been  repeated  fo 
'^  often,  that  'tis  furprizing  any  Man  of 
''  Senfe  can  avoid  taking  Notice  of  it.  — 
*'  What  remains  but  the  Fulfilling  of  that 
"  dreadful  Fy^ord —  .^" 

Bold  and  confident  as  he  is,  I  can't 
imagine  how  it  was  poffihle  any  one  (hould 
obferve  what  never  was,  i,  e,  any  Public 
Attempt  to  fupprefs  the  Methodifts,  And 
'tis  fur  prizing  any  Man  of  Senfe  can  a- 
void  taking  Notice  of  fuch  rank  E^ithufafm, 
and  groundlefs  Application  of  Judgmefits. 
Suppofe  one  (hould  ask  him,  What  Pub- 
lic 


(    121    ) 

lie  Attempt  there  v/as,  or  a?2y  Thing  like 
it^  to  raife  up  or  favour  the  MethodiJiSy  be- 
fore the  Nation  was  blefled,  and  relieved  by 
the  Battle  of  Cullodcn  ?  What  tolerable 
Anfwer  could  he  make  ?  This  is  the  Way 
of  them.  All  Heaven  mud  be  interefted 
and  paflionately  concerned  to  fupport  their 
ivild  Freaks,  to  gratify  xhtir  four  Humours^ 
and  bring  forth  its  Artillery  at  their  Beck. 
The  Fly,  fitting  upon  the  Chariots-wheel y 
cries  out,  What  a  Duft  do  I  raife  ?  And 
if  a  Fly-flapper  be  held  up  to  blow  it  eft, 
it  rcm^fake  'Nations, 

But  to  return  to  the  Comparifon,     This 
Uncharitable  and  Prefumptuous  Sin   of  de- 
nouncing Damnation^  and  applying  Judg- 
ments,    has   been  the  general  Method  and 
Mark  of  EnthufiaftSy    efpecially  the   cruel 
ones  of  the  Papacy.      Their   Damning  all 
out  of  the  Pale  of  their  own  Communion  is 
a  known  Truth.     And  Bellarmi?i's  FouT"  De  No$; 
teenth  Mark  of  the  True  Church  is,  "  The^^^^^^^- 
unhappy   Death,    or   End    of   thofe    who"^^^  '''' 
oppofe  it.'*    Where  he  does  not  forget  that 
tjnpudent  Lie   concerning   Calvin,  that  he 
died    calling  upon    the  Devil,  curfmg  and 
hlafphetning.      It    were    eafy   to    produce 
Legions   of  Popijl^    Saints    packing    away 
t(>eir   Enemies  to   Hell,  and  feeing  Vijlons 
of  them  there  in  Tormejit  -,    and   none  of 
their  Oppofers  ever  profpered.     In  the  Book 
of  Ccnformitics  we  have  "  a  Lift  of  thofe,  FoI.  ijr 
R  upon 


(    122    ) 

upon  whom    the  Judgments  of  Godj  and 
MalediBion  of  Chrijl^  fell  for  oppugJiaWig 
St.    Francis,  and  his   Order^    and  turning 
Apojlates  from  it.     Oi  fourPreacberSy  who 
declaimed    intcmperately   againft   tlie    5^- 
ciety^    one  fell    down    dead  in    going   up 
into  the  Pulpit,  another  was  killed   by  a 
Fall  from  his  Mule,  a  third  died  a  mijera- 
ble   Death,  and  the  fourth  begged  Pardon 
on  his  Knees,  —  "Tuoo  Trebendaries,  2ind  fome 
Bijbofs,    underwent  God's  Judgfne?2ts    for 
perfecuting  them,  v/hofe  Names  (fays  the 
Author)  I  conceal,   becaufe  they  are  lately 
Fol.  273.  dead."     ''  St.  ivj^/^m  likewifc  foretold  the 
Vengeance    that    was  com.ing   upon    foine 
Soldiers,  who  diflurbed  his  Preachings — - 
and  upon  the  Prebendary  Gedeon  for  re-^ 
Pas-  Az^yturjjing  to  his  Vomit:' — In  the  Franci/can 
436,  ^i>^'  Martyrology    we   have   a    full   Detail    of 
Deaths  temporal  and   eternal,    with  other 
Judg?7ie?2ts,  inflicted  on  the  Holy  Itifierant 
Order  oj  the  Mendicants-,  particularly  of  a 
Bijl:}0p  in  Englajid,    who  publified  feveral 
Things  againll    them,  fummoned  a   Con- 
venticle  of  his  Brethren  to  confult  how  to 
eradicate  them,  and  ibon  after  w^^sfnatched 
away  by  Death:"      And    as    to   National 
judgments,    'ti$   every    where    the  fame  : 
with  Refped  to  the  Church  of  England  in. 
Arh.  740.  particular,    the    great    Baronius    remarks, 
"  That  ihe   was   over-run   witli   Herefies 

and 


(    123    ) 

and  Schifms,  as  foon  as  (he  ceafed  to  pay 
the  Pope  his  Tribute  oi  Petef^-pe?2ceJ' 

Defiring  the  Reader  to  keep  thefe  Ap* 
plications  of  Judgments  in  Mind,  'till  we 
come  to  confider  miraculous  Judgments^ 

§.17.  I  pafs  to  the  Methodijis  auda« 
clous  Cuftom  of  fummoning  their  Oppo- 
nents to  the  Bar  of  Judgmetit ;  and  place 
it  to  the  fame  Account  of  an  Uncharitable 
Prejumption.  **  Where  ( fhocking  as  it 
muft  appear  to  all  difcerning  Readers)  Mr. 
Whitefield  feems  fure,  that  every  Thing 
will  be  determined  in  his  owfi  Favoury 
and'  that  Judgment  fhall  pafs  againft  all 
thofe  he  is  pleafed  to  condemn/'  [See 
the  Trial  of  Mr.  Whitefield'5  Spirit, 
Pa«:.  19— ] 

But,  enter  the  Man  himfelf.    "  If  thou  2  Dealing. 
^'  thinkeft,    that   either    I    have  not  told  ^^Z- -7- 
*^  Truth,  or  wrote  out  of  a  vain-glorious 
"  View,  Jefus   iTiall  decide  the  Queftion. 
''  At  his   Tribunal    fhall    we   meet,    and 
'^  there  thou   fhalt   know  what  is  in  my 
'^  Heart. — ThenJImll  my  himcence  be  made  3  Journ. 
''  clear  as  the  Lights     But  as  to  thofe  P^^*  ^^* 
who  oppofe  him,  "  I  here  cite  them  to  an-  Pag.  74. 
^'  fweu  it  to  our  common  Mafier. —  I  fhall  4  journ. 
"  rife  up  againft  you  at  the  Great  Day,  P*  ^7»  29. 
"  and  be  a  f'loift  IVitnefs  againft  you.^ — 
"  At  his    dreadful  Tribunal    I   will   meet 
^*  you 3  and  then  youihal!  fee— There,  there 
R  2  "  will 


yrancifc. 
p.  29,  30, 


(    124    ) 

Indwell.    «  Will  I   mcct  you.      There  Jtfiis  CbriJI 

P  ii»  12'  <c  fl^^ii  determine,  who  are  the  Faife  Pro^ 

*^  /fe/j,  the  Wolves  in  Sheefs  Chathingy 

Mr,   Wejfley   hkewife   muft    ad:    his    Part. 

4  Journ.  <c  J  ^j^e  Alderman  Beacher  to  anfwer  ~  at 

f  joui    '■  the  Judgment^Seat   of  Chrijl.  ~  I   cite 

pag'  75-    "  you  all   before   the  Judge    of   ail    the 

''  Earth." 

Here  you  have  the  true  Spirit  oj  an 
Enthtifiajiy  flufhed  with  a  modeji  AfTurance 
of  his  own  Salvation^  and  the  charitable 
Profpeft  of  the  'Damnation  of  others. 

We  have  an  Inftance  of  this  Kind  of 
Martyr.  Summons  in  one  Walter  Bruges^  a  Francif-- 
can  ;  who  being  twhtx  depojed,  ox  jujpended^ 
by  Pope  Clement  V.  wrote  a  formal  Cita- 
tion of  his  HoUneJs  to  appear  at  the  Tribu- 
nal of  Chrifi  precifely  on  fuch  a  Day  ;  and 
on  his  Death-Bed  ordered  himfelf  to  be 
buried  with  this  Citation  in  his  Hand. 
And  behold  a  Miracle  I  The  Citation  could 
by  no  Force  be  pulled  out  of  his  Hand. — 
The  Pope  died  on  the  Day  prefixed. 

§.  18.  And  may  I  not  be  allowed  to 
mention,  as  fome  Qbje^lion  to  Methodifm^ 
and  Stumbling-Block  in  its  Way,  their  Vio- 
lation and  Contempt  of  Order  and  Autho- 
rity 5  their  Vfurpation  of  the  Powers^ 
wherewith  their  Superiors  are  legally  in- 
vefted,  and  fetting  up  an  Independency  ? 
They  fet  out  originally  with  Decency  and 

CJrder 


(     125    ) 

Order ;  asked  Leave  for  the  Pulpit  \  had  it 
and  might  have  kept  it  ftill,  had  not  their 
Reproachings  of  the  Lender^  their  Enthzt- 
Jia/iic  and  dangerctis  Peculiarities^  &c, 
made  it  neceflary  to  refufe  it.  Hence 
they  are  refolved  to  be  revenged-,  and 
holding  forth  in  un!ice??fed  Places,  and 
without  a  Licenfe  themfelves,  fay,  *'  they 
can't  die  in  Peace,  without  bearing  Tes- 
timony again  ft  the  Vnchriflian  Principles 
and  Prad:ices  of  thofe  Priejis  of  Baal^  the 
Generality  of  our  Clergy  ^  "This,  fayssJoum. 
"  Mr.  Whitefield,  puts  me  in  Mind  of FS- 79- 
*'  the  Children  of  Ifrael  iirft  intreating 
*^  Leave  of  Og^  Sihon,  &c.  to  go  quietly 
*'  through  their  Land  -,  but  fighting  their 
*'  Way  through,  when  Leave  was  denied, 
"  Like  them,  by  the  Strength  of  my  D/-- 
**  vine  Leader,  I  fhali  be  more  than  Con- 
'*  qiieror  over  all  the  Canaanites  and  carnal 
"  Teachers:'  —  Greatly  faid,  and  in  the 
true  Spirit  of  Martial  Enthufiafm  ;  in  Con- 
formity to  the  true  Spirit  oi  Contumacy  and 
CofitradiSion,  when  he  declares,  "  The  Ib^d. 
*'  more  I  am  bid  to  hold  my  Peace,  the^^S*  -^- 
"  more  earneftly  will  I  lift  up  my  Voice 
"  like  a  Trumpet r 

Ask    Mr.    Wefiey,    by    what  Authority 
he  preaches,  lie  replies,  *'  By  the  Autho- 
rity of  Jefus  Chrifi,  committed  to  m.e  by 
the  Archbijhop   of  Canterbury,    Take   thou  5  Jouru. 
Authority  to  preach  the  Gofpel.''     And  foP'^'  S^- 

far 


Ibid. 


(  X26  ) 
far  all  is  welL  But  put  him  in  Mind  of 
the  Limitation  in  the  following  Words, 
"  in  the  Congregation  where  thou  /halt 
be  lawfully  appointed  thereto/'  away  flics 
the  Archbijhofs  Commiffiony  and  you  foon 
have  him  burfting  out  into  an  Enthufmjiic 

"  my  Pari/k  : — This  is  the  Work  which 
'^  I  know  God  has  called  me  to/' — [See 
Condu5i  of  the  Methodifs^  Pag.  ii,  12.] 
And  what  figniiies  a  limited  Commifion  to 
the  brave  Mr.  Whit ef eld,  "  when  God 
(hews  him  it  is  his  Duty,  not  to  fix  in 
any  particular  Place  f  '*  What  fignihes 
any  Subordination,  when  he  can  affume 
5  Jouf"-  the  Dignity  of  a  Prijnate ;  "  If  a  Bifijop 
FS'-  37-  «  commit  a  Fault,  I  will  tell  him  of 
"  it  ?" 

Hence  they  commence  a  new  aiid  inde- 
pendent Govcr?27ne7it ;  appointing  Bands  and 
SocietieSy    with  Superintendants,  Exhorters, 
Moderators^  and  Vifitors, 
Wefley.        Hence  they  take  upon  them,  I  do  not 
p,  7-^      lay   to  Ofjdainy   but   to    appoint,    and  give 
Authority  to,  Perfons,  who  (in  their  own 
Words )   are    neither  Bifloops,    Prie/ls,    or 
Deacons f    to    preach    the   Word  :    Common 
Mechanics,  Wojnen  and  Boys,    are  aftually 
employed  in  this  Miniftry  of  Public  Preach-- 
ingy  without  any  human  Salifications,  Mr. 
Farther     Wefiey  fays,  that  "  We  cannot  but  own, 

t^lTt      "  ^^^^   ^^^  S^'^^  Wijdom   from  above  to 
.  ''  thefe 


(     127    ) 

^'  thefe  iinJearfied  and  ignorant  Men  ;  io 
"  that  the  Work  of  the  Lord  profpered  in 
*'  their  Hands/'  But  it  requires  no  extras- 
ordinary  Gift  of  difcerni?2g  the  Spirits  to 
fee,  how  eafily  fuch  Perfons,  by  Means  of 
proper  Difciplifie,  learning  the  Cant  of  the  \ 
Party^  a  tolerable  good  ^JJurance,  and 
Fluency  of  Words, —  may  f^t  up  for  Cir- 
ciimforaneoiis  Holders  forth  ;  and  (what  in  , 
Fact  is  true)  make  no  Scruple  of  making 
their  BoafI:  of  being  Injpired ;  thereby  col- 
lecting a  Maintenajice^  and  chouiing  the 
Ignorant  of  their  Money, 

Hence,  laftly,  upon  Occafion  they  can 
pronounce  the  Sentence  of  Excommunica- 
tion^  and  with  an  Authority  equal  to  the 
Papal:  "  I  fohn  Wefley^  by  the  Con  fen  1 4  Jo«2rn. 
"  and  Approbation  of  the  Batid-Soctety  in^^^'  "3' 
"  KijigfwGod^  do  declare  the  Perfons  above- 
"  mentioned  to  be  710  longer  Men-ibers 
''  thereof:' 

I  might  here  take  Notice  of  the  irre- 
gular and  imjuftifiable  Behaviour  of  fome 
of  their  Folloivers  at  the  Holy  Communion. 
I  fpeak  from  perfonal  Kfiowledge^  and  can 
produce  other  Evide?2ce,  that  fometimes,  a 
little  before  the  delivering  of  the  Elements^ 
three  or  four  together  will  take  it  in  their 
Heads  to  go  away  :  —  that  fometimes, 
while  the  Sentences  of  the  Offei'tory  were 
reading,  they  have  called  out  to  the  A//- 
nifer^  whofe  Duty  it  was  to  carry  about 

the 


(  128  ) 
the^  Bafofiy  (though  they  were  at  Liberty 
to  givey  or  not  give)  reproaching  him  for 
asking  Alms  of  them  :  —  that  Ibmetimes, 
when  the  Minifler  has  delivered  the  Bread 
into  their  Hands,  inftead  of  eating  it,  they 
would  flip  it  into  their  Pockets,  This 
was  often  the  Cafe,  unlefs  they  were  well 
^watched.  Whether  they  tailed  the  Wine^ 
or  no,  I  can't  fay. 

Thefe,  I  prefume,  are  Perfons,  who 
(after  the  Rxample  of  their  Teacher)  "  can't 
find  in  themfelves  the  Love  of  God^  or  of 
Ckrift ;  that  rarely  even  in  the  Holy  Com-- 
mtmion  have  any  more  than  a  cold  At- 
tent  1071 ;  or,  like  M.  cj  Pazziy  come  to 
the  Lord's  Table  with  Difgufts  and  Difa- 
tisf anions'' 
4  journ.  From  feveral  of  thefe  Particulars  we 
P2g-  43-  ihould  be  juftified  in  turning  Mr.  Wefef% 
own  Expreffion  upon  the  Methcdijls  : 
"  This  is  to  afFefl:,  not  Freedom^  but  Inde^ 
pendency y  And  yet,  notwithftanding  fuch 
Misbehaviour y  they  bitterly  complain  of 
the  Clergy  and  TJniverfties,  for  oppofing 
their  Proceedings ;  and  are  furprized  that 
every  Man  in  his  Senfes  don't,  without 
the  leafl  Hefitation,  join  them. 

Let  us  now  fee  whether  they  have  not 
Precedents^  according  to  Cuftom,  among 
their  old  Friends. 

Pope 


(129) 

Pope  Gregory  relates  in  his  Dialogues^  Lib.  t, 
*'  That  St.  Equitius  being  reprehended  for  ''^P*  "^^ 
running  about  every  where,  and' preaching 
without  Orders^  or  a   Licenfe^   proved   his 
Licenfe  from  a  /'^/yfo;?  f/'  an  Angela  putting 
a   Lancet   into   his    Mouthy    and    faying, 
Behold y  1  have  put  my  Words  into  thy  Mouth  j 
go  forth  and  preach''      From  that  Time 
he  could   not  hold  his  Peace,— "it,  Francis  Conform; 
at  iirft  was  fo  modeft,  and  fubmiffive  to^g//^^' 
Authority^    that  he   was  refolved   himfelf, 
and  enjoined  his  Brethren^  never  to  preach 
without  Leave   of  the  Dio\:efan:,  and  Mi-- 
Jiijler  of  the  Parif\      They   denying  him, 
his  Brethren  advifed  him   to  get  a  Faculty 
from  the  Pope^  for  the  Salvation  of  Souls. 
But  the   &/;;^  told  them,   "he  intended 
to  convert  the  'whole  }Vorld ;  which  would 
be   eftedled    by    their    SanBity^    Humility 
and  Obedience.''     But  this  humble  Pofture 
of  Mind  did   not    laft  long :     "    For   he    ibid, 
called  a  Chapter ,  and  appointed  Preachers  Fo^-  ^47r 
for  every  Province  ;  and   fent  thto  out  to  ^^^' 
their  refpeftive  Plicc^\,  giving  them  a  Z/- 
cenfe^  whether  Clerics  or  Layr^eny  whoever 
of  tJiem  had  the   Spirit  of  God,  and  Gift 
of  Preachi?2g,  — -And    after v/ards  he   en- 
larged their  CommiJJion,  appointing  them  to 
preach  in  India y    and   through    the  whole 
World.     For  it  Vv^as  revealed  to  him  from 
the  Lordy  th:-d- every   Ccr7icr  of  the  Earth 
was  to  hear  the  Sound  of  their  Preaching." 

S  At 


(  130  ) 

Bonavent.  At  length,  hovvever,  "  he  thought  proper 

Leg.  Fr.    ^^  apply  to  the   Pope,    who  confirmed  his 

Order,    and  commanded  little   Crowm   to 

be  made  for   his  Lay-Brethren,  that  they 

might  free/y  preach  the  Word  oj  God.  —  It 

had  indeed  been  likewife  revealed  to  him, 

Conform,  that   the  poifonous   Iniquity    of  the  Clergy 

rViJi    (hould  oppofe,  and  endeavour  to  trample 

upon,    his    Order.      Accordingly  he   was 

vilified  both  by  Seculars  and  Prelates ;  who 

difregarding  St.  Francis'^  Monitio?is,   drew 

away  his  Followers:  —  but  how,  and  why, 

will  appear  in  the  End." 

Nor  could  the  Devil  be  idle,  where  his 

Ribaden.    Kingdom  was   at  Stake  5    *'  but  raifed  up 

pag.  472.  furbulejit  Spirits  in  the  Vniverfities,   to  op- 

pofe  the  Holy  Orders  oj  St.  Dominic  and 

St.    Francis,    and  to  write  Books  againft 

them:' 

The  pious  Founder  of  the  Jefiiits  met 
with  the  like  Harraffings  ;  and  particularly 
at  \htXJ?iiverfity  of  Paris,  could  fcarce  efcape 
a  Whipping  in  the  Public  Hall.  —  Several 
Bijhops  publillied  FdiBs,  forbidding  either 
hirn,  or  his,  to  preach  in  their  Diocefe  ^ 
and  the  fl inking  black  Cloud  of  the  Sor- 
bone  burft  upon  them. — And  as  few  can 
bear  a  Cetijor  of  their  Manners,  the  Minds 
of  the  Clergy  were  alienated  from  the  So- 
ciety, as  intruding  itfelf  into  their  FunElions, 
and  of  their  own  Will  contriving  to  eredt 
a  Seminary,  ungrateful  and  prejudicial  to 

the 


(  131  ) 

the  Minijlry,    and    intercepting   their  H^ 
7iours  and  Profits, 

But  Ignatius  and  Cojnpany,  by  the  fpe- 
cial  Favour  and  DireBion  of  Heaven y  were, 
too  cunriing  for  them  ;   and  by  profeffing 
themfelves  entirely  at  the  P^/^'s  Devotion^ 
and  his  Standard-Bearers  againji  Heretics^ 
they  gained  their  Ends ;  and  obtained  of 
Gregory  XIII.  that  Golden  Bull,  allowing 
the   Religious    among    them,    who    were 
Priejls,  to  hear  Confejfions,  and  even  thofe 
not  in   Orders  to    preach    wherever   they 
pleafed.     Attend,  while  the  Bull  is  fpeak- 
ing.     ''  In  Virtue  of  the  Pr/i;//^^^  granted  BuHar. 
"  to  your  Society  by  Paul  III,  that  who- Vol.  ri. 
*'  ever  of  you   \s>Jit,  and  deputed  by  the^' ^•'*"^* 
*'  ReBor    of  the    Society,    may  publickly 
^^  preach  the   Word   of  God-,    and   thofe, 
*'  who  are  Pr lefts,  may  hear  the  Confef- 
''  fions  of  the  Faithful  of  both  Sexes-,  from 
''  which  Time  your  Religious,  Vv^ho  were 
^^  fit  to  preach,  though  770t  initiated  into 
'■•  Holy  Orders^  -have  preached  here,  and 
*'  there,    and  every  where  :   Yet,   becaufe 
'^  a!i   impertinent   Doubt  has  arofe,    whe- 
''  ther  the  Privikge  of  Treachi?ig  compre- 
''  hends '^thdfe-   \\4i6   are    not    Ordained -, 
'.'  We,-  \h  ,<^der   to  remove  this  Scruple, 
'*  by  the  -Authority  of  thefe  Prefhits,  de- 
"  ciare^and' decree,    That  every  one  of 
'^'-  you,  though    not    promoted   to    Holy 
*.*  Ordcr^jhoxKhad  Power,  ?.nAhave  Power, 
':-  S  2  "  ia 


(    132    ) 

f'  in  Virtue  of  that  Privilege,  to  exercife 
"  the  Office  of  a  Preacher:  Stridtly  /;2- 
"  hibiting  all  and  fingular  Ordifmries,  and 
"  all  others  inverted  with  any  Kind  of 
"  Power y  not  to  dare  to  hinder  or  ;7;(9/g/? 
^^  any  one  of  you,  upon  any  Pretence. 
"  With  a  Ngu  ohjlante  to  all  Apojiolical 
"  Conjlitiitions  and  Ordinations^  decreed  by 
**  General,  ox '^Provincial  Councils'' 

You  may  perhaps  endeavour  to  clear 
the  Jefuits  of  UJiirpation,  as  adling  by 
Papal  Authority,  The  Methodi ft -Teachers 
will  put  in  the  fame  Plea ;  each  of  them 
being,  the  law.kfs  One,  a  Pope  to  himfelf. 

Having  mentioned  the  Irregularities  of 
fome  Methodifis  at  the  Communion  \  I  muft 
in  Jujlice  own,  that  the  mojt  Part  of 
them  behaved  verv  fericiifly  and  devoutly, 
Some  indeed  carrying  Matters  to  an  Rx^ 
trerne,  and  into  a  Sort  of  Ecftacy  ;  fo  as 
to  be  quite  infenfible  of  the  Minifler'^ 
Tender  of  the  Bread  and  Wine^  'trll  fpo- 
ken  to,  or  pulled  by  the  Sleeve,  Which  I 
find  to  be.no  uncommon  Thing  among 
the  Pcpijl:  Enthnfia/ls,  And  we  have  au^ 
thentic  Tejlirnony  concerning  St.  Alcantaray 
Br.  Rom.  that  he  not  only  was  in  fuch  Ardour  of 
'  ^  ^^'  Spirit  himfelf,  but  induced  others  to  be 
in  a  Rapture  and  Ecjiacy  at  the  Sacra-* 
7nent,  As  to  the  Irreverence  of  pocketing 
the  Bread,  indead  of  eating  it;  —  we  read 
in  their  Books  of  Dcemonology,   and   parti- 

cularly 


(  133  ) 
cu\2ix\y  in  tht  Malleus  MaleficaniWy    "    'tis'^*'"^*  i- 
to   be   remarked,  that  Witches,    or   Sorce-^^^' 
reffeSy    when  they  Coimmmicate  have  this 
Ciijiofn,    if  they   can  do  it   without   being 
pbfervedy  to  hide  the  Body  of  the  Lord  iin^ 
der  their  Tongue ,  inftead  of  [wallowing  it ; 
w^ith  a  wicked  Purpofe,  and  to  referve  the 
Hojl  for  wicked  Vfesy      But  I  drop  the 
Comparifon  any  farther  than  as  to  the  ir- 
reverent Faoi  y    and  affure  the  Methodijisy 
that  I  would  by  no  Means  fo  much  as  in- 
finuate  a  Sufpicion  of  their  being  WitcheSy 
or  Sorcerers  3  or  employing  the  Bread  to 
bad  Ufes. 

Under  this  Head  may  not  improperly 
be  confidercd  their  undutiful  Behaviour  to 
the  Civil  Powers,  and  even  flying  in  the 
Face  of  the  Higheji  Authority  in  the  Na- 
tion, One  of  Mr.  Wejley's  Hearers  was, 
it  feems,  prejjed  for  a  Soldier  :  Upon 
which  Mr.  Wefey  breaks  out  into  this 
hideous  Outcry;  **  Ye  Learned  in  the 3  joum. 
**  Law,  What  becomes  of  Magna  ChartayV^Z-  ^^* 
"  and  of  Englij?j  Liberty  and  F roper ty  ? 
"  Are  not  thefe  meer  Sounds y  while,  on 
"  a?2y  PretencCy  there  is  fach  a  Thing  as 
''  a  Prcis-Gang  fufFered  in  the  Land?" 
Tlie  Legijlaturey  as  the  Exigencies  of  the 
Government  have  required,  lias,  at  feveral 
Times,  made  Atis  for  prefjing  Men  into 
his  Majeffs  Service.  But  no  Matter  for 
that  3  touch  but  a  Methodifly   and  imme-^ 

diately 


(  134  ) 

diately  Liberty  and  Property,  the  Church 
and  State y  the  ISJation^  All  may  perifli, 
rather  than  a  Soldier  be  preffed.  He  will 
not  allow  it,  on  any  Fretence,  He^  the 
lame  Perlbn,  who  had  before  bound  him- 
felf  with  that  repeated  Refolution,  not  to 
fpeak  a  'Tittle  of  ^worldly  Things ^  is  now 
bawling  for  Liberty  and  Property, 

§.  19.  Pafs  we  on  to  another  Cofife- 
quencey  indeed  natural  Tendency ^  of  Metho- 
difniy  and  an  Impediment  in  its  Courfe  ;  — 
their  mutual  yealoiifi<'s  and  Envyings,  their 
manifold  Divijions,  fi^rcQ  and  rancorous 
parrels y  and  Accnfations  of  one  another 
of  heinous  Crimes,  I  fay  a  natural  Ten^ 
dency 'y  becaufe  Vanity y  Confidence y  a  hot- 
headed and  intolerating  Spirit y  always  en- 
ter into  the  Conipofition  of  Enthufiafmy  and 
crciue  the  above-mentioned  hitter  EffeBs : 
—  befides  fuch  Numbers  of  ApoJlateSy  as 
they   term  it,  f-oni  them, 

Obferve  but  the  t'jrA'  Days  oi  Metho- 
d'lfm.  The  Teachers  are  fcarce  fiedgedy 
but  out  they  fiy  through  the  Air  of  To- 
pulcrity 'y  each  pluming  himfelf  upon  the 
i^iimber  oi  jiaring  Admirers  at  :his  fine 
FeatberSy  and  high  Flights. 

Hence  mutiv^[' EiPMlat ion y    E/rtj,    and 

Grudging,     Mr.    V/hitefieldy   "   I   was  not 

»  *'  without  Oppftion  from    Friends y    who 

i-  2).    .t  \\T^rQ    jealous   over    me    with   a   Godly 

''  yealot/Jj\ 


(   135.  ) 

^'  Jcaloufy.  For  I  carried  high  Sail  ; 
^'  Thoufands  and  ten  Thoufands  came  ^ 
"  hear.'* 

Excellent  Godly  Jealoufy  indeed  !  To 
oppofe  God's  Special  Work^  becaufe  Mr. 
Whitefield  got  fo  much  Glory ;  to  enter  the 
Lift  in  the  Conteft  of  Vanity,  and  preach 
for  a  Hat  and  Feather,  "  Perceived  3  Jo^\'""- 
foniething  a  little  bordering  on  Envy  to  ^^^'  ^' 
my  Brother  H ." 

Mr.  Wejley  too  "  in  his  old  Room   at 
Oxford   fits  mufing,    and  refieding,  Hovv^4journ. 
many  that  came  after   me   were  prejerred^'^'^-^^' 
before  me ;"   —  and    then    he    religioufiy 
opens  his   Teftament^  by   Way   of  Lot,  to 
find  the  Reafon, — Nor  is  it  long   e're  this 
lovely  loving  Pair  come  to  Daggers  draw- 
ing,    Mr.    JVeJley   having  heard  much  of 
Mr.    Whitefield'^   unkind    Behaviour,  fays, 
he   told  me,  "  He  and  I  preached    two     Ibid. 
"  different  Gofpels  j    that  he  would  not Join^'  ^^'  7^' 
'^  me,  or  give  m.e  the  right  Hand  of  Fcl- 
"  low/Ijip  y    but    would    publickly   preach 
*'  againft  7ne  and  my    Brother''  —  They 
adlually    write   and    publifli    againft    each 
other  i     ''    Mr.     Wef.cy    charges     White- 
field   with    ImpriidincCy    for  publifhing   at 
all,  as  putting  Weapons  into  their   Hands 
who  loved  neither  of  them  -,  —  with  pub- 
liOiing  a  7nere  Burlefque  ; —  for  making  aa 
open,  and  probably,  an  irreparable  Breach 
betweei)    tb.em,    by   a    ireachercus  JVound^ 

and 


(  136  ) 

and    bewraying  of   Secrets  J*      Hence    'tis 

well  known   they  divided,  and  formed  fe^ 

par  ate  Parties,     Mr.  Wejley^  in  his  Sermo7t 

Prasf.  and  q^^  Pj^^g  Gracc,  '*  Is  indifpenfably  obHged 

^'  ^^"'  ■   to  oppofe  the  other,  for  the  horrible  Blaf- 

phemies   of  his  horrible   DoElrine,^' —  *'  I 

"  went   to  my   Friend  ( that   was !  )  Mr. 

p.  "^"50/'  Stonehoufe  at  Ijlington\  but  found  in  him 

"  all  the  Deceiveabtenefs  of  Unrighteoujnefs, 

Pag.  63     <c  — Mr.  C told  me  plainly,  he  could 

^^  not  agree  with  me,  becaufe  I   did  not 
"  preach  the  ^ruthy 

And  here,  for  Fear  I  fhould  again  be 
accufed  "  of  laying  afide  the  New  'Tejia-- 
Rlml^rk«=  ^^^^^^>  "^ht!^  Writing  my  Famphlet,"  I  fhall 
pag.  15/  put  them  in  Mind  of  the  Apoftle's  Direc- 
tion, Let  us  not  be  defirom  oj  Fain^glory, 
provoking  one  another ^  envying  one  another. 
Gal.  V.   26. 

Again,  let  us  fee  fome  of  the  rancorous 
Contentions  between  Mr.  Wefey  and  the 
Moravians^  whom  he  defcribes  as  fome  of 
the  worft  of  Men,  both  in  Principle  and 
Practice ;  and  yet  (  fuch  is  his  Motley-- 
Mixture  of  Antipathy  and  Sy77ipathy  with 
Regard  to  them)  he  defires  an  Union  with 
them  above  all  Things  under  Heaven. 

What   Scurrility  of  Language    do   the 

Moravians  throw  out  again (l  Mr.  Wefy  ? 

3  Jonrn.    *'  The  Foundation  on   which  he  ftands  is 

P''£-  '4-    as   different   from   the    true,    as  the  right 

Hand   from   the   left  -,  and   they  have  no 

Hope 


(  137  ) 

Hope  for  him  in   this   State.      They   are4Jo"''n- 
apamed  of  his   Company:  —  They  charge ^'^^^^/^^^l 
him  with  putting  Darknefs  for  Lights  and  92,  102. 
Light  for  Darknefs  -,   preaching  falfe  Doc- 
trine  :  —  They  have  often^  heard  both  him^t 
and  his  Brother^  preach   Popery :  —  They 
are  both  Falfe  Prophets : —  Inftrudling  poor 
Souls  in  fuch  Errors,    that  they   will   be 
damned  at  laft  : — having  Eyes  full  of  Adul-- 
tery,  and   leading    unftable    Souls   in    the 
Way   of    Damnation :  —  They  are,    like 
Satan,  making   War  with    the  Saints :  — 
Mr.  Wejley  is  a  Child  of  the  Devil,  the  Ser- 
vant of  Corruption,  for  whom  the   Miji  of 
Darknefs  is  referved  for  ever.'* 

And  how  does  Mr.    Wefey  turn  their 
own  Artillery  upon  them  ? — "  Their  Doc- 4  joum. 
trine  is  a  New  Gofpel,  occafiohing  grievous  P-  35»68, 
Confufions  '.-^Iheir  Way  differs  as  much  ^o%]V\\. 
from  the  Bible  Way,  as  Light  from  Dark- 
nefs : — Other  DoBrine  than  what  we  have 

received  : They  are  tenacious  of  their 

moft  Efentially  -  erroneous  Dodfrifies  3  fo 
much  Guile  in  their  Words,  that  we  can 
fcarce  tell  what  thev  really  hold,  and 
what  not :  —  Their  Difcipline  is  as  widely 
different  from  Mr.  Wejleys,  as  the  Heavens 
are  from  the  Earth  : —  Their  Church  infal- 
lible,— no  true  Church  on  Earth  but  theirs, 
and  no  true  Chrijlians  out  of  it ;  they  re- 
quire implicit  Faith  and  Obedience,'' 

T  Prone 


(  138) 
Prone  as  thefe  Gentlemen  arc  to  Wrath, 
they  will    give   Leave,  I   hope,   to   ask   a 
S^uejlion^  or  two.     Is  this  Methodijm  ? — ^ 

Tantcene  animis  CcelejYihus  hcz  ? 
And  reign  fuch  Mortal  Fsuds  in  Heavenly  Minds  ? 

What  are  we  to  think  of  thefe  Charges 
of  Whitefield,  Wejle\\  and  the  Moravians^ 
againft  one  another  ?  Some  Perfons,  from 
a  candid  Opinion  of  their  Veracity^  might 
be  inclined  to  believe  them  all.  But  I  am 
rather  difpofed  to  inquire,  Are  thefe  Things 
fo  ?  Are  they  true  ?  Or  are  they  not  true  ? 
If  not  true^  they  are  grievous  Caliimnia'^ 
tors.  If  true^  they  are  deteflable  SeBariJts, 
Whether  true^  or  falfe^  the  Allegation 
ftands  good  of  their  Envy^  fierce  and  ran- 
corous ^iarrels,  and  mutual,  heinous  yfc^ 
cufattons. 

All  is  in  Conformity  to  the  Conduft  of 
the  feveral  Religiozis  Orders  of  the  Papacy  5 
envying,  hating  one  another,  befpattering 
one  another,  furioufly  contending  which 
is  the  beji  ;  I  mean  which  is  the  worji  : 
—  but  unanimoufly  agreed  in  Fanaticijm 
&nd  Impojliire. 

And  how  (lands  the  Matter  amon.^  their 
Difciples?  Why,  one  Tarty  fticks  to 
Wbitejieldy  whofe  another  Gcfpel  is  better 
than  Wejleys  another  Go  [pel;  a  (econd  Party 
(licks  to  JVeJIey  for  juil  as  good  a  Reafon. 

r—Some 


ourn* 


(    139    ) 

—  Some  are  fo  loft  to  GracCy  that  tliey 
renoimce  both  of  them,  leaving  Methodifm 
totally  in  the  Lurch.  —  Others  in  great 
Numbers  fall  away  to  the  Moravians  j  and 
into  dangerous  and  wichd  Tenets.  In 
general,  they  are  all  together  by  the  Ears, 
embroiled  and  broken  with  Unchrijlian 
parrels  and  Confiifions. 

Mr.  WhitefieU  fadly  laments  "  the  D/- 
vifiom  that  arofe  amongft  God's  "People  ;  — 
how  many^  who  continued  amongft  them 
for  a   while,    /;;  Time  of  Temptation  fall 

away: how  thofe,    who  v/ould  have 

plucked  out  their    Eyes^  and  given  them 
to   him.    become  his  Enemies : — how  two    , 
young   Men   in  particular,  once  Leaders  ofp.  23!' 
the  Religious  Society ^  are  fince  fallen  back  : 
and  our  Brethren^    who   have  fallen  into  p.  g,. 
Errors^  have  left  us  voluntarily/' 

The   impetuous  Mr.  Seward  complains 
of  the  impetuous    Mr.   Wathen  ;    "  whojourn, 
being  too  eager   in   teaching   others,    and^*  ^^' 
reproved  for  it,    was  influenced  by   Satan 
of  a  fudden  to  cafl  away  his  Confideftce^   as 
if  all  the  Work  of  God  in  his  Soul  had  been 
a  Deliiflon,  —  And  Mr.  B.  a  Follower  ofp.  j^, 
Mr.  Whitefieldy  was  fadly  fallen  away,  and 
oppofed  him  ;  and  many  were  off'erided." 

Mr.   Wejley  runs   more    in  this    Strain : 
his  Fourth  Jourfjal  being  moftly  taken  up 
in   enumerating   their  IVrath^    DiJJentionSy 
and  Apojlacies.  —  '^  At  Oxford^  but  a  few^  3  Jwjm. . 
T  2  ''  whoP-^4, 8^ 


C  140  ) 

"  who  had  not  forfaken  them ;  —  many,  m 
*'  whom  the  Seed  had  withered  away  :  — 

4joum.   <^  Out  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  only  two 

^■^'*  "  left,  7iot  one  continued  to  attend  daily 
*'  Prayers  I  the  i^w  072ce  imitcd  now  torn 

*'  afunder,    and  jcattered  abroad, At 

''  London,    The  poor  Brethren   at  Fetter-^ 

P.  34. 36.  '^  lane  in  great  Confiijion  3  — the  P/^^z/^  w^j 

P.  8.  ''  Spread  to  the  fo/Z?  Society,  —  Mz^  were 
"  induced  to  deny  the  Gift  of  God,  and 
"  affirm  they  never  had  any  Faith  at  all 
"  — Many   of  our   Sifter s\xt  Jhaken, — 

P.  17,  18.''  grievoufly  torn  by  Reafonings : but 

"  few  come  to  Fetter-lane  till  near  Nine 
*'  o'clock  ;  and  then,  after  their  Names 
"  are  called  over,  they  prefeittly  depart. 
''  Our  Brethren  here  have  neither  Wifdom 
"  enough  to  guide,  nor  Prudence  enough 
"  to  let  it  alone. — They  have  much  con-* 
^^  founded  fome  of  our  Sifters. — I  fuppofe 
*'  above  half  oi  our  Brethren  are  on  their 
"  Side  ;  but  they  are  fo  very  confufed,  they 
"  don't  know  how  to  go  on.  Here  I 
*'  found  every  Day  the  dreadful  Effecfls, 
*'  — fcarci  one  in  ten  retained  his  firft 
"  Love:  And  moil  of  the  reft  were  in 
''  the  utmofl  Confifion,  biting  and  devouriiig 

P.  21,  22.  ct  07ie  afiother. — Many  wholly  iinfettled,  and 
"loft  in  vain  Reafonings,  and  doubtful 
"  Difputations,  —  not  likely   to  come  to 

P-  47.  ''  any  true  Foundation.  —  I  went  to  the 
'^  Society.     But  I  found  their  Hearts  were 

quite 


(   HI   ) 

"  quite  eftranged.    K  little  Handful  of  thtm 

''  flood  in  the  old  Paths."  —  At  Briftol, 

*'  and    King/wood^  —  "  I  had    many  un- 

"  pleafing  Accounts   of  the  Little  Societyy 

"  Breaches,     Jealoujies,    Coldnefs,  —  Went 

"  to  preach  at  Kingfwood :   but  (except  a 

*'  few  from  Brijiol)  I  had  not  above  two 

^^  or  three  Men,    and    as    many   Women  \ 

"  the  fame  Number  once  or  twice  before. 

"  — Many  of  our  Brethren  had  no  Ears  to^  journ. 

'^  hear^    having   difputed  away  both  their  ^' ^2-65. 

*'  Faith  and  Love ;  —  in  conthiual  Difputes, 

"  Divijions,    and    Offences: — they    breakp  -q-. 

'*  out  afrefh ;  Meetings  of  the  Bands  cold 

"  and  uncomfortable,  —  endlejs  Strife   and 

^'  Confufwn,  Separations,  Back-bitings,  Evil- 

*'  fpeaking,    mutual   Charges   of  teaching 

*'  falje  DoBrines,  Supplanting,  Scoffings  at 

''  the  two  Wefeys  Preaching  :  —hifty-two 

"  leave   them,    and    again    about    Forty: 

"  — The  j righted  Sheep  gaze  and  fly,  as  if 

''  they  had  no  Shepherds 

What  fhall  we  fay  now  ?  Are  thefe  the 
Fruits  of  Methodijm  P  Thefe  the  EfFeds  of 
their  Sweet  Love-Feafls  ?  Thefe  the  Dear, 
Precious,  hifiocent  Lambs  ?  Thefe  the 
Partakers  of  the  New  Birth,  of  Peace,  and 
Love,  and  Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghoft  ?  Thefe 
their  boa/led  Converfions,  thefe  Candidates 
for  TerfeBion  ?  —  Their  own  Words  bear 
Witnefs  againft  thtm.-^Sorex  fuo  indicia 
per  it.     And  we  may  juftly  remind  them' 

of 


Farther 
Appeal, 
p.  132-5. 


Wefley, 
4  Journ. 
pajUm. 


(    142    ) 

of  their  own  Expreffions  ;  ''  When  the 
Reformation  began^  what  ?nountainous  Of- 
jences  lay  in  the  Way  ?  Such  Failings 
in  thofe  two  great  Men,  Luther  and 
Calvin  !  [  Wejl.ey  and  Whitefield  ]  Their 
vehement  Tenacioufnefs  of  their  own 
Opinions  ;  their  Bitter?iefs  toward  all  who 
differed  from  them  5  their  Impatience  of 
Contradidion,  and  utter  Want  of  For- 
bearance even  with  their  own  Brethren'' 

This  IS  bad  enough  :    but  'tis  not   the 

nioorjl.     For  confider  what  becomes  of  thofc 

that  leave  them-,    among  whom  fo    many 

of  their  Defer ters  lift  ;  and  into  what  Sort 

of  Difcipline   and    Principles  they   enter  : 

nothing  lefs  than  *'  into  a  New  GofpeL'" — 

'  Three  of  our  Chriflian  Brethren  driven 

'  by  Satan  to  deny  Chrijl's  vifible  Church 

'  on   Earth.  —  Multitudes  to  embrace  a 

'  falfe  unfcriptural  Stibiefsy  cealing  from 

'  outward  Worh^  and  all  Means  of  Grace  ; 

'  all  fuch  Ordinances  as  running  to  Church 

^  and     Sacrament^      Prayer    Public    and 

'-  Private^  reading  the  Scriptures: — and 

'  further,  to  make  a  mere  Jeft  of  going 

*  to  Churchy  Sacrament^    Sec.  - —  a  geiteral 

'  Temptation  prevailing  to  leave  off  Good 

'  Works ^  in  order  to  iccreafe  their  Faith  ; 

'  —  to  cry  out,    no  Works,  no  Law,  no 

'  Commandments:  —  to  throw  av/ay  the 

'  Bible^    and   fay,    I  will   never  read,   or 

^  pray  more  :  —  the  Trayers  of  the  Church 

"  are 


(   H3  ) 

*'  are  full  of  ho?'rid  Lies, — I  was  with  one,  4  Joum, 
''  who  told  me,— that  God  had  told  herP'^''- 
''  not  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Sufpe?'  any 
**  more,    fince   fhe  fed    upon  Cbrifi  con- 

''  tinually." ''  At    the   Nottingham-^^  ^7. 

*'  Society,  the  Room  not  half  full,  which 
'^  ufed  to  be  crowded  :  —  not  one  Perfon 
'*  who  came  in  ufed  any  Grayer  at  all  ; 
''  but  every  one  began  either  talking  to 
**  his  Neighbour,  or  looking  about  him : 
*'  when  I  began  to  pray,  there  was  ^ 
*'  general  Surprize,  none  once  offering  to 
**  kneel,  but  all  ftanding  in  the  mojl  eafy 
"  and  indolent  Foflure,  I  afterwards  look- 
'*  ed  for  one  of  our  Hymn-Books,  upon 
''  the  Dejk: — but  both  that,  and  the 
**  Bible,  were  vanified  away.  And  in  the 
*^  Room  lay.  The  Moravian  Hyjnns^  and 
"  th^  Count's  Sermons,''  [i.e.  Count  Zin^ 
"  zendorf,  the  Moravians  Bifl:)op,'] — One 
Thing  laid  to  the  Charge  of  the  Moravians 
is  as  follows ;  "  Some  of  our  Englijh  Bre*?.  106. 
*'  tbren,  who  are  joined  with  you?^s,  have 
'*  faid  openly,  you  will  never  have  Faith^ 
**  till  you  leave  off  running  about  to  Churchy 
*^  and  Sacraments,  and  Societies,  Another 
"  of  them  has  faid,  in  his  Tublic  Ex^ 
'^  pounding,  as  many  go  to  Hell  by  Fraying 
*'  as  by  Thieving,  Another,  I  knew  one, 
"  who  leaning  over  the  Back  of  a  Chair, 
'*  received  a  great  Gift.  But  he  muft 
"  kneel  dov:n  to  give  Gods  Thanks*     So  he 

loft 


(  144  ) 

''  loft  it  immediately  :    and  I  know  not 

whether   he    will    ever   have   it   again. 

And  yet  another;  you   have  loft  your 

'^  fi^fi  Joy  'y  therefore  you  pray  :    That  is 

the  DeviL     You  read  the  Bible  :    That 

is  the  Devil,     You  Communicate  :   That 

is  the  Dm/." 

Thefe   are  fome  (  for   I  could  produce 

many  more)  of  the  Moravian  Te?iets,     And 

what  can  be  more  grating  to  a  Chriflian 

Ear^    or   more    ftiocking    to    the   Mind? 

What  more   Impious^    than  to   pronounce 

all    the  Ordinances    oj    Religion^    Prayers, 

Thankfgivings,    Sacraments,     reading   the 

Bible^  &c.  to  be  Diabolical  Terformances  ? 

One  would   imagine  they   really  believed 

the  Dreams  of  thofe  Popijh  Fanatics^  who 

tell  us,  that  the  Devil  has  fometimes  fub- 

Mengi      mitted  to  thefe  Ordinances ;    that  he  has 

p^l'^^^'^^'even  perfwaded  People  to  go  to  Mafs  and 

ConfeJJiony  —  has    been  found   out  finging 

p.  86:   '  ^t  Mafs  among  the  Monks:, and  (as 

Madam  Bourignon  relates)  that  the  Devil^ 

,  °g*    ^^'  concealed  in  the  Shape  of  a  Monk^  preached 

p.  ii;.     a  moft  excellent  Sermon   on    the   ^oys    of 

Heaven^  and  'Torments  oj  Hell.     But  being 

difcovered  before  he  went  off,  and  afked 

the  Reafon  of  his  Preaching  jo  welly  gave 

this  Reafon  ;  that  he  was  fure  the  Auditors 

would  not  be  perfwaded  by  it,  and  fo  would 

-\       more  efFedtually  be  damned, 

Mr. 


(  H5  ) 

Mr.  IVeJley  will  probably  fay,  What  is 
all  this  to  me  ?  Muft  I  be  anfwerable  for 
the  Moravians^  againft  whom  I  have  fo 
often,  and  zealoully,  preached  and  written? 
And  this  Plea  is  true  in  a  great  Meafure ; 
efpecially  fince  he  and  the  Moravians 
quarrelled.  But,  Who  at  the  fame  Time 
gives  the  Moravians  a  Box  on  the  Ear 
with  one  Hand,  and  embraceth  them  with 
the  other  ?  Who  firft  brought  over  this 
wicked  Generation,  and  encouraged  them 
afterwards  ?  Who  made  a  Moravian  his 
own  Spiritual  Guide  and  Confejjor  ?  Who 
fo  highly  commended  them  among  his 
own  Followers?  Who  fo  Fanaticized  his 
own  Followers,  and  gave  them  fo  many 
and  ftrong  Dofes  of  the  Enthufiajlic 
TinBure,  as  turned  their  Brains^  and  de- 
prived them  of  their  Senfes  ?  Whofe  Soci-- 
eties  and  Congregations  (by  his  own  Confeffi- 
on)  run  over  in  Shoals  to  Moravianifm,  forty 
or  fifty  at  a  Time  P  And  would  they  have 
fplit  upon  this  Rock,  if  they  had  not  been 
firft  Methodijis?  Who  is  it,  that  wonders 
why  himfelf  doth  not  join  them  3  and  can 
then  be  in  the  leaft  furpri.zed  at  his  Dif- 
a/Z^i  joining  them  ?  Where,  laftly,  is  the 
Spawn  of  Meravianifm  fo  ftrongly  working, 
as  in  the  Children  of  Methodijm  ? 

§.20.  Enthujiafm  being  a  ^h'mg  by  no 

Means   inconfiflent    with    Immorality,    and 

U  frequently 


(  h6  ) 

frequently  the  immediate  Caufe  of  it ;  we 
may  mention  as  another  Effedl  of  Me-- 
thodifm^  its  Te?idency  to  undermine  Morali- 
ty and  Good  Works ;  and  that  fome  of  its 
DoBrijies  give  Encouragement  to  Im7norality 
and  Vice.  Whether  this  be  any  Impedi- 
ment to  Methodifm,  I  don'c  determine  ;  but 
'tis  evidently  an  Impediment  to  true  Religion 
and  Virtue, 

It  would  be  thrufting  my  Sickle  too 
much  into  another  Man's  Harveft,  and 
doing  what  has  been  done  better  already 
by  abler  Hands,  to  ihew  what  an  ill  Afped: 
and  Influence  fome  of  their  Peculiarities 
and  Tenets  have  'upon  virtuous  Pra5lice, — 
Such  as  thofe  fudden  and  injlantaneous  Calls 
and  Converjions,  which  the  Methodijls  arc 
trained  up  to  expedl,  and  wait  for  in 
C^ietnefs;  whence  they  are  naturally  led 
to  negled:  the  Means  of  Salvation^  all 
gradual  Improvement,  and  Growing  in 
Grace:  —  The  prefumptuous  Dodtrine  of 
Ajjiirances  of  Pardon  and  Salvation,  prefent 
and  future ;  a  ftrong  Imagination  and  fup- 
pofed  Feeling  of  which  v^ill  fill  the  Head 
•with  fpif^itual  Pride  ;  and  induce  a  falfe 
and  fatal  Security ^  to  the  Negled  of  future 
Endeavours. —  Lnpulfes,  Impreffions^  fancied 
Infpiration  and  Revelations:  which  being 
made  the  Rule  of  Duty,  will  make  them  as 
confident  in  wrong  Pradlice,  as  in  right -^ 
and  prefamed  upon,  as  certainly  coming  from 

Heaven^ 


{H7) 

Heaven^  will  of  Courfe  lead  them  into 
dangerous  Errors  of  Jadgn^iCnt  and  Be- 
haviour. —  That  Sumfjijf  of  ArTogayice^  a 
Claim  of  unfmning  'PerfeBion^  and  abfolute 
Freedom  from  Corruption  j  which  is  the 
'Frivelege  of  our  Redeemer  alone  -,  and  from 
which  I  may  fafely  affirm  the  Methodifls 
are  at  a  wide  Diftance  :  whence  thofe  warm 
'Heads  which  in  Imagination  have  attained 
it,  or  are  juft  laying  hold  of  it,  will  arrive 
only  to  the  moft  Enthufiaftic  Phrenfies ; 
and  thofe  of  a  lefs  fanguine  Spirit,  will  be 
tempted  to  give  over  the  Purfuit^  become 
defperate,  or  turn  Libertines. — 

To  which  may  be  added,  —  that  the 
Followers^  perfwaded  that  their  Teachers 
fpeak  from  God^  and  are  immediately  fent 
upon  bis  Worky  will  find  little  Inclination 
to  difpute  any  of  their  Do^rines^  or  boggle 
at  their  Rx ample s^  how  immoral  or  iin-- 
fcriptural  foever.  The  Mountebank' s  lu" 
jallibie  Prefcriptions  muft  be  fwallowed, 
whatever  be  the  Confequence,  though  they 
dye  for  it.  Let  us  fee  if  there  be  no 
Danger.  Tht  Moravian  Mifhodijis  ftand 
confejiedly  guilty,  beyond  all  Meafure  and 
Modefly^  of  trampling  down  Morality  ; 
teaching  jufjfication  by  Faith  alone^  not 
only  to  the  Exchfion,  but  Condemnation^ 
oi  Good  JVorks',  and  Multitudes  of  the 
IVefteyans  have  been  infeded  with  the 
Plague, 

U  ^  Mr: 


(  148  ) 

Ml'.    Wejley   often   accufeth   the    Mora- 

4  Journ.   i^ians    "  of    ufing   Giiile^    and   defending 

^'z^^^^o^thQ  Lawfulnefe  of  it^    of  teaching,   720t  to 

do   temporal  Good,    nor  to  attempt  doing 

fpiritual  Good-,  —  as  not  likely  to  come  to 

any   true   Foundation ;  —  grounded    on    a 

Faith  which  is  W/fo^// ^^r/(^j  ;-*-of  faying, 

that  good  Works  are  the  greate/i  Hindrance 

of  coming  to  Chriji-,  —  and  that,  till  thefe 

Works  are  laid  afide,  no  Man  can  receive 

Faithr 

Among  the  Societies  of  Methodifts,  he 
"P- 39»  40' finds  ''  a  general  Temptation  prevail  of 
"  leaving  off  good  Works ', — the  poor,  con- 
*^  fufed,  {hattered  Society  had  erred  from 
"  the  Faith  ;  —  a  Woman  of  Deptfordy 
^'  fent  (as  (he  faid)  from  God,  fpoke  great 
*'  Words,  and  true  ^  —  (he  ordered  Mr. 
^^  Humphreys  to  leave  off  doing  Good.'' 

But  Mr.  Wejley  will  fay,  ''  do  not  the 
Methodift  Teachers  preach  and  inculcate  the 
Doftrine  of  good  Works}  Have  not  I 
in  particular  oppofed  the  Moravians,  and 
warmly  controverted  this  Point?  Did 
not  I  explain  St.  JameSy  the  great  An- 
tidote againft  this  Poifon  ?  Did  I  not  call 
the  Order  to  leave  off  good  Works  a  S?iare 
of  the  Devil  ?  Do  not  I  fay,  concerning 
the  Moravian  DoBri?h\  of  Faith  being 
the  only  Commandment,  that  'tis  a  palpable 
Contr^didion  to  the  whole  Tenor  of  the 

Nem 


(  H9  ) 

New   ^eftamenfy    and  a  fiamelefs  Affirma-- 
tion?  &c.'* 

All  this  I  allow  to  be  true :    and  that 
you  had  your  Reqfo?2S  for  laying  about  you, 
and  being  feemingly  in  earneft  againft  the 
Moravians^    who    have    taken    fo    much 
Pains  to  rob  you  of  your  Authority^  your 
Reputation^   and  your  Difcipks,     But  give 
me  Leave  to  (hew  your  Inconfiflency  in  the 
Cafe  J    and  how  often  you  have  thrown 
cold  Water  upon  the  Duty  of  good  Works ; 
and  in  Quantities  fufficient  to  damp  your 
Followers  Zeal  for  them ;   by  Sentiments, 
and  Expreffions  of  a  ftrong  Tendency  ta 
debafe  their  Value^  and  difcourage  :he  Per-- 
jormance.     What  think  we  of  thefe  Words 
of  Mr.  Wejley  ?  "  One  indeed  in  the  Faith  3  joum, 
*'  — no  longer  judges  Holinefs  to  be  anP'^°- 
*'  outward   Thing  :    to  confift   either   in    ^'\ 
"  doing  no  Harniy  in  doing  Gcod^  or  ufing 
"  the  Ordinances  of  God/'     What  think 
we    of    his   throwing  in    thofe  qualifying 
Expreffions?   "  The  doing  Good,  as  'tisp.sz. 
*'  called,    i.  e.    the   ufing   the   Means    of 
"  Grace,  and  helping  our  Neighbour; — 4  Journ. 
"  what  is  called  3.  virtuous  Life. — Doing  Pj^^i^' ^^, 
'^  Good,    or,  ufing   the  Means  of  Grace,  com 
*'  in    Works   of    Piety    fo    called^    or   of  P'  ^' 
"  Charity.''     Doth    not   all  this  tend  to 
difparage  and  depreciate  good  Works,  and 
to  flacken  tlie  Obligation  to  Performance 
of  them  ? 

As 


mt. 


(   I50  ) 
As    to    the   ^eftioriy    whether   we   are 
juftified  and  faved  by  Faith  07ily\    or  by 

1  Dealing,  i^^/^^  (^nd  JVorks  ;  —  ''  Mr.  Whitejield  de- 
P-  5^-  dares  for  being  juflified  by  Faith  only ; 
SeeWefl.  which  was  the  more  extraordinary^  fays  he, 
4  Journ.  becaufe  my  Friends  at  Oxford  had  rather 
P-4^-      inclined  to    the    Myftic   Divinity r     [Ob- 

ferve  by  the  Way,  though  this  Myfiic 
Divinity  was  once  the  Methodifts  DoBrine  ; 

2  Journ.  yet,  fays  Mr.  Wef^ey,  ''  I  declare  in  my 
p.  26,  27.  <^  cool  Judgment,  and  in  the  Prefence  of 

"  the  moft  High  God,  that  I  believe  the 
*'  Myflic  Writers  to  be  one  Great  Anti^ 
"  chrijir  So  that  the  Mcihcdifts,  by 
their  own  Confeffion,  were  at  iirfl:  a  Fart 
of  the  great  Afitichrijt.  ] 

And  however  Mr.  Wejley  rnay  have  ex- 
plained St.  James ^  as  the  great  Antidote 
againft  omitting  good  Works ;  I  don't  find 
that  either  /v,  or  Mr.  Whitejield^  have 
ever  cited  thofe  exprefs  Paffiges  (Chap.  ii. 
14,  24.)  "  What  doth  it  profit,  though 
'^  a  Man  fay  he  hath  Faith,  and  have 
"  not  Works?  Can  Faith  fave  him?  Ye 
*^  fee  then,  how  that  by  Works  a  Man  is 
*'  j^ft^fi^^-*  ^^"^dnot  by  Faith  ojtly.'' 

If  they  have  nny  where  cited  thefe  Faf- 

fages,    they  have  only  confuted  thefnfelves, 

4 Journ.    For  Mr.   'WeJley  affirms,    that   ''the  Con- 

?•  "7-       <^  difion  of  our  Juftification  h  Faith  alone,  and 

3  Journ.  «  mt  Good  JVorks :  That  the  mofi  deJiruBive 
P*75-      ic  of  all  thofe  Errors,    which   Rome,    the 

Mothev 


(  15^  ) 

''  Mother  of  Abominations,  hath  brought 
''  forth  (compared  to  which,  Tranfub- 
''  Jiantiation,  and  a  hundred  more,  are 
"  Trifles  light  as  Air )  is,  that  we  are 
"  Jujiifled  by  Works,  or  ( to  exprefs  the 
'«  Thing  a  Httk  more  decently)  by  Faith 
*^  ^W  Works." 

Upon  which  Words  give  me  Leave  to 
make  a  Remark,  Mr.  Wefley  hath  told 
us,  that  ''  the  Metkodifls,  ( and  himfelf\  Journ. 
among  them)  had  wandered  mariy  Tears  "^^^^ '^^• 
m  the  new  Path,  of  Salvation  by  Faith 
and  Works ;  before  God  {hewed  them  the 
old  Way,  of  Salvation  by  Faith  only'\ 
Whence  we  may  obferve,  that  during 
many  Tears  of  their  Methodijiical  State^ 
(which  was  the  Time  too  of  their  higheji 
Glory  and  Popularity)  they  were  feducing 
their  Difaples,  according  to  their  own  Coii- 
fejjion,  into  the  moji  DcftruBive  Errors  ; 
Errors,  compared  to  which  all  the  mofl 
wicked  and  Idolatrous  Parts  of  Popery  are 
Trifles  light  as  Air. 

Champion  Wbitefield  boldly  throws  down 
his    Gantlet,    ''  who  dares  affert   that   we  3  joam.  --f 
"  are   not   Juftified    merely  by   an   AB   of^^g-  2. 
**  Faith, —  without  a?iy  Regard  to  Works 
"  paft,    prefent,   or   to  come  ?'*      But,     I  j 
apprehend,    it  requires  no  high  Degree  of  ; 
Courage  to  alTert   it,    after  fuch  Authority 
as  that  of  St.  James, 

Again, 


(    ^52    ) 

Again,  concerning  the  nice  Dijlinciion 
of  the  Metbodijls  m  doing  good  Works,  but 
not  trujling  in  them  5  —  Mr.  Wejley  men- 
tions *^  a  Conte?nplati've  Man,  whofc  In- 
ftrufirions  he  received  as  the  Words  of  God; 
but,  fays  he,  I  cannot  hut  720W  obferve, 
that  he  fpoke  fo  incautioiijly  ao^ai nil:  iriifling 
m  outward  Works,  that  he  dijcouraged  me 
from  doing  the?n  at  all.''  And  have  he,  or 
his  Friends^  much  mended  the  Matter? 
I  Dealing,  cc  When  Mr.  Whitefield  had  refolved  to 
^^'  ^^'  leave  off  Forms,  Public  WorJJnp,  and  other 
fforks ;  Mr.  IVeJley  advifed  him  to  re- 
fume  all  his  Externals,  tho'  not  to  depend 
on  them  in  the  leaft. ''  —  When  the  Mo- 
t avian  Brethren  fay,  "  'tis  impojjible  to  ufe 
the  Means  of  Grace  (  as  Church,  Com- 
munion, Prayer,  Scripture,  &c,)  without 
trujiing  in  them ; — and  if  a  Man  doth  not 
friijt  in  them,  why,  doth  he  do  them  ? 
p.  {o^zi,  Mr.  Wejley  only  contends  that  'tis  poffible 
iQ^.  \o  life  them,  without  trufing  in  them.'' 
And  now,  are  not  fuch  dijpcjragi?tg  Ex- 
preffions  (not  to  truft  in  them  in  the  leaf, 
a  7nere  To/flbility  of  ufing  them  without 
trujiing  in  them)  a  ereat  Difcouragement 
to  the  PraBice?  The  plain  Truth  is, 
we  cannot  truft  in  good  Works,  nor  yet  in 
Faith,  as  the  meritorious  Caufc  of  our  Jufti- 
fication  and  Salvation  :  The  Sacrifice  of 
Cbrifi  alone  is  fuch  :  But  we  muft  fo  far 
truft  in  both;    as  the  necejjdry  Terms  arid 

Conditions; 


(  153  ) 

c^onditions ',  without  which  we  cannot  be 
faved.  And  when  our  Church  aflerts  our 
being  jujlijied  or  faved  by  Faith  alone^  as 
diftinguifhed  from  the  Works  of  the  Law^ 
or  mere  moral  Righteoufnefs ;  it  means 
fuch  a  Faith,  as  worketh  by  Love  j  Faith 
including  good  Works,  or  in  conjundtion  with 
them.  When  St.  Paul  Hkewife  teacheth 
Juftijication  by  Faith  only,  and  not  by  Works -y 
'tis  manifeft  that  he  means  the  Works  of 
the  Mofaic  Law,  and  not  the  Works  of 
moral  Duties,  ox  virtuous  ABions,  "  The,j,j^^^j^ 
"  Works  of  the  Law  are  indeed  fometimes  Lea. 
"  named  only  Works,  But  the  whole  P- '^4 
"  Tenor  of  the  Epifile,  (to  the  Romans) 
"  and  thcContext,  always  {hews  thoft Works 
^'  to  be  the  Works  of  the  Mofaic  Law. 
*'  Nay,  thofe  Works  are  not  only  diflinguifh" 
*'  edfrom  the  Evangelical,  which  are  called 
*'  Good  Works ;  but  they  are  exprefsly  op^ 
"  pofed  to  them,  as  Wrong  to  Right  :— 
"  as  particularly,  Ephef  ii.  9,  10.  Not  of 
«'  Works,  [thefe  are  the  Works  of  the  Law] 
"  leaf  any  Man  flmildboafi.  For  we  are 
"  created  in  Chrift  Jefus  unto  Good  Works. 
<'  —  [Thefe  are  the  Works  of  the  Gofpel]'' 
I  have  this  from  Dr.  Heylin-,  who  adds, 
*^  I  have  judged  it  necefiary  to  take  Notice 
"  of  an  Error,  which  has  been  mif- 
^'  chievoufly  fpread,  and  incautioufly  ad^ 
"  mitted,  that  the  Works  of  the  Law,  and 
^^  good  Works,  are  the  fame."— 

X  What 


(  154  ) 
What  is  otherwife  Matter  of  Contro- 
verfy,  feems  to  me  either  wrangling  about 
Words^  or  paving  the  Way  to  dangerous 
Delufiofts.  In  the  mean  Time,  'tis  fome- 
thing  ftrange  ( if  among  Methodijis  and 
Papijis  any.thing  can  be  ftrange)  that  after 
fo  many  and  unanfwerable  WriWigs  of  our 
Divines  againfi:  the  Merit  of  good  Works, 
we  fliould  be  charged  with  fetting  too  high 
a  Value  upon  them ;  and  that  the  Me- 
thodijis^ who,  in  Agreement  with  PapiJls^ 
talk  of  arriving  at  PerfcBion^  and  an  un- 
jmning  State,  ilionid  fo  undervalue  and 
di [par age  them:  —  unlels  they  mean  a 
Perfe^ion  dejiifute  of  good  Works, 

We  might  produce  various  Jnflances  of 
Entkifi^/fts  among  Papijts^  &c.  fuch  as 
thofe  Mendicajit  Fryers  the  Fratricelli^  the 
Ahmibradd' s  or  Illiiminati  of  Spain  -,  who 
were,  fiiff  Maintainers  of  Pcrfeclion\  in 
which  Situation  they  were  above  Ordinances 
of  Church  or  State^  above  the  Exercife  of 
moral  Virtues  :  looked  on  natural  Inclina- 
tions as  indifferent  Things ;  and  fo  deemed 
unclean  Mixtures  as  no  Sins,  'Tis  to  be 
hoped  not  many  of  our  Methodifts  will  be 
carried  to  thefe  Lengths.  But  they  may 
be  pot  in  Mind  of  Bifhop  Stillingjieef^ 
"  Vof?  ^^^"^^^5  *^  'Tis  an  eafy  Way  of  Salvation, 
A  p-  5^/57-  "  ^^  ^'^  more  were  required  to  Mt:n's  Hap- 
*^'  pinefs  but  a  Fancy  and  ftrong  Opinion^ 
"  which  they  will  eafily  call  Believing,^ — 

'\  Such 


""*  Such  as  make  ?20  other  Condition  of  the 
"  Gofpel  but  Believing,  and  will  fcarce 
''  allow  that  to  be  called  a  Condition,  ought 
"  to  have  a  great  Care  to  keep  their  Hearts 
"  founder  than  their  iJ^^^j  :  for  their  only 
"  Security  will  he  in  this,  that  they  are 
''  good,  though  they  fee  no  Necejjity  of 
'^  being  fo.  And  fuch  of  all  others,  I 
"  grant,  have  Reafon  to  acknowledge  the 
"  Irrefijlable  Power  of  Divine  Grace, 
'^  which  enables  them  to  obey  the  Will 
''  of  Gc?^/againft  the  Dilates  of  their  own 
"  Judg7nents''  There  may  be  Reafon  for 
fome  fuch  Caution-,  when,  befides  the 
Peculiarities  in  the  Methodifls  Notion  of 
Fchith,  they  talk  with  fuch  Contempt  of 
''  your  Workers,  and  good  Livers  3"  while 
they  have  good  Hopes  of  Perfons  of  a  pro- 
feJJ'edly  wicked  and  debauched  Life,  They 
have  told  us,  ''  how  apt  the  Devil  is  to 
drive  Men  into  Extremes -,'"  they  know 
from  Nature  and  Experience  that  one  Ex- 
treme begets  another:,  and  thence  infer, 
that,  one  Time  or  other,  immoderate  Vi^ 
cioufnefs  will  rebound  into  their  Enthujiajlic 
Madnefs, 

To  proceed.  Without  infifting,  as  an 
Encouragement  to  Sin,  on  Mr.  Wefeys 
Deicriptlon  of  ''  the  State  of  thofe  who^/^'^^"'''^^^ 
liave  horgivenefs  of  Sins,  but  7iot  a  clean 
Heart,  even  a  Heart  dejperatcly  wicked  '^■- — 
yet  need  not  doubt,  or  fear  : ''  - —  Let  me 
X  2  infert 


(  156) 
infert  here  a  pretty  remarkable  Paflage  of 
his ;  which,  though  perhaps  not  any  Ob^ 
jlriidllon  to  Methodifm^  is  evidently  fo  to 
Religion^  and  a  good  Life :  "I  heard  a 
p-  78r79-"  Sermon^  wherein  it  was  allerted,  that 
"  our  Repentance  was  not  Sincere,  but 
"  Feigned  and  Hypocritical,  i/?,  Ifwere- 
"  lapfed  into  Sin  foon  after  repenting : 
"  Elpecially  if,  2^/y',  we  did  not  avoid  all 
"  Or<:^/fc;;i  of  Sin  •,  or  if,  3^/v,  "wq  relapfed 
"  frequently  ;  and  moft  of  all,  if,  A^thly^  our 
"  Hearts  were  hardened  thereby/'  One 
would  think  this  no  bad  Divinity  :  but 
it  feems  not  a  Word  of  it  is  true.  For  he 
adds,  '*  O  what  a  Hyproc?'ite  have  I  been 
"  (if  this  be  fo)  for  near  "Twice  Ten  Tears  ! 
^'  but  I  know  it  is  not  fo."  He  is  at 
Liberty  to  fpeak  for  himfelfy  but,  I  appre- 
hend, has  no  Authority  to  include  every 
one  ;  notwithftahding  his  Pofitivenefs.  "  I 
"  know  every  one  under  the  haw  is  even  as 
"  I  was.  Every  one  when  he  begins  to 
*'  fee  his  fallen  State,  and  to  feel  the 
'*  Wrath  of  God  abiding  on  him,  relapfes 
"  into  the  Sin  that  moft  eaiily  befets  him> 
"  foon  after  repenting  of  it.  Sometimes 
*'  he  avoids,  and  at  }?2any  other  Times 
**  cannot  perfwade  himfelf  to  avoid  the 
*^  Occapom  of  it.  Hence  his  Relapfes  are 
**  frequent^  and  of  Cunfequence  his  Heart 
"  is  hardened  more  and  niore.  And  yet 
"  all   this   Time   he  is  Sincerely  ftriving 

againft 


(  157  ) 

'*  againft  Sin  . Nor  can  he,   with  all 

^'  his  Sincerity^  avoid  any  one  of  thef© 
''  four  Marks  of  Hxpocrify  •  "till  being 
"  Jujlified  by  Faith,  kc^ 

Strange   Account   of  the  Progrefs   into 
Method fm,     and    its   peculiar   Notions    of 
Faith,  &:c  !  —  Strange  Agreement  and  Con-- 
fifteiicy  of  Sincerity  with  relapiing  Joon,  re- 
iapfing  freqiie?2tly,  not  avoiding  the  Occa-^ 
fions  cf  Sin,  and  with  hardening  the  Heart 
tnore  and  more:   all  without  any  Danger 
of  Hypocrify  I    Near  Twice  Ten  Tears  !  (and 
God  knows   many   more  our  Cafiiiji  may 
grant)  a  fair  Allowance  for  continuing  in 
this  Sincere,  hardened  State  I    All  necefjary 
and  unavoidable !    Thofe  Gentle  ConfeJJors 
the  Jefuits  could  fcarce  have  granted  Sal- 
vation upon  eafier  Terms.     Have  no  Doubt 
or  Fear,  ye  Methodifls,  though  for  fuch  a 
Length  of  Years  ye  have  an  evil  and  uncle  a7i 
Heart,     Remember  your  Teacher's  Words, 
*'  Was  there  ever  fo  pleajing  a  Scheme?^* 
Pleafing  indeed,  thus  to  be  going  into  Per- 
feCfion,  thus  to  be  Afjured  of  Salvation  I 

Hear  again  a  more  particular  hijlance^ 
with  Refpecl  to  the  Holy  Communion.  "  No^]Qum, 
previous  't reparation,  fays  Mr.  Wejley,  nov-"^^*^' 
Fttnefs  is  required  at  the  Ti?ne  of  Commufii- 
eating,  but  a  Senfe  of  our  State,  of  our 
utter  Sinfulnefs  and  Helplefnefs  :  Every 
one  who  knows  he  is  fit  for  Hell,  being 
juft   lit  to  come   to    Cbrif,    in   this   and 

all 


(  158  ) 

all  other  Ways  of  his  Appointment.'* 
What  a  pleajing^  and  yet  how  Incomparable 
a  Coviment  is  this  upon  St.  Faid'^  Direction 
for  a  Man  to  examine  himfelf  in  order  to 
receive  worthily :  and  not  to  receive  tin- 
wort  hi  ly,  which  is  eating  a?id  drinking 
Dam72ation  to  himfelf!  But  hold  :  let  us 
hear  Mr.  Wefeys  Reafon  againfl  any  Pre- 
paration :  *'  Becaufe  we  come  to  his 
*'  Table,  not  to  give  him  any  Thing,  but 
*'  to  receive  whatever  he  pleafes  to  give." 
A  moft  excellent  Illuf  ration  by  this  fri5l 
Churchma?!  of  the  Words  in  our  Communion- 
Service^  "  Here  we  offer  and  prefent  unto 
"  Thee^  O  Lord,  ourfelves,  our  Souls  and 
"  Bodies,  to  be  a  reafonable,  holy^  and 
"  lively  Sacrifice  unto  Thee  !  '' 

Surely  this  may  juflly  be  compared  with 
that  Popijlj  Dodlrine^  that  the  Efficacy   of 
the  Sacrament  is  produced,  as  it  v>^ere,  by  a 
Charm y    ex  opere  operatOy    i.  e.    from   the 
mere  doing  of  the  Work^  without  any  Re- 
gard to   the   Fitnefs  of  the  Receiver.      It 
perfectly  accords   with  that  of  their  bold 
Champion  Gregory  de  Valentia^  who  affirms, 
Vol.  IV.  |.}^^^  <c  Contrition    fa  Sorrow    for  Sin  pro- 
ceeding  from   the   Love   of  God)    is    not 
neceffary  towards   receiving  the  Benefit  of 
the  Sacraments  :    but  rather  hinders  it  j  and 
that  it  would  be  abfurd  to  require  it." — 
De  Pa:nit.  And  that  of  Morinus,  "  That  the  Excel- 
lib.  8.      lence  and  Prerogative  of  the  EvanQ-ellcal 

cap.  4.  o  n 

BO.  26.  Sacramento 


(  159  ) 

Sacraments  above  the  Legal  (hines  out  prin-  ^ 

cipally  in  this,  that  the  Evangelical  have 
delivered  us  from  the  mojl  grievous  Yoke 
of  Contrition  and  the  hove  of  God y     Oh  ! 
How   good   a  Thing    is   the   Concord    of 
Brethren  ? 

Again.     Mr.  Wejley  has  taught  us,  that 
Infirmities  are  no  Sins,    An  Aflertion  fome- 
thing  ftrange  from  one  w^ho  hath  fo  ftrongly 
affirmed,    "  that  our  whole  Heart  is  alto-  *  J^*"^"* 
gether  corrupt  and  abominable,  and  con- 
fequently  our  whole  Life :  —  all  oiir  Works^  3  Joum. 
the  moft  fpecious  of  them,  our  Righteouf-^'  ^°'7o- 
nefs,  'our   Prayers,    needing  an  Atonement 
themfelves :  —  all  our  Works  and  Tempers  ^  Jcwrn, 
evil  continually — /'     But  my  Obje(ftion  toP*^^* 
it  is,  that  'tis  a  Loop-hole  to  creep  out   of 
every  Moral  and  Religious  Obligation,     By 
Means    of    this  Dodrine    Mr.   V/hitefield 
eafily  got  rid  of  his  Word  and  Promife  ; 
'-'  He   faid,    That   Promife   was   only    cin^f^^* 
Effect  of  human  Weaknefs-,  and  he  was  now  p.  77.^"* 
oi  another  MiitdJ' 

The  fame  Excuje  will  ferve  on  all  Oc- 
cafions ;  efpecially  in  Sins  which  more 
eafily  befet  this  Se5l^  not  very  remarkable 
for  the  Gift  of  Chafiity.  Their  Famous 
Methodifi-Tecicher  at  Salifi)ury  ( whom  I 
mentioned  before.  Parti.  Page  71.)  was  in- 
deed above  making  this  paltry  Excufc,  above 
the  fneaking  SubmiJJion  of  Remorfe  and 
Repentance^  for  his  Adulierics,     Being   de^ 

te^ed. 


(   i6o  ) 
iedied^  \it  preached  publickly  in  Defence  of 
Plurality  of  Wo77ieny  under  the  Name  of 
Wives,  And  inftead  of  taking  aSA^;;?^  to  him- 
felf,  hath  in  a  Shmnelefs  Manner  Printed 
and  Pnblifjcd  his  Infamous   fiijlification  of 
Bigamy :     Which    Treafife    ( fuch    is   his 
Modefiy)  he  difperfeth  about,   to   my   cer- 
tain  Knowledge,     with  his  oisjii  Hand, — 
A  Treatife,  not  putting  in  any  Decent  Plea 
for  the  Lawfulnejs  of  having  a  Multiplicity 
cf  IVojnen  ;    but  audacioufly   Condemning 
the  Defenders  of  the  Alatj-irnonial  ContraB 
between  o?2e  and  G?ie^  as  ^'  weak  and  wicked 
Men,  Tray  tors  to  God^  guilty  of  egregious 
Folly  and  Falfliood, — of  a  Religious  Mad- 
nefs,  —  the   mofi  horrible  Delufion  that  the 
Devil  aJid  his  Emifaries  can  propagate, ' ' 

At  this  Rate,  if  this  New  Breviary  fe^ 
cundum  ufuni  Sarum  fhould  get  Ground, 
the  Methodift  -  'Teachers  may  foon  be  as 
generally  Scandalous^  as  they  have  wifldcd^ 
and  prayed.  We  fliall  hence  conceive  no 
very  favourable  Opinion  of  their  Love-, 
Feajis,  and  Nociurnal  Meeti77gs :  We  (hall 
be  convinced  what  Sort  of  ,Men  are  too 
well  acquainted  w^ith  the  weak  Side  of 
human  Nature,  in  more  Senfes  than  one  : 
And  all  of  us  fhould  attend  to  "  ChrijV s 
Pred'Mion  and  Warning  concerning  the 
Falfe  P7''ophets,  who  (if  poffible)  fhould 
j^.jj^  deceive  the  very  EleB,  Wherefore^  if  they 
xxir.      fay  unto  ycu^  behold  be  is  in  the  Pefert,  go 

^^"^'  7lOt 


(  i6i  ) 

not  forth  :   behold  he  is  in  the  Secret  Cham- 
bers; believe  it  not'' 

Many   Authors,    have    fliewn   a  natural 
Connecftion   between   Enthn/iafm  and  Im- 
purity,    And  'tis  obfervable  in  FaEl^  that 
a  Multiplicity  of  Wives ^   and   prom i feu ous 
Ufe  of  Women,    has  been   the  Favourite      ^^O 
Tenet  of  moft  Fanatical  SeBs : — The  Nico^  CLVn^tj^jJ-in^ 
laitans,    Gnoftics^    Montanifls^    Valentinians^     -^ 
&c.     Some  of  whom  have  maintained  it 
not  merely  as  Lawful^  but  as  neceffary  to 
FerjeBion  : — It  was  the  grand  Allurement 
to  embrace  Makometifn  :  — -  Was  the  pro- 
fefled  Dodlrine   of  modern  Enthu/iajis-,  as 
yohn  of  Leyden^  David  George,   &cc,  who  Dr-  More. 
warmly  taught  that  no  Man  was  confined  to^^^[' 
one  Woman ;    but   that  Procreation   was  a 
free  Thing,  in  common  to  all  that  are  born 
again,  or  regenerated  by  the  Spirit  of  David 
George  :  —  Was  zealoufly   inculcated   and 
defended  in  Priiit^  as  well  as  exemplified 
in  FraBice,  by  Mr.  Lacy,    fo  famous  a- 
mong  the  French  Prophets ;   whofe  Mantle 
has  been  taken  up  by  W — .  FL — .     And  all 
of  them  were  fond  of  employing  the  Sex 
as  their  Emifaries,  to  prepare  the  Minds 
of  their  Acquaintance  for  Converfion, 

How  the  Cafe  ftands  in  FaB,  as  to  the 
Number  of  Co?7verts  among  the  Methodifts, 
and  real  Reformation  oj  Life  to  the  certain 
and  known  Duties  of  the  Gofpel,  is  Matter 
of  difficult  Determination.  But,  from 
Y  what 


(  i62  ) 

what  Enquiry  I  can  make,  there  is  no 
Reafon  to  think  them  better,  for  the 
GeneraUty,  than  tlieir  Neighbours.  Super- 
ftitious  Zeal  for  T^rifics^  iinfcriptural  Pecu- 
liarities^ high  Flights  in  Words^  and  Boaft- 
ings  of  PerfeBion  as  promijed  to  all,  and 
the  like  ; — of  thefe  there  is  no  Want.  But 
when  we  confider  their  black  Art  of  Ca-- 
litmny\  and  various  Kinds  of  Uncharitable- 
nefs  in  a  high  Degree  -,  their  exceffive 
'Pride  aiid  Vanity ;  their  Scepticifms,  Doubts 
and  Disbeliefs  of  God  and  Cbrif  %  their 
diforderly  Pradices,  and  Contempt  of  Au- 
thority ;  their  Divifions,  Confufions,  bitter 
Envyings  and  inveterate  Broils  among 
themfelves ;  Coolnefi,  at  leaft,  for  good 
Works,  and  uncommon  Warmth  for  fome 
very  had,  &c. — Of  thefe  likewife  there  is 
no  Want. 

If  we  take  Mr.  Wejlefs  own  Account, 
it  falls  very  fliort  of  any  Confider  able  Re- 
Farther  for77jatio7i.  He  owns  *'  among  them  Sin- 
\ppeai,  cc  j^gj.g  (jf  every  Kind  5  and  the  gj^edt 
"  StumbHng-block  by  them  that  fay  and  do 
*'  7iot.  Such  I  take  for  granted,  fays  he, 
'*  y/ill  be  among  us,  altho'  v/e  purge  them 
*'  out  as  faft  as  we  can  ;  Perfons  that  talk 
*'  7mich  of  Religion,  that  commend  the 
*'  Preachers,  perhaps  are  diligent  in  hearing 
^^  them  ;  read  all  their  Books,  and  fing  their 
"  Hymns ;  and  yet  ?20  Change  is  wrought  in 
^^  their  He;;irts.     Were  they  of  old  Time  as 

*'  Lio7ts. 


122 


(  i63  ) 

*'  Lions  in  their  Houfes?  They  are  the 
*'  fame  ilill. — Slothful,  intemperate,  trick- 
^^  ing  or  difhoneft,  over-reaching  or  op- 
^^  preffive  ?  The  Ethiopian  hath  not  changed 
".  his  Skin.  Were  they  (in  high  Life) 
*'  delicate,  felf-indulgent,  fond  of  Trijles 
^^  or  their  own  dear  Perfons  ?  ^he  Leopard 
^^  hath  not  changed  her  »S/of^.— Others,  in 
*^  whom  there  was  a  real  Change,  But  it 
"  was  only  for  a  Seafon,  They  are  now 
"  turned  back,  and  are  twojold  more  the 
^ '  Children  oj  Hell  than  before , ' ' 

Whence  we  may  infer,  that  our  NeiD 
'Reformers  have  made  but  a  flow  and  flight 
Progrefs  in  the  real  Reformation  of  Man- 
ners, We  read  that  ''  the  jDm/ finding  a  Franc, 
certain  fefuit  to  have  an  Intimate  Com-^^^^ 
jnunication  with  God^  endeavoured  to  cool 
his  Zeal  by  throwing  a  Bucket  of  Water 
upon  his  Head  through  the  Roof  of  the 
Houfe.'*  But  whatever  Occafion  Some  of 
our  Methodifls  Ardors  and  Peculiarities 
may  have  for  Water^  the  Devil^  I  am  per- 
fwaded,  will  not  be  fond  of  bringing  his 
Bucket 'y  and  their  Zeal  for  good  Works 
having  no  Need  of  a  Ccokr^  he  may  fave 
himfelf  the  Trouble.  'Tis  well,  upon  the 
whole,  if  they  are  not  rather  Hiiiderers 
than  '^Promoters  of  Morality  and  Virtue, 

Their  Friend  Madam  Boiirignon^    who 

was  engaged  in  fuch  another  ProjeB^  not 

only  confefleth  her  frequent  Relaffes  into 

Y  2  Sin  V 


(  i64  ) 

Sin ;    but  the  little  Goody  or  rather   much 

Solid       Harm,  all  her  Inftrudions  had  done  :  "  I 

p.^'178,    *'  exerciled    mylelf    about  nine   Tears   in 

125.        ««  teachmg  the  Ignorant,  vjithowt  profiting 

*'  any   Thing   in    the   Salvation   of  their 

^^  Souls.     On  the  Contrary,  I  had  the  Dif- 

'^  fatisfad^ion   to  hear   Ibme  of  them  fay, 

*^  to   whom   I    had    fl^ev/n    the   Chriftian 

*^  Doctrine  and  Virtues,    That  they  could 

^'  now  do  greater  Evils,  than  they  could 

*^  do  before  -,  becaufe  now  they  could  cover 

*^  their  Wickednefles  with  feigned  Virtues  j 

"  which  they  could  not  do   before  they 

*'  learned  to  talk  of  Virtue." 

§.21.  There  is  however  Reafon  to 
.  believe  that  the  good  Work  of  Popery  is 
carrying  on,  from  fome  of  their  Tenets  and 
PraBices  5  over  and  above  their  Stringing 
pne  Extravagance  upon  another,  in  Con- 
formity with  the  Papal  Fanatics  \  which 
hath  been  evidently  fhewn  through  the 
whole  Comparifon. 

To  this  Purpofe  it  might  be  remarked 
(what  is   manifcftly   true)    that    in    their 
feveral  Anfwers  and  Defences,    a  Strain  of 
Jefuitical    Sophiftry;    Artifice   and    Craft, 
•   Evafion,  Referve,  Equivocation,   and  Pre- 
varication, is  of  conftant  Ufe.     But  to  wave 
3  journ.    this;  —  ''  When  a  Methodift  was  receiving 
p.  16,  17. tj^g     Sacrame?2t,    God    was    pleafed,    (fays 
•Mr.   Wefley)    to    let   him.   See  a   Crucified 

Saviour  ^ 


(  i65  ) 

Saviour  ^y  he  faw  the  Fountain  opened  in 
his  Side:' — "  How  often  (fays  Mr.  White-^^^^^^^ 
field)  at  the  "Early  Sacraments  have  wep^^2a?^' 
feen  Jefus  Chrift  Crucified^  and  evidently 
fet  forth  before  us  ?"  Upon  this  I  afked, 
"  Whether  this  did  not  encourage  the 
Notion  of  a  real  Corporal  Prefence  in  the 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mafs;  and  was  not  as  good 
an  Argument  for  T^ranfubfiantiationy  as  the 
izwQr3\fieply  Appearances  produced  by  the 
Papifis  ?  ''  To  which  I  now  add,  that 
Mr.  Wbitefield  mentions  only  particular 
Times  and  Places^  when  ^*  the  Sacraments  Ibid, 
were  thus  exceeding  awfuL  It  was  at 
Cripplegate^  St,  A?ine's,  and  Fofier^Lane^ 
•  and  early ^  when  they  faw  Jefiis  Chrifi 
Crucified^  emdently, "  Which  implieth, 
that  they  had  not  the  Favour  of  this  evident 
Corporal  Sight  of  Chrifi  at  other  TifneSy 
and  Places ;  though  they  mufl  have  re- 
ceived the  Sacrament  frequently  at  many 
Places  befides. 

And     this    perfeftly    tallies    with     the 
Papifts ;  who  had  not  always  a  View   of 
the   Corporal  Prefince  in   the  Majs  ;    but 
only  at  Some  Places,  as  a  particular  Favour ^ 
on  fpecial  Occafions  *,     as   to   c  nfirm  the 
Doubtful,    convert  the  Unbelieving,    &c. 
Thus  St.  Terefa  fays,  that  in  a  "  particular  Life. 
Monaftery,    the  building  whereof  fhe  had^°'-.^^' 
negociated  with  God, — among   other  Fa-  " 
vours  to  herjelf  and  Society^  was  the  per- 
ceiving 


(  i66  ) 

geiving  the  Per/on  of  'Jefiis  Chrijl  in  the 
Sacrament^  io  as  to  perceive  vi/ibly  his 
Corporal  Prefence  y  fo  generally  and  or- 
dinarily, that  we  found  the  Blejjed  Sacra- 
ment never  had  wrought  fuch  an  Effed: 
upon  us  in  any  Place^  as  here,'' 

We  may  fee  in  Mr.  IVeJlefs  Writmgs^ 
that  he  was  once  a  jiy-iB  Churchman^  has 
gradually  relaxed^  put  on  a  more  Catholic 
Spirit^  tending  at  length  to  Roman  Car. 
thoUc,  People  of  every  Communion  are  a- 
mcng  his  Difciples ;  ^nd  he  fomewhere 
rejeds  with  Indignation  any  Defign  to 
convert  others  from  any  Communion  :  and 
confequently  not  from  Popery,  On  the 
Contrary,  we  find  no  fmall  'tendency  to  it. 
For  Inftance,  By  Praying  for  the  Dead,--^ 
In  his  Prayers  for  every  Day  in  the  Week^ 
we  have  thefe  Words,  "  Laftly,  I  com- 
^^  mend  to  thy  Mercy  the  Souls  of  all  that 
^^  are  departed  this  Life  in  thy  true  Faith 
*^  and  Fear."  This  Doftrine,  'tis  trup, 
is  of  pretty  early  ^?2///yz/%  :  (I  think  Ter- 
iiillian^  a  Montanift,  is  the  firlT:  that  men- 
tions it:)  but  it  was  not  made  an  Article 
of  Faith  till  the  new  Papi (Ileal  Creed  was 
invented.  And  Mr.  Wejley^,  (who  tells 
Plain  us  that  "  fome  Fopperies  of  the  Roman 
Account,  Qfj^,^^^^ij  Yj^xt  in  feme  Meafure  countenanced 
by  Aniiquiff')  ihoxAA  have  never  counte- 
nanced a  Dodrine  which  is  the  Foundation 
^f  Purgatory  ;  which  has  introduced  Idola- 
try, 


P-  3  9- 


(  i67  ) 

try^  and  from  prayingyir  the  Dead  brougjit 
Bigots  to  pray  to  them.  He  fhould  not 
propagate  one  of  the  Favourite  Manche ft er- 
Doilrines  of  Mr,  Deacon,  leading  Men 
certainly  into  'Jacobitifm^  and  probably  into 
Popery,  He  ihould  not  teach  People  a 
Dodlrine,  which  has  no  Manner  of  Founda- 
tion in  Holy  Scripture ;  void  of  Precept 
and  Exafjiple  from  the  Oracles  of  God. 
Efpecially  as  he  is  fo  ready  to  appeal,  at 
other  Times,  *^  to  the  LaWy  and  to  the 
T'eflimony  :''  —  and  has  declared  again  and 
again,  that  the  Word  of  God  is  his  c?;;/^  Anfwer  to 
Rule :  ^^"^^^' 

.V.  ^^cPjs^feven  a  Word  or  Look 
'r''.,,^^"'  *'  Do  I  approve  or  own, 
•   -^^^«  But  by  the  Model  of  thy  Book, 
"  Thy  Sacred  Book  alone." 

By  Private  Covfeffion,  —  "  'Tis  one  of  2  Journ. 
their    Fundamental    Rules  in  their  Bands y^'  ^'^'  *^' 
that  every  one  fpeak    as    freely,     plainly, 
and   concifely  as   he   can,    the   real   State 
of  his  Hearty  with  his  feveral  Temptations 

and  Deliverances ; ufing  no   Kind  of 

Referve : with  the  Faults  they  have 

committed  in  Thought,  Word,  and  Deed, 
and  the  Temptations    they  have   felt :  — 
to  anfwer  to   as  many  fearchi?ig  ^ejlions^^^^^ ^^^* 
as  may  be/'     And  what  a  Scene  is  hereby^'  ^7'  '  ' 
difclofed  ?    What  a  filthy  Jakes   opened ; 

when 


(  i68  ) 

when  the  moji  fearching  ^e ft  ions  are  aiked, 
and  anfwered,  unthont  Rejerve  ?  Such  in- 
deed, as  have  made  \PopiJh  ConfeJJbrs,  the 
yefiiits  efpecially,  fcandalous  through  the 
World, — but  at  the  fame  Time  powerful y 
and  getting  it  under  their  Girdle  by  a 
Knowledge  of  all  the  Secrets  of  the  Heart. 
Plain  Ace.  Mr.  TFeJley  to  this  will  reply,  ''  That  the 
p.  1 8.  <£  Q^\y  Popijh  Confeffion  is,  the  Confejion 
"  made  by  a  fmgle  Terfon  to  a  Prieji : — 
"  whereas  that  we  practice  is,  the  Con- 
"  feffion  of  feveral  Perfons  conjointly,  riot 
'^  to  a  Friejl^  but  to  each  other."  And 
will  Mr.  Wejley  abide  by  this,  and  freely 
anfwer  a  ^ejlion  j  in  Anfwer  to  what  has 
been  affirmed  in  Print?  *'  After  private 
Confeffions  taken  in  their  ClaJJes,  or  Bands; 
are  not  Reports  made  to  Mr.  Wejley  ?  Are 
no  Delinquents,  Male  and  Female,  brought 
before  himfeparately^  and  conjejjed  by  himV^ 
And  again,  doth  not  fomething  of  this 
Nature  appear  by  his  own  Words  elfe- 
Farther  where  ?  *^  Here  are  Seven  Tbotifand  Per- 
Appeai,  cc  f^j^g  ^perhaps  fomewhat  more)  of  whom 
I  take  Care,  watching  over  their  Soul?, 
as  he  that  muft  give  Accc^unt.  In 
order  hereto  It  lies  upon  me  (fo  I  judge) 
at  the  Peril  of  my  own  Salvation,  to 
know  not  only  their  Names,  but  their 
Outward  arid  Inward  States^  their  Diffi- 
cidties  and  Dangers,  Otherwife  how 
can   I   know    how    to  guide   them    a- 

''  right  ? 


p.  113. 


<c 


(C 


(i69> 

"  riglit?  &c,''  What  wicked  Ufes  have 
been  made  of  this  E?2gine  by  VopiJJjGuideSy 
made  neceflary  under  Fain  of  Damnation^  I 
jieed  not  fay  :  and  fhall  only  tranfcribe  an 
Account  from  Matthew  Paris,  concerning  p.  693-—^ 
the  Frandfca?2S,  or  Fryers  Minors,  the  Edit. 
Itiyierant  Spiritual  Guides  of  thofe  Days/'*^ 
*'  They  procured  from  His  Holinefs  the 
"  Fope  the  Privilege  of  Preaching,  hearing 
"  Confejjioiis ,  and  enjoining  Penances,  in 
"  England;  to  the  great  Injury  of  the 
"  Parochial  Mi f lifters  :  —  Perfons  worthy 
"  of  this  new  Privilege,  as  being  raifed 
"  up  by  the  Lord,  and  not  fe eking  their  own , 
"  but  the  Things  of  Jefus  Chrifl.  The 
*^  Itinera?its,  tluHied  and  exalted  hereby, 
"demanded  to  Preach  and  Coiifefs  every- 
'*  where,  without  Contradiftion ;  and  to 
^*'  be  received  as  Angels  of  God:  They 
''  faucily  and  impudently  proclaimed  the 
"  EJiabliJljed  Clergy  to  be  blind  Leaders 
*^  of  the  Blind  I  and  fay  to  the  People, 
**  Come  to  us,  who  are  able  to  diftinguifh 
**  Leprofy  from  Leprofy  ;  to  whom  arduous 
*^  Difficulties,  and  the  Secrets  of  God  have 
"  been  revealed.  Hence  Men  and  Women 
^'  loft  all  due  Refpedt  for  their  Proper 
*^  Pajlors  3    and  going  to   one    of    thefe  , 

*^  Rambling  Fryers,  whom  perhaps  they 
"  might  never  fee  miore,  confeffed  all  to 
"  them  without  Shame  or  Blufhing.  By 
*^  thefe  Means  Sin  more  copioufly  abound- 
2  ".  eds, 


p.  x;. 


(    17^  ) 

"  cd ;  and  the  Itinerajits  grew  exceffively 
^^  Imperious  and  Infoletity 

Another  'Tendency  to  Vopery  appears,  by 
the  Notion  of  a  Single  Drop  of  Chriji's 
Shod  being  a  Su£icient  Atonement  for  the 
Sim  of  the  ivhole  World,  For  however 
pious  this  may  feem  ;  'tis  ablblutely  Falfcy 
and  TapifticaL  Falfe-y  and  betraying  a 
Fundamental  Ignorance  of  our  Redemption  : 
becaufe  it  was  the  Sacrifice  of  the  Death 
of  Chrijt  that  procured  our  Remiffion 
and  Atonement.  And  Papifiical  %  being 
broached  by  a  Fope^  and  for  a  ^wicked. 
Purpofe,  Mr.  We/ley  idh  of  a  Methodifl^ 
3  J^'^J'n-  v^'ho  '^  knewy  and  was  jure,  that  if  he  had^ 
all  the  Sins  of  the  World  laid  upon  him, 
one  Drop  oj  Chrijl's  Blood  was  fufficient  to' 
atone  for  all.','  Which  DoBrine  comes 
from  Pope  Cle^nent  VI.  in  order  to  fill  his 
Magazine  oj  Pardons  and  Indulgencies,  We. 
have  the  whole  in  the  Papal  Canon  Law. 
Extrav,  Com.  Lib,  V,  Cap.  2.  Unigenitus. 
*'  The  Son  of  God^  though  a  moderate 
*'  Drop  of  his  Blood  would  have  fufficed 
'/  for  the  Redemption  of  all  Mankind, 
'.'  yet  ibed  the  ivhok.  Th\}X  therefore  the 
''  Remainder  of  his  Blood  [all  above  that 
^<[^Drop]  might  not  be  unprofitable,  vaia* 
f.'.  and  fuperfluous,  it  was  left  as  a  Ireafure 
^l  to  the  Church.  —  V7hich  Treafure  Chriji- 
"  did  not  hide  in  a  Napkin^  or  in  a  Field -^ 
'I  but  committed  it  to  St,  Peter  the  Key- 

*'  keeper 


(  I70 

*'  keeper  of  HeaveJt^  and  to  his  Succeffor^ 
*'  Chrijl's  Vicars  on  Earth,  to  be  difpofed 
**  of  for  the  RemiJJion  of  Sins,  To  which 
*'  Heap  of  Treafure  tlie  Merits  of  the 
*'  Blefjed  Mother  of  God,  and  of  all  the 
*'  £/d'(^,  from  the  firf  fuft  Man  to  the 
*'  lafi)  are  known  to  make  a  confiderable 
*'  Addition^  You  fee  upon  what  Founda^ 
*'  ^/c;2  are  bullded  the  Popip  DoBrine  oj 
"  Merit,  and  Market  of  Indidgencies, 

Oialike  Tendency  is  Mr.  Weflef^  con- 
temptuous T^reatment  of  7?/]§;Z?/  Opinions  ; 
or  Orthodoxy  s  v/hich  imports  a  right  and 
found  Judgment  in  Matters  of  Doftrine 
and  Belief  in  the  GofpeUhflttution,  He 
exprefsly  fays,  *' 'Tis  a  Point  we  C'^'^^fly  ^mvi  hzt^ 
*'  infift  upon,  that  Orthodoxy,  or  Right  p.  ^, 
*'  Opinions-,  is,  at  befl,  but  a  'u^ry  fender 
**  P^rif  of  Religion,  if  any  Part  of  it 
<«  at  all/'  The  plain  Conlequence  where- 
of is,  that  teaching  and  believing  the  Fun" 
danwital  Errors  of  Popery,  as  Trarfub- 
fantiation,  Worfiip  of  Saints  and  Images^ 
with  the  whole  Train  of  their  Abominatiom 
and  Idolatries,  —  are  of  very  little  Mo?nenty 
if  of  any.  And  he  fpeaks  vQry  favourably 
of  thefe  Points,  by  telling  us,  "  that  in  3  jourrti 
Comparifon  of  preaching  Jujiif cation  byp-TS- 
Faith  and  Works,  all  the  Errors  of  Popery, 
Tranjubliantiation,  and  a  hundred  more, 
are  Trifs  light  as  Air''  Such  a  ftrange 
Exte?2uation  of  the  moft  Antichrijlian 
Z  2  SorcerieSy 


(  172  ) 

Sorceries y  reducing  them  alrtioft  to  a  mefe 
Nothings  we  find  to  be  the  Effe3l  of  a 
tenacious  Contention  for  '\MethodijUcal 
Fancies, 

Again.  The  Metkodifl-DoBrine  of  Im^ 
prejficns  and  AJJuranees,  &c.  holds  equally 
for  Papal  Enthiifiajls  ^  many  of  them,  par- 
ticularly the  Heave?!-! alight  Tcrefay  having 
affirmed  from  the  fame  Force  of  Imagina- 

SLife-  imiy  ^'  that  they  could  not  pojjibly  have  a 
greater  Certitude  of  any  one  Thing  than  of 
the  Truth  of  the  TopiJJj  Religion^ 

Their  Sudden  and  InJ}a?2taneous  Conver-* 
fions   ftand   upon  the   fame  Footing  with 

life  of    the  PopifJj,     **  One  Donna  Catharina  beins; 

VoLii.    ^^^^^i    ^^^  ^    good    Matchy    but    cafually 

jp.  158.  cafting  her  Eyes  on  a  Crucifix ^  prefently 
tlie  Lord  totally  changed  her  :  —  and  flie 
retiFcd  into  a  fecret  Place  to  pray  ;  where 
the  Devil  exercifed  her  with  notable  De- 
hifions'* 

I  fhall  mention  but  one  more  Thing 
(except  what  properly  belongs  to  my  Third 
and  laji  Part)  of  a  Methodijlical  Tendency ' 
to  Popery ;  which  is,  the  RecG7nme?jdatio?i 
cfPopiJl^  Books,  Many  fuch  have  of  late 
Years  been  Printed  in  England^  for  the 
JJfe  of  Catholics  J  and  Converfion  of  Heretics  z 
which  (as  if  by  CompaB^  or  Sympathy  with 
Methodijm)  are  fluffed  with  Aridities,  De<- 
folatio7is,  and  Defertions  ;  Feelings  and  Af- 
furances  ^     "foys^    Raptures y    Vifions  >    Com^ 

munications. 


(  173  ) 

Tniinicatiom    ivith    the  Dcity^    Infpiratiom^ 
Miracles^  &c.     But  I  fliall  confine  myfelf 
to   one    or    two,    recommended    by    Mr. 
Wejley,     One  is^  T^he  Life  of  Air,  de  Renty  % 
of  which  Mr.  Weflej  hath  made  and  Pub- 
liflied  An  ExfraB^  for  the  Benefit  of  his 
FoUon.ve?'S.     I  have  not  feen  his  ExtraB  : 
but  by  perufing  the  Life  itfelf,  I  can  eafily 
difcern  the  Rcafcns  of  its  high  Degree  of 
Favour.     For  Mr,  de  Renty  (  a  Frerxhman 
of  ^lality)  had  a  ftrong  Tinfture   of    the 
EnthiifiajUc  Spirit,     ^'  He  hated  a   Coach ^  Page  25* 
and  ufed  to  travel  on  Foot,  —  In  his  Way 
towards    PerfeBion,     in   the   Morning   he 
takes    Holy-Water^    goes   to    the    Virgin} 
Chapel^  places  before  him  an  Image  of  the 
Virgiji   holding  her  Son^    as  the  Lady  of 
the  Houfe-y    kifles   the  Earth   before   her; 
and  prays,   Monflra  te  efje  Matrcm^ .  fhew 
that  you  are.  a  Mother  ;    devotes  himfelf 
and  Family   to  her   Service  entirely ;  pays  P.  26. 
his  Devoirs  to  St.  Jofeph  and  Terefa: — Goes 
forth  whither  God  diredls ;  —  prays  for  the 
Dead ',' — leaves  his  Breviary^  ^nd  all  Forms  ; 
becaufe  they  would  be  a  Hindrance  to  his 
coming  to   God:  —  has  g?^eat   Infidelities, 
and  fees  nothing  hut  Fice  and  Sin  in  him  :" 
—-yet  declares,  "  I  bear  in  me  Ordinarily  a 
Plenitude  of  the  rnofl  Holy  Trinity  :  —  By   a 
Love  of  God  I  enter  into  a  Heat^  and  into 
a  Fire,    and  even  to  my  Fingers  Ends  feel 
that  all   within   me  fpeaks    ior    its    God. 

Again, 


(  174  ) 

P-  29-      Again,    I    have   nothing  fenjlbk    In  me, 

P.  38.  and  fall  into  my  own  Nothingnefs,'" — He 
wears  an  Iron  Girdle  with  a  double  Rank 
of  long  Prickles^  a  Bracelet  of  the  fame, 
continually  on   his  BreaJ}   a  Crucifix^   fet 

P.  66.  v^\.th  fiarp  Nails  entering  his  Flejh, — '' 1 
fhould,  fays  he,  have  great  Pleafure,  if 
it  were  permitted  me,  to  go  naked  in  my 
Shirt  through  the  Streets  of  Paris^  to  make 
myfelf  difejleemed^  and  taken  for  a  FooL 
Go/^fometimes  giving  to  Holy  Souls  Thoughts 
and  Defires,  fo  raifed  above  the  common 
Pitch  of  human  Reafon,  as  to  feem  Fx^ 
travagant :  As  before  in  our  Founder  Sti 
Ignatius/* 

P.  143.  By  Prayer^  he  cures  Difeafes  the  moft 
defperate  and  extraordinary,  with  unlikely 
Remedies  :-^is,  very  diligent  in  Converting 

p.  167.  Protefiants  to  Popery  :  —  in  Prayer  is  fliewa 
from  God  of  an  Employment  defigned  for 
him  in  the  Indies, 

p.  i-jz.  A  Lady  difcourfing  with  him  about  pro- 
curing Relief  U7ider  great  Pain,  and  find- 
ing no  Comfort  from  him,  immediately 
fhe  throws  herfelf  on  her  Knees ;  and  after 
Prayer,  (lie  no  longer  fees  Mr.  de  Rentyy_ 
but  in  him  our  Bleffcd  Saviour,  fhining 
with  great  Splendor,  and  faying,  ''  Do 
what  viy  Servant  direBs  thee :  *'  which 
Words,  at  that  very  Injlayit,  had  fuch  an 
Effed:,  that  her  Pain  vaniPded^  and  flie 
\Ndi^  filled  with  God,  and  Converted, 

He 


(  175) 

He  could    penetrate    into   the    Inward  P-  198—. 
Recefjes    of   the    Confdefice,    and    difcover 
l?cop\Q's  Secrets-,  —  could  fpeak  JVords  Lt- 
fpired  at  that  'very  Hour-,  —  was   Injpired 
with  great  Certitude  what  was  God\  Will. 
Cod  refided^  [pake,  and  aBed  in  him.  —  God^^  218. 
unites  his  Soul  to  himfelf,  admits  him  to 
the  Communion    of    the   Blejfed  Vii^gin^ 
SaintSy    and  Angels.  —  One  Day,   by  the  p.  225. 
fingular  Bounty  of  God,  he  had  a  View  of 
his  Divine  Majefiy,  of  John  Baptijl,  a7id 
Sificr  Margaret,  clearly  reprefented.  —  The 
J?ifa7it  Jefus  Reveals  to  Sifter  Margaret,  that 
Mr,   de  Renty   ll:iould   thence-forward   be 
guided  by   the  Spirit  cf  his  Infancy,  and 
that  He  was  de(cendi?2g  to  be  his  Light, — 
After  the  Communion  he  fees,  by  an  £;z-  P.  23a; 
lightening,  our  Saviour  entire,  i.  e.  all  his 
Myfleries  from  his  Incarnation  to  his  State 
of  Glory.  — ''  The  Divine  Goodnefs  (faith  p.  242; 
he)  worketh  in  me  what  I  am  not  able 
to  exprefs.   I pojjefs  even  the  Blefjed  Trinity  ; 
and  find  diflin6tly  in  myfelf  the  Operations 
of  the  Three  Divine  Perfons.  —  /  poljefs  the  p.  299: 
Iloly  Trifiity  with  a  Plenitude  of  Verity  and 
Clearnejs  3  —  'tis  a  rnofl  real  Sight  of  the 
Trifiity. 

I  was  never  fo  hmipi/Ij,  both  in  Body  ?•  2S0. 
and  Spirit,  as  upon  the  Feftival  of  the 
Blefjed  Sacra?nent :  Prefent  at  Service,  Pro- 
cefjion,  Mafs,  Communion ;  but  like  a  very 
B^aji,  fenfelefs  (others  too  afFedted  with 
'     -  the 


.  (^7^  ) 
the  like  Sttipefauiion)  *till  I  prayed  before 

a  Criiafix. r  Was  injlantly   cured  of  a 

Rheum  by  going  in  a  TrocefjiGn^  with  Men 
and  Women  foHowi?ig  Chrijl  with  lighted 
Torches,'* 

P.  194.  He  rrientions  fome  pious  Souls,  who  re- 
ceive great  Co?2folatiom,  and  tajle  ravijhi?7g 
Delights  ; , —  but  the  Devil  deceives  them 
by  thefe  Gujls.  Though  at  other  Times 
they    fuffer    many    Tempe/is  and    Inward 

P.  298.  Tumults,  Defertions,  and  Aridities, — Divine 
Love  produceth  the  fame  Effefts  in  the 
Soul,  which  Drunkennefs  does  in  the  Body  i 
Mirth,  Lofs  of  Reafon,  and  Oblivion  of  all 
Things, — Objcurities,  Defertions,  &cc,  being 
better  than  Gi/Jis  of  Joy  and  Confolations ; 

P.  3C9—.  therefore  he  was  dead  and  annihilated  to  all 
Gujis  of  Devotion,  to  all  fenfible  Graces  and 
Confolations,  of  which  our  Love^fck  Souls 
are  fo  greedy.  -—  Very  few,  who  are  not 
infected  with  this  Itch,  —  Laftly,    he  fays, 

?.  3H.  ''  //^//itfelf  fhould  be  my  Paradife,  if  God 
4evoted  me  thither." 

Francis  of  Sales,  a  Canoitized  Saint,  Is 
another  Papiit  much  commended  by  Mr. 
Wejley ;  and  '^  whoj^  he  doubts  not,  is  in 
Abraharns  Bofom,'"  Why  he  is  the  Me-^ 
ihodifls  Bojoni^Fr.iend  may  eafily  be  ittn  by 
looking  into  his  Life^  publiflied  in  Englify 
about  twelve  Years  ago.  "  He  put  him- 
feif  under  the  Trote&ion  of  the  Blefj'ed 
Virgin-^    ;;Lnd    was   ze;;ilous   in   Converting 

Heretics  i 


(  ^77  ) 
Heretics  :— was  coming  over  into  'England^ 
to  make  a  Convert  of  King  "James  I.  of 
whom  there  was  great  Hopes  5  but  faga- 
cioufly  found  out,  it  was  not  God*s  Time. — 
He  was  [like  Mr.  Whitejield]  a  great  Ad- 
mirer of  Caflaniza's  Spiritual  Combat  y  and 
has  many  Combats  with  the  Devil,  —  Had 
his  Fits  of  Joy  and  Tranquility ;  but  fuc- 
ceeded  by  Darknefs  and  Sadnefsy  a  Drynefsy 
and  even  Dijlrufi  of  all  Truth  ;  which  he 
imputes  to  Satan^  who  would  perfwade 
him  that  God  had  decreed  his  Damnation, — 
Hence  he  is  feized  with  all  the  Terr  or soj  Hell y 
after  being  flufhed  with  the  Hopes  of  en- 
joying God :  —  and  is  caft  into  fuch  a  deej> 
Melancholy,  that  nothing  in  Nature  could 
raife  him  ;  — he  funk  under  the  Load,  had 
the  Jaundice  from  Head  to  Foot,  —  could 
neither  eat,  drink,  or  fleep,  —  Defpair  in 

his  Look, fharp  Tains  in    Mind  and 

Body. 

But  the  BleJJed  Virgin  gained  his  Re* 
covery :  for,  the  fame  Momoit  he  ended 
a  Prayer  to  her,  he  felt  the  Removal  of  the 
Weight.  —  But  afterwards  his  Blood  was  fo 
heated,  that  he  fell  into  a  Fever  and  Dyfen- 
tery. 

He  Converted  Seventy^ two  Thoufand 
Heretics.  —  Miraculoujly  cures  a  Madman 
in  a  Mome?2t  -,  cures  many  of  the  Tooth-ach^ 
Cbolicy  &iQ,  in  a  Mo?nent. 

A  a  Has 


(  178  ) 

Has  a  Vi/ion  of  an  Order ^  of  which  he 
was  to  be  the  Founder  :  —  particularly  ad- 
mires the  Order  and  Method  of  the  Jefuits^ 
whofe  Holy  Founder  omitted  not  the  leaft 
Thing  that  might  nourifh  Piety.''  Hence 
probably  Mr.  Wtjley  might  learn  ^'  what 
good  Order  there  is  even  in  a  Society  of 
Jefuits." 

Such  are  the  Perfojts  aiid  Lives  recom- 
mended to  the  Methodifls  :  which  help  to 
carry  on  my  Parallel ;  and  greatly  con- 
tribute to  the  Service  of  Popery,  Whether 
Mr.  Wefley  hath  inferted  any  of  the  proper 
Doclrines  of  Popery  in  the  former  of  thefe 
Lives,  or  Publified  the  latter,  -—  I  am  per-^ 
feftly  ignorant.  But  his  Followers  will 
naturally  conclude,  that  fuch  a.  Religion 
can't  be  very  iad,  which  nurfeth  up  fuch 
devout  Saints ;  which  breathes  fuch  a  true 
Spirit  of  Methodifm,  They  will  entertain 
i;i  favourable  Opinion,  if  not  a  high  Fflean.^ 
of  a  Communion  (the  Jefuitical  Part  oi  ^ 
efpecially)  where  they  find  the  Ge7iuim 
CharaBer,  in  fo  many  Particulars,  of  their 
own  Difpenfation ;  fo  many  JLxtravagant 
Flights  and  Fancies,  fuch  Miraculous  Cures 
by  the  BleJJed  Virgin,  and  other  Saints,  fuch 
Afurances,  Ecjiacies,  Viftons^  Divine  Com- 
munications ;  together  with  fuch  ^empta^ 
tions.  Infidelities,  Defpairings,  Hellijh  Tor- 
ments, and  other  Pangs  of  the  New  Births 
This,    I  thinkj  will  be  the  natural  Ten^ 

4ency^ 


C  ^79  ) 

dency^  when  the  Heat  of  the  Brain  hath 
fcorched  up  their  Judgmefit, 

The  Charge  of  fome  of  the  angry  Mora* 
vians  againft  Mr.  M^ejley  and  Brother  for 
breaching  Topery,  is  what  I  don't  lay  any 
Strefs  upon.  And  I  allow  that  Mr.  Wejley 
hath  difclaimed  Topery  feveral  Times  j  par-  3  Jo«^- 
ticularly  "  its  Dijiinguijhing  DoBrines,  aspJther' 
fummed  up  in  the  Twelve  Articles  which  Appeal^ 
the  Cou72cil  of  Trent  added  to  the  CreedJ"^'  '®'' 
And  then  he  afks,  *'  who  can  find  the 
**  leaft  Connexion  between  any  of  thefe 
•*  and  the  Doctrines  of  the  MethodifisT* 
Some  Connexion  hath  been  fhewn  through 
this  whole  Comparifon.  Nor  can  there  be 
any  Security  againft  all  T^opijh  Errors^ 
while  Pretences  to  Special  Revelations^  Ec- 
Jiacies^  ImpreJlions^  Miracles,  &c.  are  in 
Vogue.  For  I  can  cafily  fhew,  how  all 
the  Dijlinguifking  DoBrines  of  Topery  have 
been  Introduced,  and  received  2.  SanBion^ 
by  the  fame  Fanatical  'Pretences,  And  he 
will  be  pleafed  to  remember,  that  fefuitSy 
and  other  Roman  Emifjaries^  h^ve  oftea 
mingled^  and  been  the  Ri72gleaderSy  among 
cur  Enthufiafic  SeBaries 'y\p\iA\y  exclaim- 
ing againft  the  Vope^  and  pretending  to 
Purity  and  Reformation.  He  knows  we 
could  produce  diners  Inflances,  At  pre-* 
fent  a  fingle  Inftance  fhall  fuffice.  'Tis  to 
be  feen  in  other  Books :  but  I  take  it  out  of 
Foxes  and  Fire-brands^  Page  7—. 

A  a  2  ,"  In 


(  i8o) 

•  "  In  the  Year  1567,  the  9th  of  Eliza^ 
hethy  one  Faithful  Commin^  a  Dominican 
Friar ^  a  Perfon  generally  reputed  a  zealous 
Frotejlanty  much  admired  and  followed 
by  the  People  for  his  feeming  Piety^  but 
mor^-  particularly  for  inveighing  in  his 
Pulpit  moft  bitterly  againft  Pius  V. 
then  Pope^  was  Accufed  of  being  an  Im- 
fojlor^  and  Examined  before  the  ^een  and 
P rivy-Counci I y  hy  M,  Parker  ArchbiJJoop  of 
Canterbury.  Part  of  his  Examination  is  as 
foUoweth. 

^    Archb.    Faithful  Commin^  of  what  Pro- 
feffion  art  thou  ? 

F.Com.  Oi  Chr if  s  Order, 

Archb.  Were  you  ever  Ordained'^ 
\.:F,Com,  Yes,   I /z£;<^^ Ordained. 

Archb,  By  whom  %^\_  ^^ 

jP.  Com.  By  the  CardinaL  (  Meaning 
"Poole,) 

.^^rchb.  Had  you  not  other  Certificate 
under  any  of  the  Bifiops  Hands,  fince  the 
Reformation. 

F.  Com.  Not  any. 

Archb.  Wherefore  would  you  dare  to 
Preachy  having  not  got  a  Licenfe  under 
fome  of  our  Bifiops  Hands  ?  How  {hall 
we  be  ajGTured  that  you  ^^  not  of  the  Romifi 

F,  Coin.  There  are  feveral  have  heard 
my.  Prayers  and  my  So'mons,  and  can  teftify 
tSat  I  liavg.^fpokcA^  againft  RomCy  and  her 

.-.  -        "      •'^"     .\.-.  "Pope, 


(  i8i  ; 

TopCi  as  much  as  any  of  the  Clergy  hdve, 
iince  they  have  fallen  from  her  :  I  wonder 
therefore  why  I  fhould  hcfufpeBed, 
*..  Arcbh.  By  your  Anfwer,  Mr.  Commin^ 
I  perceive  you  would  have  any  one  Vreachf 
fo  that  he  fpake  but  ^gainft  the  Tope  in 
his  SermonSi  '    -  -r**^, 

F.Com.  Not  every  one^  ^tth^  whofd 
FunBion  it  is,  and  he  who  hath  the  Spirit, 

Archb,  What  Spirit  is  this  you  mean  ? 

jP.  Com.  T^he  Spirit  of  Grace  and  Truth. 

Archb,  But  is  this  Spirit  that  is  in  you 
either  the  Spirit  of  Grace^  or  'Truth^  that 
doth  not  comply  w^ith  the  Orders  of  the 
Churchy  lately  purged  and  cleanfed  from 
Schifm  and  Idolatry  ?  ^ 

F.  Com.  Therefore  I  endeavour  to  make 
it  Turer^  as  far  as  God  permits. 
:^  Archb,  How  do  you  endeavour  to  make 
the  Church  Purer —  ? 
^<'  F.Com,  I  endeavour  it,  when  I  pray 
W  God  that  he  would  open  the  Eyes  of 
Men  to  fee  their  Errors :  and  feveral  have 
joined  with  me  when  I  have  Prayed  among 
them  :  and  I  have  both  given  and  takexi 
The  Body  of  Chriji  to  thofe  of  tender  Con-- 
jcienceSy  who  have  aflembled  with  me  in 
the  Fear  of  the  Lord, 

Archb.  By  your  Words  then  you  have 
a  Congregation  that  follows  you, 

F.  Co?n.  I  have. 

Archb.  Of  what  Tarifk,   and  in  what 
Diocefe  ?  .  Ai  il:;  F-  Com. 


(  iSa  ) 

.    F.  Com.  Neither  of  any  certain  Parijh^ 
nor  in  any  certain  Diocefe. 

Archb.  Where  then,  I  pray  ? 

F.  Co7n,  Even  in  the  wide  World,  among 
the  Flock  of  Chriji  fcattered  over  the  whole 
Earth. 

^een.  Tour  Diocefe  is  very  large,  Mr^ 
Commin. 

(ne  Witnefles  were  then  called  in^  and 

■■X  ii;rl5  b -examined.) 

^een,  Mr.  Draper^  what  have  you  to 
fay  to  this  Faithful  Commin  ? 

Draper.  He  came  to  my  Houfe  at  the 
Maidenhead  in  Maidflone,  with  feveral  of 
his  Followers-,  —  I  fhewed  him  a  Room  ;— • 
and  perceiving  feveral  to  come  and  enquire 
for  this  Mr.  Cofrmin,  and  by  Chance 
going  up  the  Stairs  I  heard  one  groan  and 
weep',  which  caufed  me  to  lift  up  the 
Latch  :  at  firil:  I  was  ftartled,  but  enquiring 
of  one  of  his  Followers,  what  ailed  thq 
Man  ?  He  replied,  do  you  not  fee  w^e  be 
alJ  at  Trayers?  The  Maid,  wondering 
where  I  was,  came  to  feek  me,  and  can 
Teftify  the  fame. 

-  Maid,  I  faw  this  Faithful  Commin,  and 
thought  he  was  difra^ed  when  I  heard. 
him  pray.  But  the  People  faid,  He  was 
a  Heavenly  Man,  and  that  it  was  God's 
Spirit  made  him  weep  for  the  Sins  of  the 
World. 

^een.  Mr.  Commin, — Though  you  have 
preached  againft  the  Pope,    yet  you  have 

jfuj'pcd 


(  i83  ) 

ufiirped  over  the  Power  both  of  Church  and 
State — . 

F,  Com.  Give  me  Time  to  confider,  and 
prepare  myfelf,  and  I  (hall  give  yQiir  Grace 
a  further  Anfwer  in  a  fhort  Space. 

He  was  then  bound  over  for  his  Ap'^ 
pearanccy  for  farther  Examination,  to  atio- 
ther  Day. — But  coming  from  the  Council' 
he  told  his  Followers  that  her  Majejly  and 
the  Council  had  acquitted  him :  and  that  he 
was  warned  of  God  to  go  beyond  the  Seas, 
to  InJlruB  the  Protejlants  there  ;  —  that  he 
had  not  a  FarthiJtg  to  fupport  him,  yet 
being  God's  Qaufe  he  would  undertake  it 
out  of  Charity y  &c.  This  Speech  fet  them 
a  weepings  efpecially  the  JVome?i :  and 
^3^£'  was  collected  for  him;  befides 
what  the  Companionate  Sex  gave  him,  un* 
known  to  their  Hujbands,  —  His  Followers 
faid  before  the  Council^  in  their  Opinions 
they  had  never  i^tvi  fo  Zealous  and  Heaven* 
ly  a  Man,  as  htfeemed  to  be ;  and  difcover- 
ed  the  particular  Sums  oi  Money ^  of  which 
this  Religious  Jugler  had  cheated  thefe 
deluded  People, 

Commin  in  the  mean  Time  had  efcaped 
out  of  Engla7id\  got  fafe  to  Rorne-y  and 
affured  the  Pope^  *'  that  his  Spiritual  and 
Extempore  Prayers  had  io  much  taken  with 
the  People,  whom  he  InftruEfed^  that 
the  Church  oj  England  was  become  as  Odious 
to  that  Sort  of  Peopky  as  Mafs  was  to  the 
Chur(:h  of  England.    Upon  which  the  Pope 

gave 


(  i84  ) 

gave  him  a  Reward  of  2000  Ducats  for 
his  good  Service."'  The  Reader  will,  no 
iDoubt,  obferve  how  faithfully  this  Ac- 
count of  Faithful  Go7j7ini7t  hath  been  Copied 
by  the  ExpreJ/io?2S^  Sentiments^  and  ConduB 
of  our  Brethren  of  the  Order  of  Methodifm. 

There  follows  in  the  fame  Book  a  Narra- 
five  (taken  out  of  the  Regijlry  of  Rochejler^ 
in  the  Book  beginning  2.  and  3.  PhiL  &  M. 
and  continued  to  15.  EHz.)  too  long  to 
recite,  of  one  Th.  Heth,  a  Jefuit^  "  who 
Preached  much  againft  Popery^  and  particu- 
larly his  own  Order  ;  laboured  to  Refjte  the 
Protejlants^  to  take  off  all  Smacks  of  Popery ^ 
and  fhew  his  Good-wi/Iin  making  the  Church 
purer.— Ht  V72isdifcoveredhY  a  Letter,  which 
he  dropt  in  the  Tulpit,  from  the  Fraterfiity 
ef  Jefuits '^  and  upon  fending  to  his  Lodg^ 
ingSy  upon  Search,  his  Beads  were  found  in 
his  Boots^  with  a  Licenfe  from  the  Prater- 
nityy  and  a  Bull  of  Pius  V.  to  preach  what 
Dodlrine  that  Society  pleafed,  for  Dividing 
ProteJlantSy  &c/' 

This  is  fufficient  Proof,  that  a  Jefuit's^  or 
Enthiifiajl's^  declaiming  againft  Popery  is  no 
"Teji  of  their  Sincerity.  And  we  may  ftill  have 
Reafon  to  fufped:  of  Methodifm^  that  the 
Marks  of  the  Beaft  are  upon  it. 

Upon  a  Review  of  the  Whole  the  Reader 
will  be  apt  to  conclude  with  myfelf,  in  the 
Words  of  Mr.  Whitefield^  Oh  I  what  a 
Myjiery  is  the  Divine  Life  ? 

The  End  of  the  Second  Part. 


THE 

ENTHUSIASM 

O    F 

METHODISTS 

AND 

PAPISTS 

COMPARED. 
PART      III. 


*'  J  am  apt  to  lay  this  down  for  a  Maxim  in  Politics,  tkat  tvben  they  are 
htijy  in  Exorcifmg  or  DirpofTefling  of  Devils,  '/;i  Time  fjr  our  Governors  to  look 
cbout  tbem ;  there  being  a  ivorje  Devil  lying  bid,  than  that  ivbicb  appears  upon 
tbe  Stage. ■  For  'tis  Dangerous,  tvben  a «  Under- Party,  by  tbefe  and  fucb 

liy  Cheats  of  Sanftity,  endea'vour  to  Jirengtben  their  Ir.tereji  by  tnaking  tbenim 
fehcs  Popular." 

Foulii^s  Hiftory  of  Romi/h  Trcafons. 

*'  Ua'ving  been  at  one  of  their  Exorcifings,  I  /aid,  I  doubted  ivbetker  the 
Party   ivere  a&ually  and  really    PofTeffed.       Mr.    Thomfon,    a.Prieft,    and 

great  Acior  in  tbofe  Matters,  anjivered Hucb  Catholics  as  baz-e  been  prefcnt 

at  fuch  Fits,  ha've  received  it  Jot  a  Trutb,  that  tbe  Parties  arc  PofTcfled, 
And  though  1  ivill  not  make  Jt  an  Article  of  my  Creed,  yet  I  thvnk  that  Godly 
Credulity  doth  much  Good  fcr  the  fartheUng  of  the  Catholic  Caufe." 

Confi'Jfion  of  Anthony  Tyrrei^  Prlcjl.     Ibid. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  J.  and  P.  Knap  ton,  in  Ludgate-Strect  * 

M.  DCC.  H. 


a  'A  3.  Si  3.  y  3.  Si   odi    oT 


.1  ^  'A  "^   ,iM 


H    I 


r.  zlaibbA   eirij    o1   id-giSi  \ 
s^:i<\v^,    iV\^W    dY2J\^\    "^.    'Jvi^i^ 

I'j^'^  nolmqcnoO  Ml  Id  JibS;  faiirlT  ^ 


To  the  Reverend 


Mr.     TT  E    S   L   E    r. 


SIR, 

S  you  make  fo  conjiderahk  a 
Figure  in  the  enfumg  Dif- 
courfe,  you  may  claim  a  Sort 
of  Right  to  this  Addrefs: 
lohich  at  length  waits  Upon 
you  (as  the  Former  on  Mr. 
Whltefield)  unjiained  ivith  the  too  common 
Daub  of  Flattery  5  and  yet  paying  due  Re-^ 
gard  to  your  Merits. 

My  Third  Part  of  this  Comparifon  was 
ready  for  the  Prefs  above  a  Twelve-Month 
ago  :  but  the  Publication  was  delayed^  on 
Account  of  your  Fifth  Journal,  and  your 
Letter  to  the  Author  of  the  Enthufiam,  ^c. 
both  of  which  faw  the  Light  ahut  the  fame 
a  2  "tijne. 


P  R.E  F  A  C  E.S 

Time..  This^  with  'varioz{s  vthey^  tntety^cf^. 
ticns,  hath  pt^evented  ?}iy  earlier  Appearaficey 
(md.like'wife  occafio?ied  no  [mall  Additionsirfqol*! 
Toti  have  acquainted  us^  "^  thatii^kVm 
Journals  ^:^^z/  ExtraSs  from  ydiitll^getcj 
Diary:  k  not  .being  your  D£fign  to  ?rkte  \ 
all  Particulars."  The  gjxater  is  the  Pity,  : 
fay^cLx^'^b^  ^vCviricfity  hath  the  World  \ 

It  is  MatM'-^iv^mEd^cerntoo^ 
in  .geneal,    yoiirtfj^Hnpalsvi.f^/;;^   mt   (^ut^^\ 
fooner,  ufier/^the  F2idLS,  mhich  they  rela^^ol 
and  partiadarly    your    Fifth:    which  ivas' 
publilhed  in  the  Winter,    ij^gy  wid  j-e- 
latm:<Matters  from  September  j^  s^a  i^  tai 
Odober  27,   1743.     So  that  feven  vr  eight\ 
Tears  rntervene.     But  for  this^    no  Dmckt^iO^ 
)'^i/  ■/64?^'^ -good   Reafons.     For  you   appeal; 
her^^^fck  Facls ; .  and  bring  your  Evidencep 
^jchich.  'might  have  been  brought  immediatelyi\> 
at  the  Dijianee  ofmzny  Years.     tVhich  mujk\ 
be.  allowed  Jo  be  a   cautious  and  prudent^ 
Step.     Forfome  of  the  Forties  concer7ied  may 
probably  have  died  in  the  Interval  i^^inanj 
Circuniilances  (as  a  found  Judgment  and 
good  IVIemory  doiit  often  ?neet)  may  have,. 
been.  fpx^oXXax.hy  ^03/r  Difciples.     In  which' 
Qafes  you  are  therefore  under  noFiaJiger  of. 
bmig  contradicted  3  and  may  relate,  as  litde^- 
or\^as  much,  as  you  /^/^^/J.-^haradlers  of 
Benfonsyy.and  Variety,  c/' Incidents  may  have^- 
bi^njo  altered,  that  after  a  Coiirfe  \  oj  Tearfs^ 


yoih^^\find  it  proper  \to  change  your  'Note.^^1 
ani^tJoercby  be  guilty  ^/ fev/erincoiliijftencies;'^'!^'; 
ProphecieB  efpecially  may  haiie  been  uttered-^\^'\ 
in  Eeftaric  or  Raging  Fits,  of  '^Tlmigs  ftiortiy 
to  be  fulfilled.     And  then  'tis  perfeBly  right  \ 
4o  wait  the  Event ;    lejl  Wnnt  of  AccomiiCi 
plifliment?\^^^^^/^  occafwn  Shame.     Prophecjil; 
(y(M  'vtkll  -hiow)  is  me  of  the  neeeffary  '-In^i<\ 
gredients    of  Enthufiafm.      jijid  the    Pre4\ 
di(3:ions,  if  put  off  to  a  remote  Event,  would 
not  ferve  a?i  Impoftor's  Purpofe.     His  Fol- 
lowers are  too  impatient  and  eager  to  ftay? 
they  mufl  he  ftruck  with  fomething  near  at 
Hand.     And  yet  /i?^  precife  'Ti-me^  Day  or 
Year  of  it^  mufl  be  too  fun5iually  mentio7ied^\ 
for \  fear   of  Difappointment.      Tour  KcAj 
quaiQtahce,  Madam  Bourignony  was  fo  im^ ' 
prudent^   as  to  fix   "   the  Millennium,    or 
Day,  of  Judgment,  within  her  own  Days".^ ' 
and  io   near,   that  within  three  Years  *Z£i^ 
Jhould  fee  the  Eited:  of  it^     She  hath  been 
dead  about  feventy  Years,  and  thereby  proved 
herfelf  a  falfe  Prophetefs,     Tou^  Sir,  have 
beeUy  for  fome  Tears,  a  Dealer-oiit  of  the 
/^/?;t' Prophetic  Warnings :    "  Behold!  the 
Day  of  the  Lord  is  come,—- ^/^  this  very 
Hour  the  Lord  is  j'olling  away  our  Repronch^^ 
As  your  Reproach  is  not  beginning  to  ie 
rolled  away,    much    lefs    appears    any  fuU 
Completion;   haply  you- have    obtained   an 
ln\\ihitiQn*ym^:)ha'Oe  Power  to  adjourn  the 
Day  of  th^  'Lovdi,  from  "l^inj^  toTime,  at 

your 


lib.  4 


ycm-  PleaJure:-'By  fiich  * Artificef  ;'^/J^^, may 
hope  to  efiapt  /Z?^  Share,  tjito  which  ^  ;^ro- 
ther  Methodift-Teacher  '  fell  5  <who  pro- 
nou7iced  peremptorily,  fome  Jew  Tears  ago y 
"  that  the  Day  of  Judgment  fLould  come 
that  very  Year;;'  hut,  unluck^^^^^:!:^ 
c^^;Prophecy  hdppeniiig,  '^fy^^t^^[ M' 
Shame  \~l7nean,  if  he\\z^  m^.~^Tcu  will 
have  the  Story  a?mu~  '-     '.  - 1'/ ' ' 

In  the  mean  Time  take  fh^  following  Story 
Annal.  from   A^ftn^mt.:^^^/^^  \^about 

nifie  Hundred  Tears  ago]  there  was  a  crazy 
Woman,  called  Theoda,  whoy  under  the 
DireBion  of  a  Prieft,  for  the  Sake  of  Lucre^j 
ajid  depending  on  the  Credulity  of  the  People^ 
(ignorant  Perfo?2S  being  always  7nore  fup^ 
ftitlous  than  religious)  fet  up  for  the  Gift 
of  Prophefying.  She  pretended  Heavenly 
Vifions,  Meetings  and  Converfations  with 
the  C^leftial  Beings  :  and  foretold,  that  the 
Day  of  Judgment  fhould  come  tliat  very 
Year.  Men,  Wo7nen,  and  Childre?i,  frighte?i^ 
edfmt  of  their  Senfes,  flocked  about  her:^ 
brought  her  Prefents,  a?id  begged  her  Inter- 
ceffion  with  Heaven  ,•  followed,  adored,  and 
cjleemed  her  infpired.  But  being  brought 
before  fome  Bifliops,  Jke  discovered  the  whole 
Cheat,  in  which  foe  was  i??fruBed  by  the 
P^eft.  ^  For  which  foe  only  ufiderwejit  the 
Difcipline  of  Whipping  ;  a?2d  was  let  go,  /^ 
htmierwdrds  a  public  Lau^^hine-StocW'^VvC 

-   .  loi^r 


P.R  E  E,A,Q,E.  VII 

TcdircwnTollQwers^.^  i?iyour  laft  Journal, 
hMe^'&'Shar^m\yoiirCom^^        "  SQ?7ie  ^^S^ '• 
b^ijiing  to  ufe  ^tkeir  Liberty,  as.  W -Cloak  for 
Litentloufneis/'     /  readily  helicve.  it :    and 
not     only     beginning,    but    running    great 

Jucb  V^i\t^^^ot'%^^^^  infg 

your  Hea^^to;hnfetve^  ^^^[/ind^hpw.  fQi4d 
you  expeB  Mtcr,  'after  iheir^Jmg  cnu^bt 
in  j^ur  own  Wj^les  r— -^..grd^x^^^^^ 
^^ :^^P^/i^..  of.]hme:.of  your  ^Qno;ctg2ct\ons,    . 
Mo-lan^e   ;zc?/  j^/  Ichown  :tlieft   Depths^    7S!l 
^^  Preaching  at  M.^^V'^J^  Qofir^ed^an-^zln^  p4^o/. 
fttpid.  Attention, /^'l^'i^  *  losi 

c^vinced  of  •  Sin  :  J^  C2^,fri '  j'^^^^a^^^^ 
A^^bation,  M&  nblblute  Oheoncef n,--r 
ffr'^tK^hedy  i?i  the  Caftle  at  Exeter,  toju^ 
a'PcoptKjiilhave  rarely  fien,  void  both  pf 
Anger,"Fear,  '^^'Lm^r-^:^j:^ge  Peopk 
indeed  to^  he  void  of  all  three!  ;—!,^/  another 

Eoi^OtV^-^  ^  ftaring,    loving 

§oci^:'-—Atl  imaccom  Feopkl 

But  ?jot  a  S>uartcr  fo  unaccGuntahle,  as.^uchen 
they  tome  to  ^^^^^,mg^ 
tpur  inchanted  Wanti;.     •  -,  •       1  v        s\ 
\-Wpat  you  ibmo  cut  agahiji^^pke S)€tx^^r^ 
^  thenif elves .  cnfwer,     Bid^^^^i)you.]o^ 


the  W^^adjorbldd^n  bim^pu  excTatm- 

horribly^ 


vni  PREFACE. 

horribly,  "  By  what  Authority  am  Ifufpend- 
edfrom  preaching  ?  By  bare-faced  Arbitrary 
Power."  But  is  there  not  a  Caufe  ?  Are 
there  not  many  ?  Do  you  think  them  fo  in 
Love  nvith  your  B'ack  Art,  as  to  he  fond 
of  having  themfehes,  and  DoBrines,  traduced 
in  their  own  Pulpits?  Of  ferjnitting  their 
Flock  to  he  llioien,  or  catch  the  Murrain  ? 
— Tou  can  hardly  objeB  to  Vilions.  And 
Sale's  we  are  ir formed,  "  T^kat  Mahomet  had  a 
Koran,    vifion.  wherein  he  faw  his  Enemies  mount 

p.  232.  .  .  Y 

his  Pulpit,  and  jump  about  in  it  like 
Monkies."  The  Clergy  have  ojien  feen  fuch 
a  Sight,  bare-faced,  and  with  their  cor- 
poreal Eyes. 

Another  Complaint  lies  againjl  the  Curate 

p.  84     of  Ep worth  \    who  faid,  '^  Pray  tell  Mr. 

Wefley,  Ifhall  not  give  him  the  Sacrament. 

For  he  is  not  fit."     hideed.  Sir,  I  take  your 

Part   here,     (For  I  am  determined   to   a6i 

impartially.)     The    Curate    was    to    blame, 

PoJJibly  he  might   not  think  you  arrived  to 

Perfedion.      But,    on  the  other  Hand,   he 

ought  to  have   remembered  your  Doftrine  ^ 

4  Journ.  that  *'  no  Fitnefs   is  required  at  the  Time 

F-  47-      «9/Xummunicating,  hut  a  Senfe  of  our  utter 

Sinfulnefs;    every  one,   who  knows  he  is  fit 

for  Hell,  being  fit  to  come   to  Chrill  in 

this  Ordinance.'' 

But  your  worft  Enemies,  the  mofi  hate- 
ful of  Men,  are  the  wicked  Moravians. 
There  was  a  Time,  when  "  theirs  was  the 

only 


P^R  E  F  A  C  E.  lie 

only  Country  of  the  Chriftians;  —  wbe?i 
ym  coicld  not  fee  any  of  the?n^  but  your  Heart 
burned  withiii  you  -,  they  were  fome  of  the 
beft  of  Men;  a7id  (is  it  poffMef)-  better  by 
far  than  yourfelf,  C5?r."  But  7iow^  at  length'^ 
nothing  is  fo  wicked;  nothing  fo  deteflable. 
After  you  had  found  out  "  their  Guile, 
Hypocrify,  Profanation  of  God's  Ordi- 
nances, Conformity  to  this  World,  Tena- 
cioufnefs  of  their  eflentially-erroneous  Doc- 
trines,- &c,"^then  your  Difcipline  and  theirs 
are  as  widely  different^  as  the  .  Heavens  are 
from  the  Earth.  Nor  is  there  any  fo  ef-^ 
fiSual  B^r  in  the  World  againji  Moravianifm, 
as  pure  Methodifm,"  So  that  720w^  "  the^-e 
ri?^>^' Connexion  between  you\  the  Names 
6/^ 'Moravians  and  Methodifts  are  become 
fcandalous  to  each  other  T  And  yet  ^  in  Spite 
of  the  effectual  Bar,  you  are  perpetually  com-. 
plainifig  of  Methodifts  apoftatizing  to  the 
ftiil  Brethren ;  going  over  in  great  Nimibers 
to  their  .effentially  -  erroneous  Dodlrines. 
Which  may  be  called  a  Proofs  that  you  are 
abb  to  fet  Enthufiafm  a-going ;  but  want 
the  Art  ^flopping  it  at  P  leaf  are. 
-^^'■'  Let  me  afk  feiioufly  y  Are  the  Moravian 
Principles  and  Pradlices  {o  bad  as  you  de-- 
fcribe  them  f  Why  then  do  you  inake  your- 
felf fo  merry  with  your  own,  who  are  f educed 
by-  them?  Why  are  they  packed  away  co 
Hell  with  fuch  farcaftical  Sneers?  "  A  p.  gg, 
(?/>/,  whom  I  had  often  obfervedy  as  being 

b  in 


3:  P  R  E  F  A  C  ^E. 

in  an  eminent  Degree  of  a  meek  ajtd  lowly 
Spirit,  revrjlts  to  them.  Ah,  my  peer  flill 
Sifter !  "Thou  art  an  apt  Scholar  indeed !  I 
did  not  expeB  this  quite  lb  foon.  —  I  called 
en  poor  jofeph  Hodges,  'wbo,  after  -ioith- 
fianding  fo  long  the  Wiles  of  the  Enemy, 
has  been  at  laft  induced,  by  his  fatal  Regard 
for  Mr,  Hall,  to  renounce  both  my  Brother 
and  me,  in  Form.  But  he  had  perfedtly 
teamed  the  Exercife  of  his  Arms." 

I  fee.  Sir,  you  are  an  errant  Joker,  a 
perfed:  Droll.  Tcu  love  to  have  the  Laugh 
on  your  Side, — whoi  you  can  get  it,  Tou 
have  a  Jeft  at  their  Service,  even  when  they 
are  in  SatanV  Clutches. 

Plangentls  populi  currit  derifor  anubis. 

Btit  above  all,  your  Gall-bladder  chief y 
overfloivs  upon  their  Bilhop,  Count  Zinzen- 
dorf:  for  u'hofe  Sake  you  have  drawn  a 
Parallel ;  for  idnch  I  heartily  thank  you, 
?.  e-j.  «^  /  read  over  that  furprizing  Book,  The 
IJfe  of  Ignatius  Loyola :  fuj-ely  one  of  the 
greateft:  Men,  that  ever  was  e?7gaged  in  the 
Support  of  fo  bad  a  Caufe.  /  wonder  any 
Man  fioidd  judge  him  to  be  an  Enthufiaft. 
No,  But  he  knew  the  People  with  whom 
he  had  to  do.     And  fitting  out,  like  Count 

Z- ,  ^with  a  jull  Perfuafwn,    that  he 

7night  ufe  Guile,  to  promote  the  G\orj  of 
God,  or  (which  he  thought  the  fame  Thing) 
the  Intereft  of  his  Church,  he  aMed  in  all 

Things 


PREFACE.  xr 

Tthings  eonfiftent  with  his  Principles."  That 
you  have  ?i'ad  the  Life  of  Ignatius,  and  even 
made  it  your  Study,  the  IVorld  will  eafily 
believe  ;  imicfsyou  have  aBed  wholly  by  Sym-. 
pathy  ;  —  will  perhaps  be  difpofed  to  acquit 
you  2/  Enthufiafm,  and  for  the  fame  Rea- 
fons  :  — and  will  certainly  fee  ^  that  the  Cap 
will  fit  another  Head,  befides  that  of  the 
Count ;  and  will  call  to  mind  the  Story  of 
the  envious  Man^  who  did  not  care  if  he  loft 
both  his  own  Eyes,  fo  that  he  could  pick  out 
one  of  his  Enemy's.  But  that  is  of  little 
Moment,  I'he  Ambition  of  being  thought  a 
great  Man,  and  knowing  the  People  with 
whom  you  have  to  do^  will  be  fuficient  Re- 
compence  for  a  bad  Caufe,  ufing  Guile,  or 
being  called  a  crack-brain  a  Enthufiaft,  by 
inifiaken  Perfons. 

But  what  is  the  Quarrel  with  the  Count  ? 
Only  who  ft^ all  be  the  greateft.  Ton  are  Ri- 
vals, and  Competitors.  T^he  Count  will  7iot 
allow  you  to  govern.  He  is  the  principal 
Sheep-flealer  i  he  kidnaps  your  Followers. 
'The  Difpute  is  typified  by  the  Story  of  the 
Battle  between  Apollo  and  the  Dragon  Py- 
thon, who  Jljould  have  the  Direction  of  the 
Oracle :  —  or  that  of  three  Anti-Popes  at 
thefa?ne  Time^  banning  and  curfing  one  ano- 
ther for  the  Sake  of  the  infallible  Chair. 
Hence  thefe  inveterate  Animofities.  Hence 
your  reciprocal  Anathemas  "  of  Preaching 
another  Gofpel;  —  leading  to  Damnation  : 
b  2  The 


XII  P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

ne  Devil)  as  Mr,  Whitefield  ajftires  iis^ 
ftandi7ig  clofe  by^  and  blowing  the  Coals.'* 
Proceed  in  your  Contention^  exereife  your 
Arms ;  try  the  Pointy  ^ivhich  of  you  hath 
vioji  "  Subtlety,  Evaiion  and  Difguife ;" 
^hich  jhall  be  the  mofi  ''  clofe,  dark  and 
referved  ^"  ijohich  fiall  draw  mofi  Wood- 
cocks into  the  Snare.  The  World  will  foon 
he  convincd^  that  you  are  all  a  Pack  of  wild 
Fanatics, — aut  illud  quod  dicere  nolo. 

Go  on^    and  build  Chapels.     One  7nav  be 

Lucian,    dedicated  to  the  God  Proteus,  (as  was  i?i 

luiz*      ^^^^  Days   of  V^.g'miim)  famous  for  bei?2g  a 

P .  3  2  5 .    j  uggling  Wonder-monger,  afid  turni?ig  him- 

felf  into  all  Shapes : — Another  to  the  God 

r^&^Catius,    becaife  he  made  Men  Hy  znd 

cunning  as  Cats.     Tcu  will  find  fome  Wor- 

f  hip  per  s  :  the  People  with  whom  you  have  to 

doe  J  you  know^  will  adore  you ;  for  the  fame 

Macrob.   Reafon  that  "  the  ^Egyptians  did  their  Bull 

Lib  L     ^pjg .  Jyecaufe  renowned  for  Miracles,  and 

^^" "  '  every  Hour  changing  its  Colour." 

//  will  7iot  be  much  Trouble^  to  add  a  few 
more  Particulars  co?icer?ii?2g  this  fame  fur- 
FVm.  N^t.prizing  Beaft,  (God,  /  would  fay)  Apis. 
^f^p'28."  He  was  to  have  tr^r/^/;;  peculiar  Marks ; 
iSiian.  which ^  when  complete^  'z^^'r^' nine  and  Twen- 
^l^'-^,'",  ty  in  Nu?nher  :  A?id  thtfe  difiingiiifio able  only 
II.  cap.  by  the  Priefts  and  holy  Prophets;  not  to 
10.  _  be  under  flood ^  or  even  difcernedbyignoT^inli 
rJnTb T'-.^'^^'-^  profane  Eyes.  \_The  precfe  Number  of 
cap.  14.'  Methodiftical  ^larks  w//  know  befi :  and  you 

have 


PREFACE.  XIII 

have  charged  me  both  with  Ignorance  and 
Profanenefs,     concerjilng   them,^    Wheji   his 
Holinefs  was  confecrated,    he  was  provided 
with    two   Apartments^    which    they    called 
the  Chambers;    in  one  of  which  he   por- 
tends   horrible  Things,    in  the  other  joy- 
ful.    In  this  latter y  upon  Occafion  is  ad^nit- 
ted^  for  his  Diverfion^    a  beautiful  Heifer, 
havijjg  the  fame  Marks  with  his  own,  — 
He  could  do  Miracles,     and  foretel  future 
Events,  by  changing  his  Spots  and  Colours. 
—  When  led  out  among  the  common  Herds 
he    was  atte?ided  by  fome  gamefome  Boys, 
who  poured  out  Prophecies  in  Virtue  of  his 
Influence^  a?id  even  the  Herds  became  Enthu- 
fiaftic  and  Prophetical.  —  He  was  honour- 
ed with  Hymns  and  Sacrifices ;  feemed  to  be 
an  intelligent  Creature  ;    to  love  Adoration, 
a72d   receive  Homage   with   Plecfure,  —  He 
received  his  Meat  from   the  Ha?ids  of  his 
Worfhippers;    but  would  turn  his  Tail  to 
thofe  he  did  not  like,     [It  will  be  my  Fate 
to  be  fo  ferved.]  One  thing  was  remarkable 
in  this  deify'd  Brute  -,  he  mujl  be  born  of  a 
Heifer  that  had    been   ftruck   down   with  Hero^^ot, 
Lightning.       [This  .  you,    Sir,     and    Mr,  I'^^'s!' 
Whitefield,  fell  us  was  the  Cafe  of  fever al 
Methodift    Females.]    And  when  he   died, 
(for   die  his  Godfhip  muji  as  well  as  ^^Z/^^r  Auguft. 
horned  Cattle)  they  were  never  Io?ig  in find-^'^'^ -  ^^^» 
ing  out  another  with    fimilar  Marks;    /^^caV%* 

Dccmons 


XIV  PREFACE. 

Demons  foon  fupplying  them  with  a  Succef- 
for." 

It  would  be  keeping  clofer  to  my  Title  Pcigey 

if  I  could  fetch  a   Comparilbn   from  the 

Pope'i  Bulls.     'Thfe^    you  well  hww^  were 

literally  inere  Bubbles  ^    the  Seals  of  papal 

Cham-     Inftmments.  "  If  they  be  Letters  of  Grace, 

bers,  in    the  Bubble  is  loiwg   on  filken  Threads ;  if 

"  *       they  be  Letters  of  Juftice,    and  Executory, 

the  Bubble  is  himg  by  a  Hempen  Cord." 

Tou  are  ready ^  720  doubt ^  to  exclaim  once 
more^  "  what  is  all  this  to  me  ?  Doth  this 
prove  me  to  be  an  Enthuiiaft  ?" —  And  I 
begin  to  fear  that  my  Conimuiiication  with 
Methodifm  hath  had  bad  Effedls  3  that  my 
Head  is  thereby  fo?nething  diforder'd,  and 
?ny  Brains  upon  the  Ramble.  But  I  muft 
proceed  as  well  as  I  can. 

More  out   of  this   laft  Journal  (fraught 
with  the  ufual  lading  of  Vanity,  great  Pre- 
tenfions,  Exorcifms,    and  other  Oftentati- 
on    of  Miracles)   will  be   brought   to    the 
Touch-ftone  in  the  enfuingTizQi,     And^I 
hope^  you  will  take  in  good  part  a  few  gen- 
tle Stridures  from  the  Hand  of  a  Stran- 
ger ;  which  will  he  better  than  for   Rival- 
Saints  to  be  hacking  and  gailiing  one  ano- 
ther   fo  unmercifully.      Be  goveriid  by  the 
Siiilingfl. /i&w/;/'^  Example.     "  O-'/e' Henry,  a  Clu- 
^°^-^-    *niac  Abbot,  iimde  a  Rule,  that  the  Moyxk.^ 
^  *^''    flmdd  be  Jl^aved  by  a  fecular  Barber;    he-- 
catfe  whn  they  fiaved  themfihes,  it  was  not 

jQiaving, 


PREFACE.  .XV 

ihaving,     but   flaying.       Chronic,    Cluniac, 
p.  1670." 

Your  Letter  to  the  Author  of  Enthuii- 
afm  remains.       But  I  am  fimething  at   a 
lofs  what  to  fay  to  fuch  a  Medley  of  Chi- 
canery,   Sophiftry,  Prevarication,    Evaiion, 
Pertnefs,  Conceitednefs,    Scurrility,    Sauci- 
nefs,    and   Effrontery.       Paper  and  Time 
Jhouldmt  be  wafied  on  fuch  Stziff\     Aiid  yet 
I  begin  to  feel  a  Spice  of  Vanity^  and  enter^ 
tain  no   mean   Opinion    of    my    Pamphlets-^ 
feeing  (as  M?\  Whit^fi^XAfpcaks  in  his  own 
Cafe)   ''  they  have  ferved  a  good  Purpofe;'' 
by    drawing   out  the    true.    Spirit   of  Mr. 
John  Wefley.       hi  this    Performance  your 
Temper  appears    naked   and  undifguifed ; 
fo  as  abnofi  to  perfuade  the  TForld,   that  you 
are  no  Enthufiaft  -,    at  leaf  that  there  is  ?w 
Enthuiiafm  here.  —  /  a?n  not  fo    clear  in 
that  Point,     For  Enthuiiafm,  however  in- 
nocent at  the  firft  fetti?2g  out,    ujually  and 
naturally  runneth  into  Trick,  Bitternefs  and 
Ferocity;    cjpecially    where    it    catcheth    a 
fuitable  Difpoiition.     lHoe  Choler,  by  Per- 
vientation,  willfoon  become  Aduft  ;  will  turn 
black  and  bitter,   overflow  and  burn,  and 
boil,     and    rage,    and    ftihk,    like    Pitch. 
Such  was  the  Enthufiafm  of  Madam  Bqu- 
r Ignon ;  (wbof  Exprefjions  youfeem  fend  of 
Copying)    who^  omie  niore  fieps  ,hp,iitf^^mr  'ffi^ 
Afjiftance,     5&"'Z2;<?i^z\Vomanof a(ihoieri,c,    cQi  1 
Peevifli    and    morofe  Conflitution ;    which 

heightened 


XVI  P^R  E  F  A  C  E. 

heightened  /^j^r  Enthufiafm  eafilyAnt^irAher^ 
with  thofc   jnojl  excellent  Chriftian  Senti- 
ments,   in  her  Light   rifen   in   Darknefs^^ 

Part  3.     "  Many  fay\    that  I  camiot  ^^^r  Contradic- 

^^^'' ^*    tion. — And  they  are  ;zi?^  ^^  contradid  me 
by  their  Writings.      For   the   Holy  Spirit 

Part  4.     ought  not  to  be  controurd."---. "  Iivasfiir^. 

^^^^' ^^-  pri/ed  to  hear  you  njoas  ofihided  at  my  iifing. 
fharp  Language  againjl  Come  Perfons.  Be-^ 
lieve  me^  I  think  this. to  be  one  of  the  greateft. 
Graces,  that  God  has  given  me.-^J  blefs 
God  who  has  given  me  Anger  to  oppofe  Evil ; 
and  I  will  fight  agaijtft  it  even  with  An-r 
ger  and  Fury ;  not  heeding  whether  ycu^  or 
any  of  you^  approve  of  my  Procedure^  or  no, 
—  If  I  turn  angry,  and  am  fo  rude  iii  my 
Words ;  thefe  very  Things  are  Teftimonies  of 
the  Spirit  of  God. — A,  Soul  pojfejfed .with 
the  Spirit  of  God  ought  to  have  its  Paffions 
more  lively  than  any  other  Peifon  who  is 
pojfefed  with  his  own  Spirit  j  who  is  not 
allow'd  to  fiifter  his  Paffions  to  reign.' --^/ 
would  ahiofifay^  what  a  Vixen  hath  fet you  a 
Copy? 

Cnidelis  mater  m.agis,  anPuer  improbus  ille  ? 

What   now  is   becotne  of  ^^  tk  harmlefs 

•xr_.Methodifl:?  T[he  Man  who  keeps  his  Mouth 

■  -as   it  were  with  a  Bridie !    The  Saint  who 

faidy  '  Let  m^Jpeak  as  a  little  Child !    Let 

my    Religion    be    plain,     artlefs^    fimplel 

Meek' 


PREFACE.  XVII 

Mecknefs,  Temperance,  Patience  and  Love^ 
— -  be  thefe  my  higheft  Gifts ! '  —  fVhen  are 
we  to  fee  the  real  good  Fruits  of  your  New 
Birth  ?  Of  that  *  fpotlefs  Perfection,  that 
is  fromifcd  to  you  all?  *  How  long  are  we 
to  wait  for  your  Noftrum,  the  grand  Ope- 
ration, of  exalting  (through  the  Furnace) 
the  bafeft  Metals  into  Gold  ?  Hitherto  you 
may  join  ifj'ue  with  the  dijappointed  Jews ; 
".  \Ve  have  been  with  Child,  we  have 
been  in  Pain,  we  have  as  it  were  brought 
forth  Wind :  we  have  not  wrought  any 
Deliverance  in  the  Earth,  neither  have  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  World  fallen."  Hitherto 
your  Progrefs  is  that  of  a  Crab,  dire&ly 
backwards.  Ncr  can  I  difcern  any  Per- 
fed:lon  —  but  the  Perfedion  of  Jefuitifm^ 
"  Oh  !  what  a  Fall  is  here  ?  "  How  per- 
verfy  has  yciir  primitive  Saintfhip,  your 
dove-like  Simplicity,  been  hatching  the 
Cockatrice  Eggs,  and  weaving  the  Spider  s 
Web  ?  What  a  Change  from  pure  Nothing- 
licfs  into  f  riving  to  be  every  Thing  ?  JVbaf 
a  Dwindling  into  a  Great  Man  ?  There 
Wuj  a  Time  of  fuch  Mortification  and  Self- 
denial,  that  you  bound  ymrfelj  by  a  *'  re-2  Journ. 
peated  Refoiution,  never  mere  to  fpeak  av-  ^^* 
Tittle  of  worldly  Things."  But  "  notwith-  Letter, 
Jiand/ng  this,  [they  are  your  own  Wcrds'\  you^  *3- 
bav'  often  fince  engaged  therein."  —  Thci'e 
was  a  Time,  when  (Uke  St.  Francis,  who 
made  himfefWivcs  and  Miftrefles  of  Snow- 
c  balls) 


XVIII  PRE  F  A  CE. 

l^aa  App.  |;^all.s)  ym  was  in  Love  with  ^^,  Froft  an<f 
^'  ^^^'     Snow ;  when  you  laid  you  down  on  the  Flbory 
andjlcptfoimdly-y  when  you  believed ^yotijhoidi 
not  need  to  go  tt>-bed  any  mor&^  di'^tis  calledl\ 
jlt  lengthy   even  a  warm  Bed  wont  Jewel 
lijlthozit^a  eomfortable  Bed-FelloW.     Bicfj 
m^far^iaf  I  can  objWve^  this  is  the  Way  of 
ymedl.^i^l  are  of  the  Family  of  Love.    A?id 
tJjus  i*' &tan  ;?Wi  j^'c^  iTzrf  fliaking  his  King- 
dom, and  making  Mothers  in  Ifrael."     Nof 
are  there  wa^tting  among  you  much  worfe  and 
more  pregnant  Proofs  bf  venereal  Enthli^ 
fiafm  ',•  the  Jirange  -Mixtures  of  Debauchei^ 
and  SmBity,  :  -  ^      '^'-^ 

.  Toil  ha^ve  bragged^  with  the  proud  Pha^ 
1  Journ.  rifee,.  ''  my  Ways  are  not  like  other  M^\ 
P-  ^7-       Ways-, — Give  me  where  to  Jland,  andi''^%iU 

3  Journ.  ^;^|^  fhc  Earth :  —  ly  and  my  Brother/'-^rc- 
P','^^*      unexceptionable  on  alV Accounts: — 0/ Ex- 

4  Journ.  i  i      c\  •//  /• 

p.  8 1.      periences, ^i^to //^^  Servant  mtght  be  as  m 
p/[a&(^'r,' without  any  Corruption,  &c."     JB^if 
iraiah.xiv.,.^All  ihall  fpeak,    and  fay  unto   thee.   Art 
thou  alfo  become  weak  as  we  ?    Art  thou 
.,,,^i  Jjecome  like  unto  us?    Thou  haft  faid,  >X 
-      'will  afcend  into  Heaven  j  I  will  be  like  the 
-     Moft  High.     They  that  fee  thee  iliall  nar- 
rowly look  upon  thee,  ajid  confider  thee^ 
faying,  Is  this  the  Man  that  made  the  Eardi 
JO  tremble,  that  did  (hake  Kingdoms  ?     --  - 
\v3  But  hold!    ''  I  fiall  run  myfelf  owt'x^ 
fii^th  again.     I  jhall  onge  more  be  charged 
mthfetting  ^de  the  New'  Ti^ftam^nt,  i^ 
A^ii^^'VA;^.  \i  not 


PREFACE.  x«« 

nxtt .adverting  tO'it^  in  writijig  my  V2LVcv^\A^X.r 
Did  I  never  read  thofe  Scripture-Inftances, 
^y.c^ompaffing  Sea  and  Land  to  make  Pro-- 
lelytes; — of  ftraining  at  a  Gnat,  and  fwals* 
lowing  a  Camel; — of  founding  a  Trumpefe,; 
and  then  praying  in  the  Synagogues,  the 
Streets,  aad  the  Market-Places  ^'--r devour- 
ing Widows  Houfes,  and  for  a  She\^  jrnak- 
ing  long  Pray^i;^^i-r-of  Fafters  witha  fad 
Countenance ';  -r-rnoutwardly  whited  Se- 
pulchres, but  full  of  dead  Mens  Bones, 
and;.. all  Uncleannefs ?  • . JF///  /  ;?(?2f  WW/^ 
thefe  Jhr  Parallels  ?  -^Upon  RecolkBiGny  I 
Mievp  there  are  jiich  Inftances.  And  J  mii 
b^fo  free  with  my  Friend,  as  to  allow ^ycu  to 
mah  tbe^  ^^l?efij)J'  them^  and  brings  ihem:\tQ  :  ■• 
Account.    ;v.,,v^ '  —  •  -:-i ^  ■  ■. v^%^       ■ ' ■  -'^ 

^y:^^^(jiy:^\-J.cdoubt^  ^^  I  fiall  even  run  intcM    '^^f^^l 
Self-Contradiftion.     For   Juftice  calls  upon       "     ' 
7m  to^give  a  frelli  Specimen  of  your  Prowefs, 
if, 'your  Martial  Enthufiafm;    by  producing 
thp\  Challenge  you.  fent  me :    which  may  be 
good  F roof  of  that  Heroic  Sandlity,  necejjmy 
for  a  Papal  Canonization."     ''  Jt  is^I^ijne^  u^x^r,    > 
Sir^   you  jljould  leave. your  S^ulkijig-^Place.^- 1.*^* 
Come  out*,  and  let  u$  look,  each  other  in  the 
Face,"— ~3^z/   may  perhaps  brand  i^ie  for  a 
Coy/ard^^    But  really ^  Sir,   I  am  no  Her* 
aAt'=^:.,xy^QU^knmo  the  Stoiy  of  Us  fighting 
witif  ra^i\  Ant^gonidv  who  hadtlM  Gift  of 
trt^nsfhr?m/?g.hif/lfelfmto:i\\  Shapes.     fFhen 
ihB-^lQ- thought  be  bad  gothimfafi,  keJHps 
\r^^ .  c  2  through 


^  1  R  R  R  A  G  E. 

^fhrot^h  his>  Fingers  in  -tjse.  Shape  o£  Wate  ^ 
hr:hlaztih.mitin..  the  Farm  (j/'vFire;   ./y6<;%o^^' 
^^^oarSy^j^j^y,.m^^  Groundy  m^he 

figure. of  a  ^^M3^^^    ia/l/y,  befets  a-hiffin.g, ' 
./^rif^  ,to  .^forli^    Tongue,  /pits    all    bis 
^^B^Myiif^Asi^P'^  S^^^^  <3w^^,  in:tbe  Shape 
\^:^jis§^^l^^  ,  So  that  J.  may  fairly  make 

plijfy  yourielf,  and  feevpWjThing. -^  :S^^ 
there  is  fill  niore  immediate-  Danger.  Fpr 
'^^tainly  ym  'would  not,  fave  your  Sincerity 
furpeded,  ijoben^  mounting  your  triumphal 
Chariot,  ym^^'boaf^  and  cry  ViBoryl  in 
jian)ing  X^x^  ixiQ\i  Numbers  flat  on,  the 
<3round,  by  Dint  of  a  few  Words  ^bytbe 
Breath  of  your  Moutb  rendering  tbemfpec^-- 
lefs,  fenfelefs ;  or  tortured  with  inexpref- 
iil)|p  Agonies."  He  muf  be  a  bold  Man^ 
that  will  venture  to  look  you  in  th^  FaiOit, 
though  attended  with  his  Seconds. 
„  ^^^,  ^  .  'Tis  true,  you  are  fometimes  fo  good  as  to 
%^  ,  %fet  yoiir  Frietids  at  Liberty,  and  reform 
them  to  Pardon,  and  Peace,"  But  fucb^:^ 
one  as  I  can  hardly  hope  to  merit  this  Favour 
3^r  .^our  Mm^kl.  iLwHl  him  vm  Jo.  i>gg 

..^,  But  lam  not  now  entering  inta  aDttmlif 

thefe  horrible  and  {hocking  Things.     Jfe/ 

w7/  take  up  a  corf  der able  Part  of  the  J^^ 

.,,,    lowijjg  Pamphlet.    ,And  if  ymr  Ofm^:sdi^ 

t  :     f$u^ts,be  tru?,^^'^  of  your  Power  to  thrsm 

^o>;   ■  J?^r^^.-^c^ Weis  into   Contorfms,,iKQniyui* 


PREFACE.  XXI 

^/f^'^TanWyj'i^  nti^^  Diforaers^^ 

Modf'andMM  moji  h^lWa  Tor- 

tfaVe^)  iind  then  UrAt:3ik  them  again  y*^ 

dluf^^e-  ii)e^^€afe,  and  your  are-  not  broUgW  fo 

^hbld  up  yoqr  Hand  at  the  Bar;  ;)'^F'^(? 

much(Miged  to  the  7^;^^  Aft  oiF  PariaiW8nl, 

^^Mcy^tt^At^  the  Laws  again  ft -Wft^fi"- 

crafft.    HiMt^h,    if  I  mijidke  noty-  thefe  is 

iftill  an  ExG€|)tion  as  to  the  White  Witches, 

the  Recoverers j  ^  T£;/6(9  lindt)  i£'/j^/  Satan  and 

(he  Black  Witches  ha've  donel'^^  With  Regdrd 

7^  ifi?^^' if/j^  Statute  is  unrepeali^S.  _\ 

The  bare  Relation  of  fuch  Miferies,  ivhr^) 

yki  are  proud  of  inflicfting,  are  jirffidaif  .to 

w^  make  even   me  (as  yoii  jfeak)  fall  ifitu 

-Sferioufnefs."     And  yet  perhaps  Room  enoudj 

^iU^be  found  for  you  to  aft  your  Mutii- 

3:mMes  and  Farces^  mid  make  a  ridiculcus 

One  deplombfe'MisferttW^']^^}^!^ 
^hich  I  know  not  how  to  Jhake  qf^^'  '^t.l'ir/ Letter, 
take  your  Leave  of  me,  and  willik)avJ^\no^'9  44- 
thing  to  fay  to  fne,  unlefs  I^m/ffct  m^-]:^'Smt 
to  my 'Third  Part."     Upon  thiv^C^i^ii^, 
there  is  a  ProfpeSi  of  Admifjidn'f^^^yoicf'^^y^ 
Graces,    and  I  may  hope  for  yott?'^'^fp^Q 
Correfpondence^  •  -and  'rdc(Wi^9^^%^ 
Behaviour  to'Wafdi' another  AAi^tfS^y  '^V^ 
mil  db  me  Honoui' before  the  Pe^^^^^ 
puts  me  in  Mhidxffhe  Cafe  cf  one  ^'  Mi^-  Franc. 
Hpemas,  whahddfirongly  oppofed  the  odgJe^tV  ^^''"^'. 
-i«t^-idiiits.    St.'K^d^wm  appeared  to  hnf'Wk^'  ^^  ' 
i^.^^H.  Night, 


m^  P  R,  15  F  A  Q  E. 

Nighty  but  with  his  Back  turned  upon  him,- 
^0  whom  Mafcarenius/^/^,  '  My  good  Sainti 
nl'hy  dojl  thou,  not  turn  thy  Face  towards  nie\^ 
Xavier  repUedy'.  ^  Be  changed  into  another 
Man,   and  then  I  will,^|j^ji^^^^j^;gace^  to 

V^5f!Jfv.7^^  *z^^rA'^^^^  ^^M'^m^iM  you  the 
Image  of  a.  Jefuit,  j^^c^r^  I\J?;^nt  help  it, 
I.mU  be  mm-eopm  about  ;//y,  Helpers,  (which 
giv^s  ycu  foine  ScJIicitude)  f^^fy  telling  yo^^ 
V^h.Qjhcy  cre^A:  -^^^^  the^t^  I perfi4ade  myfe^^ 
you  ^  will.,  entj^ftj^f  ^po.^m^g^*  Opinioriv;^ 

^f^  /;v'\ :::'"■:    -^  ;;.  .^v;  /    "./.^.r 

:^^j^t  t-hefirji  J?lace  finnd your  good  Self  ,a^4 
Airociatesj:.?^y6a  have  fupplied  me  with  j^^^^ 
ample  Materials.  /  have  little  more  HojtoMr^ 
tk^skn   that  of  beijig  an  Echo,    rebounding 

JQg^  own  Words.  In  the  fecond  Ran^ 
^f^  my  Parallels  from  Pagan,  Hereti-r 
cal,  and  Popifh  Enthufiafts  and  Impoftors. 
Get  the  better  oj\  ^o^rjelf  and  theje^  and  I 
fubmit.  .     - 

Should  Satan  tepipt  you  to  break  your  Rule 
of  Silence  ;  or  Choler  be  fo  predojninant^  a\ 
to  force  you  upon  another  Anfwer;  be  fo 
yfiji^  as  p  follow  my  h&v\!Z(^i.^^l^  think. you 
^illy.^jb^mufe  it  hath^  hem  .yoy^r^  Manner| 
^^fhqtyou,  willlifie^tpA^rimd^^^^^ 

."^O  Qui  moriet  itt  facias  qti'od  jath'facls. 

hrvS^'tO'tbemoJl  ;m'aterial  Objedions,  .on nxit 
anfwerable  Points,  take  no  maimer  of  Notice 

of 


#  Rf  ]^  #  j^  ^  fi.  xxi^ 

^ %M? ' 'iSh&i'  the  Shoe  piniches,  pretend 
yvtc'  dont  feel,  "f hough  fometi??ies  you  via^ 
he  allowed  to  twlft,  wince,  wriggle,  fhim 
dhd  prevaricate  5  or  wear  a  Mafk,  and'fi^ 
0>?ri7f  Cloak  of  Sanftity.  ;"Y 

But  be  efpecially  watchful,  and  mark^mi 
lige?jtlyy  "Whuher  your .  Opponent  advamreth 
any  'Thing  'that  ;^V '  riot  in  hi^  Title-Page :  it 
being  abfolutefy  'necejfary  that  the  Title-Page 
jhoidd  contain  every  Word  and  Syllable  of  the 
jitbfequent  Book' :^-i-'Gr  if  he  Jhoiild  happen  to 
Mtfidke  the  Page  in  his  Quotations,  or  no^t 
quote  it  at  all:  —  Or  you  take  it  in  yotir 
Head,  to  fancy  he  has  offended  againfi  Gram- 
I^S^j!^^  W/y<f:jr  not  fo  good  Englidi  as  your- 
W^^^Here  ftick  clofe  upon  him.  Catch 
Wrrfn  07ie  of  thefe  enormous  Crimes ;  an)i 
theft' you  ft  and  clear  of  all  Difficulties ;  yotl)^ 
Atfverfary  is  entirely  confuted  3  and  Methb-V 
difm  is  white  as  Snow.         —  ■  ,■    -^  •-  -■  ,^-^^ 

Keep  up  the  good  Q//?^;^ '  ^  Di^g^ng  ISf 
your  frequent  Prayers,  of  your  Miracle^ 
the  Number  of  your  i^dherents,  and  your 
Influence  over  them.  T^hen  'tis  likely  fonre 
Perronet  or  other ^  will  beftow  on  you  the 
fame  Compliment,  with  which  Father  D02M 
ikcdrhtedy  in  his  Sermon,  the  Poundei*  (5f 
the  Jeluits:r '^<*  In  thefe  laft  Days  God  Wat'h 
/poken  unto  -u§  by  his  Son  Ignatius."  Or^ 
if  you  chufe  to  govern  by  Fear^  you  may  re- 
-m^  ti)e  Li3tt5di^'^f 'i^rieas  Sylvius  to  Cardinal 
njjuo/  .^^^;\^\  UN  ^-.  .hivu  FirmaH 4 


XXIV  PREFACE  ^,^^ 

Martyrol.  Firman :  *'  Brother  John  (Caplffran)  k 
^ncifc.  a  Man  of  God:  the  People  of  Gtxmzny  efteem 
him  as  a  Prophet.  He  could^  whenever  he 
pkafethy  by  lifting  up  a  Finger ^  raife  a  great 
Commotion.  Tthe  Chief  Pontiff  ought  to 
reward^  and  comfort  thofe^  who  merit  well 
of  the  Roman  Church.  And  that  fuch  is 
this  John,  with  his  Brethren,  no  Body  that 
hath  any  Senfe  will  denyT 

Were  I  to  examine  all  the  Writings^  and 
whole  Behaviour y  of  the  Methodifts,  the 
Difquifition  would  carry  me  into  an  immoderate 
Length:  and  I  could  eafily  too  have  doubled 
my  Parallels.  But  both  your  Friends^  and 
mine,  will  think  enough  hath  been  faid. 
Upon  the  Whole ^  however^  I  reckon  it,  *S/r, 
my  bounden  Fiuty  folemnly  to  declare,— ^that  I 
M  believe  Methodifm  (however  innocent  in  its 
\  Conception  and  Birth)  to  have  been  gra- 
dually a?id  diligently  nurfed  up  into  a  Syilem 
of  folemn  Impofture  ;  —  that  I  fee  7iotbing 
in  this  Difpenfation  thus  managed,  but 
what  lies  in  common  with  the  moft  frantic 
and  peftilent  Fanaticifms,  that  have  fo 
often  poifcned  the  Chriftian  World\  ?iothing 
that  is  not  drinking  up  the  very  Dregs  of 
Popery  in  particular.— -That  (nGtwithjtand" 
ing  your  lly  IiiUnuations  of  having  to  do 
with  a  Middletoniaa  and  Antifcripturift  ) 
the  undoubted  Revelation,  contamed  in  the 
lively    Oracles   of  Holy  Scripture,  is  my 

folc 


P^  R,  ]|  5;  A  C,  E.  XXV 

fol^  Rule  of  FaitS  and  Mauners;  and  my^  ' 

■Reyercnce^r  /y^^'facred  Writings  is  hoimd 
'about  my  Heart.     For  which  very  Reafon^  I 
'woull  (as  muib'as  in  me  lies)  prevent  their 
flonoixraiid  Kn^ontY  from  beitrg  expofed  h 
,'Scorn  by  the  Mockery,  Traveftie,  and  Biir- 
lefque  of  Me^hodifm.     Therefore  wherever 
^JJind  a  great  Strefs  laid  upon  fonie  imagi- 
ii&ry,  infignificant,  or  unintelligible  Peculf- 
aritiesj  —  /i?^  Word  of  God  turned  intj)% 
Conjuring  Book ;  --^  the  Divine  Ordinafices 
l^hef  lightly  ejleemed^    or  irnputed^   to  iBe 
t)evil  i — good  Works  either  undervaluedy  h^ 
trodden  under  Foot ;  — ■  Wild-fire  "dangeroicfly 
toj^eii  about y   injiead  of  that  Light  wHich.  • 
tafjle  down  from  Heaven;-— /z^'.Prfi'ifM-  ^ 
Ji^ks  to  extraordinary  Revelations, '  Infpira- 
tidh$,'  ufurping  the  Name  of  the  Holy  One; 
nditf}  perfonal  Conferences  with  God,  Fat^   ' 
to''" Face; — enthufiaftic  Ranters  comparing 
thmfehes  with  Prophets,  and  Apoftles,'^  ^ 
not  with  Q\vi\^himfef  \~ihe  mojl  wiid'anji  ^ 
'extravagant  Behaviour^  the  Phren^ies  of  h 
dijlurbed  Brain,'  of' deluded  Imagi?mtion\^  the  l 
EffeSfs  ofViUy  of 'a  weak  Head,  of  difeqjed 
Body,    all  ttirjied  into  fo  mafiy  Tt^is   and- 
Marks  of  Saintfhip  ;  —  the  Spirit"  of  Prr(|e  -, 
afid^  Vanity  pojfejjing  the  Leaders  *  a  Spirit  ' 
^  Envy,    Rancour,-  Broils^    and  implacoBie- 
K^imofties,  dafjing  each  other  in  Pieces  i% 
Sbint  of  Bitternefsmd  XhchaiitaBehelY tb^' 


xxvT  P  R  E  F  A  C,iEq 

wards  the  reji  of  Mankind  y  ^--n  Pro^refi, 
through^  Immorality,  Scepticifm,  Infidelitjrj^ 
hjiioi^tny  jhrough  fpiritual  Defertions^  De^, 
fpair  and  Madnefs,  made  the  Gate  of  Pe% 
{^Qion  y-^an  imaginary  New  Birth  to  be^ 
hr^c^gbt^to  fafs  by  Me  am  ^real  Tortures,  -  gf 

j^^.:^'-4^^  :/^  ^^^ifi^^  P^^^gs  ^i^d  Suffer- 
ijigs  thflt^caJi:.nffeB.M^  —  ^S^h 

i£^ere,  thgjyare  'Ji3;un^^^  more  eqimlly^ 

horrible^  ane.  tr^ay  ^afly  difcern  a  wide  Dif-- 
ference  betj^cen  Juch  .a  Diip-enfation  and 
g^f^vuiie  R,eligipn  \  -^as  w^-as  the  bungling 
Hand  that  is^Juhjiituting  the  former  in  the 
^loffof'the  other.  One  may  eq/ify  difcern 
•^^/^-,Strangers  yi^;^/?  jjnoprififtent  Ra.mblers 
m^  hey  to  tjoe  true  Devotion,    as ,  n^§ll  ,fi:{ 

I  ^.omforts,  of  a  fedate,  compofed  Pi^ty^'V^ 
f;  firm  Belief  of  our  Maker  and  Pvedeem^ 
and  confiant  ReUa7ice  z/^c;r  Providence ;  to^^ 
^eady  Coiirfe  of  finccve,  habitual,  and  uu- 
affefted    Religion  -,    to  the  cherijl:ing    cf  a 
*warm  Love  of  God  in  the  Hearty,  and  wellr- 
tempered  TLtAfor  the  Truths  of  his  infpir^d 
Word,  and  this  proved  by  the  Love  of  our 
Neighbour :— 21?  a  general  Obfervance  and 
^^At tendance  on  the  Means  of  Grace,  ^W^ 
well-grounded  Hope  of  Glory.  -—  Go^  aj^d 
compare  the  Chaff  with  the  Wheat. 

Nor  are  the  evil  Tendencies  of  Metho- 

.  difm  in  the  leaf  diminifrjed  by  being  covered 

Mt^:^?^-^lP^i-  -ftf  S^ndtity,  and  ornamented 

"Witb 


^B5^^;?&  Trappings'' 'd^^^^^  Artifices, 

alifl|fSir  Pretences.  Tbey  may  help  to  fpread 
/y5f  belufion,  hut  are  a  high  Aggravation  of 
the  Crime.  ^^ '-vi^-^\   , -■  :  -^-    --;^: 

The  Cafe  is  the  Jafne\  m  the  ojlentatid^ 
Declarations  of  prophefying,  cafting^  t)uj(:^ 
Devils,  the  Gift  of  Healing,  or  other  n\ti^ 
culous  Powers  among  you.  They  tend  en)P' 
dently  to  render  the  true  Gifts  of  the  Spirit 
fufpicious ;  to  bring  a  Reprdach  and  Scan- 
dal on  the  Prophecies,  and  Miracles,  which 
eftablifh  the  Infpiration  of  the  everlafting 
Gofpel.  But  thus  it  muft  be,  Thefe  are 
tifaal  and  necelTary  Engines  of  hair-brained 
Enthufiafts,  and  crafty  Impoftors,  for  wof^k-- 
ing  upon  the  Paffions  of  weak,  credulous, 
or  diftempered  People.  While  there  are 
any  fuch  People  in  the  Worlds  a  deceitful 
Worker  will  fcarce  fail  of  fome  Degree  of 
Succefs,  And  if  great  Mifchief  be  not  the 
Confequence^  'tis  owing  to  that  Providential 
Being,  who  fruftrateth  the  Tokens  of  Liars, 
ihd  maketh  Diviners  mad. 
^''-  ^When  you  have  cojifidered  thefe  Things 'tho-- 
'foiighly^  in  a  fober  and  difpaffionate  State  of 

Mmdiy''^yoll'' will  pave'  Rhjdh  ^W-^^tid^t 
>^^  ^>)x)  —  .^'ioiO  10  :>!juJFi  Dabnrjoig-llivv 

V.^\^m^^-^o  ^^^^^Ydiii^^eSf  and- fSit&ul'^F&a. 
d  2  POST^ 


xxvuT  PREFACE. 

^'^'^d'l  w^*^^  ^^\^  i^sy;*, 

Cy^OU  may  obfernJe,  Sir,  thiit  I  ^h&bd. 
-JL  taken  a  View  of  Methodifm  on  the 
V:,  brighteft  Side,  and  in  the  beft  Light: 
hecaufe  I  have  taken  my  Materials,  almojl 
'Wholly.^  from  its  moft  celebrated  Preachers. 
Were  nve  to,  defend  to  the  Tenets  and  Aftions 
of  your  Under-Teachers,  aiid  jnoft  obedient 
Followers,  *'  What  a  Scene  would  be  here 
dfclofedV\  A  few  Inftances  of  this  Nature 
mil  appear  in.. the  following  Difcourfe.  One 
7nore^  being  an  Affidavit,  that  very  lately  was 
put  into  my  Hands y  Ifallherefubjoin,  Afid 
^  am  credibly  informed  that  other  fuch  I>oc- 
4vine§  ahdvTraidls  ;;7^^  kefoon  colleBed,  either 
proved  upon  Oath,  jrr  otherivife  well-attefted, 
fiifipefvt  Jo  make  a  reafonable  Volume. — If 
^(^ik  right tq  Lave  a  Corgs  de.Referve.  >.i,; 

iv^.-d-iV,  mv^vT'  :  i5)rioBsi*I'  The 


P  R  ErF  A  C^Ei  XXIX 

«  The  Information  of  Thomas  Love//,    of 
sStoke-Damerel  in  Jhe  County,   of  Devon, 
^.Sail'-makery   taken  before  me  the  25th 
of  MaVy  A.  D.  1747. 

'  This  Infonnant  on  'Mp  G^^*&okmfarify 
faith,  that  he  formerly  attended  the  Meetings 
of  thofe  Perfons    who   call   themfehes  Me- 
thodifts,  being  invited  fo  to  do  by  one  of  their 
Preachers,  called  Crownley :    a?id  that  they 
divide  themfelves  into  different  Clafles,  where 
they  meet  at  private  Houfes :    that  a  Huf- 
band  and  Wife  carit  he  of  the  fame  Clafs, 
nor  Father  and   Son,    nor  a  Brother  and 
Sifter. '    That  they  often  pretoid  to  recciv^e 
the  Spirit,  and  they  that  receive  it  (as  they 
fay)  jump  about  the  Roomy  and  afk  others  if 
they  dont  fee  the  Spirit.     And  that  he'  is 
credibly  ififormedy  that  one  Jofeph  Peters,  of 
the  faid  Pariih,    {who  is,  fnce  he  followed 
thefe  People,   out  of  his  Senfes,    but  before 
was  a  ve7y  reafonable  Perfon)  reported  Ik 
was  in  a  Trance,   or  deep  Sleep,  when  an 
Angel  appeared  to   hiin,    and  told  him,  })e 
fiould  go  to  his  Mother,  a?2d  bf^ing  her  into 
the  Society  of  Methodifts^  and,  if  Jhe  rcr- 
fufedy  hep:oidd  kill  her:  and  that  he  aBually 
attempted  to  cut  her  Throat,    as  he  is  i?i^ 
formed.     And  that  the  Reader  of  each  Meetr 
ingy    aftei'    they    have   prayed    after   their 
Manner y  and  fiing  Pfalms,   colkutcd  Money 
from  all  prefenty  for  which  they  accou7it  to 
^the   Preachers,    who  co7ne   at   Thnes  from 

dijlant 


y 


kxx  PREFACE. 

diftanf  Places.  That  at  fome  Meetings  he 
bath  known  a7id  been  prefenty  when  Women' 
have  bee?!  taken  from  the  Rooms  where  they 
met,  and  carried  into  Bed^Chambers,  dhd 
thrown  upon  Beds ;  where  they  have  lain  in 
Fits,  (7r  Swoons,  a7id  the  Preacher  has  cried 
out  at  the  fame  T'ime^-I^  thtm  aiM^ffW  the 
Spirit  was  entering  into  therri.  '^  And  thai 
he  hath  known  fe^oeral  of  the'm  leave  their 
Work  and  Labour^  by  which  they  and  their 
families  were  to  be  fupported^  to  attend  the 
Runnagate  Preachers :  and  that  in  the 
The  Dock  Yat  d  *  many  of  them  have  drawn  Workmen 
"^^outir*  .Z^*^^^^  ^'^^^^  Labour  to  preach  to  them^  to  the 
great  Hindrance  of  xki^  King's  Works.  That 
he  hath  frequently  himfelf  contributed  to  their 
Collecftion,  but  knows  not  how  the  Money  is 
difpcfed  of  That  there  are  now  at  Dock 
eleven  Leaders  of  fo  tjiany  different  ClalTes. 
That  he  hath  frequently  heard  Cvovj  nicy  ^  and 
William  Dr^ke,  who  is  alfo  one  among  theniy 
and  fever al  others^  ajjert^  that  after  they 
have  received  the  Spirit  they  cannot  fin ; 
and  if  they  commit  any  Sin,  it  is  only  an 
Error  in  fuch  j  and  let  them  do  whatever 
they  pleafe  after  their  Adoption,  however 
finful  the  Adl  is,  they  are  fare  to  be  faved 
notwithftanding. 

Thomas  Lovell/ 
T-akcn  before  me^  the  Day 
and  Tear  above-mentioned^ 
J.  Snow." 

«  Mem. 


PREFACE.  XXXI 

^\"v.Menii"  .  Jofeph  Peters,  upon  talkiJig^ 
^viih  a  Clergyman,  of  the  Church  of  Engr<; 
land,  loas  convinced  that  his  Vifion  was  a 
Piabolical  Dclufion,  if  a?7y  'Thrdg.^.JHs  re,^ 
ceiv^i  ihe  Sacrament,  and  fee?ned  wjell  inr.hji^ 
^cnits^^fhr-Jkrne  time y, but  0lrf4lo'wed^dfh. 
Methodift&;  W,  upon-  a  fecond  Vifion.,  ^i6^, 
again  attempted  killing  his  Mother,  md 
actually  fet  the  Houfe  on  Ymy.and^^ooas 
fent  away  to  a  Mad-houfe>^"^^^^Si J,  W^^  A'loW 

y:\:Tkis  may,  in  a  great  Meafure,  ferve  for 
^^^•Anfwer  to  thofe  who  inquire ^    What  is         :   . 
the  Religion  of  Methodifm  ?  ^.^^  v^q-^\  -'i^^  •»^^« 

U   ^^\^cJVu   ^'■^^  '^r'^;\  \--  -AvX   .noiftalloD 

Aooa  H5a\?^ 


.fUuoar 


nc  y'^o  ei  li  ^^^^^  i--  -— —  >  '^^^  ^i  hnu 
i3V3j£i{v/  oh  insrfj  i^I  hnB  ^  floiil  ni  ioti3 
lav^wori  enoi'iqobA  ii3r{j  laiis  cTtBDlq  pdj 
b^vii  3d  oi  aiu'i  31b  v^rli  t8i  i!>A  adi  Ii/intl 

.gnihnBflriiiv/joft 
MbvoJ  8BrnofIT 

"cWoa2  \ 


THE 

ENTHUSIASM 

O   F 

Methodists,   &c, 

PART     III.  ' 


SECTION    I. 

COMPARISONS,  'tis  faid,  are 
odious.  Thofe  I  have  drawn  have 
probably  been  fo  to  the  Methodifts-, 
and,  I  am  fure,  troublefome  to  myfelf. 
But  having  already  traced  thefe  Pretended 
Reformers  through  feveral  of  their  Enthu- 
fiajiic  and  Fanatic  Ways,  and  marked  how 
exadly  (I  know  not  by  w^hat  Chance,  Fa- 
taUty,  or  Defign)  they  have  trodden  in  the 
Steps  of  their  Popi/h  Predecejjors ;  I  am 
now,  however  weary,  to  follow  them  into 
B  more 


(  2  )  _ 

more  of  their  Delufions,  which  are  the  na- 
tural Properties^  T'enikncies,  and  Effe^s  of 
tbicir  ftrange  Difpenfation, 

The    Reader   may   recollect   what   was 
faid  before  in  their  own  Words,    "  of  their 
*'  bitter  and  uncharitable  Spirit  towards  all 
''  not  of  their  Sedtj — their  own  mutual 
"  Rancours  and  Quarrels  j  their  biting  and 
''  devouring  one  another  j  having  difputed 
'^  avv'ay  both  their  Faith  and  Love,   and 
*^  not  like  to  come  to  any  fure  Founda- 
"  tion  ;  each  of  their  Parti es^  and  Leaders 
''  of  their  Parties,    charging  one  another 
''  with   efpoufing  a  New  Gofpcl,  teaching 
"  the    moft    wickedy    ejentially-erroiietusy 
^^  blajphemoiiSy  a?id  damnable  DoBrines  y  — 
"  prodigious  Numbers    ceafing    from    all 
*'  Means  of  Grace,  from  attending  Churchy 
^^  SacramentSy  Prayer,  and  reading  Scrip- 
^'  ture,  and  making  a  ^efi  of  it  all ; — a  ge- 
"  neral  Temptation  to  leave  oS good  Works ; 
*^  a  Cry  of,  '  No  Works y  no  Law,    no  Com- 
"  mandments ;  ihocking  Moravian  Tenets, 
'^  that   reading   the   Bible,    receiving    the 
*'  Co7n?minion,  running  to  Church,  ^c.  are 
"  the  Devil 'y — Every-wherc   m.ore    and 
''  more  Proofs   of  their    grievous   Confu- 
**  fions  and  Diftraflions  driving  them  to 
"  their  Wifs  End 'y — their  Doubts  and  Rea- 
^'  fonlngs  what  Faith  is  ?  Whether  there 
*'  be  2iny  Degrees  of  it  ?  Whether  they  have 
"  any  Faith  at  all  ?  Whether  Faith  be  not 

^*  fufficient 


(     3    ) 

*'  fufficient  without  good  Works,  and  doth 
"  not  even  require  the  Exchi/ion  of  2;ood 
"  Works?  &c. 

Thefe  are  fome,  but  thefe  not  the  worft, 
of  the  bleffed  Tendencies  and  Effeds  of  our 
new  Reformatio?!',  riling  in  great  Variety, 
and  to  a  high  Degree,  within  a  fliort  time 
after  Methodifm  was  broached.  And  it  is 
eafy  to  judge  how  grievoully  the  Minds 
and  Confciences  of  the  Followers  mufl  of 
courfe  be  harrafled  and  perplexed.  What 
fliall  they  do,  or  think  ?  Whom,  or  what 
follow,  among  Teachers,  each  called  and  di- 
reeled  by  Heaven,  each  accufing  the  other 
of  infufing  damnable  Fervors  ?  Some  of  their 
wild  Tenets,  and  horrid  Dodlrines,  have 
fo  harrow'd  the  Souls  of  the  poor  People, 
and  caufed  fuch  a  vehement  Diftradtion, 
as  to  drive  them  into  Dejpair^  Madnefs, 
and  Bedlam,  Let  us  try,  in  fome  In- 
ftances,  whether  this  be  not  the  natural 
tendency,  and  a5iual  ConfcqueiiQe, 

§.  2.  What  could  be  expeded  from 
their  training  up  their  Difciples  to  the  Ex^ 
peBation  of  Jmpidfes,  Impreffions,  Feelings, 
Experiences,  &c.  but  that  fome  fliould  be 
elated  with  groundlefs  Confidences  and  Pr^- 
fumption  -,  and  others  funk  into  the  difmal 
and  dreadful  Gulph  oi  Defpair  ?  Perfons  of 
weak  Spirits,  or  a  melancholy  Difpofition 
(and  therefore  the  more  likely  to  fall  into 
B  2  Methodifm) 


(    4     ) 

Methodtfm)  will  naturally  be  carried  into 
DefpovJency^  look  upon  themfelves  as  re- 
probated, ^ni  fcrfake?2  of  God-,  becaufethey 
do  not  feel  thefe  Effedls  in  themfelves,  nor 
come   up    to    the   Experiences   of   others, 

3  Journ.  Accordingly  Mr.  Wejley  tells  us  of  ''  fome, 

P^S-    3-    ^j^Q  utterly  refufed  to  be  comforted,  till 

they   fhould  feel  their   Souls   at   reft  — /' 

Journ.    Even  the  high-flown  Mr.  Seward,    *'  wants 

P-  43»  57- to  make  all  defpair^  who  have  not  the  feeling 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft  -;'  and  yet  is  ''  himfelf 
caft  down  for  w^ant  of  Experiences,  enjoyed 
by  others, —  is  tofTed  almoft  to  Dclpair"' 
On  the  other  hand,  thofe  of  a  confident 
and  bold  Temper*,  ftirred  up  by  Imagi- 
nation and  a  heated  Brain,  have  daringly 
fet  up  their  own  groundlefs  and  wicked 
Jrnprefficm  for  the  Will  of  God,  Hence 
Mr«  IVhiteficld^  in  his  penitential  and  re* 
canting  State,  fadly  bewails  "  his  making 
Impreffions  without  the  written  Word, 
his  Rule  of  adling''.  And  Mr.  V/efiey^ 
in  his  Zeal  againft  the  Moravians^  com- 
plains of  this  Prefumption,  as  '^  Enthii- 
fiafiic^  and  tending  to  produce  whatever  is 
wicked  and  abfurd,  and  that  without  Re^ 
medyT  See  Comparifon,  2d  Part,  page 
J  04. — 8. 

The  Cafe  is  much  the  fame  from  their 
Dodtrine   of  Afjurance  of  Pardon  and  Sal- 
vation,     Mr.   Seward  is    fo   charitable  as 
Journ.    ^[  to  wifh  all  Perfons  mad^  who  were  not 

Fg'  9.  ajjured 


(     5    ) 

ajjiired  of  Forgivenefs/'  Mr.  IVhhefield  %s, 
*'  it  is  a  dreadful  Miftake  to  deny  the5J^"^"- 
Doclrme  of  Afjiirances ;  and  that  Ajjurniice'^ '  '^'  '^' 
of  Eternal  Salvation  is  one  cf  the  Privileges 
of  Cbr'fji's  Followers.''  And  Mr.  fi^^'e/Iey 
has  taken  care  to  pufli  the  Dodrine  home. 
For,  befides  his  Writings,  you  may  depend 
upon  the  following  Story;  and  no  doubt 
but  his  Practice  has  been  the  fame  in  other 
Places.  "  A  fenfible,  honeft  Woman  told 
the  BiJJjop  of  Exeter,  in  Prefence  of  feve- 
ral  WitnelTes,  that  Mr.  J,  Wefiey  came  to 
her  Houfe,  and  queilioned  her,  ^  whether 
{hQ  had  an  Afjiirance  of  her  Salvation  ? 
Her  Anfwer  was,  that  ^^t  hoped  ilie  fliould 
be  faved,  but  had  no  abfolute  Afjurance  of 
it.  Why  then,  replied  he,  '  Tou  are  4- 
in  Hell',  you  are  damned  already  J  This  fo 
terrified  the  poor  Woman,  who  was  then 
with  Child,  that  fhe  was  grievoufly  afraid 
of  mijcarrying,  and  could  not  in  a  long 
time  recover  her  right  Mind.  For  this, 
and  the  Methodijls  asking  her  to  live  upon 
Free-Cojl,  flie  determined  to  adm.it  no  more 
of  them  into  her  Houfe."  So  much  is 
her  own  Account  to  his  Lordfipy  on  whofe 
Authority  it  is  here  publiflied.  And,  had 
file  been  a  Perfon  of  fomething  weaker 
Spirits,  who  knows  what  might  have  been 
the  Confequence  ?  Perhaps,  Lofs  of  her 
SenfeSy  or  of  her  own  a?id  Child's  Life. 

And 


(    6    ) 

And  how  fhall  tender  Minds  ftand  the 
Shock  of  thefe  violent  Affaults  ?  When 
fuch  a  confident  AJfurance  is  made  a  certain 
Mark  of  Gracey  and  the  Wafif  of  it  as 
certain  a  Mark  of  Damnation  5  what  can 
the  Weak,  the  Modeft  and  Humble,  the 
Melancholy,  (who  cannot  wind  themfelves 
up  to  the  highefl:  Pitch  of  Self-conceit  and 
Prefumption)  do  ?  They  will  of  courfe 
fall  into  Fears  and  Doubts,  and  Dcfpera-^ 
iiony  as  Perfons  in  a  reprobate  Condition  ; 
becaufe  they  have  not  the  fame  Expert^ 
ences  with  others,  not  only  of  knowmg 
z.r\Afeeli?2gy  but  zdiUdWy  feemg  Cbrijijakijtg 
away  their  Sins.  .  r 

oi  Others  indeed,  by  the  Help  of  a  coh- 
teited  Temper,  and  prefumptuous  Imagi- 
nation, will  take  care  to  work  up  their 
Brain  into  an  Jljjurance,  But  are  they  fure 
they  are  fafe,  and  ftand  upon  firm  Ground  ? 
Mr.  Whitefield  [fee  his  Anfwer  to  Enthu^ 
fiafmy  &c.  pag.  31.]  "  readily  grants,  that 
(bme  of  the  Methodifis^  who  really  had  not 
this  Ajjarancey  have  prefumptuoufly  ima- 
gined that  they  had  it''  And  doth  he 
pretend  to  the  Gift  oj  difcerning  the  Spirit s^ 
io  as  to  be  clear  which^  or  whether  any  of 
them,  had  it  ?  Thefe  are  fome  of  ^'  the^ 
Extremes,  into  which  the  Method ifis  are  apt 
to  run:"  Such  the  Danger y  either  of 
rifing  into  PrefUmpti^n]  bt" (inking  inio^ 
Dejpair. 

§•  3-  To 


C7' 

§.  3.  To  fpeak  more  generally.  As  far  as 
I  can  obfcrve,  thefe  dreadful  Apprehenfions 
pufliing  them  upon  Defpair,  are  the  commoa 
Lot,  and  almofl  effential  Part,  of  Methodifm. 
Their  Auditors  and  Profelytes  are  fo  drench- 
ed with  the  Teacher's  bitter  Fotions^  and 
horrid  Dodlrines^  and  carrying  fome  Points 
oi  Religion  to  an  extravagant  Height,  (I  do 
not  mean  good  TVorks^  of  that  they  have 
fufficiently  cleared  themfelves ;  but  fome 
triflings  abfurd,  or  groundlefs  Peadiari- 
ties-,)  or  fuch  is  the  Fatality  flicking  clofe 
to  Enthufia?n, — that  they  frequently  fink 
into  this  terrible  State.  Some  hijia72ces  I 
have  known  myfelf;  and  have  heard  fo 
much  of  it  from  others,  both  Clergy  and 
Laity  ',  that  I  make  no  doubt  of  the  Fad : 
and  themfelves  own  enough  of  it  for  a 
Foundation  of  the  Charge.  Nor  is  it  Mat- 
ter of  much  Wonder,  that  Perfons  of  fuch 
unfettled  Minds,  and  rambling  Brains, 
toffed  up  and  down  between  Tranfports  of 
Joy  and  Prefumption,  and  the  Dejedions 
of  Defolations  and  Defertions  3  Perfons 
over-run  with  Scepticifm,  Doubts  and  De- 
nials both  of  Natural  and  Revealed  Reli- 
gion;  frequent  Pvclapfes  into  thefe,  as  well 
as  into  the  Mire  of  Sin,  [  fee  Compar, 
Part  2d,  §.  14,  &c.]  —  fliould  frequently 
find  themfelves  overwhelmed  v/ith  Dejpe^ 

ration. 


^i  8  ) 

Wefley  ration.      Hence    one    complains,    '^  The 
^^Journ.  Ej^gj^y   of  Souls  laid   fo  many  things  to 
*cMz,45, my  Charge,  that  fometimes  I  defpaired  of 
+4, 92.    Heaven.'*      Others    '^  have  nothing  but 
Devils  ready  to  drag  them  to  Hell-,  —  are 
in  Defpair  feveral  Years ;  —  in  Defpair  of 
pg° "J4.  finding  Mercy  5  —  fall  into  the  Depth  of 
Defpair^    roar  out,     they  are  damned,  -— 
One  tempted  to  Self-murder,  to  hang,  or 
p.  io,*^28.drov^n   himfelf,    &c.''       In   the   Account 
of  the  two  Hitchens's  (which  the  Metho^ 
dijis  have  publifhed)  one  of  them  "  thought 
God  had  left  him  a  Caft-away  ,'*  the  other ^ 
*^  by  entertaining  fome  Thoughts  of  Mar^ 
riagey  the  Devil's  Snare,   found  his  Heart 
quite  drawn  from  God,   whereby  he  was 
quickly  plunged  into  Darknefs  of  Soul,— 
would   often   tell  his  Brother   he   was   in 
Hell." — Nor  could  Mr.  Seward,  or  White- 
Jieldy    or   Wejley   himfelf,    efcape  this   fore 
Weflcy   Evil.     *'  Doubtful  of  my   own  State; — 
2  joam.   clearly  convinced  of  JJnbclief-, — immediate- 
I^'"*      ly   it   ftruck   into    my    Mind,     leave    ofF 
Preaching. — At  length   had    an  AJjurance 
of  Forgivenefs.  —  Had     more     Comfort, 
Peace,  and  Joy, — began  to  prefume. — Again 
thrown  into  Perplexity ;  —  much  in  Doubt 
whether  God  would  not  lay  me  ojide.  " — 
7  jowrn.   — Mr.  Whiteficld  v/as  once  fo  good  as  to 
?  68.      take  the  Honour  upon  himfelf  of  caufing 
Defpair.      *'  A  Woman    defiring    me    to 
baptize  her  Child,    1,  being  otherwife  en- 
gaged, 


(     9     ) 

gag-ed,  reftifed.  Upon  this  the  Dev/l  af- 
faulted  her  in  a  moft  violent  manner,  and 
endeavoured  to  perfuade  her,  that  all  I 
told  her  were  Lies.  She  ivas  cafl  into 
Darkjiefs ;  — went  to  Bed^  where  the  Devil 
would  fliin  have  perfuaded  her  to  cut  the 
Child's  Throat  with  a  Pair  of  Sci[jars, 
But  ChriJ}  delivered  her,  and  Satan  imme- 
diately left  her."  He  may  have  the  Glory\ 
if  he  pleafeth.  But  the  Difeafe^  called 
Methodifm^  is  fufficient.  [  See  Compar. 
Part  ad'l  p.  82.—] 

The  fame  horrible  and  black  Effefts  of 
diftemper'd  Rjithiifwjm  are  commonly  found 
among  the  moft  extravagant    Fanatics   of 
the  Papacy.     A  long  Lift  of  Female  Suf- 
ferers might  be  produced :    Such  as  M.  of 
Pazzi^    "  whom  five   furious  Devils   at-  .  Life, 
tacked,   tempting    her   to  Blafphemy    and^'^''^^' 
Infidelity,    to   Pride  ^nd   Prefumption,  to 
Gluttony  and  Lafcivioufnefs ;  and  then  to 
Dejpair^  fo  far  that  once  fhe   took   up  a 
Knife  to  kill  herfelf ;  but  the  Virgin  Mary 
ftepped  in,  and  prevented  it." — I  might 
mention   too  a  fatal  Inftance,  not  indeed 
of  Defpairy  but  prejumptiious  Ajjiirance  of 
Salvation  :    ''  A  young  Woman,  who  ob-  Manni 
ferved  the  Rule  of  St,  Francis,  beine  afjured'^^'^-^^''^' 
(f  Salvation ,  the  Devil  appears  to  her  in 
the  Shape  of  St.   Francis^  perfuading  her 
to  make  fure  of  Heaven^  by  inftawtly  hdfig- 
ing  herfelf.  and  ihe  did  fo." 

C  Nor 


(     lo    ) 

Nor  is  Defperation  a  more  uncommon 
Cafe  among  the  mde  Saints^  and  fuch  as 
were  the  faireft  Models  of  Methodifm, 
Francis  of  Sales^  "  after  his  Tranfports  of 
Spiritual  Joy,  was  reduced  to  Darknefs  and 
Sadnefs,  and  even  a  Diftrujl  of  all  Truth  \ — • 
Satan  perfuading  him  that  God  had  de- 
creed his  Damnation  -,  - — is  caft  into  a  deep 
Melancholy— D(?/^^/r  in  his  Look  • —  but, 
.  however.  Is  in  a  Moment  recovered  by  a 
Prayer  to  the  Virgin  Mary.''  [Compar, 
Part  2d.   pag.   177.] 

Conform.       ««  St.  Fra?2cis^    m    Imitation    of  Chrljly 

M-59>6o.chofe  Twelve  Apojiles,    one  of  which    de. 

/paired  and  hanged  himfelf:  which  gave  the 

Samt  a  frefli  Advantage,  by  making  him 

ftill  more  like  to  his  Saviour.' '^ — The  Grand 

Maffei     Majler  of  Popijh  Methodlfm,  "  St.  Ignatius^ 

cap*7^1o  '^'^^^  oppreffed  fo  with  Defpalr,  that  he  at- 
tempted to  deftroy  himfelf,  and  throw  him- 
felf out  of  Window.  But  afterv^^ards  more 
narrowly  examining  his  Conjclence^  he  rofe 
into  a  ftrong  Tentation  of  Valn-ghr-y,  For 
it  ruflied  into  his  Mind,  that  he  was  per- 
fedly  juft^  and  need  not  doubt  in  the  leaft 
of  his  Salvation."  And  the  Author  ob- 
ferves,  "  that  both  his  fcrupuhus  Defpond- 
encles,  and  confident  Vanity  of  Afjuraiicc^ 
were  fraudulent  Suggeftions  of  the  DevlL 
By  thefe  means,    however,  he  obtained  of 

Martyr.    God  a  wondcrful  Science  in  curing  the  Co?!- 

Prancifc.  fdenccs  of  othcrs:' —  ''  Friar  Rizeriis  was 
Feb-  7.  1 

'  teiBptea 


(  "  ) 

tempted  by  Satan  to  the  Brink  of  Defpdir^ 
and  Apprehenfion  oiW\t\gforfaken  by  God  ^ 
*t\\\  St.  Francis  took  him  under  his  Ma- 
nagement, Croffed  him,  and  kiffed  him, 
carried  him  into  Perfedliony  and  working 
of  Miracles'' 

We   fliall   fee   hereafter   fiich    Favours 
granted  to   our  Metbodifts.     In  the  meanAnfw.  to 
time,    Mr.  IVe/ley  will  hardly   allow   any  ^^^^^^^^^^ 
Inftances  of  real  Defpair  among  the  Mf- 
fhodijls ;    becaufe  they  do   not  make  away 
with   themfelves.      And  he  will    tell  us, 
that  *'  what  the  World  calls  Defpair ^   is  a 
Conviclton  of  Sin^    of  God' s   Wrath,    and 
Man's  Inability, —  in  which  properly  con- 
fifts  that  Poverty  of  Spirit  and  Mourning,  3  jourri. 
which  are  the  Gate  ofChriftian  PerfeBionJ'v-  82-3. 

Not  fo,  I  hope,  when  under  thefe  De-4  Jom-n. 
fpairings  they  are  uttering  Ciirfes  and  Blaf-^'  ^'^'  ^^' 
phemies : — Not  fo,   when   the  Defpair  is  3  Joum. 
injedled   by  Satan,  or  the  Effed  of  diabo-^' '^^' 
lical  Fojjejfion  : — Not  fo,  in  Cafes  of  a  Re-  ^  joum. 
lapfe ;    as   in   that    blafphe?mng   De/paireryV- ^^>  ^^^ 
**  whofe  horrible  Dread  was  immediately 
taken  away  by  Prayer,  and  fhe  had  fome 
Dawnings   of  Hope  3'*   but  Vv^ho,   as  Mr. 
Wejley  elfewhere  confefTeth,  "  was  foon  af-  Anfw.  to 
ter,    if  not  at   that  'very  time^   a    co7nmo7i^'^^^^^' 
Projlitiite'' — Nor,  in  general,  can  I  allow, 
that  what  Divines  and  the  World  ufually 
call   Defpair  (often  a  Sin,  and  always  an 
Vnhappinefs)  fhould  be  taught  as  a  Duty^ 
C  a  and 


(     12     ) 

Light  in  and   tlie  Gate    of  PerfeBion.      "  I  have 

Part '3.     '^^^^  opprefled   (fays  A,  BourignG?:)  Night 

Leucr  i!c.and  Day  with  Fears  of  being  forfaken,  and 

with  Defpondency  of  Heart/'   The  Viciffi- 

tudes  of  Horrors  and  Comforts,  Light  and 

Darknefs,  are  the  plain  EfFedls  of  the  Me- 

thodijt's  Enfhufiafm  -,  either  caufcd  or  aiig^ 

mented    by  their   Teachers    chimei'^ical  and 

jrightful  TiGclrines ;    who   having  fubdued 

the    R.eafon   and    Underflanding    of  their 

People,    put    them   in    Poffeffion    of  the 

Una  falus  viBis  nullam  [per  are  faint  em. 
The  only  Security  of  Salvation  is  to  de- 
fpair  of  it.  An  Hypochondriac  or  Melan- 
choly Conjiitution  (perhaps  generally)  leads 
to  the  Dijeafe  -,  naturally  creating  Fears, 
Sufpicions,  and  Defpair  ;  the  Phyfician  fup- 
plies  Dofcs  naturally  encouraging  and  in- 
creafing  the  Difeafe :.  The  People  love  to 
have  it  fo,  and  the  magnified  Cure  is,  as 
one  fays,   ciUiqv  fjort-Uv'dy  or  iUfoufided, 

§.  4.  'Tls  but  too  notorious,  that  the 
fame  E?ithufafm,  under  the  fame  Manage- 
ment, hath  driven  Numbers  of  thefe  un- 
happy Creatures  into  dired:  Madnefs  and 
DiftraBion^  either  of  the  moaping^  or  the 
raving  Kind  ;  or  both  of  them,  by  lucceflive 
Tits ;  or  into  the  manifold  Symptoms  of 
a  Delirium,  and  Phrenzy, 

Mr. 


(    13    ) 

Mr.  Wefley  indeed  "  cannot  find  io  much^^^^- ^^ 
as  one  of  the  MethodiJIs,  either  Man,  Wo- p.  ^^^  ' 
man,  or  Child,  who  have  been  thus  driven  3  l^^rn, 
to  DiflraBion: — and  their  ikT^^;?^  is  a;;^.^'^-  ^^' 
'uiBion  of  Sin:'     And  all  of  them,  doubt- 
lefs,  fay  the  fame.     But  Men  fo  charged 
will  not  be  allov^ed  as  competent  Judges  m 
their  own  Cafe  ^  efpecially  where  they  are 
fuppofed   to    be    touched   with    the  fame 
Dife77iper, 

Thus  much  however  they  muft,  and 
do,  own  ', — that  they  have  been  looked  upon 
as  mad  (  on  account  of  their  wild  and 
frantic  Actions)  by  Friends  and  Relations^  by 
indifferent  Perfons,  by  regular  Fhyficians 
(the  moft  proper  judges),  by  the  World  in 
general;  and  have  been  fent  to  Bedlam, 
and  adjudged  there  to  be  Ferfins  di[lra5ied. 
Nor  do  I  fee  how  the  Judicious  and  In- 
telligent  Part  of  the  World  can  form  any 
other  Notion ;  while  the  genuine  Signs  of 
Mad?iefs  are  upon  the  Meihodifis  •  and  the 
mofl:  abfurd,  irregular  and  frantic  Beha- 
viour and  Imaginations  are  obtruded  as  the 
Marks  and  Proofs  of  true  Piety.  Any 
Perfon  in  his  Senfes  will  certainly  form 
fuch  a  Conclufion  even  from  their  own 
Narratives^  related,  no  doubt,  in  the  moft 
favourable  manner  to  themfelves. 

One  would  not  indeed  believe  the  ^  Re- 
port raifed  by  the  Dcvil^  that  Mr.  U'ljite- 
field  was  mad-,"  becaufe  he  is  the  Father 

of 


(    14    ) 

cf  Lies ;  but  we  may  believe  himfelb 
i  Deal,  when  he  fays,  "  he  might  very  well  h<^ 
p- 42. 35- taken  to  he  really  mad -^  and  that  his  i?e~ 
lations  counted  his  Life  MadnefsJ'  —  An- 
other was  aGcounted  mad  by  her  Friends 
for  thefe  three  Years  j  who  accordingly  bled, 
blifter'd  her,  and  what  not."— IVlr.  White- 
3  J«"r'^  field  relates  the  Cafe  of  ''  young  Feriam^ 
p. 98-103.^1^^^^^  i7j/-/Yr  had  fent  him  to  Bedlam  for 
jflich  Symptoms  of  Madnefs,  as  fafting  for 
near  a  Fortnight ;  praying  fo  as  to  be 
heard  four  Story  high  •  felling  his  Cloaths, 
and  giving  them  to  the  Poor.  Mr.  Seward 
and  other  Metbodijis  waited  on  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Governors  of  Bedlam ;  they 
plead  for  him,  and  own  that  young  Peo- 
ple, under  their  firft  Awakenings,  were 
ufually  tempted  by  the  Devil  to  run  into 
fome  Extrem.es,  The  Committee  judge 
IVhitefield^  Seward^  and  all  their  Followers^ 
to  be  as  ?nad  as  the  young  Man,  and 
really  befide  themjehes.  And  to  prove  Mr. 
Periam  to  be  certainly  mad,  they  alledge, 
that  vvhen  he  firft  came  to  Bedlam,  he 
Jiripped  kimfelf  to  his  Shirty  and  prayed. 
But  it  feems,  ^^  he  did  this  to  inure  him- 
felf  to  Hardnefs  at  once  ;  for  being  brought 
from  a  ivarrn  to  a  cold  Place,  without  Win- 
dowSj  and  a  damp  Cellar  under  him,  he 
thought  it  beft  \.o  feafon  himfelf  at  firft." 
Are  not  here  fufficient  Symptoms  of  Mad-^ 
nefs  ?    And   doth  not  the  Rcafon  brought 

for 


(    15   ) 

for  difproviJig  the  Madnefs  xfiViy pfo've  it?    • 
For,   who  but  a  Machnaj2  would  have  done 
fo  ?  There  is  a  parallel  In  fiance  of  one  of 
St.  Francis'^  Difciples,  *'  who  would  needs  ^■^°^';^^"" 
go  out  in  a  cold  Winter  Night,  and  pray  in  his  Foi7'i^3n. 
^)birt^    though  then   in  a    Fever ;    for  the 
lame  Reafon  of  enduring  HardfbipJ'    And 
if  the  FrajicifcaUy  or  the  Alethodiji,  efcaped 
with  their  Lives,    it  is  ftill  a  flronger  In- 
dication of  Madnefs.     For  what  Dr.  Mead 
fays,  is  a  known  Truth,  "  'Tis  common  Mtdic. 
to   all    Madmen,    from  Strength  of  Body,   Sacr. 
eafily  to  bear  Fafcing,  Cold,  the  Inclemen-  ^'  ^' 
cies  of  the  Heavens,    and  other  Inconve- 
niences, beyond    what   can  eafily   be  cre- 
dited."    And  if  the  Methodijls  would  look 
into  that  whole  Chapter,  they  would  find, 
I  think,  every  particular  Symptom  of  Mad- 
nefs^    mentioned  by    that   learned  Docior^ 
(though  I  do  not  think  myfelf  obliged  to 
fubfcribe   to  his  Opinion,    by  excluding;  a 
diabolical  Agency  in   the  Scriptiire^T)mno- 
niacs)  exemplified   in   their    own    Difpen- 
fation. 

Mr.  Wefley,  and  Fhyficians^  eminent   in  3  Joum. 
their    Frofefjion,    are    fometimes     at    Va-^'^^^'^^^ 
riance,    whether  fom.e    of  their  Methodifl-Y>.2%.  c^6. 
Fatients  are  really  mad,  or  not.    And  other     jo^j-n. 
In/lances  he   mentions   of  Perfons    reputed  p.  "90. 
7?2ad  by  their  Relations,  treated  as  if  really^  •^°"*'"' 
fo,  and  fent  to  Bedlam  ;  only  becaufe  tliey  5'  /oum. 
were  infeded  with  Mdhodifm.  P-  53- 

One 


Journ. 
•H4. 


Journ. 
79- 


(     16     ) 

One  Cafe  he  allows  of  "  a  Woman  really 
di/ira5fed,  and  as  fuch  tied  down  to  her 
Bed/'  Which,  though  contradidlory  to 
his  negative  AfTertion  above,  ferves  how- 
ever to  difplay  his  miraciiloin  Cure.  He 
hkewife  relates  '^  another  Inftance  of  ^^- 
nuine   Enthujiafm.    [He   might    have   faid 

direa  Madnefi,]  J- R of  raiifield- 

Leigh y  who  had  received  a  Senfe  of  the 
Love  of  God  2,  few  Days  before,  came  ride- 
ing  through  the  Town,  hollowing  and 
fhouting,  and  driving  all  the  People  before 
him,  telling  them,    ''  God  had  told   him 


he  ihould  be 


and  fhould  tread  his 
Nor  need  we 
of  them    rtm 


no  ftrange  Thing  among 


a  King^ 
Enemies  under  his  Feet."  — 
be  furprized,  fhould    fome 
7nad  ivith  Pride  , 

them  5  and  whereof  Mr.  IVeJley  hath  given 
us  itv^x'A  flagrant  Specimens,  [See  Compar. 
Part  2d.  pag.  25 — ]. 

Was  one  of  their  prime  Saints^  Sam, 
Hitchens^  mad  ?  "  Who  falling  under  ftrong^ 
Convictions  of  Sin,  — wandered  about  in- 
the  Fields  by  Night,  fecEng  Rejl,  but  find- 
i72g  none\  and  often  threw  himfelf  on  the 
Earth,  and  beat  his  Head  againft  the 
Ground, — and  cut  himfelfinfeveral  Places.'* 
Account  of  5.  H  Pag.  4.  And,  to  leave 
their  own  Narratives,  The  Methodifl  Woman 
that  flung  a  naked  Knife  at  the  Minifier^ 
while  reading  the  Communion  Service^  in-a 
Church  in  London , — was  Die  mad^  or  ma- 
licious ? 


(   17  ) 

Ucioiis  ?  or  perhaps  groamng  in  her  Pa?7gSy 
till  ihe  was  delivered  of  her  Knife  ?  This 
was  told  me  by  the  Minifler  himfelf,  who 
knew  her  to  be  a  Methodijl, 

Was  the  Man  mady  of  whom  I  have 
the  following  Account  attefted  by  the  M/- 
nijhr^  2l  Difjenting  Teacher  ?  ''  On, '  or 
near  September  27,  1746,  as  I  was  about 
to  adminifter  the  Lord's  Supper y  I  obferved 
among  the  Communicants  one  Mr.  Thomas 
Adams y  a  vagrant  Methodijl  Preacher  5  and 
as  he  was  a  Stranger  to  me,  and  I  knew 
litde  or  nothing  of  his  Principles^  or  Mo- 
ral Condu(fl,  I  fent  my  Clerk  to  defire  he 
would  withdraw,  till  I  could  get  Satisfac- 
tion as  to  thofe  Particulars  :  but  he  re- 
fufed  to  comply,  and  faid,  he  would  con- 
tinue where  he  was.  Whereupon  I  pro- 
ceeded to  adminijler^  but  in  the  Diftribu-  ' 
tion  of  the  Elements  carefully  paffed  him 
by.  He  fat  ftill  during  the  Adininijlration^ 
but  as  foon  as  the  laft  Word  was  out  of 
my  Mouth,  he  ftood  up,  and  faid,  ^  Dear 
Man,  what  is  the  Reafon  you  refufed  to 
give  me  the  Signs  of  my  Lord's  Body  and 
Blood  ?  My  God  will  fcourge  you  for  this, 
or  he  is  no  true  God'  The  next  Morning 
he  came  to  my  Houfe  with  an  06lavo 
Manufcripty  which  he  faid  contained  the 
Revelations  he  had  had  from  Heaven  -, 
and  that  he  was  come  with  a  particular 
Mejjage  fro?n  the  Lord  to  me  -,  and  then 
D  read 


(  i8  ) 
read  the  following  Paffage  :  '  Go  and  tell, 
Mr,  L — -T-p  that  I  will  fcoicrge  him  for  not 
\tmn<^i)^t  aefpijed  Methodijh  into  his  Pw/- 
/?/V,  and  for  not  giving  you  the  Signs  of 
viy  Boc/y  an4  Blood-,'  with  much  .more  of 
a  like  Imp-r.  ^This  I  atteft  pQ  be  iv?^. 


Sliall  I  bring  tip6n'?fe'^tage  another 
Madman  ?  Take  the  Story^  which  may  be 
depended  upon,  as  related  in  a  Letter  from 
a   Clergyman  of  Chara^fer^  Nov.  3,   1749* 
'*  I  have  lately  feen  the  Gentleman  from 
whom  I  firft  heard  the  Story  of  D — ry 
Hack — r,  of  M — m-Cburch.     He  confirms 
every  Word  that  I  mentioned,  and  fays, 
the  Story  was  told  at  a  General  Court  held 
in  that  Farifld^    D — ry  Hack — r    himfelf 
being  prefent,  and  acknowledging  the  Truth 
of  the  following  Relation,  (viz)  '  That  art 
Itinerant  Preacher,  of  the  Sefl:  of  the  Me- 
ibodijls^  came  into  that  Country,   and  in  his 
Sermon  affured  the  Hearers,  that  the  JVorld 
would  be  at  an  End  onfucb  a  Day :  to  which 
Prophecy  the  Old  Man  {D — ^"Z:/— )^gave 
full  Credit,,  let  down  his  Hedges,  turned 
his  Cattle    into    his    growing  Corn,    and 
made  no  Preparation  for  any  Tillage  for 
the  eniaing  Year ;  as  being  wholly  taken 
up  in  fitting  himfelf  for  the  Day  of  fudg- 
7nent :  the  Expedlation  of  which  giving  thf 
Man  and  his  Wife  no  fmall  Anxiety,  one 
Morning  zn  Jpire^c^  '^^^^^M. 


FamilyV^'  informed  the  Man  that  he  had 
had  a  Fl/ion  in  the  Nighi\  which  told  him, 
that  if  he  would  fubmit  to  it,  his  Sins 
fliould  be  expiated  by  Scoirrgijig  5  and  that 
he  hi 7nf elf  v^z.^  deputed  by  the  Vijlon  to  in- 
fli6t  the  Difclpline  upon  him.  The  Old 
Man  complied,  and  the  Apprentice  gave 
him  fo7^ty  Stripes  fave  one  on  the  Buttocks 
with  a  Bundle  of  Willow-Rods  -,  and  the 
Old  Man  acknowledged,  that  the  Execu^ 
tioner  did  not  fpare  him,  but  applied  the 
Scourge  of  God  heartily.  The  Man's  Sins 
being  thus  expiated,  the  next  Night  the 
Apprentice  had  a  fecond  VifioUy  diredling 
xSxt  Woman's  Sins  to  h^  expiated  by  Fire 
and  Water.  Then  the  great  Kettle  was 
Jet  ony  ^ni  the  Water  heated  to  as  great 
Degree  as  the  Old  Woman  could  bear.  But 
whether  the  ZiZ^r/7//V;i~  vwaso performed 
upon  ihQ  fame  Part  to  wKicK  tnc  Willoms 
were  applied,  my  Friend  is  not  certain.— 
The  Wofnan  is  fince  dead  ;  but  the  Ap-- 
prentice  is  flill  alive,  as  well  as  his  Majleny 
and  (what  is  furprifing)  is  ft  ill  as  rigid  a 
Methodif  as  before  y  though  he  has  fuffered 
fo  much  by  liftening  to  the  Delufions  of 
thefe  / f retches,  2ind  has  now  out^lived  the 
Day  of  Judgment  by  at  leaft  three  Tears,'^, 
Thus  it  appears  what  Force  the  Methodical 
Impoftures  of  Falje  Prophets  have  in  turn- 
ing the  Brain ,  and  of  how  little  avail  is 
manifeft  Failure  of  PrediBion^  { or  any 
D  2  other 


(.   20     ) 

Other  Argument)  to  ret^^r  an  Enthuftaji 
to  his  Senfes.  'rrrvo^rf   ylfB^*^   .?' 

Mr.  JVeJley  indeed  will  reckon  the  Me- 

3  Journ.  thodifts  to  be  "  no  other  wife  mad,  than  as 

^'  ^9*     being    convinced  of  Sin."'      Can    this    be 

faid  in  all  thefe  Cafes  ?  And  is  it  not  a 

ft  range    Sort  of  ConviBion^    that  deprives 

People  of  their  5^;2/(?x,  inftead  ^{.bringing 

them  to  their  Senfes'?    He  will  agree  too 

Ibid,     with  his  Friend,   ''  in  making  noQueftion 

P-  ^5-      but  ^atan  may  exert  himfelf  on  fuch  Oc- 

cafions, — to  difparage  the  Work  of  God^  as 

if  it  tended  to  lead  People  to  DiftraBion^ 

So  Madmn  Bourignon  fays  concerning  one 

dijordered  by  reading  her  Writings^   "  The 

Devil  endeavours  to  difcredit  them  as  you 

do,  making  fome   fufpedl  that  they  might 

have  occafioned  Trouble  in  your  Husband's 

Mindr 

'Tis  eafily  faid,  that  Satan  raifeth  the 
falfe  Reports  of  Defpair  and  DifiraEHon 
among  the  Methodijis ;  and  equally  eafy  to 
fay,  that  he  really  induceth  thofe  mife- 
rable  Affeftions.  But  one  Thing  is  clear ; 
namely,  that  thofe  Difeafes  which  cauje 
Enthiifiafm,  as  Melancholy,  Hyjierics^  Hypo- 
chondriacs, have  in  themfelves  a  certain 
Degree  of  Madnefs,  and  that  Enthiijiafnt 
and  Madnefs  are  but  the  fame  thing  in  dif- 
ferent Words :  That  violent  and  diforderly 
PaJJions  of  the  Mind,  or  intenfe  "Thought 
upon  fome  particular  Thing,  &c.  naturally 

lead 


(     21      ) 

lead  into  Enthufjoftic  Madnefs",  and,  when 
in  Excefsy  really  become  fo.     For  which, 
were  I'difpofed  to  fliew  my  Learning,  I 
could  produce  ample  Authorities.  —  That 
evil  SpiritSy  if  they  are  not  allowed  to  caiife 
thefe  Diftempers  of  Mind  and  Body,  ^et 
make  their  Advantage  of  them,  -an^:  rt;afc& 
occafion  to   infufe  into  the   Sufferers  the 
moft    gloomy   and   dreadful  Appreben/ions 
and  Terrors ; —  this  alfo  hath  the  Sanftioii 
of  numerous   and  great   Authors.     AnA.  I 
leave  others  to  confider  how  powerful  muft 
be  the  Eff^eB,  when  fuch  a  dijlemper'd  En^ 
thufiafm    is    perpetually    worked    into    the 
Brain  by  a  warm,  affiduous,  and  beloved 
Teacher,      The  Greeks  talk  of  an  Enthu^ 
fiajlic  Dijlemper,  called  XctAjtoTUTrc^  ^t^ctvfct, 
a  Madnefs  arifing  from  the  Sound  of  Brafs  : 
Pythagoras  in  particular  teacheth,  that  the  jambllc. 
Noife  of  Brafs  is  the  Voice  of  a  Dcemon.  P-  ^4- 
The   Methodijl^    ihould    beware    of    fuch 
Brazen   Injlruments,  — —  After    all,    Mr. 
TFeJley   fomewhere  defires,   that   '  at  leaft 
they   fliould   be    allowed    to    be   hinocent    | 
Madmen:'  But  he  fliould  remember,  that   ^ 
Madmen  have    ftrange   Tendency    to    be 
cunning ;  and  are  apt,  when  Opportunity 
ferves,  to  be  mifchievous. 

For  Fear  of  being  caught  again  with- 
out my  Parallel^  out  of  an  hundred  In- 
ftances  of  mad  Papalins  we  need  only 
mention    the  Seraphic    St.    Francis^    and 

the 


(    22    ) 

Conform,  thc  Glorious  Jgitattus.      The  former'^^'^zd 
I'  ^^'  chained  down  in  a  dark  Room  by  his  Pa- 
rents, and  deemed  out  of  his  Senfes  by  the 
Learned  and   the  Vulgar  ;    loved    to  ftrip 
himfelf  naked  in  proof  of  his  I7t720certce  ;  or 
appear  in  a  fanfajlical  and  najly  Drefs,  on 
purpofe  to  be  derided,  and  pelted  with  Dirt 
MalTei    by  the  Rabble.  —  The   latter  (as  all  the 
Vit.lgnat.  ifTj^if^j.^  of  hjg   jr^yT^  ^^fl-jfy  y    ^^g    intirely 

"^  in  the  fame  Cafe ;  and  was  fo  fond  of  the 
Character  and  Treatment  of^y^,'  Madman^ 
that  he  defired  to  march  out  into  the 
Streets,  naked,  and  with  Horns  upon  his 
Head,  and  counterfeit  Madnefs,  in  hopes 
of  being  befpattered  with  Dung  and  Filth. 
He  was  often  called  to  Account  by  Autho- 
rity for  Herefy,  Fanaticifm,  Impojlure  and 
'^IT\  '«5'^^^V/c;7.  And  both  of  them  were  reck- 
oned, by  all  fiber  Papijls,  as  a  Couple  of 
crack-brain' d  Rnthufiajis  ;  till  fome  cimjiing 
Managers  finding  what  Vfe  might  be  made 
of  their  Enfhzifiafms,  they  injlantaneoujly 
Commence  Saints  :  The  Pope,  upon  their 
Oath  of  Fidelity  to  him,  confirms  their 
Jnjli  tut  ions  and  Societies  -,  canonizeth  them, 
and  confers  vaft  Privileges  on  their  Orders, 
No  Protejiant,  I  hope,  will  let  thefe  pafs 
for  Innocent  Madmen,  And  if  their  Follow- 
ers were  not  fo  over-driven,  like  Cattle, 
till  they  run  mad,  {2iS  I  am  convinced 
many  of  our  Methodlfis  have   been)  the 


(  n  ) 

Difference  turns    out    in   Favour    of  the 
PapiJ}. 

§.  5.  One  would  gladly  get  dear  of 
fuch  an  unhappy  and  difag?^eeable  Subje^.- 
But  there  is  no  attending  iht  Progrefs  of 
MethodiffTJ^  without  taking  in  other  Jhock" 
i?ig  and  horrible  Things  belonging  to  the 
Hiftory  of  this  Jlrange  SeB.  Such  are 
their  "  Cryings  out,  Screamings,  Shriek- 
ings,  Roarings,  Groanings,  Tremblings, 
Gnafhings,  Yellings,  Foamings,  Convul- 
fions,  Swoonings,  Droppings,  Blafphemies,. 
Curfes,  dying  and  defpairing  Agonies,  Va- 
riety of  Tortures  in  Body  and  Mind." 

Give  me  leave  to  recite  them  in  Mr.. 
Wejley%  own  Wordsy  as  they  occur  in  his 
yoiirnah :  ''  A  Woman  fuddenly  cried  out  3  Jo^rn, 
as  in  the  Agonies  of  Death,  continued  foP'S- ^s- 
for  fome  Time,  with  all  the  Signs  of  the 
fharpefl:  Anguilh. — One  felt  as  it  were  the     27. 
piercing  of  a  Sword,  and  could  not  avoid 
crying  out  even  in  the  Street. — One  cried     40. 
out  aloud,  with  the   utmoft   Vehemence, 
even  as  in  the  Agonies  of  Death.     Two 
others  conftrained  to  roar,  feized  with  great 
Pain  ',  another,  as  out  of  the  Belly  of  Hell. 
7— A  young  Man  fuddenly  feized  with  vio-     4r. 
lent  Trembling  all  over,    funk  down    tp 
the  Ground.- — One,  and  another,  and  ano-     42. 
ther  funk  to  the  Earth.     They  dropt  on 
every   Side  as  Thunder-ftruck.      One    io 

wounded 


(     24     ) 

wounded  with  the  Sword  of  the  Spiritj 
that  you  would  have  imagined  ihe  could 
3  Journ-  not  live  a  Moment. — A  Woman  broke  out 
P'^g-  43-  ji^^Q  fti'ong  Cries,  great  Drops  of  Sweat 
ran  down  her  Face,  and  all  her  Bones 
fliook  A  ^laker  dropt  down  as  Thun- 
der-ftruck,  in  an  Agony  terrible  to  behold, 

44-  Another  Perfon  reeled  four  or  five  Steps, 
and  then  dropt  down.  —  One  fallen  raving 
mad, —  changed  Colour,  fell  off  his  Chair, 
fcreams  terribly,  beats  himfelf  againft  the 
Ground,  his  Breaft  heaving  as  in  the  Pangs 
of  Death,  roaring  out,  '  O !  thou  Devil, 
Legion  of  Devils,  &fc.'  —  Three  Perfons 

46.  almofl:  at  once  funk  down  as  dead. — One, 
and  another,  and    another,  was  ftruck  to 

5^»  the  Earth,  exceedingly  trembling.  Ano* 
ther  dropt  down,  —  a  little  Boy  feized  in 
the  fame  Manner:  A  young  Man,  fixing 
his  Eyes  upon  him,  funk  down  himfelf  as 
one  dead,  roared,  beat  himfelf  againft  the 
Ground ;  fix  Men  could  fcarce  hold  him. 
Others  began  to  cry  out,  infomuch  that 
all  the  Houfe  (and  indeed  all  the  Street 

^3.  for  fome  Space)  was  in  an  Uproar.— Some 
funk  down  to  the  Earth  j  others  exceed- 
ingly trembled  and  quaked  ;  fome  torn 
with  a  convulfive  Motion  in  every  Part 
of  their  Bodies,  fo  violently,  that  four  or 
five  Perfons  could  not  hold  one  of  them. 
A  Woman,  greatly  oflTended  at  this,  dropt 
down  in  as  violent  an  Agony  as  the  reft. 

Twenty- 


(     25    ) 
Twenty-fix    of  thofe  thus   afFeded  came, 
&c, —  while  I    was   fpeaking,   One   dropt     6j, 
down  as  dead,  prefently  a  Second,  and  a 
Third :    Five  others  funk  down,  moft  of    • 
them  in  violent  Agonies,  in  the   Pains  of 
Hell,  and  Snares  of  Death  :  One  an  Hour 
in  (Irong  Pain ,  one  or  two  more  for  three 
Days.— Sighs  and  Groans  which  could  not 
be  uttered,  —  grievous  Terrors  of  Mindj 
with  ftrong  Trembling.  —  Three  Perfons     62; 
terribly  felt  the  Wrath  of  God  :    Seven  or 
eight  conftrained  to  roar  aloud. ~-A  young     e^^ 
Woman   funk    down  in  a  violent  Agony 
of  Body  and  Mind,  and  five  or  fix.  other 
Perfons  ;  again,  eight  or  nine  more  5  a  Girl 
thus  touched,  and  next  her  Mother  dropt 
down,  and  loft  her  Senfes  in  a  Moment. — 

Mr.   Wbitejield  preachingy  four   Perfons     65^ 
funk  down  almoit  in  the  fame  Moment  5 
One  lay  without  Senfe  or  Motion  y  a  Se- 
cond trembled  exceedingly  ;  the  Third  had 
ftrong  Convuifions  all  over  his  Body;  the 
Fourth  equally  convulfed. —  Two  more  ia     6g,' 
ftrong  Pain,    Souls  and   Bodies  well-nigh 
torn  afunder.     Another  flruck  through  as 
with  a  Sword,  fell  trembling  to  the  Ground, 
in  Crying  and  Pain  for  twelve  or  lourteen 
Hours. — Two  feized  with  flroni  Pains,     73. 
four  the  next  Evening,  the  fame  Number 
on  Monday,  —  The  Enemy  began  to  tear 
her,  fo   that   (he  fcreamed  out  as  in  the 
Pangs  of  Death.  —  A  young  Woman  in  a     79. 
E  deep 


(     26     ) 

^3-      deep  Agony,  her  Sorrow  and  Fear  too  big 
for  Utterance,    funk  down  to  the  Ground. 
Only  Sighs  and  Groans  (liewed  (lie  was  a- 
live.     Many  roared,  utterly  refufing  to  be 
comforted.  —  Others   felt    the    two-edged 
Sword;   one  in  great  Torment  all  Night  ^ 
87.      — one  or  two  Perfons  tormented  in  an  un- 
^3.      accountable  Manner,  lunatic  and  fore  vex- 
ed-,   another  flrangely  torn  by   the   DeviL 
^2.      — A  young  Woman  on  the  Bed,  two  or 
93.      three  Perfons  holding  her;  Anguifl:),  Horror 
and  Defpair,  above  all  Description^  in  her 
pale  Face.     A  thoufand  Diftortions  fliewed 
how    the    Dog^    of   Hell   were    gnawing 
her   Heart;    her   Shrieks  not   to   be    en- 
dured, fhe  fcreamed  out,    *  I  am  damn'd, 
damn'd,  loft  for  evxr,  ^cJ    Another  young 
Woman  began  to  roar  out  as  loud  as  fhe 
94-      had  done. — A  Woman  lay  on  the  Ground 
furioufly  gnaihing  her  Teeth,  roaring  aloud, 
—  not  eafy  for   three  or  four  Perfons  to 
hold  her ;    fcreaming,   then   breaking  out 
into  a  horrid  I/aughter,  mixed  with  B!af- 
95.      phemy    and  Curfing.  —  Another  Woman 
burft  out  into  a  horrid  Laughter ;  —  her 
Pangs  increafed,  fo  that  one  would  have 
imagined,  by  the  Violence  of  the  Throes, 
her   Body    mult    have   been    fliattered   to 
Pieces. — Two  more   fell    into  a   ftrange 
Agony,   and   violent   Convullions,    which 
Words   cannot    defcribe,    with    Cries   and 
Groans  too  horrid  to  be  born;  we  prayed, 

till 


(     27     ) 

till  L — y  C — r's  Agonies  fo  increafed,   that 
fhe  feemed  in  the  Pangs  of  Death, 

A  Woman,  who  had  been  much  tempt-  Weflcy 
ed  of  the  DeviL  funk  down  as  one  dead,  4  Joum, 
motionlefs,    breathlefs,    Pulfe  hardly    dif-       ^" 
cernible. — The  Spirit  of  Laughter  was   fo     38, 
among  us,  that  poor  L —  S —  fometimes 
laughed   till  almofl:  ftrangled  ;  then  broke 
out  into  Curfing  and  Blafpheming;  then 
ftamped    and    ftruggled     with    incredible 
Strength,  fo  that  four  or  five  could  fcarce 
hold  her  ;  then  cried  out, —  O  that  I  had 
no  Soul ! — Two  more  feized  in  the   fame 
Manner,  laughing  almoft  without  ceafing, 
thus  continuing  for  two  Days  a  Spedacle 
to   all.  —  Between  two  and   three  in   the  51,  52. 
Morning  I  was  waked, —  and  immediately 
heard  fuch  a  confufed  Noife,  as  if  a  Num- 
ber of  Men  were  all  putting  to  the  Sword, 
— "  roaring  aloud,  loud  and  bitter  Cries.  — 
Others  drop  down  in  violent  Agonies. 

Several  dropt    to    the    Ground,    as   if5  Journ. 
ftruck   by  Lightning;    fome   cried  out  in^"  ^'^' 
Bitternefs  of  Soul. — While  I  was  fpcaking, 
feveral    dropt    down    as    dead.  — Several  5^,  78. 
conflrained  to  roar  aloud. — A  Woman  roar-     86. 
ing  in  a  ftrange  Manner,  her  Tongue  hang- 
ing out  of  her  Mouth,  and  her  Face  dif- 
torted  into  the  moft  terrible  Form." 

This,  Reader^    is   a   faithful   Collection 
of  Cafes  from   Mr.  Wejleys  Joiirriah,    But 
(as  He  fays  on  another  Occafion)    ''  What 4  ]o«rn. 
E  2  a  Scene^'  ^^' 


(     28      ) 

a  Scene  is  here  difclofed  ?  And  again  (in 
his  Account  of  a  Mob)  Can  you  join  Heart 
or   Hands .  with  thefe  any  longer  ?    With 
fuch  a — Rabble-rout,  roaring  and  raging,  as 
if  they  were  juft  broke  loofe,    with  their 
Captain  Apolhon,   from  the  hottomlefs  Pit  ?" 
Nor  muft  Mr.  Whitefield  pafs  without 
?  Journ.  his  Contribution  :    "  who  (as  Mr.  V/eJley 
^^^*   ■^*   relates)    had  fome  ObjeBions  againft  thefe 
outward  Signs^  &c.  but  had  now  an  Op- 
portunity of  informing  himfelf  better.    For 
in  his  Sermon  four  Ftvfons  funk  down  c\o{e 
to  him,  almofl;  in  the  fame  Moment.   One 
lay  without  Senfe  or   Motion  :   A  Second 
trembled   exceedingly  :  A  Third  has  Con- 
vulfions   all   over  his  Body :  The  Fourth 
Whiter,  equallv  convulfed/' — Whether  proper  Per- 
J^Y"'  28  foi^s  were  not  prefiared  to  convince  him,  I 
3 8,42, 44. know  not.     Bat  he  is  afterwards  full  of 
Journ.  7.  tj^e  f^j^^^  dreadful  Cries,   Convulfions,  and 
eo.*^' ^'^^  other  bodily  Tortures,  attending  his  Ser- 
mons, 

Mr.  Brainerd^  ( a  Sort  of  Scotch  Me-- 
thodij}^  employed  to  the  Indians)  gives  the 
Journ.  following  Accouut !  "  Nor  has  there  been 
P-  39-4I-  any  plaufible  Objeftion  againft  this  Work, 
in  Regard  to  the  Manner.  —  The  Convic- 
tions of  their  Sin  and  Mifery  have  indeed 
produced  many  Tears,  Cries,  and  Groans : 
but  there  has  been  no  Appearance  of  thole 
Convulfions^  bodily'- Agonies^  frightful  Scream- 
ings^  Swoonings^^c^  which  have  been  xc^^ 

much 


(     29    ) 

much  complained  of  in  other  Places. — 
None  frightened  with  a  fearful  Noife  of 
Hell  and  Damnation  ^ —  no  connjulfive^  ec-^ 
Jlatic^  or  flighty  Appearances  \ —  no  boifte-^ 
roiis  Cof/ivictionsJ' 

This,  no  doubt,  is  a  Fli?ig  at  Mr.  Weflef% 
Accounts  5  which  are  in  Truth  too  flock- 
ing and  terrible  to  be  written,  or  read, 
without  Horror  and  Pain  of  Mind :  And 
one  would  really  imagine,  that  Bedlam 
was  let  loofe,  and  all  the  Hypochondriac 
afid  Hyjiericaly  Epileptic,  Ccnvidfedy  Fevered^ 
Delirious^  Bewitched^  and  Pcffef'ed  Perfons 
were  fummoned  from  all  Quarters  of  the 
Nation, 

But  to  what  Catifes  fhall  we  afcribe 
thefe  furprizing  and  ftrange  Appearances 
and  Effe^s  ?  I  am  perfuaded  (and  can  with 
Certainty  fpeak  for  myfelf)  that  we  know 
not  enough  of  Nature,  and  the  Ways  and 
Works  of  Providence ;  —  of  the  Powers^ 
Extent  and  Boundaries  of  Natural  Enthti- 
fiafm  ',  of  Di [orders  in  Body  or  Mind  j  of 
fuperior  Spirits^  good  and  evil  5  of  Ecfa- 
cieSy  Raptures,  and  Vifions  ^  of  (  fuppofed 
or  real)  Witchcrafts,  and  diabolical  Pofef 
fions ;  of  Magic  and  Sorcery ;  or  even  of 
Counterfeits,  and  jugling  Jmpofures  -,  and 
the  like  :  —  We  are  not,  I  fay,  fufficiently 
acquainted  with  thefe  Things,  fo  as  to  de- 
termine precifely  to  what  Cauje  we  fhould 
afcribe,  and  how  account  for,  every  Parti- 
cular 


(    30    ) 

cqlar  of  thefe  ftrange  and  amazing  Narra- 
tives of  Mr.  Wefley  3  which  have  fo  large 
a  Share  in  the  Progrefs  of  Methodifm,  But 
this  I  hiow^  and  will  prove ^  that  his  whole 
Account  is  all  of  a  Piece  with  the  extra- 
vagant Schemes  and  Conduol  of  the  moft  Fa- 
natical E?jthujiajls ,  and  wicked  Impojlors^ 
among  the  Papijls. 

TiiC  Fa^s  and  Circum/lafjces  are  fo  many 
and  extraordinary ;  arifing  from  fuch  dif- 
ferent CaufeSy  and  producing  fuch  Variety 
of  Effe^ls ;  pretendedly  ferving  to  the  good 
End  of  Regeneration^  Miracles^  &c. —  that 
it  will  be  neceffary  to  confider  more  dif- 
tindly  feveral  of  the  Cafes-,  which  I  (hall 
mark  numerically^  for  the  Sake  of  feme 
Remarks^  and  Parallels^  as  I  go  along. 

§.  6.  And,  becaule  a  miraculous  Interpo- 
fition   is  frequently  to  be  called   in,  ■  as  a 
Remedy  of  thefe  fore   Evils ;    I  fhall    pre- 
vibufly  take  fome  Notice  (in  Addition  to 
what  I  obferved  before,  Compar,  Part  2d. 
Pag.  43. — )  of  the  Methodijls  Pretenfions 
to  Miraculous  Gijts,  and  Supernatural  Cures  \ 
obtained   by  their  Merits  and  Inter cef ions. 
Mr.  Whitefield  indeed  hath  often  and  open- 
ly difclainied  all  Power  and   Pretenfions  of 
working  M/r<^<:7d'5  among  them.     But  Mr. 
Wejley,  as  ufually  \x\  fimilar  Cafes^    is  more 
myjlerious  and  equivocal.     Let  us  fee  how^ 
he  mumbles  this  Thifllel     Being  called  upon' 

to 


(30 

to  fliew  Miracles   in  Confirmation  of  his 
fuppofed  divine  MiJ/ion,    Injpirationj    Sec, 
what  is  his  Plea?    "  We  cannot^  and  there- Laft  App/ 
fore  we  need  not,  be  like  xht  ApoJileSy  inP^S- ^^7. 
working  outward  Miracles. — It  is  utterly  p.  122-4. 
unreafonable  and  abfurd  to  require  or  ex^ 
peft  the  Proof  of  Miracles. — Miracles  are 
quite  nee  die fs  in  fuch  a  Cafe  :    there  rnav 
be  reparx  "^guJy?,  Lying  Miracles ^  Miracles 
wrought  in  Support  of  Falfliood." — Being 
told,    there  is  no  need  of  fu-ppofing  the 
Recoveries  (of  the  Metljodi/ls  in  a  Moment 
from  their  Fits)  to  b^  Miracles,  he  fhortly 
replies,    '  Who   affirms   there  is'?' — And Anfw.   to. 
cannot  I  be  acquitted  from  Enthiifiafm,  tirlp^"^^^' 
I  prove  by  Miracles  that  I  am  in  a  State  of    45. 
Salvation  ?'* 

This,  one  would  imagine,  were  giving 
up  the  Claim  of  Miracles  :  —  In  Conformity 
with  his  Acquaintance,  Madam  Boiirignon^ 
on  whom  her  Followers  would  have  fixed 
the  Gift  of  Miracles  j  which  {li€  renounceth 
in  the  feme  Manner,  as  needlefsy  6c.c,  "  I 
blefe  God  for  her  Recovery,  We  mufl 
never  attribute  fuch  Things  to  Aliracles  : 
for  the  greateft  Part  of  thofe  that  are  done 
are  wrought  by  the  Devil/'  They  who 
feek  for  Miracles ,  will  undoubtedly  find 
them  with  him  (tlie  Devil.)  But  the 
Chriftian  T^ruth^  and  Evangelical  DoBrine^ 
want  no  Miracles. — As  to  all  now  called 
MiracleSy    and   evsn   ap^^roved  as   fuch,  I 

have 


(    32    ) 

have  no  Opinion  of  them,  being  for  the 
mofl  part  performed  by  the  Devil^  or  at 
Jeaft  Cheat  and  DeluJionJ*  [Light  hi  Dark- 
nefsy  Part  3d.  Letter  15,  and  23.] 

I  have,  however,    always  thought  and 

faid,  that  Mr.  Wejley  never  "^oMX^fmcerely 

renounce  the  Claim  of  Miracles  ;  but  only 

prevaricate  and  equivocate.      Accordingly 

we  fhall  now  fee  him  begin  to  turn  about ^ 

and  double.     Being  charged  with  relating 

ra!Si  h^^.'f^^^^culom  Cures  himfelf,  he  replieth,  '*  I 

p-  123.     relate  juft  what  I  faw  ;  —  and  this  is  true, 

that  fome  of  thofe  Circumftances  feem  to 

go   beyond  the  ordinary  Coiirfe  of  Nature. 

But  I    do    not    peremptorily    determine^ 

whether  they  \^tVQfuper natural,  or  no.*' 

Anfw.  to     *'  I  have  fet  down  the  F^^i  juft  as  they 

Church,    wei-e^  paffing  no  Judgment  upon  them  my^ 

felf,  and  leaving  every  IVIan  elfe  to  judge  as 

he  pleafes.'' 

What  Judgment  will  follow  from  the 

Partiality  and  Credulity  of  his  Admirers^ 

he  cannot  be  ignorant :    For,  like  Ignatius^ 

5  Joarn.   «  he   knows  the  People  with  whom   he 

^'   ^*      has  to  do."     But  is  it  true,  that  he  paffeth 

Anfw.  tono   Judg??2ent?     Hear  himfelf,    "  I    look 

Church,    ^pQ^  ^Qj^g  Qf  ^Yiti^  Cafes  (the  Diforders 

and  Removals  of  People^s  falling  into  Fits) 

as  wholly  nd^tural  -,   on   the  reft  as  mixd-, 

both  the  Diforder  and  the  Removal  being 

partly  natural,  and  partly  not.*'    Is  this  his 

710    Judgment  ?     And    is    he  not  got  too 

half- 


(  33    ) 

half  Way  Into  the  miraculous?  We  fhall 
fee  him  getting  over  the  other  half  by 
large  Strides,  and  laying  full  Claim  to  mi^ 
raculous  Operations-,  plainly  and  fully  paffing 
his  own  Judgment y  even  where  he  fays, 
*'  he  paiTeth  none''  And  though  he  may 
not  ufe  the  very  Word,  Miracle y  or  Mira-- 
culousy  he  fpeaks  in  Terms  equivalent^  and 
of  as  well  known  Significatioii. 

Many  of  his  Cures  are  faid  to  be  "  in- 
Jlantaneous,    and    the   Patient   relieved  in 
Body  and  Mind  in  a  Moment  \*   which  is 
one  Mark  of  a  Miracle,  —  After  mention- 
ing  fome  Metbodifts  who    were  delivered 
"  from  Jirong  Pain,  —  as  the  Agonies  of'^  journ. 
Death, —  out  of  the  Belly  of  Hell-,''  heP^g-  4©' 
immediately   fubjoins,    "  fo   many    living 
Witnefjes  hath  God  given,  that  his  Hand  is 
ft  ill  Jir  etched  out  to  heal,    and   that  Signs 
and  Wonders  are  even  now  wrought   by  his 
Holy  Child  Jefusr  —  *'  When   both  her  Page  43; 
Soul  and  Body  were  healed  in  a  Moment, 
he  (a  Phyfician)  acknowledged  the  Finger 
of  God:'     Thus  faid  the  Pope  of  St.  Ig-  Myaer. 
natius,    after   attentively    looking     on    his  Jefuic. 
Hands,  <'  This  is  the  Finger  of  God,  I  fee  P'^^' 
nothing  in  thofe  Hands  but  the  Fifigers  of 
Godr 

What  fhall   we  fay  to  Mr.  Wefey^s  own 
Cure?  "  Bcfides  the  Pain  in  my  Back  and 4  journg 
Head, —  I  was  feized  with  fuch  a  Cough,  P*  23* 
that  I  could  hardly  fpeak.     At   the  fame 
F  time 


(   34  ) 

time  came  flrongly  into  my  Mind,  thefe 
Signs  fliall  follow  them  that  beheve.  —  I 
called  on  Jcfus  aloud,  —  and  while  I  was 
fpeaking,  my  Pain  vaniilied  away;  my 
Fever  left  me/'— Thus  fays  St.  Terefay 
Vltr5,  8vo.  ct  Qj^  ^  certain  Day  giving  myfelf  to  Prayer ^ 
p.  ^05.  J  ^^j^  ^^  great  Pain  in  my  Heady  that  I 
could  not  pray  :  then  the  Lord  faid  to  me, 
*  Though  you  could  not  fpeak  to  w^,  I 
was  fpeaking  to  you  ;'  and  the  Head^ach 
entirely  went  off/' 

Thefe  Inftances  are  fufficient;  though 
more  might  be  brought ;  he  having  repre- 
fented  almoft  all  their  Cures  as  fiipernatiiraU 
and  with  the  Air  of  a  Miracle,  Upon 
the  "whoky  with  Regard  to  Miracles^  Mr. 
Wejley  has  got  a  Wolf  by  the  Ears^  which 
he  cannot  fafely  either  hold^  or  let  go, 

Pop?frj  Pretenfions  of  this  Nature  are  fo 
numerous,  that  we  need  not  be  particular  : 
there  is  no  dipping  into  a  hegei^dy  with- 
out opening  upon  a  thu?72ping  Miracle ; 
they  are  fome  of  their  chief  Marks  of  the 
true  Church  :  nor  is  there  any  Way  to 
Saint Pnp  and  Canonization  without  them. 
And  yet  modeji  and  Jenfible  Fapijh  have 
long  been  afliamed  of  them,  as  done  out 
of  Oftentation,  Avarice,  and  Cheat :  While 
the  Methodijls  are  taking  up  with  their 
Leavings,  and  the  very  Refuje  of  their 
Inipoftures. 

The 


(    35   ) 

lihQjhuffiing  Condad  of  Mr.  We/ley^  in 
ghnng  iipy  or  maintaming  the  Power  of 
Miracles ;  his  alternate  finking  and  rifing 
(like  a  Duck  diving  under  Water  when 
in  Danger  of  being  caught^  and  popping 
up  its  Head  again  at  a  proper  Diftance) 
puts  Die  in  Mind  of  his  Pattern^  the  Found- 
er  oj  the  Jefuits. 

Ribadeneirdy  in   his  Jirfi:  Life  of  Igna-  Bartol. 
tius,  is  very  fparing  of  his  Miracles^  as  be-  ^''^-  ^2"- 
ing  not  (though  he  knew  the  Saint  very 
well)  thoroughly  fatisfied  of  the  Truth  of  ^^^l^'' 
them  3  and  arguing  that  they  were  tmne-  pag.  37. 
ceffary.     But  fome  Years  afterwards,  when  Ribaden. 
the  Project  was  formed  for  his  C^;^^;;/^;^- pag.  544- 
tion^   and  his  Order  to  be  exalted  for  the 
Advancement  of  the  Papacy  -,   immediately 
a  Brood  of  Miracles  is  hatched^   in  his  fecond 
Life^  to    the  Number  of  a  Hundred^  and 
thofe  teftified  upon  Oath. 

I   remember   alfo,    ( in    Aftalogy  to   the 
occafional  Swellings  and  Sinkings  both  of 
MeJJieurs  Whitefield  and  Wejley,  to  ferve  a 
prefent  Turn)  a  wonderful  Story  recorded 
of  St.  Francis  Xavier^  the  Jefuited  Apoftle  Bouhour&'f 
of  the  Indies.    *^  In  baptizing  the  converted  !j^^^.^^ 
Indians^    he  did  manfejlly^   but  gradually ^^zg.621. 
fwell  to  a  gigantic  Size,  to  the  Aflonifmient  yf""^^^ 
of  the  Spctlators :  but  as  foon  as  he  had  pag%9.  * 
finiflxd  his    Office,  he  dwindled  again  into 
his  natural  Proportion^  finking  into  him- 
felf.'^ 

F  2  §.7.  Were 


(36) 

§.  7-  Were  we  to  furvcy  Mr.  Wefley  in 
his  magnified  Stature^  and  arrayed  with  the 
Coriijcation  of  Miracles^  we  fliould  take  iri 
the  full  Number  of  his  Fits,  and  their  Re- 
ChuTch°  ^o^'^/^s  which,   he   fays,  were  about  two 
p.  43.  '    hujidred: — The  very  fame  Number,  which 
Boiibotirs  fays  were  well-attefted^    ( though 
not  all  upon  Oath)  of  Miracles  performed 
by   Ignatius,     And   if,     fince   Mr.   Wefiey 
gave  the  above  Account,  fuch  Cafes  have 
continued  in  Proportion  5  they  may  have 
rifen  by  this  Time  to  a  Thoufand.     As  if 
he   would   not    barely  emulate^  but  exceed 
both  St,  Francis  and  St.  Ignatius  \  as  much 
as   they  have  been   declared   to    exceed  in 
miraculous  Operations^  not  only  Mofes^   but 
Chrifi^    and  all  his  Apofiles.     But  it   may 
fuffice  to  produce  fome  fpecial  Cafes ^  which 
will  afford  ample  Matter  of  Oifervation, 
Wefley        [No.  I.]  "  A  zealous  Oppofi^r  d^fivtd  to 
^g^'^g'""'  fpeak  with  me  immediately.     He  had  all 
the  Signs  oj  fettled  Dejpair,     He  faid  he 
had   been  enflaved    to   Sin   many   Years : 
Had   long  ufed  all   the   Meajis  of  Grace^ 
conftantly  gone  to  Church  and  Sacramefit^ 
read   the    Scripture,    ufed    much    private 
Prayer^  and  yet  was    nothing  profited.      I 
defired  we  might  join  in  Trayer.     After  a 
fhort  Space  his  Countenance  was  no  longer 
fad.     He  faid,  '  now   I  know   God  hath 
forgiven  my  Sins :  —  Chrift  hath  fet  me 

free :' 


(    37   ) 
free  :'   And  according  to  his  Faith  it  was 
unto  him"'     He  hath  fuch  another  Inftance 
of  the  "  Converfion  of  one  above  mea-  Wefley 
fure  enraged  at  this  new  Way  :   He  defires  p^  ^5^  ' 
her  to  join  with  him  in  Prayer ; —  (lie  falls 
into  extreme  Agonies^ —  foon  after  knows 
that  Chrifl  had  forgiven  her  \  —  from  that 
Hour  a  Believer ^ 

Here  you  fee  a  notable  Fling  at  all  the 
Means  of  Grace ^  Churchy  Sacrarnent^  Scrip- 
tiire^  Prayer :  they  prof  ted  nothifig.  No- 
thing will  do  but  the  good  Mr.  Weflefs  In- 
fer cef  ion  :  All  the  Honour  is  referved  for 
this  'Particular  Saint:  He  alone  cureth, 
and  that  by  a  Miracle^  ufing  the  fame  Ex- 
prejjion  with  Chrifl  w^hen  he  worked  by  a 
divine  Power. 

Thus  '*  the  Devils  that  infefted  ^;2^- Rlb.iden. 
tins' ^   College  could    not    be   expelled    by^'  5*5- 
Prayer^  Mafs^  Holy  Water ^  Exorcifms^  Re- 
licks -^ —  but   abfolutely  and  finally   drove 
away   by  his  Merits.  —  Again,  one  John     547. 
Paul  was  fo  opprefled,  that  he  could  fcarce 
breathe  ,   and  could  find  no  Peace  or  Com- 
fort   from   Prayer^     Sacramejits^    or    good 
Works :    but  St    Ignatius^    by  two  Words^ 
wiped  away,  as  it  were  with  his  Hands, 
all  his  Trouble  and  Difquiet/'  —  In  Tur- 
felin's  Lauretana  Hiforia  we  read  of  *'  ^  Pag.  73. 
Woman  pofejjcdy  who  having  tried  in  vain 
divers  Saints^  and  the  moft  folemn    Rites 
of  the  Churchy    applies  to   the   Virgin    of 

Lorctto  3 


(  38    ) 

Loretto  ;  where  the  Devils  depart  with  la- 
mentable Howlings  and   Groans^  '^  Mary^ 
Mary  I  flie   has  ejeded  us."      Indeed  'tis 
very  common  to  find  fome  Dijlempers  and 
Devih   fo  obftinate,  that  they  will  never 
yield,  but  to  aggrandize  the  Charadler  of 
fome  particular  Saint ^  or  Order, 
Wefley        [No.  2.]  Here  follows  another   Engine 
3  Journ.  ^^   j-^if^    ^p   ^^.^    Wejley\   Name.      "   A 
^'  ^'^'      ^aker^    difpleafed  at  the  DiJJimulation   of 
thefe  Creatures,  [the  Screamers,    Droppers, 
Gfc]  was  biting  his  Lips,  and  knitting  his 
Brows,  when  he  dropt  down  as  nu?ider- 
Jlruck,     His  Agony  was  terrible  to  behold. 
We  befought  God  not  to  lay  Folly  to  his 
Charge.     And  he  foon  lifted  up  bis  Head, 
and  cried  aloud,  '  Now  I  know,  Thou  art 
a  Prophet  of  the  Lord  J" 

'Tis  very  poflible  this  may  be  all  com^ 
paB,     But,  however  that  be,  Mr.  Wefley 
readily  catcheth  at  his  juft  'Title  of  a  Pro- 
5  Journ.  phet ;  and  more  plainly  elfewhere  :  For  "  a 
P'  ^*"'    Woman  that  was  a  Sinner  having  lent  him 
a  convenient  Place  for    Preaching,  he  de- 
clares, '  Thou  poor  Sinner,  Thou  haft  re- 
ceived a  Prophet  in  the  Name  of  a  Prophet, 
and  art  found  of  him  that  fent  him,'' 

This  Peft  of  Vatiity  flicks  fo  clofe,  that 

he  cannot  help  fhewing  what  2i  great  Man 

Ibid,     he  is  ftill  farther;  ''  I  obferve,  the  Poptjh 

P-  73-4-    prieft.  knew  well,  how  much  it  would  be 

for  the  Intcreft  of  his  Church  to  have  m^ 

accounted 


ourn. 


(   39   ) 

accounted  a  Member  of  it."  —  Without 
Doubt,  the  Pope  and  Cardinals  would  be 
in  high  Raptures. 

Hocltbacus  velify  &  magno  mercentur  Atridce. 

After  preaching,   the  People  were  ready  to 
tread  me  under  Foot,    out  of  pure  Love     r 
and  Kindnefs : — In  going  to  Church  wtXi-y^.xoi. 
corned  with  a   hud  Huzza.  —  As  I  was     nj. 
preachings  a  Collier  htgocn  JJjoutijtg  a-main 
for  Joy  'y  their  ufual  Token  of  Approbation 
was  clapping  me  on  the  Back''     So  potent 
are  the  Proofs  of  his  divine  Mijion, 

§.  8.  [No.  3.]  But  we  may  likewife 
have  a  Sight  of  our  Wo7ider-7770nger ^  fitting 
in  the  Seat  of  the  Great  Searcher  of  Hearts, 
For  thus  he  maketh  out  his  Claim.  "  As  4  Journ. 
I  was  expounding  the  12th  of  the  ^^^j,  P-S^- 
a  young  Man,  with  fome  others,  rufhed  in, 
curfmg  and  /wearing  vehemently;  and  fo 
difturbed  all  near  him,  that  they  put  him 
out,  I  obferved  it,  and  called  to  let  him 
come  in^  that  cur  Lord  might  bid  his  Chaiiu 
fall  0^,  As  fcon  as  the  Sermon  was  over, 
he  came  and  declared  before  us  all,  '^  That 
he  was  a  Smuggler,  then  going  on  in  this 
Work,  as  his  Difguife,  and  the  great  Bag 
he  had  with  him,  ihewed.  But  he  faid, 
he  muft  never  do  this  more ;  for  he  was 
now  refolved,  to  have  the  Lord  for  his  God.*' 

In 


(   40    ) 

In  this  Cafe  *tis  evident,  either  that  there 
was  CrJIuJion  and  Combinatioriy  which  Mr. 
Ifejley  furely  will  not  admit  -,  or  elle  that 
he  knoweth  the  Secrets  of  the  Man's  Hearty. 
that  he  would  become  a  Convert ;  as  well 
as  the  Mind  of  Chrijl,   who  would  make 
him  fuch.     And  why  fhould  he  fall  fhort 
Ribaden.  of  \^\^  Forefathers'?   For  we  read,  "  that  a 
•'""  ^^*    few^  in  the  Jejuit's  College  at  Rome^  feemed 
once  to  be  converted ;  but  afterwards  be- 
came furioiiSy    and   refolved    to    be   gone, 
faying,    '  he  would    not  be   a   ChrifltanJ 
The  Holy  Father  Ignatius  only  called  for 
him,  and  faid,   '  Stay  with   us  Ifaac^'  and 
in  a  Moment  he  was  quieted  and  gentle  as 
a  Lamb  J"  —  Our    next   Tnrallel  v^'ill  be 
Specul.    cloier.      **  St.   Do??iimc  having   convicted 
Exemp!.  fomePerfonsof  iJ^;T/y,  and  delivered  them 

T    "  o  C^  Q 

Peier*  de   to  the  fecular  Arm  5    as  they  were  going 

Natal,      to  be  burned^  he  fpieth  one  among  them, 

'''  '^^"\\\  Vv^hom  dijcerjung  g  Ray  of  Predefiina- 

tion^  he  ordereth   him  not  to   be  burned, 

but  to  be  delivered  back  to  the  Holy  Office ; 

where  he  fays  to  him,  '  I  know^  my  Son, 

thou  wilt  yet  be  a  good  Man,  and  a  Saint." 

He  was  inftantly  illuminated^    and  became 

of  the  Order  of  Fryer' s  Preachers ^ — Nor 

Bonavent.  muft  St.  Fraucis  be  omitted,    ''  who  fore- 

Legend.    fQl^  the  Converfion  of  feveral  Perfons,  with 

'^'^'  *''    infallible  Truth,  to  Chr'ijl,  who  v/ere  as  yet 

Conform,  pcrvcrfey —  ''  Becaufe  Saint  Francis  follow^ 

Fol.  278.  ^^  Chrijl  to  PerfcBion  5    God,    by  uniting 

himfeif 


(   41    ) 

himfelf  to  him,  and  making  lilm  oi^e  Spirit 
with   him  by  T?^a?2sfor??2ation^  revealed  his 
own  Senfe  to  him :  not  only  making  him 
a  Tropbet^    in  feeing  and   knovv^ing  future 
Tlmigs^  and  diflant  ^  but  Diore  than  a  Pro-- 
phet^  in   relpect  of  knowing   the   Secrets  of 
Mens  Hearts.     Of  which  there  are  divers 
hiftancesy — ''  By  a  certain  Spiritual  Sign  he  Conform, 
knew   who    would    be  javed,    and    who  P'  ^39- 
damned^    and  when,  —  A  Brother  under  a 
grievous  Te?nptation  fancied   he  fliould  be 
aired  by  the  Pari?2gs  of  St,  Francis's  Nails :     278. 
St.   Francis^  knowing  this   at   a  Diftance, 
takes  a  Fair  of  SciJJars^  cuts  fome  Fari?2gSy 
and   fends   them  5    and  the  Man  was  i?:- 
ftajitly  cured  of  the   Temptation/'      And 
as  it  would   be  the  utmoft  Fartiality   to 
deny  the  Fetnale  Saints  the  Knowledge  of 
{\xch  curious   Sec?rts -y  —  We  find   the   i?2' 
fpired    Bourignon    laying    in    her    Claim ; 
"  If  I  perceive  the  moft  hidden  Thoughts 
of  your  HeartSy  whence  can  this  come  but 
from   God    alone  ? ''    Light   in    Darknefs^ 
Part  I.  Letter  i. —  M.  of  Pazzi   "  pene-     Life, 
trated  into  the  moft  hidden  Folds  of  other  ^°'  44-' 
People's  Confciences,''  —  "  One  of  St.  Cj-Ribaden. 
tharine's  Prerogatives  was,  to  know  whe-  ^^^'  ^^* 
ther  other  People  were  in  a  State  of  Grace^ 
or  not :  She  could  read  their  Minds y  and 
clearly    underftand   all  that  was  in  them. 
She  knew  wicked  Perfons  bv  their  fi^iking 
Smelir 

G  That: 


(     42     ) 

That  this  miraculous  Gift  was  commu- 
nicated   to   the    humble    Follo-uoers^    both 
Methodijls  and    Papijfs,    will   be   obferved 
anon.      In  the  mean  time,    perhaps   Mr. 
Wejley  hath  received   the  fame  Light  with 
Martyrol.  "  Fryer  Roger,  to  whom  a  Francifcan  ap- 
jaT^3o'^.    peered  after  his  Death,    and   gave  him   a 
Rule   how  to    know  whether  any  Perfon 
were  in  the  Number  of  the  Tre'dejiinated^ 
by  a  peculiar  Sign  fecret  to  common  Mor- 
tals 3  and  revealed  to  him  the  Certainty  of 
his  own    EleBion:'"  —  or   he  may  inherit 
Foht^""'  from    St.    Francis  himfelf,    "  who  knew 
who  fliould  be  faved,  by  a  Sign  not  known 
to  carnal  Men.'' — 

§.  9.  But  more  of  this,  and  other  t^x/r^^ 
ordinary  Gifts,  will  come  to  Light,  by 
looking  into  Mr.  IVeJlefs  Practice  of  exor- 
cifmg  Devils,  and  relieving  the  Tofjejjed-, 
with  various  Proofs  and  Inftances  of  the 
7niracuIous  Tower  of  Healing, 
Wefley  [No.  4.]  "  One  J—n  H~n,  a  M;^a 
of  a  regular  Life,  conftantly  attending  the 
public  Prayers  and  Sacrament,  zealous  for 
the  Church,  &c.  —  laboured  above  Mea- 
fure  to  convince  his  Acquaintance,  that 
the  Metkodijls  falVwg  i?ito  jirange  Fits  at  the 
Societies,  —  was  a  Delufion  of  the  Devil, 
We  were  going  home,  when  one  met  us, 
and  informed  us,  '  that  J — n  R — n  was 
fallen   raving   mad*      It    feems    he    had 

bee  a 


3  Journ 


(   43    ) 

been  reading    a    Sennon    on   Salvation   by 
Faith ;  and    in   reading  the   lafl:  Tage^  he 
changed  Colour,  fell  from  his  Chair,    be- 
gan fh'caming  terribly,    and  beati?ig  him- 
felf  againft  the  Ground.  —  I  came  in,  and 
found  him  on  the  Floor  ;,  the  Room  full  of 
People,  whom  his  Wife  would  have  kept 
out ;  but  he  cried  out,    *  No  ;    let   them 
all  come,  let  all  the  World   fee   the  jujl 
'^Judgment  of  God'  —  Fixing  his  Eyes  upon 
7726,  he  cried,  '  Ay,  this  is  He,  who  I  faid 
was  a  Deceiver  of  the  People.     But  God 
has  overtaken   me.      I    faid   it    was   all   a 
Delufion  -,    but   this   is   no   Delufon'     He 
then  cried  out,    '  O  thou   Devil!  Thou 
turfed  Devil  I  Yea,  thou  L^^/r?;/ of  Devils. 
Thou  can'fl:  not  ftay.     Chriji  will  cafl:  thee 
out. — Tear  me  in  Pieces  if  thou  wilt,  but 
thou  can'ft  not  hurt  me.     He   then  beat 
himfelf  againft  the  Ground  again  j — Breaft 
heaving  as  in  the  Vangs  of  Death,  —  We 
betook    ourfelves    to    'Trayer^    his   l^a?tgs 
ceafcdy  and  both  Body  and  Soul  were  fet  at 
Liberty.'*     But  '^  going  away,  and  after- 
ward returning  to  J — n  H — //,  we  found 
his  Voice  was  loft,  and  his    Body  weak  as 
that  of  an  Infant."     The   laft   Words,    I 
obferve,    fhew  a  Jljort-liv'd  and  irnperfeSi 
Cure.      What   became   of  him  afterwards 
we  know  not.  —  I  obferve,    that  no  Regu- 
larity of  Life,  or  Attendance   on  the  77J0JI 
/acred  Ordiua72ceSy  will  fatisfy  Mr.  Wejley^ 
G  2  if 


(   44   ) 

if  we  think  Mcthodifm  is  a  Delufjcn.  So 
ready  is  he  to  decry  all  the  Means  of 
Grace^  and  Good  Works,  [Comp.  5  Journ, 
Page  45—6.] 

I  oblerve,  that  upon  the  Man's  reading 
Mr.  Wejley's  Sermon  (for  he  hath  printed 
one  upon  Salvation  hy  Faith)  the  Devil 
felzeth  him  ;  he  is  ftruck  with  Madnejs^ 
of  which  the  proper  Symptoms  are  ex- 
prefled  :  This  he  declares  to  be  a  "Ju- 
dicial  Sentence  for  oppofing  Mr.  We/ley  ; 
"  This  is  he,  who  I  faid  was  a  De-- 
ceiver ;  but  God  hath  overtaken  me.  '* 
Vv^hich  Words,  if  fpoken  by  the  Man  him- 
felf  as  his  own  Sentiments,  are  confepdly 
fpoken  by  him  under  a  Fit  of  Dljiraciion^ 
and  Diabolical  Pcljejjion :  If  fpoken  by 
Satan,  making  ufe  of  the  Man's  Organs  ^, 
then  Satan  is  the  Methodift's  Friend,  and 
bears  Tejtimony  to  Mr.  lVejley%  Miffion.  — 
I  obferve,  that  in  order  to  be  true  Me- 
thodifis,  we  are  to  run  rnad,  and  be  pojjejfed^ 
in  hope  of  a  pjcrt  and  imperfeB  Cure, 

By  way  of  Comparifon,  we  read  of  '^  a 
7niferable  Woman ,  to  whom  the  Vi?'gin 
Mary,  jiretching  out  her  Hand,  pointed  out 
Ignatius,  and  commanded  her  to  addrefs 
herfelf  to  him,  B\Mjhe,  llruck  withfre/b 
Yn^T^r2it  ^^^^^^  ^''''^^  aloud,  '  Pardon  me,  O 
L.V.  C.i.5^(;^'^'^  Ignatius!  For  now  I  remember  I 
have  often  been  incredulous,  oppofing  thofc 
who  extolled  your  SanBity  5   and  upbraid- 


inr 


(   45   ) 

ing  my  Brother  for  being  oi  your  Order,' 
Acknowledge  then,  fays  the  Virgviy  that 
he  is  truly  a  Saint^  that  be  is  your  c«/y 
J/f/J^,  and  that  you  are  to  Javed  by  his 
Grace.'' —  Madam  Boiirignon  writeth  to  a 
Woman  in  thefe  Words;  *'  You  fay,  Light  in 
Miftrefs,  that  your  jF/wj^^W's  III nefs  is  oc- J^^''^^'^^'' 

_  -'  -^      „_  .   .  ,       ,  Part  4. 

cafioned  by  w^  Writmg^,  —  Is  there  not  Letter  22. 
Ground  to  doubt,  that  thofe,  who  fpeak 
evil  of  them,  are  poffeffed  with  the  fame 
Spirit^  that  w^as  in  the  TharifeeSy  who 
faid  of  Jefiis  Cbrifty  that  he  was  one  who 
feduced  the  ^People  ? — I  efteem  your  Husband 
happy  for  his  Child-birth  Tains ;  —  I  wifh 
many  more  were  fmltten  with  this  Difeafe^ 
even  though  they  {hould  die  for  it,'' 

It  may  occafion  a  Doubt,  whether  the 
Madman^    or    Satan  ^    was    properly    the 
Speaker ;  becaufe  Topifo  Writers  of  Dcemo- 
nology  tell  us,  **  that  although  the  TofJ'e[JedT\^yr^\ 
will  fpeak  feveral  Things  from  themfelves,  D^mon. 
in  which  Spi?^its  have  no  Share;   yet  moji  '^'   '^^' 
cftenly  the  whole  Difcourfe  is  the  Devil's," 
And  in  that  Cafe,  "  the  Devil  will  fome- 
times   fpeak   Truth,  or  feem  to  depart,  in 
order  to  puff  up  the  Exorciji  with  Vaij2- 
glory, "      For    which   Reafon    they    add,     Mall. 
^*  that  the  Exorcifl  fliould    by  no  means  r^^^^^^* 
be  a  Man  given  to  Vanity,"  p.  17'.  20. 

§.    10.    [No.    5.]      "  A  yOU77g    Woman     of  Wefley 

Nineteen,    that  could  not   write  or  read,  3  J^"^"- 


(   46    ) 

held  in  Bed  by  two  or  three  Perfons ;  — 
Anguifli,  Horror,  Defpair  above  Defcrip- 
tion  in  her  pale  Face. —  A  thoufand  Dif- 
tortions  (hewed  how  the  Dogs  of' Hell  were 
gnawing  her  Heart.  She  fhrieks,  fcreams 
oat,  '  I  am  damn'd^  damnd.  Six  Days 
ago  you  might  have  helped  me :  but  it 
is  now  part.  I  am  the  Devil's  now  :  I 
have  given  myfelf  to  him.  His  I  am. 
Him  I  muft  ferve.  With  him  I  muft  go 
to  Hell.  I  will  be  his.  I  will  ferve  him. 
I  will  go  with  him  to  Hell.  I  cannot,  I 
will  not,  bcfoved.  I  mu/l^  I  will,  I  will 
be  damned/  She  then  began  praying  to 
the  Devil.     JVe  began, 

^  Arm  of  the  Lord,  awake,  awake.' 

She  immediately  funk  down  as  ajleep : 
but  as  foon  as  we  left  off,  broke  out  again 
with  unexpreffible  Vehemence,  '  Stony 
Hearts  break  !— I  am  a  Warning  to  you. — 
You  ;2^6'^  not  be  damned,  tho'  I  muft.'  — 
She  then  fixt  her  Eyes  on  the  Corner  of 
the  Cieling,  and  faid,  '  There  he  is.  Ay, 
There  he  is.  Come,  good  Devil,  come  : 
take  me  away.  You  faid  you  will  dafli 
my  Brains  out.  Come,  do  it  quickly.  I 
am  yours.  I  will  be  yours.  Come  juft 
now.  Take  me  away.'  We  interrupted 
her  by  calling  again  upon  God, —  We  con- 
tinued in  grayer  till  part  Eleven  :   When 

God 


(   47    ) 

God  in    a   Moment    fpake  Peace    to   her 
Soiiir 

Here  is  one  of  the  moft  difmal  Inftances 
of  M-iidnefSy  PoJJeJIion,  and  Defpair^  that 
can  well  be  conceived  -,  one  among  many 
that  have  happened  among  the  Methodijis  : 
Hovvibly  Jljocking,  but  neceflary  to  be  tran-- 
fa-il?cdj  on  account  oi  fimilar  Cafes  among 
Papijlsy  of  Parallels  in  Perfons  faid  to  be 
foJJe[jed^  or  be%vitcked,  and  cured  by  Ex-* 
orciJt?2Sy  &c. 

But  before  I  proceed,  it  may  be  proper 
juft  to  mention  "  the  DifiinBion  betw^een  Mali. 
Perfons  PoJfeJJed,  and  fuch  as  are  Bewitched  :^^^^^- 
The  former  fuffer  purely  (as  Da:mo?2ologiJls  ^^^^^' 
write)  from  tlie  Operation  of  Satan  himfelf 
or  his  Lnps  :  The  latter  indeed  from  Satan^ 
but  not  without  the  Intervention  of  Wi- 
zardsy  or  WitchesJ' — And  I  would  have  it 
obferved,  that  I  do  not  make  myfelf  a 
Party  in  the  Controverfy  about  Dc^mo- 
niacs,  whether  their  Cafe  be  772ere  Dijiem- 
per^  or  Diftemper  caufed  by  evil  Spirits ; 
nor  yet,  whether,  hoW  often,  and  how  far, 
we  have  Proof  of  the  Power  of  Witch-- 
craft.  Thus  much,  however,  I  fay,  that 
I  am  not  one  of  thofe  Heroes,  who  take 
upon  them  to  chafe  Spiritual  Bei?7gs,  good 
or  bad,  out  of  the  World ;  or  to  deny 
either  their  Exifence^  or  Infliie?i<:e.  And 
yet  I  am  well  aware  how  many  poor 
Creatures  have  unjujlty  fufFered  under  fuch 

an 


(    48    ) 

an  Imputation ;  how  frequently  Dijlempers 
have  been  conilrued  into  Foffejjion  and 
Witchcraft'^  and  efpecially  what  wicked 
T^rich  and  Impojhres  Popifh  Priejis,  Jefuits, 
&CQ.  have  played  upon  the  World  by  fuch  , 
Pretenfiom, 

We  have  feveral  Particulars  in  this  Ar-- 

//V/^*,  which  are  not  without  their  proper 

Parallels.     Thh  poor  Creature  calling  upon 

the  Devil,  I  am  damned,    I   have   given 

myfelf  to  him,   '  Come,  good  Devil,  take 

Baling,    me  away,'  &c,  —  is  equalled   by    ''that 

Calendar,  (^i^jpjj^jjjing  IVretch,  pouring  out  Curlings 

p.  iS'z.     and  Execrations,  and  roaring  out,   *  Come 

Devil,  come.'    The  Devil  inftantly  feizeth 

him,  and  daflieth  him  againft  the  Ground, 

(yc.    All  the  Holy  Amulets  of  the  Catholick 

Church  are  prefcribed.   But  nothing  would  ^ 

do,    till    by   Prayer    to   the  Virgin  Mary, 

the  Evil  Spirit  in  a  Momeiit  departed. 

Again,    Mr.  Wefley   ufcth  hard  Names y 

calling  the  Devils    '  Dogs   of  Hell -y'  and 

both  he  and   Whitefield  had  before  called 

Satan    *  a   Fool,   one  that  did  not  under- 

ftand   his.   own   BufinefsJ     Which    fliews 

Mill,    how  carefully  they  obferve  "  the  Rule  pre- 

T^m^^*    fcribed  to   Exorcifs  by    approved  Papijis^ 

p.  29/     namely,    to    call    the    Devils    opprobrious 

NameSy  in  order  to  expel  them,  by  taming 

their  Pride,     And  'tis  one  Form  of  Co?7Ju^ 

Mengi    rati  on  y    *'  I    conjure  you,    ye  abominable 

iWon,  Rebels,    ye  Ackerontic  Dogs,    worfe  than 

p..  103.  '  Common 


(  49   ) 

Common  Strumpets^  &c.**  And  they  give 
for  a  Reafojiy  '  that  the  proud  Devils  can- 
not bear  Contempt^  but  will  Ineak  away 
afloamed.^ 

We  may  obferve,  that  this  defpairing 
Woman ^  diJiraBed  by  her  Terrors,  hath  in 
Imagnmtion  a  Sight  of  the  Devil  coming  to 
feize  her ;  "  She  fixt  her  Eyes  on  the  Corner 
of  the  Cielingy  faying,  '  There  he  is.  Ay, 
There  he  is.'  <£?(:.— And  (pag.  88.)  "  An- 
other Woman  ilrangely  torn  by  the  Devil^ 
upon  Deliverance  by  Prayer^  cried  out  ve- 
hemently, '  He  is  gone  :  he  is  gone.'* 

This  imaginary  Sight y  of  what  none  be- 
fides  can  fee,  is  pretty  common  among  the 
Legendary  Saints  \  who  in  their  defperate 
and  dijiradted  Fits  fee  him  comifig  and  goings 
and  enter  into  Difcourfe  with  him.  —  'Tis 
likewife  a  very  ufual  Thing  with  Terfons 
thought  to  be  bewitched^  to  have  a  Sight  of 
their  'Tormentors ^  either  Dc^moiis^  or  Witches, 
Thofe,  who  are  unacquainted  with  thefe 
Things,  may  fee  many  Inflances  in  Mather  s 
Hiftory  of  Ne%o -England,  Particularly, 
Book  VI.  Ch.  7.  Where  *'  Perfons  tor- 
mented by  Sorcery^  or  Witchcraft^  are  in 
the  litmofl  Agonies  and  Cciivulfions^  uttering 
the  mofl  horrid  Imprecations  and  Blaf 
phemies'^'  fuch  as  thefe  in  Mr.  Weflefs 
Jourfials,  One  fees  a  Spirit  ftand  by  her, 
and  afterwards  cries  out,  '  He  is  gone.' 
Others  cry  out  upon  the  Dce??2ons^  *  They 
H  are 


(    so) 

are  gone ;  they  are  gone  ;*  and  with  an 
alfer'^i  Voice^  fay,  *  Now  I  am  well/  — 
So,  (Hiftory  oi  Witchcraft,  Vol.  I.  p.  50.) 
Mrs.  Throgmorton's  Children  cry  out,  '  See 
the  Witch  there 5  take  her  away;  look 
where  fhe  ftands.'  Page  123.  The  fup- 
pofed  Wizard  is  fee n  ;  '  Oh  !  He  is  come ; 
he  is  come." 

The  contrary,  Joyous  Vijions  of  Chrijl^ 
Angels,  &c.  will  fall  in  our  Way  as  we 
go  on  ;  as  alfo  other  Circumflances  of 
Witchcraft. 

§.  II,  [No.  6.]  Of  equally  terrible  Na-. 

WeHey   ture  is  the  next   Cafe.     "  A  Woman  lay 

p  qT-ck".  ^^    ^^^   Ground,    furioufly   gnaflding    her 

Teeth, —  and  roaring.     Not  eafy  for  three 

or   four   Perfons  to   hold   her;    efpecially 

when  the  Name  oi  Jefus  was  nam.ed.     We 

prayed ;  the  Violence  of  her  Symptoms  ceafed, 

but  not  a  compleat  Deliverance. 

In  the  Evening,  being  fent  for  again,  I 
was  unwilling,  indeed  afraid,  to  go ;  think- 
ing it  would  not  avail,  unlefs  fome,  who 
were  Jirong  in  Faith,  were  to  ivrefle  with 
God  for  her.  I  opened  tny  Teftament  on 
thofe  Words  -,  I  was  afraid,  and  went  and 
hid  thy  Talent  in  the  Earth.  I  flood  re- 
proved, and  went  immediately.  She  be- 
gan Screaming  before  I  came  into  the 
Room ;  then  broke  out  into  a  horrid  Laugh^ 
ter^  mixt  with  Btafphemy^  grievous  to  heaf. 

One 


(    51    ) 

One^  who  from  many  Circumftances  ap- 
prehended a  preterjiatural  Agent^  asking, 
*  How  did'ft  thou  dare  to  enter  into  a 
ChriliianV  Was  anfwered,  '  She  is  not  a 
Chrifiian :  She  is  mine'  ^  *  Doft  thou 
not  tremble  at  the  Name  of  Jefiis  T  No 
Words  followed,  but  ihe  Jhriink  back^  and 
trembled  exceedingly.  ^  ^  Art  thou  not 
increafing  thine  own  Damnation  ?'  It  was 
faintly  anfwered,  '  Ay,  Ay:'  which  was 
followed  by  frefh  Curfing  and  Blafphemy, 

My  Brother  coming  in,  fhe  cried  out, 
'  Preachery  Field-Preacher  I  I  don't  love 
Field-Preaching*  This  was  repeated  two 
Hours  together,  with  [pitting^  and  all  the 
Expreffions  of  ftrong  Averfion, 

Two  Days  after  we  called  upon  her 
again.  Now  it  was,  that  Go^  {hewed  he 
heareth  the  Prayer,  All  her  Pa?2gs  ceajed 
in  a  Moment ;  —  and  flie  knew  that  the 
Son  of  Wickednefs  was  departed  from 
her/' 

Here  we  fee  a  confefled  diabolical  Pof- 
fejjion  ;  Mr.  Wejley  owns  his  Talent  of  ejeB- 
ing  Satan  3  and  adlually  doeth  it,  by  the 
Prayers  of  himfelf  and  Brother,  Let  us 
confider  a  few  of  the  Circumftances.  —  In 
the  firft  Place  we  fhould  admire  Mr. 
JVeJleys  excellent  Trap  to  catch  FamCy  i.  e, 
an  Appearance  of  profound  Humility,  He 
was  unwilling  and  afraid  to  venture  upon 
expelling  Satan  himfelf  carting  about  for 
others  frong  in  the  Faith,  In  this  Per- 
H  2  plexity 


(     52     ) 

plcxity  he  dips  in  the  Bibky  by  Way  of 
JLottery ;  (which  Mr.  Whitcjield  calls  tempt- 
ing God',  and  much  greater  and  better  Men 
have  looked  upon  as  little  fliort  of  Conjiir-^ 
i?2g )  immediately   Heaven    openly    attefts 
his   Tialent   of  ejecting   Devils.     He  goes 
and   fucceeds/'  —  Again,   (even  after  the 
SanBion  of  Heaven  to  be  an  Exorciji,  and 
We/ley   the  Rebuke  for  drawing  back)   "  being  in- 
5  J^ourn.  fQi-^j^^d  of  a  Womau  deemed  mad,  or  pof-^ 
fjjid,    and  defired   to  come    to    her ;    he 
asketh,    '  What  Good  do  you  think  I  can 
do  ?'  But  being  preffed,  he  went;  performed 
his  Office  ;  and  left  her  rejoicing  and  praif 
Plain  Ac-  ing  God/' — Once  more  :  "  Mr,  JVeJIey  hav- 
^°""g'      ing  cured  an  Old    Man    of  an   inveterate 
Cough,  asketh,  (how  modeftly,  and  yet  how 
artfully? )    Does  Humility  require  me    to 
deny  a  notorious  Fa5l  ?  If  not,  which  is 
Vanity  ?  To  fay,   I,   by  my  o'wn  Skill,  re- 
ftored   this  Man  to   Health  ?    Or  to  fay, 
Gi^^^did  it  by  his  own  Almighty  Power  V 

In  all  thefe  Inflances  Mr.   PFeJley  well 

knows  *  the  Perfons  with  whom  he  has 

to  do,'  where  the  Honour  v/ill  center,  what 

Veneration  h/s  own  will  conceive  for  the 

wonderful  Man,  who   is  fuch  a  powerful 

Operator,  and,  at  the  fime  time,   of  fuch 

felj-denying  Humility,     'Tis  our  Bufinefs  to 

remark,  how  carefully  he  hath  copied  bis 

^lUi!*  ^^W^^^^^  •  — As  that  of  the  great  "  ^;7^- 

p.  544*    ^^^^9  unto  whom  a  Woman  pojjejjed  with  a 

Devil 


(    53    )  ' 

Devil  being  brought,  from  an  Opinion  of 
his   eminent    Sandfity^    he   anfvvered    very 
humbly y    ''  that  he  deferved  not  fo  much  • 
Favour  at  the  Lord's  Hands :  yet  he  v^^ould 
fray  for  the  poor  Woman.      He   did   fo  5 
and    prefently    flie    v/as  freed    from    her 
Trouble." —  '^  From  the  fame  Principle  ofxhyraeus 
Humility^  and  Fear  of  afjuming  too  much,  Daemon. 
vniiny  ilhijirioiis  Saints  have  with  Difficulty  J"  I'g^ 
been  induced  to  lend    their  Operation   in 
cajiing    out  Devils.      St.    Laurentius  Juf- 
tinian  being  defired  to  expel  a  Devil  out 
of  a  Woman^  faid,   '  Ask  not  of  me  v^hat 
I  can't  do.'     Gregory  of  Lingon  gave  the 
fame  Anfwer ;   St.  Remigius  the  fame,  vv^hen 
a  Woman  pofefed  applied  to  him ;  and  fo 
did  Nicetius  of  Lyons.'*     This  they  found 
the  moft  effectual   Way.     For  the  Pride 
of  the  Devils  could  never  refifl  the  Humi-- 
lity  oj  the  Exorcijl.     *'  Tht  Devil  m  full  Conform. 
PoJjeJJion  of  a  Man,    feeing   Fryer  Ruffin^^^-H- 
coming,  ran  away  as  faft  as  he  could,  and 
gave  for  aReaJbn,  *  that  he  could  not  ftand 
the  Poverty^  Humility ^  and  Prayers  of  fuch 
a    Saint.''  —  "St.  Antony  once   findingThyr^us 
himfelf  not  powerful  enough  to  expel  a  Dee-  "^"^^^^ 
nion,    fendeth    the   PcffeJJed    to    Paul   the 
Simple  ',  and  then,  «  1  go,  I  go,    (faith  the 
Proud  Spirit)  the  Simplicity  and  Humility 
of  Paul  drive  me  away." 

Another   Thing    obfervable   is    Satan's 
fcurrilous    Language ,    and    contemptuous 

Treat- 


(54   ) 

Treatment  of  the  JVeJIeys,  "  Preachers ! 
Field-Preachers  !  I  don't  love  Field-Preach^ 
erSy  for  two  Hours  together,  with  fpittingy 
and  al-  Expreffions  of  ftrong  Averfiony 
And  who  but  the  Devil^  or  his  Agents^ 
would  do  fo  ?  And  yet  this  evidently  turns 
out  to  the  Wejlefs  Advantage ;  to  the  In- 
creafe  of  the  malicious  Spirit's  own  Dam- 
natio72y  and  their  Triumph,  For  what  better 
Proof  of  their  divine  MiJJion,  than  Satan's 
Averfion  to  them ;  of  their  Superiority^ 
than  his  fiying  the  Field  ? 

This  hath  been  of  old  one  of  the  Devil's 

Tricks^  and  with   the  fame   Succefs.     For 

Bartol.    "  they  infulted  even  the  Holy  Ignatius  with 

^"30!"*  ^"^^  opprobrious  Nick-names^  calling  him 

cne-eyedy  halter ^  baldpate^  &c.   They  don't 

value  Ignatius  of  a  Hair^  and  will  not  ftir 

a  Foot  for  him.      But   with    their    niohole 

Thyr.    Troop  wcre  foon  forced  to  fly."  —  "  They 

Loclnfeft-thi-Qy;^  out  Cart-loads    of  Blafphemies   and 

X)Lmon"  Railings  againft  the  Saints ;  calling  the  moft 

p.  183.     fandlified   Virgin  Euphrafia^   Whore ;    and 

TheodoruSy  Son  tf  a  Whore  :  They  call  St. 

BenediB,  MalediB :  St.  Syrus  and  St.  Ber- 

nardy  they  diminilh  into  little  Syrulus  and 

Bernardulus  y  and  call  the  latter  Pork-eater 

and  Cabboge^-crammer }  all  with  the  utmoft 

Contumely," 


v^'elley       §,  12.    We  go  on  in  the  fame  Strain. 

p.i7"'  \^^'  7-1  ''  ^  ^'^^  ^^^^  fo^  ^^  Kingfwood, 

to 


(55) 

to  one  of  thofe  who  were  fo  III  before.  A 
violent  Rain  began  jufl  as  I  fet  out,  fo  that 
I  was  throughly  wet  in  a    few  Minutes. 
The  Woman^    then   three  Miles  off^  cried 
out,   *  Yonder  comes  Wejley^  galloping  as 
faji  as   he  can'      When  I  was  come,    I 
was  quite  cold  and  dead,    fitter  for   Sleep, 
than  Prayer.     She  burft  out  into  a  horrid 
Laughter y    and    faid,     *   No    Power,     no 
Power  :  no  Faith,  no  Faith.     She  is  mine. 
I  have  her,  and  will  not  let  her  go.'    We 
begged  of  God  to  increafe  our  Faith,   Mean 
while  her  Pangs  increafe d  more  and  more : 
fo  that  one  would  have  imagined,  by  the 
Violence  of  the   Throes,   her  Body  muft 
have  been  fattered  to  Pieces,     One^  who 
was  clearly  convinced  this  was  no  natural 
Diforder,  faid,  '  I  think  Satan  is   let  loofe. 
I  fear  he  will  not  Jlop  here,'    And  added, 
*  I  command  thee,  in  the  Name  of  fefus, 
to  tell  if  thou  haft  Commiffion  to  torment 
any  other  Soul,'      It  was  immediately  an- 
fwered,  '  I  have,    L — y  C — r,   and  S — h 
y — s  \     two   who  lived  at  fome  Difance^ 
and  were  then  in  perfe(5l  Healths     This 
was  on  Saturday,     But  he  goes  on,   "  On 
Sunday  in  the  Evening,    I  called  at  Mrs, 

y — 's   in   Kingfwood,      S — -h  y s   and 

L — y  C — r  were  there.  It  was  fcarce  a 
Quarter  of  an  Hour  before  L — y  C — r  fell 
into  a  ftrange  Agony ,  and  prefently  after, 
S — y   y — $^      The  "violent  Couvul/ms  all 

ov€i: 


(   56   ) 

over  their  Bodies  were  fuch  as  Words  can-* 
not  defcribe.  Their  Cries  and  Groans  were 
too  horrid  to  be  born.  Till  one  of  them, 
in  a  Tone  not  to  be  expreffedy  faid,  '  Where 
is  your  Faith  now  ?  Come,  go  to  Prayers, 
I  will  pray  w^ith  you.  Our  Father ^  &c.' 
We  took  the  Advice,  from  whomfoever  it 
camey  and  poured  out  our  Souls  before 
Gody  till  L — y  C — r's  Agonies  fo  increafed^ 
that  fhe  feemed  in  the  Pangs  of  Death. 
But  in  a  Moment  God  Jpoke  ;  ftie  knew  his, 
Voicey  and  both  Body  and  Soul  were  heal- 
ed. We  continued  in  Prayer  till  near  One, 
when  S — -y  J — j's  Voice  was  alfo  changed y 
and  fhe  began  ftrongly  to  call  upon  God. 
In  the  Morning  we  renewed  our  Prayers, 
while  {lie  was  crying  continually,  *  I  hurny 
I  burn  : — I  have  a  Fire  within  7ne.  I  can- 
not bear  it.     Lord  Jefus  !  Help  !.'* 

I  have  tranfcribed  this  Cafe  at  large,  on 
account  of  Variety  of  Obfervations  and  Pa- 
rallels that  will  refult  from  it. 

The  fir  ft  extraordinary  Circumjlance  is, 
that  when  Mr.  Wefley  was  on  the  Road, 
and  upon  the  Gallop  on  accountof  the  Rain, 
the  V/oman  pofle[Jed  fhould  know  and  fee 
this  fo  exadly,  at  three  Miles  Diftance^ 
And  I  allure  him,  that  I  do  not  deny  tie 
FaB  'y  though  I  cannot  comprehend  the 
Manner,  or  the  Catife.  Nor  do  I  doubt 
of  the  Truth  of  fome  Jimilar  Cafes y  how- 
ever unaccountaWe,  as  to  bare  Matter  of 

Faa. 


(    57  ) 

PaB,      Whether   this   will    turn   to    Mr. 
Wejley,^  Romiir^  I  cannot  fay. 

Mr.    C.    Mather  (Hifiory  of  iSlew-'En*^^^^'^'^^ 
gland)  giving  an  Account  of  dreadful  Sor--     ^^' '' 
ceries  and  Witchcrafts^   has  many  In  fiances 
"  attcjled  by  Perfons  of  the .  utmcft  Vera-- 
city^    and    unqueflionably   well  fupported^ 
of  People  thus  preteryiattirally  indifpofed, 
who  knew  Things  done  at  a  Diflance^  and 
what  Perfons    were    bewitched   at    diftant 
Places." — So  in  GlanviW%  Saddiicifmus  Tri-    |^e!at, 
timphatus^  we  have  Evidence  -  upon  Oath^  the  zd, 
"  of  a  Bov  bewitched,  who  would  defcribe 
cxadly  the  Clothes  and  Habit  of  the  Witch 
at  that  Time,  though  her  Houfe  was  at  a 
good  Diftance^  and  this  the  Conjlable  2.x\di 
others,     upon    repairing    to    the    Witch's 
Houfe,  found  to  be  true.  —  A-  Girl  taken   Relat 
with  ftrange  Fits  ufually  told  what  Clothes  ^^^  3^* 
Elizabeth  Style,  (the  fuppofed  JVitch)  had 
on  at  the  Time,  which  the  hiforrnajit  and 
others    have   feen,    and    found    true."  — 
There  is  another  Cafe,  coming  nearer  to 
that  of  Mr.  Wcflcy  i^tw  upon  the  Gallops 
&c.  to  be  feund  in  the  Hifiory  of  Witch- 
craft.    'Tis  in  the  Account  of  the  Witches  Vol.  !♦ 
of  Warbois,   executed    for   bewitching   the  P'  ^7- 
Children   of  Mr.  Throckmorton  5    and   tor- 
menting them  with  grievous  Agonies,  Fits, 
&c,*-^  *'  The  eldeft  Daughter  was  in  her 
Fit,  fitting   at  Home  in  a  Parlour;  who 
Suddenly    faid,    *  Now   Uncle,    and    two 

I  others. 


(    S8    ) 

Others,  whom  iTie  named,  are  going  to 
Mother  Samuely  ( the  Witch. )  See,  fays 
{he,  where  Mother  Samuel  goes  trotting  in 
the  Streets  before  them,  with  her  wooden 
Tankard,  and  her  Apron  tucked  up  before  % 
naming  the  Houfe  where  fhe  went,  and  all 
the  Difcourfe  that  pafled  between  them. 
And  it  proved  true,  that  ihe  repeated  ex^ 
adly  every, Word  and Paflage between  them; 
though  fhe  could  not  poffibly  either  hear 
or  fee  any  Thing  in  that  Situation,  and  at 
that  Diflance.'' 

PopiJJj  Authors  are  imanimous  in  a- 
fcribing  this  Knowledge  of  'Things^  remote 
from  the  natural  Sight,  to  a  diabolical  Pof-- 

^^  p  V'f  f^ff^^^^'     ^^^  ^^^^  ^'^  ^^  particular,  when 

we    have   the  Authority  y  of  the  Ro?nan 

Ritual ;  that  the  Difcovery  of  Thi??gs  at  a 

Dijiance  is  one  Sign  of  an  inmate  De^'oil,  '* 

Unlefs  the  Glorious  Ig7jatius  be  thought  of 

better  Authority  -,  one   of  whofe  Privileges 

MafFcE.    was,  "  to  difcover  Things  very  far  remote 

P-551'   from  human  Sight:'*  Or  that  Inftance  "  of 

Fryer  John^  a  Francifcan^  who  had  a  clear 

Perception  of  the  Coming  of  Brother  GileSy 

irancifc!  ^^   twcnty •  eight  Miles  Diftance,    by   the 

Jul.  3.      Odour  of  his  Sanctity,'* 

The  fecond  Particular  remarkable  is  an- 
other Inllance  of  the  Devil's  Impudence^  in 
ridiculing  Mr.  Wejley  for  his  draggled  Con- 
dition ;  and  taking  Advantage,  from  hi^ 
being  quite  cold  a?id  dead,  to  burft  out  into 

a  hot- 


(   59    ) 

a  homd  Laugh ;  thereby  infulting  him 
both  for  want  of  Power ^  and  of  Faith. 
Mr.  Wefley  feems  fenfible  of  this  DefeB^ 
and  begs  of  God  to  increafe  their  Faith. 
The  wicked  one  again  taiinteth  and  upbraid- 
eth  him,  *'  Where  is  your  /v7/V/&  now^ 
Come,  go  to  Prayers,  I  will  pray  with 
you  5  '  Our  Father^  &c/'  This  likewife 
is  intimated  to  be  a  Sneer  of  the  Devil  -y 
for  Mr.  ^^^^^  adds,  "  We  took  the  Ad- 
vice, y?-^;;^  whomfoever  it  came'* 

Whoever  will  look  into  the  Elogia  J'e- 
fuitarum,  (Pag.  489.^  will  find  how  thefe 
curfed  Spirits  took  all  Opportunities  of  treat- 
ing  the  holy   Men    with    Derifwn,    Scoffs^ 
Taunts^  Horfe-laugbs ;  and  how  all  turned 
to  a  good  Account,  in  raifing  theCharadler 
of  the  Jefiiits. — Even  Ig^iatius  himfelf,  St.  Ribaden. 
Dominic,  and    all  the  Mafs-Priefts  found  j^js^^?;^^' 
the  fame  impudent  and  fcornful  Treatment. 
And  we  are  affured,  "  that  when  the  Holy  Franci 
Fathers  the  Jefuits  came  to  relieve  any  Dee-  ^"^J^f"' 
moniacsy  the  Devils  at  firft  would  behave  p^  j"!j2. 
impudently,    and    infult   them ;    but   were 
forced  to  take  to  their  Heels,  as  foon  as 
the    PoJJeJJed   had    purged    themfelves   by 
CofjJeJJion,  and  tied  fome  confecrated  Wax 
round  their  Necks." 

The  Circumftance  of  the  Devil's  calling 

for  Prayers  puts  me  in  mind  of  what  fome 

Papijls   fiiy,  namely,  "  that   this   infernal 

Fiend  will  fometimes  relent^  and  will  bring 

I  2  -himfelf 


(    6o  ) 

himrelf  down  fo  as   to  fay   Pater  Nofter^ 
but  never  to  fay  Ave  Mary,'' 
Specul.        f'  The  Z)£'^v7  too,  feeing  how  Penite?2t$ 
D>iir6^*  "^^^^   whitened    by    Confejjion,     defired    a 
Cap.  23.  Priefl  to  confefs  ^/;;2.'* 

As  a  third  Particular  we  may  take   No-^ 
tice  of  Satan's  not  flopping  at  c?w^  Methodijiy 
but  declaring  his  Ccm??nffio?2  to  torment  two 
more^  whom  he    names.      This   Secret    is 
drawn   from   Satan  by    "   One^  who  was 
clearly  convinced  this  was  no  jiatiiral  Dif-^ 
order:''    V^h'ich  One ^   I   prefume,    is  Mr. 
Wejley's  Good  Self ^  by  his  fpeaking  fo  author 
ritatively^  "  I  command  thee  to   tell." — 
The  Account  feems  to  betray  fome  Siijpicion 
of  a  Compadi.      For   I    do    not   find    this 
^ejlion  was  ever  asked   before  in  any  of 
the  Methodifts  that  were  po[}eJjed :    And  it 
jnuft  be  zfoolijh  Devil,  who  would  fo  free- 
ly declare  into  what  particular  Perfons  he 
was  to  enter  '^ — unlefs  he  were  compelled  ir-r 
refijlibly  by   Mr.  PFefiefs  fuperior  'Power, 
'Tis  a  lucky  Incident  too,  that  thefe  ''  Two 
^'jery  Perfons,  who   lived   at  a   Dijlance^" 
/hould  happen  at  that  Nick  of  Time  to  be 
in  Company  with  Mr.  Wejle-^  5  and  there  on 
7l  fudden  fall  into  their  diabolical  Fits,  And 
it  may  be  thought  he  was  fomething  de- 
feftive  in  Power ^  or  Charity^  for  not  pray- 
ing to  God^  or  commanding  Satan  to  tor- 
ment no  Body  befides  ;  initead  of  permitting 
thein   to   inflicft   his  Tortures    on   others. 

But 


(    6i  ) 

But  perhaps  It  might  more  effectually  ad- 
vance the  Exoj^cijVs  Honour^  in  multiplying 
Cures  by  his  Intercejjion. 

But,  without  confidering  the  Cafe  in 
this  View,  I  fliall  barely  relate  feme  Ta- 
rallels  of  Sat  mi  s  Jlipping  out  of  one  V  erf  on 
into  another^  from  Hiflories  of  People  be- 
mtchedy  and  Topijh  Exorcifms,  '*  A  Wo- 
man poUefJed  by  an  unclean  Spirit  was 
brought  to  the  Triejl  to  be  exorcifed  -,  and 
the  Devil  fpoke  out  of  her  Mouth,  ^  If 
I  am  ejeded  from  her^  I  will  inftantly  enter 
into  another  Perfon,'  naming  one  Gthmar, 
But  he  could  not^  becaufe  the  Trie  ft  fent  to 
Othfiiar  to  arm  himfelf  by  Tenitence  and 
Confejfion:'  [Should  not  Mr.  Wefey  have 
-given  this  Caution?]  MabilL  AS.  BenediB. 
,^b  Ann.  800.  Part  2d.  pag.  4.  Again, 
Ibid,  pag.  62,  ''  Another  Woman  v/as 
brought  to  St.  Probiis  to  be  exorcifedy  and 
the  Devil  faid,  *  I  am  ejected  hence 
by  the  Word  of  the  Lord^  and  the  Mej^its 
of  his  Saint :  But,  before  you  get  to  Erf  eft- 
forty  I  will  plague  you  again,  and  agah7,' 
Accordingly  he  entered  into  another  Sijler^ 
and  into  a  Thirdy  and  tormented  them  in 
a  terrible  Manner.  But  they  were  reftored 
to  perfeB  Sou?2dnefs,''    Ibid.  p.  62. 

We  read  of  fuch  a  skipping  Devil  exor- 
cifcd  by  St.  Alalachias ;  "  for  being  driven     yj^^ 
out  of  one  Woman,  immediately  he  jumps  Maiach, 
into  another  3  driven  out  of  her,    he  flies  ^^P"^' 

back 


(    62    ) 

back  again  into  the  firft  Woman ;  and  fo 
fliifts  often  backward  and  forward,  till  at 
length  he  is  commanded  to  poffefs  nei- 
ther of  them,  nor  any  other  Perfon ;  the 
Saint  not  bearing  any  longer  to  be  thus 
illuded." 

§.13.  The  Dcemoniac^  among  the  Me- 

thodifts  are  ftill  carrying  us  on  into  farther 

Speculation  ;    arising    from    the    following 

Wefley   Inftance.     [No.   8.]     "I  met,  fays  Mr. 

4-  J^"^*""-  Wejley^  with   a  furprizing  Inftance  of  the 

^^'     '  Power  of  the  Dm/.     Mrs.  J— x  took  the 

Bible^  and  read ;  but  on  a  fudden  threw  it 

away,  faying,  '  I  am  good  enough,    I  will 

never  read,  or  pray  more. —  I  ufed  to  think 

I   was  full   of  Sin,    and   finned  in  every 

Thing  I  did.     But   now   I  know   better. 

I  never  did  any  Harm  in  my  Life,  ^cJ — 

She  fpoke  many  Things  to  the  fame  Ef- 

fed: ;    plainly  fliewing,  that   the  Spirit  of 

Pridey    and  of  Lies,    had    full   Dominion 

over  her.  —  And  yet  (lie  was  in  the  moft 

violent   Agofiy,    both  of  Mi?2d  and    Body, 

Upon  our   beginning  to  pray^    (lie    raged 

beyond   Meafure,    but    foon  funk  down  as 

dead.     In  a  few  Minutes  flie  revived,   and 

joined  in  Prayer,     We  left  her  for  the  pre- 

fent  in  Peace,'* 

Such  are  the  tendency  and  EffeBs  of 
Methodifiical  Spiritual  Pride  from  the  Doc- 
trine of  Perfeilion.  But  he  goes  on,     "  All 

the 


/ 


(    63    ) 

the  next  Day  fhe  was  in  a  violent  Agony ; 
till  ftarting   up  in  the  Evening,   fhe  faid, 

*  Now  they  have  done.  They  have  jiifl 
done,  C —  prayed,  and  Humphreys  preach  d. 
(And  indeed  fo  they  did.)  And  they  are 
coming  hither  as  faft  as  they  can.'  Quickly 
after  they  came  in.  She  immediately  cried 
out,  *  Why,  what  do  yon  come  for  ? 
You  can't  pray  :  You  know  you  can't.' 
And  they  could  not  open  their  Months ;  fo 
that  after  a  fhort  time  they  were  con- 
ftrained  to  leave  her  as  fhe  was. 

Many  came  to  fee  her  on  I'ziefday -,  to 
e^jery  one  of  whom  flie  fpoke  concerning 
either  their  adfual,  or  their  Heart  Sins  -, 
and  that  fo  clofely,  that  feveral  of  them 
went  away  in  more  Hafte  than  they  came." 
[This,  'tis  to  be  remembered,  happened  in 
Mr.  Wcjlef%  Ahfence.']  "  In  the  Afternoon 
file  fent  to  Kingfwood  for  7ne.     But  faid, 

*  Mr.  We/ley  will  not  come  To-Night.     He 

will  come  in  the  Morning.     But  God  has 

begun,  and  he  will  end  the  Work  by  hiin-^ 

Jelf.      Before   Six  in  the  Morning  I    (hall 

be  well/  And  about  a  garter  before  Six 
the  next  Morni?2g  the  Peace  of  God  came 
to  her  Soul." 

In  this  Account  (which  I  thought  ne- 
ceflary  to  tranfcribe  at  large)  the  three  fol- 
lowing Points  are  obfervable^ —  Th^feeiftg 
Thi?igs  done  at  a  Dijlance, —  the  Kfiowledge 
of  the  Secrets  of  the  Hearty — and  Utterance 

of 


(  64   ) 

of  Prophecies^ —  all  by  a  Woman  pojjeffed  by 
the  DeviL 

But  prcvioti/ly  I  would  take  notice  of  an 
cdd  6ort  of*  Circumftance,  wherein  this 
Kno'wkdge  cf  the  Heart  confifted.  When 
fome  Metkodijis  came  to  vifit  Mrs.  J — 5, 
you  obferve,  fhe  immediately  cries  out, 
*'  What  do  you  come  for?  You  caji't 
pray :  You  kiiow  you  can't/'  This  Mr. 
Wcjley  fays  was  true,  for  *'  they  could 
not  open  their  Mouths;  and  were  con- 
Jlrained  to  leave  her  as  fhe  was."  But  here 
is  the  Difi'erence  between  the  Principal^ 
and  his  Injmcrs.  Mr.  TFeJley  Tit  this  time 
was  ahfcnt.  But  when  the  De^vil  taunted 
Mr.  WeJJey  himfelf^  as  v/anting  Faith^  and 
unable  to  pray^  he  prefently  iLewed  that 
he  could,  as  in  the  preceding  Number. 

For  a  Comparifon^  I  do  not  remember  at 

prefent  more  than  two  of  this  odd  kind. 

Martyr,  one  happened  among  the  Francifcans,  "  At 

furtf;  ^^^  Funeral  of  St.  Achas,  the  DeProfundis 

being  fet,  none  of  the  Company,  with  their 

many  and  utmoft  Attempts,    could  pojjibly 

utter  the  Words,"' — The  other  is  the  Con- 

fefiion  of  aPerfon  fuppofed  to  be  bewitched. 

Vol.  II.  (in  the   HiJIory   of  Witchcraft ) :  "^"^  Agnes 

^'-  -^^-  Nafmith  frequently  told  the  Minijler,   that 

their  Hearts  and  Tongues  were  bound  up  m 

fuch  a  manner,  that  they  could  not  exprefs 

what  they  would  :  —  upon  attempting  to 

fpeak,  their  Mouths  feenied  to  be  contradl- 


(    (>5   ) 
^^. — flie  could  not  exprefs  one  PFord,  even 
when  on  her  Knees  for  the  Girl's   Reco- 
^oeryJ* 

The/r/?  Point,  that  oi  feeing  and  know- zt^^o.^, 
ing  Ferfons  and  "things  nt  a  Di/hmce,  may 
be   paffed  over ;    as  we  have   fpoke   of  it 
before,  and  will  fall  in  our  \Vay  again. 

The  fecond  is   the  Knowledge  of  the  Se- 
<:rets  of  the  Heart.     And  of  this    I  have 
fpoken  too  already  ;  at  leaft  as  for  as  it  con- 
cerned the  Principals^  whether  Methodijisy 
or  Tapifts:  And  fliall  now  confider    this 
fiipernatural  Gift^  as  communicated  to  thofe 
of  lower  Rank.     There  can't  be  a  plainer 
and  ftronger  Inftance  than   this  before  us  ; 
*'  the  Woman  in  her  fits,  or  rather  com- 
ing out  of  them,    fpoke  fo  clofely  to  her 
Vifitors,  not  only   concerning   their  aBiial 
Sins,  fuch  as  tliey  had   in  fad  committed -, 
but  their  very  Heart  Sins,  fuch  as  had  only 
rifen   in   their  Thoughts-,  that  thereby  llie 
puts  many  of  them  to  Shame,  -^ind  makes 
them  run  haftily  away/' 

Were  I  dlfpofed  to  make  a  Trife  of 
this,  I  might  fay,  that  one  natural  V/ay  of 
knowing  the  Hearts  of  each  other  might 
proceed  from  their  conftant  Cuftom  of 
mutual  Confjjicns  in  the  mod  minute  Cir- 
cumftances  and  Temptations^  and  Anfweis 
to  the  moll:  Jearching  ^ejliom  :  Whereby 
they  come  acquainted  not  only  with  the 
Sins  of  the  Tarty  confejfing ;  but  of  thofe 
K  who 


(  66  ) 
who  have  made  m  Confejjion  *,  but  who 
have  been  guilty  of  Sins  in  Company  with 
thofe  who  have  confejjed,  &c.  And  fo  by 
one  cut  cfhis  Senfes,  in  a  wild  Fit,  all  is  /5^- 
trayed;^  ^nUith^  confcious  Parties  2iVtJhamed 
and  difgraced.  This  happened  in  Mr. 
Wefley^  Abfence-,  who,  had  he  been  there, 
might  have  prevented  the  Scandal  %  and 
have  given  the  Matter  a  better  Turn,  by 
fhewing  it  to  be  an  Artifice  of  Satan,  in 
order  to  calumniate  the  Society  of  innocent 
Lambs.      For  Popijh  Dcemomlogifts  teach, 

Malef;     '!  ^''^^  ^^}\  ^^^  ^^^'^'^  ^f  i^^  Devil,  to  make 

Tom.  4.  ^'^e  ^?/^#^  tell  impure  and  criminal  Stories 

pag.  18.    of  the    By-fanders,    on    purpofe   to   raife 

Scandal',  and  to  terrify  them  fo  that  they 

may  run  off,  and  take  no  more  Care  of  the 

Tatie?2tr     And  fo  it  happened  here. 

The  Caufe  of  thus  knowing  the  Heart, 

and  revealing  Secrets,  (which   fome   have 

Thvr^us  ^^^^'^^^^  ^^  Difem-per,   or  other  Secrets  of 

LocJnfeii-^^^^^^^'^^y^    the   fame    Damonohgijls   impute 

pag.  123.  direaiy  to  the  Operation  of  Satan  -,  as  what 

Daemon,   diftinguifheth  Daemon's  Agency  from  Hu^ 

P-44-      man;   zni   PoffeJJion  from    Difeafe.     Thus 

A  G/r/  in  a  Moiiaflery,  being' deeply  in 

Love,  but  difappointed  by  the  VnfaithfuU 

wier.    ;z6^  of  her  Lover,  run  ;;W:  The  D^-u/V 

Dinion."   ^"^^^'^d  i»to  her,  and  difcovered  to  her  all 

L.3.c.i3.the  Secrets  of  the  Man,  his  private  Dif- 

courfcs  with  his  new  Mijlrefs -,  v/hich  made 

her  ready  to  hang  herjelf     But,  however, 

this 


(   67   ) 

this    was    imputed  to   Melancholy  for  her 
Difappointment/' 

Popi/lD  Parallels  are  exceeding  numerous. 
To   mention   a   few.      "  By   virtue   of  a  Conform. 
wonderful  Light  from  St,  Francis,  his  Z)//^^°^- ^39> 
ciples  faw  one  another's  Minds  as  clearly  as 
their   Bodies -y  each   one's   Confcience  being 
naked  to  another."  —  "  P/6.  h'crius  could  Ribaden. 
diftinguifli  Sinners  by  the  Smell -,  could  tell^ay  26. 
his  Penitents  their  particular  Maladies,  and 
of  his  own  accord  dete5l  their  fever  al  Vices,'' 
—  Laurent.  Ananias   fays,  "  I  faw   withoeNatur. 
my  own   Eyes   a   certain  pofefed  Woman,  D^mon. 
who  was  fo  petulant,  that   fhe   could  fee  J^p.^. 
nobody,    whom   fhe    would    not   upbraid 
with  their  moft  hidden  ignominious  IVork- 
ings  ;  from  whence  no  fmall  Siijpicions  mid 
Defamations  arofe . ' ' 

The  third  Point  obfervable  was,  the  Ut- 
terance of  Prophecies  by  our  Methodijls ;  or 
their   foretelling   Things   to  come.      The 
Pretenfions    of   Mr.     Whitefield    and    Mr. 
We  fey  to  the  Prophetic  Faculty,  (when,  I 
take  for  granted,  they  would  not  be  thought 
Demoniacs)  have  been  related  before.  Here 
we  have  an  Inftance  of  a  Woman  prophefy- 
ing  under  a  Pojjefion,     "  Mr.  Wefey  will  Enthuf. 
not  come  to  Night :  he  will  come  in  theP^i'^^d. 
Morning. — God  will  end  the  Work  by  him-^'  ^  ' 
felf     Before  Six  in  the  Morning  I  ftiall  be 
well."     Whether  the  Woman  herfelf  fpeaks, 
or  the  Dcemon  through  her  Organs^  is  not 
K  2  certain. 


(   68    ) 

Thefaiir.   certain.     But  we  are  aflured,  "  the  Devil 

p.^640."^  is  fo  C7-aJty,  that  fometimes  he  permits  the 

Popfed  to  fliew  Signs  of  Devotion  -,    and 

the   Wicked  One    himfelf  will   utter  pious 

Things,   to  perfuade  the  Exorciji  that  he  is 

Thyr.    departed  : — And,  on  occafion,  he  will  go  out 

-gTTi^^  of  his  own  accord,  before  the  Saint  comes, 

■  to  avoid  the  Dijgrace  of  being  expelled,'* 
Wefley  We  have  fuch  another  PrediBion  •  "  A 
p.  cs'^'ec.^^^^^^^^'  who  dropt  down,  ftruck  as  was 
fuppofed  v/ith  Death, — declares  and  knows^ 
{he  Ihould  not  die,  but  live."  —  And, 
**  Anne  Cole,  when  dying,  declares,  *  I 
know  my  Saviour  will  rejlore  me  foon/ 
And  he  did,  in  a  few  Hours,  to  Paradife.'" 
This  is  a  truly  Oracular  Prophecy,  which 
would  be  verified  either  by  Life  or  Death. 
Had  fhe  furvived,  what  a  Miracle  I  She 
dieth,  and  'tis  the  lame. 

In  fuch  a  Cafe,  "  One  Stephen  Bartolus 
being  defperately  ill,  St.  Ignatius  after  go- 
ing to  Mafi  declareth,  '  Stephen  fhall  not 
die  at  this  Time."  —  On  the  contrary. 
Solid.  *«  when  a  Cartefian  in  a  dying  and  de- 
Im'rod*.  ^painng  Condition  fent  to  that  good  Soul 
Mrs.  Bourignon  to  pray  for  him,  promif- 
ing  to  turn  wholly  to  God,  if  he  recovered; 
ftie  pronounceth  (with  a  double  Prophecy) 
'  He  (hall  not  recover,  but  ht  Jhall  die-, 
for  if  he  did  recover,  he  would  fall  deeper 
into  tl)^t  pernicious  Err  or  J* 

If 


(   69   ) 

If  we  look  into  PopiJJd  Authors^    par- 
ticularly  concerning   their  Exorcifms^    wc 
generally  find  thefe  three  Faculties^  (feeing 
diftant  Things,  knowing   the  Pleart,  and 
foretelling  future  Events)  in  one  and  the 
fame  Perfon,  either  under  a  Tofjejjion^  or  an 
Ecjlacy ;  and  afcribed  likewife  to  Satan^  as 
the  efficient  Caufe,     "  When  you  hear  ig-Thefaur. 
norant  and  illiterate  People  interpret  i^\i^-^^oxc\{m. 
cult  Points^  difcover  the  Secrets  and  Sins^*    ^^^' 
of  others,    or  fing  with  a  mufical   Voice, 
foretell  Events,  &c.  this  is  an  undoubted 
Sign  of  a  diabolical  Prefence.  —  The  Re-    Thyc 
velation  of  Secrets,  and  Prophefying,  evi-^°^'^^^^^' 
dently  dijiingiiijh  Damons  from  Men  ;  be-^"     ^* 
caufe  'Dcemom  may  know.    Men  cannot." 
— Above  all,  the  Authority  of  the  Romip 
Ritual  determineth,  "  that  a  Dcemoniac  is      ^^ 
to  be  diftinguiflied  from  one  troubled  with  ^^°'^*^^*- 
the   black  Bile^  or  other  Dijiemper^  by  his 
difco'oeri7tg  dijiant  and  occult  Things,'* 

And  yet,   when  they   have  a  mind  to 
make  a  Saint y  the  Proof  is  brought  from 
thefe  very  extraordinary  Gifts,     Thus-  i?/- 
badeneiray  in  his  Biblioth.  Soc.  fefUy   extols 
*'  Jacob  RheWy  becaufe  he  was  often  en- Pag.  21a. 
dowed  with   a  Prophetic  Light,   declared 
openly  Things  future,  Things  at  a  Diftance, 
and  other  wife  fecret,  with  ijifallible  Vera- 
city,  —  fof  Anchieta  knew  Things  abfent,P.  283. 
diftant,  and  future  ;  and  foretold  them  as  » 
dlftinftly,  ,as  if  his  Mind  was  the  RtfeBing^ 

Glafs 


(    70    ) 

P.  291 .  (^lafs  of  the  Divine  JVill.—Manci?2eUm  proved 
Spirits,  caft  out  Devils,  cured  the  Dif- 
eafed,  foretold  various  Things  in  Futurity, 
and  told  of  Things  at  a  Diftance."  And, 
I  believe,  there  are  an  hundred  Inftances  of 
this  Nature  in  that  Book.  And  there  are 
perhaps  as  many  in  honour  of  the  Fran-- 
cijcam  in  the  Francifcan  Martyrology\  and 
the  famous  Book  of  Conjonnities  between 
Chrijl  and  St.  Francis, 

But  the  moft  irrefragable  Teflimonies  are 
in  the  Roman  Breviary  5  where,  on  the 
Feflivals  of  divers  Sai?7ts,  all  thefe  wonder- 
ful Gifts  are  related  :  moft  of  them  too 
were  canonized.  As  of  St.  Xavier,  St. 
Frances  of  Rome^  Ph.  Nerius,  Alcantara^ 
Ignatius^  Francis^  Anthony^  Romualdus^  Ca- 
tharine of  Sienna^  &c.  Many  of  them  fore- 
knew particularly  the  'Time  of  their  Death. 

Thus,  by  an  unaccountable  Infatuation, 
favourite  Saiiits  are  beatified  and  canonized^ 
on  the  very  y^;;^^  Account,  for  which  others 
are  pronounced  to  be  under  a  diabolical 
Pofieffion. 

But,  after  all,  'tis  poffible  thefe  Wonders 
may,  in  a  good  Meafure,  be  accounted  for 
from  Dijlemper,  a  Difturbance  of  Brain, 
Alienation  of  the  Reafon  and  the  Senfes ; 
fome  Dijorder  of  Mind  or  Body.  For  that 
Perfons  afflided  with  natural  Difiempers 
have  frequently,  in  an  Enthufiaflk  Man- 
ner, uttered  Prophecies,  and  revealed  Se- 
crets ; 


(  71  ) 
crets ;  and  when  they  were  cured  by  na^ 
tiiral  Means^  the  Gift  of  Divination  quite 
left  them,  together  with  the  Illncfi  ;  —  I 
could  prove  from  Authorities  of  PhyficianSy 
ancient  and  modern.  Nor  is  it  an  incre- 
dible Thing  to  me,  as  being  attefted  by 
Hijiory,  and  known  in  fad:  to  be  true, 
that  thofe,  who  have  little  or  no  Ufe  of  their 
Reajon  and  Senfes,  fliould  utter  Fredidiions^ 
and  reveal  Secrets :  As  for  Inftance,  Mad- 
men.  Idiots,  Epileptics,  EcJiaticSy  &;c. 

Nor,  again,  is  there  any  Room  to  doubt, 
but  that  wicked  Men  and  Seducers  have' 
fometimes  uttered  Things  prophetically ^ 
which  came  to  pafs.  And  we  know,  that 
in  the  latter  Days  Demons  fhould  be  the 
Authors  of  many  furprizing  Things,  feetn- 
iiigly  at  leaft  miraculous ;  God  permitting 
Satan  to  work  upon  the  Affedtions  of 
falfe  Prophets,  and  evil  Men. 

§.  14.  We  have  not  yet  done  with  the  4  Journ. 
Demoniacs.  For  [No.  8.]  Mr.  WeJley'^''^T^  '^^' 
mentions  "  a  Spirit  of  Daughter  coming 
upoji  himfelf.  Brother,  and  jeveral  others ; 
which  they  could  not  poffibly  help,  and 
which  he  imputeth  to  their  being  buffeted 
by  Sat  any  To  what  I  faid  of  this  before, 
[Enthuf.  Part  2d.  pag.  73]  I  now  add, 
that  if  it  really  proceeds  from  Satan,  he 
worked  in  the  fame  Manner  long  before 
the  Time  of  the  Go/pel:  This  being  the 
^  fame 


(     72     ) 

Dr.  James  fame  as  what  the  Ancients  called  the  '^  Sar- 
Sardonius.  douiau  Laughter ;  convulfive  and   involun- 
tary, and  a  Sort  of  Madnefs :  which  Dif- 
order  hath  paffed   into  a  Proverb  (Sardo^ 
nius  rifus^  fignifying  a  forced  Laugh)  and 
to  be  cured  in  the  fame  Manner  as  Con-- 
vuljions.'*    "  One  of  them,  lays  Mr.  Wejley^ 
was  fo  torn  of  the  Evil  One^  that  fometimes 
ihe  laughed^    till    almoft  ftrangled ;    then 
broke  out  into  Curfing  and  Blajpheming ; 
thtn  Jlamped,  and  ftruggled  with  incredible 
Vol.  I.    Strength/'  —  The    Htftory    of  Witchcraft 
pag-50'  mentions  fuch  another  Cafe,  where  "Mr. 
ThrogmortGn'^  Children  are  raging  and  con- 
vulfed,    as  if  ready  to  be  torn  to  Pieces  ^ 
— then  of  a  fudden  they  can't  help  laughs 
An.' 1 67 2.^'^."  —  In  the  ABa  Germanica  we  have  a 
Obf.  304.  Chapter    on    involuntary  Laughter  5    with 
mention  of  divers  Women  obnoxious  to  it 
from  Hyjlerics.     And  Sennertus  imputeth 
it  to  Hyjlerics,  Convulfions^  and  fometimes 
to  Frenzy  and  Alienation  of  Mind,  — Give 
me   leave    to    add    a   Paffage    from    Mr. 
Turner's  Hijlory  of  remarkable  Provide?2ces, 
(Part.  2.  Ch.    36.)    ''  Platerus  fpeaks    of 
fome,    particularly  an    Abbot  y    who   was 
forced  involuntarily  to  laugh,  and  tofs  him- 
felf  about,    to  the   utter   fpending  of  his 
Strength.     Which  puts  me  in  mind  of  a 
Story  related  by  H.  Stephens  (in  his  JVorld 
of  Wonders )  of  a    Man,    who    being    at 
Church,  and  feeing  a  Woman  flill  down 

off 


(   73    ) 

off  her  Seat  while  (he  was  fleeplng,  fell 
into  fo  great  a  Fit  of  Laughter,  that  he 
continued  three  Days  and  three  Nights 
without  giving  over/' 

§.  15.  [No.  9.]  To  the  former  Sign  of 
diabolical  PofjeJJio?i  we  may  fubjoin  an  zm- 
ujual  and  unnatural  Voice  -,  —  Singings  and 
that  in  a  very  melodious  Manner  y  and  de- 
livering out  boly  Things. 

"  One  fpeaks  in  a  Tone  7iot  to  be  ex-  WeHey 
prejjed'^ — we  continued  in  Prayer,  when^-^°^^"' 
another's  Voice  was  alfo  changed,  —  She 
cried  out,  '  Give  me  the  Book,  and  I 
will  fmg,'  She  began  giving  out  Line  by 
Line,  but  with  fuch  an  Accent  as  Art  could 
never  reach. 

Why  do  thefe  Cares  my  Soul  divide  ? 
Heavily  moves  my  damned  SouL — 

Here  we  were  obliged  to  interrupt  her.'* 

In  Conformity  hereto,  Wierus  having  Pr^crtig. 
defcribed  xhe  Agonies  zwA.  Convul/ions,  &c.  P- 425- 
of  one  thought  to  be  in  an  epileptic  Fit, 
addeth,  ''  that  at  length  the  Devil  was 
found  out  to  be  the  Author^  betraying 
himfelf  by  the  Poffefled  fpeaking  with  an 
iinufual Voice  a?2d  Words'' — 

Thyrcdus  gives    the  following  Inftance: 
"  While  St.  Norbert   was    preaching  the -oxmon. 
Word  of  God,   and    exorcifing  a  Girl  thatp^g-  65. 
L  was 


(   74) 

was  brought  before  him ;  the  Devil,   de- 
riding him,  delivered  out  through  the  Girl's 
Mouth     the   Book  of  Canticles    from   the 
Beginning  to  the  End ;  fpeaking  it  Word 
for  Word,  firft  in  the  Latiriy  and  then  in- 
terpret ing  it  in  the  German  Language.'' — 
Book  VI.      jvir.  Mather  (in  his  Hi/lory  before  cited) 
'^'  ''*   takes  notice  of  the  Alteration  of  Voice  in 
fome    Children    bewitched  \  —  the    Devii 
throwing   one   on    the   Floor,    where  flie 
would  whijile  and  fmg  j  —  fometimes  laid 
for  ^^<^i^,  wholly  breathlefs  and  fenfelefs ; 
—  fometimes  yelling,  kicking  and  firikingj 
again    faying,    fhe   was    dyi72g,    and    then 
'    paraphrafing   on    the   thirty  frft   Pfalm    m 
Strains  that  v/txc  quite  amazutg  -^    and  ut- 
^lief     ^^™Z  many  Prophecies."' — ''  Some,  when 
pofieffed,  fng  mifically^  and   reveal  what 


Tom.  I. 

p  227.  they  could  not  naturally  know ;  fometimes 
pig''*i3.  '^hay  are  quite  flupid  and  infenfate. — 
TiTefaur.  Singing  mu/ically,  Prophefying,  arid  Doing 
Exo^rcif.  o\\\zx  jiLper natural  Things,  2s f  Signs  of  a 
10' o.  '  Ddemoniac.  —  Thefe  fweet,  tuneful  and 
melodious  Warblings  manifeflly  prove  a  Per- 
,  ionpojjfedr—-  \ 

re  Mania      Phyjicians  often  obferve  thefe  Symptoms 
^''^'  ''  to  be  the  EfFed:  of  Madnefs.     Particularly 
Sennertus  relates  divers  Cafes^  where  Per- 
fons  under  this  Calamity  have  talked  L^//;;„ 
fling  Hymns,   difcourfed  well,   ^c.   none  of 
which  they"  could  do  in  their  Senfes. 

§.  16. 


(   75  ) 

§.  i6.  [No.  10.]  One  more  Cafe  of  a 
Damoniac  I  fhall  tranfcribe,  pretty  largely, 
as  attended  with  feveral  remarkable  Cir- 
cumftances.     *'  At  Stratford  upon  Avon^ 

—  Mrs.  K had  been  for  many  Weeks 

in  a  Way  that  no  body  could  iindcrjland -^  (he 
had  fent  for  a  M'mijler ;  but  almoft  as  foon 
as  he  came,  flie  began  roaring  in  fuch  a 
Manner  ( her  T^ongiie  at  the  fame  time 
hanging  out  of  her  Mouth,  and  her  Face 
dijlorted  into  the  moft  terrible  Form)  that 
ihe  cried  out,  '  It  is  the  Devil^  doubtlefs  I 
It  is  the  Devil'  And  immediately  went 
away.  —  I  asked,  '  What  good  do  yen 
think  I  can  do?'     One  anfwered,   '  We 

cannot  tell/     But  Mrs.  K earneftly 

defired  you  might  come,  —  faying,  that 
fhe  had  feen  you  in  a  Dream,  and  Jlmdd 
know  you  immediately.     But  the  Devil  faid, 

*  I  will  tear  thy  Throat  out  before  he 
comes.'     But  afterwards  his  Words  were, 

*  If  he  does  come,  I  will  let  thee  be  quiet; 
and  thou  fhalt  be  as  if  nothing  ailed  thee 
till  he  is  gone  away.'     [Mr.  Wejley  fays, 

*  I  juft  relate  what  was  fpoken  to  me^ 
without  paffing  any  Judgment  upon  it/ 
Though  he  fneeringly  reflefts  upon  the 
^  Unphilofopbical  Minijler  ^\2indi  zd^s  after- 

*  Wards,  *  a  (Irange  Sort  of  Madnefs  this !' — 

He  then  proceeds.]  V I  walked  over  about 

Noon:  But  when  we  came  to  the  Houfe, 

L  2  I  dc- 


(76) 
I  defired  all  thofe  that  were  with  me  to 
flay  below.  One  Ihewing  me  the  Way, 
I  went  lip  flrait  into  the  Room.  As  foon 
as  I  came  to  the  Bedfide,  fhe  fixt  her 
Eyes,  and  faid,  '  You  are  Mr.  Wejley.  I 
am  very  well  now,  I  thank  God,  No- 
thing ails  me  now :  only  I  am  weak.'  I 
called  them  up,  and  we  began  to  fing  :  — 
After  finging  a  Verfe  or  two,  we  kneeled 
down  to  Prayer,  I  had  but  juft  begun, 
(my  Eyes  being  (hut)  when  I  felt  as  if  I 
had  been  plunged  into  cold  Water,  And 
im.mediately  there  was  fuch  a  Roar^  that 
my  Voice  was  quite  drowned  ^  tho*'  I 
fpoke  as  loud  as  I  ufually  do,  when  I 
fpeak  to  three  or  four  thoufand  People. 
However  I  pray'd  on.  She  was  then 
reared  in  the  Bed,  her  whole  Body  mov- 
ing 'at  once^  juft  as  if  it  were  a  Piece  of 
Stonel  Immediately  after  it  was  writhed 
into  all  kind  of  Poftures ;  the  fame  horrid 
Yell  continuing  ftill.  But  we  left  her  not 
till  2ilV  iht' Symptoms  ceafed,  and  fhe  was 
(for  the  prefent  at  leaft)  rejoicing  and  praif- 
ing  Godr 

That  I  may  not  too  often  omit  fuch 
Circumftances  as  tend  to  the  Glory  of  Mr, 
Wejley\  emulating  that  of  his  Familiar^  St. 
Ignatius ;  I  fhould  take  fome  Notice  how 
carefully  he  relates  the  Woman's  ~  *^  Dream, 
in  which  flie  faw  Mr.  Wejleyy  and  fhould 
know  him  immediately."     To  prevent  all 

Fallacy, 


{   77   ) 

Fallacy,  and  fliew  that  all  was  fair,  "  he 
went  up  into  the  Room  by  himfelf,  and 
flie  immediately  cries  out,  '  You  are  Mr. 
Wejleyr 

Not  to  fay,  how  eafy  it  was  to  guefs 
it  was  Mr,  We/ley^  by  the  ExpeBation  of 
his  coming,  or  fome  previous  Defcription 
of  him  5  it  was  proper  fome  divine  No- 
tice fhould  be  given  of  fuch  a  powerful 
Man  ;  that  he  fhould  go  alojie  into  her 
Chamber,  to  prove  it  true  ;  even  though 
contrary  to  his  authoritative  Diredlions, 
"  that  above  all  Things  iht  Exordji  muftcompL 
beware  of  vifiting  any*  Perfon  poffefTed  ^^^- ^^- 
alone y  and  without  fome  Company ;  efpc- 
cially  a  Woma?i.'' 

The  fame  Honour  had  that  other  great  Bartol, 
Marty  St.  Ignatius :  For  "  a  Woman  in  a 
delirious  Fever ,  and  at  the  Point  of  Death, 
faw  in  a  Dream  a  veiierable  Perfon^  of  the 
Jefuit's  Society,  as  flie  conjedured  by  a 
Relick  of  his  Garment :  The  Relick  of  St. 
Jgnatius's  Garment  was  brought  j  and  fhe 
inftandy  crieth  out,  *  I  am  found  ;  I  am 
well/  A  PiBure  of  Ignatius  being  then 
ihewn  to  her,  fhe  knew  it  was  the  fame, 
whom  fhe  had  feen  in  her  Sleep.  And 
fhe  had  him  in  Vencratio7i  all  her  Life. — 

"  That  fuBous  Miracle-Monger,  John  de  Nov.  Le- 
Bridlyngtony  and  fmgular  Secretary  of  Ce-  S^"*^' 
leftial  Myfteries,  was  equally  honoured  by 
*  five  Mariners^   who  in  a  Tempefl  at  Sea 

faw 


(  78  ) 
few  a  Vtjton  of  a  venerable  Perfon  deliver- 
ing them  from  their  Diftrefs :  and  after- 
wards going  into  a  Monajlery^  they  faw 
^ohriy  and  knew  him  to  be  the  Man  that 
appeared  to  them  in  Vifion:" 

The  BeviU    in   terrible  Fright  at  Mr. 
WeJJefs   being  fent  for,    threateneth    cru- 
elly 5  "  I  will  tear  thy  Throat  out  before 
he    comes."      But    afterwards    he    grows 
cooler    and   amninger^:    *^  An 3'  'then    his 
Words  were,  If  he  does  come^r  will  let 
thee  be  quiet-,  and  thou  flialt  be  as  if  no- 
thing ailed  thee,  till  he  is  gone.*'        '  «f''^'- 
A  common   Clergyman  he    had  put' to 
Flight;  but  defpairing  of  ferving  our  Hero 
fo,  he  recurs  to  his  Artifices  -,    and,   per- 
haps to  avoid  the  Difgrace  of  being  ejeft- 
ed,    walks    off,    and    owns    Mr.   JVeJlef^ 
F&ioer. — Such  an  Account  we  have  in  the 
Story  of  the  Devil  of  Mafcon ;  who  would 
l£tifiR   fometimes   tell  the  Exorcijly   "  while  yoU 
^^"^",3  p^fay,  I   will  go  and  take  a  Turn  in  the 
Street.'' 
J^V'ccv      Thus  the  Papijls  tell  us^^  Satan  boaft- 
Loc.infeft.^y^,  r  will  not  be  ejcfled  by  tHofe  little 
112.        Fellows,  '  Syriilus  and    Bernarduhis.  '*  — 
•Again  3  A: Woman's  Daughte^  being  pof- 
feffed,  fhe  had  a  Fifiori  of  the  Perfon  whd 
was  to'  cure  her  .\' What  -ftould^^fc 
Away  fhe  fii6s  t6  the  Momfiery,    to  find 
out  the  Man.     Tlii  ^Pr^^<?  of  the  Mo- 
naftery  .comes  out  j'bc  was  not^the  Man  : 

^bDftii 


(    79  ) 
till  at  length    Sabinus    coming    out,    ilie 
inftantly  knew    his  Face,    and  the  Dcjil 
left  her  Daughter."  •—  "  The  Drj//i  have 
often  confefled,    that;  they  would  aot  be 
ejedted    .bu^.oby  .fome    excellent    Perfon. 
When  feveral  had  tried.  In  vain  to  drive  a 
Damon  QVit  oi  onz  Ethekrj  he  declared, 
I  will  be  expelled  by  nobody  except  St. 
Swiberty  the  Apojlle  of.  the  Saxons.  —  Ano- 
ther Damon  ididy  *  I  will  not  go  out,  un- 
lefs  the  Archdeacon  of  Lyons  will  come  him- 
felf,  and  ejedl  me  out  this  Vefjel^  of  which 
I  have  Poireffion.".,,.,,.,r>^ 

Tht  Devil's  PromifeV  however,  of  '^  let* 
ting  the  Woman  be  quiets  till  Mr.  Wefley 
was  gone,  as  if  nothing  ailed   herj'*  and 
her  faying,  when  he  came,  *^  that  flie  was 
very  well,  and  nothing  ailed  her,''   are  but 
fome  of  the  Devil's  fly  Tricks y  if  we  may 
believe  the  Pope:  For,  ^'  among  others  of  Ritual 
the   wicked  Spirit's  Arts   and  Deceptions,  J^^"^- 
they  fometimes  hide  themfelves,  and  leave     ^°^^" 
the  Body  as  it  were  free  from  all  Molefta- 
tion,  that  the  PoJeJ/ed  may  think  himfelf 
quite  delivered.      But   the   Exorcifl  muft 
not  ceafe>  till  he  fees  jthe  .^]g-$w  of  De- 
livery/* ^  -r'X'?^  ^   ^T J  '^r": 
;    Mr.  Wejley  accordingly  obeys  the  Rule, 
!^*  not  leaving    the   Woman    till    all   the 
Symptoms  ceafed  j  and  flic  was,  for  the  pre^ 
fent  at  leaft,  rejoicing  /' — noi  finally  reliev- 
ed, that  Satan's  Prediftion  might  be  ve- 
rified, 


(   8o    ) 

rifled,    of   ''  nothing   ailing  her  till  Mr." 
Wejley  was  gone/' 

'Tis   another  obfervable   Circumftance, 
that   when  the  Woman  "  was   rear'd  in 
the  Bed,   her  whole  Body  moved  at  once, 
not  one  Joint  or  Limb  bending,  juft  as  if  it 
were  a  Piece  of  Stone  ^  and  immediately  af- 
ter it  was  writhed  into  all  kind  of  Poftures." 
This  feems  to  be  that  Sort  of  Diftem- 
per,  which    is   called   a  Catalepjts^    of  the 
VtV:x?i.  convulfive  kind  j  which  Wieriis  defcribeth 
]|^*^^'^.^;?'.much  after  the  fame  Manner,  and  impu- 
'  &  ^^  teth  to  a  diabolical  Power  j   and  of  which 
lib. I.e. 1 1,  he  brings  feveral   Inftances,   efpecially   a- 
mong   fome   Nuns.     Dr.    "James    ( in   the 
•Words  Catalepfis  and  Spafmus)  fays  of  fuch, 
*'  that  in  the  convuljive  Paroxifrn  the  Limbs 
are  furprizingly  agitated,  and  drawn-  into 
various  DireBions ;  —  at  other  Times  the 
whole  Body  is  ftifF,   and  immoveable  as  a 
•Stone ;  —  the  Limbs  Jixed^  but  ealily  flexi- 
hie : — lomctimes  the  Diforder  hath  its  Ori- 
ginal from  Mela72cholyy  and  i$  of  the  Hypo- 
thandriac  or  Hyjleric  Kind;  —  fometimes 
arifeth   from    a  thicks    mfcid  and    impure 
Bbcd',  fometimes  from  the  Commotions  and 
Paffions  of  the    Mind  ;    profound  Medita- 
tion^   and  Workings  of   the  Imagination, 
•  And   he   gives  Inftances   of  Pcrfons   thus 
feized  at  the  Recital  of  certain  Words^  or 
iinging  of  Pfalms^  &c,  and  'fometimes  the 
Diftemper  is  complicated  with  a  Trance," 

The 


(   8i   ) 

The  Reader  may  there  fee  more  of  this  5 
with  feveral  other  diftempered  Coni:ulJiQTis^ 
Diftortio?is,  &c.  into  which  the  Methodijls 
are  fo  often  falling. 

In  this  Cafe  I  obferve,  that  the  Opera- 
tor himfelf  catcheth  the  Contagion^  feized 
with  Part  of  the  Tatienfs  Malady.  For 
Mr.  Wejley  fays,  "  that  after  fi^iging^  he 
had  but  juft  begun  praying,  when  he 
felt  as  if  he  had  been  plunged  into  cold 
Water  r 

Thus   Wierm   tells    us   of   ^'   a  Witch,    Pr^gi^ 
Alice   Kaf}iitz,    who  herfelf  was   afflidled  D^mon, 
with  Part   of  the   Torments,    which   fheP'^^^' 
was    inflidling    upon    others.      But    was 
thought  purpofely  to  have  undergone  this 
Evil,    that  Ine   might   not  be  thought  to 
have  bewitched  the  reft.'' 

The  fame  Author  fays  of  one  fuppofed 
to  be  poflefled,  "  that  the  Devil  caufed  a  ?»  124^. 
Senfation  in  her  of  a  cold  Humour  diftilling 
from  the  Head  to  the  Back.'' — And  Sen- 
nertus  (de  Mprbis  a  fafcino,  cap.  6.)  men- 
tions one  thought  bewitcbedy  who  felt  fuch 
a  Chill  all  over  the  Back,  as  if  he  had 
httxi  plunged  in  cold  Water,'* 

Dr.  James  (under  Spafmus)  fays,  "  one 
of  the  moft  confiderable  Signs  of  the  Dif- 
order  is,  a  Senfe  of  Formication,  [  /.  e.  a 
Senfation  like  that  of  the  Creeping  of  Ants^ 
Formica,  on  any  Part]  which  alfo  feizeth 
the  Os  Cocc)gi^,  and  like  a  cold  Vapour  af- 
M  cends 


,    (      32      ) 

eends  through  the  Spine  of  th^  Back  ;  and 
the  left  Hypochondrium  is  affe(ll:ed,  Gf^:*." 

But  the  Popijh  Exorcijh  reckon  this  as 

a  certain   Sigji   of   a   Perfon's  being  both 

^^^'^;   /^f^^  and  bewitched.     For  "   fometimes 

TotB.  V    ^^^^^^^  ^'^^  Dc^mons  enter  into  human  Bodies, 

p.  225,    it  feems  as  if  a  Vellel   of  the  coldefi  Water 

an  about  their  Backs,   which  fpreadeth  it- 


228. 


felf  over   the  ivhok  Bod\\    from   Head   to 

Foot. — Some  feel  a  very  cold  Wind  defcend 

tlirough   the  Shoulders  and  Reins :    and  if 

the  Exorciji  would  put  his  Hand  upon  the 

Head  of  the  PcJ]c£ed,  he  feels  a  cold  Thirig 

like  Ice  under  his  Hand."     Wicrus  too  tells 

PrsEilig.   of  ^'  a  Girl,   whom  the  Z)m/ fetting  upon 

''^^^"'^' began   with  inducing  a   Senfatign  as  of  a 

Catarrh^    or   a    cold    Defuxion^^^^^^'^i^^^^ 

from  Head  to  Foot."  "rr  -x        '.-> 

v^''v\l        ^^^'  Mather  gives  much  tjh^  fe;pp  pj^c^ 

Ciwp.  7/  count  of  fome  Children  bewitched },\\  '^^^ 

England y  "  who  would  complain  of  being 
in  a  rc^^'/'/i^^*  0^V7/ ;  and^f^qn^aft^^.  >v:9^1d 
complain  of  having  ycpld'^-M'^affr^ 
Doar.  5.  upo^  them."  "  And  li|.^aj^^rt;}in,,§ig^iQf 
a  DcemofiiaCy  (according  to^Cpv^/zj^/t:;;^^^^^^  Ar- 
tis  Exorciji, )  when  a  //f;7^v*  .or  a^ 
pour  runs  about  the  Bodv*^  "     •  t'"  ' 

5^.  17.    Here  we   may  b™g;\jp  ^aj|  jln- 
ftance  or  two  ofiLrpng^Lnai^i'^^^  Qt^-  • 
ccptlon  of  the  Senfef\  Vhich  .^lf,;/|^^ 
fcribcs  to  tlic  Evfl  Spirit  ^'  -and  are  probably 

the 


(    83    ) 

the  Effe6ls  of  Dil}afe.  [No.  9.]  "  I  was  "^"^'^^^y 
defired  to  meet  one  who  was  ill  of  a  ^  i^'y^^- 
very  uncommon  DiJ order.  She  faid,  '  For 
feveral  Years  I  have  heard,  wherever  I  am, 
a  Voice  contiiuially  fpeaking  to  me,  curf- 
ing,  fwearing,  and  blafphemlng,  in  the  moft 
horrid  Manner,  and  inciting  me  to  all 
Manner  of  Wickednefs.  I  have  applied 
to  Phyficians,  and  taken  all  Sorts  of  Medi- 
cines, but  am  never  the  better.'  No,  nor 
ever  will,  till  a  better  Pbyfician  than  thefc 
bruifes  Satan  under  her  Feet/' 

The    learned    Dr.    Mead,    fpeaking   of  Medic. 
"  thofe  Perturbations  of  Mind   which  af-^^^^P-J^' 
fe6l  melancholy  Perfons  in  wonderful  man- 
ners," fays,    ''  I  have  known  two,  who, 
even    when    alone,   imagined    they   heard 
Voices  of  Perfons  fpeaking  into  their  Ears." 
And  Dr.  Jajnes  obferves,  that  ''  in  fome  Under. 
Depravation  oi  the  Organs  of  the  Ear,  or  ^^^'^^'. 
of   the    Brain,    People    perceive    Sounds, 
which  have  no  Exiftence  but  in  the  Imagi- 
nation : —  it  being  a  Matter  of  Indifference, 
whether  the  Fibres  of  the  No^ve  (the  Au- 
ditory) be  agitated  in  the  Brain,  or  in  the 
Ear  :  that  this  happens  in  a  Delirium,  Ver^ 
iigo ',  and  is  a  Forerunner  of  bad  Diftem- 
pers,  an  Epilepjy,  &c,'" 

'  That  this  is  no  new  kind  of  Diforder, 
and  the  Effedt  too  of  diftempered  Bile,  we 
leara  from  the  happy  Mad?nan   of  Horace,  ^^i^-  2. 
(who  had  the  Story  from  much  ancienter^^^ 
M   2  Writers) 


2. 


(  H  ) 

Writers)  who  fancied  he  heard  fome  ex- 
cellent Tragedians  acting  their  Parts  on  the 
Stage.  But,  at  length,  was,  to  his  great 
Mortification,  cured  of  hisy^^'f'/  Delirium^ 
by  drinking  proper  Dofes  of  HeUebore.  — ■ 
And,  if  it  would  be  kindly  taken,  I  would 
venture  to  recommend  this  hmt  Hellebore 
to  my  Patients  of  the.  Order  of  Method? fm. 

Gale?!  hath  another  Inftance  of  fuch 
"  depraved  Imagination  ;  one  who  fan- 
cied a  Company  of  Trumpeters  were  in 
his  Room,  and  would  be  calling  out  to 
the  Servants  to  turn  them  out  of  Doors 
for  making  fuch  a  Noife,  and  breaking 
his  reft.'*    Differ.  Sympt.  cap.  3. 

Compl.        Bat  the  Exorcifti ca J  Writcis  reckon  "  a-- 

eJ^q^^c^  mong  the  certain  Signs  of  a  PoJJeJJion,  or 
Doa.  V.  Witchcraft^  the  heariyig  or  feeing  preter- 
naturally  fuch  ftrange  Things.  And  one 
of  them  cured  a  Madman^  who  only 
thought  he  had  the  Evil  Spirit  in  his  right 
Ear,  by  pouring  a  Veflel  of  Holy  Water  in- 
to his  Ear,  and  upon  his  Head,'' 

Prsfrlg.  Wierus  fays,  "  The  Dcemons  enter  into 
the  Phantafy,  and  infinuate  Words  either 
of  Perturbation,  or  Pleafure ;  not  indeed 
emitting  any  Voice  by  Pulfation  and  Sound, 
but  injecting  their  Words  without  any 
Noife,  &cr     But  the  fime  Author^  in  the 

P.  2Z9.  Chapter  ''  of  the  depraved  Imagination  of 
melancholy  People,  mentions  a  Fryer  guil- 
ty of  unnatural  Vices^    who    affirmed   he 

faw 


Daemon. 
p..  74. 


(    85   ) 

faw  another  Perfon,  who  lived  at  many 
Miles  Diftance,  and  complained,  that  every 
one  he  tnet  always  made  a  great  Noife  in 
his  EarSy  and  fent  to  JVierus  for  Advice. 
Some  thought  the  Fault  lay  in  the  Organs 
of  Hearing ;  but  indeed  his  Mind  was  dij^ 
ordered.'' 

He  has  another   In  fiance  in    ''a  poor  Prieftfg, 
Countryman^  who   had  vomited  Glafs  and^^^^^- 
Nails,  &CC.  for  feveral  Tears,  as  if  bewitch-  l^^^l, 
ed',  of  which   being   cured,    he  yet  after- 
ward always  felt  and  heard  in  his   Belly 
the  Sound  of  a  Bag  oj  broken  Glafs-,   and 
-likewife   the    Clock  ftriking,    and    diftin<f^ 
Strokes     of   the   Hammer    on    his    Heart. 
What  People  thus  hear  and  fee  is  owing, 
fays  he,  to  the  black  Bile ;  which  happens 
partly  from  the   Diet,    Air,    Sorrow  and 
Fear 'y    partly    from    the   Conftitutions  of 
Heaven,    and  partly  in   Agreement   with 
-other  delirious  Ferfons.''      But  afterwards 
he  fays,  '»  Who  doth  not  fee  in  the  Man's  P.  395. 
Organ  (fitted  on  account  of  his  Si?nplicity 
-to    the  Devil's  Illuftons )    the   Operation, 
Trickings  and  Vexations  of  a  Dcernon  ? 

'Tis  a  common  Complaint  among  Po-  Thyrse. 
fijh  Enthuftafs,  that  the  Devil  enters  intoj-^^-  ^"" 
all  the  Senfes,  Seeing,  Hearing,TaJli?2g,  Smell-  ^  '  ^'  ^^' 
ing.  Feeling ;  and  they  fhew  how. 

Accordingly  ''  he  was  fo  angry  with  St.  Ribaden. 
Fraiices  oi  Rome,  for  the  many  Booties  fheP-  215. 
had  fnatched  from  Hell, —  that  he  was  al- 
ways 


(    86    ) 

ways  plaguing  her, — appearing  In  tlic  Shape 
of  Men  and  Women  in  filthy  Poflures, 
moft  unbefeeming  Gefture?,  and  wanton 
A(ftions.  And  he  once  pla}«ed  her  a  molt 
malicious  Trick,  by  trailing  about  her  Room 
a  rotten  Carcafs  of  a  dead  Man,  which 
made  fuch  an  intolerable  and  lafting  Stench, 
that  {he  had  for  ever  an  Averfion  to  Man." 
Ribadeneira  fays  the  fame  of  Cathai-ine  of 
Ribaden.  Sietina ;  *'  whom  the  Devils  molefted 
'  ^^  *  with  foul  and  abominable  Imaginations^  — 
reprefenting  to  her  Eyes  and  Ears  moft  un- 
feemly  Things.  And  fhe  was  a  long  Time 
thusafflided/' 

By  comparing  thefe  Stories  together,  we 
may  juftly  afcribe  the  feveral  Voices^  in- 
ternal and  external,  which  fo  many  Pa- 
pijls  and  Methodijls  hear,  as  well  as  their 
fuppofed  Viftons^  to  the  P'orcc  of  dijlernpered 
Fancy  'y  the  Voices  being  as  it  were  the 
Eeho-y  and  the  VifwnsthQ  RejkBion^  of  their 
own  Imaghiation. 
Weiiey  Jn  Analogy  to  this  [No.  lo.]  we  find 
5  J;^^^"^the  EfFea  of .  Mr.  Wefley\  Difcourfe  on 
Feeling  :  For,  fays  he,  "  It  plea  fed  God 
to  make  this  Difbourfe  an  Occafion  of  dif- 
covering  fuch  Wiles  of  Satan^  as  it  never 
entered  into  my  Heart  to  conceive^-^-^Find- 
ingmany  had  been  offended  at  the  Ser- 
mon^  —  I  called  them  together,  and  exa- 
mijied  them  feverally  concerning  their  J3x- 
ferienciSy  v.  and.  afjjery  ■  Circu^^fa?2Cfs\      And 

thus 


(    87    ) 

thus  far  I  appro v-ed  of  their  ExpcnerrceSy  as 
to  thek  feeling  the  Working  of  the  Spirit 
of  God ^  &c.  But  as  to  what  fome  of 
them  faid  farther,-  concerning  ^'  feeling  the 
Blood  of  Ckriji  running  upon  their  Arms^ 
or  going  down  their  Throaty  or  poured 
like  warm  Water  on  their  Breafly  or  Heart},'' 
I  plainly  told  them,  ''  the  utmoft  I  could 
allow  was,  that  fome  of  thefe  Circum- 
ftances  might  be  from  God^  (tho*  I  could 
not  affirm  they  were)  working  in  an  un- 
ufual  Manner ;  —  but  that  all  the  refl^  I 
muft  beheve,  to  be  the  mere  empty  Dreams 
of  an  heated  Imagination." 

However  good  Mr.  Wejley  may  be  at 
his  DiJlinBiofjs  -,  I  believe  he  would  find  it 
difficult  to  diftinguiffi  which  of  thefe  odd 
Circumftances  might  be  from  God^  and 
which  were  all  the  refty  that  were  the  mere 
empty  Dreams  of  an  heated  Imagination ; 
and  which  difcovered  fuch  inconceivable 
Wiles  of  Satan,  Here  we  fee  the  manifeft 
Danger  of  running  into  Methodifmy  in 
which  fuch  Fanatical  Super fiitiom  and 
Diabolical  Debt/ions  ftand  coifefed.  And 
do  thefe  Evils  flop  here  ?  Hath  not  Mr. 
Wefey  himfelf  related  feveral  of  a  worfe 
kind,  as  SccpticifmSy  Infidelity y  2ind  Atheifn? 
And  will  he  perfuade  us,  that  he  hath  dif- 
covered half  of  what  himfelf  knows  ?  And 
is  it  not  evident  what  Dehifto?is  run  through 
the  whole  of  their  flrofige  Difpenjaiion  ? 


(    85    ) 

T 

•    ■%        •■     ,  •-.--■  •«,. 

§.  1 8.  Let  us  try  .the  Point  in  Tome  other 
^Wefley  Caibs.  .  [No.  u.]  ''  I  w^s  both  farprized 
i.-g!^  and  grieved  at  a  genuine  Inftance  of  En^ 
thiifiajm.  y-r-  B — ,  of  ^anfie Id- Leigh , 
who  had  received  a  Scnfe  of  the  Love  of 
God  et  few  Dav-s  before,  came  riding  thro* 
the  Town,  hallowing  and  Ihouting,  and 
•Iriving  all  the  People  before  him,  telling 
them,  '  God  had  told  him  he  fhould  be 
a  Kn7g,  and  fhould  tread  all  his  Enemies 
under  hk  Feet." 

He  might  have  called  it  an   Inftance  of 
dire^  Madnef^  as  well  as  of  genuine  E?2-' 
thuiiafm  :    but  then  perhaps  an  E?ithii/iajl^ 
and  a  Madman^  might  have  been  deemed 
the  fame  'Thing ;  and  what  would  become 
^ft<!  Aiof  'Metbodifm  ? —  But  to  take  the  Fad  as 
here  .related  ;  -—We  fee  a  ^vild  Methodift^ 
but  a  few  Days  after  receiving  a  &enfe  of 
God's  Love^  coming  with  all  the  Claims  of 
Royalty-,   which  affords  frefh   Proof,  how 
foon  thcjF  fancied  Feelings  and   L?tpreJjions 
are  apt  to  puff  up  prefumptuous  Minds  with 
Prade  and  Vain-'Glory  ^  as  if  they  were  of 
'Afupcrior  Rank^  and  common  Mortals  of  a 
hiJirr  Dijpenfation,     Another  Difcovery  of 
the  IViks  of  Satan  among  them..     Thus 
P,  229,     Wieriis  tells  us,  "  I  knew  one  of  this  de- 
praved Imagination,  who  believed  himfelf 
the  Monarch  and   Efnperor  of  the  whole 
World  \  and  that  that  Name  belonged  only 

to 


(89    ) 
to  him.''      In  fuch   a   mad  Tranfport   St. 
Francis  exclaimed,   "  I  know  that  I  fhaIl5<'"form. 
•be  a  Great  Prince : — I  fliall  be  adored  over 
all  the  Earth/' 

In  t\\t  Acta  Germanica  we  have  *'  fe- An.  1671. 
vera!  Examples  of  iuch  high  Claims  in  Per-      *  *^'''' 
fons  grown  nuxd  out  of  Pride ;  who  ima- 
gined therafelves,  one  a  Count  of  the  E?n^ 
pire^    another  Ki?ig  of  Portugal^     a  third 
a  great   ^ecn^    a   fourth    Czar  of  Mnf- 

€OV)k'' 

Thefe,  however,  were  innocent  mad 
People^  in  Comparifon  of  this  outrageous 
Metkodifi ;  and  I  doubt  not  their  Pretenfions 
to  Royalty  ftand  upon  as  good  Foundation^ 
as  the  Methodifls  Fancies^  or  even  Afu" 
ranees,  of  Cekjlial  Crowns.  For  (as  Plu- 
tarch obfervcs)  "  A  p;roundlefs  and  irra- Ed.  Par. 
tional  foy  agitates  and  alienates  the  ^^^'^^d ^^ \^' 
more  than  either  Sorrow  or  Fear.'' 

Nor  make  I  any  doubt  but  the  fame  De- 
ception of  the  SenfeSy  caufed  by  difiempei^ed 
Finthujiafm  ever  infufed  into  the  Tiead^  pro- 
duced the  fevcral  following  prejumptuous 
Afurances^  and  vifwnary  Exidt-ations,  *^  One  Weflry 
in  a  high  Fever  cries  out,  O !  I  am  happy,  ^  J°"^"' 
happy,  happy: — all  ih^  Angels  rejoice, — 
and  I  rejoic^e  with  them ;  for  I  am  united 
to  fejiis,  —  Smiling  and  looking  up,  flie 
fays,  *  There  is  the  Lamb.  The  Enemy 
may  come  j  but  he  hath  no  Part  in  me^ 
&c." 

N  ''  Sarah 


p.  23. 


(   9^  ) 

'^'frn    ^'•-'  *5jrj/7.  TVbiJkin   was    taken    ill  of^a^ 

f^alM^n^lfi^^h^-^f^^^  in  tJge .mean 
tiroeflie  lays,,  :^The.  Dmhn  ^^yjhkxf^ 
wjith  in^,~- But  I  am  iimtched-oiM:^  of^the 
^^"^1  9^^^^i  JQ^'^^k.iJ^'^(>:..G<id.has  -not 
.>^^f.^^^^^^¥?«/'elf>^^fP.'.meai  yet  I^bdieve, 
were  I  to  cjie  this  Niglni. before ;ro--mori^^ 
IV^^^kM^^^^  have  «c^  feen 

^•%^;iJ^^rii:  B^^rWieve  I Jhallfee. 

^mj^A\\i^^^:^h^^jim^^^  file  %s, 
"^^.B)"?  :4^4  «^  >5i;<?^,  ^iit^  J7  hscve  had  :  the 
Zor^^  with  me,' , ,  S^on  after,!  ^  I  fear  "I 
¥^^  i':^?ffi/^5^r:  l«y:^yti  J-  thoughr  the 
4^;v^  %>ei>  if?  ^Jl  Heart ;  -but  I  ii^ar 
4tisnot.V  She  fin^s,  they  pfa,y,r  aqdoflie 
isJpUv^red  from  her  Fears,  -—.Somv  after 
■^q.vvere  gonejhe  rafe  up,  and  faid,  — 
^??R%  iti^:^Q|ie.ucfIr-^i3jViaSured  myr&ns 
are  forgiveifi.— Dieth/ .— J.  Hxmld  hmmohf^ 

UQfi{ .receiving  inftantan^pufly - m  filefEng. 
Idi^kw.  m  .^¥othei:,;^at)dti:Brot]ier^fi4 
Shifter  in  ^y  Sleep,  and  they,all  -receivcdi  a 
El^ng  in  a  Moment/' .,..  ,  ,,r:w  i  >■-:,■ .  io 
WAs^.^?ii^^99^  nothing  ..9£i::thJi  iWomah'i 
^}^9:^^.4^!GoAyerfation^  we  h^ve,.n6  Reafon 
^?  S^#io^  her  Sah^tiqn,::  tho^iWe  maj 
9f}?%Pvwhether  her  A[jltmnm  :knd  Fi^ 
MW  j.^^i ,  welUgrounded.  ,  TMo  Tliin?^ 
kern  plain  :  That  the  Melhodifis  ate  drained 
PP  ?R^  bolftered  with  ExpcOations  of  7?r^ 
^ijvin  .    '■'  vclations. 


C  $*  ) 

velitiioHs,    and  oS'^ feeing  God  prefent  with 
thmiv^  -wbidh  furely  is  a  very  prefumptuous 
and  dangerods   Do6lrine  :  — -  And  that  her 
Biieoarfe  are^  like  the  Ramblings  of^  ^)ii^ 
lirioiu  /^^':;?ri;^^-'^hich  Mr.  Wefley  acknoW-^ 
kdgech  fhe^had.— •  As  \o  htxVifion  of  he? 
Rehtimsl  "m  madi  '4ike^what  'St.  Terefa 
fays::'^^. Being  much  indlfpofed,  I  took  upvfta.  8^. 
my  Rofary,  and  infeniibly  fell  into  a  Rapt  ^P-  ^24- 
feemed'to  ht\\\ Heaven^  and  there  I  faw 
bath  tnyvF^Wjf^r^^and  M(7.^i'^;^^^  I -doubted 
wbethciit  this,  might   not  be  /c:>me  lllufiofi^ 
flio'  it  did  not  fo  feem  to  me." 
f^rifNo;  12.]    We  have  an  Account  of  ^**  a  Weficy. 
Ray^  Iturned:  out  of  School -^for  'Mi{beha-~s  J^"^"' 
\5itmr,i'running  away  from  hisTarents,  fof-^"  ^^* 
faring 'Hunger  and  Cold,  three  Days  with-  , 
ou-t  Suftenance,  hearing  Mr.   Wefley,  gpd 
reforming  ^'^-^-tempted  by  the  Dm/ tb  hing 
or^drowh  himfelf :  —  but  wreftling- withf 
&^  in  Prayer,   he  faw  himfelf  furroti'ndeS 
o^'i'ifuilden  'With  an  inexprejjibk^  higfot^ 
rr^'lebed-'With  a  painful  Illnefs,   declares^ 
i.  tho'  I  .am  \\(>V'iXi- Heaven  yet-^  I  am  as  fare 
of  it  as  if  I  was ;  —  as  fuYe  ojf  Chrijl^  as  if 
I  had-hiki  alfeady.'  — One  Day  his  Mother 
faid§v>^  yae^'y'^  you  have  not*  been    with 
yBQr-rSavYodp-    To-Njght.'       He    repfidd, 
'^Yea^rl   bav^.-  .She  asked,   '  Wliat  dii 
bfnitiy  ?*oH'd  anfwated,'^:-He^^^W     me  nat 
be  -  afmid   of  thfe "  ''Jbevil  f  ^''for   he  had    no 
E&wtt)  cto' hurt  me   at^alf/but   I  flioald 
-'on^.^c  N  2  tread 


tread  him  under  my  Feet/  In  this  111 nefe: 
he  died,  fome  Months  above- thirteen  Year&o 
oiiiJ'     ■■■''--■■■  t^-xiu^ciVl  ji;d"  /jyj  ^\\^\s-^ 

In  this  Gafe,  as  in  the  ibrinerjfi^i^have 
no  Quarrel"  with  the  Boy's  Pi^fyy  but  the.. 
E^??2'i^^/^:?/»5J-  attendidg-  it.r  i^  which  he  apf^^^ 
pears  "to   h  a ve  been  well  infiruSed.     For'r 
he^-  has  :  .^ij^^r^w^^  -^f  Ws  -Sahaiion^    and 
th^l Eternal  :—C/jr/y?  comes  tb  attend  him^ 
and  fpeaks-  to  him-  formally,   in  fa  many 
Wordsif  and   his  M?/A^r  draws  him,  ^s  a 
X^^^^xpe^ed,    or   agreed   upon,    into.^^ 
Declaration    of   this  -  Divine-  Prejen<:e  a nd^ 
Converfation.     To  which  add,  his  Sayingy? 
that  *"*  he  faw  himfelf  furrounded  with  arf' 
inexpreffible  Lights  while  he  wreftled  with 
Gvd-"      All   which    may   be  reckoned   as 
more  "  Dreams  of  a  heated  Imagination^ 
or  Wiles  of  Satan  y'  (to  countenance  thci 
DehJio7t  of  Methodifin,.)     Unlefs  \i  tan  be' 
proved,    that  all    the    Pretenffions    of  the 
iithe  J^ature,  among  the  moft  frantic  anA 
-^WdSaiijis  of  the  Antichriftian  CoiiuminioTif 
w<*t€i  truly  from  God,   and  Gonfirmations 
@f  the  Truth  of  Popijh  Religion.      , 
'  1  don't  know,  whether  the  inexpreffihk 
Light  furrotmding  the  Boy,  be  to  be  under*^ 
Hood  of  a  Glory,  irradiating  his  own  Pen/in^ 
or  emitted  from  it;,  or  whether  it  iWas^H 
Sign  of  the  Divine  Prefencey  while  he  wi.^- 
HvreJUing  *with  God.     But  I  coiiild  produce 
hundreds  of  Inflances^  were  it  needful, '.of 
^^lijj  fuch 


(    9J?) 

fach  fabuhus  Papijiicdi/l'ales%    where  iiot^ 

only  the  Great   Samtsy  St.    Francis^    §t^r! 

IgnathiSy  &c.  but  Novkes  and  Nuns  have 

been  cmbj^^onM   in  the    fame  Manner; 

and  encompaflfed  with  fuch  extraordinary^ 

Splendors,  by  the  Vijits  of-  Chrijl^  the  Vir-s^ 

ginyi  Angels,  jipofdes  and  Saints,     Some  ofq 

which  I  ftiall  fet  down,  after  mentioning 

the  Cafe  of  Samuel  and  l^homas  Hitchensy- 

two  Brothers  ;  who  in  a  little  Compafs  of 

Time  went  through  moft  of  the  Myjleries 

of  Method! fm,  and  arrived  to  x\i\^  Brjght,-^ 

nefs  of  Glory,     In  the  Account  y^iln%^^^^^^^ 

induftrioufly    publifhed,     we     fe^dj,-.<^tj:^i^)r^ 

^^  Samueh  d.  Smith  by  TtSidCy  hadr;almp^i^;5 

forgot  every  Thing  that  was  good,  'till, th^j 

Metbodi/l :  Teachers  came   into    Cornw%l^^ 

-T*  During  their  jPr^j^r,    he   fell  to-,!^ 

Ground,  and;  roared  ;  but  is  foonconVqrjte<$, 

to:  th^  Faith*     But  the  \Dra/ then,  #r^KQ 

to  reafoji  him  out  of  it :  —  then  raiff4:,-% 

Mt^b  againft  thQ  Met hcdi/is  •  got  a  W4r&^ 

to  prels  him  for  2,- Soldier  ^.  but  Godi^Stpt^ 

them   not   to  touch    him, -^  By.  anoth^/ 

Snare  of  the  DeyilyMe  is  tempted  to  marry ^ 

whereby   hi  a-  Heart  is  drawn  Jaway  from 

Ga^.j-and  he  is:  planged  into  i^tier  I!)ar^¥ 

nefs,    often    faying,     ^  he  ims    in   Hell  A 

He  wandered  about  th^  Fields  by  Nighty 

threw  himiclf  Oil. the  Earth,   beat  his  Head 

againft  tliic  Ground';  roaringj  b^fing,  and 

cutting/ ;liimfelf  in ,  feveral    Places,  i-—  Is 

d  .1/1  quite 


in  ^ 

giiite  deliver edjn  a  Mommt.  ,Bu^  f^JLLiii^ 
frequent  and.  fore  Conflias  vvitbi^^^/^^^r^ 
dGubts  of  the  Bei7ig  of  a  God  .^f]^x:^  i^.j^p^ 
livfred.  .  Is  Jlead  of  a  Qqfi'K.^<^o'^m4\^^ 
^g,ie,di<cc^^  ^?>)^:^^o^!^ib|v 
^W^M  WM^S^  ^)fcr-3^^kea,iTpoi?  feili^ 
to  '^  be  a  Frectcf:'£J\  -.but  , Jdqabti^g^,  of  :i  ,Jbia 
Mtffm,  tin,  pQiivjne^^^ J^.,^^^5^h-er\W^ 

is  to  an  E%/w;^^J^  ^^^f^p4mii 

but  a%r wards  coay;;nce4  ii^at^.^  (^r j^^ 
ought  by'  his  out%^^ ,^.Niiat^ie{i^  tp^'  fl^^;\^ 

the  p^;7/v  of  hi^,^^w.;::;|jjs. 

tation  w^  \o  Jtarve^  Ali2^^^;::by  r^^^l?^ 
^^v^^^^^!  .iiecefliry  Support  1J3 .,)jjL}^Hir 
conv'ii:)ced  of  this  Error  too  ;  aw^^j;!^ jx;g9(0f 
and  ended,  while  he,  walked..  ifie,^I>^b^^^^ 

X^^'/i?  cf  God's  Count ena?ice.  -tt^-,4.-'P^ikOi3 
^^nafrf^^^^^'    ^^   wa^^.talie^v:|l,.^^dr 

mX  ^^?  :^^^^^^  ^^e^C^iea^,(pyt,,,^k^v^\fi^ 
t'^e.-Jeaflf  Doubt  of  my,  Sahatiom.'y,r^^  ^i 
thtG^tts/of  Heave?!  iland  .open,.ja^d  ^^^<i> 
ftancjs  with  opca  Arms.  ^tq.  ixcef^^edjfr^l 
tet  me  ^  !  l  r^uft  he^gonqju  The;  fleiX^ 
Day  he  cries  out  aloud,  VQg)ci;\  the  Heay^D^,^ 
O  !,  niy  God,  and  come  dpwjA  ir^oi  my 
Soul  i  .Come  Father^^  Soi?,,-aiid,H^|y.^h 

^f;^'   ^""^'V^^   .^oibnbi^M   ,e^n[-n.r;qlt)a 

The  AcGouDtTis  much  \.tl?c  ^e.«yir;khi 

regard  to  his  Brother  $^homas\ ixTiim^r.^^^- 


«p..;vvho  from  following  Revellings  arid 
Hiiriings  became  a  Mcihodijt  Preacher.  [  In 
mlich'^  Trouble  and  Heaviaejs,  —  receives 
gr^at^ CoMfbA!^  the  Lord ;  but  Ibph  after 
ftripp^'-oE^^!^' ahd  thinks  God  hatli  left 
him  iii'f&iat''^ifi--a'wtiy.  But  goes  intoJ:iis 
Glofet,  aM' lias  an  Anfwer  from  the  Lord, 
^  JWiklyf^'Ki'gWepu^^^^  in  great 

^m\  is'iri^the  greateft  Danger  o^  Pride  and 
Li^htn^s  ;  •—  and  found  great  Temptation 
to  J^r/'d?d^3  -wh^n  fpeaking  to  the  People.— 

pffitW,  ^  with'  a  'Voice  qitiie  altered,  —  God  Ts 
cdme    to  •  carr)r   me   Hoihe.     Oh  !    I  jee^ 
Thoafands,  -aM  ten  ThouTands  oi  Angels  t 
D^^/^^^6'r'^7^r  them  ?  O  !  Brother  Tr^rw- 
hafti^  dB^-yoii'  n^Jee  what  a  glorious  Place 
I   am    going    to  r  —  Mary  Bifviiity, ,  catj't 
yowfeeyefiisChrifl  coming,  with  anlpnu- 
f^hf^rabte'-Company    of   Angels,    ana  7,t1i^ 
Gdiden  Banner  difplayed  ?  They- are  ctonir, 
ing  to  cany  me  to  the  Bofoi^  of  v^'^GodC 
Open  their/Eyes,  OyG^p^f^^thaltie^^ 
fee  them.— ^I  am  whiter  thd^';Snow^,     ^^^ 
waflled    in   the    Blood    of^my.  k^j^^;^>;*^ 
Why^-I ani  all Godr^^^^^^^^^ 

-  That  I  m^''hai'r^peai%\t^^ 
fore  remarked,  concerning  the  ftrarig^Ti-; 
dflitud-es,  and  Perturbations,    Scepticifmst^'' 
Defpairings,  Madneffes,  &c,  attending  the" 
Progf  eft -of  Metbcdifni ; '  I  ;ihail;  only ;  tak:e.. 
notice  '  of  thofe   dvleBable  '  Frenzies,"  dhd^ 

fiveei 


(  96   ) 

fweet  Delirta^  which  (o  often  accompany  a 
Fever 'y  of  which  both  the  Brothers  (nei- 
ther of  them  much  above  t^venty  Years  of 
Age)  died.      Both    are  abfolutely   jure  of 
Heaven  ;    both  have  the  Ccmpafty  and  Sight 
of  Jefiu  and  Angeh  ;    one  is  plunged  into 
God;    the  other  is  all  God. 
I>cSym-       Fracojiorius  tells  us,    that  *'  in  Ecfiatic 
f^^  •        Frenzies  'tis  common  for  pious  Perfons,   or 
fuch    as   from   the  Strength   of  Lhjiempcr 
and  Imagination  think  themfelves  fuch,  to 
fancy  they  fee  Gods  and  Choirs  of  Angels.'* 
Wier.de  "  If  Heathens   be   thus  delirious^  and  fe~ 
p.T-Q^    duced  by  the  7//z///c?;2i  <2/' i'i^/'^;/,  they  are  in 
Company  with   Diana ,  HerodiaSy   or   Mi- 
Paufen.    ;^^^r;^,^  .    Qj.  eife    fenus.  Minerva^  and  D/- 

Laconic.  n.     w  ^  ^T        '      1  1 

Cap.  19.   (ina^  Ihall  come  and  carry  Hyacinthus  and 
his  Sifter  to  Heaven^  for  dying  in  a  State 
oi  Virginity '' — If  they  are  Popi/lo  Fanaticsy 
Ribiden.   ^^  ^re  told  of  "  Johannes  Maxims,   who 
Soc.  jtfu.  ^^^  ^  delirious  bever,  and  near  dying,  was 
p.  235.     refrelhed  with  the  Sight  of  Chrifl,  St,  Ig- 
natius,  and  other  Saints  j    fo  that  he  de- 
clared a  lever  ivas  pleafanter  than  Health'^ 
Ph,  NeriuSy   weakened    by   a  continual 
Fever,    as  if  he  had  embraced   fomebody 
Ribaden.  they  could  not  fee,  cries  out,  "  O  !  moft 
May  26.  ^|^,.^j.  Fir^rin !  are  you  come  to   free  me  ? 
O!  moft  Holy   Mother  of  God  I  the   moft 
beautiful  of  all  Creatures, —  I  will  prefume 
to  embrace  you." — At  length,  returning  to 
himlelf,  he  fays  to  thole  about  him,  ''  Did 

you 


(  97  ) 

you  not  fee  the  moji  blejjed  Mother  of  God^-^^ 
who  by  her  Pre  fence  hath  driven  away  my-/ 
Sicknefs  ?" — Would  you  have  the  Sanftioa  J 
of  Infallibility?  "  St.  Nicholas,  juft  before  Br.  Rom; 
his  Death,  faw  Angels  come  out  to  meet^^^*  ^' 
him. — St.  Alcantara   frequently   enjoyed 
the  Prefence    of  Chrijl :    the   Firgin,    St.  oa.  26. 
Francis,  and  other  Celejlial  Spirits,  enter- 
tained   their   Fellow-Citizen   with  familiar 
Difcourfes. —  St.  ^erefa,  who  for  twenty-  oa.  15. 
two  Years  had  Fevers,  and  other  Diftem- 
pers,  fees   Angels,  and  fefus  Chrijl  taking 
her  by  the  Hand  and  efpoufing  her ;  and 
they  likewife  attend  her  Death  ;  when  fhe 
goes  up  to  Heaven  in  the  Shape  of  a  white 
Dover— 

"  Brother  Emanuel,    being  delirious  by  Fi'anc; 
the  Force  of  his   Dijkmper^    fung  excel- gf^""^^*^^ 
\tni\y  MtW   Pfalms  and  Hymns  \  and  juftp.  402. ' 
before  his  Death  began  moft  devoutly  to 
fpeak  to    the    Corners    of   his   Chamber. 
Being  asked,    to   whom  he   direfted    his 
Words ;    he  replied,    to  the  Holy  Angels^ 
whom  he  faw  waiting  for  the  Departure 
of  his  Soul,  that  they  might  carry  it  up 
to  Heaven y — -''  A  certain  Fryer,  extremely  Speed. 
religious,  was  almoft  driven  to  Defpair  to-  ?^.^"^P^' 
wards   the   Beginning   of  hxs    Converfon -,  Ex.  23. 
but  the   Abbot  pav/ned  his   Life   for   the 
Security  of  his  Salvation,  if  he  would  but 
continue  obediently  in  the  Order.     After- 
wards the  Frser  was  feized  with  a  Fever ^ 
O  fell 


(   98   ) 

fell  into  an  Ecjlafy^  had  a  Sight  of  Heaven  ; 
and  brought  back  from  Chrifty  to  whom 
he  was  prefented,  Promife  of  Vardon 
and  Eternal  Life  m  his  Bofom;  and  heard 
from  his  Holy  Mouth,  that  all  who  con- 
tinued obediently  in  that  Order  fhould 
certainly  hcfaved,'' 

Though  I  have    been   pretty  long  on 
this   Article y    I  can't  help  producing  the 
Jefuifs   Mark  in    one  Inftance   more. — 
"  Brother    RmanueU     who    ufually    was 
grievoufly  troubled  at  the  very  Shadow  of 
the  leaft  Fault,  fiiid  when  he  was  dying, 
that    nothing   troubled   his  Confcience^    he 
had  no   Spot  to   be  wiped  away  by  Con- 
fejjion.     After  his  Mind  had  been  thrown 
out  of  its  Seat  by  a  Frenzy  ;  all   wondered 
that  he  talked  with  God,  in  Words  fo  well 
adapted,  and  fo  warm  with  Divine  Love^ 
that   he    could    not    have   compofed    any 
Thing  better,  when  /;;  his  Senfes,     He  re- 
quefted  the  Virgin   Mary  that  he  might 
fee  her 'y  and  fhe  granted  his  Petition." — 
One  might  alledge  Hundreds  of  Indances 
of  Popifj  Saints  beatified   by  God^  Angtls, 
and  Saints,  in  Life  and  in  Death. 

Happy  Madmen  I  Faithful  'Teachers ! 
Who  can  tlius  convert  DiJJempers  into 
JJeiiies  j  and  the  groundlefs  Rants  of  a 
difirdered  Brain  into  Afurances  oj  Salva- 
tion-y  and  by  fuch  Devices  give  a  Sant^ion 
'to  their  wicked  Peculiarities. 

§.  19. 


(   99  ) 

§.  ig.  Of  Affinity  to  thde  Dhi?2e  and 
AfJgelical  VifitSy  is  the  exty^aor dinar y  Lights 
which  furrounds  fome  of  the  Favoured 
Methodijls,  Such  was  that  of  "  a  Perfon  Weiley 
in  bright  Cloaths  appearing  in  the  Nighty  •J^'^'^"* 
to  Peter  Wright^  whence  the  Room  was  ' 
as  bright  as  Day,"  —  Such  that  of  the  Boy 
juft  mentioned,  "  who  faw  himfelf  fur- 
rounded  with  an  inexprejjihk  Lights  while 
he  was  wreftling  with  God,''  Whether 
this  was  the  Effed  of  a  Cekjlial  Prefence^ 
or  a  Radiation  of  Glory  from  the  Boy  -,  'tis 
either  Way  confonant  to  the  old  Heathen 
Notions.  When  Serpents  were  fent  to 
deftroy  young  Hercules  in  his  Bed,  "Jupiter 
watched  over  him,  — 

A  Light  was  in  the  Houfe.  ^^^^-  '^* 

Jupiter  can't  come  to  his  Miftrefs  AlcmeJiay 
but 

Mdes  fot(^  confiilgehant^  qiiaji  ejjlmt  aurea. 
The   whole   Houfe  fliined,  as  if  all  over 
Gold.   A  Voice  too  is  heard,  "  Alc?nena,  fear  pja^t. 
nothing:  the  Governor  of  Heaven  comes  Amphyt, 
to  afTift  thee,  and  thine." — Nor  can  cvcng^'  5- 
PlutOy  the  God  of  Hell,  make  his  Appear- 
ance, to  carry  off  a  Girl^   but — 

Claram  difpergere  culmina  hicem      ciandbH. 

Adventum  teftata  Dei ;  Rapt.p.of. 

A  bright  Light  attefts  his  coming.  *'  •  iv.^. 

O  2  In 


(   loo  ) 
In  the  other  Way  3  —  we  find  Splendors ^ 
and  lambent   Flames  glorifying   the  fame 
Heathens :  —  As  the    Light    furrounding 
Lib.  4..    Afcanhis    in    Virgil:  —  That    of    Tullius 
^^P'  ^-  Hoflilius  in   Dionyfius  Ilalicarn,  who  being 
fuppofed    to    be  the   Son    of   Vulcan^    or 
fome  Dojnefic  Genius^  was  illuftrated  with 
Paufan    f^ch  a  Glory  round  his  Head  :  —  That  of 
CaTao.   -Apollo's  Bajtard  Boy,  who  being  expofed, 
and  found  by  a  ivanderijtg  Shepherdy    the 
Shepherd    faw   a    Cekftial  Light    emitted 
from  him ;  and  he  afterwards   was  famed 
for  civring  all  Difeafes. 

Which  being  a  jaft  Emblem  of  Pretend^ 
ers  to  Infpiraticn,  and  fpiiriom  Prophets  j 

Let  \}S  pafs  to  our  ufual  Parallel  from 

Paganizing  Papifis.     Befidcs  their  eminent 

Saints,  as  Founders  of  Orders,  &:c.  among 

whom  fuch  Favours  were  common,  I  fhall 

produce  two  or  three  (out  of  about  Fifty 

which  I  have  obferved)  of  the  lower  Clafs. 

Annal.    Francus  tells  us,  that  "  while  the   Jefiiit 

jefuit.     Stiariiis  was  praying  before  a  Crucifix,  in 

^"    ^  '   a  Sort  of  Rapt,   fuch  Rays  of  Light  ilTued 

from  the  Sides  of  the  Crucifix,    as  made 

the  whole  Chamber  and  the  Man's  Face 

^^'^-   fhine'' —  Thuillier  fays,  "  that,  as  feveral 

May  T3.  ^^^^^  teilified,  while   Father  John  was  at 

Mafs,    they  faw  him  warmed   to   fuch    a 

Degree,  by  a  Divine  Spirit,  that  his  Face 

was  irradiated,  and  like  a  Globe  of  Flame:'' 

■  Feb.  28  —  And   ''  What  Mortal  can   fufficiently 

admire 


(  I^I  ) 

admire  Pet,  Hebert^  a  Minim  ;  if,  as  mant 
report,  a  Heavenly  splendor  furroiinded  him 
at  the  Altar ;  and  more  than  once  Cotjcerts 
of  Angeh  were  heard,  comforting  and  fe-^ 
renading  this  Candidate  of  Heaven'' 

Sometimes  indeed  Cheats  Magic,  or  Dia- 
bolical IllufiG?7s,  were  fufped:ed,  and  even 
confeffed,  in  thefe  Cafes.  Wieriis  fpeaks 
of  "  a  young  Girl  poffelTed,  and  miferably 
haraffed  by  the  Devil -^  but  he  promifed 
her  a  fure  Token  of  Dehverance,  when  Hie 
went  next  to  Mafs,  Accordingly  at  Ma[s^ 
the  Prieft  faw,  and  the  Girl  perceived,  a 
"white  Shade  furrounding  her.  See  the  II- 
lufion  of  the  Devil.'' — 

"  Satan  often  appeared  to  Ignatius  him-  Ribaden. 
felf  in  ^  fiinifig   and  glittering  Form,    as-'^^'^J* 
if  it  had  been  fome  Divine  Light: — but 544.^"' 
he  difcovered    the    Fraud'"      And    why 
might  it  not  be  a  like  Satanical  Delufion^ 
when    "  divers   beheld   his  own  Counte- 
nance    refplendent,    and    fparkling    with 
Beams  of  Light?"  Or,  when  "  St.  Francis 
was  wholly  furrounded  with  a  bright  Child, 
in  Conformity  to  Chriji -,  and  v^^ould  make 
Night  as   Light  as  Day  ?"  —  Or,   again,  Splnell. 
**  when  that  true  Devotee  faw  openly,  not ^''^^'"•J^"^'?' 
in  the  Spirit,  but  with  his  bodily  Eye^  the  '    '^' 
^leen    of  Heaven  ftanding   by  him,    and 
the  whole  Room /Joining  from  her  extraor- 
dinary Brightnefs  ?" — One  of  their  famous 
Miracle-Authors  declares,  that  one  Brother 

was 


(    ^02    ) 

Spccul.  -was  fo  elevated  with  Pride^  on  account  of 
jy^^A  his  Religious  Stri^7teJJeSy  that  he  boafted 
Ex,  21.  of  having  Vijions  of  Angeh  attending  him  ; 
and  that  one  Day  the  Devil  t?'ansformed 
into  the  Figure  of  Chriji  came  to  him,  in. 
Company  with  a  Thoufmid  Angeh  v/ith 
their  blazing  Lamps.  One  of  them  faid, 
*  Thy  Convcifation  hath  pleafed  ChriJl^ 
and  lo  !  he  is  come  to  thee  '  He  then 
ivor/ljipped  the  Devil '^  and  the  next  Day 
told  his  Brethren^  '  I  have  now  no  need 
of  the  Commiiniony  for  I  have  feen  Chrifi 
to  Day''  There  are  muny  fuch  Stories 
in  the  fame  Author.  Particularly,  Dift.  3. 
Ex.  33,  38.  Dift.  9.  Ex.  36. 

The  laft  of  thefe  Expreffions,  fugeefted 
by  the  Devil,  agrees  well  with  that  of  the 
Methodift  Woman,  who  affured  Mr.  Wejley, 
4  journ.  <^  that  God  had  told  her  not  to  partake 
^'  ^^:  ;  of  the  hordes  Supper  any  more,  fince  ihe 
fed  upon  Chrtjl  continually/'  Upon  which 
Mr.  Wejley  exclaims,  O  !  Who  is  fecure 
from  Satan's  transforming  himfelf  into  an 
Angel  of  Light?  —  And  *' the  idle  Boy 
(juft  before  m.entioned )  who  ran  away 
from  his  Parents,  to  whom  ChriJI  appeared 
and  bad  him  not  be  afraid  of  the  Devil, 
whom  he  fhould  tread  under  his  Feet,'' — 
has  the  fame  Honour  with  St.  Ignatius, 
who  ran  away  likewife  from  his  Parents,- 
and  in  the  Days  of  his  Vanity  was  as  idle 
a  Roguej  as  the  other  could  be  for  his  Life. 

For, 


(  103  ) 
For,  as  Botihours  relates,  *'  the  Saint  being  ^^^^^^  of ^ 
Ecjiatic  in  a   Fever,  heard  a   Voice,  that  ^"* 
he  fliould   not  be  afraid  to    die,    becaufe 
he   died  a  Saiftty   and  need  not  fear  the 

§.  20.    Of  a   fimilar  Nature  with   this 
State  of  Delirioufnefsy  Madnefs  and  Frenzy% 
wherein  our  Enthiifiafts  have  fuch  Vifwns, 
Revelations,  Ajjiirances,  &c.    Is  that  Alie- 
nation of  Mind  called  Ec/lacy,  Rapture  and 
Trance,     Something  of  this   in   the  Me- 
thodijls  I  took  notice  of  in  Part  I  -,  as  well 
as  their  enjoying  the  Prefence  of  Gody   and 
entering  into  Difcourfes  with   him.      As, 
for  Inftance,    when  (fays  Mr.  JVhiteJield) 
*'  my  Loving   Saviour  permitted    me    to  7  joam. 
talk  with  him,    as   a  Man    talketh  withP^S- 6*. 
his   Friend/'      I   could    eafily   add  many 
other  Inftances ;  together  with  a  thoufand 
Parallels    from    Popijl:)   Fanatics,      But    I 
forbear  ;  not  willing  to  naufeate  the  Reader 
with  fuch  Tales,  any  farther  than  they  fall 
under  fome  Remarks, 

For  one  may  obferve,  what  many  good 
and  learned  Perfons  have  obferved  before, 
that  thefe  Ecjiatic  Fits,  with  Vifioyis,  Ap- 
pearanccs  of  God,  Angels  and  Saints,  &cc, 
are  mere  Imagination  from  Di/le/rper  arid 
Frenzy  ;  —  or  a  Diabolical  Illujion  -,  —  or 
Counterfeit  and  Cheat,  And  this  Truth 
hath    been    allowed    by  many   fober  and 

moderate 


(   I04  ) 

tnoder-ate  Papifts  -,  by  even  the  moft  £;?- 
thuficiftical  of  ihtra 'y  and,  in  a  great  mea- 
fure,  by  our  Methodijlical  Treacher's  them- 
felves. 

Accordingly,  I  obferve  firft,  that  'tis 
generally  agreed  among  the  Learjied,  that 
Ecjlacy\  or  Rapture^  (the  Mother  of  F//K?;2) 
is  of  itfelf  a  Species  of  Madnejs^  and  termed 
both  by  Hippocrates  and  Galen  a  vehement 
Madnefs,  Irregular  and  turbulent  Com-- 
motions  of  the  Blood  caufing  violent  Di- 
ftraftions  in  the  Brain,  fo  as  to  drive  out 
the  Reafon  and  Senfes;  the  Perfons  thus 
difordered  are  filled  with  a  thoufand  Chi- 
meras ;  fancy  they  hear  and  Jee  and  feel 
Things,  which  have  no  Exijie72ce  in  Na- 
ture ;  efpecially  fuch  Things  as  they  have 
moft  inte?fe/y  thought  en,  or  which  have 
been  Seat  into  their  Heads.  See  Fracoflor. 
de  Intellect,  Lib.  IL 
Vit.lgnat.  <c  t;\^q  Glorious  St.  Ignatius  had  many 
P«g-  273-  f^^]^  Vtjions  in  his  Ecjlacies ;  which  Maf- 
feius  confeffeth  to  have  proceeded  from 
Li^'e-  the  Force  of  his  Diftempcrs^ —  "  St. 
I'erefa  fays  herfelf,  that  (he  had  very  great 
and  long  Dijle^npers^  —  v/as  ready  to  grow 
mad  with  Pain, —  her  Head  was  difordered 
for  feveral  Years  -,  —  has  many  Sickneffes, 
Fevers  and  Pains  -,  for  God  be  thanked 
(fays  fhe)  generally  I  have  little  Health  5 
—  fometlmes  is  like  a  ftupid  Fool  ^  fome- 
times  a  furious  Fool ,,  forrietimes  a  childifh 

Fool, 


(  i«5  ) 

Fool,  employ'd  in  Tovs  and  Trifles,  drelTes 
up  Images  with  Pofies  and  Flowers,  &c. 
Then  (he  is  rapt  into  Ecfiacies  and  VifwnSy 
which  {lie  calls  Glorious  Frenzies^  and 
Heavenly  Follies ;  is  frequently  in  Com- 
pany with  Sai?itSy  Angels^  the  ^een  of 
Heaven^  and  Chriji  her  Spoitfe.  In  one  of 
her  Fcjiacies  flie  continues  two  Years  and 
a  half;  and  in  one  of  her  Fits  fees 
only  tht  Hands  of  ChriJI -,  in  another  his 
Divine  Count enmice  :  fhe  had  a  ftrong 
Defire  to  fee  the  Colour  and  Eigne fs  of  his 
Eyes,  but  could  never  obtain  that  Favour. 
—  However,  fhe  is  united  to  him ;  her 
Soul  ( file  fays )  is  ingulpbed,  or,  to  fay 
better,  our  Lord  is  ingidphed  in  her  :  —  he 
infpires  her  with  the  Gift  of  Prophecy,  af- 
furcs  her  of  her  own  Salvation,  and  the 
flourifhing  State  of  her  Order.  When  flie 
comes  out  of  her  Reveries^  and  a  little  re- 
covers her  SetifeSy  flie  falls  into  Sufpicions, 
that  all  is  mere  Imagination,  or  Satanical 
Delufion ;  her  Friends  and  ConfeiTors  are 
quite  of  the  fame  Mind ;  but  fome  Holy 
fefuits  alTure  her,  that  all  is  from  the 
Spirit  of  God.  She  owns  too,  that  fuch 
Deceivings  in  the  Monafteries  are  not  fo 
much  from  the  Devil,  as  our  own  perverfe 
Inclinations  and  Humours,  efpecially  if 
there  be  Melancholy.  For,  adds  flie,  the 
Nature  of  Women  is  weak,  their  Self  Love 
very  fubtle ;    io   that   many  Perfons,    be- 

P  fdes 


(  io6  ) 

fides    the   Nuns,    have  been    deceived   by 
themfelves.'' 

'-One  fees  nothing  here,  but  what  might 
well  proceed  from  Bijlemper,  '  without 
Safans  Devices,..  And  therefore  the  fa- 
mous G^r/S^,  a  'learned  and  moderate  Va^ 
I^Prcb.  ^^,  adviftth  "always  to  consider  in  Fy&;/4 
^'"'  whether  the  Perfon  be  in  his  '^enjes,  2S\^ 
his  Brain  untouched  ^  for  that  we  need 
not  doubt- ^6M  ^F^^/n^'i^ 
and  illnfory  Vifions  come  5  as  is  clear  frdn^ 
Perfons  in  a  Frenzy  and  various  Dijiempers, 
who  fancy  they  hear,  fee,  and' tnfte  Tubings , 
liIie''Mcn  in  a  Drea?n,'*  And  he  gives 
divers  Inftances  of  fuch  Delufions.>-^  ^'^';^-^ 
2.'  We  may  obferve,  that  (befides'^'^^he 
ahove- mentioned  Cafes)  m^ny  foher,  and 
even  Panatical Papijis,  have  acknowledged 
a  Safanical  Impojition  ik^cjlacies,  Vifions,^ 
Voices,  Ajjurances,  &£P^'^'  ,    ^  .     "'^ 

Mall.        Bartholo77mus  de  Spina   allows!  ^  fiiat 
Voi.z.   ^^^^   Devu  will    fometimes  appear  as    an 
p.  126.   Angel  of  Light  to  deceive  Fi^ondrytcv:^ 
fons;  and  that /^j/$i/;;i  proceed  from  &V;7,  as 
fometimes  from  pren:^y  and.DiJlemper.''  — ■ 
_  A^     And  again^;-  ?^^^:<MW^^^Strata^^^^ 
Doar.7.  to  ihew  fome  tiGly  Vifion  to  the  Diftem^ 
pered,  that  he  may  bethought  to  he  gone, 
while  he  lies  lurking  within."     Even  th^ 
Highejl  Authority  in\the  Papacy  %^  given 
a  SanSlion  in  the  Pjoman  Rittiat  -  For  \^ 

'  '  feyi, 


(10?  ) 

fays,    ''  The  Devils,    while  the  Prie/l  is^eExorc. 
in  the  middle  of  his  Excrdfms^  will  make 
the  Patient    fleep,    and    iliew   him    fome 
Vifton,  that  he  may  feem  to  be  delivered.'* 
Accordingly  Terefa  confeffeth,    that  "fhe^i^-S^o- 
had  three  or  four  Times  a  Vifa?i  of  Satan^'  ^^^'  ~ 

in  the  Form  of  Chriji, Even  the  Bleffed 

IgnatiiiSy  who  had  fo   many   Celejiial  Vi-^ 
fiojjs^  and   fome  Tnfej^naly  yet   fays,    "   of  Maffd. 
that  Sort  of  Religious  VifionarieSy  who  pro--     ^  '  ^' 
fefs  fo   much  Familiarity  with  God,    th^t 
moft  of  them  are  under  Ilkfons  of  Devils^ 
and  partly  perverfe  Self-pleafers,  and.  won- 
derfully obfinate  in  their  Fanciest  —  The 
Devil,  however,  was   fo   fair,  ?iS>Xo  ajjiire 
Ignatius*^- Salvation*,  "  to  declare  that  he Ribaden. 
was  in  Heaven-,  and  he  was  the  firft  Per-J^^-  3'- 
fon  that  predided  his  Canonization.''    And 
the  Pope,  who  afterwards  canonized  him, 
fulfilled  the  Devil's  Prophecy.     Who  now 
will  queftion  the  Teftimony  of  two  Per- 
fons  of  fuch  Veracity  ?  — '«  Ph.  Nerius,  a  Ribaden, 
Follower    of   Ignatius,     and    an    eminent  ^^^y  2^* 
Field^Preacher,  as  famous  for  Ecjiacies  and 
Vifio72s  :^i  any  Mortal,  —  had  alfo  the  Gift 
of  di/  :.igui{hing/^^  Vifions  from  the  true, 
and  actually  did  fo  on  feveral   Occafions. 
One'  way  of  Trial  was  this.     "  Once  the 
Devil   appearing   in   the  Likenefs  of  the 
roer  blejjed  Virgin  to  his  Difciple  Vincent^ 
he  commanded  Vi^icent  the  next  time  to 
[pit  in  the  Face  of  the  Perfon   that  ap- 
P  2  peared. 


(  ic8  ) 
peared.     The  next  Night  the  Devil  ap- 
peared again  in  the  fame  refplendent  Shapes . 
and  he  inllantly  j^//  in  the  Dei^ii's  Faceii\ 
who,  confounded,  and  bafely  foiled,    im^v 
mediately   vamfhed.      No  fooner  .was  he 
fled,    but   the   mofl  Sacred  Virgin  herfelf 
clearly  fliewcd  herfelf  to   him,    and  bad 
him   fpit  in  her  Fac?  tOQ,    if  he   could. 
Then  fhe  Angularly  comforted  him,  and 
went   up    into   Heaven^      But  upon   the 
w^hole,  Nerius   was  fo  well  convinced  of 
Sata?i[s  lllufions,  "  th^t  he  became  a /Iiarp 
Reprehender  of  thofe  who  were  delighted 
with  Vifiom  5   affirming,  that  nothins"  was 
more  pernicious  than  thofe  mad  Mcchries 
of  the    Devils,    Mvho    eafily    transformed 

themfelves  into  Angels  of  Light:' If  it 

be  not  too  much  a  Dlgrejjion,  I  will  add 

o;)|e,-  more,  and   ftronger  Proof  ^.SatoTi^l 

bemg    detecfed   and    copfounJedrs\>y  -dwM. 

Sai?2t-Iike  Manage?neni,    This  curious  Storv 

is^in    the  E:dition.  of  the    Book   of  CofU 

formitieh  ■^^■/^^?- 1 510.    (omitted  in   my 

Edition,    Bonon.  1^^.^^^^^  k  iikewil^ 

carefully  preferved  in  the  Speculum  Ex enu 

Specul.  //^r2/w.  piftina.  7.  Exempl.  24.    *^  Fryer 

Exemp.  ^^;z,    a    Dilciple    of   St.   Francis,    was 

Ex;2V.  ^^^"g^l^  almoft  to    Dcfpair,    becaufe  the 

Son  oj-  God  appeared    to    him,   and    told 

him,  that  he  v^^^predfinafedto  be  damved* 

and  fo  would  St,  JFrmjcis,  &:c.      But  St^ 

^  :,.,.^«^:j^|^^  of  God, 

l^v  taught 


(  i<^9  ) 
taught   him,    that  be  who  faid  that  was 
the  Devily    and  not  Chriji.      And  when; 
fays  he,  he  ihall  come  again,  and  tell  you^ 
yon  zvc  damned y  anfwer  him  thus,  "  Open 
your  Mouthy  ^x\d  I  will  — ~  in  it."  [ylpet^T^ 
es  ttium;^^  ego  flercorizabo  in  id.]     And 
it   (hall   be   a  Sign  to   you  that   'tis  the 
Devi/y'  that  upon  your  faying  thofe  Worcjs 
he  will  inftindy  fly.     Rt^ffin  thtn  adoj^fd 
the   Saint,  was   cojifefjed^-mdi  retuVrted'to^ 
his  Cell     Where,  behold  !  the  Old  Enefnyl 
comes  ^gain  in  the  Form  of  Chrijl\  faying, 
much  the  feme  as  before.      Immediately 
Riiffin  replies,  *'  Open  thy  Mouth,  Gfr.'" 
The   Devil  took    this    Indignity   io    hei- 
noufly,  that  he  packed  bfF^   'but'raifed  ^ 
dreadful  Storm  of  Stones  and  Fire  againft 
poor   Rufin,     Soon   afterwards   Cbriji  i-p' 
peared  to  him,  and  melted  his  Soul  witiP 
Dimne  i;«?w,^aiid  gave  him  Security  of  hf^^ 
eternal  Salvation,     After  this  a  DcefnoMdt: 
being  brotight  to  St.  Francis  to  be  exor^^ 
cifed^  tht  Devil  feeing  ¥vytv  Riijin  wita^- 
hitiY/^-began    to  roar  horribly,  and  fM*'^d- 
way  y  declaring,  that  "  he  could  not  lland 
againft  that  obedient^  humble  and  holy  ^ro- 
iher  Ruffinr  —  But  to  proceed.         ^^^^'^'^'^' 
vGabr,  Biely  the  famous  Popi/Jj  Canonijf^ 
owns,  *'  that  their  Miracles  are  fometimes  Canon. 
effedied  by  the  Operation  of  Devils  to  de-  J^'^^* 
ceive  diforderly   Worjlnpfers-y'    and   parti-   ^  "^'^^ 
cularly,  *'  that  the  Apparition  of  Chrijt  inua.  y. 


(  "0 ) 

the  Eucharijl  may  be  by  the  Illiifion  of  the 
Devil  to  deceive  and  delude  the  Unwary:*^ 
-—  Alexander  Hales  gives  the  fame   Sola- 
In.4.Sent.tion :    '«  it  appears   Flejh^    fometimes    \sf 
^  53-     human  Contrivance^    fometimes  by^  \  dia-f 
helical  Operation:" — And  why  may  we  not 
fufpefl:  the  fame  in  our  Vifionai-y  Methodijis^ 
who  have  fo  often  at  the  Sacrament  evif 
dently  feen    Jefus    Cbriji    crucified   befori 
them  ?  (See  Enthitfiafm,  Part  II.  p.   j  64}) 
Vof'^l     ".^^*  Terefa,    who   had    fo   many  Rapis^ 
p3g."33,  Vifions  and  Allocutions  with  our  Lord^  yi2iS 
&  Frsf.  ftrongly   perfuaded    of  their    beiiig  vgrea!t 
Delufions  and  Difguifes  of  Satdny2iX\A   flie' 
owns,  that    feveral    Religionifis  had   been 
thus  deceived,  either  from  Imagination^  or 
the   Dclufion  of  Satan :\    The  Writer  of 
the  Preface  too  confefTeth,  that  "  various' 
Impq/iors^  and  Women  efpecially,  were  fre- 
quent in  Spain  about  that^  Time,  who,  am-'' 
bitious  of  procuring  the  Fame  of  San^iity, 
or  deceived  by  the   D/fw/,   t>retended  to 
thefe  Elevations,  &c:*  '^^'^vy.a   -  v 

Happy  furely  would  both  Papifi  and 
Methodifi  be  thought,  could  they  have  the 
fame  Favour  with  the  Saijit  mentioned  by 
Pag.  7.  Balingham  -,  "  who  obtained  by  Prayer  to 
the  Virgin  Mary,  never  to  be'  deceived  in 
Revelations  and  Vifions ^  This  was  ac- 
counted a  high  Favour,  but  probably  might 
be  the  worjt  Delufion  of  all. 

And 


( III ) 

And  yet,  whatever  Share  the  Devil  may 
claim,    thefe   Ecjiatic    Vifionaries  are    the 
Principal  Saints  canonized  in  that  Commu- 
nion,     And    not    without   Reafon.      For 
thefe  Vifmis  and  Ecjiacies  have  always  been 
the   grand   Engines   for    introducing  their 
corrupt,  falfe  and  idolatrous  Tenets.     Nor 
is.  there  one  of  their  DoBri?ies  cf  "Daemons 
that    has    not    been   confirmed    by   fome 
Heavenly  Vijions.     "  And  this   is   ftill  (aslntrod  to 
Dr.  GeddeSy  who  well  knew,  obferves)  one '^^®^°^*^** 
of  the  moil  fubtle  and  prevailing  Sorceries 
o/^  Popery.     Not  only  Papijls,  but  Protef- 
tantSy  (efpecially  thofe  inclined  to  ^ietifm) 
being  all  naturally  difpofed  to  believe  any 
"ELq^oxX-S  of  Raptures  and  Vijions,  let  them 
come    from  what  Quarter   they  will,    do 
with  an  eafy  Credulity  fwallow  down  the 
PopiJJj    DoSrineSy    which    they   were   in--- 
vented  to  give  Credit  to." 

y^dfyy    I   obferve,    that  even    our    Me- 
ihodijls  have   owned   both    a   vain  Imagi- 
nation^  and  Devili/Jo  Agency  among  them- 
felves   in   fuch  Cafes.      Mr.  Wejley  owns, 
that  their  ^yVtftons  might  come  from  Gody  3  Joum. 
and  might  «<?/.*'     And,    with   refped:   to?-^^'^^- 
feeling,  he  difcovered  among  his  Hearers-  journ. 
fuch  IViles  of  Satany  as  never  entered  into  p.  69, 70. 
his  Heart  to  conceive.*' 

,!Mr.  Whitejield  confefieth,    "   that  Satan  1  Deal 
transformed    himfclf    into     an    Angel    op- 
Light  \   whereby  he    followed    the    Sug- 
gestion 


AO, 


(    112    ) 

gcflions  of  the  Evil  Spirit  in  whatever  he 
did,''  Divi?2e  Prefences^ — hi%  talking  with 
God  Face  to  Faccy  —  inviting  Cbrift^  who 
came  ajidfat  down  at  the  Head  of  the  'Table, 
and  [poke  to  him^  Sec.  Thefe  are  fome  of 
Letter,  the  Reveries^  which  he  has  recanted,  *'  He 
P-  31-  readily  grants,  that  fome  of  the  Methodijis^ 
who  had  not  Ajjlirance  of  Salvation^  pre- 
fumptu/^.^V  imagined  ihty  had  it/' 

Their  Dear  Madafn  Bourignon  fpeaks  in 
Solid. Virt.  the  fame  Strain  of  this  "  Artifice  of  Satan, 
9'  ^o^-    They    fancy    themfelves    to   be   in   Afu- 
ranee  \  and  are  in  the  midft  of  Dangers  of 
loling  their  Souls  by  Frcfumptiony  and  De- 
I  Letter,  hfon  of  the  Devil,''     The  fame  Lady  (in 
Part  I.     her  Light  rifen  in  Darknefs)  fays,   "  The 
^^'  ^*     Saints  themfelves  have    committed  Spiri- 
tual Fooleries^  by  Vi/ionSy   In-fpeakings^  Ec- 
fiacies^  &c.  affifted  by  the  imaginative  Fa- 
3  Letter,   ciilty,"     Again,  '^  we  are  not  to  judge  of 
I'artJiI.  Spiritual  F erf eMion  by  Vifions^    'Revelations^ 
P»g  »9-    £cJlacieSy  or  Raptures :  for  the  Devil  him- 

felf  could  do  all  thefe  Things." 
Brain.  But  Mr.  Brainerd,  a  Brother  Methodijiy 

Journ.  Aejj-h^j.  ^^^^  arrived  to  the  Summit  of  Me^ 
thoaifmy  or  got  above  it)  frankly  declares, 
''  that  Traizces  and  imaginary  Views  of 
Things  are  of  dangerous  Tendency  in  Re- 
ligion 5  and  fears  a  Defign  of  Satan^  by 
introducing  Vifwnary  Scenes^  to  bring  a 
Blemiih  on  the  Work  of  God."  Ao;ain, 
?.  ic8.    <c  jj  ^^^    {3^  owned,    Satan   feemed  to 

transform 


(  113  ) 

transform  himfelf  into  an  Angel  of  Lights 
and  made  fome  vigorous  Attempts  to  in- 
troduce turbulent  Commotions  and  PaJJions, 
inftead  of  ge?iuine  Convidlions  ;  and  ima- 
ginary and  fanciful  Notions  of  Chrijl,  as 
appearing  to  the  mental  Eye  in  human 
For  my  and  particular  Pojlures^  —  and  divers 
other  Dehifions.  And  1  have  Reafon  to 
think,  had  thefe  Things  met  with  En- 
couragement, there  vi^ould  have  been  a 
confiderable  Harveji  of  this  Kind  of  Con-- 
'verts,'* 

Therefore  I  obferve,   /n^thly,  that  Ec/la- 
cies,    and  of  confequence  Vifions^  are  fre- 
quently voluntary  j  they  may  be,  and  have 
been,  counterfeited.   And  M,  Cafaubon  hath 
faid,  and  proved,  '^  that  'tis  poffible,  v^ith- 
out  the  Concurrence  of  any  Supernatural 
Caufe,  for  any  one  Man  or  Woman  to  put 
themfelves  into  a  Trance,  or  Ec/iacy,  when 
they  will."    Treatife  of  Enthujtafm.  Ch.  3. 
The  whole  of  which  deferves  our  Perufal, 
—  St.  Auflin  tells  us  of  "  one  ReJlitutuSyC\v\\.,Vit\, 
who  could,    whenever    he    was    defired,^''4'"^24- 
quite  alienate  himfelf  from  his  Senfes,  lie 
like  a  dead  Man,  fo  that  no  Breath  was 
perceptible    in    him  j    and    no  pinching, 
pricking,    or  burning,    could    m:ike    him  • 
feel.'*  —  £i?<;*/;rproduceth  Variety  of  fuch,  Damon, 
not  only  Moderns,  or  Saint-like  Perfons  ;^^^-^**^'^' 
but    Heathens,    and    Atheiftic    Vifionaries, 
-long    before  Chrijiianity  was    in    being." 

CL  For 


("4) 

For  EcJIacies  are  by  no  Means  peculiar  to 
Religio?!,  much  lefs  the  Chrijiian. 

What  the  Religion  of  Cardan  was. 
Ibid.  "  who  could  throw  himfelf  into  an  Ec* 
ftacy  whenever  he  pleafed/'  1  am  not 
certain.  But  that  genuine  Papijl^  Ph. 
Neriiis,  had  the  fame  Faculty  5  and,  by 
frequently  ufing  himfelf  to  EcJIacies  and 
Raptures^  could  more  eafily  fall  into  one, 
than  another  think  of  any  common  Affair.'' 
—  And  that  Cheat  and  Impoflure  (out  of 
Wantonnefs  or  Pride,  &c.)  may  come  in 
for  a  Share  ;  we  read  in  the  Life  of  St. 
Aldegonde^   who  was  almoft   all   Rapture^ 

Chap.  4.  her  own  CoyfeJJion^  "  that  Vifions  and  Rapts 
many  Tim.es  are  but  pure  Imagination  and 
Fancy ^  efpecially  in  Maids  and  Wo7i7en  5 
but  moft  commonly  a  kind  of  working  in 
the  Brain  3  with  a  fecret,  but  pernicious, 
Prefurnption^  defirous  to  appear,  and  to 
have  fomething,  above  the  co?nmon.'*  *— 
Geddes.  *^  Mary    of  Agreda's    Raptures^    as    was 

Vol,  III.  agi-eed  by  the  Lady  Abbefs  and  the  Nuns^ 
(who  well  knew  the  Tricks  of  young 
Girls)  wxre  fuch  Hyfteric  Fits  as  young 
Girls  ufed  to  counterfeit.  But  her  Con- 
fi£m\  one  of  the  Francijcan  Fryers^  (who 
never  fail  to  fham  them  upon  the  World 
for  Divine  EcJIacies)  makes  a  better  Ufa 
of  them,  declaring  them  to  be  juperna-- 
tural^,  and  he  treats  the  Abbefs  very  fe- 
verely  for  Infidelity  ^   aor  would  reft  till 

he 


he  got  her  difcharged."  And  we  have 
{ecn  before  how  frequent  fuch  Impofliires 
vftxzm  Spain. —  How  many  fuch  Tricks 
have  been  played  in  England  by  Popijl: 
Prie/lsy  for  the  Rejiorafion  of  Popery\  may 
be  \<t^x\  in  Gee'^  Foot  out  of  tht  Snare. 
Particularly  he  mentions  the  Cafe  of  one 
Thomas  JSlewtony  who  pretended  he  had 
a  Vifion  of  the  Virgin  Mary  appearing  to 
him,  and  faying^  '  NciOton,  fee  that  thou 
take  not  the  Oath  of  Allegiance.'  Being 
asked,  '  How  he  knew  it  to  be  the  Virgin 
Mary  ;*  replied,  becaufe  {ht  appeared  to 
him  in  the  Form  of  her  AJjiimption,  &c/' 
This  was  in  the  Year  1621  ;  and  for  the 
Truth  of  it,  the  Author  refers  to  the  High 
Commijjion  Records, 

Nor  in  general  need  we  doubt,  but  that 
a  cunning  Man,  having  under  his  Manage- 
ment Perfons  of  tender  Nerves  and  weak 
Brains,  of  a  tractable  Difpofition,  or  ra- 
ther Indifpofition  of  Mind  or  Body, —  may 
infufe  fuch  Dojes  of  wild  DoBrines,  as 
eafily  to  work  them  up  into  a  Frenzy^ 
and  teach  them  whatever  firange  Sights 
the  Arch'EjtthufaJl  pleafeth.  And  the 
fame  may  be  faid  of  thofe  dreadful  Fits 
fo  common  ^mong  Mr.  Weflef'^  Follow- 
ers, "  Yellings,  Groanings,  Gnafliings, 
Foamings,  Convulfions  and  Contortions, 
Curfes  and  Blafphemies,  dying  and  de- 
fpairing  Agonies,  ^cJ'  which  call  for  a 
0^2  farther 


(ii6) 

farther  Confideration ;  though  indeed y^^ryJ- 
ing  it  is  to  confider  them. 

§.  21.  A  fufficient  Detail  hath  already- 
been  given  of  thefe  lamentable  Cafes  5  and 
I  fliall  now  take  into  Confideration, — 
The  Nature  of  the  Diforders^ —  The  Cau^ 
feSy — The  Cure^ — and  other  rare  Effects -y 
as  we  find  them  fet  forth  in  the  wonderful 
Journals ;  and  in  which,  I  think,  confifls 
the  Grand  Myjlery  of  Methodifm. 

As  to  the  Nature  of  the  Diforders^  mi- 
ferable  and  terrible  as  they  are,  Mr.  Wefley 
3  Journ.  affirms  often,    that  they   are    "  Confrma- 
p.  40,  42,  ^^^^^  ^jr  Q^j^^  V/ord,  — Wounds  by  the  Sword 
of  the  Spirit^ — the  Power  of  God  upon  them^ 
— the  Finger  of  God^    &c.*'    Thefe  were, 
**  loud  Cries  as  in  *he  Agonies  of  Deaths — 
finking  to  the  Earth,  and  dropping  on  every 
Side  as  Thunderfirucky  great  Drops  of  Sweaty 
all  their  Bones  Jhaking,   Sec,''     Particular- 
Pag.  65.   ly   he  fays,    "  I  had   an  Opportunity   of 
talking  with  Mr.  Whitefeld  of  thofe  Out^ 
ward  SignSy  which  had  fo  often  accom- 
panied the   Inward  Work    of  God  J"      He 
was  it  feems,  as  to  this,  an  Unbeliever  be- 
fore.    *'  But  had  the  next  Day  an  Oppor- 
tunity  of  informing  himfelf  better.      For 
no  fooner  had    he    began  to  preachy    but 
four  Perfons  funk  down  clofe  to  him,  al- 
moft  in  the  fame  Moment,     One  lay  with- 
out Senjc  or   Motion.     A  fecond  trembled 

exceed- 


(  117  ) 

exceedingly.  The  two  others  hsid  Jlrong 
Convidjions .  From  this  Time,  I  truft,  we 
{hall  llifFer  God  to  carry  on  his  oiuji  Worky 
in  the  Way  that  pleajeth  him.'' 

And   from   this   Time    Mr.    Whitefield 
talks  much  in  the  fame  Style,   of  "  Peo-6  Joum. 
pie    {truck   down,    under    great  -Agonies ^^  V^^^^^' 
with   Cries   and  Groans,   dropping  down,  p.  12. 
as  though  Pm  with  a  Gun,  by  the  great 
Power  of  God.     For  when  an   extraordi^ 
nary  Work  is  carrying  on,   God  generally 
manife{ls  himfelf  to    fome  Souls    in  this 
extraordinary  Manner , ' ' 

If  thefe  Gentlemen    mean    only,    that 

God  is  the  efficient  Catije  of  all  Dijiempers, 

permits    fuch    Difajiers^    or    ordains    the 

Courfe  of  Nature^  whereby  they  happen ; 

they  have  no  Adverfary  among  Believers. 

But  if  they   mean,    what  they   often  fay, 

that  they  are  not  Natural  Dtjie?npers^  but 

extraordinary  Workings  of  God  in  the  Soid\ 

itmayeafilybe  proved,  that  thefe   feveral 

outward  Signs  are  real  Difeafe^  mere  Dif- 

temper  ^    if  any   Credit  may  be  given  to 

Philofophers   and    Phyficians^    both    before 

Chrijl  and  Jince^    Heathens  and  Chriflians  \ 

and  where  it  cannot  be  pretended  the  Work 

of  Methodifm    was     concerned.      I    have 

looked   into    fome   of  the    mo{l    eminent 

Original  Authors^  as  well  as  Compilers  of 

Phyfcal  DiBionaries^    and   find   there   all 

thofe  Diforders  of  Body  and  Mindy  (which 

the 


(ii8) 

the  Methodijl  Teachers  make  ufe  of  toferve 
a  Turn,  magnify  their  Mi/Jim^  and  create 
Ad?niration,  &a )  witli  their  refpedive 
Sy?JiptomSy  Indicatiom  and  CirciimJlajiceSy  to 
be  mere  Dijiemper  ;  and  efpecially  in  thcfe 
particular  Circumflances,  which  our  Me^ 
thodijls  reprefent  as  extraordinary  Work- 
ings of  Gody  Preternatural^  or  Superna^ 
tural.  Thefe  I  fliaii  put  together,  with- 
out any  manner  of  Addition  or  Alteration. 

*'  In  that  convulfive,  nervous  Diforder, 
called  Hyjlericsy  the  Patients  are  afFefted 
with  divers  ftrange,  inconfiftent,  and  con- 
trary Symptoms  5  Pains  of  Body,  and 
Terrors  of  Mind ;  with  Variety  of  inor- 
dinate Sallies :  breathe  unequally,  feel  a 
Sort  of  choaking  in  the  Throat  like  ftrang- 
ling;  a  violent  Palpitation,  that  the  By- 
ftanders  think  they  can  hear  the  Heart 
beating  againft  the  Ribs ;  now  fpeechlefs, 
fenfeiefs  and  motionlefs,  feeming  as  if  they 
were  dead,  the  Pulfe  being  fcarce  percep- 
tible :  then  again  uttering*  a  wild  Noife, 
and  rambling  in  their  Talk :  have  alter- 
nate Fits  of  Joy  and  Sorrow,  Laughing 
and  Crying :  are  calm,  weak,  iad,  fearful 
and  fufpicious ;  grow  ftiff  and  immove- 
able, and  again  flexible  :  then  falling  into 
a  Fi^  of  Rpge,  Quarrelling,  and  Debac- 
chatiOJi ;  io  flrong  as  fcarce  to  be  held  by 
three  or  four  Perfons :  Sometimes  in  the 
utmoft  Dejection,  Terror  and  Defpair,  pre- 

faging 


(119) 

faging  difmal  Things ;  fo  much  torment- 
edj  that  they  feem  in  a  Sort  of  Pur^ 
gatoryj' 

*'  In   Hypochondriacs  [mialogous  to  Tlyf- 
terics   in    lVo?ne?i)  as  well  as    Melancholy^ 
from  a  MaHgnity  of  Blood  from  the  black 
Bile,  we  find  moil  of  the  fame  Symptoms ; 
Pain  in  the  Stomach,  Windinefs,  Swelling 
or  Diftortlon  of  the  Hypochondrium,    a 
large  Pulfe  under  their  Ribs  -,  a  dry  Cough, 
Head-ach,  Difficulty  of  Breathing,  Palpi- 
tations,  Faintings,    Swoonings,    Deliriouf- 
nefs,    hideous  Cryings  out,    various  Con- 
vulfions  and  Diftortions,  and  Fits  like  the 
Epilepfy  :  The  Sufferer  affected  as  much  in 
Mind,  as  in  Body  -,  differently  full  of  Sad- 
nefs,  Fear,  Sufpicions ;    and  of  Prefump- 
tion,  Joy  and  Exultation ;  dejected,  calm 
and   quiet;    confiderate,  rafh,  raging,  and 
quarrelling  :   the  Animal  Spirits  taking  un- 
ufual,    oblique,   or   tranfverfe    Vagaries  in 
the  Brain,  thence   fpring  new,  incoherent 
and  abfurd  Fancies  ^  from  black  and  heavy 
Blood,  moving  Huggifhly,  proceed  difmal 
Horrors  and  Defpairings,  feeling  Hell,  and 
being  damned.     When  the  Humours  are 
well  ftirred  up,  the  Blood  begins  to  boil, 
and  the   Heat  rarefies    and   difperfes   the 
lumping  Mafs ;    then,  deceived   by  Fan- 
taflic  Ulufions,  they   are  apt  to  conceive, 
^nd  reajly  believe,  great  7hi?jgs  of  them- 

felves  5 


(    I20    ) 

fehes ;  affed  Divinity^  and  difcourfe  with 
God^  and  Angels,  In  general,  their  Ima- 
gination is  feldom  quiet ;  they  are  almoft 
always  thinking,  and  always  thinking  er- 
roneoufly  :  Day  and  Night  chiefly  intent 
on  little  Things,  without  any  Thought  of 
material  Points  ;  vaftly  folicitous  about 
Trifles,  as  if  Salvation  depended  on  them  : 
reprefenting  Things  to  themfelves  more 
and  larger  than  they  are,  as  in  a  multi- 
plying, or  magnifying  Glafs ;  raifing  few 
and  fmall  Offences  into  many  and'  great, 
and  confeffing  heinous  Sins,  of  which 
they  were  never  guilty.'* 

*'  From  the  preceding  Diftempers  they 
are  apt  to  fall  into  Epilepfies  :  Wherein  a 
cruel  Convulfion  fcizeth  the  Patients  at 
once,  cafting  them  forcibly  to  the  Ground, 
as  Thunderftruck  ;  they  loofe  their  Senfes, 
and  becoming  delirious^  ramble  in  their 
Talk  J  laugh,  or  weep ;  pray,  and  fpeak 
religioufly ;  curfe,  blafpheme,  talk  ob- 
fcenely  or  profanely  ;  fometimes  howl  hor- 
ridly, fliriek,  roar,  grind  their  Teeth,  foam 
at  the  Mouth,  loll  out  the  Tongue;  trem- 
ble, and  are  varioufly  convulfed  and  dif- 
torted  :  Sometimes  they  hear  and  fee  many 
ftrange  Things  j  fpeak  unknown  Lan- 
guages, difcover  Secrets,  prophefy;  ftruck 
fometimes  with  an  intenfe  Cold,  or  feel 
a  cold  Vapour  running  along  the  Back, 


(    121    ) 

&cr     The  Poet  has  well  defcribed   this^ucret. 
dreadful  Diftemper  3  y^;^^' 

Subltd  vi  morbi  f^pe  coaElus 

Ante  oculos  aliqiiis  noftros^   ut  fulminis  i5fU^ 
Concidit^  et  /pumas  agit^  ingemtty  et  tremit  artuSy 
Bejipt,    extentat  nervos^   torquetur^    anhelat 
Inconjlanter^   et  in  jaFiando  membra  fatigat^  &C. 

And  if  to  all  this  we  add  the  Amaze- 
ments,   and  Staggerings   in   Vertigoes  and 
fwooning  Fits,  with  all  the  fuprizing  Gef- 
ticulations    in    Conviilfions ,    nothing    will 
be   wanting  to  complete  the  Methodiftical 
Symptoms,      And  if  the  Reader  keeps  in 
Mind  what  was  faid  before,  (or  efpecially 
turns   back    to  §.   5.)    he  will  be  apt   to 
think,  that  the  feveral  extraordinary   Mo^ 
tions   in   this  unhappy   Seti    are   eafily  ac- 
counted for  from  Natural  Dijiemper.    Ef- 
pecially as  the  above  Authors  have  their 
Accounts  from  Arijhtle^  Hippocrates^  Ga-- 
leuy  Sec.  as  well  as  from  their  own  Prac^ 
tice,  and  have  corroborated  all  by  Variety 
of  Examples,   antient  and  modern,  Pagan 
and  Chrijlian,     And  they  generally  agree 
there  is   fome   Diforder   of  the  Brain  in 
the  Cafe  ^  that  all  is  a  Degree,  or  Species^ 
of  Fre?2zy  and  Madnejs,  and  apt  to  bring 
on  the   worft  Effedts  of  them» — A  Mis- 
fortune too  well   known,   and  too  horrid 
likewife,  to  be  enlarged  upon, 

R  Popijh 


Brev 
Rom. 


Ibid 


Lire. 

F.  r,     12 


(    122    ) 

Fcpijh   Parallels    of  this   Nature   may 
be  had  in  Abundance.     ''  St.  Iterefa  blef- 

oa"'i5.  fed  G^^/,  that  (lie  had  -j^r)'  /////f'  H^kilth  ^ 
and  file  v/as  afflicted  with  the  moft  grie- 
vous Diftempers  for  twenty-two  Years  to- 
gether.—  St.  Catherine  of  Sieiina  ftruggled 
^''  '■'^'  with  Devils,  and  was  grievoufly  tortured 
with  Fevers,   and  various  cruciating   Dif- 

Ca^'^6-    ^^^^^* — Mary  M,  of  Pazzi  w^i^  grievoufly 
^'^'    ^'  diftempered  for  five  Years  together  -,  and  all 
looked  upon   her   as  another  Joi  upon  a 
Dunghill.  —  Mary  of  Agreda   was  vifited 
with   fo  many  painful   Difeafes,   that  fhe 
Life,     fcarce  had  an  Hour's  Reft.  —  Framts   of 
Sales  had  fuch  a  deep  Melancholy,  that  no- 
thing   in    Nature    could    faife    him,  —  a 
fatindice   from  Head  to  Foot  5  his  Blood 
ib  heated  that  he   fell   into   a   Fever,  St. 
Francis     was    diftempered    much,     efpe- 
cially  in  the  Liver  and  Spleen,  and  Sto- 
m.ach,    all   proceeding    from    his  corporal 
Severities."  —  Ay,  there  is  the  Cafe  ;  they 
had  all  Variety  oi  Dijk?72pers,  to  which  we 
may  well  afcribe  their  various  Tumults  of 
Mind,  and   Jadations  of  Body  ;  their  Ec- 
fades,  Fi/lons,    F.cvelatiG7is -,  their  SanBity 
and  Canonization ;    efpecially    as  the    Dif" 
tempers  happened   where  there  was  a  na- 
turally Fanatical  Bead, 

And  feeing  liov/  artful  the  Methodifs 
are  in  making  Difeafes  to  be  the  Workings 
^f  God's  Spirit,   and   Signs  of  Grace  and 

San^iiy  \ 


(    123    ) 

SanBify ;  we  may  conclude,  that  all  their 

Holineffes,  Mr.  Wejley,  Mr.  IVhitefield,  and 
the  Popt\  have  embraced  the  Religion  of 
their  Pagan  Predecejjors,  who  (as  we  read 
in  divers  Authors)  conjccrated  mod  kinds 
of  Diftempers  of  the  Body,  and  AfFetPcions 
of  the  Mind  ;  eredled  Temples  and  Allars 
to  Fevers,  Palenefs,  Madnefs,  a?id  Death  ; 
to  Laughter,  Ln/i,  Contumely,  Impudence, 
and  Calu?72ny.  Every  ftrange  Diforder,  as 
well  as  Epilepfy,  is  the  Sacred  Difeafe -, 
and, 

— Sua  cuique  Dens  Jit  dira  Cupido, 
Each  bold  Fancy  grows  into  a  God. 

But  it  muft  be  remembered  this  Dif- 
temper  was  called  alfo  Morbus  Comitialis  ; 
becaufe  if  any  one  fell  into  it  during  the 
Affembly,  it  was  'Si  fatal  Omen,  and  they 
immediately  broke  up.  Whereas  the  Af- 
femblies  of  Methodifts  confifl  of  fuch  -,  the 
more  Tumblers,  the  more  Sacred  is  the 
Meeting ;  and  they  triumph  in  the  Fall 
of  their  miferable  Brethren. 

§.  2  2.  Notwithftanding  this  7hyfical 
Account,  and  although  it  be  a  general 
Maxim,  that  where  there  is  a  plain  natural 
Solution,  we  need  not  enquire  for  juper- 
natural  Means  3  neither  Papijl,  nor  Me^ 
thodif,  will  own  this  to  be  their  Cafe  5 
but  will  be  flarting  ObjeSiiom  and  Ex* 
R  2  ceptions. 


C    124    ) 

ceptlons.      Sometimes,  however,    they   are 
fo   good  as  to    allow    real   Diftemper^    or 
elfe  a  mixed  Cafe;   fometimes 'tis  «o  mi- 
'•  turalDiJlcmpcr^  but  proceeding  either  from 
2.  good ^  or  evil  Spirit,     As  io  real  Diftem- 
pcr^   *tis  the  firft  Diredion  in  the   Roman 
Ritual^  de  Exorcizandis^    "  that  the  Ex- 
crciji  muft  not  eafily  believe  a   PoJJeffmi ; 
but   muft  know   the    Marks    whereby    a 
pojjejjed  Perfon  is  diftinguifhed  from   thofe 
who  are  troubled  with  the  black  Bile^  or 
Bouhours  ^ny  Other  Difeafe,''     St.  Ignatius  was  a- 
ignttL,  ware  of  this  Truth  •,  when  a  Maid  thought 
p.  527.     to  be  pojfejj'ed^  and  raging  violently  with 
Contortions    all     over     her    Body,     being 
brought,  Ignatius   faid,    flie   w^as   not  pof- 
feffed\    and   that  thefe  extraordinary  Mo- 
tions  proceeded    from    a    natural    Caufe ; 
and  that  if  the  Devil  had  any  Share  in  it, 
it  was  only  in  troubling  the  Imagination 
of  the  fick  Perfon.     "  He  then  made  the 
Sign  of  the  Crofs  upon  her,  and  her  Fury 
prefently  ceafed."     You  fee  the  l^aint  loft 
nothing  by  this  Conceffion,  when  he  had 
the  Honour  of  a  miraculous  Cure, 

Mr.  Wejley  too  will  own  a  Natural 
Dijlemper^  when  he  has  a  good  Reafon 
ior  it.  As  for  Inftance  in  the  Cafe  of 
3  journ.  one  of  the  French  Prophets.  '^  She 
?•  ^"^^  came  in, —  and  foon  after  leaned  back  in 
her  Chair,  and  feemed  to  have  ftrong 
Worlmgs  in   her  Breaft,  with  deep  Sigh- 

ings. 


(     125    ) 

ings.  Her  Head  and  Hands,  and,  by 
Turns,  every  Part  of  her  Body  feemed 
alfo  to  be  in  a  kind  of  ccnvidfive  Motion, 
• —  She  fpoke  much  (all  in  the  Per/on  of 
Gcdy  and  mofrly  in  Scripture  JVords)  of 
the  fulfilling  of  the  Pr^/'/j^aVj,  the  coming 
of  Chrijl  now  at  Handy  and  the  fpreading 
of  the  Gojpel  over  all  the  Earth.  —  Tw^o 
or  three  of  cur  Company  were  much  af- 
feded,  and  believed  fhe  fpoke  by  the 
Spirit  of  God.  But  this  was  in  no  wife 
clear  to  me.  The  Motion  might  be  ei- 
ther Hyflerical  or  Artificial*^  and  the  fame 
Words  any  Perfon  of  a  good  Underft.ind- 
ing,  and  well  verfed  in  Scripture^  might 
have  fpoken." 

Hath   not  Mr.  Wejley  cut  up  his  own 
Inftitution  by  the  Roots  ?  Here  is  a  Per- 
fon  of  a  fimilar  Difpenfation  with  Metko- 
difm,    with    the  fame    bodily   Motions  and 
ContorfionSy    and   talking    more    religioufly 
than   the  Methodijh  in  their  Fits ;  teach- 
ing too   Mr.   Wefiey's  favourite  DoBrine  y 
and  yet  fhe  may  be  Hyjierical,  or  a  Cheat. 
Some  of  his  Followers  thought  fhe  fpoke 
from  God.     And  why  not,  if  they  thought 
xkitVL  own  Difpenfation  was  from  God^  But 
mark   Mr.    IVeflefs  good   Reafon   for    his 
Opinion.     He  was  afraid  the  French  Pro- 
phets  were    drawing   away   his    Difciples. 
And  this  Reafon   he  hath  luckily  difcover- 

ed 


(    126    ) 

3  Journ.  ed.     For  he   faith   afterwards,    *^  I  called 
^'   ^'       on   one,    wlio  ^h'd  run   welly  till   he  was 
hindered   by  fome   of  thofe  called  French 
Prophets.     Woe  unto  the  Prophets,  faith  the 
Lordy    who  prophefy  in   my   NamCy    and  I 
have  not  fent  them.''      He   hits  himfelf  a 
Slap  in  the  Face,  rather  than  bear  a  Com- 
petitor in  Saintpip  ;  and  his  Quarrels  with 
the    Moravian    Leaders,     and    poor    Mr. 
Wefley    WhitefieU,   ihe  vv,  thulflealing  the  Hearts  of 
p.;?."^"'  ^^^  People  is  a  capital  Offence,    and   that 
a  Rival  in  Enthiifiaftic  Ambition  is  not  to 
be  endured.  -«~  This  Cafe  pats  me  in  Mind 
of  a  Story  I  have  heard  of  a  Madman  in 
Bedlam,    who   being   in   a   lucid  Interval, 
went   about   the   Houfe,    and    gave  fome 
Strangers   an   Account   of  the  Place ;    he 
very   calmly  and  rationally  told  the  Rea- 
fons   of  each  Perfon's  Dijlra^lion  3   till  at 
length    coming    to   one,    he   faid,    "  this 
Man  run  mad  with  Pride,   and   pretend- 
ed to  be  the  Holy  Ghojl,     But  I  ^m  he -,  I 
am  the  Holy  Ghofi:"     And  then   run  on 
raving  in  a  wonderful  Manner. 
5  Journ.       Mr.    Wejley  confeffeth   another    Cafe  of 
P-  /3-4-   real  Dijlemper  in  Mifs  Or,  who  had  been 
in  one  of  their  Bajids,     ''  She  had  lately 
been  raving    mad,    in   Confequence   of  a 
Fever,  and  as   fuch  was  tied  down  to  her 
Bed.      When  (he  was   fuffered  to  go  a- 
broad,  flie  went  to  Mr.  Whitefield -,  —  but 
he  quickly  perceived  fhe  was  only  a  Lu- 
natic^ 


(    127   ) 

natic,  the  Nature  of  her  Diforder  foon 
betraying  itlelf."  As  the  Nature  of  the 
Diforder  had  as  much  betrayed  itfelf 
in  many  Methodifts,  how  happens  it 
that  in  this  Cafe  Fever  and  Madnefs  are 
allowed  ?  Why,  it  feems  Mfs  Gr,  had 
faid,  ''  that  Mr.  PFefey  and  other  Me- 
thodifts  were  Papijls.''  And  fhould  not 
fuch  an  abu/lve  Tongue  be  diftinguiflied 
from  t7'ue  Methodifi  Lunacy  ? — even  though 
it  hath  been  neceffary  to  fend  fome  of 
the  latter  Sort  to  Bedlam, 

§.  23.  Keep  but  clofe  to  your  Order^ 
hold  faft  your  Ca?2t^  and  Mr.  IVefey  will 
contend  Tooth  and  Nail,  nay  will  prove, 
that  the  bodily  Sigjis  of  horrid  Fits  and 
Convulfions  cannot  be  Natural  Difem- 
fer  in  his  faithful  Sectaries.  Take  an 
Inftance,  or  two. 

''  M\\  Wefey  intending  to  fpeak  on  3  Jousn, 
Romans  iii.  1 9.  could  not  open  his  Mouth,"  P-  S^* 
till  the  Ligature  is  diffolved  by  his  Coun- 
ter-Charm^ and  making  a  Lottery  of  the 
Scriptures^  and  "  begging  God  to  direB^ 
he  opens  the  Book  on  Hebrews  x.  19.  Then, 
while  he  was  fpeaking  earneflly,  {ornQjiu/k 
down  ;  others  exceedingly  trembled  a7id 
quaked 'y  fome  were  torn  with  a  convulfroe 
Motion,  in  every  Part  of  their  Bodies,  fo 
violently,  that  often  four  or  iive  Perfons 
could  not   hold    one    of  them.      I  have 


(128) 

feen  many  Hyfterical^  and  many  Epilep^ 
tical  Fits  >  but  none  of  them  were  like 
thefe  in  many  Refpedls/'  That  he  has 
icQn  many\  among  his  own,  I  make  not 
the  leafl:  Doubt.  But  is  htfure  he  knows 
all  the  Sympto?n5  in  fuch  Cafes  ?  Sure  am 
I,  that  in  every  refpeB  Phyfcians  have 
proved  this  to  be  the  Cafe  m  common 
Hyjierics  and  Epileptics, 

Again;  "  He  enquires  into  the  Cafe  of 
thofe  who  cried  out  aloud ^  during  his 
Preaching. -—^//  of  them,  (I  think,  not 
one  excepted  )  were  Perfons  in  perfect 
Health,  not  fubjed:  to  Fits  of  any  kind, 
till  they  were  thus  affe6led.  This  came 
upon  every  one  of  them  in  a  Moment^ 
without  any  previous  Notice,  Some  faid, 
they  felt  as  if  a  Sword  was  running  through 
them;  others,  that  they  thought  a  great 
Weight  lay  upon  them.  Some  faid,  they 
were  quite  choaked,  and  could  r\oi  breathe : 
others,  that  their  Hearts  fwelled  ready  to 
burjl :  and  others,  as  if  their  Heart,  and 
all  their  Infide  and  whole  Body,  were  tear^ 
ing  to  Pieces,  Thefe  Symptoms  I  cannot 
impute  to  any  Natural  Caufe''  - —  And  yet 
thefe  feveral  Symptoms  have  appeared  be- 
fore, from  full  Authority y  to  be  real  Na- 
tural Di/lewpcrs :  not  excepting,  the  Parti- 
cular of  ^'  droppitig  in  a  Moment,  though 
they  were  in  perfeB  Health  before."  I 
am  not  obliged  to  believe  it.     But  let  it 

pafs 


C  129  ) 

pafs  for  Truth.  'Tis  a  common  Thing  t 
and  why  fo  many  Ja//  all  together^  and 
juft  after  one  another^  among  his  Hearers^ 
will  afterwards  appear. 

§.24.  Let  us  next  proceed  to  the  Caiifes 
of  thefe  lamentable  Diforders^  horrid  Con- 
vulfionsy  Screamings,  &c.  where  fomething 
will  again  fall  in  of  the  Nature  of  them; 
And  as  far  as  they  are  natural  Difiem- 
perSy  no  doubt  but  they  are  owing  to  the 
fame  Caufe  in  Methodiflsy  as  in  other  Peo- 
ple. Here  we  find  the  Faculty  pretty  well 
agreed  ;  and  imputing  the  aforefaid  Dif- 
tempers,  —  ^^  to  ftifling  Air  in  ciofe 
Rooms ;  bad  Diet,  Indigeflions,  Crudities, 
^nd  Flatulencies  5  to  being  expofed  to  wet. 
Cold,  or  violent  Heats  y  to  long  Watch- 
ings  and  Faftings;  to  Suppreffions  ^  to 
fudden  Frights,  Wounds  and  Blows,  giv- 
ing a  ConcufHon  to  the  Brain  :  —  To  di- 
vers Affecflions,  Paflions  and  Perturba- 
tions of  the /^f/;^^ ;  Love,  Jealoufy,  Fear, 
Shame;  Sorrow,  Anger,  Envy,  Malice, 
great  Difappointments,  or  great  Expedla- 
tions ;  to  Ambition  and  Pride,  fwelling 
till  they  are  ready  to  buril: ;  to  deep  Co- 
gitation, efpecially  intent  upon  one  Ohjedly 
&c.  Thefe  ooeratino;  in  various  Kinds  and 
Degrees,  according  to  Men's  different  Hu- 
mours and  Conflitutions ;  v/orking  ftrong- 
ly  in  E7ithufaflic  Eeadsy  where  the  yf;;/- 
S  mal 


(  130  ) 

mai    Spirits    and    Brains    are    moft    dii^ 
turbed.'^ 

Such  Talk,  however,  will  not  go  far 
with  Mr.  JFefley  and  bis  Ajjociates.  Their 
extraordinary  Cafes  can  arife  from  no  Prin- 
ciple in  Nature  J  but  muft  proceed  from  a 
higher  Caufe^  fitpernatural^  or  preternatu- 
ral \  either  from  a  good^  or  evil  Spirit, 

Mr.  Wejley  accordingly,  I  hope,  afts  by 
his  InJlruBion^  as  found  in  the  Roman  Ri- 
tual de  Exorcizaitdis.  "  In  the  jfirfl  Place, 
the  Exorciji  muft  not  eafily  believe  any 
one  to  be  pofjejfed  by  the  Devil -^  but  muft 
well  know  the  Sig72s^  whereby  one  pojjejjed 
is  diftinguifhed  from  thofe  who  labour 
under  the  black  Bile,  or  any  Dijlemper'^ 
Knov/  the  Signs?  Yes,  furely.  And  he 
producerh  fome  Cafes,  which  can't  be  the 
Effe6l  oi  Natural  Dijiejnper-^  as  being  U7i- 
common  and  unaccountable^  what  Phyficians 
can't  account  for  from  Nature^  but  ovv^n  a 
fuperior  Caufe.  —  One  might  perhaps  beg 
Iiis  Pardon  here,  and  by  no  means  allow 
the  Conjcquence.  For  there  are  many  oc- 
cult ^lalitieSy  fecret  Powers  in  Nature^ 
whereof  we  fee  the  Operation  and  Effedfs-, 
though  we  are  not  able  to  affign  the 
Manner  and  Reafon.  And  the  Popijh  Wri- 
o.mplem.  ters  upon  Exorcifms  allow,  "  that  *tis  very 
Art.  hxor.  ^;fl^cult  to  determine,  whether  a  Perfon 
'^*  ^*  be  poJje£edy  or  not  ;  many  of  the  fa7ne 
Signs  concurring  in  Melancholy  and  Hyjie- 

rical 


(  131  ) 

rical  Diftempers."       But   let    us    fee   hh 
Cafes.     ''  Although    they    favv  Sig?2S   ^/^i  Weiley. 
Wonders,  they  would    not  believe.     Some  p^  -q^*^"" 
faid,    '  Thefe  were  pure  Natural  EffeBs -^ 
the  People  fainted  avv^ay,  only  becaufe  of 
the  Heat  and  Ckfenefs  of  the    Roojns.'    To 
Day,  our  Lord  anfwered  for  himfelf.  For 
while  I  was  preaching,— -he  began  to  tnake 
bare  his  Anii^  not  in  a  cloje  Room^  neither  in 
private^  but  in  the  open  Air,  before  Thou-- 
fands.     One    and   another   was   ftruck    to 
the   Earth,  &c.'*     He  triumphs  much  a- 
gainfh  the  Argument  from  a  cloJe,  Jlifiing 
Place,     But  are  there  not  numerous  Natu- 
ral Caufes  befides  that  ?  —  '^  While  I  was     Ibid. 
preaching  in    Newgate^    a  Woman   broke    P-  ^^- 
out    into   ftrong  Cries,  and   all   her  Bones 
fjook,     A  Thyfician,  who  had  known  her 
many  Years,  obferving  every  Symptom,  was 
clearly  convinced  it  was   not  Fraud,     nor 
any  Natural  Diforder :    but    acknowledg- 
ed the  Finger  of  God:'    What  Sir  !  You 
Have  often  declared  your  Contempt  of  Phy^_ 
^cians,    and  thofe    eminent  m    tlieir    Pro- 
feffion,  as  ignorant  of  the  Caufes,  Nature^ 
and  Cure  of  your  Methodijiical  Maladies-^ 
and  do  you  appeal  to  a  Newgate- Phyfici ah, ^ 
to  bear  Teftimony  ih  your  Favour?  Why 
did  you   not  name   the 'Man?  I  Hvell   re-^ 
member,  that  in  that  famous  Imfcfiure  of 
Martha  Br ojjter  (of  vvhich  there  is  a  par-  Hiftor^C 
ticular  Account  by  Thuanus)  fiie  was  grie--^^^'^^^ 
-    ■  S   2  voufly 


(  132  ) 
voully  dijlorted  and  coirouljed^  and  had  all 
the  Symptoms  of  a  PoJjeJJion^  for  which  fhe 
was  brought  to  Paris  to  be  exorcifed.  The 
mojl  celebrated  Phyficians  being  confulted, 
declared,  it  was  much  of  Impojlure^  and 
feme  thing  of  Dijie?nper  -,  but  nothing  pre- 
fer natural.  But  afterwards  other  Phyji- 
cians  were  introduced  by  Father  Seraphin 
the  Exorcijl,  in  the  Abfence  of  the  for- 
mer j  and  thefe  attefted  that  it  was  no 
Dijleniper^  but  Diabolical  PoJjeJjiQn  ;  or 
fomething  preternatural.  The  Girl  re- 
peats her  Agitations^  and  Seraphin  his  £x- 
crcifms ',  till  at  length  the  Fraud  was  de- 
tedled,  as  intended  to  raife  a  Sedition  in 
the  State,  to  the  everlafting  Confufion  of 
fuch   dejigning  Lnfojlors, 

5  journ.         Mr.   I'Fefey   brings    the   Cafe    of  Mr. 

^*  '*  Meyrick,  "  His  Pidfe  was  gone.  He 
had  been  fpeechlefs  and  fenfelefs  for  fome 
time.  A  few  of  us  joined  in  Prayer.  Be- 
fore v/e  had  done,  his  Senfe  and  Speech 
returned.  Now  he  that  will  account  for 
this  by  Natural  CaufeSy  has  my  free  Leave. 
But  I  chufe  to  fay,  this  is  the  Power  of 
Gcd,  &c/'  A  Miracle-monger  will,  no 
Doubt,  chufe  to  iky  this.  But  'tis  no  very 
uncommon,  or  extraordinary  .  Thing  for  a 
Perfon  from  Natural  Caufes  to  loofe  all 
thefe  Senfes,  and  recover  them.     Sennertus 

Df^  Vitiis  pa^'ticularly   mentions ,  EpilepfieSy    Syncopes, 

Vocio.      Siippreffons^  as  the  Natural  Caufes, 

Phyjicians^ 


(  133  ) 

Phyficians    can    account    alfo   for    that 
mad  Night-Scene,  when  "  fo   many  M?-  ^'^fley 
tbodijis    between    two    and    three    in    the^  -^"^j"'"* 
Morning  made  fuch  a  confufed  Noife,  as 
if  a  Number  of  Men  were  all  putting  to 
the  Sword.'*     For  the  Blood  and  Bile  (as 
S,ennertm   again   fays )    grow  hot   by    too  De  VigU. 
much  Watchijig'^    and  thence  Fevers  and 
Deliriotifhefsy  and  Convtiljions ;  efpecially  in 
bilicia  and  melaiicholy  Conjlitiitions ,   where 
the  Brains  are  moft  liable  to  be  difturbed/' 
—-They  can  account  too  for  the  wild  En- 
thiifiafms  of  "  Sam.   Hitchens,   w^ho  wan- 
dered about  the  Fields  by  Nighty  and   often 
threw  himfelf  on  the  Earth-,**  —  and  of 
"  the  Boy,    who  ran  away  from  his  Pa-  Weflcy 
rentSy  lurking  about  for  feveral  Days  and  ^  ■^°^'^°' 
Nights  together,  fuffering  Cold  and  Hunger^ 
once  three  whole  Days  vjilhouX  Siift en ance.** 
For  a   long   Continuance   in   any   one  of 
thefe  Hardlhips,  much  more  all  in   Con- 
jundlion,  will  be  fufficient  for  producing 
the  difmal  EffeSi. 

§.25.  But  as  our  Methodifl  Teachers  zxt 

difpofed  to  exclude  Nature,  and  call  in  a. 

fiiperior  Caiife ",  let  them   take  their   own. 

Way.     I  am  not  much  inclined  either  ta 

confute,  or  conteji,  what  they  fay. 

r —  Neqiie  te  teneo,  7ieque  diBa  refello. 
X  fequere  Italiam, 

But 


/  ^34  ) 
But  they  will  give  me  Leave  to  obferve, 
to  what  different^  and   even  directly  oppo- 
fite  and  contrary  Caiifes  they  afcribe  their 
outward  Signs,    grievous    bodily    Convul- 
fions  and  Diftortions  -,    Scrcamings,  Roar- 
ings, Tumbhngs,  &c,    as  well  as  various 
DiJira6lio7ts  of  Mind,     Thefe  Caiifes  are  ncr' 
lefs  contrary,    than   God  and    the   Devil  y 
the   fupremely  good  Spirit,    and   the    fu- 
premely  evil  One  ^    and  this  in    the  very 
fame  F articular s.      Wherein    it  behoveth' 
me  to  be  pretty  cautious  and  exaB  ;  other- " 
wife  I  fhall  be  heavily  accifed. 

And,  Firft,    I  fhall   introduce  them  as 
VCiiA^wi^  God  the  Caufev  ' 'And    thus   Mr. 

3  Jcurn.  Wefky  \    ''  We  called  upon  God  to  con- 

p.  40- -    fi^m  his  Word,     Immediately  one  cried  out _ 

aloud  with  the  utmoft  Vehemence,  even  as 

in  the  Agonies  of  Death, —  Soon  after  two 

other  Perfons  were  feized  Withjlrong  Pain, 

Ibia.     and-  conftrained  to  roar.''     So  again,  "   I 

P-  42.  prayed  that  God  would  bear  Witnefs  to 
his  Word.  Immediately  one,  and  ano- 
ther, and  znoihtv  funk  to  the  Earth  :  they 
dropped  on  every  Side,  as  'Tlmnderjiruck, 
One  of  them  cried  aloud,— Ont  fo  wound-' 
ed  by  the  Sword  of  the  -Spirit,  that  you 
tvould  have    imagined  flie  could  -not  live 

m  -o;  a  Mome7it.'!  - — '^  God-  made  bare  his  Holf 
Arm,  One,  and  another,  and  another 
was  flruck  to  the  Earth,  exceedingly  trem- 

p.  62.    bling  at  the  Prejence  of  God,''  -^  "  Seven 

■  -  -^~  or 


(  135  ) 

or  eight  Perfons  were  conftrained  to  rear 
cloudy  while   the  Sword  of  the  Spirit  was 
dividi?ig    aju7ider    their    Soiih   and  Spirits^ 
a?jd   Joints,    and  Marrow.''  —  A    deeper  5  Joum, 
Work   in  many  Souls;  — many  trembled"^' ^T*  ^^^ 
exceedingly,  fix,  or  ioNzn   (both  Men  and 
Women)   dropped   down  as  dead.      Some 
cried  out ^  —  others  would,   but  their  Voice 
was  lojl. — In  the  Evening  God  was  pleafed 
to  wound  many   more/'     But  particularly 
obfervable  is  what  follows ;   *'  I   preached     IbiU' 
at  Weavers-HalL     It  was  a  Glorious  Time.   P'  ^^* 
Several  dropped  to  the  Ground,  as  if  Jiruck 
by  Lightning,     Some  cried  out  in  Bitter-^ 
nefs  of  Soul,     In  this  acceptable  Time,  &c/' 
And  what    fays   Brother   Whitefield  on 
the  fame  Side  ?    He  was  firft  let  into  this 
Secret  by   Mr.  Wefley  ;  when  '^  upon  his  ^^^5^^ 
(Mr.  Whitefield'^)  Preaching,  four  Perfons  3  journ, 
funk  down  clofe  to  him;  —  without  Senfe^'^'y^* 
or  Motion,  —  in  firong  Convulfio?2S,    with 
ftrong  Cries  and  Tears.     From  this  Time, 
I  truft,    we   fliall  fuffer  God  to  carry  his 
own  Work,  in  the  Way  ^2X  pkafeih  him,'" 
After  this  Mr.  Whitefield,  finding  in  him- 
felf  fuch  Power,    goes   on    triumphantl}% 
*'  A  young  Wom^in  flruck  down   by  the  whltef. 
Power  of  God's  V/ord,- — has  continued  ever  ^  J°'^'^'^- 
fince,  as  St.  Paul  did.   Sick  in  Body,  and^  ^"' "^ 
under  great  Agonies  of  Soul.  —  God  gene- 
rally manifefis    himfelf  to    fome   Souls  in 
this     extraordinary     Manner,  "      At    my 

Preach- 


(  I30 

?-42.  Preaching,  Thoufands  cried  oufy  fome 
faintedy  others  cried  out,  as  if  they  were 
in  the  Jharpeji  Agcnies  of  Death.  Never 
did  I  fee  a  more  Glorious  Sight,'' — '^  Some 
ftruck  pale  as  Deaths  others  lying  on  the 
Ground,    others  Jinking  by   the    fVord  of 

7  Journ.  God.''  —  Mr.   B //  dropped   do^uDTiy    as 

p.  12, 32- though 72)02"  with  a  Gim-,  —  by  the  Power 
of  God's  Word/'  "  The  Lord  mani- 
fefted  his  Glory.     One  was  ftruck  dow7t  by 

P.  57.  the  Power  of  the  Wordr  —  "  The  Spirit 
cf  the  Lord  came  down  hke  a  rufhing, 
mighty  Wind  -,  immediately  there  was 
fdrieking  in  every  Corner  of  the  Con- 
gregation ;  Men's  Hearts  failing  them  for 
^Fear^  many  falling:'  —  One  ftruck  downy 
his  Body  exceeding  weak^  could  fcarce 
nime  all  the  Night  after.  God  was  work-- 
ing  powerfully  in  his  Soul. —  Twelve  Per- 

p.  75.    fons  dropped  down  here  and  there." — *'  The 
Holy  Ghoft  enabled  me  to  fpeak   fo,   that 
one  Woman  was  thrown  into  ftro77g  Convul^ 
fions  y    others  were  In  great  Agonies:* 

Thus  far  then  God  is  afferted  to  be  the 
Caufe  of  thefe  feemingly  horrible  Fits-,  the 
moft  'vehement  Outcries^  Rcaj'-ings,  and 
ftrong  Fains ;  Sinkings,  Droppings  to  the 
G?^ound,  —  as  ftruck  with  Lightnirig  and 
Thunder  ;  —  exceeding  "TremblingSy  tailings 
down  as  dead.  Voice  loft.,  ftrong  ConvuU 
ftonsy   without   Scnfe  or  Motion^   Faintings^ 

ftnking 


(  137  ) 

finking  as  if  fiot  with  a  Gun  3   Shriekings^ 
TerrorSy  and  Fallings, 

§.  26.  But  as  thefe  inconfijlent  Ramblers 
can't  be  long  in  one  Mind-,  we  are  next 
to  obferve  them  wheeling  about ^  unravel- 
ling their  Web^  and  alcribing  ih^fame  Par- 
ticulars to  God's  grand  Adverfary^  the  De- 
vil. Well  then  !  (To  borrow  Mr.  Wejlef^ 
Motto). 

—  Agedunty  pauca  accipe  contra* 

Mr.  Whitefield  having  told  us  of  "  five6  Joum: 
Perfons  in  Agonies  fo  ftrong,  as  if  affecftedP*  3^* 
with  Fits^'  adds,  *'  Some  fuch  Agonies^  I 
believe,  2iXtfroni  the  Devil.     And  he  will 
no  doubt   endeavour  by  thefe  to  bring  an 
evil  Report  on  the  Work  of  God.'' 

Mr.  Wejley  once  acquainted  his  Follow- 3  journ: 
ers,  that  "  thefe  involuntary  EffeBs  wrought P-  ^^» 
upon  their  Bodies  might  be  from  God^^  and 
might  not.     While   I   was  fpeaking,  one 
before  me  dropped   down   as   dead;    and 
prefently  a  fecond,  and  a  third."     But  in 
other  Places  he  fays,  '^  A  young  Man  funk    ibid, 
down  as  dead  ;  but  foon  began  to  roar  out^   P-  3®-: 
and  beat  himfelf  againft  the  Ground^    fo 
that  fix  Men  could  fcarce   hold  him.     I 
never  faw  one  fo  toxn  oi  the  evil  One.'' — 
Mr.   Weflcy^    affedionate    Brother    writes 
thus  to  him ;    '^  What  Influence  fudden    ibid. 
"       T  and  P-  ^3* 


(  138  ) 

and  Iharp  Awakenings  mocy  have  upon  the 
Bodyy    I  don't  :pretend.  to  ^explain  ;'    [  the' 
Inftance   yoir  gave,  of  i  fome  ^ftrtlggliftg^  ai 
in  xh^  Agonies : of  :JDmtb]  biie  li^tiiake^no  ■ 
Queftion,  Satan,  as  far  as  heigdCsnPg^ei-^ 
may  exert  himieifon  fuch  OcCafions -i  pailA 
ly  to  hinder  the  good  Work  in  fuch  asr^^fe^ 
touched  with  the  ArroM^s  of  Gonvi6tioA  ^^ 
and  partly  to  difparage  the  Work  of  CM; 
as  if  it  tended  to  lead  People  CO*  Dlflric-'^i 
i-^T"'  tion.''  —  "  The  Enemy  began  totea^^  \^ 
^^'  ^^*  fo   that  fl}c   fcreamed    asv^k:}  the  P'aYigs 
Pag.  92.  of  Z)^^//j."  —  Another  5" '^'th-ethoufan* 
Difiortions-.oi  her   whole   Body    fh^wbd, 
how  the  I)ogs  of  HelLnjs^^e^gjia^ng'^^^ 
Hearty  —  But  now  we  ar^Ato  hars)"dMf^ 
Wejl^y^  final  JudgmeJity  and  fittkd  Defif^: 
rtmiatiouy    after  a  careful  andvpaf^iiditar 
'Examination ;   as  related  in  h\^^-tafh''ym^r 
5  Jo"^«-  72aL     "  I  concluded  my  fecond  tJouife'  of 
^'^'~'*   Vifttingy  in  which;  I  enquired  particularly 
into   the   Cafe  of  thofe,- who  had  alMfoft 
every  Night  the  lafl  Wttk  cried  out' ahndy 
during  the  Preaching.  *— Lfound  that  all 
of  them  (1.  thinks  :iK).t  one' excepted)  w^ere 
Perfons.in^  per,fe6^  Health,'^  and   had  not 
been&bjed:  to  FiU  of^afiy^kfedi'^ill  thus 
affechd. 'r^Thdit  this  hhd'coifte -upon  every 
one  ./o£  them   in  a  Ivmieni\  without  any 
pr^oions   Notice,  —  That  in  that  Moment 
thy.  dropped    doTim,    thtyloA    all  •  their 
Strength^    and :  w^ere^  ■■  feized   with    ^nolent 

Pain, 


(  J39  ) 
Pahu  .This  they  expreffed  in  different 
Manners.  :  Some  faid,  they  felt,  juft  as 
\ii^2Lx>&'0pr^ii^d^Lit\xnmn^  through  them: 
others,  that  they  thought  a  great  Weight 
lay  upon  them^,  as  if  it  v/ould  fqueeze  them 
into  the  Rirth.  Some  laid,  they  were 
quite  choaked^^pib'"that*  they  could  not 
breathe,^:,  oX\itn^  that  their  Hearts  Jwelled 
ready  t^  burji-^  and  others,  that  it  was  as 
if  their  Hearty  zW  their  Lifide^  all  their 
whole  Bodyy  vj-jl^  tearing  in  Pieces, 

Theji  Symptoms  I  can  no  more  impute 
tQ  my  Natural  Caufe,  than  to  the  Spirit 
ofG&d.  I  mak^  no  doubt ^  but  it  was 
Satan  tearing  theniy/'Si^  they  were  coming 
to  Chriji,  And  i»^;2<:^  proceeded  tholb 
grievous  Cries,  whereby  he  might  defign 
bqtb  to  difcredit  the  Work  of  God,  and  to 
affright  People  from  hearing  that  IVord. 
',1  found,  that  their  M/Wj  had  been  as 
variouily  aifexSed  as  their  Bodies,  Of  this 
£omQ  could  fcarce  give  any  Account  at  all ; 
which  alfo  I  impute  to  that  wife  Spirit^ 
purpofely  Jiunning  and  confounding  as  many 
as  he  could,  that  thjey  might  not  be  able 
to  bewray  his  Devices,  Others  gave  a  very 
clear  and  particular  Account,  from  th« 
Beginning  to  the  End.  The  Word  of  God 
pierced  their  Souls,  and  convinced  them 
ofsjoward,  as  well  as  outward  Sin.  They 
faw  and  felt  the  Wrath  of  God  abiding  on 
them,  and  were  afraid  of  his  Judgments* 

T  2  ^'    And 


(  HO  ) 
And  here  the  Accufer  came  with  great 
Power,  telling  them,  "  there  was  no 
Hope,  they  were,  l9ft.fo*,e:V.tP,.v  Their 
Paim  of  Body  then  feized  them  in  a  Mo- 
ment,^ and  B^^^,,^<i^vJou4^  md\Mmr 

\Afl6Sm  --,  T  '     T^  ^  ^  I 

Thefeare  the  Words  of  Meffieurs  V/bki^ 
Jield ^nd  mpy  .   wherein  tht  Reader  will 
fee  how  the  Tables  are  turned.     Here   he 
finds,  "«o  doubt  hut  thc(c  Agonies,  drop.^ 
pngdown  as  dead,  loud,  grievous  and  htt^ 
ier  Cries  and  Roarings,  Diftortiom,  miokitt. 
Fatns     Screenings   as    in    the    Pangs    rf 
Death;    mth   various  Diflraaicmof 'the' 
iM/»^,— proceeded  from  Satan;  he  caufed 
them.     And  yet  juft  before,  the  very>^ 
Tarticulars  and  Symptoms  were  expre§Hc 
imputed   to    God;  he  caufed  thein.     The. 
Sword  of  the  Spirit  dividing  thenr.q/knd&i: 
IS,    m    a   Moment,   converted.  Xo -^-BatAn'^ 
Sword  runmng  through  them^^  Tht  WorJi-i 
ings  oj  God  in  the  Soul  in-  this ■  ixtraot^du^ 
nary  Manner,  and  doing- his  own  Work  in 
his  own    Way,    is   inftantly   chanj^ed  irttd 
Satan's  Endeavours  to  bring  an  evil  Retort  m 
God's  Work     to   dijparag^,    difcr edit,    and 
hinder,   God's  Work,  and  fright  People  front 
^^'i    Atfuch  aLofsare  they,  fo  uiicertaitt 
^'hofi  Work  t,ey  are  doing.,,,  ^^^^..,^^ 

;.    S-  27.  We  may  here  make  a  few  Re^ 
fW/7^:^.,  And  firft,    one  may,  I  prefume, 

bn^)  take 


(  HI  ) 

take  the  Liberty  of  asking  a  ^ejlion,  or 
two.  "  Pray^  Sir,  what  Devices,  what 
grmid  SccretP  of  Satan,  did  t^hpfc  Perfons 
bewray^  v/lio  "wei'e  not  Jlunried  and  con- 
foii?idedf  ^Oi>vv:  .if^(5rktid^^S6crets  ^^^^^  |^^^ 
wrayed,  what  a  Jbi?/ was  this  Wije  Spirit, 
and  wh2X^^&^'\itgain,\t\ftit7t72w^^  fome-y 
When  ^^rih^  others  had  fall  Power  pf 
difcoveriiig  ^  Plots?-— mt  m' tins  Con- 
trcverfy  mth'  th^nlfehcs, "'  we'':fnay '  obferve, 
that  Mr.  WhitiMd  i^tm^'xh^ jfiotifer  a^jn-- 
picnfor  Satiilfs'tiperMdnfkniMx,  IFeflm 
for  God's  Operation.  For' W"  not  uhial 
for  thefe  two  Cbrnpetitorf  in  ^^S'an^ity  tQ 
agYte.-  }  \^Mid  nbt  here' have  the  latter. 
recur  ^W  his'  6ld  Method  of  ^^/?^^//;?^^  an^ 
tKirtk-^Gf  reconciling  his  \2&^  Deter  mi  na- 
tion in  Favour  of  the  Devil,  by  faying  \^ 
aai.%  G^d's  Firniifion,  or  that  thefe  E/i' 
feBs  are  iioycti  God,  who  is  the  Original 
Caife^of  all  7y&/;7g-i.  (This  aUknow,  .^s 
well  a5  hirtifelf )  For  he  hath  expreflly 
excluded  both  Ndtim  ^Md'  ^Gocl^ '  Perhaps 
before  his  next  Jdiirhal  comes  W,  .6e  ^j^ 
alter  his  Mini— T^i ere  are)'*6Mv^r,''|-<^ 
i?(f^;/5  why  much  fliould  be  faid  on  each 
Side. -'1r*l6^^tefl^^  that;  God 

fhoirld  be  the  CMfe  -^oi  thefe  Tumf)lij)g,s,  '^^^'^^y 
Convulfions,  &c.  that  thofe  who  are  7£)(:^^^^    -^?,''"- 
might  not  be   ofended:\      For  indeed  he 64.^  '  ^^' 
owns,' ^^'   many    were   ^  greatly f  of  ended r 
And  the  Notion  of  aS^/^z/'s'  doing  it  might 

''  tend 


(  H2  ) 

^Wefley   c.  ^end    to    lead    People   to   Diftra5fion:\ 
Vz^^e^'.    Accordingly    Mr.    Whitefi^ld    allures    us, 
that  ''  a  Woman  being  in  fuch  a  Gafe  as 
to  be  thought  z;;^^,  -s^nd,  full  of  new  Wine ^ 
in  that  Hour  x\i^^ord^^^eJ}^s^\^^^^ 
of  her  &/^/."     ,:;    .,,  :.    ,..:.,;  ,:,.u,v   -^    v.'.. 
.And  'tis  equally  neceffary  fometimeSy  that 
ihe* Devil  (hould  be  the  Caiife  \  to  fhew 
what  an    'Enemy   he   is   to  Metbodifm,    in 
Wefley    ^-j^^g  cc  difpar aging  God's  JVork^    and  de- 
p.  9it"    figning  to  affright  People  from- it  j*V  and 
efpecially   it   mull   be   the  Devits  doing., 
that  Mr.  Wefey  may  have  the  Honour,  of 
ejeBtng  him,    and  gain  Reverence  for  his 
miraculous  Cures.      And  herein,  I  appre- 
hend, he  has  greatly  the  Advantage  of  lyir. 
Whitefieldy  after  *'  mufing  in  his  old  Ropn> 
at  Oxford^  and  refledliag  how  many  that 
came  ajtfr  him  were  preferred  bsf or  &:.^hi^^*. 
he  nowvis  become  fiiperior  to  a  I^j^Jpcipal 
Antagonifl.     For  poor  Mr.  Whitefieid  fays, 
(after  owning  that  the  Devil  was  the  Cavfe, 
6  journ.  of  the  F/V^'j  "  I  had  DO t  prayed  long,  in 
^'^^*       i\\^    W%nen's   Societv.    but  two    of  them 
fell  down   again  into  violent  Fits  j  fo  that 
I  was  obliged  to  leave  them.'*  Fie  for  Shame, 
Mr.  Whitefieid  I  Ton  not  fland  put  againft 
the  Devil?   Indeed  he  has,  in  this  Cafe, 
outwitted  you.      You   were  not.  aware   of 
De  Exorc.  v/hat  the  Roman  Ritual  fays,  "  How  many 
Arts  and  Fallacies  the  Devil  ufeth  to  de- 
ceive the  Exorcifl\  and  that  the  Exorcijl 

mufi 


Wefley 
ourn. 

86. 


(  143  ) 

witji'  not  leave  off,  till  he  has  feen  all  the 
S%ris  pf  'Liberatio7iy '  Tou  probably  have 
ifi^e^'i6dked['ihto'  i^uc\i  Pcpi/Jj  CeremoniaU, 
B^^L:^^^?/^  fe^^e  ;^  ^  riieari  '  an 

0mn'i6n%f^9^»;'^#  '31  the  t/frj-j^- 

/?7t7?7,  '*   who  being  fcnt   for  by  -a,  Tf^oman  W 
/^.^^f^'^'^'ffie'^^nb ''r66ner-b  rear  and "^  \ 

ki77^''  ok}  h^:1o?i^K  "but^M;  cried^ut/* 
<c  It/;i3"  tl^e  t)ev    *  doubtfefs  f  ;-It*  is    t'he 
DcViV  !  •  And  xmrx\t&^idf~ 'weni '  away,'-^ 
Wt  Mxymjiiy  d^e'to  h^iC  and  left  her 
pii&^Wl  all  her  Symptoms  ceafcd,''     He  waf 
bettfer'ilcquainted  with  his  Ruky  and  better 
obferved  it,  and  had  much  more  Vyork  of 
this  Nature  iijion  his  Hands.  '^  iuci\v> 
^^^t^his   leads    us  to   our   FarallcL      For 
Ho^tPhyJiciafts^  Philofophers^  and  Divines^ 
have  been   of  Opinion,  that  fuch  uncom^ 
mortahdyxtraordiiiary  Cafes  proceeded  from 
2t  Diabolical  Operation,     But  my  Buiinefs 
berng   only  with  Paprjisy  I  need  not  en- 
quire farther.  ^  ^;^-^'  -       .^    /^^ 
"  The  '  Roman  Ritual ^  after    ^^'^ '  tfte.  Cau-  De  Exorc 
tionagainft  miftaking  iht''  hlacH  Bile^  or 
other  Dijiempers^    for   a    Po^e^Iony'    foon 
leaves  the  Way  open  again,  by  acquaint- 
i«^'  lis,  thdt^^^ond^%f  the  i:)f'z;/7*ii^rts  is 
to  'induce   a  Perfuafion,  that  the  l*atient 
oHly  lies  under  a  Natural  Diforder ,    wh^n 
hehimfelf^is  at  the  Bottom.['\  And 'we 
haVe  there'  *'  Three  Signs  of  X Diabolical 
Pifjefioh,  fpeaUijig  'in  an  unknown  Tongue ^ 

difcover- 


(  144  ) 

difcovering  Things  fecret  and  dijlanty  and 
having  Strength  above  the  natural  Age 
and  Condition  of  the  Party ;  and  others  of 
that  Nature,  which  if  many  of  them  con- 
cur, are  greater  Signs'* 

Their  approved  Writers  on  this  Subject 
have,  by  way  of  Supplement y  recounted 
thefe  numerous  and  great  Signs  5  intirely 
agreeing  with  Mr.  Wcjley, 

DeExorc.      j^  the  Malkus  Malefic  arum  y   Tom.  III. 

p.  n^'^^d  Tom.  IV.  called  Complementiim  Artis 
Exorcifiia^  we  have  the  following  Ac- 
count. "  There  are  not  wanting  Men, 
who  deny  all  Diabolical  PoJJeJJions  and 
Witchcrafts^  afferting  them  to  be  only 
Natural  Difiempers,  But  that  thefe  are 
undoubted  Signs  of  a  PoJJeffion,  or  Witch- 
crafty  or  both  i?i  CojijunBion ;  namely, 
*  LoUing  out  the  Tongue ;  Clamours, 
Roarings,  Gnafliings,  Foamings ;  a  Weight 
in  the  Stomach,  or  choaking  in  the 
Throat ;  Swoonings,  efpecially  of  many 
at  one  and  the  fame  Time  -,  Bowels  torn 
by  Dogs  3  fudden  Terrors,  and  inftantly 
removed  3  the  Feeling  of  a  hot,  or  cold 
Vapour ;  throwing  themfelves  on  the 
Ground,  and  tearing  themfelves  ;  a  pierc- 
ing like  a  Sword ;  revealing  occult  and 
remote  Things ;  fpeaking  Myfteries,  and 
explaining  Scripture  ;  prophcfying  and 
finging  mufically ;  an  Averfion  to  the 
Minifter,    Prayers,    Relicks,    Holy  Water, 

and 


(  H5  ) 
and  all  Sp'rritual  Books  and  Things.  —- 
But  the  ftrongejl  Sign  is,  when  Phyficians 
cannot  help,  and  Medicines  are  of  no  Ser- 
vice. *'  Thus  we  find  both  Popery  and 
Mr.  Wefley  agreeing  in  tlieir  VerdiB^  that 
Satan  is  guilty ;  and  neither  Nature^  nor 
the  God  of  Nature  have  any  Concern  in 
the  Cafe. 

We   fliould   obferve  too,  thefe  Words  of 
Mr,  JVeJley :  "  I  carefully  examined  thofe,^  J^^rn. 
who  h-^i\  cried  out  \^lQ\y  in   the  Cofigrega-"^'^^'^^' 
tion.  —  I    enquired    particularly    into    the 
Cafe. — And  I  found  their  Minds  had  been 
as     varioufly    affedled    as    their    Bodies, " 
Wonderful    Thing,   that   Mind  and  Body 
fliould,   in  a  Diforder,  have  a  7nutual  Influ- 
ence on  each  other!  The  Enquirer^  however, j-^^jlxorc: 
did  well  in  confirming  to  the  Ro?nanRituahy 
''   In  order   to  know  this,    [whether   the 
Diforder   be  Natural ^  or  Diabolical^  after 
an  Exorcifm^  or  two,  let  the  Exorci/linttx- 
rogate  the  Patient,  what  he  was  fenfible  of, 
or  felt,  m  Mind  or  in  Body,''     And   what 
Anfwers  did  he  draw  out  ?  '^  Some  could  Wefley 
give  no   Account  at  all,    how,  or    vv^here-    '^^^^• 
fore  y    only,  that  of  a   fudden  they   drop- 
ped   down   they  knew  not  how.     Others 
could  juj}    remember  they  were    in  Fear ; 
but  could  not  tell  what  they  virere  in  Fear 
of.     Several  faid,  they  were  afraid  of  the 
Devil '^  and  this  was  all  they  knew.    But 
a  few  give  a  more  Intelligible  Account,  of 
U  a  piercing 


(  h6  ) 

a  piercing  jS^w^  of,  their  Sins,  and  oC  the 
Wrath _  of  Gody,2.i\d  the   Pu^i^i{]>«ient,vointo 
which  tbey\  we,i^e  jufl;.lf^ni|^4  ^Qo^rt^d* 
me,  *  I  was  juft  as  if  I   was  fallings ftom 
the  bigkf  Pkce  Ih^d  cm^\:^qt\^y}Joibo\i0\t 
the  JJe'vil  was   pu filing;,  i^^e^v^^j  a^nrf^Nthat 
God h^d-  forfaken  me/    ;  A!wther  faid, ^^rit* 
felt  the  very  Fire  of  Hell,''     Upon  his  fc 
cond  Examination,  '*  Some  faid  they  fek 
as  it  were  the  piercing  of  a  ISword  -^   others 
thoughir,$ii  great  }f^e%bfu}^J^rupon   thenn^,\ 
©'a -'a--^'  Some  could  fcarce  give  any  A€ri 
count  at  all '^  which  alfo  I  impute  to  that 
IVtje  Spirit y    p\ix poicly  fiumiing   and  con- 
founding as  many  as  he  could,    that  they 
inight   9^t    bewray  his-;: Devices.      Others 
i gave  a  N.m}{^km^^^^j^rii(^di2r i^foi^^^^ 

a:i  before.  ri3^--.,,7^vc    bnc   :?vb:)3h  o1  Wr'bQ 

o\  I#^,i;]^i^i?,vhole  Kccom-xi^^  Borders  :^i 

G^*fi Power, .and  Sat^n^_  are.fo  near,  and 

thS  %ranfitions  from  one  to  the  other  fo 

qmd?^\:.^'^   liich  an   acute  ^Metaphyfician 

alp^'-^^  Mr.  Ji  efley  couM  h'AS^  decided  .{^ 

e;x^^ly;.,>  jii^t s  tp  the  J^r7r//a//^;:  of  fome  be-* 

\\\'^'.'^\^,^^:%mf^^-iittle  or  others 

zy:^^\fiM4r:-and.pm'ticular  one  , — were  any 

thigg  ^^fiiNatur^ov  Dijktnper  to   be  ad^ 

mitftedj  tjiere  would  be  np.nced  of  quoting 

Authorities  for  ?i  peifecl..  ox  jrnperfeB   Re^ 

memhrance^    or  fione    at  all,  of  what  was 

felt   m\  the  Fit :  The   DiVerfity  •  being  fo 

well  known  in  Proportion  to  the  Kind  and 

Degree 


(   147  ) 

'Degree  of  the  Fit  3  as  in  Fe?^tigos,  Co?2- 
vuljions^  Efilepftes,  8cc,  as  likev/ife  an  u4- 
niazement^    like    what    Mr.     //^^y/t^    calls 

Bat  %J wnt'^^/^^'td-^ifi  tSitdert  with 
hks  beft^'  FHends  of' the  Papacy^    v/ho  af- 
cribe  Jall-^  (for  'fulifiantiai  Re^ifons)  to  SataUy 
and  ha't^elnfferted  aP^<^^frin  thtOfficeof  Ex- 
orcixatim^  ^*  for  one  affaulted  by  the  Frauds  Ritanl 
of  an  unclean  Spirit^  whom  the  old  Adver-  ^o"^^"- 
fary  hovers   about    tv itb   the^    Horror   of 
Dfeady   and    ftriketh    the    human    Myid 
witih  a  Stupor^  confounds  it   with  Tenmr^ 
afjdeic^gitateth  with  trernbling  Fear.'*  ^H;  >■ 
ysrl}  )£fi)    ,b!ri03  ^ri  8b  ^^^^^  ^^  "W 
ei^i@8.    lnf}in{Mty\\n   Rom.   Rlf.)  ^f- 
fiii^^.^'tE^t  *^  the  Jirts  and  Frauds  of  the  Tit  Exorc. 
Devil  to  deceive  and  over-reach  the  Ex- 
dfn-//?*^^a  innumerable >'*  and  hath  been  fo 
g<!rtki  as  tb  acquaint  us  with  fot7ie  of  them. 
lind-^'Mr.  IVeJley  (to  apply  his  own  Ex- 
preffici'^Sjis  fuch'"an  apt  Scholar^  and  has  fo 
perfectly  learned  the  Exercife  of  his  Arms*,'* 
that   he  i^  for  the  moft  part  too  cunning 
for  the  (?W  Sophijler.     "  Sometimes  aS^/^«  Ex  )!cifm. 
will  bide  himfelf,  and  ceafe  tormenting  the 
Putierk,  to  induce  a  Perfuafion  that  he  is 
gdne.^'^     Mr.   Wejley  was  w^ell  guarded  a- 
gaiiifl  this  Trick. — *'  Sometimes  he  throw- 
eth   his  Prey  oil  the  Gi-oundy  and  caufeth 
Conmift02S<i  ^  tof  ^  the   Exorcifi   may    ccafe 
fmn  hi^Cdhjumim:'     Here  Mr,  White- 
.^-  U  2  J  eld 


(  hS  ) 

field  was  caught,  but  Mi^ /F^%  ftood  it 
out. —  ^'  Sometimes  he  will  let  the  Patient 
heqiiief^  and  fay,  that  fo/^^/j /wP^^";;,  and 
give  no  Sig7i  of  any  Tensor,'"  >Th>s  was 
the  Cafe  of  the  poficjjed  Womhi,  '^wkd,' 
Wefley    when  Mr.   JVefley  came  to  her,'  faid,  "^I' 

pja?"  ^^^^  ^^^y  ^^^'  now:  —  Nothing 'ails  me." 
But  Mr.  JVefiey  went  on  with  his  Work ; 
and  her  FG[]c[]ion  appeared  plainly  after- 
wards. —  "  Sometimes,  when  the  poor 
Devils  are  tormented  with  Exorcif??is,  the 
Devils  will  promife  and  /wear ^  th^t  they 
will  go  out  to-morrow  at  fuch  an  Hour^  in 
order  to  gain  Time.  This  was  the  Cafe, 
v/efley    in  ''  that  furprizing  Inftance  of  the  Power 

4  Jo^f"-   of  the  Devil^  —  when  beine  afraid  of  Mr. 

p.  66,  67.  jii    n  A  , 

"^  liejley^  who   was  to  come    to-morrow y  he 

made  the  Woman  fay,    *  before  Six  in  the 

'Morning  I  fljall  be  uW/.'tii-^^w  Sometimes 

they  lull  the  ^Patient  /:7/'?e'6'^j  and  lhew4-iim 

Vifions''     But  Mr.   /-/^^y^t'^ -foe ms  not  well 

aware  of  this  Deceit.     Vifions  are  of  better 

jSi^.'i;/^,  than  to  ov/n  t him  f^ojfi  the  D^it 

,t*Tr,*^  Sometimes  Satan  permits    the  vexed 

{per Jon  to  fay  Prayers^   receive  the  Sacra- 

:nienfy    fign  :himfeif  with   the    Crofs,    with 

other  Ads  of  Humility  and  Devotion,  Yea, 

vwhat   is   more,   he  himfelf  will  fay  fome 

'4my   Taings.     In   v^\\\<z\\  .  Sheef  s   Cloathing 

ht-  is  not  deteded.      But   he  can't   long 

perfevere:'      Mr.    //^y/t;)^.  bas-feveral  In- 

ftances   of  alternate  Strains  of  Rage   and 

Blaf. 


(    H9  ) 

Blafphemy^  and  of  Devotmj  a7id  Submiffion^ 
in  Cai^s  of  a  Poffejjiofj,  particularly  when 
the  X)^// fays,  (fpeaking  through  \ht  Or- 
gans offhe  Damoniac )  ''  Come,  go  to  ^  journ. 
Prayers^  LmU  pray  with  yeu.'"  We  took  P- 93- 
the  Advice,  from  :who?njQever  it  came. 
Thm  fome  :D&V)ij^,--wh0i:)jliakJ>/grievoufly 
mauled  St.  Xavier,  at  length  became  caliri  Myfier. 
and  mild,  were  heard  to  fay.  their  Matins,  M^'^- 
and  got  through  the  Choir-Service^  by  way^'  '^^* 
oi  Joke.'' —  "Sometimes  the  Devil  hvfitM 
born,  or  anfwering  fallacionjly ;  and  thfiti 
he  muft  be  peremptorily  commanded,  in  the 
Name  of  Jejus,  to  fpeak  the  Truth,  and 
be  put  to  his  Q^/^."  This  Care  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Wejley  •  ''  I  command  thee^, 
in.  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jefas,  to  tell  if 
thou  haft  Commiffion  to  torment  any  other 
Soul  r  It  was  immediately  anfwered^vc'c/I 
Jhave.vy?ir;V  Sometimes  the  Devil  will  tell 
?ri:///6y .  or  feem  to  yield  in  fome  Points 
to  the  Goodnejs  of  the  Exorcijl,  in  order  to 
puff  him  up  with  Vain-glory  J*  How  often 
this  hath  been  the  Cafe  with  Mr.  WcJley^ 
let  his  Comiiicl  tcftify. —  "  Sometimes  the 
Devil,  (who  never  wants  new  Trich)  to 
hinder  People  from  fubmitting  to  Exor^ 
cijms,  and  that  he  may  not  be  dijcovered, 
^\\\  pretend  Dijlempers,  and  counterfeit  all 
the  Symptoms  of  a  Difeaje  in  the  Sufferer  ; 
fo  as  to  deceive  even  ih^  Phy/iciajis,  and 
he  makes  the  Phyficiam  themfelves  incre- 
dulous : 


( I5P' ) 

dtdms ',  a  Sort  of'Mt?!^^  Wbc?/-4t'tliey  can 
but  think  of  fome  natural  Cauft\"^\)\  al- 
ways reject  any  i\\m^  fupe  ma  turn!  5  -alkdg- 
ing  fome  frmilom  ReafimQ^  fTbt^fe  Men 
ought  to  read  fuch  Bookbsi  ^Q'Mdlkru 
Maleficarum,  &c.  And  '^^^hrdft  motl: 
take  care  to  have  a  Phyficiati,  in  flich  Dif- 
tempers,  Vv^ho  is  of  the  fame  Qphiibn^^ith 
himfeJf:"  Mr.  ?/'^^^^  accordingly  has  dver 
and  over  cautioned  the  World  againft  being 
ruled  by  Dr  Monroe^  and  others  of  the 
Famlty  y\ht-^\r\^  their  Ignorance  and  7/;^- 
hiMy\  BtJt  y^t  he  has  been  wife  enough 
to'lntroduce  his  Neu-gate  Fhyfician,  who 
wii'^  bi  the  fame  Opinion  n.vitb  hinfelf  to 
teftify  in  his  Favour:^^  M:B.  Y>tV^onr6e, 
and  all  other  Pbyfcfans,  are  hereby  \ad- 
monifhed,  that,  inftead  of  tUppocrdM^ 
Gakn,  Sec.  they  immediately  beifeak'^ the' 
Mall'euY  Mtile/iharum,'  m'-twcy[ '  Valbriiest^^ 
Ql-^arto";  as  likewif^  Mr.  ^y7^jy'*^'"3^//r^«/x. 
The  fame  Admo72ition  is  to  extend  to  the 
Cetiegi!'  of  Phyftcvans'^'  who-  'gi.fe  ordered  to 
exnmme  fhm-  IJl^nttafgp'^btiV^x^f  the  fiid 
ifk^njpm-ab'k  WrMn^gs",^^-^^^^  (though 

one'  might  <!arry  the  Gmpnrifons'  much 
farlther)  ^^  Sometimes  ^^flkmls^  sis  ano- 
ther /;/2/>^^/>;^?a^,  when  \k^^Ekm^ciJi  kno^s 
the?  Cafe  to  tea  PoJj?ffioij\  will  induce  a 
Belief  into  x\{(^  Fm^enfs,'^  RtMions  €(nd 
Friends  of  the  Patient,  ttiA  "tis^ 'biily  if«?-' 
m(mrS^tii&  natural  Dijlemper^y  and  n^di^^ 

bolical 


(  151  ) 

boUeal -PfiJfeJJm  ;>  that  fo  no  Regard  may  bqi,   - 
had  io  tho,  Exordfiy  nor  his  Difcipline  be>-f 
lubmitted  to/..'  .^  This  Artifice  Mr.  Wejlefr 
hath  foU;ndin  fome  of  his  Follower  s»  "One  3  Journ. 
(for  Fear  :<)f  fijchva  Fit)    run  out  of  theP'S-s^* 
Society  m  aU^H^^^,  that  JJjc  might  7jot  eX'-^ 
fofi  herfelfy'-:    hjiyoUng  Woman  {mx^  down,  P.  64. 
^.t-Rofe^f^n  in 'a  violent  .^^<?;2j  both  of 
Body   and    Mind,  and  five  or  fix  Perfons  , 
more  ;  at  whofe  Cries  7nany  were  greatly 
offended. — The  firfl  that  was  deeply -touch- 
ed was  L — TV — ,  whofe  Mother  had  beei>\ 
not'diittle  difpleafed  a  Day  or  two  before^i 
wHea,  fhe  was  told,    how   her  Daughtem 
h^  expofed  herfelfhtfovcall  the  Congrega-*/ 
tiQPvvv:'.  The   Mother   was    the   next   whq>)j 
dropped  down,  and  loji  her  Senfes  in  a  Mo-^b 
;w^z//'      The  poor  Mother   paid   for  heiti 
Folly;!  With  i  a  Vengeance.     But  due  Car^ 
muft  be  taken  to  prevent  fuch  e^-o'il  Sur^ 
mi/ings^v^d  (%'Qi^QQ^nt/^rmno  Satan's  J^^ 

vices,  ."i  hrv^i-r-^.  '^.  :''^  v.'^^^'  --''\^^'^      ..-.,.\    -  a^ 

I  would  advertife  the  Reader^  that  thg) 
Paffages,    (imputing  thefe  grievous  Difor--, 
ders  to  the  Devily  and  cautioning  againft 
h\^  Frauds)  which  are    not  to  be   found 
in  tho;  Rofnan  Ritual,  de  Exorciza?idis,  arel 
every    one  of  them   in    Malleus  Malefic a\^ 
?w;2,  :Tom.  3.  Page  225. — and  efpeciallyit 
Tom.  3.  Page  8. —  But  I  can't  be  pofi-^' 
tive,  whether  Mr.  Wefiey  copied  out  thefe 
Paffages   in    order    to    jiiake  Paralleby    or 

wliether 


(  ^52  ) 

whether  he  and  the  Fapijh  ad   by  mere 
Sy?npathy, 

§.  29.  But  Methodlfm  itfelf  may  juftly 
be  reckoned  a  principal  Cauje  of  thefe  hor- 
rid SiifferijigSy  or  rather,  the  efficacious 
Poiver  of  their  Teachers,  They  have  re- 
lated "  their  Shriekings,  Roarings,  Groan- 
ings,  Gnafliings,  YeUings  -,  Curlings  and 
Blafphemies,  and  Defpairings ;  TumbHngs, 
Convulfions  and  Contorfions,  as  in  the 
Agonies  of  Death,  as  out  of  the  Belly  of 
Hell ;  Soul  and  Body  well  nigh  torn  afun- 
der  3 — Things  terrible  to  behold,  too  hor- 
rid to  be  borne,  and  what  Words  cannot 
defcribe,  G?r/'  Thefe  are  their  very 
Words.  Let  not  the  Preachers  be  flartled. 
They  2.xt  the  Caiife  ;  (the  beft  they  can  fay 
is,  the  injlrumeiital  Caufe)  they  confefs  it, 
and  make  it  Matter  of  high  Boafing^  Ex- 
ultation and  Triumph, — 

6  Journ.  Mr.  Whitefield  iiiys,  "  I  had  not  prayed 
P'  ^^'  long, —  but  two  of  the  Women  fell  down 
P.  42,  44.  into  violent  Fits, —  At  my  Preaching  Thou- 

fands  cried  out^  iomt  fainted^  others  cried 
out  as  in  the  Agonies  of  Death,  Never 
did  I  fee  a  more  glorious  Sight !  —  Some 
/Iruck  down  pale  as  Death,   Qthtis>fnking, 

7  jonrn.  —  Mr.  Wbiteficld  preachi?ig^  one  dropped 
P-*2^7rdown  as  Ihot  with  a  G?/«.  —  The  Holy 

Ghoft  enabled  me  to  fpeak  fo^    that  one 

Woman 


(153) 
Woman  was  thrown    into  Jlrong  CquviiU 
Jionsr 

Nor  will  Mr.  Wejley  lag  behind,   but  be 
'Impotent  a  Preacher  as  Mr.  Whttefield.    ''  I  Weiley 
expou?ided :    A   Woman   cried   out   in  the^ J.^^"' 
Jharpejl  Ag072ies  of  Spirit.  —  I  expounded, 

—  immediately   one   cried    out    with   the 
iitmofl   Vehmence^    as   in    the    Agonies    of 
Death :  Two   other   Perfons   feized    with 
Pain,    and  conftrained   to   roar  j    another 

as  out  of  the  Belly  of  HelL — While  /  was  p.  42. 
preachiiig^  one,  and  another,  and  another 
funk  to  the  Earth,     They  dropped  on  every 
Side  as  Tbiinderjiruck,  —  While  I  was  en-    p.  pq, 
forcing  thefe   Words,   feveral  fri^k  to  the 
Earth ; —  a  little  Boy  the  fame  3  a  young 
Man  fu7ik  down,    as   one  dead-,   but  foon 
began  to   roar  Siud  ieat  him/elf  ^ig^Lind  the 
Ground,  ih^tfx  Men  could  fcarcely  hold 
him. — While  I  was  ear ne fly  inviting,  $cc,    p.  -g. 
fome  funk  down,  others  e>:ceedingly  trem- 
bled and  quaked:,  fome   torn   with   a  kind 
of    con'uidfve    Motion,    in    every    Part    of 
their  Bodies,    and    that   fo  violently,    that 
fve  Perfons.  coiild  not  hold  one  of  them. 

—  Twenty-fx  of  thofe,  who  had  been 
thus  affeSed]  Sec/' — IFhile  1  was  fpcaking 
three  dropped  down  as  dead  *,    five  others 

funk,—^in  violent  Ago?2ies,--^m  the  Pains  of 
Hell,  .'&^.-r-  While  I  was  preaclmig,  a  Wo- 4  J"«rn. 
man  dropped  down,    ftruck   as   was    fup-P' ^^* 
pofed  with  Death,  the  Ufe  oi  all  her  Limbs 
X  auite 


(  154  ) 
quite  taken  from  her/'  —  /  preached  at 
Weaver' s-HalL  It  was  a  glorious  Ti?ne. 
Several  dropped  to  the  Ground.  ^h>if 
ftruck  with  Lightning,  Scm^  -cvjed  mt  in 
Bitternefi  of  Soul^  Js^  ^^iif^m^^Uii^i'^^^ 
^^"    .  "  ■  pM    b  c3 b  m    .xj  f n  V  i>   i^  '^>1  \  I 

Tbefe,   anaong  f*rti[?ii:^  xDth:ers,A  ^ar^rtheir 
own   Boatings  .^pdtjiM^ukatiomi    i^^^,.l^Qk 

ISiobis  mn  lkcef,,^kt,a^^^^ 

And  iofry  I  am»v  their  Breath  is  jQ^Jlrmgfy 
that  they  can't  open  tbnr  Mouth s^  h\xt  o\^t 
fly  the  moft  ^noifome  and  contagious  Va- 
pQUrs.  It  puts  one  in  Mind  oi  9.  Fplcanoy 
beliching  ,x)i|t.  Fire,  and  making  a  drea4fiil 
Hayockj.pri^ralher  of  fome  Spiracles  y^^^jc 
br:eai^hi?ig,.HoIes^X  Bart^    of,v^he 

Ear.th^.. which  fcatter  a  pcJUkntialltfeBim 
upoa^all  that  come  near.  Such^is-r'V  the 
farpou^  Grotta  del  Cant  'm.-Ita/y^.  called  the 
J)oifo?i6i^s  [  Mouth  ;  th^.  Steams  whereof  are 
oi^Mephitical^  or  noxious  Quality.  When 
a  Dog^  or  other  Creature,  is  put  intp  it,  it 
prefently  Icfes  all  Moiiouy  falls ,  down  -as 
deady  or  in  a  Swoon^  the  Limbs  ^onvidfed 
and  treiiiblingy  till  fcarce  any  Sigm^  of  Life 
appear.  —  If  the  Animal  be  iqg^  fnatched 
cuty  and  expofed  to  open  Air|,  it^fbon  re- 
cover eth  J'  Sec  Chambers  in  ,  Grptta.Jel 
Caniy  or  Mead  on  Poifgns, 

To 


(  ^55) 

To  know  the  Power  of  Witches  In  fuch 
Gafes,  we  may  look  into  the  Hijlory  of 
Witchcr^fi'-,''''-^  K'MdiXx  from  a  Look  only  Vol,  L 
oi StifanmEd^ards^  fella  fhaking,  quiver-  ^'  ^^^* 
ing,' arid  foaming,  and  for  half  an  Hour 
like  a  dying,  or  dead  Man  ;  and  at  laft 
coming  to  his  Senfes  again,  he  declared,  that 
Sufanna  Edwards  had  bewitched  him." 
Again,  *'  Richard  Diigdale  declared,  that  Vol.  II. 
his  Fits  were  through  Obfejjion^  and  in  a^*  ^  ^* 
C'(5;;;/^//2^//6'«  wKich  fhaiild  never  be  dif- 
covered  \  —  fometimes  he  would  exadly 
tcJl  what  Things  v»^ere  done  at  a  Dijlajice^ 
^'ind  even  repeat  the  whole  Difcourfe  of 
Perfons  abfent : —  Sometimes  he  would 
iing  Pfalms  exadily  tuneable :  —  Sometimes 
'/fete;/,  and  be  in  Convulfions  :  —  Sometimes 
he  would  lie  on  the  Floor  like  a  dead 
^Maiii  when  both  the  DoBor  and  Apothe- 
■^r^rjy  felt  his  Pulfes,  which  did  not  beat-, 
then  they  laid  their  Faces  to  his  Mouthy  to 
try  if  he  breathed^  but  could  not  perceive 
it. — The  faid  R,  Dugdale  alfo  declared,  that 
his  Jlrange  Fits  began  at  Wejlly-Hally  where 
an  Appearance  of  a  black  Man  grinned  at 
him,  and  preffed  very  hard  upon  him,  — 
that  he  had  an  Apparition  all  along  the 
Way,  as  he  went  to  WejUy-Hall^  and  the 
'-Week  after,  Sfr.'"  ' 

^ ^xt   o\xK  ^  Methodijis   once   to    recover 

their  Senfes^  they  likewife  would  probably 

X  2  give 


(  156  ) 

give  ail  kccoMXiX,  by  whom  they  were  be- 

•witched,  and  where.  .   ■,     .,,,,  ^,..t,  fi, 

i'mT^e  Pc/f>, E;mi/Jaries,.'^ka^lm^^xkr 
ten  10  many  ^Volumes  oi^atm^.,^.^r 
Oi  inHjding  fuch  unaccountable  Maladies, 
adovv  alfo,  that  the  Saints  have  the  like 
Power  of  caujing  Difeafes  j  and  even  of 
putting  m  the  Devil,  efpecially  when  in 
^■"^^  they  intend  to  bring  him  out 
again.  -Ihyrceus,  de  locis  infeftis,  proveth 
tjiis ;  and,  among  other  In(tances,  mcn- 
tioneth  ."  ,St.  Eligius,  who  gave  the  Be. 
vti  Power  o^cx  fifty  of  his  own  Flock: 
[Ihclame  Number  that  were  fo  tuimoiied 
m  Mr.  We/ley's  JSight-Scene]  The  Saint 
intended  their  Goody  and  tJierefore,  beiir* 
requeued,  he  would  not  immediately  rdak 
their  Puniihment,  but  feid,  «  Let  them 
learn  firft  whom  they  have  chofen  for 
their  i1/^>r,  before  they  are  abfolvedfrom 
the  Tyranny  of  the  .  De'uiL"  Mr.  Weflev 
leei^s  ,not  willing  to  forego  tliis  Privilege 
cffpreaaing  fuch  Miferies  among  ■  his  own. 
Wot  do  I  envy  hi^n  the  Glory. 

j^i^equidm  invideo,  mircr,j^gfs  uvdigMejMtijt, 
UIqu^^^deojurbaturagris.—.f^  ^jiw  zsw  Mj 

In  the  mean  time,  at  leaft  till. his  £.v, 
orctfms  znA  Cures  plainly  appear,  (towhiqh 
I  ihzW  ^zy  ^u.s  RefpeSi  in  their  OrderV  I 
cannot^, but  deem  it  the  utmofi  Cruelty  to 

throw 


(  157  ) 
throw   fb   riiany  miferable   Creatures   into 
the  moft  dreadful  Fits,  and  Agonies  horrid 
l^yond  D^fcripfion  'y  and  at  the  fame  time 
be  himfelf  in  fuch  a  Flow  oi  Exultation. 

-  f iJ~R}flis-^il  'i^mji^ ^S^  v$^oijere  dolores. 
Then  he  is  all  Joy ',^'''''^^    f'-' 
And  pleafed  the  Work  of  Satan  t6  perform, 
Ridc^kitl^e'Whirlwin^,'  and  'diiidfts' the' Storm, 

-nidiave^fefe^^-^I  know  not  how,  into 
tififepStraprof^P^^/ry.  But,  that  he  may 
difen&ngle  himfelf  from  a  Sort  of  Incoii- 
fiftmcy,  may  one  feriouily  ask  him  the 
Queftion,  'why  in  fome  of  his  moft  terrible 
-^perations^  producing  the  moft  Jhocki?7g 
RffeBs\  it  muft  be  '■''  a  glorious  Time,  an 
acceptable  Time ;  and  in  other  Inftances, 
«f^W/v  terrible  and  ihocking,  the  Cafe  is 
altered  ^^  For  give  me  Leave  to  appeal  to 
that  NoBurnal  Roaring,  which  he  repre- 
fents  as  the  Similitude  of  a  general  Maf 
facreAv^^^  'M)ri^  df fifty  of  thofe  who  were 
feeking  Salvation,  defired  Leave  to  fpend 
the  Night  together  at  the  Society  Roo?n. 
Before  ten  I  left  them,  and  lay  down. 
[He  was  wife  enough  to  take  care  f  One, ^ 
But  I  could  have  no  quiet  Re/i^  being  u?!- 
eafyin  my  Sleep-,  as  I  found  others  were 
too,  that  were  afeep  m  other  Parts  of  the 
Heufe.  '  Between  two  and  three^  in  the 
Morning   I    was  waked,    and   defired    to 

come 


(  158  ) 

come  down  Stairs.     I  immediately  heard 
Jtich  a  confufed  Noife,   sls  if  a  Number  of 
Men  were  all  putting    to  the  Sword,     It 
iucreafed  when  I    came   into    the  Room, 
and  began  io  pray,'*  -^  TwOrThings  here 
indeed^  turn  out  to  Mt.-^Wefley'^    Advan- 
tage,  a  Proof  of  the  Signifi'cancy  of  their 
pref aging  Dreams  i'^  ^and  ^ a  fur e  'Proof  that 
the  Devil  was'  in^' them.      He    obferveth 
elfewhere,    that    another    5/'  his    Poffefjt^d 
3  lourn.  *'  grew  worfe  bf  'Prayer y  Mci  her  Pangs 
P-95-      increafed  more  and  ^ndret^-^'"^-  AhA.    his  O/^ 
Friends  fay,    it  y^^  z^^ariifeft  Difcovery^ 
when  the  Party  afflifted  rdgeththe  more  at 
Prayers,  Mafs,-  Holy  'fVater^'^McJ'^- —  But 
iiilt  the  Queftion  remains  unrefolved,  why 
&ch  an  ./literati on  in  the  Cafe?    '^  O,  Sir  ! 
J  tai<:e  Knowledge  of  you  i"  i'c?/^  wa^  ^z^- 
T3i7  3a^>ff^uin  your  Sleep,  and  was'^'liioi  ^the  im- 
'^  1^^-^^eJiat^  Caufe  ',  it  w^s  not  your  g4;^  doing , 
—  any   farther   than   giving   th^m  Leave 
thus  to  fek  their  Salvation -,  (and  this,  it 
feems,    they   muft   not    do   without  yoiiv 
"^Permifjton)  or  as  your  Injliiution  might  of 
Courfe    infpire    thfem    with    a    Fanatical 
Rap. 

;§V^30.    This  gives  occafion   to   take  a 

little  Notice   of  fuch    NoBurnal  P ranks y 

"'  -My/ieries  at  dead  of  Night,   when  regular 

and  foher  Perfons  would   chufe  to  be   in 

their  Beds,     But, 

NoBes 


(  159  )  . 
NoBftMp^&espaM  atri  Janua  Ditiu\ 

'Tis  wellrfknown,  what  {tvtxQ  Laws  have 
been  madejagainft  Night-AJJemblies,  wider 
Pretence  qf^Religio?!^  by  civilized  Nations  ; 
aS'.^Ungs  fcandalous  in  Pradice,  and  dan^ 
geroiis  to  thQ  State,  And  as  well  known, 
how  early  a  ,Stop  was  put  to  the  Chriflian 
Love-FcafiSf  and  Midnight  Meetifigs -y  by 
Reafon  of  the  Ambitio?!,  ^arrelsy  and 
Brmlsy  with  other  Evils,  which  attended 
them.-  Mr.  Wejley  had  better  have  pre- 
fcribed  a  Sleepi?7g  Draughty  or  good  Fea" 
thier  Bedy  than  have  encouraged  fuch  /r- 
regular  Cabals-^  when  Darknefsy  Watch- 
ingSy  and  Entbufia fm s  concurv'mgy  would 
naturally  draw  on  thofe  omincin  Dreamfy 
and  mad  Confeqimices.  When  (as  Senncrtiis  De  Vigil, 
obferves)  *'  the  HumourSy  and  efpecialiy^-P-  *• 
tho  Blogd-  ^and  Bilcy  are  moft  intejjiperate-^ 
fy  infl^riied^  and  caufe  Vertigosy  Delirkuji-- 
nefsy  and  numerous  Dif orders''  -rrtssii 

But   X.\\Q- MefhodiftSy    being   better  tJMn 
the  Primitive  ChriJlianSy    have   a  peculiar 
Bleffing    at   the    moft   unfeafonable    Hours. 
*'  Our  L(5;v:/,  fays  Mr.  Wejley y   was  glori-^  J^"^"- 
(3///?y  prefent  with,  us  at  the  Watch-Night  -y^'  ^^* 
my  Voice  waa.  loft  at  the  GvVx  of  the  Peo- 
ple.— The  Service  ends  a  \\xAq  after  Mid-  P.  35- 
night.  -.     We  have  ^/m  found   a  peculiar 
Blefjing  at  thefe  Seajhns."'     I  hope  he  will 

not 


(  i6o  ) 

not  bring  for  Proof  the  above-related  In- 
ft^nce   of  his   Difciples  meeting    between 
two  and  three  in  the  Morning  ;  which  cauf- 
ed  in  him   fuch  frightful  Dreams ;  when 
there  was  fuch  a  confufed  Noife^  as  if  a 
Number  of  Men  were  putting  to  the  Sword. 
Thefe  horrid  Circumftances  he  hath  deter- 
mined to  come  from  the  DevlL     Whether 
the  Cdfidles  were  put  out  doth  not  appear  : 
he  only  fays,  "  he  heard  a   great  Noife, 
and  that  upon  his   coming  into   the  Room^ 
and  beginning  to  pray,  the  Noife  increafedy 
Nor  do  any  other  Evidences  o-f  Heats  and 
Commotions^  and  peculiar   Ble/Jings   appear, 
but  Screamings  and  Outcries,     What  Sort 
cf  wild  Work  they  were   doing  to  create 
fuch  a  HelliJId  JJprcary  God  knows.     But, 
from  his  own  Account^  we  have  the  Idea 
Vol.  II.    of*'  a   Cahal  of  Witches  inctim%   in   the 
P-'  H4-     Night-time^  adoring  their  Lord,  who  puts 
his  Af^zr^  upon  them  with  intolerable  Pain-y' 
as  reprefented  in  the  Hijiory  of  Witchcraft, 
And  his  Night-work  refembles  much  more, 
the  NoBurnal  Revels,    and   infamous  dark 
Myjlerlcs  cf  the  Pagan  World,  than  any 
orderly   Ajjembly  of  Chrijiians.      It  carries 
a  flronger  Repr.efentation  of  the  Myjleries 
CyrU.    of  CotyttOy    xht  Gpddcfs  of  Turpitude  ^    of 
^lian     ^^^-^   ^^cred  Rites,   of  Old  Mother   Cybele^ 
"Ub.  6.   celebrated  by  tjie  raying  Corybantes,  which 
were  immodejl  Myjleries  of  NoBurnal  Af- 
fimblieSj^  in .  the  Caves  of  Mount  Ida,  —  or 
.      ^        '  thole 


(  i6i  ) 

thofe  Enthiifiajiic  Rites^  called  Orgia,  ce- 
lebrated in  the  JNighty  and  notorious  for 
Noife  and  Impurities-^  wherein  the  7?7ad 
Bacchanalian  Women  jumped  about,  howl- 
ing and  Jhrieking,  till  their  Heads  were 
giddy,  and  they  tumbled  down  diftra5ledy 
But  Leave  is  granted ;  Impulje  is  flinging  ; 
and  away  they  muft  march, 

— ^calis  commotis  excita  facris^ 

Thyas^  iibi  audito  Jlimulant  Trieterica  Baccho 

Orgia^  nodturnufq;  vocat  clamore  Cithc^ron. 

Comitatur  eiintem 

Et  Favor i  et  "Terror ^trepidoqiie  infania  vidtu. 

Whoever  would  fee  more    concerninsr 
fuch     NoBurnal    Myftcries    may     confult 
Livy-y    where    he  will   fee    ''    into  whatub.  39. 
Convulfiom  and  T> angers  the  Commonwealth^^'9'  ^• 
was  thrown,  and  what  execrable  Vices  were 
committed  in   the  NoBw^nal  Afjemblies  of 
the    Bacchanalians y    in   their   promifcuous 
Meetings  of  Men  and  Women^  Whores  and 
Boys,     Into  this  Religious  Order  were  they 
initiated  by   an  ignoble    Prieji    ayid   Pro- 
phet y  and  entered  into  Vows  of  Conftancy 
and  Secrecy 'y    efpecially  as   this  Majler  of 
cccidt  Myjleries    had    promifed  to   recover 
them  from  all  Dijlempersy     Dioiiyfius  Ha-Uh.  2. 
Ucarnajjmfs  therefore  muft   fpeak  of  ear-^^P*  ^9- 
lier  Times,   and  thcfrji  Inflitutio7i  of  their 
Religious  RiteSy    when    he   boafts   of  the 
Y  Ro?nans^ 


(    l62    ) 

Romans^  *'  None  can  fee  among  thetn 
(though  their  Morals  are  now  corrupted) 
any  Enthtijiajlic  Raptures ^  any  Corybantic 
Furies,  any  private  Meetings  of  Strollers, 
any  Bacchanalian^  occult  Myfteries^  any 
Night -Ajjmblies  of  Men  and  Woj/ien,  or 
any  other  Mofijiers  of  this  kind.'' 

And  yet  after  all,  there  is  no  Impoffi- 
bllity  of  one  peculiar  Blefjlng  to  Perfons 
aiming  at  Angelical  Perfe^ion ;  if  we 
fhould  fuppofe  them  like  thofe  Angels 
called  Egregora^  or  Watchers,  in  the  pre- 
tended Book  of  Enoch  :  For  (  to  borrow 
Diaion.  the  Words  of  Cabnet )  ''  It  w^as  thef$ 
^^'^y^^'-'^' Watchers^  who  efpoufed  the  Daughters  of 
Men,  and  became  Fathers. J" 

§.  31.  Other  Caufes.,htMts  have  indeed 
been  jufpected  of  the  extraordinary  bodily 
Effeds,  and  mental  Diforders  among  our 
Methodifts :  And  I  have  been  put  in  Mind 
of  what  is  called  Natural  Magic  i  ebnfiftf 
ing  of  a  deep  Knowledge  and  Ufe  of  cer- 
tain Natural  Thi72gs,  (  Roots,  Herbs  aiid 
Plants,  &c.)  which  have  U'Onderful  Ef 
feels,  and  have  often  paffed  with  the  Vul- 
gar for  Juper natural  Caufes.  -  Plutarch 
mentl'ons  "  a  Shrub,  C2\\td  Leueophyllus, 
found  at  the  Celebration  of  the  Myjleries  of 
Hecate,  which  drives  P6ople^%ib  iW^^^/t^/i, 
and  makes  them  confefs  all  -the  Wicked- 
iiefs  they  have  done,  or  intended."     This 

fame 


(  i63   ) 

fame  Hecate^  they  fay,    was  the  Daughter 
of  Night  and  Hell,  delighted  in  fpreading 
I'ormefits  among  human  kind,  and  making 
People  mad,     Pliny  mentions  *'  the  Herb  Nat  Hiiti 
Halicacabon,  which  makes  ?qo^\q  delirious, ^^^'^^^*^ 
and  is  drunk  by  the  fkilful  in  Prophecy^ 
becaufe  they    would    appear    as   mad,    to 
confirm  their  SuperJlitionsJ"     This    "  Ha^ 
licacabi  is,    it   feems,  a  Species  of  Night-^ 
Shade^  which  infufed  in  Water  will  (with- 
out giving  any  Tajle  or  S?nell)  caufe  fome 
Diverfwn,    by   making   People   ridiculotijly 
mad  for  a  Time.     Nor  is  the  Datum,  ano- 
ther Species  of  Nigh f -Shade  much    diffe- 
rent ;  of  which,   (according  to  Garcias  of 
Horto )    Thieves  and    Cheats    mingle    the 
Flower  or  Seed  among  the  Food  of  thofe, 
whom  they  want  to  defraud  i    and   who- 
ever  hath    tailed   it   loofeth  his  Se?2fes,  is 
forced  into  a  F// ^/ I/^//^ter ;   and  freely 
permits  the   Thief  to  carry   off   what  he 
pleafeth.     St^Theophraf,  Bodcci,  p.  1077. 
—  My  Fr/67?^told  me  alfo  of  the  Philtra^ 
or  Love-Potions,  which  were   defigned    to 
make  People  in  Love-,  but  ,had  often  been 
the  Caufe  of  Madnefs,    He  fufpefted  fome- 
thing  of  this  Nature  in  Mr.  JVefeys  Lcve-S  Jo"""- 
Feaf,    which    raifed    that  iumultuciis   Cry^'^^^'^^^" 
through  all  the  Congregation,  not  of  Grief, 
but  of  over f owing  Joy   and  Love''    And 
that  "  Watch -Night  Meeting,  when   his 
Voice  Wci?  loft  in  the  Cries  of  the  People  ; 
Y  2  befidcs 


(   j64  ) 

befides  the  mad  Majj acre-Scene  J''      I   an- 
iV/cred,  this  could   not  be  the  Cafe,   be- 
eaufe,  if  my  Information  wa^  true,   they 
eat  and  drank  nothing  but  bare  Bread  and 
Water  on  thofe   Occaiions,      He  replied, 
that  Mr.  Wejley  had  profefTed,  '^  I  prepare^ 
and  give  them  Pkyfic^  myfelf,   having  for 
fix  or  feven  and  twenty  Years  made  Phyjic 
the  Diverfwn  of  my  leifure  Hours.'*     And 
what  mingled  Cups    might   not  a   CimniJig 
Mav^  fo   well   acquainted    with    Nature :, 
prepare  ?  What  potent,   inchamting  Drugs 
might  not  be   infufe   for   his   Diverfwn  ? 
Seeing    there  are   various    DriigSj    which 
will  bring  on  DiJiraBion   for  any   Num- 
ber of  Days^  ox  Hours -,  according  to  the 
^antity.     B.  Porta.  Mag,  Natiir,  Lib.  S. 
That  befides,  the  Bopijh  Priejls  often  blefs- 
ed  a  certain  Portion  of  Br^dd  and  Water, 
(not   the    Sacrame?.2tal )  -  for-'  fe  veral   good 
Purpofes,  and  doing  Wofider^s, '^  But  I  re- 
plied, thefe  were  Myjieries^  into  which  I 
never  intended  to  be  initiated,  av^d  flhould 
readily  comply  with  any  Requeft  like  that 
Pag.  50.    mPetroniiLS',   '^  I  ftretch  out  my   Hands, 
^    ^*and  intreat,  that  you  would  not  make  a 
Jeft  of  NoBurnal  Religions  ^    nor   traduce 
the  Secrets,  which  all  the  iJiitiated  them- 
Jehes  did  not  know.''     Or  rather,  I  ought 
to  become  a  Supplicant  myfelf,    and  beg 
Pardon,  that  I  may  efcape  the  Threat  of 
CaniJia  again  ft  Horace y 

hiultus 


_       (   i65  ) 

Inidtus  ut   ill  riferis   Cotyttia  ?  ^po^^- 17- 

Et  Efquilini  Pontifex  Venefici^ 
Impiine  ut  Urbem  nomine  impleris  meo  ? 
Oh  !  tu  (potes  nam)  fohe  me  dementid. 

§.  32.  Others  again,  and  not  a  few  a- 
mong  Mr.   Wejlef'^    own   Followers^    have 
conceived    thole   firange   Agitatmis   to  be 
voluntary^  mere  DiJJimuIation,  ajid  counter^ 
Jeit  Tricks  j  fome  tumblifig  down  and  bowU 
ing    to    pleale    their     Mafter^     or    to    be 
thought  apt  Scholars,  and  anfwer  Expend- 
tion  in   the    Procefs  of   Methodifm,    efpe-- 
cially  as  they  have  been  taught  by  both 
my  Correfpondents,  how  glorious  a  Thing 
it  is  to  be  firuck  down^  and  fet  a  roaritig. 
Which  is  a  Sort  of  Compo/ition  of  Efithu-- 
fiafm  and  Impojiure,      But  as  far  as   thole 
Effects    proceeded  merely  from  Dijlempery 
or  a  fuper natural  Agency,    we  miifl  grant 
it  could   not  be   Fiofion,     Mr.    Wtfley  in- 
deed   hath  confeffcd,    that  ''  the  Co7ivid-^  Journ," 
fons  and  Agitations  of  the  French  Prophe-^'  ^^^ 
tefs,  (a  fipailar  Cafe)  might  be  HyflcricaU     '  ""'' 
or  Artificial;  that  the  Spirit  of  Pride  and 
Lies  was  prevalent  among  h's  o^vn  Flock, 
—  and   an  imaginary   Infpiration,  —  mere 
empty  Dreams   of  a  heated   Imagination^ 
Pvlr.  Whitfield  too   owns,  ''  there  is  coun^::^  joum. 
terfeit  Coin  among  them."     But  yet  dueP-7i 
Care  hath  been  taken  for  the  Removal^  and 

Prevention 


(  ^66  )\^  ^^ 
Prevention  of  luch  Wijiifi  Si^icion^x^  the 
i  Journ.  prefent  Cafe.     For  ''  a  Day  of  Emilia- 
^'  ^^'      tion  is  appointed,  fays  Mr.  Wejley,  to  hum- 
ble ourfelves,  and  ov/n,   that  G^ji. had  jull- 
ly  withdrawn  his  6)^/nV  from  us,  for  our 
manifold  Vnjaithfulncfs ;  —  and. above  all, 
for  hlafpherning  his  Work  among  us,  irnput- 
ing  it   cither  to  Nature^  to  the  Force  of 
ImaginatiG?!^   and  A?2imal  Spirits,  or  even 
to   the   Dclufion  of  the  Dcpil.  :^   IiV;;that 
Hour  fome  fell projirate  to  the  Ground^'" — 
But  this  did  not  work  di  fuW   CorMdlion. 
Ibid.   For  foon    after  we   find  "  many  offended 
p764^,^6S.  ^^  ^^^^^^  T^umblings^  RQarings^  &c.  and  fay- 
ing, they  were  fure  they  Diight  Mp  it  if 
4  Journ.   thcy  woidd'^ —  it  was  all  a  Cheat  5— or  only 
p.  14,  18  jsfattirey    Imagiiiationy  Animal  Spirits  y-^; 
P.  52.    they  were  fure  none  cried  out  but  Hypo^ 
critesy  who  pretended  to  be  i?iFits.''     But, 
however,    ''.many  wxre  convinced -,'   and 
the  Refradory  had  perfonal  and  -doofid  £jj:- 
periencey    feeling  it  to   their  Sorrow  :    As 
will    appear,    when    we    come    to    their 
judicial  Miracles,     One  Inftance   I   fliall 
Wefley   now  fubjoin.   f^,V  ^^ — n  H-^-r^y  2,  Weiiver^'-^ 
3  Jo^rn-   a  Man   of  a  regular   Life  and  Counter  fa-. 
^'  ^^*      tiouy  that  conflabdy  attended  Pr^^jj'^rj,  &c.. 
being  informed  that  People  fell  i?ttofl range 
pits  at  the  SocietieSy  he  came^  ^o  fee  and 
judge  for  himfelf.     But  he  was  lefs  iluisfied 
than    before,    and    laboured   above    Mea- 
fure  to  convince  his  Acquaintance,  '  it  was 

a  Delu-' 


(  i67  ) 

a  Delu^on  of  the  Devil'  But  he  was 
convinced ;  for  the  next  Day,  '  he  fell  off 
his  Chair,  and  began  fcreaming  terribly^ 
and  beating  himfelf  againft  the  Ground. 
Between  One  and  Two  I  came  in,  and 
the  Room  being  full  of  People,  he  cried 
out,  '  Let  all  the  World  fee  th^  jtift  Judg^ 
Vient  of  God,"  He  immediately  fixed  his 
Eyes  upon  M^;,  and  cried,  'Ay,  this  is 
he,  who,  'I  faid,  was'a  Deceiver  of  the 
People.  But  God  has  overtaken  ^ae.  I- 
faid  it  was  all  a  Dehfion.  But  this  is 
no  Delifon"  He  then  roared  out,  Gfr. 
We  all  betook  ourfelves  to  Prayer,  His 
Fang^  ceafed,  and  both  his  Soul  and  Body 
v^^x^fet  at  Liberty'" 

St.  Ignatius,  whofe  'TJifi  IVIr.  Wefley  Bartol. 
fays  he  hath  read,  will  afford  a  Parallel  p-  444- 
*'  At  Condom,  a  certain  Citizen,  in  other 
Refpedls  an  honcft  Man,  was  above  mea- 
fure  incenfed  againft  the  Society,  and  the 
Father  oiViy  {o  far  from  paying  Ignatius 
the  Honour s  due  to  his  Sainffloip,  that  he 
charged  him  with  Difjimulation  and  Hif 
irionic  Piety :  and  would  read  the  Ac-^ 
counts  of  the  Saint,  only  to  wreft  them 
into  Hypocrify,  ox  Pieces  ol  falfe  Hifioryy 
and  thence  proceed  to  his  Railleries  and 
Scoffs,  The'  Saint  looked  down  upon 
this  his  Enemy,  as  the  Phyfician  doth 
upon  a  Perfon  in  a  Frenzy,  and  begged 
Mercy  of  God  for  him:  And  coming  tp 

him 


(  i6S  ) 

liim  in  Venerable  Majejly,  caft  a  mod 
lovely  Look  upon  him.  The  Man's  Eye 
and  Mind  were  fo  ilruck  with  this,  that 
h^  falls  Jrom  his  Bed,  tumbles  to  the  Ground^ 
begs  Pardon  for  the  Injuries  he  had  done, 
makes  a  Vow  of  perpetual  Obfeqiiioufnefs 
to  Igftatius  and  his  Society  -,  an  Obfequi- 
oufnefs  the  move  f acred y  as  he  had  been  fo 
injurious.'* 

The  better  to  guard  againft  this  Sur- 
mife  of  DiJfimulatio7iy  Mr.  Wejlcy  pro- 
4  Journ.  duceth  this  Cafe.  "  A  Woman,  who 
p.  22-3.  j,^^  \)ttrv  before  much  te?npted  of  the 
Devil,  funk  down  as  one  dead.  One 
could  not  perceive,  by  any  Motion  of  her 
Breaft,  that  flie  breathed,  and  her  Pulfe 
was  very  hardly  difcernible.  A  flrange 
Sort  of  biffimulation  this !  I  wifli  thofe, 
who  think  fo,  would'  only  Jlop  their  own 
Breath  and  Fulfe  one  Hour,  and  I  will  then 
fubfcribe  to  their  Opinion.'' — But,  I  doubt, 
this  Argument  will  very  hardly  be  allowed. 
For  though  he  challengeth  any  one  to  fry\ 
and  his  Friends,  tliQ  Exorcijis,  fay,  "  'tis 
a  fure  Sign  of  a  Poffejfion,  when  a  Perfon 
exerts  fuch  Motions  and  Gejii dilations,  as 
cannot  be  imitated  by  one  that  is  well,  and 
■in  his  Senfes;"  yet  Phyficians  will  con- 
tend, that  in  fome  Natural  Difternpers 
People  will  be  thrown  into  fuch  unaC" 
count  ably  jlrange  and  convulfive  Motions^  and 
other   extraordinary   Symptoms,   which    no 

Man 


■         (  i69  ) 

Man    in   Health   can  come  up   to.     And 
why    mull     the    Trial    be    for    a    whole 
Hour  y    when    he  doth  not  fay,  that  this 
Woman's  Breath  and  Pulfe  were  flopped 
Jo  lo72g  ?  Therefore,  although  this  may  not 
h^  natunal  JDi/lemper^  yo^i  it  ?nay.     To  pro- 
duce  a  Jirdilar    InjlaJice,       Sennertus    ( de 
morbis  a  Veneficiis^  Cap.  3.)  citeth  a  long 
Account  from  CorneL  Ge?mna,  which  will 
fuit  this,  and  other  Cafes,  in  Mr,   JVeJIey's 
Journals.    ^^  An  ingenious  Girl  of  Fijieen, 
but  fomething   inclined  to  Melancholy, — 
fell  into  Fits  of  Co?2Vui/ions  and  Swooijings ; 
and  other  Symptoms  more  violent  than  Hyf- 
tericsy  —  was  ready  to  be  choaked,-^  three 
or  four   Perfons,    the    mod   ftrong,  could 
fcarce   hold  her :  —  Sometimes   fhe  felt  a 
Weighty  and  fometimes  a  Biting  5  —  after 
many   Sufferings   a   Tumour  arofe  in   her 
Throaty  and  continued  for  a  "garter  of  an 
Houry  during  which  Time  (he  remained  /;;- 
tirely  dejiitute  of  all  Pulfe  and  Breath ;  fo 
that  eyen  a  Feather  applied  to  her  Mouth 
would  not  i7iovey    and   her  Body  was  fliff 
as  a  Statue r    And  what  the  Iffue  ?  "  The 
Girl  w^s  curedy  not  by  the  Spiritualy  buc 
Bodily  Phyficiany  by  Natural  Remedies." 

But  as  nothing  will  convince  Philofphical 
MeUy  they  urge  the  Probability  of  Difji^ 
mulation  and  Cheat  farther  3  and,  in  Sup« 
ply  of  Parallels y  affert,  that  arnong  the 
leveral.  Popijh  Orders  there  are  always 
Z  fome 


(  170  ) 
fome  trained  up  to  a5l  a  Party  and  prepare 
jiccomplices^  who  are  to  counterfeit  Diabo- 
Ileal  Fits,  in  order  to  bring  on  Exorcijms^ 
and  carry    on   the   Trade  of  cheatijtg  filly 
People.     And  they  can  eafily  bring  Proof 
enough    to   fill  whole  Rheams   of  Paper. 
Not  to    mention   the  famous  hnpofure  of 
Marthay  .(cited   before  from  Thuanus)   or 
the  execrable  Story  of  Jetzer  ;    the   Boy 
of  Bilfon,    or  the  Nuns   of  Loudon,    ( for 
which,  fee  Bayle  in  the  Article  Grandier) 
and  the  like  ;  —  they  may  refer  to  feveral 
fuch  DiJjhnblerSy  Cheats^  and  Counterfeits^ 
in  Wierus  de  Prafigiis. 
Lib.  3.         One    Story    is    of  *'    a   Beggar,    named 
^^^.'it,    J^il^^^^r  who,    to  get  a  comfortable  Main^ 
tenance,    would   lie    at   the  Church-Doors, 
pretending    to    be    pofejjed.      Wierus   faw 
him  aB  his  Part  at  Niemegen ;  making  his 
Belly    wonderfully    [well,    and    then  fink 
again:;  and.  throwing  his  Limbs  and  Face 
into  unaccountable  Diftortions :    His  Wife 
and  Harlot  ftanding  by  him  with  an  Iron 
Chain  to  bind  him  in  his.  raging  Fits.     At 
length   the  Fraud  was  detcBed,   the  Man 
.  really   feized,  and    put   in   Chains,    where 
he   confefed  the   Cheat,   and   fliewed    the 
Marnier  how   he  played  his  Pranks/' 

Another  Story  is  of  one  ''  Hans  Fatter ^ 
i.e.  John  the  Father,  who  pretended  that 
on  St,  fohn's  Day  he  was  enchanted  by 
Nicholas   Gottel,    by    drinking  a   poifoned 

Draught  j 


(  171  ) 

Draught ;  and  that  Nicholas  confefled  this 
at  his  Trials  where  he  was  condemned^  and 
afterwards  burned.  Hereby,  he  faid,  the 
Devil  tormented  him  various  Ways,  bound 
his  Body,  Feet  and  Neck,  with  Iron 
Chains,  and  iliewed  him  for  a  Spectacle  to 
alL  He  added  alfo  wonderful  Phantoms^ 
Apparitions  and  SpeBres,  Every  Thing  he 
could  not  relate,  but  faid,  every  Thing 
was  written  hijlorically  in  a  regular  your- 
naly  that  the  World  might  fee  how  cru- 
elly the  Devil  had  tortured  arid  tore  him. 
Nor  did  he  pafs  over  his  Cufhom  of 
Prayings  heari?2g  Sermons^  and  communis 
eatings  and  affirmed,  that  he  had  an  Im- 
pulfe  to  preach  Repentance,  Coming,  in 
his  Courfe  of  Vifiting,  to  Noringberg^  the 
Magijlrates  ordered  him  to  be  narrowly 
watched  and  guarded ;  when  he  would 
fometimes  prefs  to  be  gone,  pretend  De- 
fpair,  with  other  Artifices.  But  being  de- 
tained, he  at  length  confefed  that  he  never 
was  bound  by  the  Devils  but  ynade  his  own 
Chains.  In  fliort,  he  difcovered  his  whole 
Art^  that  his  Miracles  were  mere  Lies^ 
and  all  a  Trick  to  get  a  Livelihood,  For 
v/hich  ample  Co-nfefjion  his  Punifliment  was 
mitigated,  and  he  was  only  expofed  on  a 
Pillory  for  ^publick  SpeBacle  andDerifion^ 
A  third  Account  concerneth  a  Girl  of 
about  twenty,  well  habited,  but  with  a 
fierce  Look,  who  was  going  to  St.  Hu-^ 
Z  2  bert^ 


(    172    ) 

berfy  to  be  freed  from  the  Toke  of  Sataii, 
She  was  furniihed  with  Letters  Teftimo- 
nialy  to  obtain  Provifions  on  the  Road  5 
and  was  attended  by  a  Monk  about  thirty^ 
becaufe  tlie  Devil's  Ajjaiilts  were  lefs  ter- 
rible in  his  Prejence  ;  and  for  this  Reafon 
file  confejjed^  that  he  was  her  Companion 
in  Bed,  She  was  thought  to  be  Epileptic, 
And  the  Monk  boajled^  that  by  three  Words 
he  CGuld  make  a  horrible  Spectacle  of  her,'' 
[If  that  be  the  proper  Engli/f:  of  the  Words, 
Se  tribus  verbis  pojje  horribile  in  ed  fpcc- 
taciiliim  excifare,] 

After  a  fourth  Account  of  the  fame  Na- 
ture, but  greater  Wickednefs^  we  have  an 
Account  of  one  ''  Bartholom^a^  a  Servant 
Maid,  who,  when  Mafs  was  faid  in  the 
German  T^ongue^  contrary  to  Cuftom,  and 
the  Hymn^  '  Glory  be  to  God  on  high^'  be- 
gan, became   immediately    Ecjlatic^    as    if 
feized  by  the  Devily   and  raifed  a  grievous 
Difturbance.      But   when   the    fame   was 
fung  in  Latiny  fhe  was  not  affeBed.     Her 
MiJlrefSy  a  prudent  Matron,  promifed  the 
Maid  to  cure  her,   if  fhe  would  come  into 
her  Chamber.     The  Maid  came  ;  the  Mif 
trefs    repeated   the   Hymn  in    the   German 
Tongue,    Inftantly  the  Fits  return  ;  and  the 
Maidy  cbjcrving  a  proper  Place  to  fall  /;;, 
was  throv/n  violently  on  the  Ground.   The 
Miftrefs  prefently  takes  up  her  Coats,  and 
(affifted   bv  her  Daughtery  who  held  the 

Maid 


(  ^73  ) 
Maid  down)  makes  an  ImpreJJion  upon  her 
Pofteriors  wth  federal  [mart   Strokes  of  a 
Rody  which  threw  the  Maid  into  unfeigned^ 
horrible   Contorfions.      For,    as  Hippocrates 
fays,   '  Extreme  Di fie  vipers  require  extreme 
Remedies^     After  this  (lie  could  hear  the 
Hymn  without  any  Commotioji^   except   what 
arofe  in  her  Mind  by  being  twitted^  when- 
ever   ihe  w^ent   abroad,    by   fome  unlucky 
Rogues^  who  would   gather  about  her,  and 
fing    the   faid   Hymn  in   her  Ears.      The 
Maid,  fays    Wierus^    confejj'ed  to  ?ne,    that 
fhe  was  perfeBly  cured  by  her  Mijlrefs  in 
this   Manner,"       So   much   from   Wierus. 
My  Fhilofophical  Friends  highly  commend- 
ed  this  Method  of  drawing  a  httle  Blood 
in  the  lower    Parts,    by  Way  of  Revulfion 
Jrom  the  Head  \  adding,  that  it  might  be 
no  bad    Remedy,    if  fome  more  Cheats  of 
this   Sort    (  for'  Inftance,    the    Methcdifl- 
Teacher,    who  fixed  the  Day  for  the  t)ay 
of  judgment)    in  order  to  carry   the   Re- 
'vuljion  ftill  farther  from  the  Head,    were 
laid  by  the  Heels,     But  I  told  them,  Per- 
fe  cut  ion  was  a  wicked  Thi?2g,     And  yet    I 
might  obferve,  what  the  Exorcijls  affirm, 
*'  that  the  Devil  may  fometimes  be  drove  Thyr«. 
out  by  Scourging,  a  Cudgel,  or  Box  on  the  Da:mon. 
Ear-,  efpecially  when  he  will  not  yield  to^'  ^'^^' 
I  acred  Remedies, 

But   if  I   may    fpeak  my   Mind  freely 
concerning  the  horrid  Tellings,  Co7ivulJ?onSy 

&c. 


(  174  ) 

&c.  among  the  Methodijis,  my  real  and 
Jificere  Opinion  is  this :  '^  That,  though 
there  is  Reafon  to  fufped:  DiJJimula- 
tion  and  Counterfeit  in  feveral  Inftan- 
€es  ^  yet,  that  the  greateji  Part  of 
their  Suflferings  is  iiivoluntary ;  they  cannot, 
help  it.''  Some  Light  will  be  given  to 
this  Matter  in  the  next  SeBion,  And  I 
readily  fubfcribe  to  what  Mr.  Wejlcy  hath 
Anfwer  to  owned ;  "  I  look  upon  feme  of  thefe  Cafes 
p^rr  '  ^^  v^hoUy  natural'^  on  the  reft,  2iS  7nixt '^ 
both  the  Diforder^  and  the  Removal,  ht- 
m^ partly  natural,  2S\^  partly  not y  What 
he  precisely  meaneth  by  thefe  Mixtures,  or 
in  what  RefpeBs  the  Diforders  were  7iot 
natural,  I  leave  him  to  declare.  But  if 
the  poor  Creatures  muft  be  put  to  the 
Torture,  and  have  Pains  and  ylgonies  in- 
flidled  on  them,  above  all  Defcription,  too 
horrid  to  be  borne  -,  I  muft  confefs,  I  fee 
little  Difference,  whether  they  are  Be- 
devil' d.  Bewitched,  Bejefuited,  or  Be- 
wejleyed, 

§.33.  It  were  now  Time  to  bring  on 
the  Cure,  the  Removal  of  thefe  dreadful 
Calamities.  But  there  is  no  paffing  over 
a  Circumfiance,  the  mojl  furprijing  (I  think) 
and  unaccountable  in  the  whole  Dijpenfafion 
of  Methodifm,  I  mean  the  violent  Scream- 
ings,  Contorfions  and  Agonies,  and  Tum- 
blings, of  fuch  a  Number  of  Perfons,  all 

at 


(  175  ) 

at  one   Time,    by  Sympathy ;    or   quickly 
after  one  another,  by  Contagion. 

Mr.  Wejley  giveth  this  Account  of  the  4  joum. 
State  of  his  Society :  "  If  one  Member  fuf-V-  37- 
feredy    all  the    Mejnbers  fuffered  with    it. 
So  ftrange  a  Sy?npathy  did  I  never  obferve 
before.     Whatever  confiderable  Temptation 
fell   on  any  one,    unaccountably  fpreaded 
itfelf  to  the  reft ;    fo  that  exceeding  few- 
were  able   to  cfcape   it/'     What   Sort  of 
Temptations    he    intends,    I    know    not. 
Bat    the   Words   fuit   well   with  his   Ac- 
counts of  their  common  Roarings  and  Tell- 
ingSy  falling    to    the  Ground  Heaps   upon 
Heaps,  in   wonderful  Agreement  3  and  the 
Injedion  catching    others    with    furprifing 
C^icknefs    and    Rapidity.      "  One,     and  Wefley. 
another,  and  another  funk  to  the  Earth.  3  J^urn. 
They  dropped  on  every  Side  as  thunder--^'  ^'^' 
Jlruck.—Thxtt  Perfons  almoft  at  once  funk  P.  44,  46^ 
down  as    dead.  —  Many  fall  to  the  Earth-5o- 

exceedingly    trembling. Several     drop 

down,  roar,  beat  themfelves  againft  the 
Ground,  &c.  infomuch  that  all  the  Houfe 
(and  all  the  Street  for  fome  Space)  was 
in  an  Uproar.  —  Some  funk  down,  fome  p.  -^^  59. 
trembled,  fome  torn  with  Convulfions ; 
another  dropt  down  in  a  violent  Agony  : 
■ — Tv/enty-fix  of  thofe,  who  had  been 
thip^s  affedted. — One  before  me  dropt  down 
as  dead,  and  prefently  a  Second,  and  a 
Third.     Five  otkers  funk  down. —  Seven 


or 


(176) 

3  Jo«r"-  or  eight  Perfons  at  once. — No  fooner  had 

p.61-65,  jyj^^  M^/Vg/?^/^  begun,    than  four  Perfons 

funk  down  clofe  to  him.  —  Seven  or  eight 

conllrained  to  roar. — A  young    Woman 

funk  down^in  a  violent  Agony, — five  or 

fix  others. — eight  or  nine  more ;  —  a  Girl, 

and  her  Mother,  who  loft  her   Senfes  in 

a  Moment.  —  Four  Perfons  almoft  in  the 

fame  Moment.  —  Roarings  of  a  Number 

at   once,    as   if  all    were  putting    to    the 

Sword." —  ^^i   ii>  tov^i>idv> 

Thefe,    and   many  more    fuch    fudden 

Bhijis,  and  wide-fpreading  Contagions,  we 

have  in  one  of  Mr.  Wejley"^  Journals ;   who 

mufl:  have  the  Heart  of  a  Stone,  not  to  feel 

the  Mifery  -,  and  the  Heart  of  a  Tyrant y  or 

Inquifitor,     to    rejoice    and  triumph    at   it. 

And  what  fhall  we  fay  to  thefe  Things  ? 

Or  how  account  for  them?:' 

'*  I  take  it  for  granted,    that  v/e  are  not 

^^Iftifficiently  acquainted   with   the   Conjlitu^ 

iion^  of  Nature^  and  the  LaiDs  of  the  Cre- 

apr/,    particularly    not    "with    the    human 

.-     \ry     'Prame  ',  how  Soul  and  Body  a6l  upon  each 

'  other  5  how  other  Beings  and  Parts  of  the 

Creation   may  2.Q.   uDon  either  ^ — and  ef- 

pecially  in  a  difiempered  State  -,  a  Diforder 

of  Mrnd,  or  Body>     More  Knowledge  is 

,  necefiary    towards    accounting    for    every 

Kind  and  Degree  of  Injeciion.     In  general 

we    hear   much,    and    no  doubt  truly,  of 

Contagions  communicated  by  the  Air ;  by 

the 


(  "^77  ) 

the  Eycy  the  Voices  the  TCouch,  the  Breathy 
Effluvia  and  Vapours  confifting  of  fubtle 
Particles^  and  of  a  very  penetrating  Na^ 
ture.  In  Dijlempers  (  beiides  thofe  uni- 
verfally  allowed  to  be  contagious)  Epilep^ 
fieSy  Convul/ionSy  the  Chin-cough^  &c.  are 
by  many  brought  under  this  Clafs ;  and, 
perhaps  many  more  Diforders,  both  of 
Mind  and  Body\  are  of  the  catching  Kind^ 
than  is  commonly  admitted.  It  hath  been 
obferved  of  SuperJlitio7iy  and  Enthiifiafm  in 
particular,  that  they  are  very  catching  and 
infeBiouSy  runJiing  like  wild  Fire  from  Breaji 
to  Breajl.  That  the  JffeBions  and  PaJJions 
of  the  Mind  cannot  only  change  a  Perfon's 
cwn  Body^  but  make  Impreffions  upon 
another^  io  as  to  givey  or  take  awaVy  divers 
DifeafeSy  mental  and  corporal -y  and  that  a 
corrupted  and  polluted  Imagination  is  ca- 
pable of  corrupting  and  polluting  xh^  am^ 
bient  Air -y  fo  that  thofe  who  fuck  it  in 
fliall  be  thrown  into  the  fame  Malady. 
Thus  'tis  affirmed  in  Plutarchy  ^-  I  pro-  Sympof. 
nounce  it  confidently,  that  all  the  P^t^;/^^^^- ^ 
of  the  Soul,  being  well  rooted,  v/ill  in-  **"*  ^* 
duce  evil  Habits,  and  being  moved  on  any 
Qccafion  will  carry  Perfons,  even  againft 
their  Wills,  into  thefe  natural  an4  famili^ 
Affections  r 

Nor  will  It  be  thought  ftrangc,  that  the 

Contagion  (hould  have  a  quicker  and  flron^ 

ger   FffeBy  when    it  catcheth  Perfons  of 

A  a  'weak 


(  J78  ) 
weak   Heads    and: JJnderJiandings^  *^%\ot    of 
weak,  fickly^    tender    and    delicate  -'Nerves  ■ 
and'  Spirit Sy    v/hich   ai^  {o   eafity' 'affected. 
Nor  is  it  ftrange,  if  this  {k\o^\A,h^  much 
more  the  Cafe  ;  when  the  Company  ri^Lit,,  of- 
the  fame  Caft  and 'Complexion  of  Body^  and^ 
^urn  of  Mind ,  the  fame  'Temper  and  Dif 
temper.      The    leaft    Spark    falling    upori 
Perfons  ah-eady  heated  will  foon  rife  into 
a  Flame.     To  make  ufe  of  Dr.  Hartley^ 
Sentiments ;  "  Enthufafm  may  be  defined; 
a  miilaken    Perfuafion   of   being   peculiani 
Fa'vourites  with  God*  -—  This  works  genCTi-. 
rally  *  in  -Pejrfbns  ^^S  ftifong   Fancies^    andj 
little  Judgment,  efpecially  where  there  is^ 
a  natural  Difpofition,  and  that  fermented-^ 
by  Difeafe.  — The  cojivulfive  Motions  arp^, 
apt  to  return  of  themfelve^';'^=s=rand/^/;z|^:g- 
Perfon   in  Convidfoni  is   apt  Vto-  occafioiij 
them   in   Perfons  oi  nervous  and  'irritabif^ 
Frames, —  And  there  i^  Reafon  to  believe^, 
that  fom.e   Enthufiafs  and  Impofors   have 
been  able  to  throw  themfelves  into  Con^ 
vtdfions  by  a  voluntary  Power-,    and   par- 
ticularly, as  it  feems,  by  introducingy?m^ 
Jde^^  2^  internal  Feelings,''  \in\^6 

••This-  contagious  Communication  may  be 
il!uftratcd'-by  the  Cafe  of  Perfons  bit  by 
the  Tarantida  *'  a  venomous,,  Italian  Spi-^ 
der\  whofe  Sting  caufe's  the  fame  Appear^ 
ances  with  the  Hyferical  Affe5iions,  The 
Difcrder   is    Tometimes  -counterfeited    by 

wanton 


t  h9 ) 

'Wdhtofi  Women y  but  is  often  a  real  Malady^*  ■ 
the  Per/on  bit  being  feized  with  a  Diffi- 
culty of  Breathing,  univerfal  Fainting  and 
Trembling  •  i-^^ 'and   growing   by   Degrees '! 
melancholy,    ilupid,    and  ftrangely   timov. ' 
rous.     The  only  Cure  is  Mafic,  which  fets'  ■' 
all  ikS'Pafimrs^  a  Dand77g,     At  the  iirft / 
Sound  they'  begin   to   move  their  Hands  ^ 
and  Feet,  and  foon  dance  with  wonderful ; 
Vigour.     In  the  mean  time  they  lofe  in  a: 
manner   the   Ufev€>f.,i^Hv,  their   Senfes,    do 
nlany  ridiculous  and  foolifh  Tricks,    talk- 
and^  ad:  obfcenely  and  rudely^ — and,  atl 
tfeei-^fame   time,  can't  bear   the   Sight    of: 
ajiy  Thing  ^/^<r/4 ;  in  'g^eral  ^te  Pbreniui 
^tind  delirious.     But  by  a  Continuance;:; 
c>Pthe  Mufic  they  are  fweated  and  agitated' 
into  Health.  —  We  may  allow  fomewhar 
to  the  determinate  Force,    and  particular 
Modulation   of  the   trembling  Percuffions- 
of  the  ^/>,  made  by  the  muiical  Chordsi 
upon  the  Elajlic  Fibres   cf  the   Brai?i.  rr^y 
This  we  fe^  in  the  common  Experiment 
of  two  miifical  Infinifjie^its^  tuned  both  ^to- 
the  fame  Pitch  :  The  Strings  of  the  .one 
being  y?r2/^^,    the  correfponde?2t-  Strings  .qI 
the   others  will   found/'     This  fiam;  iDr. 
Mead'^   Account  of   the  TarantiHa:K^')%t^ 
alfo  Chambers.^    in  "Tarantula   and.  Taran>k 
tifmu^^  ^^^   sHj  Bf)lu£:o  ^nii;^  aV.^lv/     <  V 
^'^  Accordiiigly,  as  one  and  the  fame  Mag- 
"^bt  bites   the  Methodijls^    who   are    m\ic.h 
A  a  2  of 


of  the  fame  Complexion  of  Body,  and 
Turn  of  Mind  ;  the  fame  Effects  are  equal- 
ly produced  in  alU  They  are  a  Sort  of 
XJnifons,  fcrewed  up  to  the  fame  I^yj  one 
being  frucky  the  reft  anfwer  to  the  given 
Note-,  and  by  that  Propagation,  (or  fome 
fecret  Sympathy )  are  Jmck  in  the  fame 
Manner ;  and  all  are  feized,  as  foon  as  they 
are  worked  up  to  the  fame  Degree  of  En*\ 
ihiifiafm. 

Of  the  fame  contagious  Nature  is  what^ 
is  called   St.  Vitus^^  Dance-,  imputed  by ^ 
fome  to  Hyferics^  Convulfions,  &c.     Thi^? 
Diftemper  raged  much  in  Germany  j  feiz- 
ing  moft   Sort  of  People,    efpecially    the 
•  Vulgar y    who  in  great  Numbers   became 
horridly   furious,    running  about  roaring, 
foaming,    till  their   Breath  failed.      This 
happened    particularly    when  they  vijited 
St.  Vitus' s  Chapel',    and  might  be  thought 
a  juft  Puniihment  for  their  loving  a  falfej 
md  niicked  Religion,    had  not  xkmXvQi^M 
followed  by  Trayer  to  St.  Vitus.   -^  jM  -^rl 
In  the  Dialogue  of  ftato,    called  7^//, 
Socrates    egregioufly  ^  derideth    that    vain 
G^rlan  ^^^^^^^^  >    "  who  pretended  an  Ability, 
Tom'"l>bbve  all    Mankind,    to  explain  Horner^ 
p.  530.  and  infpire  others  with  his  Knowledge; 
for  which  he  deferved   a   Golden  Crown^ 
Socrates  obferves,  that  the  Enthufiaflic  Fury 
of  S' Poet   was  not  an  Art,    but  Divine 
Imitation-,   which,    like    the  Load-Stone;, 

not 


not  only  Vr^^w/^'  Ir^]^^ 
teth  the  fame  OHjallty  through  a  whok^ 
Chain,  And  ^  thus  a  Divine  Seizure  fhaljfc 
mn  throi^gh  a  v^ok  Series  of' Enthufia/is} 
^*^'l!T  wfere  by  Sympathy;  one  catching 
it  from  another.  All  fpeak  moft  divinely^ 
when  they  are  out  of  their  Senfes,  apd^ 
like  the  Corybantes  and  Bacchinah,  are  in- 
ftigated  by  Madnefs,  by  an  Obfejion  of  their 
peculiar  Deity.  His  Words  and  Geftures, 
liis  Tone  and  Modulation  alone  ftrik© 
^em,  one  after  another ;  to  ^\i  other  Rit0^ 
ttty  are  immoveable.'*       7  '"^^  '  q 

ItiLucian,  de  Syrid  Dea,'^   have  afli 
Account  of  her  Myfleries^,  wherein  ''  tbofe^ 
^ho  carry  the  Image  of  their  Deity,  are 
whirled  about  as  with  a  Vertigo,  the  Deity 
leaping  from  one  into  another.     In  thqfe 
J:^'//mVi  attend  a  great  Number  of  Hoh 
Men,    2.v\A  furious    Fanatical  lVomen,^^i^t, 
the   Sake  oi  Prayer.      The  Priefts  begiU! 
X\it  Ceremony,  and  while  they  are  ceIebr4tol 
ing  the  Orgia,  making  horrid  Noifes,  cat--' 
ting  themfelves,    ^c.   the  Fury  prefently 
feizeth  the  reft,  and  many,,  who  came  only^ 
^^SpeBators,  are  a^ied  in  the  fame  Man- 
ner/' 

Befides  thefe  Myferies,  (which  may  b^;. 
reckoned  as  Types  and  Shadov^s  oi  Metljo^, 
difm)  krti(t  common  Licidaits  in  Life  may' 
farther  illiifl-rate  the  Cafe  of  a  contagious 
Pfopagdfion.     Upon  fceiiig  a  Perfon  yawn, 
''^^'  others. 


others,  not  dlfpofed  to  it  before,-MM^  f^iitfci 
Tmv?ii?ig.     The  hearing  a  grating  ^imd^ 
Of  feeing  another  eat  crabbed  Fruit,' h  ^\ 
to  fet  our  o^n^ethon  £%^:— Ma#i3ftiiin 
zi<£?eo^\Q  frighted^  (even  by  Perfons  in  a 
7^&)    into   Diflortio?2S^    CcnvuIJims,    and 
other   grievous    Diforders?     Or,   perhaps/ 
throWn  into  Afo^;?^/f. 'by    fome   affeaing 
Object  of  the  fame  Nature  ?  —  In  Diftem-  :^ 
pers,  Small  Pox,  Plague,  &c.  how  often,  ^^ 
and  eafily,  will   Fem^  alone  draw  the  In- 
feftlon  ;  or  feeing  another,  tho'  at  a  Dif-' 
tance,  with   the  Jj'ejh  Marks  upon  him? 
Deep     Cogitation     upon    the     Diftemper  ■ 
brino-ing  the  Diftemper,    and  Imagination 
hatching  the  yery  Malady^V'on  which  Jt 
fat  JBrooding.  —  How  ftrong  fs  Imagination 
in  Women  with  Child?  And  how  com- 
mon,   when   difappointed   of  what    they 
h'ave    longed   for,    or  upon    feeing    fome^' 
M  ^o^l^njlrcus  Obj eBy    to  Catch  the   Impreffm,' 
--U^l'^nd ^communicate    to  their   Children   the; 
fame  Marks^   which  were   the  Objea;   of 
their   Dcj?re,%\Jfverfton?    "E^in  ftrong' 
and; healthy   Ferfins,    by    fome    miferdble' 
Spedtdcte,    will    fometimes    grow  ill,    and 
their  Conftitution  fuddenly  be  altered  by^ 
an  Ernotion  and.  Alteration  of  the, Spirits, 
Humours   and  Blood.     Much  more  then 
willa  difealed  Bvdy  cr  M/W, 'be  thrown 
into  a  bad  Condition,  even  by^^afmall  In-' 
cident  j    and   dif?nal  a?id   tragical  Ohje5fs 

muft 


(  iS3  ) 

muft  have   a  powerful  EfFedl,   and  ftick 
clpfe  to  weak  Spirits  and  melancholy  Tern- 
f^s.     Why  therefore  fhould  not  Vapours 
and  Effluvia,  from  a   Methodijl,  (fuppofed  . 
to  be  infpiredy  or  dijtempered^   or  pojjejjed) 
work  themfelves  into  the  Breafts  of  the  By-^^ 
Jiandcrs^  and'  comniiinicate  funilar  EffeBsf^^,, 
Why   Ihould  n^ot  Hope,  .o^.\JFeary  or  Ex^i; 
peBation,  of  what  they  are  taught  to  exf> 
ped:,    added  to    Sight  and  Feelings    natu- 
rilUy  cauie  the  fan^e  Marks  ajid  Deforj^j- 
/i^iClUpon  ^vhich  their  Mind  hath  bee^^ 
^^.iintWt'?    In   general,    why    fliould   not 
tHfqfil?^^^/^;^  Cweep  away,  all  before  it  ?  ^;j 

^1,34.  As  tip  particular  Inftances  of  thS^ 
cQfit^gious  Nature,  I  Ihall  feledl  a  few  froiri^ 
H^ory.:  '  Lucian  relates  *'  a  Difeafe  feiz- Vol.  ir. 
iQg  almofl  all  the  Citizens  of  Abdera ;  a  Pag!  1.' 
£5ort  ;of  Fever,    which  had  a  very  ridicu-^'  '^"^^^ 
Iqus'Effed:.      They  were  all  infligated  to^'''^^' 
a,'  loud  Roaring,    iinging   Scraps   of  T^ra- 
gedy,  and  efpecially  out  of  the  Andromeda 
of  Euripides, 

Cupid,  Prince  of  God's  and  Meny  &c. 

l&},t  E)ithufiafm  continued  during  the  Heat 
oi^Xh^  Summer,  but  left  them  at  ?Finter^^^ 

^  hum  Laurent, 


C  i84  ) 

Mall.         Laurent.  Ananias  fays,  "  Thofc  Infer^ 
Mal€f.        I  HarpieSy  the  Devils^  fo  defile  and  in- 

lorn.  2.  ''^  TM  1  1  1  11  1 

Part  2.     fed  the  Places  they  haunt,  that  all,  who 

P-  ^3-     come  near  them,  fhall  run  fanatical  and 

mad.     As  it  lately  happened  in  the  Or- 

phan's  Hofpital   at  Rome ;    where   in  one 

Night  more  than  fifty  Girls  were  pofefjed.'^ 

—  Something   like  this  was  the  Effedt  of 

the  charming  Bourignon'^  htftituiion.      For 

Solid.    "  in  an  Hofpital  of  poor  Girls,  whom  fhe 

Imroli  ^baritably  governed^   fhe  difcovered   them 

all  to  be  Witches  in  exprefs  CompaSi  with  the 

Devil.'' 

Thefe  Accounts  may  not  perhaps  in 
all  Refpedrs  agree  with  the  Cafe  of  Mr. 
IFe /ley's  Patients.  That  Popifi  Fajiaticifm 
mufl  run  Parallel  to  it,  I  was  perfuaded 
in  my  own  Mind,  but  could  not  be  fully, 
fatisfied,  till  I  met  with  fome  Cafes  la 
Wierus  de  Praftigiis^  which  come  up  to 
Lib.  3.  a  complete  Comparifon.  "  Wonderful  and 
Cap.9,iOjj^Qj,j.;|^jg  was  the  Vexation  of  fome  Reli-- 
gious  Nims  at  Wert^  feized  by  the  Devil^ 
who,  by  Means  of  fome  Salt  brought  to 
them  by  an  old  Woman^  were  grievouily 
tormented  5  fome  with  Laughing  Fits^  fome 
horridly  convulfed  and  contorted^  or  lying 
down  as  dead.  Thefe  Tortures  continued  a- 
mong  them  in  the  Nunnery  for  three  Years." 
'*'  A  Cafe  not  unlike  was  that  of  fome  Virgins 
cmifecrated  to  the  fir  iB  Rules  of  St,  Bridget ; 
who    were  tormented    in    divers   ftrange 

Manners^ 


EI.  12. 


Manners,  leaping  about,  and  fcfeaming  out 
'horribly^  their  Jaws  cbntradted,  &c.    The 

^'Gdiife  of  this  Tragedy  was  imputed  to  a 
Virgin  in  Love  with  a  young  Man  ;  but 
her  Parents  thought  it  an  ujifintable  Match^ 
While  {he  was  in  this  Anguifh,  the  De* 
vil  appeared  to  her  in  the  Shape  of  that 
young  Man^  perfuading  her  to  be  a  Pro^ 
fcJJ'ed  Nun...  She  complied  ;  and  no  fooner 
was  cloifierd^  but  [truck  with  a  Fury^  £he 
became  a  horrid  Spectacle  to  all,  in  various 
Refpeds.  And  the  Evil,  as  by  Contagion^ 
paffed  into  many  others  of  the  Nuns.'' — 

.  Of  the   fame    Nature    were   the   monjlrous 
Convulftons   of  all   Kinds  inflicted   by    the 

rDevil  upon  the  Virgins  in  the  Nunnery  of 

*'K€7itorpy  which  feized  them  once  a  Day, 
Or  oftener,  continuing  fometimes  for  feve- 
ral  Hours.  Some  of  them  in  the  Accejjion 
of  the  Malady,  on  Account  of  the  Con- 
vul/ions  of  the  Spiritual  Parts,  and  the 
Tongue,  could  not  fpeak.  They  were 
not  equally  torn ;  but  fome  more,  and 
fome  lefs.  But  this  was  almojl  univerfaly 
that  when  any  one  of  them  was  feized  > 
the  reji,  though  in  feparate  Apartments^ 
hearing  only  the  tumultuous  Noife  of  the 
former,  were  tormented  in  the  fame  mi- 
ferable  Way.  In  order  to  difcover  the 
Origin,  Increafe,  and  tragical  liTue  of  this 
Calamky  5  and  to  prevent  other  fuch  At- 
tempts and  horrible  Vexations  of  Satan  -, 
B  b  I  (l^ali 


f  i86  ) 

I  ihall  truly  relate,  in  few  Words,  what 
upon    diligent  Enquiry    I  received   from 
Aline  Lemgoii\  own  Mouth,  a  fenfible  Vt^^ 
gin,  and  one  in  this  Nunnery..     '  Sh^  wa? 
firft  taken  with  a  Pain  in  her  left  H^po-^ 
chondrium,    arid.  'Jberng  'deemed    Epileptic^ 
was  fent  to' \lnit'Mona/I'ery  of  Nofihert,  to 
drink  out  of  St.  Cornelhis's  Scu//ywhevQ^ 
by  the  A^zm  told  about,  but  falfely,  that 
v^'e  was  betten     Afterwards  growing  worfe, 
together  with  W)6t'r  M/zi,    they  went  to 
^^' Conjurer,    who'  told  them,  they  wer^p 
bewitched  by  Alice  Kamentz.     The  Devil ^ 
taking   a   Handle   fitffi^'this,    began   tor- 
menting   them  ■  w\t^^anifo/d  ConvulfionSy 
ttihiblings  on  the  Ground,  depriying  them 
of-their^5^77/^j,    making    them   bite   and 
^^^^  one  another  5  fo  that  they  feemed  not 
to  -^  in  their ^own  Power,     Afina,  in  her' 
Fits',  fpoke  as  if  another  [poke  throu<Th  her.:. 
i^d^^underflood   what  flie  fiid,  but,  aft^" 
Ipeaking,    mixxtXy  forgot    it.     ^When    ih^ 
would /r^y  ferioufly,  ihe  was  fo  hindered 
by 'the  evil  One,   that  file  could  not  move. 
her  "^Giigue:     But  whenever  ihe'  run  ovtr 
her  5f^^j  without  Thought  and  Attention, 
fhe  did  it  ^vith  Eafe  .and  Pleafure .' 5^/^;r 
not  hindering  her.     If  a  good  Perfon  fpoke 
t5^^hbr,''Ihe  feemed  as  punifhed   by    the> 
Devii     But  if  other  Women  talked  to  her 
oi  ludicrous  Mmers,  flie  was  wonderfully 
pkafed.      Whe^i   flie    was   e^orcifed,    flie 


feefned  to  vomit  an  incredible  Quantity  of 
Eflood,  but  felt  no  Hurt.  But  this  was 
co^nmo?2.ta  a//  tbe,^Firgins  thus  poffeffed  By 
tM^..pf^/i[,  tftatT:  together  with  irregulaf- 
Pahh^  tncy  had  a  creeping  Senfation  under 
the  Soles  of  their  Feet,  as  if  burned  with 
hot  Water y  The  Devil  w2iS  u fed  to  fpeak 
frequently^  and  much  out.  of  the  Mouths 
of  the  younger  Girls ^  when  deprived  of  their 
Senfes,  and  terrify  them  with  Vifions^  and 
appearing  to  them  in  divers  Shapes.  As  to 
Anna  herfelf,  when  her  Parents  had  takpn:. 
her  out  of  the  Ntmnery^  and  fhe  had  taken 
2.  ^pX^i  Refohitiofi  never  to  return  to  it, 
\5i&^'^jerve  God  out  of  it  in   a  fmnder 

f^i/^'the   Calamity    was.^mE^d 
fiis  bertainly    was    an   excellent  Remedy, 
And  yet  Efjthufafm  had  fuch  hold  of  her, 
that{**  whenever  the  Mother  Abbefs  feri% 
l]fe^lDid|;'^  X^^^i^        her  Body  was  in:,,^ 
Morfor!^  %is  if  ffie  was  relapfing.     At  length 
fhe  married^  and  felt  no  more  of  her  Dif 
order.      She   added,    that  Alice  Kamentz 
herfelf  would   fometimes    be,    as  it  wer^\ 
Epileptic,  and  tz\k  fen felefy  ;  and  the  Nuns 
concluded,   flie  brought  this  Evil  on  hery^ 
felf  that  fhe  might  not  feem  to  have  b^r 
witched  otherf.     Hence  they   imputed  their 
Tdfments  neither  to  God,   nor  to  the  Devi  I y 
hvLt  to  Alice  Kame72tz,"  —  Wier  relates  far- 
t^r^^^|*^^li6v\^  fhe  Contagion  foon   caught; 
tfefe' neighbouring  Towns  and  Villages,   ef- 
"-  B  b  2  pecially 


pecially  five  Perfons,  whom  a  cerlain 
Preacher  had  taken  into  hh  Qjamber,  in 
order  to  guard  them  againfi.  the  De-oices  of 
cT'"  ■  /^^  ^^^^tes  too  fome  other  Cafes 
oi  this  mfeBious  Natur^^^^N\ilch  can't  de^ 
r^Ki?/)'  be  tranlcribed.     ■„,'.,,''  . ,  ,V: 

Thefe  feveral  Circumftanccs  fo  exaaitft 
tally  with  Mr.  mjefs  Patients.  I  th{i»kv\4 
every  Particular,  that  they  ftand  in    need 
of  no  Appltcatloyj.     Nor  is  it  neceffary  to . 
■determine  precifely,    -mho,  or  lii.at,  is  the.. 
Lauje.      Popery  and  MethoJifm  are  ao-feedr 
as  to  Matter  of  Fa8i;  which  ,s  my  proper- 
Bvfinefs  to  fiew.      Oncf^^c   oi  Advice 
however,  in  Dr.  /^^Vr!s  ^Words,   I  wo-ild 
^^^fj^^^}^'^  -^''^Vding  contagious  Company, 

^i-%-  ^4-7-^"")'''';°^^^°?'^  Should  be  d^s; 
poMed  tn  the  fame  Place,  (as  is  ufiial -ifiT 

Mj«^>na,  particularly  of  Virgins,  whofe- 
Organs  are  moft  expofed  to  Satan's  Pr.m>k(^ 
before  all  Things  Care,  /hquld  -be  '.takeftt 
Mfeparate  the:n,  and,  fend,  each  td  theifi 
t  arents  and  Relations ;  and  not  leave  them 
to  huperjlitious   Priefts,  .and'  Impoflvrs,  -.  Ja. 
Hopes  of  a  Cure  from  their  pretended  Ce- 
remomes-  or  think  by  ^^y^r^  Rites  to  drive 
away  the  Devil,  who  does  but  /<^/.^^  at, 
and  delude  them.—Toung  Perfons  efpecially, 
.hould  never  be  admitted  to  thefe  horrid 
Spi£tc!cles,  \c9i  htrng  frighted  vslth  the  Ikt- 
commonnfs  and  Violence,  '^.fbe   Torments, 
they  (hould  contraSf  the  Evil  themfelves," 

On 


On  the  contrary,  Mr.  Wefley  is  labouring^ 
heartily  to  bring  as  many  fuch  together  as', 
he   can,    efpecially   of   \\\^  younger   Sort -^ 
aftd  to  fee-'them  groaning,  convulfed,  ftruc% 
to  the  'Gtoti^a,'and  ftriking  others  dpw^t 
in  Heaps,  by  Sympathy,  or  Cont agio fii  and 
the  more  the^  better  :—  This  is  his  peculiars 
Bufwefs;'Bis^'''¥f'ade,    and  his   Joy,      ThC 
Article  therefore  I  conchide1n.^tfi.e  Words 
of  M  CafaubbHy^'  To  commend  this  toEmhof. 
cr-tj'/Wrv  People,  and  to  Women  efpecially,  P- '7 '-S- 
ii)^;.perfuade  then^-td'^'M^^??^-/],   and  19, 
expofe  them  to  the  tlufions  oftheDevilf^ 
dways  ready  to  take  fuch  Advantages.  The^. 
Ufe   of  'this  Theology  doth  moft   properly 
belong  to  Jefitits,  and  Jefuited  Politicians ; 
vcbo  have  no  better  Way  to  bring  their 
Defigns  to    pafs,    than   by  the  Hands  of 
thoft,  whom  they  h2Mt  brought  up  to  thefe 
m^pt^"^  ^fW'm& -htMts   their  com^" 
itlOii-'Obligaiidfi''  of    blind  Obedience y-h^. 
low^,'  foi'CQd,    wild  Contemplation y  are  ^bea 
c©me  ecjiatical,   /,  e,    fitted   for  any  defpel 
rme  Attempt,  —  Let  others  admire  Witch^^ 
and  Magicians  ^^  much  as    they  will  ^  I 
honour  and  admire  a  good  Ph\ fid  ah  much 
more-,    who- can  (as  God's  hiftrument)  hv 
M'Knowledg^  of -A&Z'^r?,  bring  .a  Mao^f 
Imymght  mti  again;' When  he  liatt^  Ipft 
theiiV^fefKi  I  tremble  {Homofumi  bumani 
Tiihfl^W'm'^  alhmm  putoY\whtn  I  think  that 


(  19^  ) 

nR-^^Zetie  Madman  is  emugh  't&  4i9feB  a  wMe 

§.  35.  This  Cafe  of  Sympathy  and  Con-- 
iagion    may    perhaps     receive     additional 
.^j^^Y/  Light,  by  confidering  mljat  Sort  of  Perfons 
r-^:^  ^e  moft   likely    to    fall   into   Enthujiafmy 
particularly  that  of  Methodifm  ;    and  con- 
fequently  into  thefe  dreadful  Diforders  and 
Torments^  both  cf  Body  and  Mind,     This 
fhall  be  done  partly  in   my   own  Words, 
partly   by  their  Pagan  and   PopiJIo  AUusi^ 
and  partly  by  their  Siuondam  Favourite  Mr^J. 
haWy  in  his  Treatife  of  Regeneration \  for; 
which  he  has  incurred  Mr.  Wejlefs  Indig-^ 
.bidi  nation,    mi^i^^oi''  .aonaH—'.^iiJ^X   ^^^^ 
^*  ^  -^    /( I . )    roi^ng '  Perfons,  "  BoyV  '^^A  "GirtBi^- 
Thefe    being  arrived  neither  to   Ripeneft 
cf  Reafon,  nor  folid  Conftitution  of  Body, 
ai^er-cafily  moved    by  Hopes '  ancl^ffeAfe^ 
are   credulous^    foon  pofTeiTed    with  ^^twies"^ 
of  Witches,    Apparitions,    or    any   Thing 
marvellous ;  foft  ajid  duBile^  fitted  to  re- 
ceive  any  ImpreffionSy  i(y  (£a\(^f'FifionSy^\o' 
receive  InfeBion,   iri  general,  from  a  Ten- 
dernefs   of  Frame   eafily  Jiruck  down,    or"; 
^prepared    to   follow   others    by  Imitation. 
Hence  we  hear  fo  oficnWp^^^ young  Boys 
and  Girls,    and  Children,   ih    the  Metho- ' 
dijTo  Journals,  grievoufly  diftrefled  for  their 
Souls,  crying  out  in  Faith,  dropping  dow^ii;  . 
G?^*     Hence  their  Account  of  the  i>^riV^ 

revenU 


(  191  ) 

revealing  himfelf  to  a  Girl  of  about  feven  See  En. 
Years  old,    in   an   amazing    Manner  3    fo  p^"^*j 
that,    wrapped  up  in  his  Spirit,  Jhe  funk  p.  77* 
to  nothing,  prophefied-,  with  nr^ny  fuch  In- 
ftances  of  the  out-pouriiig  of  tlie  Spirit:"^ 
—  Hence  '^  that  idle  Boy,   John  WooUey^  Wpiley 
thought  there  was  never  in  the  World  fuch  5  Journ, 
a  wicked  Child  as  himfelf;    after  he  hadP-^7« 
ht^x^lAuWeJley,  theDmVfet  upon  him 
with  all  his   Might,    but   fuddenly  he  is 
fuFfounded  with   an  inexpreffible   Light  ^ 
and  fays,  '  though   I  am  not  in  Hea'ven 
yet,  I  am  as  fure  of  it,  as  if  I  was ;'  and- 
af^^rwards    Chriji   came   and  talked   with- 
him.     He  lived  fome  Months  above  thir- 
teen Years." — Hence,  *' feveral  were  con-    Ibid, 
ftrained  to  roar  aloud,  and  thefe  generally    P'  ^^* 
not  young,    as    in  inoji  other  Places-,    but 
either  middle-aged,  or  older." 

.  It  might  here  be  obferved  from  Variety 
of  Hijioriesy  that  Witchcraft  and  Magic- 
have  the  moft  powerful  Effects  upon  Chil^ 
dren,  who  are  ufually  the  SubjeBs  of  their 
Operation  and  Cruelty,    v^.-^ci^ivd   ^hb   3vi3:> 

Plutarch  mentions  it  as  fomethlng  k??-Sympor. 
traordinary,  ''  that  the  Thibii  near  Poiitus,^^  ^' 
by  a  Look,  Breathing,  or  a  Word,  would'^'^"  ^' 
fafcinate  not   only  Children,    but  Perfons 
of  full  Age.     Whereas  only  Children,  of  a"- 
tender  and  moift  Conftitution,  were  ufu-^ 
ally   thus    affeded,    thcfe  Effeds    feldom^^ 
happening  to  folid  and  compad:  Bodies."—" 

Parti- 


(    192    ) 

Apolcg.         Particularly  as  to  young  Perfons,  TerfuU 
^^•^3-    li^ji   tells  us,   that   the   "  Heathen  Magi- 
cians y  among   other  miraculous  ImpoJlureSy 
were  wont  to  knock  down  and  Jlun  Boys   to 
viake  them  pi^ophefy."'    [Pueros   in    eloqiiium 
Oraculi  elidunt.']  /.  e.  fays  Rigaltius,  "  con- 
Jlernunt,      For    being  inchanted  they    fell 
down,  as  Epileptic  \   and  afterwards  having 
lofi  their  Senfes^  t\\zy  /poke  oracularly^  and 
A^xAM'm. uttered  Prophecies.''       Accordingly,    ylpu- 
^xil'"''  ^''^^^"^>   (^^^  famous  Platoniji,   one  initiated 
p.  446,     into  the  great  Myfteries,  and  fufpected  of 
"^S^y  ^71' Sorcery)    was  formally  accufed  oi  Magic ^ 
^^^'        as  having  drawn  the  Affecfions  of  a  rich 
Woman  by  Inchantments^    and  alfo   being 
ufed  to  fir  ike  down  a  Boy  flat  on  the  Pave- 
vienf,  and  deprive  him  of  his  Senfes,  for 
magical  Piirpofes.     And  how  doth  he  de- 
fend himfelf  ?  He   owns  the  Fal^  of  the 
Boys  falling  before  him,  as  in  a  Fit,     But 
pleads  partly  in  Defence  o{  Magic ^  as  fbre- 
(hewing  the  Mind  of 'Jie  Gods^  by  Miracles 
and  Divination  ;  partly  by  denying  that  he 
made  ufe  of  any  ivicked  Kind  cf  Magic ; 
and  partly  affirming,    that  the  Froftration 
of  the   Boy    was    not    from   Inchantment^ 
but  Difeafe ',  and  nothing  bat  mere  Epi- 
lepfy.      Fie  brings,  however,    Inftances  of 
tjich anted  Boy Sy  ixom great  Authorities,  who 
foretold   Things  miraculoujly.      But    whe- 
ther  this   could    really   be    done,    he  will 
neither  confefs^  nor  deny." 

Ouf 


(  193  ) 

Our  Methodiji  Teachers  acknowledge 
and  boaft,  that  *'  their  young  Difciples 
are  often  thrown  to  the  Ground^  become 
fefifelefs^  are  illuminated,  prophetic^  &c.  and 
that  either  by  the  Oper^ation  of  Satan,  or 
themfehesy  If  this  be  true ;  it  certainly 
comes  near  to  Sorcery  and  Magic,  They 
may  be  allowed  whatever  may  be  pleaded 
in  Favour  of  ancierit  Magicians  ;  but  their 
hejl  Plea  would  be  to  prove  the  Cafe  Epi- 
leptic, or  fome  limilar  Dijlemper. 

(2.)  The  next  Perfons  thus  affecfted  are 
Women-,  who,  (notwithltanding  fome  E.v- 
ceptions)  may,  without  Offence,  be  called 
the  Tjeaker  VeJJels.  They  are  not,  how- 
ever, my  own  Expreffions,  but  thofe  of 
Exorcifts,  and  others  of  the  Papacy,  and 
even  Female  Saints  -,  who  defcribe  "  the 
Sex  as  weak,  vain,  full  of  Curiofity,  and 
Lovers  of  Novelty,  eafily  gained  by  a  Shew 
of  Piety,  and  eipecially  any  Fraternities 
fetting  up  for  fome  aufkre  Reformation  : 
Thefe  C^alities  making  them  fit  Organs 
of  Satan's  lllufwns,  and  moft  expofed  to 
Super  flit  ion  and  Entbufiajm.''  —  "  Some  Mall. 
think  themfelves  tormented  by  the  Devil,  J^^^^^i 
when  tis  only  imagination  -,  and  this  mp.  13,. 
Women  more  than  Men,  becaufe  more 
timorous,  and  more  fufceptible  of  ifnagi- 
nary,  marvellous  Af^pearances,  Vijions  and 
Revelations ;  their  very  Nature  being  of . 
an  eafier  and  foftcr  ImpreiTion." — ^' Fa- 
Cc  tbcr 


(  194  ) 

Franc.    ^Jj^r  Francis   Goncius  had  the  Honour  of 
feto.'    extirpating  a  fpreading  Hypocrify  among 
p.  274.  the  Women ^  who  were  governed  by  zpnple^ 
cr  malicious    Prejbyter,      As   the   Sex^    in 
order  to  gain  an  Opinion  of  Sandlty,  is 
obnoxious  to  Illufions  and  Fidiions  ^  Ibme 
pretended   Raptures    and     Sights    of     the 
Damned,    and  the  Blefcd :,    lome  in   Jor^ 
ments^  and  to  be  refcued  only  by  the  afore- 
faid  Prejbyfer.     Thefe  IHufions  being  ex- 
tindt,    F\   Francis    warmed  them    all  into 
a  religious  Devotion  towards  St.  Ignatius^ 
and   St.   Xavier.''  —  Picus   of  Aliraiidida 
(Lib.  9.   de  Pratiot.)  concludes,    that  the 
Gift  of  prophefyiiig  was  granted  to  Women 
rather  than  Men,  becaufe   the  mod  fooliJI^ 
Life.     5^^,'."— St.  T^r^^  confelTcth,  that  ""  JDf'^ 
^^°8- ^e   ^^^"^^^^S^  ^^^  ^^'^  Monafleries  are  moil  among 
\oz7     'the  Women,    whofe  Nature  is  weak,  and 
their   Sell-Love  very  fubtle,    and  they  are 
'    deceived  of  themfelvcs."  She  fays,  ''  How- 
ever, (for  the  Honour  of  the  Ladies)  that 
in   thefe  Monajlcries   the   Favours  of  God 
to    fome  are   very   great;    aftonirhing   the 
Spedlators  by  Rapts,  Vipons,  Ecjlacies,  &cc, 
— - 1  have  known  fome,  v/ho  wanting  but 
little  of  quite  lofing  their  Judgn:ients,  are 
yet fo  humble,  &c.  and  defirous   of  fuffer-^ 
ing  their  Purgatory  here  to  efcape  it  here- 
after."—  If  we  look    into   profane  Anti- 
quity,   we  find  enough  of  the  Bacchana- 
lian Women,  &;c.    The  Pythian  PriejieJlh 

v/ere 


(  i95  ) 
Were  fo  enthufAijlically  mad  in  delivering  the 
Oracles,  and  were  fo  violently  torji  and  con- 
viilfed,  as  fometimes  to  die  upon  the  Spot. 
—If  we  look  into  Ecdefi^fiical  H^rejies,  we 
find  the  Dance  began  by  Sifn.  Magus  with 
his  i?ifpired  Projlitute^  Helena ;  and  that 
not  only  Mo?2tanus  had  his  Frifcilla  and 
Maximilla  •  but  ahiioft  all  made  ufe  of 
Wo7nen  as  the  fittejl  Organs  for  Infptra- 
tiony  Prophecy,  Vijion,  and  every  Deluf.on, 
—  Siilpitius  Severus  in  his  facred  Hijlory^ 
[thofe,  who  have  not  the  Book,  may  con- 
fult  Bayle  in  the  Article  Prifcillian]  gives 
this  Account  of  Prifcillian,  "  He  was 
vehement,  reftlefs,  eloquent,  learned,  rea- 
dy at  Logic  and  Difputations.  Happy  in* 
deed,  had  he  not  corrupted  the  beft  Ca- 
pacity by  an  evil  Application  -,  for  he  had 
many  good  Qualities  of  Mind  and  Body. 
He  would  watch  long,  bear  Hunger  and 
Thirft  ;  not  covetous  of  Wealth,  and  very 
temperate  in  the  Ufe  of  it.  But  the  fame 
Man  was  the  vainefl  of  Mortals,  puffed 
up  beyond  Meafure  on  account  of  his 
worldly  Knowledge,  and  befides  was  fup- 
pofed  to  have  pradtifed  'the  magic  Arts. 
from  his  Youth.  When  he  had  broached 
his  pernicious  DoBrine,  by  his  Art  of 
Perfuafion,  and  crafty  Infinuations,  he  en- 
ticed into  his  Society  many  of  Nobility^ 
and  more  of  the  Popidace.  Moreover, 
the   Women  being    fond   of  new   Things, 

C  c  2  unliable 


(  196  ) 

unftable  in  the  Faith,  and  of  a  boundlefs 
Ctiriofity,  flocked  to  him  in  Troops,  For, 
by  carrying  a  Shew  of  Humility  in  his  Face 
and  Habit,  he  had  contracted  a  general 
Reverence.''  He  is  likewife  defcribed, 
as^  "  rafli  and  headftrong,  patient  of  Hard- 
Ihips,  of  a  doubling  Genius,  crafty  and 
beguiling,  eloquent,  but  very  mad.  " — 
He  was  inftrudted  and  affifted  by  ylgape, 
an  honourable  Woman,  in  carrying  on 
the  fecret  Myjleries ;  and  flie  was  the  Mo- 
ther of  the  Agapetce,  or  Love-Feajlers -, 
vvhofe  Rites  became  by  Degrees  fo  very 
fcandalous,  that  St.  Jercrne  tells  Oceaims, 
*'  you  are  expofed  to  the  Teeth  of  De- 
tradors,  unlefs  you  difmifs  the  Affemblies 
of  theAgapetc^r  —It  may  be  added,  that 
Prifcillian  and  his  Follo%vers,  though  in  the 
Sink  of  Corruption,  yet  aflumed  high 
Claims  ^  to  Knowledge,  Illumination  a?2d 
TerfeBion,  —  If  we  defcend  lower  into 
Fopijh  Artifices,  v/e  fee  thefe  Saintefes  m 
Abundance,  according  in  all  Things  with 
Methodifm ;  as  the  whole  Comparifon  hath 
fhewn.  Particularly  the  Diabolical  Itifef- 
iations,  and  j'ltrprixing  Contagions,  (from 
Wierus)  were  all  among  the  iV/^;?i.  And 
the  greater  Part  of  the  Dramatis  Ferfince, 
in  the  Tragi-Comedy^  of  Methodifm,  appear 
to  have  been  ABrefes, 

(3.)  Perfons  of  ql  fickle  aiid  mcojififient 
Bumour-,  thefe  are  naturally  fond  of  Inno- 
vations, 


(  197  ) 

fijafions^  ading  by  Starts,  and  fudden 
Flights  3  and  always  prepared  for  the  Re- 
ception of  every  Pretejider^  that  fets  up 
for  new-modelling  Religion, 

(4.)  Perfons,  though  pioufly  inclined, 
yet  of  nx^eak  "Jiidgmeiits^  or  weak  Nerves ; 
thefc  are  not  only  eafily  captivated  by  fine 
Promifes  and  fair  Speeches ;  but  quickly 
raifed  with  Flaflies  and  Gufts  of  Spiritual 
Joys,  and  as  quickly  overwhelmed  with 
difmal  Apprekciifioiis',  carried  up  to  Heaven 
by  every  Wind  of  Dodtrine,  and  down 
again  to  the  Deep ;  ready  foftened  for  the 
Stamp  of  Irnpzdfes,  If?2prejwns,  Feelings^ 
Villous,  and  mod  fubjed:  (as  the  weakejl 
Heads  are  iboneft  made  giddy)  to  bodily 
Agitations  and  Convulfions,  Vertigos,   &c. 

(5.)  Perfons  difordered  with  Hypochon^ 
driac  Fumes,  a?id  7nelancholy  Vapours,  and 
divers  other  peculiar  Diftempers.  Thefe 
generally  love  a  gloomy  and  black  Religion^ 
fuiting  their  Divinity  to  their  Temper,  as 
every  Thing  turns  four  upon  a  vitiated  Sto- 
mach ;  and  are  more  defirous  to  nourijh^ 
than  to  throw  off,  their  Dijcafc ;  and  for 
the  fame  Realbns  become  natural  and 
willing  Victims  to  the  Stroke,  that  fells 
them  to  the  Ground. — If  the  Brain  is  a 
little  touched,  and  there  is  fomcthing  of 
Madnefs  in  the  Cafe;  this  of  Courfe  pre- 
pares People  foi   any  wild  Scheme,  defpe- 

rate 


(   198  )^ 
rate  Attempt,  and  .  every  Sort   of  extrava- 
gant Behaviour. 

(6.)  Perfons  of  lively  Parts^  and  hrijk 
Fancy ^  (though  in  a  perfect  State  of  Health) 
for  Want  of  a  fohd  and  fettled  Judgnient^ 
may  be  equally  in  Danger.  When  the 
Afflatus  hath  once  touched  theni,  from 
a  Nimblenefs  of  Imagination  they  are  the 
fooner  blovt^n  up,  and  by  a  Connedlion 
of  Ideas  impetuoufly  carried  on  from  one 
Whim  to  another.  They  are  better  qua- 
lified than  2.  Jlcw  Capacity,  to  fee,  hear, 
feel,  and  ad  v/hat  is  appointed  for  them ; 
as  well  as  to  exprefs  their  Senfations  in  the 
ftrongeft  and  mofl:  glowing  Terms.  No 
Fervency  and  Zeal,  no  Fluency  of  Lan- 
guage, will  be  wanting  for  a  Communi- 
cation of  the  Infcdion. 

(7,)   Perfons  of  an   ainGvoiis  Complexion 
are  as  likely    as  any  to  fail   into   Enthii- 
fiafms',    particularly  with  Refpedl  to  fome 
^ftrange  Tranfports  of  Divine  Love.     From 
a  Similitude,  and  clofe  Correfpondence  of 
this  Paflion,  confidered  as  fialural  and  re- 
ligious^   we  hear,   in   each   Cafe,    of  fuch 
'  Meltings,  Languiflimcnts,  Huggings  and 
clofe   Embracements   of  the  Deity,    fuch 
Raptures,  Tumults,  Sinkings,  Swoonings, 
Defpairings  and   Diflradion,  and   Lofs  of 
Senfes.'     Plutarch  defcribeth  a  Lover,  as 
Vol.  II.    <^  burning,  pale,  trembling,  feizGd  with  a 
^^\ll''  Vertigo.     Is  not  this,  fays  he,  a  manifeft 
^''  '  infpired 


(  199  ) 

infpired  Fury,  a  Droine  Fojfejjion  and  Agi-- 
tation  of  the  Scid  ?  V/hat  io  extraordinary 
ever  happens  to  the  Fythonefi,  when  flie 
toucheth  the  Tripod  ?    Which  of  the  E«- 
thufiajlic  Corybantes  upon   hearing  the  Pipe 
and  the  Timbrel,  have  been  fo  carried  out 
of  themfelves?"  —  And   a  very  higcniGiis 
and  good  Man,  (for  fuch  I  really  think  he 
was)  and   who   hath    carried   the   Notions 
of  Divine  Love    to   a    fufficient    Height, 
though   he    adopts   the   Sentiment,    is   yet 
wife  enough  to  caution  againft  the  Dan- 
ger,    The  Perfon  I  mean  is  Mr.  Norris^ 
who  fays,  **  there  is  aa  Amorous  Trinciple    ^ 
in-  Man,  which   mnft   neceffarily   have  an 
Object ',    and,    he-  thinks,   Perfons  of  the 
mofl:  a?77orGUs  Affections,    the  moft  likely  to 
make   Spiritual  Lovers.  —  In  the  Love  of 
God,  as  'tis  a  Pq/Jion,  the  Motion  of  the 
Will   is  attended  with  a  fenfible  Commo- 
tion   of  the   Spirits,    and  EJluation   of  the 
Blood,  —  'Tis  an  experimental  Truth,  that 
PaJJion  is  a   great    Injirument  of  Devotion, 
Accordingly  we  find  that  Men  of  the  moil 
lioarni     and  pathetic    Tejnpers,    and  affec- 
tionate  Cojnpiexions,    (provided  they   have 
but  Confideration  enough    withal    not  to 
mijlake  the  Objecl)  prove  the  greateft  Vo^ 
taries   in    Religion y     Burton   too,    in    his 
A^tcitomy    oj    Melancholy,    often    mentions. 
Hypochondriac  Enthufiafm   as  prone  to  Vc-- 
ncry, 

Mr, 


(    200    ) 

Mr.  TVeftky  Hall  became  one,  it  feems, 
of  the  fiill  Bj^ethre?7,  has  publickly  and 
zealoufly  pleaded  for  the  moft  infamous 
Carnalities,  Nor  doth  Mr.  Wejley  him- 
felf  feem  fufficiently  upon  his  Guard, 
4  Joura.  when  he  comamendeth  fo  highly,  "  that 
^'  ^^^*  Mother  in  Ifrael^  Jane  Muncy\  becaufe  ihe 
withftood  to  the  Face  thofe  who  were 
teachifig  for  DoBrines  the  Cornmandmeiits  of 
Men^  by  ordering,  that  the  wtmarried 
Men  and  Women  fliould  have  no  Conver- 
fation  with  each  other/'  There' needs 
not  any  zealous  Contention  for  fuch  pro^ 
mifciioiis  Afjemblies  ^  even  though  many 
ihould  hereby  become  Mothers  iji  IfraeL 

I  fliall  on  this  Head  beg  Room  for  a 
few  Paflages  out  of  the  great  Majler  of 
Nature ;  becaufe  fo  confonant  to  feveral  of 
the  Difpoftions  before  related. 
Ariaotl.  E?2thtifjajls  often  term  their  Extravagan- 
Problcm.  ^j^g  ^  Spiritual  Drunkemiefs,  In  like 
Manner  Ariftotle  makes  a  Campari fon  be- 
tween "  the  Nature  and  Effeds  of  WinCy 
and  thofe  of  Melancholy^  or  the  black  Bile. 
Each  maketh  Men  various^  angry,  loving, 
quiet,  fierce,  filent,  talkative.  Wine  find- 
ing Men  cold  and  fullen^  by  a  gradual  In-^ 
creafe  of  the  Dofe  renders  them  more  talk- 
ative, eloquent  and  confident;  then  quar- 
relfome,  raging,  and  even  mad  ;  —  at  laft 
turneth  them  into  flupid  Fools,  like  Per-. 
fons   cpileotic,    or  deeply   melancholy.  — • 

The 


(  201  ) 
The  fame  Man  continues  not  long  In  the 
fame  Humour;  he  laughs  and  cries,  is 
timorous  and  bold ;  is  filled  both  with 
Heaf  and  Wind-,  whereby  Venus  is  the 
ufual  Companion  of  Bacchus,  And  for 
the  fame  Reafon  your  melancholy  Men  are 
generally  lafcrcicus,  as  being  very  fiatulenf. 
—  The  black  Bile  is  one  of  the  coldejl 
and  hotteji  of  Things ;  Naturally  cold^  and 
bringing  on  Apoplexy^  Stupor^  Defpondency^ 
a7id  Terrors  :  But  once  fet  on  Fire,  it  pro- 
duceth  Singing,  Security,  Ecjlacles  and  In- 
flammations. —  Many  from  the  Approach 
of  this  Heat  to  the  Seat  of  the  Mind,  are 
feized  with  mad  and  enthufiafllc  Fits ;  be- 
coqie  Sybils,  Bacchanals,  and  Infpired,  No- 
thing fo  various  and  inconftant  as  this 
black  Humour',  now  chilling  Men  with 
Fear  and  Trembling  -,  foon  ralfing  again 
their  Courage-^  opprefiing  us  with  Sorrow 
and  Defpondency,  we  know  not  why  ;  then 
making  us  rejoice  and  exult,  for  as  little 
Reafon,  &c."  He  then  inquireth  into  the 
Reafons,  "  why  the  Agents  In  the  Baccha- 
nalian Myfteries  are,  for  the  mofl:  Part, 
Perfons  of  fuch  bad  Morahr  —  To  fuch 
ConjVitutlonal  Dlforders  is  the  human  Kind 
fubjed  ;  and  if  the  Managers  of  Metho-^ 
dlfm  can  turn  thcje  Natural  Caufes  and 
EffeBs  Into  fo  many  Principles  and  Proofs 
of  true  Religion  -,  they  muft  be  allowed 
fome  Share  of  Artifice  and  Contrivance, 

Dd  («OPer- 


(    202    ) 

(8.)    Peribns  of  bad  Principles   will  be 
fond  of  mingling  with  an  Enthufiaflic  Sect. 
—  As,   for  Inftance,  HypccriteSy  who  lay- 
ing hold  of  devout  Appearances^  and  high 
Pretenfions  to  Religion,  are  defirous  to  pafs 
upon  the  World  for  Saints  -,    in   order  to 
deceive  the  more  effedliially.  —  Perfons  of 
a  vain  and  ambitious  Mind,  who  love  to 
be  fomebody   in  a    new   Difpenfation,    that 
makes   a  little  Noife  in  the  World  ;  and 
knowing    how   unable  they   are  to  make 
a  Figure  elfewhere,    muil:  needs  be  at  the 
Head  of  difeparate  Tarty  or  SeB  -,  or  elfe, 
from  mere  Conceitednefs,  will  fet  up  to  be 
Teachers,  Preachers,  or  Expounders.  Hence 
.  Mr.  Brainerd  o\wr\s^  that  Satan  has  gained 
Journ.     an   Advantage,  "  Spiritual  Pride  appear- 
p.  1 08.    jj^g   jj^   ^^   Ambition  to    be    Teachers    of 
others."     To  which  he  afterwards  addeth, 
that  "  Spiritual  Pride  and  Delufions  na- 
turally   lay    a    Foundation   for  Jcandalous 
PraBices.''      Hence    fo    many    ignorant, 
fawcy  Bays  and  Women  ramble  about  the 
Country,     picking    the    Pockets    of    {illy 
People,  2isMetbodiJl  Preachers,    To  whom, 
Enthuf.     however,  Mr.  Wefiey  gives  Authority,  be- 
2d  Part,   caufe  &W  gave    them   Wifdom   from    ar 
^'  ^^  *     bove." — Perfons  of  an  impertinent  and  un- 
njoarrantable  Curiojity  will  readily  be  taken 
in*     As  the  Journalijls  give  Accounts   of 
Heart-Sins  revealed  and  laid  bare  ;  Things 
dijlant  and  abjent  fcen  as  plainly  as  if  pre- 

Jent ', 


(    203    ) 

fent ',  future  Events  foretold  hy  Prophecy^ 
ViJiGus  and  Infpratlons^  both  Cclejtial  and 
Satanical,  and  the  like;  —  To  Met  ho  dijm 
therefore  muft  we  ail  gang,  and  be  ini- 
tiated mioihtfublime  Myftiries'y  muft  even 
learn  from  Satan  what  GWhath  concealed, 
and  bear  from  Satan,  or  elfe  the  cimningMan^ 
Tortures  which  God  hath  ?JOt  required. 

Lafdy,  Perfons  oi  prof i gate  Lives,  and 
Libertine  Sentiments,  are  wont  to  take  up 
With  fiich  Dekifions.  When  they  are  touch- 
ed with  a  Senfe  of  Guilt,  their  Reafon  is 
fo  hurried  and  diftradlxd,  that  they  know 
not  which  Way  to  turn  -,  but  are  apt 
(like  People,  on  fome  great  Lofs,  flying 
to  the  Conjurer,  or  Wizard)  to  betake 
themfelves  to  fome  fallacious  Expedient ^ 
unfaf  Security,  falfe  DoBrine,  or  S^uack 
Remedy,  of  a  Mouth  that  fpeaketh  great 
Things ;  neglefting  every  regular  Method, 
Thus  'tis  no  uncommon  Thing  f  )r  Prcfi- 
gates  and  Libertines,  in  the  ylrticle  of 
Danger,  to  catch  hold  on  the  Pafsport  of 
Popery,  or  Methodifm,  Which  probably 
is  a  Device  of  Satan  to  beguile  them ;  or 
''  becaufe  they  have  not  received  theaTheff. 
Love  oi  Truth,  God  may  permit  a  jlrong'^'^—' 
Delufon,  that  they  ihould  believe  a  Lye." 

In  fnort,    I    am  fully    perfuaded,    that 

'tis  fome   Fault,    or   fome   Difeaje,     fome 

Diforder   of  Mind  or   Body,  that  cni-ieth 

weak  and  wicked  Perfons  into  the    En'- 

D  d  3  thiijii[f}n 


(    204    ) 

thufmfm  of  Methodifm :  Which  (as  the 
Relult  of  my  beft  Thoughts,  and  Integrity 
of  Heart )  I  would  advife  all  to  avoid, 
and  not  to  come  among  them  on  any  Ac- 
count whatfoever. 

Veniunt  Icve  '■oiilgiis^  eiintque^ 

Illic  Creduhtasy  illic  temerarhis  Error, 
Vanaque  Lc^titia  efi,  conjiernatique  Timor es, 
Seditioqtie  repejis,--  ■■  ■ 

"  Tcung  Perfons,  the  Methodip  tell  us, 
are  apt  to  run  into  Extremes -^'^  and  there- 
fore no  regular  and  tedious  Courfe  oi  Re- 
pentance and  good  Works  will  ferve  the 
Turn.  Far  don,  Afjurance^  and  Afjgelical 
PerfeBion  muft  rapidly  be  fnatched  up ; 
juft  as  the  Schcolmen  fay,  *'  of  Angels,  that 
they  can  pafs  injiantaneouf.y  from  one  Ex- 
treme of  Space  to  another,  without  pafTing 
through  the  Mediu?n,'' 

§.  36.  Having  thus  obferved  fome  of 
the  Evils  attending  the  Profelytes  to  Me^ 
tbodijmy  at  length  we  arrive  at  the  boafled 
Cure,  the  Removal  of  thefe  horrible  Suf- 
ferings. Sta'-c,  and  efeBual,  this  ought 
to  be,  to  make  a  Compenfation  ;  and  'tis  fit 
a  Paracelfus,  or  Ignatius,  (hould  be  called 
in,  with  their  infallible  Remedies.  Mr. 
Wejley^  from  2ifeemhig  Renunciation  oj  M- 
racks,  as  was  obferved  before,  gets  gra- 
dually 


(  205  ) 
dually  Into  a  ftili  Claim  of  them.     Some  of 
his  Cures  are   plainly   declared   to  be  mi^ 
ractdous',  and  others  reprefented  with  fuch 
a  miraculous  Air^  as  can't  fail  of  fucceed- 
ing  with  his   Followers,     He  fays  of  him- 
felf,  ''  I   was  fuddenly  feized  with  fuch  a 4  Journ. 
Pain  in  my  Side^    that  I  could  720t  Jpealz,  P*  ^7- 
I    knew    my    Remedy,    and  immediately 
kneeled  down.     In  a  Mome?7t  the  Pain  was 
gone." — Again;  "  1  was  feized  with  fuch  p.  83. 
a  Cough ^  that   I  could  hardly  fpeak.     At 
the   fame    time   came    ftrongly    into    my 
Mind,  T'hefe   Signs  JJmll  follow   them  that 
believe, — I  called  on  fefiis  aloud  to  increaje 
my  Faith ^  and  to  confirm  the  Word  of  his 
Grace,     While  I  was  fpeaking,  my  Pain 
vanifhed  away.     The  Fever  left  me.     My 
bodily  Strength  returned,  ©c/' 

The  Credulity  of  fome  of  your  Followers 
will  readily  fwallow  it.       But   why    will 
you  teach  them    fuch  a  frefuwptuoiis  Lef 
/on ;  and  which  their  own  Experiences,  I 
doubt,  would  confute'?  Suppofe  any  iliould 
be  feized  in  the  fame  Manner,  with  Pain^ 
Lofs  of  Speech^    a  Cough,    or  Fever ;    and 
fliould  immediately   kneel   down,   beg  an 
Increafe  of  Faith,  a  Co7ifirmation  of  God's 
Word',  —  Will  you  anfwer  for  their  per- 
fed:  Cure  in  a  Moment  ?  Or,  if  they  (liould 
not  obtain  it,  into  what  do  you  lead  them, 
but  into  a  Difi?elief  of  God's  Word,  Mi- 
racles^   Goodnfs   and    Providence  ?    What 

mull 


(    206    ) 

muft  they  think,  but  that  they  are  Cajla^ 
zc^ys ;  liave  no  Pardon^  no  Faith  3  and 
thereby  fall  into  Dejpair  -,  in  which  Mire. 
they  arc  fo  often  ^wallowing  ?  —  However, 
you  came  off  a  little  better  than  Cardan^ 
one  of  your  V/himfical  Breth?'en  -,  who 
Vita  Prop,  f^ys,  ''  I  will  relate  another  Thing.  (For 
"^'  ^'^'  my  whole  Life  abounds  with  fuch  Ex- 
amples.) I  was  fo  iii  of  2.  Pleurify,  that  I 
defpaired  of  Life.  I  had  read  in  fome 
ColleBions  of  my  Father^  '  that  if  any  one 
at  Eight  in  the  Morning,  on  tlie  Qdends 
of  Aprils  would  entreat  the  Bkfed  Vir- 
gin on  his  bended  Knees,  for  any  Thing 
lawful,  he  fliould  obtain  his  Requeft.  I 
obferved  punctually  the  Day  and  Hour, 
and  made  my  Supplication  ^  and  then,  not 
inftanily  indeed,  but  on  Corpus  Chrifi  Day 
in  the  fame  Year,  I  was  wholly  fet  free. 
Afterwards,  remembering  this  Fac^,  I  made 
my  Supplication  in  the  Gout,  (for  my  jFj- 
iher  had  produced  two  Inftances  of  Per- 
fons  thus  cured  of  that  Diftemper.)  And 
it  made  me  much  better,  and  foon  per- 
feftly  healed.  But  in  this,  I  had  Recourfe 
like  wife  to  Medicines''  —  Mr.  B^efley  a- 
5  journ.  gain ;  *'  This  Evening  I  received  two 
^•"9*  Blows.  But  both  were  as  nothing;  for 
tho'  one  Man  ftruck  me  on  the  Breaji 
with  all  his  Might,  and  the  other  on  the 
Mouth  wth  fuch  a  Force,  that  the  Blood 
gufied  out  immediately;    I    felt  no  more 

Pain 


(    207    ) 
Pain  from  either  of  the  Blows,    than  if 
they  had  touched  me  with  a  Straw  J" 

Here  is  perfonal  Proof  of  his  Doflrine 
of  Infenfibiliiy,  and  that  "  the  Servants  of 
God  fiiff'er  ?iothingJ'  Their  Feeling  is 
quick  enough,  when  there  is  nothing  to 
be  felt ;  but  let  them  have  a  JVou?id^  or 
Blow^  given  with  the  utmoji  Force^  their 
Senjation  is  lolt ;  'tis  but  the  gentle  Touch 
of  a  Straw,  However,  I  give,  at  leaft,  as 
much  Credit  to  the  Relation  in  the  Bre- 
viary,  ( in  iifiun  Sarum )  that  "  when 
the  Officers  would  bind  St,  Clement  to  aNov.  z?^ 
Pillar,  in  order  to  whip  him,  they  found 
they  were  only  binding  and  whipping  a 
Poji  ;**  God  fubftituting  a  Log  of  Wood  in 
the  Place  of  the  Saint's  Body.  . 

§.37.  I  fhall  pafs  over  many  Tales  of 
this  wonderful  Nature  in  Mr.  JVeJley's  four-^ 
■iials,  and  proceed  to  confider  the  Bulk 
and  Magazine  of  his  miraculous  Cures^  a- 
mong  his  fallings  convuljed,  or  otherwife 
tortured  Patients  ^,  in  which  his  great 
Strength  lies.  And  what  if  we  fliould 
de?7y  the  ba£is  ?  I  mean,  fo  far  as  any 
Thing  of  Miracle  is  concerned.  Grounds 
and  Reafons  enough  may  appear,  even 
from  his  own  Accounts.  From  his  nu- 
merous Accounts  therefore  let  us  feledt  ^ 
few  loftauces  of  this  Kind. 

"  When 


(    208    ) 

3  Journ.       <«   When  he    (the  Newgate  Phyjician) 
^'  ^^^'      law  her  Body  and  Soul  healed  in  a  Mo^ 

menty  he  acknowledged  the  Finger  of  God.'* 

p.  44.    —  "  He    then   beat    himfelf   againft  the 

Ground  again  ;    his  Breaft  heaving,  as  in 

the  Pangs  of  Death,  and  great  Drops   of 

Sweat  trickling  down   his  Face.     VVe  all 

betook   ourfelves  to  Prayer.      His   Pangs 

ceafedy  and  both  his  Body  and  Soul  were 

p.  93.   fet  at  Liberty.'' — ''  In  a  Moment  Godfpoke 

Peace   unto   the  Soul,    fir  ft,    of  the  firft- 

tormented,    and    then    of    the   other."  — 

P.  95.     ««  L — y  C — rs  Agonies  fo  increafed,  that 

it  feemed  fhe  was  in  the  Pangs  of  Death. 

But  in  a  Moment  God  fpoke,    fiie   knew 

his   Voice,    and    both   her   Body   and  Soul 

4  Journ.  ^^^^  l^^aled."—  "  Some,  whom  God  per- 
^'  ^  '      mitted  Satan  to  poflefs  with  Laughing  al- 

moft  without  cealing,  and  who  thus  con- 
tinued, for  two  Days,  a  Spedacle  to  ally 
were,  upon  Prayer  made,  delivered  in  a 
Moment,'" 

Thefe  Cafes,  and  many  other  fuch,  (if 
Mr.  Wefley  pleafeth)  fliall  be  allowed  at 
prefent  to  ftand  upon  Account  as  i^ijlan- 
taiieouSy  miracidous  Cures,  Let  him  only 
give  me  Credit  for  a  little  Time.  To 
3  Journ.  thefe  he  may  add,  '^  his  twenty-fix  Per- 
^'5^*  fons  thus  affecSed,  who  were  in  a  Moment 
filled  with  Peace  and  Joy:"  —  Item,  his 
Divine  Removals  of  Diforders,    where  the 

Patient's 


(    209    ) 

Fatlenfs   Cafe   was    "   wo\.  underpod,    or3  Jouro. 
falfely   deemed  MadnefSy  or  Natural  DiJ-^^^tl,^^/ 
temper  \  or  their  being   pronounced  ijicu-^^  2^, 
rable,  or  given  over,   by  the  Phyftcia72 ,  and 
the  Neceffity  of  a  better  Pby/idan/* 

The  Legends  of  the  Saints  are  fuch  Com- 
mon-place Books  of  thefe  iDonderful  Cures, 
that  Cart-loads  of  Parallels  might  be  pro- 
duced.    Mr.   Wefley  fays,   "  he  hath  read 
that  furprizing  Book,  the  Life  of  Ignatius 
Loyola  5    furely   one  of  the  greateft  Men, 
©*r."     And   I   find  there  too   many  Pa- 
rallels,   and  fimilar   ExpreJJions,    to   make 
any  Doubt  of  it.     For,  "   when  a  Boy's  Bartol. 
Cafe  was  undertaken  by  a  Chirurgeon,    a"^^^-  ^§"- 
more  Jkilfid  Phyfician  w^as    neceffary ;  the^og^^^'.^. 
Boy  muft    be   healed  by   Ignatius,  —  An  443  >  444- 
Epileptic  Woman,  biting  and  tearing  her- 
felf,  having  tried  Phyficians   in   vain,    by 
imploring    the    InterceJJion  of  the   Man  of 
God,  was  immediately  made  as  found  and 
free,  as  if  flie  had  never  been  difordered. 

—  Another  receives  iyiflantaneous  Cure  both 
of  Soul  and  Body,  —  Another  grievoufly 
tormented,  by  promifing  to  attend  Igjia- 
tius's.  Chapel,  and  go  to  Confejjion,  wonders 
to   find  her  felf  cured  intirely  in  an  Infa?it. 

—  One  pofejjed  by  the  Devil  was  perfecflly 
motionlejs  and Jpee chiefs  ;  then  again,  furious 
and  roaring,  Phyficians  afcrihed  this  un- 
accountable Diforder  to  the  black  Bile,  but 
in  Truth  many  Devils  had  feized  her  5  and 

E  e  aftec 


(    2IO    ) 

after  her  Vow  to  St.  Ignatius  they  all  fled, 
leaving  the  Woman  free  from  all  Com- 
plaints.'* .^ —  Such  Numbers  of  miraculous 
Cures  may  be  brought,  and  fo  highly  re- 
dounding to  the  Glory  both  of  Ignatius^ 
and  Mr.  Wejley,  that  o?ie  Miracle  will  pror- 
bably,  and  unhappily,  be  turned  upon 
myfelf.^  Mr.  Wejley  has  got  fuch  a  Knack 
of  taking  an  Advantage,  that  I  fhall  fair- 
ly trafifcribe  the  Story^  before  he  can 
make  the  Application.  Bartolus  fays,  ''  A 
Religious  of  a  certain  Order ^  but  unworthy 
of  the  Religious  Habit,  being  envious  and 
incredulous,  took  upon  him  to  write  a  Sa- 
tire againji  St.  Ignatius.  But  upon  look- 
ing back  on  what  he  had  written,  he  was 
furprized  to  find  that  his  Hand  had  v/rote 
what  was  diredlly  contrary  to  the  Dilates 
of  his  malicious  Mind-,  for  there  was  no- 
thing but  Traifes  of  Ignatius,  inflead  of 
Ahufes.  Thinking  there  muft  have  been 
fome  Mijiakc,  he  takes  his  Ten  in  Hand 
again,  in  order  to  redtify  the  Error,  and 
vent  his  Wrath ;  and  again  his  Hand  could 
do  nothing,  but  fet  down  Traifes  of  the 
Saint,  inf. ead  of  Railleries.  A  third  Ti?ne 
repeating  his  malicious  Defgn,  he  was  de- 
luded in  the  fapie  Manner.  Moreover,  fu- 
pid  and  angry  as  he  v/a^,  while  he  was 
renewing  his  facrilegious  Attempt,  his  Ren 
ju?nped  out  of  his  Hand  into  the  Middle  of 
the  Room,    and  his  Hand^  turned  by  au 

cccuH 


(211     ) 

occult  Powery  hit  himfelf  a  great  Blow  on 
the  Face  :  So  that,  at  length,  being  quite 
cj}:amed  and  affrighted,  he  changed  both 
his  Stile  and  Mind  towards  the  Saints 
'Tis  true  indeed,  that  I  have  been  forced^ 
as  it  were,  to  difplay  the  Coriifiation  of  Mr., 
Wejlef^  Miracles  \  this  Moment  my  Pen 
is  in  my  Hand,  not  yet  leaping  out  of  it^ 
and  ready  (contrary  to  my  Intention)  to 
make  a  fmall  Addition,  "  A  pejliknt  Dif-  BartoL 
eafe  raged  at  this  Time  ;  fome  dead,  others  P'  ^^"^ 
dying.  Application  is  made  to  the  Fa- 
thers of  the  Society y  who  fend  the  Image 
of  St.  Ignatius  among  them.  And  from 
the  Time  of  this  Image  being  brought* 
all,  who  implored  the  Saint's  healing 
Handy  grew  perfeBly  welly  not  one  ex-^ 
cepted  ;  not  even  thofe  who  were  in  Ex- 
trenies''  Now  admitting  only,  (and  who 
will  deny  it  ?  )  that  Mr.  Wefey  is  the 
Image  of  St.  Ignatius ;  he  will  aftord  a 
like  Cafe.  ''  I  vifited  the  Sicli.  Moft  of  4  Jc^ni. 
them  were  ill  of  the  Spotted  Fever  5  which,  P'  ^' 
they  informed  me^  had  been  extremely  mor- 
tal \  few  Perfons  recovering  from  it.  But 
G^/^  had  faid,  Hitherto  fialt  thou  come.  I 
believe,  there  was  not  onCy  where  we  were^ 
but  recovered"' 

But  whatever  Miracles  Mr.  IVefiey  maV 

bring  to  Account -y  I  judge,  that  I  ought; 

to  be  impartial,   and  make  proper  Deduc^ 

tiojiSy  v.'hatever  be  the  Event  ^  though,  in 

E  e  2  .       Confer 


(    212    ) 

Confequence,  I  fliould  be  miracuUzed  into 
Dread  and  Shame ^  for  tarnifliing  his  Glory* 

§.  38.   One  may  obferve  then,   that  a 
great  Number  of  his  Cures  were  very  im- 
ferfeBj  and  oi  foort  Continuance  \  and  that 
many  of  his    "Patients  grow  ijoorfe  and  die  j 
all  from  his  own  Accounts, 
3  Journ.       "  A  Woman  cried  out,  as  in  the  Ago-* 
pag.  24.    j^;V^  Qf  Death.     The  Minijier  of  the  Parifh 
told  her    Husband   fl:te    was    mad.      The 
Phyjicians   blood,   blifter  her,    and  fo  on. 
Till  the  laft  Night,  He,  whofe  Word  was 
Jharper  than    a?2y   two-edged  Sword,    gave 
her  a  feint  Hope,  that  he  would   undertake 
her  Cure/'     Nor  is  any  more  faid  of  her. 
P.  26.    —  "A  few  of  us  pray'd  for   him  -,  and 
from  that  time    (as  his  Parents  (ince  in- 
formed  us)  he  had  more  rejl  (altho'  not 
a  full  Deliverance)  than   he  had   had  for 
two  Years  before."      No  farther  Account 
P.  61.    of  him.  —  ''  Many  dropt  down  as  dead. 
"ihe  Pains  of  Hell  came  about  them.  —  We 
called  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  gave  us  an 
Anfwer  of  Peace.     One  indeed  continued 
an  Hour  in  ftrong  Pain,  and  one  or  two 
more  for  three  Days.     Another  continues 
?.  68, 69.  fo  twelve  or  fourteen  Hours."'  —  "  Others 
were   eafed,    tho'    ?20t  jet   at   Liberty.'"  -^ 
*'  Another  in  a  defpairing  Fit  eafed,  but 
,1;?^/  fet  at  Liberty y 

*'  A  Wo- 


(    213    ) 

.  "  A  Woman  catched  hold  on  me,  and  4  Jo-^tn. 
faid  abruptly,  *  I  mufi:  fpeak  with  you,^*^'^* 
and  will. — -I  have  finned  againft  the  Light, 
• — beyond  Forgivenefs. — I  have  been  curf- 
mg  you  in  my  Heart,  and  blafphcfmng  God^ 
ever  fince  I  came  here. — I  am  damned.  I 
am  in  Hell,  &c,'  I  delired  fome,  who 
had  great  Confidence  in  God,  to  join  in 
crying  to  him  in  her  Behalf.  Immediate- 
ly that  hor7^ibIe  D?^ead  wa.s  taken  away,  and 
fhe  began  to  fee  fome  D awnings  of  Hope"* 
' —  Another    is    left,    for    the  prefcnt,    in    P.  6S: 

Peace."       "   Edward   IV ill    fevera^  joum. 

Days,    m  deep   Defpair,      We   cried    untoP*^»^^- 
God, — and  a  little  Light  fhone  upon  him* 

Some  of  thefe  Jlrange  Fits  are  of  lo?ig  3  journ. 
Continuance y    and  gradually   removed;    mP-^i,  6 sm- 
others we  find  frequent  Returns  and   Re-^^^  ' 
Japfes  ',  in   fome  ViciJJitudes  and  Intervals  of 
Rage  and  Calmnefs ;    of  fudden   Defpair, 
and  as  fudden  Joy  :  Some  grow  better  by  4  Joum. 
Prayer,    others  worfe :  Some  lofe  the  UfeP'^"^'^?- 
of  their  Limbs,  and  many  J/>.  p.  10/77, 

My  Reafon  for   being   fo  particular  in 

thefe  Cafes  is  not  to  fix  any  Blame  on  Mr, 

Wejley  for  not  curing  all  his  Patients  ^  or 

--for  not  doing  it  iinmediately,    or  at  once^ 

r&cc. — but  to  have  it  obferved,  that  all  is 

--per fed: ly  confonant  to  the  Nature  of  Fits^ 

Ji-as    oi  Fe'-oers^    Convuljions^    Hyfterics,    Epi-^ 

lepfies,  Swoonings^  and  the  like ;  in   which 

we  need  no  Authorities  to  prove,  that  fome 

recover 


(    214    ) 

recover  injlantly^  fome  not  without  longei^ 
TifMy  and  fome  neve)' ;  that  thefe  hits 
have  all  their  Natural  Periods,  fome 
longer,  and  fome  (horter  5  Returns  fewer,  or 
more  j  RemiJJions,  IntermiJJionSy  and  lucid 
Intervals  ^ —  different  according  to  People's 
different  Tempers  and  Diftempers,  or  the 
different  Kind  or  Degree  of  the  Diforder  ; 
—  and,  I  may  add,  all  eafily  and  fre- 
quently counterfeited. 

Let  us  fee  Mr.  Wejley  reftore  inftanta- 

■  neoufly  a   withered  Arm,    a   LiCg   that   is 

cut  off^  or  fupply  the  Defed:  of  any  Li?72h  j 

and   it    may    deferve    our    Confideration* 

But   little  Convid:ion  will  follow  from  his 

Creation  of  Miracles  out  of  Natural  Fits ; 

?.ll   will   be  deemed   mere  Dijlemper.     A 

Power   of  working  Miracles  he   pofitive- 

ly  afferts  5   "  God  fetting  his  Seal  to  their 

3  Journ.  Minijlry  -y'  and  "  fo   many  Living  Wit^ 

pag.  40.   neffes  hath  Gc'^/ given,  \k\2Xhis  Hand  is  ftill 

Jlretched  out  tohealy  and  thdX  Signs  andWon-^ 

ders  are  even  now  wrought  by   His  Holy 

Fan.Ap^.Child  Jefus/*     Nor  let  him   cavil  (as  he 

V-  '^^'^-  bath  done)  '^  that  thefe  Things,  feeming 

to  go  beyond  the  Power  of  Nature,  were 

yet  not   done   by  his  own  Power  or  Ho^ 

linefs ',  but  by   the  Power  of  God{'    and 

that  a  Methodijl  Preacher  is  only  God's  In- 

Jlrument  iii  the  IVork.      For    which   even 

of  the  Apofiles  ever  claimed  more  ?    Nor 

'   is  it  any   great  Mark  of  his   Modefty,   or 

SefDe?iiali  that    his    Pretenfions   rife    720 

hiQ-hcr 


(   215   ) 

higher    than   ihofe    of  St.  Pefery    or    Si. 

Paul. 

Greater  Things,  I  confefs,  are  perform- 
ed by   Popi/Ij    Saints ;    and  I  have  fome- 
times  wondered  the  Roman  Breviary  fhould 
ftill  retain  fo    many  extravagant  and  fa- 
bulous Miracles ;  — ^  as  that  concerning  St. 
StaniJlauSy    '^  whofe    Body    being   cut    toiXz^^, 
Pieces^  and  his  Limbs  fcattered  about  the 
Fields^    were    all  afterwards  gathered  upy 
difpofed  in  their  proper  Places^  and  jo  clofe- 
ly  and  exaSlly  joined  of  a  fudden,  that  not 
the  leafl  Traces  or  Marks   of  any  Wound 
appeared.'*     But  'tis  Matter  of  no  Wonder, 
that  the  fefuits  and  Fr  and  [cans  fhould  cry 
up  the  Miracles  of  their  Founders^  as  fu^ 
perior  to   thofe  of  the  Prophets  and  Apo- 
files  \    or  that  Lying  Wonders  in  general, 
miraculous  Cures    and  ExorcifmSy   are   the 
perpetual  Boafting    of  the  Man  of  Sin : 
To  bring  Inftances  would  be  fuperfluous. 
Let  them  enjoy  them  all,   as  a   Part  of 
their    indelible    CharaBer -^    and    let    Mr. 
Wefey   triumph    in    his   Emulation  j    and 
hereby  draw  a  gaping,    ftupid   Reverence 
from  his  "  wildy  Jiaringy  loving  Societies.''     x^^^^^ 
Thefe  are  his  own  Words,  in  defcribing  p.  76. 
one  of  them ;  as  if  he  defigned  to  draw 
to  himfelf  thdX  Comparifon.     '•'  His  deadly ^^^^^^^.^ 
Wound  was  healedy  and  the  World  wonder-^ 
ed  after  the  Beaji:\  ^^^^ 


'  ^.'39.  Some^^ 


C  216  ) 

§.  39.  Something  more,  however,  may 
be  brought,  by  Way  of  Dedu5iion,  One 
fo  well  Jkilled  in  Phy/ic  may,  for  the  moft 
Part,  make  a  probable  ConjeBiire^  when  the 
Fit  will  be  off,  or  at  leaft  abate.  But 
ihould  it  continue  longer  than  was  ex- 
peded,  he  is  ready  with  a  Solution.  If 
fhort,  God  doth  it  immediately ;  if  lo7ig^ 
Journ.  God  delayeth  Relief .  For  Inftance  ;  ^*  On 
feveral  Evenings  this  Week  many  were 
deeply  convinced  ;  but  none  were  delivered 
from  that  Painful  Convi^ion.  The  Chil- 
dren came  to  the  Birth ;  but  there  was  ?iot 
Strength  to  bring  forth,  I  fear  we  have 
grieved  the  Spirit  of  the  fealoia  God,  by 
queftioning  his  Work  :  And  that  therefore 
he  is  withdrawn  from  us  for  a  Seafon.  -^ 
Two  more  were  in  Jlrong  Pain,  both 
their  Souls  and  Bodies  being  welUiiigb 
torn  afunder.  But  tho'  we  cried  unto 
God,  there  was  no  Anfwer,  neither  did  He 
as  yet  deliver  them  at  all.'*  The  Papifs 
have  the  fame  ready  Turn,  when  the  Devil 
Tbyras.  is  obftinacc,  or  the  Fit  long.  "  For  the 
Sins  of  the  P^P^i  fometimes  deferve,  that 
they  fhould  not  immediately  be  deliver- 
ed from  the  Devils ;  and  lo  by  the  jujl 
judgment  of  God,  the  moft  ejjicacious  Ex^ 
crcifms  are  of  no  Service.  Sometimes  alfo 
the  Sins  of  others  not  pofeffcd  are  the  Rea- 
fon  of  the  Spirit's  Delay  -,  tliey  want  Faith^ 
and  full  Hope  of  obtaining  Deliverance'' 

For 


Daemon. 


Por  another  DeduSliotiy   'tis  obfervablci 
that,   in  feveral   Cafes  of  a  fettled  Difor- 
der,  Mr.  TVeJley  doth  not  fo  mlich  as  at- 
tempt a   Cure  I    and    *tis    prudently   done. 
Where  the  Patient  hath  not  Trarifieiit  Fits^ 
his  Power  faileth*       Thus^    "   I  was  de-?  Jo^m. 
fired  to  meet  one  who  was  ill  of  a  very^'  ^^* 
uncommon  Diforder.     She  faid^   *   for  fe- 
veral Years    I  have  heard  a  Foite   conti- 
nually fpeaking  to  me,  curfing,  fwearing, 
blafphemingj  &V.     I  have  applied  to  Phy^ 
ficians^    and  taken  all  Sorts  of  MedicineSy 
but  am  never  the  better  ?— ^No,  replies  he^ 
nor  ever   will   till  a  better  Fhyfician  than 
thefe  bruifes  Satan  under  her  Feet."  —  So  t,  7^5 
again>  in   "  that  Inftance  of  genuiire  En- 
thufiafm^    (and   in   Truth   direB  Madnefs) 
when  y^^—  B--— ,   of  "tanfield-Leigh,   came 
hollowing  and  (houting  thro'  the  Town, 
driving  all  People  before  him,  and  faying^ 
God  had  told  him  he  fhould  be  a  King^ 
and  tread  all  his  Enemies  under  his  Feet  ^ 
I  fent  him  Home,  fays  Mr.  V/ef^ey^   im- 
mediately to  his  Work,  and  advifed  him 
to  cry  Day  and  Night  to  Godr  -^  This 
is  all    *'   that    is    faid^  or   done,  in   both 
Cafes.     The  Diforders  were  gons  too  far^ 
beyond  the  Paroxifms  of  a  Fit  3   no  Laureb 
to  be  gathered  by  undertaking  a  Cure  of 
fuch   difficult    and  tedious   Operation.      In 
thefe  Circumftances    he    might  truly  fay* 
\[  what   do   you  think  I    can  do  ?    And 
F  f  ther§^ 


(    2l8    ) 

Thyr3s.  therefore  he  wifely  taketh  that  Advice'  to 
^smon.  ^^Qj.^ip^  vi^y^tx:  to  attempt  any  Thing 
122.  above  their  Strcjjgth  :  To  which  is  added, 
the  Example  of  St.  Anthony^  who,  when 
a  Boy,  faid  to  be  pofjejjed^  w^as  brought 
to  him,  immediately  knew  it  was  too  po- 
tent a  Spirit  for  him  to  eje^.  And  Pope 
Gregory  (Dialog.  Lib.  i.  Cap.  lo.)  fliew- 
eth,  that  the  Man  is  poffeffed  with  a 
Devil  himfelf,  who  dares  attempt  the  Ex- 
pidfion  of  a  Devil  in  a  Cafe  beyond  his 
Power. '' 

We  may  alledge  too  what  Irenceus  fays 

of  the  pretended  Miracles  of  fome  Heretics 

in  his  Days ;    "  They  cannot  drive  away 

all  Devils,  but  only  thofe  whom  themfelves 

have  put  in.""     I  will  produce  the  whole 

Pafjage^  for  the  Sake  of  the  Comparifon  in 

Lib.  II.  feveral  Particulars.     "  Si?non,  and   Carpo-^ 

^^^'  5^'  cratesy  and  others  who  are  faid  to  'work 

Wonders,  do  it  not  by  the  Power  of  God-^ 

nor  in  'Truth -^    nor  doing  any  good-^  but 

by   fnagical    Delufions   and    Frauds   doing 

inore  Mifchief  than  Benefit  to  the  credulous 

Perfons,    whom  they  have  fediiced.      For 

they  can  neither  give  Sight  to  the  Blind, 

nor  hearing  to  the  Deaf  5  nor  drive  away 

all  Devils,    but  only   thofe   whom   them-- 

Jelves  have  put  in-,  if,  however,    they  do 

even  this,  —  IVJuch  lefs  can  they  raife  the 

Dead;~ 

Wbether 


(219  )     ^  ,   . 

Whether-  ^\\o{z  dy-eadfid  Maladies  among 

the    Meihodijls  2.x^ pit  in   by 'Mr.   Wejle'^ 

or  Satdf?^  (for   both    have   their  Claim)  I 

leave  themfelves  to  decide  at  their  next  CoJi- 

fcrence. 

The  Expreffion  above,  of  doing  more 
Hurt  than  Goody  fuggefteth  oiie  more  De^ 
duMion-:  For  I  am  perfuaded  ymir  Method^ 
TtAxi  Wejley,  hath  hindered  the  Cure  of  fe- 
veral"  Perfons  V  if  not  occafioned  their 
Death,  After  your  co7itempfuous  T^reatmcnt 
of  Natural  Means,  and  the  Skilful  in  their 
ProfeJJion  as  ali  Phyjicians'  of  no  Value:, 
(though  both;  ordained  by  God  to' give  Eafe, 
and  prolong  Z//^':).— After  your  calling 
Application  to-.  Natural  Means,  5'  fend- 3  joum. 
ing- -People  to  th-e "  Dm/  for .  Cure  ;  toP  ' 
Company,  idle  -Books  2iuA  Diver/ions -,"'' 
(which,  with  Submiffion  to  your  fuperior 
Wijdbmi  m-^y  be  of  great  Ufe.)  —  What 
genuine  Methodijl  will  think  of  cbnfulting 
the  Faculty ;  efpecially  as  Perfons  difor- 
dered  like  thofe  in  Methodifm,  have  from 
the  very  Nature  of  the  Difeafe  an  Aver- 
fion  to  the  proper  Remedies  ?  This  I  take  to 
have  been  the  Misfortune  of  the  Hitchens\ 
who  were  as  genuine  Methodijls  as  can 
well  be  conceived  ;  plunging  into  the  Vi- 
ciflitudes  of  Light  and  Dark?iefs,  Prefump- 
tion  and  Defpair,  Faith  and  Infidelity', 
with  every  Peculiarity  of  ^ild  Enthufiajm^ 
Till  their  heated  Brains  threw  them^  into 
F  f  3  that 


66. 


(    22G    ) 

that  Calenture,  and  malignant  Fever,  of 
which  both  of  them  died.  And  not  a 
Word  is  mentioned,  in  the  Account  of 
their  Deaths,  of  Phyftcian,  Apothecary,  or 
other  rational  Remedy  and  Affiftance. 

This  unnatural  ConduB  may  perhaps  be 
defended  from  fome  PopiJI:}  Examples :  — * 

Exem^'l   ^^  ^^  ^^^^  ''  Monk,  who  being  very  in-, 
pi^t.  3.  '  firm,    foolifhly   confulted    the    Phy/icians^ 
ix.  28.    One  Day  he  favv  the  Virgin  Mary_  come 
with  ^  Box  of  moll  precious  RleBuary^  and 
giving  each  Monk  a  Spoonful  of  it  v^ith 
her  moft  fweet  Hand,  as  they  went  into 
the  Chapel,     Our   Monk  was  exceedingly 
rejoiced  ^t  this.     But  when  he  pafled  by, 
fhe  repelled  him  with  Indignation  •  "  Go, 
inake  ufe  of  your  Medicines,  you  (hall  have 
none  of  fnine,  feeing  you  apply  to  Phyji-- 
ciaits,  without  depending  upon  me^*     The 
Mo72k  blujhed,  and  immediately  threw  away 
^11  his  Medicines^ 
Pr^iig.        But,  on  the   other  Hand,    Wierus  ob^ 
Cap.tV   ferves,  ^'  that  tr^e   Ex  or  cijl  s  ukd  firft  to 
purge  the  PoffelTed    from  the  i>lack  Bile, 
and  other  peccant  Humours,   before  they  fet 
about   their  Conjurations.      And  he  gives 
Inftances   of  Perfons    perfedly    cured   by 
Phyjic, ,  when   no  Exorcifms  were  of  any 
Service.''     And  a  rcioxt  ge?iuine  Papiji,  the 
1^3  jl       Author  of  Compkmenturri  Art  is  Exorcijlicce, 
MaUf.     {in  Dqoirin,    u.)  owneth,    "  that   if  the 
Tor^^m. ^^^^ijl  (joth  not  call  in  a  Phyfician,  he 

will 


(    221    ) 

Will  incur  great  Danger.  I  myfelf,  faith 
he,  having  feen  fome  Exorcijis^  who  have 
killed  Men  for  Want  of  the  Phyjician's 
Advice^  to  the  great  Detriment  ef  their 
Conjciencesy  |  ' 

This  may  be  true,  And  yet  there  mighif 
be  greater  Danger  on  the  other  hand^ 
For  as  far  as  Phyjic  fhould  bring  a  Ciire^ 
or  Afffjlance,  fo  far  the  Reputation  of  the 
Exorciji  would  fuffer  Diminution.  And  if 
the  Patients  were  completely  cured-,  there 
would  be  ian  End  of  all  their  extraordi- 
nary Prophecies,  Vifwns,  AjJ'urances,  and 
the  like,  which  they  utter  in  their  Fits-, 
". —  an  End  of  the  Art  hereby  employed 
for  railing  a  72€w  Se6t,  or  a  new  Saint ;  an 
End  of  miraculous  Claims.  Both  Papijl  and 
Methcdiji  muft  be  very  fenfiblc  of  fuch 
unlucky  Conje^uences.  Were  Matters  brought 
to  this  Pafs  i  who  fhould  ecjlatically  pre- 
diB  the  flourifhing  State  of  the  Society'^ 
Who  fee  their  Relations  in  Heaven  ?  Who 
have  Chriji  and  Angels  attending  them  at 
their  Death  ?  Who  abound  in  Ren^elations  ? 
So  that  in  Proportion  as  the  difempered 
Perfon  is  relieved,  the  Methodijl  is  lofl^ 
And  to  what  Purpofe  then  have  tjiey 
made  all  this  Noife  ?  ''''  ^ 

In  this  View,  one  might  as  well  advifc 
the  moft  effectual  Remedy  of  all;  that  of 
never  coming  among  the  Methodifls,  by 
Way  of  Prevention 'y  or  leaving  them,  by 

Way 


{    222   ) 

Way  oiCurey  or  turning  ofF  their  Leader] 
This  happened  to   be  the   Event. in   the 
Cafe  of  the  Ntms  of  Kentorp,    before  re- 
lated ;    '^   the   Perfon  who   firlT:    brought 
thofe  Jlrange  ■  Convuljions^    and ,  imcommon 
Dijiempers  among   them,    and  fpread  the 
Contagion^  no  fooner  married^  and  apojla-* 
tizedfrom  the  Society^  but,  the  Fits  imme- 
diately ceafed  in  the  Nu?iJicr)\  and   there 
was  no  more  Occafion  for  'J^xorcifms^  .oj 
Q\[\tx:  fupernatural  Interpofitions."  .'  r 

In  Cafes  oi' Wither  aft  too^  fudden  and 
firange  Cures  are  faid  to  be  effedied  by 
<\\^  Death  of  the  'Witch.  '.The  Hipry  of 
Witchcraft  {'a^yiSy:^'  Another  Thing  worthy 
of  Notice  isy  ■Xh2itthQ  Execution  of  fome 
that  have  lately  ^/W  hath  been  imme- 
diately attended  with  a  flrange  Deli^e" 
raricf.—^y  the  cruel  Effeds  of  Witchcrafts 
and  Force  of  .the  D^i;//,  many  poor  Peo- 
ple have.^  been  driven  into  Defpair^  their 
Minds  being  puzzled  with  fuch  Buzzes  of 
Attjeifm  ajid  Blafphemy,  as  have  made  them' 
^yea.  run  di(lra5led  with  Terrors ;  .  who 
have  wonderfully  recovered  upon  the  Death 
of  the  Witches: \  Immediately  follows  a 
particular  In  fiance-  of  two  Witches,,  who 
making  the  Room  light  by  tijeir. coming  in^ 
torraented  a  poor  Wpmaa  into  Dflratlion ; 
but  upon,  their  Execution  (hQ^a^  pr^^enfy^ 
lyandiperfi^Iy  ru&vercd/[,    -v*",       -     -.- 

§.  40.  But 


{    223    ) 

§.  4*^'    But-    becaufe   I   would    favour 
Mr.   Wejley,  as   far  as  the  Nature   of  the 
Cafe  will  admit :  Let  us  for  once  fuppofe, 
that    he    hath  adually    performed    feveral 
miraaihns  Ciires^  and  removed  from  many 
of  his    Followers   the   mojl^  hon'ibJe  Dip 
orders.      But  let  him  likewife   remember, 
that    he   brought    thefe    Calamities    upon 
them  hi?nfelf,    (unlefs  Safan  muft  beai*  a 
Part)   and    "  Jinick    them   to    the   Eai^th, 
(where  they  roared  under  Agonies  beyond  all 
Defcription)  by  the  Strength  of  his  Preach- 
ments :  And  that  upon  careful  Examine-- 
tion  he  found,  that  all  of  them  {not  one^ 
he  thinks,  excepted)  were  Perfons  in  per- 
feB  Health,  and  had  not  been  fubjed:  to 
Fits  of  any  Kind,  till  thus  affedied:"  And 
then  the  Account  will  ftand  thus.     *'  Af- 
ter trailing  them   through  a  Series  of  Tor- 
tiires^  lye  Jet   them  down  jziji  where  he  took 
them  iipy  and  lejt  the?n,  as  he  found  them.'* 
Which  may  be  illujlrated  by  a  Story  from 
Plutarch y  De  Socratis  Genio.     *'  One  Ti*- Vol.  II. 
marchits  had   a    Mind    to    go  down    into^^*  ^^^^ 
the   Den   of  Trophonius ;   after  performing^  ^  ^' 
the   previous  Ceremonies.      Having    conti- 
nued there  two  Nights  and  one  Day,  her 
returned   very  chearful,  when  his  Friends 
had  given  him  over  for  lofl;  and  related 
many  le'Wd'r/l// Things  that  he  hzA  feen^ 
and  heard  lie  faid,  (I  ni^' hU.htm  fVord^j 

that. 


(  ^H  ) 

that,  on  his  firft  Defcenf  info  the  Oracular 
Den^  he  fell  into  a  horrid  Darknefs  •  then 
taking   Refuge  in  Prayer  and   Vows^    he 
lay  in  that  Condition   for  a  long   Timej 
not  well  knowing  whether  he  was  awake^ 
or  in  a  Dream,     It  feemed  as  if  his  Head 
was  violently  fmitten^  with  a  Noife  attend* 
ing,  and  the  Sutures  of  his  Skull  feemed 
to    open,    as  if  his  Soul  was  making  its 
Exit.     Afterwards,    being  brought  into  a 
purer  Air^  he  began  to  breathe  again  af- 
ter a  long  O/^rg^/o//,  W2i%  Jlretched  OMt^  and 
grew  bigger  than  he  was  before^  like  a  Sail 
filled   with  Wind.      Then  he  heard  over 
his  Head  a  fmall,  but  very  ivfttt  Voice  ^ 
and  looking  upy  he  faw  Earth  no  more^ 
but  an  infinite  Number  oi  Jhining  IJlajids^ 
as    a  [oft  Firey    and  delightfully  varying 
their  Colour s.^^--B\it  upon  looking  downwards^ 
there  appeared  ?  large  Chafm  very  terrible 
and  deep^  full   of  a  turbulent  and  confufed 
Darknefs.     Whence  were  heard  ten  thou- 
fand  Roarings,  and  Groans-^  and  Rowlings 
of  Children^  and  Men  mingled  with  Wofnen^ 
and  all  Manner  of  tumultuous  Noifes.    This 
terrified    him  extremely.      Afterwards,    a 
Perfon   not   feen   by  him  before   fhewed 
him  the  Region  of  Proferpina^    bounded 
by  Styx,    and  the  Roa4  to   Hell,    which 
makes  the  Souls  that  defcend  thither  roar 
out  for  Fear.     Pluto  immediately   feizeth 
fome,   who  fmk  for  ever  j  but  other  lefs 

defied 


(    225    ) 

defiled  Souk  emerge  again,  and  return  to  a 
fecond  Birth.  Then  the  Perfon  bad  him 
^  be  gone'  But,  fays  TiJiJarchus^  *  turn- 
ing to  fee  who  it  was  that  fpoke  to  me,  I 
was  again  feized  with  a  violent  Head-ach^ 
as  if  compreiTed  by  Force ;  and  fo  lofi  my 
Se7ifes^  that  I  knew  nothing  of  what  was 
about  me.  But  in  a  little  time  recovertjjg^ 
I  found  myfelf  at  the  Entrance  of  Tro- 
phonius's  Den,  where  I firjl  lay  down'' 

It  may  be  fome  Satisfad:ion  to  the  Un- 
learned Reader  to  have  fome  Explanation 
of  Trophonim's  Den,  Which  I  fliall 
do  by  a  Literal  Tranjlation  from  Faiifa- 
nias.  Baeotic.  Cap.  39.  —  Plutarch,  Ed. 
Par.  Vol.  II.  Pag.  944.  Fhilojlrat.  Fit. 
Apolloniiy  Lib.  8.  Cap.  19.  Scholia  in  Arif- 
tophanem.   Nub.  verf.  508. 

"  This  'Trophonius  v/as  a  crafty  Fellow, 
and  excejjively  vai?7~g}orioiis -^  and,  though 
born  of  a  common  Mortal,  feigned  him- 
felf  to  be  the  Son  of  Apollo,  He  made, 
with  the  AfTiftance  of  his  Brother,  a  fiih^ 
terranean  Cave,  or  Den-,  where  he  deli- 
vered Oracles  to  fuch  as  were  wife  enough 
to  confult  him.  The  Confulter^  by  way 
of  Initiation,  muft  firft  prepare  himfelf, 
by  obferving  a  Courfe  of  Chajlity  for  cer- 
tain Days ;  and  by  offering  Sacrifice  to 
Trophonius  -,  the  Soutbfayer,  or  Priefi,  look- 
ing diligently  into  the  Entrails,  [as  the 
Vi^imi  of  Methodifm  muft  have  their 
G  g  Hearts 


(    226    ) 

Hearts  open  to  Mr,  Wefley,    withouf  any 
Manner  of  Referve^]  that  he  may  thence 
judge  of  the  Perfon's  Fitnefsy  and  whether 
he    may    deferve    to  receive    an  Anfwer, 
Thus   prepared   he  approacheth   the  De- 
Jcent^  (for  fo  the  Den  is  called)  and  lays 
himfelf  down  at  the  Entrance^  called  the 
facred  Mouth.     Then,  in  a  Moment ^   he  is. 
jnatched  a^way^  and  hurled  down^  he  knows 
not  hoWj  Head  and  Heels  contracted  toge-; 
ther,    into   the    vafi:  fubterranean   Cavern. 
Here  he  is  fo  terrified  with  Roarings^  that 
he  falls  a  Roaring  himfelf  5  or  elfe  is  quite 
Jlupefied^    and   almoji  fenfelefs.      Then   he 
hath  the  Sight   of  fome  prophefying  Dra- 
gons,  or   Serpe7its  ;  whofe  Wrath  he  muft 
appeafe  by  fome  Cakes ^  ox  Bifcuits^  (which 
they  muft  bring  with  them  for  that  Pur-r 
pofe)  that  he  may  not  be  too  unmercijuh 
He   gets  his  An  fiver  ^  and  becomes  a  Pro-. 
phet^  partly  from  what  he  feeth^  and  part- 
ly  from  what  he  hearetb.     This  is  what 
Suidas   termeth    the  Ludicrous  Illufi07ts  of 
In  Voce    <^rophonius  under  Ground.     AH  do  not  conr 
■>J^op  °  *  tinue  there  for  the  fame   Space   of  TimCy 
nor  come  out  the  fame  Way,  there  being 
divers  Communications,  IVindings  cjind  Holes 
to  creep  out.     When   the  Cojijulter    is  re- 
turned, afionifloed  as  he  is,  the  Priefts  \vc\r 
mediately  place  him  upon  what  is  called 
the  Seat  of  Memory,    where  they  examine 
Jiim,  as  to  what  h^  \12Xh.  feen  and  heard, 

and 


(    227   ) 

and  then  fend  him  Home,  ftill  poflefTed 
with  great  Amazement  and  Terror ;  neither 
knowing  himfelf^  nor  others  about  him. 
[Hence  Mr.  Wejley  may  have  learned  his 
Prad:ice  of  a  careful  Exafttination  on  his 
Patient's  Return  from  their  horrible  Flts.^ 
But  in  a  little  time  he  recovers  his  Senfes, 
and  fometimes  his  Faculty  of  Laughing, 
For  very  few  were  ever  known  to  laugh 
afterwards y  being  difmayed  either  by  Hor^ 
rors  of  the  Place,  or  the  Bi tings  of  the 
Serpe?2ts»  Whence  arofe  the  Proverb^  of 
z  four  and  ?norofe  Man,  ''  He  hath  been 
in  Trophonius' ^  Deny  It  was  neceflary 
for  all,  who  returned  from  the  Defent'^ 
to  preferve  Memorials  of  what  they  had 
feen  and  heard^  on  2.written  Tabled  [Their 
journals  have  been  punctual  in  this"  alfo,] 
And  Paufanias  faith,  "  that  he  doth  not 
give  this  Account  upon  Hearfay^  but  upon 
perfonal  Knowledge,  having  hi?nfelf  defcend^ 
ed  to  cofifult  the  Oracled  Thus  far  my 
Authors, 

When  the  God  Trophonius  w^as  dead^ 
(for,  it  feems,  he  farved  himfelf,  in  or- 
der to  claim  his  Manfion  in  the  Skies)  "  liis 
Succefjors  in  the  Den^  and  v/ho  carried  on 
the  Tirade,  were  certain  Demons ,  called  Tro- 
phoniadce^  who  were  properly  Inhabitants  oi 
the  World  of  the  Moon^  but  came  down 
hither  to  fuperintend  their  Oracles^  Thus 
Plutarch^  and  likewife  elfewhere,  '*  that 
Ge;  2  the 


(    228    ) 

Vol.  II.  the  Sibil's  Voices  were  heard,  and  they 
^"  ^  fu7ig  out  their  Prophecies^  while  they  were 
whirled  about  in  the  Orb  of  the  Moon.'* 
Whereby,  I  fuppofe,  he  would  infinuate, 
that  thefe  Oracle-mongers  were  a  Sort  of 
Lunatics, 

By  thefe  References  I  am  fenlible  how 
much  I  have  again  expofed  myfelf  to  the 
Cenfure  of  not  keeping  to  my  Title-Pagey 
which  mentioned  only  Methodijis  and  Pa- 
pijls.  But  a  Cornparijon  from  Heathens  may 
be  as  good. 

§.41.  Mr.  Wefley  will,  without  Doubt, 
take  the  Advantage  of  my  Suppofal ; 
*'  that  he  hath  adually  performed  feveral 
miraculous  CuresJ'  But  this  was  only  a 
Suppofiil.  And  perhaps  he  will  foon 
complain,  (and  not  without  Reafon)  that 
I  am  explaini?ig  his  Miracles  away.  For  if 
we  underftand  by  a  Miracle  fuch  an  ex- 
traordinary and  wonderful  EfFecft,  as  can 
be  wrought  by  God  alone ^  (whatever  Injlru-- 
ments  he  may  ufe)  for  the  Manifeftation 
of  his  Power,  or  Confirmation  of  fome 
Divine  Mefiage.  —  In  this  ftrid:  Senfe,  I 
muft  abfolutely  withdraw  my  Suppofition. 
But  if  we  underftand  by  Miracle  fuch  ex- 
traordinary and  wonderful  EfFefts ,  as 
created  Bei?igs  are  permitted  to  caufe,  for 
Inllance,  Diabolical  and  Magical  Opera-- 
tions  j — or  thofe  furprizing  EfFe(3:s,  which 


(229    ) 

Mafs'PrieJlSy  MGimtebanks^  yugglers^  ani 
other  Impojiors^  can  work  by  Slight  of  Hand, 
and  Impofition  upon  the  Senfes ;  —  or, 
again,  feme  unufual  and  flrange  Operations 
within  the  Poweis  and  Laws  of  Nature^ 
though  unknown  to  us :  —  I  forefee  no 
Inconvenience  in  any  of  thefe  lower  Senfes, 
in  aUowi?ig  the  Suppofition.  Becaufe  thefe 
Operations  are  no  Proof  of  a  Divine  Mijjion^ 
but  rather  prove  the  contrary, 

§.  42.  Let  us  enquire  therefore,  what 
Sort  of  People  have  ufually  ^^cf/^W  Man- 
kind by  fuch  Means ;  and  particularly  with 
Refpedt  to  miraculous  Cures, 

Both  Antients  and  Moderns  are  faid  to 
have  performed  Wonders  of  this  Nature  by 
Natural  Magic^   or  a  profound  Knowledge 
of  Phyjical  Remedies,     Such,  they  tell  us^ 
is  the  *^  Agnus  Cajlus^  or  Chajle  Lamb ;  a    Hin:  ' 
Shrub   efficacious   in  HyJlericSy  Pbrenzies,^^^' ^"^'^ 
and  Bitings  of  Serpents -,    and    which  thcTheophr, 
IVomeny  in  their  Celebration  of  the  Myferies^^^^^* 
ufed   to  carry  with  them  to  preferve  their  ^*  ^  ^'  . 
ChaJiityJ'  — Such  is  the  Herb  Hypericumy 
called  alfo  St.  fohn's^wort^  and  Scare  De^    wier 
i'/7;  good  in  Madnefs^  Vapours,  Melancholy,  Praeftig, 
or   raving   Fits,    Diftempers  of  an  unac-  ^' ^^^' 
countable  Nature,  and  coming  without  a 
manifeft  Caufe  ^  but  particularly  potent  to 
cure  Perfons  pojfefjed,  and  drive  away  the 
DcviL     But  thv-^fe,  who  ufe  it,  are  gene- 
rally 


(  230  ) 

rally  Vagabond  Cheats^  ov  Agents  of  Satan^ 
Compl.  ov  tointtimcs,  real  Hypochondriacs.''  PopifJj 
p.  30,  -x^x.tL^orcijts  recommend  it  as  errectualj  in  Con- 
jundilon  with  their  Adjurations^  for  put- 
ting Satan  to  Flight." — And  to  remove  all 
Doubt,  "  Pope  Alexander  I.  fo  engaged, 
and  commanded  the  Priejh  to  ufe  this 
Herb  of  Grace,  for  ^^  fandlifyijig  the  Peo- 
ple, and  dnvaig  away  the  Snares  of  the 
Devil,"  Taylor  Polemic,  p.  334.  —  And 
Don  ^ixote,  I  remember,  talked  of  fome 
Baljams  of  that  fovereign  Nature,  as  to 
Ileal  all  Wounds,  particularly  of  Knights 
Errant,  But  as  thefe  Secrets  have  not 
fallen  within  the  Compafs  of  my  Studies, 
and  I  would  not  injure  the  Regidar  Phy- 
fician,  I  have  done  with  them. 

Among  Pagans  nothing  is  more  com- 
mon than  their  Stories  of  Dijlempers  cured 
by  their  Dcemons,  Such  as  that  of  ''  Efcu- 
lapiiis,  another  Spurious  Son  of  Apollo^ 
creeping  to  Rome  in  the  Form  of  a  Serpent^ 
and  immediately  relieving  all  from  a  mor- 
tal Difeafe  :  —  And  that  of  Bacchus^  who 
not  only  gives  out  Prophecies,  but  hath 
Remedies  at  Hand  for  all  Diftempers  ;  both 
which  are  performed  by  one  of  his  Infpired 
Priejis'' — Such  were  the  yf^jy^/r^,  or  Va- 
gabond Priefls  ofCybele,  who  ftrolled  about 
with  the  Marks  of  their  Goddefs  upon 
them,  gathering  a  Maintenance  under  Pre- 
tence of  Gifts   to  Cybcle ;  for  which  they 

promifed 


(    231    ) 

promifed   a  high   Degree   of  Health    tind 
Profperity, — Such,  in  later  Times,  are  the 
begging  Saints  in  Turkey ^  who  (as  EuJhe-V.^i^Alu 
quius  relateth)  ramble  about  under  various 
Appearances  and  Arts  of  San^ifnofiyJ'  — 
Such  again  the  Tamuli^  and  others  in  In-- 
dia^    who   are   a   Sort  of  Magicians ^    and 
play   the  fame   Pranks  as    do  the  Rointfi 
Millenaries^   or  our  Methodijls.     This  Ac- 
count wc  have  in  the  Hijiory  of  the  Eva72- 
gelical  MiJJion,  lately  publiflied  by  Profefbr 
Francks,     *'  Thefe  Men,  (who  are  called p^ 
'Enchanters^  Devil- Drivers ^  and  Prophefy- 
€rs)  arrogate  to  themfelves  the  Povv^er  of 
driving  away  Evil  Spirits  by  the  Help  of 
other  Damons^  or  T^utelary  Deities.    They 
work   Miracles^    and  difcover   Secrets^   by 
the  Herb  Gangia^  which   throwcth  them 
into  divers  vehement  Agitations^  and  pro- 
duceth    terrible  Effeds.      Though    often     - 
'tis  only  a  coujiierfeit  Fanatical  Madnefs ; 
•and    the  Delifion   hath   been  detected. — 
They  affirm,   that  if  they  ftrongly  fix  their 
Thoughts  upon  any  one  Thing,  and  firm- 
ly believe  it  to  be   God   himjelf    or   that 
Godisprefent  there,  he  really-  is  jo.  Whence 
'tis  no  Wonder,  that  they  infift  fo  much 
upon  Faith,  and  promife  Ajfiirance  of  SaU 
nation  and  Pardon  of  Sins  to  all  that  have 
this  Faith  ;  altho'  they  want  the  other  re- 
quifite  Qualifications.  Their  Penitence  con-- 
lifts   in   Fafi?igSj    Watchings^^  Pilgrimages^ 

Macera- 


(    232    ) 

Macerations  of  the  Body^  and  leaving  their 
families.  They  dired;  Chejls  to  be  pro- 
cured, facred  to  their  Idols^  to  contain  their 
Gains  in  flroUing,  and  enjoin  abfolute  Obe^ 
dience  to  the  Priejl,  as  v/ell  as  ConfeJJion 
to  him.  And  if  any  contraB  a  Dijiemper 
by  any  Flardfliips  in  following  them,  they 
promife  ample  Reward  by  a  future  New 
Birth.  Their  Self-Severities  are  fo  great, 
as  to  carry  away  all  the  Glory^  which  Po-^ 
fijh^  and  other  Saint  lings,  propofe  by  af 
flying  the  Body,  And  by  obferving  what- 
ever their  God  Briima  imfrinteth  on  their 
Brain,  they  {hall  be  ingulphed  into  the 
Deity, — But  fo  far  are  thefe  Penitents  from 
acquiring  Humility  by  their  corporal  Seve- 
rities, that  highly  Jewelled  with  Pride,  they 
defpife  all  others,  as  unvv^orthy  oi  their  So» 
ciety,  who  no  longer  feel  any  carnal  De^ 
fires.  Among  thefe  Penitents  there  is  no 
Scarcity  of  evident  Deceivers,  —  They  are 
wont  to  boaft  much  of  their  Prayers,  and 
attribute  to  them  various,  ^wonderful  EffeBs 
in  curing  Difeafes,  driving  out  Serpents  and 
Evil  Spirits :  And  they  have  feveral  ap- 
proved Remedies  to  expel  Sin,  PoJJeJJtons  and 
'      Witchcraft:' 

Of  the  fame  magical  Kind  are  the  won- 

Vit.  Ap-  derful  Performances  oi  Appollonius  TyanceuSy 

1^1. Lib. I. ^5  related  by  Philoftratus,  in  Oppoftion  to 

'^'  '^'     the  Miracles  of  Chrift.  (Unlefs  the  whole 

j^cciount  be   tnere  Pinion,)     ^*  When  his 

Mother 


Mother  was  with  Child,  fhe  had  a  firange 
Fi/ion  of  the  God  Proteus,  famous  for  turn- 
ing himfelf  into  various  Forms ;    who  faid 
to  her,  *  I  am  Proteus,  and  you  fhall  bring 
forth  me.     For  Proteus  was  \tvy  fiiftirig 
and  crafty,   and  fo  quickly  changing  into 
another  Shape,  that  he  could  not  be  caught. 
And  the  Progrefs  of  this    Difcourfe   will 
fhew,   that  Apollonius  was  a    greater  Pro-^ 
phet  than  Proteus,  and  could  better  extri- 
cate himfelf  from  almoft  infuperable  Diffi-  ^ 
culties,  when  reduced  to  a  Non^plus:     He 
was  admired  for  Miracles,   Predi5lions>,  ex- 
pelliug  Devils,    &c/'*     The  fame   Author    vih 
mentions  one  Antiochus,  a  Man  of  Infupe-  Sophift. 
rable   Bile,    who  often    had   Converjatiom  ^^^^' 
with  EfculapiuSi  who  taught  him  ih^  Art 
cf  Healing.'* 

§.  43.  The  fame  Pretences  and  PraBices 
were  common  among  the  Principal  Here- 
tics in  the  Primitive  Church.  Let  Simon 
Magus 'ax^  make  his  Appearance,  '"^  whoAa.  8.  9. 
Ufed  Sorceries,  and  bewitched  the  People  of 
Sa7naria,  giving  out  that  hi^nfelf  was  fome 
Great  One.  To  whom  they  gave  Heed,  -^ 
fayifigy  This  Man  is  the  Great  Power  of 
God''—  '^  Becaufe  he  could  not  obtain  the 
fame  Gifts  of  Healing,  and  cafting  ouC 
Devils,  with  Apoflles,  having  720  Part  or 
Lot  in  this  Matter-,  from  Ambition  and 
Avarice  he  became  a  Dealer  in  Magic^ 
K  h  ufing 


(  234  ) 

ufing  Incantations  and  Exorcifms,   and  pre- 
tending to  work  divers  Miracles.     He  car- 
ried about  with  him  his  Miftrefs  Helena^ 
whom  he  called  the  firji  Conception  of  his 
Mind^  and  initiated  into  his  Myfleries  \  and 
it  w^as  one  of  their  Ineffable  Secrets  to  Jiun 
and  amaze  the  Minds  of  the  Hearers,  and 
caufe   a   Stiipcf action ^   Lofs  of  Senfes,    and 
Madnefs.     After  rendering  them  irtfenfate^ 
he  raifed  Fhajitafms  and  Apparitiojis^    of 
no  Stability  or  Duration  ^    and  perfuaded 
his  Followers,  that  they   were  like  Jefus^ 
and  had,  by  a  Sort  of  Circulation,  the  fame 
Soul  with    him.      He    could    alTume    the 
^Shape  of  a  Serpent ;  fliew  himfelf  with  two 
FaceSy    fo   as  not   to    be   difcovered  5    had 
even  the  Peculiar  Privilege  of  transform- 
ing himfelf  into  whatever  Shape  he  pleafed. 
Sometimes,  under  a  Pretence  of  Kind?2efsy 
he  would   invite  People   to   a  Feaji,   and 
there  bring  upon  them  Alvtvs  ftrange  Dif- 
eafesy    and    cruel  Devils.     But   to   fet  all 
Right  again,   He  pretended  lo  fly  into  the 
Airy    and    bring  down   all   Sorts  of  good 
things''     That   I  vary  not   in   the  leaft 
from  Hijioryy  any  one  may  fee,  that  will 
confult    IrenceiiSy    Lib.  I.    Cap.  20,    and 
Lib.   IL    Cap.   57.    Eujebius   Ecclef,   Hifi. 
Lib.  II.  Cap.  13.   Nicephcr.  Calliflus  Ilift. 
Lib.  II.  Cap.  27,  cu?n  midtis  aliis. 
Lib.  T.        Irenaus  gives  an  Account  of  "  Marcus, 
*^'  '  ^'a  Pifciple  of  Sim*  Magus^  whp  inuft  needs 

improve 


(  2iS  ) 

hnprove  upon  his  Mafier,  Mingling  ludi- 
crous Dehjiom  with  the  Wickednefs  of 
Magic ^  he  was  thought  hereby  to  isoork 
Wonders  among  Perfons  deprived  of  their 
SenfeSy  and  gone  out  of  their  Mijid,  So  that 
he  [educed  Numbers  of  Men  and  Women, 
making  Converts  to  himjelf  as  the  moft 
biowiftg,  moft  perfcBy  and  endued  with 
Power  fro7n  an  High  : —  A  true  Forerumier 
of  Antichriji,  For  he  would  turn  the  Eu- 
charijlical  Wine  into  Bloody  and  thereby  do 
Miracles ;  whereby  he  drew  after  him 
miferable  Women^  and  drove  them  to  Mad- 
nefs.  By  the  Help  of  a  Damon  he  prophe- 
fyed  alfo,  and  made  as  many  as  were  wor- 
thy to  partake  of  his  Grace  to  prophefy 
likewifcy  efpecially  Rich  Women^  whom  he 
would  thus  flatter,  '  Partake  thou  of  7ny 
Grace^  becaufe  the  Father  always  feeth  thy 
Angel  before  his  Face.  But  the  Place  of 
thy  Greatnefs  is  in  me.  It  behoveth  us  two 
to  become  one, — Behold  Grace  is  come  upon 
thee,  open  thy  Mouth,  and  prophefy/ 
Then  by  frefh  Invocations  he  Jlrikes  her 
into  an  Amazement  and  Stupor,  The  Woman 
thus  puffed  up  and (lultified^  becomes  heated 
into  an  Opinion  of  her  Beginning  to  pro-^ 
phefy  3  and  when  the  Heart  beats  ftrongly, 
grows  bold  J  flie  talks  delirioifly^  utters 
whatever  rajh  and  light  Things  come  up- 
permoft ;  the  Soul  growing  audacious  and 
immodefly  by  being  heated  with  empty  Air, 
H  h   2  Ther\ 


(  236  ) 

Then  £he  affumes  the  Title  of  a  Trophetefs; 
rewards   her   Infpirer  with   Prefents^    and 
even  with  the  Commimi cation  of  her  Body^ 
defirous  of  being  united  to  him   in  every 
Refpedl.     Others,    who  are  Proof  againfl 
SeduBion^    avoid,    anathematize^     and    fly 
from  this  wild  Society,     The  fame  Mar  cm 
abufeth  many  Women  with   Philtres^    and 
other  Allurements^    inflaming  them  into  a 
Love  of  him.     His  Difcipks  take  the^  fame 
Method  of  fediicing    Women,    and    calling 
themfelves  the  PerfeB  Ones,  as  if  the  Apo-^ 
files  were   not  equal  to.  them^    who  alone 
have  divank  the  Greatnefs  of  the  Knowledge 
of  the  Vnfpeakable  Power  -,  whence  they  are 
free  to  do  any  Things  having  no  Manner  of 
Fear  in  the  leaft.     Some  of  thefe  deluded 
People  returned  to  the  Truth,    and  openly 
confeffed   their  Error-,  others   afloamed  of 
what  they  had  done,  withdrew  themfelves 
Lp'fl.  75.  privately." — Among  St,  Cyprian'^  Epifles 
is  one  to  him  from  Firmianus,   giving  the 
following   Account.      *'  A  certain  Wom.an 
hath  ftarted  up  here,  who  in  Ecjlatic  Fits 
would    pretend    to   be    a    Prophetefs,    and 
fhe  afted  thus  as  being  full  of  the   Holy- 
Ghof,     She  was  fo  actuated  by  the  Power 
of  fome  Principal  Dcemons^  that  for  a  Ions: 
Time  (he  deceived  the  Fraternity ;  and  per-r. 
forming    fome    wonderful    and  portentous 
Things,  fhe  engaged,   ihdX  f:e  would  Jhake 
the  Earth.     By  which  Li^s  and  Brags  fho 

bi-ought 


(  237  ) 
t)rought  the  Minds  of  many  into  a  Refo« 
lution   of  following   her  with   an  implicit 
Obedience 'y  ^'^x\AC\x\vi\^  2^  filly  Friejl^   and  a 
Deacon^  fo  far  as  to  be  her  Companions  in 
Bed  5    which    was    afterwards    detefted." 
Upon  which   the  Comtnentator   bbferveth, 
*  that    the    Faith    is    feldom    adulter  at  ed-y 
without  the  Projlitittion  of  Chafiity'     And 
as  to  the  Boaft  of  fhaking  the  Earth  \  the 
rapturous  Boiirigiioriy  (Light  rifen  in  Dark- Part  irr. 
nefs)  hath  the  fame  Power  from  Ile^roen  :^^^^^^  ^>' 
<'  Itwasfaid  to  me.   Thou  fjalt  fiake  the 
Earth r      And   iliall    Mr.    Wefey    be  lefs 
powerful?  "  In  mufing,    (faith  he)  upon 3  Jo^rn- 
which  Words,   my  Soul  was  fo  enlarged/"^^* 
that   I   could  have   cried   out,    '  Give  me 
where  tofandy  and  1  will Jlnike  the  Earth,'' -^ 

§.  44.  Having  in  thefe  Relations  a  little 
deviated  from  the  Fointy  ccacerning  Exor-r^ 
cifms  and  miraculous  Cures ;  it  m.ay  be,  pro-^ 
per   to    fupply    that  D^^.  —  T'ertulUajty^v^log. 
fpeaking    of   the    Fagatf  '  Dc^monSy   ,fays,^^P- ^^* 
^'  They  are  evidently  very  beneficent  in  the 
Cure   of  Bijlempers ;   jor  'they  firjl  do   the.        ' 
Mifchief  and  then  prefcribe  a  'Remedy^  won-^^ 
derfully  new,    or  of  a  contrary   Tendency  i 
after  which  -they  ceafe  to  torment y  and  then 
are   thought  to  curCy    bic?"      Wieriis  hath' 
a  Chapter   or   two,    "   UpOn    the  Devi}t"s,Prsftig. 
healing   Difeafes  only    bv   ceafing  to  tor-^^^^-4- 
ment/'     And  gives  hx'^Rtafon  of  fuch,^^* '^* 

Kindnefsj 


(  238  ) 

Kindnefs,  that  '  he  doth  it  to  encourage 
Idolatry^  or  Jome  wicked  DoEirine''  Ac- 
cordingly the  Devil  was  fo  good  as  to  keep 
his  Word  with   one   of  Mr.  Wejley\  Vof- 

5  Journ- jf^^^j  "  liHe^  Mr.  Wejleyy  comes,  I  will 

^*  ^  '  let  thee  be  quiet,  and  thou  jthalt  be  as  if 
nothing;  ailed  thee,  till  he  is  gone/*  Such 
Encotiragement  doth  Satan  give  to  Metho- 
difrh —  Such  another  Inftance  we  have  of 
the  Devil's  Kmdnefs  in  Mr.  Wejlef^  Ac- 
count  of  that  miferabie  Woman^  who  faid, 

3  }ourn.  "  She  had  given   her  [elf  to  the  Devils  &c. 

P-  92*  and  then  began  praying  to  the  Devil,  But, 
at  laft,  '  in  a  Moment  God /poke  Peace,  and 
jiilled  the  Enemy  aftd  Avenger,''  If  this 
was  an  AB  of  Goodnefs  in  Satan  ;  the  Au- 
thor of  the  CompL  Art,  Exorciji,  hath  a 
Fart  I.    Parallel  Cafe  y  "which,   he  faith,  happen- 

Dodiv.  8.g(j  ^Q  j^jj^fgjf^     c  While  I  was  exorcizing 

a  Woman,  named  Ifabellay  I  commanded 
the  Devil  to  defcend  into  the  little  ISIail  of 
her  left  Foot.'  The  Devil  anfwered,  *  I 
will  not  do  this,  unlefs  you  requeft  it  ci- 
villy* We  then  contended  together  a 
long  while  ;  he  in  the  Strength  of  his  own 
^Pride,  and  I  in  the  Name  oi  yefiis-,  fo 
that  the  Evil  One  hoped  to  come  off  Vic" 
toriouSy  and  added  fre/h  Toj'tures  to  the 
afflifted  Woman.  At  length,  grievoully 
tired,  having  fought  for  five  Hours,  by 
God's  Jnfpiration  I  took  up  the  ^abernacky 
in  \vhich  was  the  Eucharijly  and  putting 

it 


(  239  ) 

It  on  the  Wcman's  Head,  cried  out  feveral 
Times,  and  with  a  loud  Voice,  *  Mife?^i^ 
cordta  Signore*  When,  to  the  Aftonifh-  ' 
rhent  of  all,  the  Devil  went  away,  and 
paid  Obedience,"  A  rare  Inftance  of  jEat- 
crcijlical  Virtue, 

But  if  Mr.  Wejley  chufeth  to  fay,  that 
Satan  in  this  Cafe  was  ftilled  by  his  Fray* 
ery  rather  than  the  Good-will  of  the  wicked 
Spirity  —  I  muft  be  contented  with  a  Pa^ 
raliel,  or    two,   from  Popifi  Recoveries  of 
Contracts   made  with  Satan,     Ignatius  is  a 
fure  Card  on  thefe  Occafions.     "  A  young  BartoT. 
Man  having    by  formal  Covenajit  pawned  P-  44"^- 
his  Soul  to  the  Devil-,  he  was  hereby  en- 
abled  to   perform    divers   Things,    either 
truly,    or  apparently,    miraculous.     After- 
wards, grievoufly  convinced  of  Sin,  he  ap- 
plies to  the  Jcjliits  for  Deliverarice,    and 
they  to  the  Protedlion  Q{i\i€\x  Founder,  The 
young  Man  is  advifed  to  make  an  equally 
formal  Abjuration  of  the  Devil-,    which  he 
did,    full   of  Horror  and  'Trembli?jg,    and 
ready  to  be  choaked.      The  Abjuration  is 
laid  upon  the  Altar  of  Ignatius"'^  Chapel-^ 
foon  after  a  Sort  of  hifing  Sound  is  heard 
by    all    the   Company  -,     and    the    Devil 
came,  (fecn  by  one  of  the  Jefuits)  brought 
back  the  Contra^,  nut  it  under  the  Altar-^^ 
Cloth^  and  then  vaniilied.     GA?;'^' was  giveri , 
to  God.and.St,.Jg?i(ifius,'*       •     - '   ..  ''■' i 

We 


(   240    ) 

We  read  another  fuch  Tale  in  the  ^ 
Vita  Life  of  St.  Gertrude.  "  A  certain  Man, 
Gertrud.  ^p^^  fome  profitable  Conditions,  made  an 
exprefs  Covenant  isjith  the  Devil  to  deliver 
himfelf  up  to  him  on  fuch  a  Day  and 
Place.  The  Lady-Sainf  took  what  Pains 
flie  could  to  refcue  the  wretched  Creature. 
But  the  ContraB  was  abfolutey  and  go  to 
the  Bevil  he  mufi,  and  will.  She  then 
permits  him  to  make  good  his  Engage- 
ment^ provided  he  would  take  her  with 
him.  Accordingly  he  takes  his  Horfe^  the 
Saint  mounted  behind  him,  and  prefents 
himfelf  to  Satan.  But  no  fooner  did  he 
fpy  St.  Gertrude,  but  he  relinquifheth  his 
Prey,  and  takes  to  his  Heels,  utterly  a* 
baOied.*' 

§.  4^.    It  hath  been  a  pretty  common 

Notion,  that   he   who  can  put  the  Devit 

in,  can  likev^ife  pull  him  out.     An  Eat- 

ainple  or  two  of  this  I  have  given  before. 

And  as  Mr.  Wefey   hath  fufficiently  /r/- 

umphed  in   having    this   Power   over    the 

Methodijls ;  it  reminds  me  of  the  famous 

tucian.    Lnpojlor  Alexander,  in  Lucian.     ''  He  had 

Alexan.    ^  good   Capacity,  but   made  an  ///  Ufe  of 

it;  was  exceeding  rr^}',  adiive,  hold,  and 

expofing  himfelf  to   Dangers   a7id  Hard^ 

Jhips.     He   took  upon   himfelf  to   be  the 

Succejjor  of  Apollonius  Tyanaus ;  fet  up  an 

Oracle^  uttered  Prophecies,  engaged  to  free 

the 


\ 


( 241  ) 

the  World  from  Difeafes  ^  PeJlUences^ 
Earthquakes^  Sec.  'AH  who  gave  no  Credit 
to  him,  thofe  efpecially  who  expofed  his 
Impojiures^  he  calumniated  and  damned,  as 
Atheijls  and  Chrijiians ;  and  by  fach  Arts 
pillaged  almoft  all  the  Roman  Empire.  One 
of  his  Tricks  was  this :  He  put  a  young 
Serpent  i?ito  a  Goofe-Egg,  the  Cracks  being 
artfully  cemented  \  and  the  next  Day  out 
he  comes,  fliaking  his  loofe  Lccks^  and 
mounting  his  Rojlrum^  proclaims  the  Hap* 
pinefs  of  the  City^  who  fhouid  foon  receive^ 
a  Prefent  God,  Nearly  the  whole  City, 
Men,  Women  and  Children,  were  afiem- 
bled,  and  ftood  Jlupijied^  prayings  a?id 
adoring.  The  Oracle-monger^  having  mut- 
tered out  feveral  Things  concerning  Apollo 
and  Efculapiics^  broke  the  Goofe-Egg,  and 
out  ftarts  the  Serpe^it-God,  to  the  Amaze- 
ment of  the  Spe^ators,  who  loudly  pro- 
claimed their  Happine/s.  Away  goes  the 
P?^ophet  with  the  new-iorn  Efculapius,  the 
^wice-born ;  and  the  fecond  Time  out  of  a 
Goofe.  All  the  People  follow  him,  full 
of  Enthujiafm^  and  mad  with  Expcdiation,—^ 
The  Se7'pent  very  foon  grew  into  a  huge 
Dragon,'' 

The  Uijlory  of  Witchcraft,  (as  I   could 
eafily  fhew )    affords   Parallels    to    ahnofl 
all  the  Circumfances  cf  Methodifn ;    parti- 
cularly as  to  the /^i;rr/<^/^  Parts  of  it.     ''   It  Vol  u 
appeared  upon  the  Examination  cf  Bridget^'-  *'^- 
I  i  Bfh^.p^ 


(    242    ) 

Bifiop,  that  thofe  bewitched  by  her  were 
cruelly  tormented.  If  fhe  did  but  cafi:  an 
Eye  on  them,  they  were  prefently  ftriick 
down,  and  in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  there 
could  be  no  Deceit  in  the  Matter.  But 
as  foon  as  fie  touched  them  with  her 
Hand,  when  they  lay  in  their  Swoons^  they 
would  immediately  revive^  and.  not  upon  the 
Touch  of  any  one  elfe.  Befides,  upon  fome 
particular  Actions  of  her  Body,  they  pre^ 
fently  and  painfully  fell  into  the  like  Pof 
tures. —  She  had  faid  too,  '  that  fhe  could 
7iot  be  troubled  to  fee  the  Afflifted  thus 
Vol  ir.  tormented."  —  "  Again,  we  hear  of  their 
^  ^^*  knocking  down  with  a  Look,  and  then 
making  the  Afflidted  rife-,  and  their  ap- 
pearing fometimes  cloathed with  Light'' 

Others,  however,  are  of  a  different  Opi^ 
nion\  and  maintain,  that  "  One  Devil^ 
Wizard,  or  Witch,  can  coiinteraB  the  Deeds 
of  another,  and  perform  Cure^  in  Oppofi^ 
tion  to  him.  This  they  argue  from  the 
different  Pozvers  and  Subordinations  among 
wicked  Spirits.  Horace  plainly  is  of  this 
Sentiment, 

j;  I'pod.  Ah,  Ah!   Solutus  ambulat  Veneficce 

V  ei  1. 7 1 .         Potentioris  Car?mne. 

inUkvQc.Eufchius  fays,  that  ^^  Apollonius  cm td  Dif-- 
^'^?'  io.  j-gj^pej-g^    ^y^^   expelled  Daemons    in    this 

DcFafcin.M^i^^^i*?  ^^^  Devil  by  the  Help  of  another.'' 
Lap.  3.    —  Sennertus   bringeth  fome  Examples  of 

Perfons 


(  243  ) 

Perfons  relieved  by  Conjurers  and  Inchari" 
tersy  when  grievoufly  tormented  by  Witches. 
—  In  the  Hijlory  of  Witchcraft^    "  there  is  «  ^'ol- 
much  Talk  of  a  white  Witch,  as  alfo  of  a  ^*  ^^^' 
white  Angel,  who  would  fometimes  refcue 
Cliildren  from  the  Witches'* 

If  we  get  among  Papijls ;    Binsjleld  lays 
it  down  as  a  ''  certain  Rule^  that  a  fif per ior  Confers. 
Wizard  can  cure  the  Mifchi.efs  which  an  ^^Jf|; 
inferior  one    hath   caufed; — and    that   a  P'^^'" 
Wizard  can    fometimes   cure    Dijlempers, 
which  tJTje:  Phyfician  either  knows  not,  or 
can't   cure."  —  The  Author    of  Complcm, 
Art,  Exorciji.    fays,  "  Devils   will   fome-Doar,  2 
times  be   thus  falutary,    in  order   to  gain 
Souls  to  themf elves,   and  obtain  Divine  Ho- 
nour, of  which  they  are  very  Ambit  ions, '"^ 
"  I   myfelf,    fays   he,    faw   and   heard   a 
Witch  confefs,   that  though  fhe  had  hurt-r 
ri  many,  yet  fhe  had  cured  others,   Dee- 
moniacs   and  diflempered    People,     by   7;z- 
chantmcnts ;  and  then  did  Homage  to  Lii^ 
cijer,  the  Greater  Angel,'' — Thyraus  proves  Daemom 
the  Do(ftrine,   of  Devils  being  expelled  by^^^^^^}' 
Devils,  by  divers  Inftances  of  Magicians^ 
who  made  a  Trade  of  this  Pradice.     Such 
were    thofe    mentioned    by   St.    Gregory. 
(Dialog.    Lib.    i.  Gap.  ro.)   Who  under- 
took to  free  a  noble   Lady  from,  a  Devils 
by   magical  Inchantments,     And  they    reg- 
ally did  free  her.     But  in   the  mean  time 
they  opened  a  PafTage  for  a  whole  Legion 
I  i  2  of 


(  244  ) 

cf  unclean  Spirits  to  enter  into  her.  And,' 
by  the  jtijl  Judg^nent  of  Gody  from  that 
Time  llie  was  agitated  by  as  many  ftrange 
Motions,  and  broke  out  into  as  many 
Cryings  and  Roarings,  as  {he  had  Devils 
within  her."  —  In  general,  'tis  a  known 
Cafe,  that  wicked  Men  have  done  Miracles 
of  this  Nature.  —  And  that  Popery  may 
not  go  v/ithoiit  its  Share  of  the  Black 
.  Art',  I  friall  herCj  (to  fave  myfelf  the 
Trouble  of  confulting  the  Originals)  tran- 
fcribe    a    few    Paffages   from    Brccklesby^ 

?.  3'S.  GcJpeUTheifm.  "  The  Miracles  of  the  Le- 
gendary's Lives  of  the  Saifits  feem  to  be  of 
the  fame  Character  -,  not  wholly  Fi^itiouSy 
but  in  Part  Realities -y  hut  fuch  Realities 
that  are  no  better  than  the  Feats  of  Magic. 
Of  the  Catalogue  of  Popes  no  lefs  than 
fitir  and  twenty  are  fa  id  to  be  add  idled  to 
the  Magic  Arts^-^Fafci  cuius  Temper  urn  re- 
porteth,  that  in  the  Tenth  Century  Magicy 
and  the  Art  of  making  Charms^  and  be-* 
witching  People,  Vv^as  almoft  the  only 
<^s^*    Learning  of  the  Priefls.  —  In  Spain  they 

Y'^^^t  ^^''  ^^^^  Curers  of  Difeafes,  Enfahnos-y 
and  in  that  Country  the  Learning  of  Magic 
was  fometime  allowed  and  profefed-,  for 
in  the  Academy  of  Salamanca  they  taught 
both  Theurgy  and  Goety  in  the  Piihlick 
Schools, — Magic  is  no  Stranger  at  Rome,  A 
Bifhop  very  dear  to  Pope  Nicholas  V.  was 
bewitched  into  an  incurable  Difeafe  5  where- 

upoa 


(  245  ) 
upon  Application  was  made  to  that  Pope 
to  grant  a  Dijpenjation  to  a  Witch^  who 
undertook  (if  it  might  be  allowed)  to  be- 
witch her  to  Death,  that  had  bewitched 
the  Bijhop.  The  Pope  granted  the  Difpen- 
fatiofiy  and  the  Bufinefs  was  done ;  the 
Witch  jirft  died^  and  then  the  Bifhop  re- 
covered'' Now  if  any  have  can  fed  fimi- 
lar  Effects  from  fimilar  Principles,  they 
may  think  ihd):  Method  warranted  by  this 
Papal  Difpenfation.  '  "• 

§.  46.  But  "  hold,  fay  the  MethodiJIs, 
and  Mr.  Wejley^  you  are  running  too  faft. 
We  are  a  SeB  of  Saints  :  Our  Treacher  per- 
forms thefe  Wonders  by  Chrijiian  Methods^ 
by  a  Divine  Power  in  the  ISJame  of  yefiis  5 
and  efpe  daily  by  Sacred  Hymns  and  Prayers  J"* 

Their  real  SaintJJjip  I  am  not  much  in- 
clined to  own.  But  as  to  Matter  of  Fa6i  ;■ 
Mr.  Wejley  hath  fo  often  afferted  miractt" 
lous  Healings^  and  cajling  out  Devils,  to 
have  been  the  EfFed:  of  his  (fometimes 
jointly  with  his  Followers)  Religious  Offices, 
Prayer  in  particular,  that  there  is  no  Oc- 
cafion  of  citing  exprefs  PaJJages,  Nor  need 
I  difallow  his  Account,  —  any  farther  than 
may  be  colledted  from  the  foregoing  De-- 
duBions. 

I  will  venture  likewife  to  aflure  him,' 
that  I  entertain  a  very  high  Notion  of  a 
Blejjing  attending  on  all  Religious,  Chrif-- 

tian 


(  246  ) 

tian  Exerdfes ;  more  efpecially  of  the  Pre^ 
valency  of  Prayer^  towards  removing  the 
feveral  Miferies  incident  to  Human  Life ; 
f— higher  ftill  of  the  Efficacy  of  the  fervent 
Prayer  of  a  Righteous  Man,  approaching 
his  Maker  with  the  requifite  Scriptural 
Salifications.  And  yet,  I  {hould  deem 
it  an  unwarrantable  Prefumptiony  even  in 
a  Righteous  Man,  to  expeft  a  Miracle  im- 
mediately upon  his  Petitions  j  or  pretend 
to  knoiHy  that  a  fupernatural  Remedy  will 
follow,  and  that  in  a  Moment,  As  a  pro- 
per ^alificationy  I  fliould  require  better 
Principles,  Temper  and  Behaviour,  than 
can  as  yet  be  difcerned,  in  one  who  feems 
fond  of  being  thought  a  Cunning  Man  \  — 
or  in  the  Body  of  his  Difciples ;  a  large 
Part  whereof,  I  fincerely  believe,  to  be 
Perfons  of  as  bitter  and  turbulent  a  Spirit ^ 
as  any  at  prefent  in  the  Nation,  Vncom^ 
mon  Claims y  and  pretended  Marks  of  Saint- 
jhipy  are  by  no  Means  wanting ;  but  the 
genuine  Marks  of  a  Chrifiiany  to  me  at 
leaft,  are  invifible.  Nor  would  they  be 
jiibaden.  injured  by  a  Comparifon  with  "  St.  Ca- 
Rom!^  ^/:;^r/;2^  of  Sienna -y  who,  being  in  an  Ecftacy, 
Apr.  30.  Qur  hord  came  and  imprinted  upon  her 
V  hisjfu^  Wounds ;  but  the  Marks  were  in- 
terior,, and  did  not  appear  outwardly.  This 
Favour  was  granted  to  her  great  Humility , 
which  moved  her  to  obtain  of  Heaven^ 
that  the  Marks  might  not  be  feen""  —  No 

Doubt 


(  247  ) 
Doubt  but   We  fhould  have  vifible  Proofs 
were  the  Methodtjh  to  lubmit  to  St.  Clara' ^ 
Operation-^  "  whofe   Body  being  opened,  S^J'^g- 
and  her  Heart  dipaed,  the  Reprefentation  "^"^^  '^* 
of  Chriji's  Pa£io7i  appeared  as  plainly  as  if 
it  had  been  carved,'' — 

If  I  am  not  eafiiy  impofed  upon  by  fjc- 
traor dinar y  Pretenfwns  of  this  Nature  j 
fome  of  my  Reajons  may  appear  from  the 
following  Exa?77ples.  That  it  was  no  un- 
common Thing  among  the  Jews  to  nfe 
Curious,  (i.  e.  Magical)  Arts,  in  order  to 
remove  JDifeafes,  and  drive  out  Demons  j 
and  even  by  the  moft  feemingly  Holy 
Means,  we  have  Proof  from  Scripture^ 
Thus,  in  xhQ  ABs  of  the  Apojiles-,  ''  then  Chap.  19^ 
certain  of  the  Vagabond  Jews,  Exorcijls,^^^^^^"^- 
took  upon  them  to  call  over  them  that 
had  evil  Spirits,  the  Name  of  the  Lord 
Jefus,  6cc,'\  —  The  fame  Game  we  find 
carrying  on  in  St.  Aujlifi's  Days :  ''  EvilTom.  9. 
Spirits  are  pleafing  themfelves  with  the^^'^-^^^"' 
Shadow  of  Honour,  while  they  deceive  the  ^"'  ^'  ^^' 
Followers  of  Chrift  :  So  far,  my  Brethren, 
that  thofe  who  Jeduce  by  Ligatures,  Pray^ 
ers,  and  the  Tools  of  Satan,  mingle  the 
Name  oj  Chrift  with  their  Inchantments. 
Becaufe  they  can't  feduce  by  plain  Poifon^ 
they  add  a  little  Honey  to  make  the  per- 
nicious Draught  go  down.  Whence,  to 
my  own  Knowkdge,  even  the  Impoftor 
Palkntus   hath    been    called  a    Chrljllanr 

The 


(  24S  ) 

Pag.jo:  The  fame  Father  writeth,  ''Concerning 
Miracles  done  by  Heretics :  *^  Pontius  hath 
done  a  Miracle  ;  and  Donatits  hath  prayed^ 
and  received  an  Anfwer  jrom  God.  They 
are  either  Deceived^  or  Deceivers.  But 
God  hath  cautioned  me  againfl  thefe  Won- 
der-mongers  (  mirabiliarios  )  Matt.  xxiv. 
24.  T/6^r^  Jhall  arife  Falfe  Prophets^  who 
fiall  Jhew  great  Signs  and  Wonders^  &c. 
Whether  thefe  Marks,  with  which  they 
are  figned,  be  any  thing  to  their  Advan- 
tage^ is  to  be  confidered  by  him,  who 
would   not   be  terrified  and  deceived.''  — • 

Enchind.  The  fame  Writer  again;  "  Such  Super- 

ap-  23.  jii^Iqj^^  ji^^^  ^j.g  £^j||  ^jf  peftilent  Curiofity^ 

and  tormentiitg  Anxiety.     By   the  Devil's 

Craft  they  happen  differently  to  different 

Men,    according   to   their  own  Apprehen- 

fions    and  Prefiimptions.      For    the   Great 

Deceiver  knows   how  to  procure  Things 

agreeable  to  every  Man's  Temper^  and  en- 

fnare  him  by  his  own  Sufpicions  and  Con- 

fent. 

Thus   St.   Chryfojlome  applies  to  one  of 

Homi!.2i.thefe  D2//?£'jj  ''  You   make  ufe  of  Liga- 

Ad  Pop.  fii^^^  ^jjj  Charms,  introducing  fome  old^ 
drunken,  reeling  Woman  into  your  Houfe, 
And  are  you  not  afhamed,  don't  you 
blufli,  to  run,  tre?nbling  and  aftonified  ^ittt 
fuch  Pradiices  ?  The  Plea  is,  that  the  Wo- 
man is  a  Chi'iJUan,  and  utters  nothino:  but 
the  Name  of  God^     Which   very   Thing 

increafeth 


(  H^  ) 

increafcth  rny  Averfion  to  you ;  becaiife 
*tis  perverting  the  Name  of  Gcd  to  the 
blafpheming  of  God^^-^ 

Origen  againft  Celfus  faith,    *^  that  the    Edit; 
Word  Sabaoth  was  of  common  Ufe  in  7;^-. Spencer, 
chant ments  \'  where  you  have  a  great  deal ^*  ^ 
more  concerning  wonderful  Cures  by  Sacred 
Names,  - —  And   if  you  look  into  Wulferi^2io.  57, 
Theriaca  Judaica^  you   will   have   eaough 
of  magical  Miracles  and  Cures  performed, 
by  Virtue  of  Sacred  Names^    among  the 
Cabbalijlic  fews%   particularly  by   the  hv-- 
communicable  Name^    Jehovah^   and  Shem^ 
Hamphorafchy     And,  as  Count  Zinzendorf 
has   it  in   his   Elegant  Moravian   Hymus^ 
(Hymn*  59*) 

No  Angel  is  fo  bold  and  rajhy 
But  quakes  at  thy  Shemhamphorafli. 

Hierocles  attempts  to  defend  Apollojiiiis^ 
as  delivering  Prophecies^  raifing  the  Deady 
and  working  other  Miracles  ^—  not  by  Li^ 
chantments^  but  a  Divine  Operation,    "  In-phiioft. 
chanters,  (whom  I  account  the  moft  mi-'^^f-  ^P* 
ferable  of  Men)  fome  of  them  by  tortur-^' ^'^^^ 
ing  Spirits^  fome   by  barbarous  Sacrifices^ 
or  by  Charming  Verfes^  and  Un^ions,  boaft, 
that    they    can    make    Fatality  change   its 
Purpofe,     But  Apollonius  follov^ed  the  De- 
crees of  Fate  in  his  PrediBions,^  and  pro-^ 
K  k  phefed^ 


( 250  ) 

fhefied^  not  as  a  Magician^  but  from  what 
the  Gods  hud  ?^evealed  to  him'* 

Our  Friends  of   the    Papacy  boaft    of 
Thoufands  of  Cures^    &cc,    by   Means   of 
Prayer,  in  Conjundlion  with  their  Adju- 
rations and  Conjurations,     Thyraus  hath  a 
D^mon.  long  String  of  fuch  Performances.     "  One 
Cap.  46.  ^^^    refcued  about  fourteen  hundred  from 
'  the  Devil,  by  thefe  Means,  &c:'  [Which 
is  the   fame    Number   with   Mr.  Wejlef^ 
Patients  falling  into  Fits,     This  was  many 
Years  ago,  fo  that  the  Number  muft  be 
prodigioufly   increafed  by  this  Time.]  — • 
^^"^°"*   £^^/;2/^i  writeth,  ''  that  ox\t  Barbara  Do^ 
Cap.  5.    rea,    ( who   was  burned    for    Witchcraft) 
confefied,  that  (he  had  unbewitched  feveral 
whom  (he  herfelf  had  bewitched,  and  cured 
them  by  applying  an  Inchanted  Dove  to 
their  Stomach,  uling  this  Form,  *  In  the 
Name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,    St.  Anthony, 
and  St.    Michael,    may    you   be  cured  of 
this  Evil ;  and  let  Mafs  be  faid  for  nine 
Days.'     No  True  Catholic,  but  will  highly 
approve  of  this  Method.''  In  the  fame  Chap^ 
ter  he  confirms,  (by  the  Authority  of  the 
Writer  of  Malleus  Malef,)  the  Story  of  the 
Indulgence  granted   to  the  Conjurer  by  P% 
Nicholas  Y,"     Nor   can  I  deem  the  ejia^ 
blijljed  Rof?2an  Ritual,    De    Exorcizandis, 
any  low  Degree  of  Profanenefs ;    whereby 
every    cheating   Exorci/1    is    authorijed   to 
carry  on  his  horrible  Conjurations^  (I  uf« 

their 


(    251    ) 
their  own  Word)    in  the  Name^    and   by 
the  peremptory  Commands  of  the  Holy  Tri-^ 
nity  \    adding  the  Commands  of  their  Fic^ 
iitioiis  Saints, 

I  am  not  here  charging  Mr.  Wejley 
with  the  Guilt  of  Magic.  But  v/hat  I 
have  faid  on  this  Article  may,  I  think, 
ferve  for  a  Caution  againfl  Delufion  -,  and 
may  fuffice  to  create  a  Juji  Sufpicion  of  Im^ 
pofiurey  or  at  ieaft  of  Enthufiafm ;  whea 
Men  Tet  up  with  more  than  ordinary  Sanc-^ 
tified  Pretenjions ;  and  that  the  Undertak- 
ing of  miraculous  Performances  by  the  7nojl 
Sacred  Na?nes.,  is  not  always  to  be  de- 
pended on  'y  efpecially  where  the  Operator 
himfelf  is  a  Perfon  of  dubious  CharaSier, 

Nor  need  we  be  much  concerned,  whe- 
ther his  Relations  of  his  many  miraculous 
CureSy  and  driving  out  Devils^  be  true  or 
filfe.      For  we  may  fafely  adhere  to  the 
Words  of  St.  Aujlin,  De  Unitate  Ecclefice, 
*'  The   Donatijls    contend    for    Truth  onTraa.  in 
their  Side,    becaufe   Pontius  and  Donatus^^^^  7>  ^ 
did  fuch  and  fuch  Wonders*^  or  they^r^^, 
and  are  heard  \  or,  this  and  that  extraor- ^^^^i^ "£^^ 
dinary  Thing  happeneth  among  us  ^    or,  Plant, 
that  Brother y    or  that  Sifter  oi  oms  had  P- ^54* 
fuch  a  F//5I5W,  or  fuch  2i  Dream,     *  Remo^ 
veantury    fays  he, .  Away  with  thofe  Fig- 
rnents  of  Lying  Men^  or  Portents  of  De-- 
ludihg^  Spirits,     For,  either  what  they  fay 
\%.mt  true  'y  or  if  fome  Miracles  are  really 
K  k  2  done 


(    252    ) 

done    by    Heretics^    we    ought  ta  be   the 

more  upon  our  Guard.     Becaufe  our  Lord 

^Matth.    j^ath  faid,    '  There  fhall  arife  Falfe  Pro- 

XXIV.  24.  ^^^^^^  ^J^^  ^j^^y  £|^^jj  ^^^  gj.^^^  ^^^^^  ^^j 

1  Tim.  Wonder i,  &c/      And  St.   P^^/,    <  In  the 
/^//cT  Ti/;?fjf   forne  fhall  depart   from    the 

Faith,  giving  heed  iofeducmg  Spirits^  and 
DoBrines  of  Devils  ^^  fpeaking  Lies  in  Hy-* 
focrify^  &;c/     And, 

Multi  Deo  irafo  exaudiunfur'^ 

The  rnoft  fpecious  Appearances  of  Sanc-^ 
tity  and  Godlinefs  need  not  ftagger  us ;  be- 
caufe the  Man  of  Sin  was  to  come  under 
a  two-fold  CharaBer  '^  of  a  Hypocrite y  and 
a  Miracle-monger. 

I  mentioned  Hymns^  as  having  particu- 
larly an  EfFed:  in  the  Metbodifts  Jirange 
Dijorderi'y  whether  Difempers^  or  Pof- 
fejions.  •  When  that  defpairing  Creature 
%  J€urn.  v/as  horribly  raving,  *^  We  began^  fays  Mr. 
We/ley,  —  Arm  of  the  Lord,  awake,  a- 
wake  !  She  immediately  funk  down  as 
qjleep.  But  as  foon  as  we  left  off,  broke 
out  again  with  inexprefjible  Vehemence* 
And,  as  far  as  I  can  obferve,  it  is  their 
ufual  Method,  to  fet  up  a  general  loud 
3ijigi72gy  in  thefe  Cafes, 5.  for  which  there 
may  be  feveral  Reafo^is.  '^p^.Mufie  and 
Noife  have  a  natural  .EjfFe<9^:  both  to 
rotfe  thofe  who  lie  quiet,  and  to//// .tfaofe 
whQ  ^re   qbfreperous.      In    another    fuch 


(  253  ) 

Cafe,  *'  The  Company  not  only^;^^^,  but 
even  in  Prayer^  I  fpoke  as  loud^  fays  Mr. 
We/ley^  as  I  ufually  do  to  three  or  four 
thoufand  People,''  If  fomething  extraor- 
dinary was  not  expected  from  Noife^  what 
Occafion  of  being  fo  very  loud?  Verfe  and 
Song  have  always  been  efteemed  mod 
powerful  y  and  thence  the  very  Word, 
Charniy  is  but  the  EngUfb  of  Carmen^  a 
Verfe,— 

Carmine  Bit  Superi  placantur^  Carmine  manes. 

The   Reafons  given  by  Authors^  why  the^^^j^^^^- 
ancient  Oracles    were  delivered  in   Verfe,  p.  ^o;.* 
and  not  in  Profe^  is  becaufe  Verfe  is  more  De  Pyth, 
pompous  and  fonorous  i  and  like  wife,  to  cre-^^ 
ate  a  Notion  of  Infpiration  from  Apollo  : 
The  fitteft  to  raife  a  reverential  Horror  in 
the  Mind,  or  to  wrap  up   an  Ambiguity. 
The    Perfons,    fays   Plutarch^    who   have 
brought  the  greateft  Difgrace  upon  Poetry^ 
are  that  execrable,  thievifi  Set  of  Circum- 
foraneous  Strollers,  the  Priefls  of  Cybele  a?id 
Iris ;  fome  of  whom  from  their  own  Com-- 
pofitions,  or  by  Lots  from  certain  Writings^ 
deliver  out  Oracles  to  Servants  and  Women, 
who  are   moft   taken    with   Verfe,      For 
which  Reafon  principally.  Poetry  making 
herfelf  a  Projiitute  to  Cheats,  Conjurers,  and 
Falfe  Prophets^  was  driven  from  the  T'ripod 
pfrrutbro\hai 

As 


Sanhedr. 
65. 


(    254    ) 

As  to  other  Evils,  of  a  different  Nature^ 
among  the  Methodijls,  fuch  as  their  falfe 
and  preftimptuous  Imaginations  of  Ajjiirance^ 
owned  by  Mr.  Whitefield -,  and  the  ftrange 
*  Wiles  of  SataUy  as  well  as  tnere  empty 
Dreams  of  a  heated  Imagination  \'  —  for 
thefe  no  doubt  but  Mr.  Wejley  can  find  a 
Cure.  The  Jewi/h  Talmud  fays,  ^'  there 
is  a  twofold  Inchantment  ^  the  greater y 
which  draweth  huge  Dragons  ^^  the  leffer^ 
^^l'  1^1'  which  influenceth  little  Reptiles.  Accord- 
ingly Mefjingham  tells  us,  in  the  Lives  of 
the  IriJJj  Saints^  that  St.  Magnus  by  his 
Prayers  expelled  the  Devils  out  of  a 
large  Number  of /Fcr;;^j,  that  infcftedihis 
Cell.  Nor  mould  we  think  it  below  Mr. 
Wejley's,  Dignity,  or  Vov^&tyto  exorcife  his 
Maggots,  ^   .^xv-;  -:^ 

Mr.  Wefley^Y  o^x\y  feems^to  ht  inde^ 
fatigabky  and  takes  a  great  deal  of  Pains  in 
efFedting  his  feveral  Cures  and  Expulfions. 
Popijld  Exorcijls  too  will  fometimes  grie- 
vouQ.y  fweat  d.nd  turmoil ;  efpecially  when 
they  are  contending  with  a  very  potent  and 
cbfinate  DeviL  But  frequently  their  Mi^ 
racks  are  of  eafier  Operation.  A  Scrap  of 
St.  Jgnafius\  Hand-writing  y  a  Draught  of 
fVatery  in  which  St.  Francis  hath  wa/hed 
his  Handsy  or  a  Bit  of  liay^  from  the  Bun- 
dle which  his  Afs  hath  been-  mumbling.^ 
the  Parings  of  this  Sainf\  Nails^  or  .^ 
Straw  from  the  Bed  of  another^    a  Kifs 


(  ^5S  ) 
cf  Sf,  Thomas-a-Beckefs  old  Breeches  ^y 
which  the  Virgin  Mar-y  came  down,  and 
helped  him  to  me7id  t —  Any  of  thefe,  and 
a  thoufand  others  equally  eafy,  will  effed:u- 
ally  do  the  Feat.  But  which  of  the  Me- 
thods is  mod  meritorious^  may  be  a  Point 
of  arduous  Difcujion.        ''  ^^^^  oa  ^M 

§.  47.    We  are  not,  however,  to  con- 
ceive, that  a  Cure  of  fuch  dreadful  Dif- 
orders,  ajid  diabolical  PoJJeJJtons^  is  the  fole 
Benefit,    which   the   Methodijls   obtain    by 
their  Sufferings.     Divers  other  good  Effects 
follow.    For  Inftance,  Judicial  Piinijloments 
of  the  miraculous  Kind,   for  People's  Oppo^ 
Jition  to  Methodifm  :  (For  I  am  not  allow- 
ed  to.  fay   fo  particularly,   "  for  oppofing 
me,  John  Wejley,'')  and  in  order  to  bring 
them  into  Methodtfm  5  in   which  Cafe  the 
Punifhment  fhall  be  releafed.     I  know  he  _; 
v^'\S\  equivocate  and  prevaricate,  where  the" 
Words    "Judgment  or  Miracle  are  not  ex- 
prefsly   mentioned.      But    the    Narration 
will  fliew  itfelf:^  -  ''-''  ^iiiuu. :..  ^  -.^  V 
What  doth  h^^ffitnl^%^k^]^^ 
the  Weaver  ?   "  He  was  a  zealous  Church-^  journ. 
mOrjy^d  vt^nfi  ^]{  Bijf/enters;  faid   thep- 44- 
Fiti  o(   the    Methodifts  were   Delufions  of 
the  DeviL     But  prefently  he  falls  raving ,, 
mad,  —  fcreams  terribly,  and  beats  himfelf^'* 
againft   the  Ground:" — ^then  cries  aloud^''^ 
*  fet  them^  all  come.;' let  all  the  World  ' 

fee 


(    2.^6    ) 

{cQ^thtjujl  Judgment  cf  God 'y*  then  fix-iitg 
his  Eyes  upon  me^  ^  Ay,  this  is  he,  who^ 
I  faid,  was  a  Deceiver,'  He  then  roared 
out,  *  O  !  thou  Curfed  Devil !  yea,  thou 
Legion  of  Devils  I  Thou  canft  not  ftay. 
Ckriji  will  caft  thee  out.'  He  then  beats 
himfelf  againft  the  Ground  again  ;  —  his 
Breaft  heaving,  as  in  the  Agonies  of  Death. 
We  all  betook  ourfelves  to  Prayer.  His 
Tangs  ceafedy  and  both  Body  and  Soul  were 
fet  at  Liberty:" 

Here  we  have  a  grievous  Punifhment ; 
a  Legion  of  Devils  entering  into  the  Man 
for  his  Oppoftion  to  Mr.  Wefley  and  Com- 
pany 3 —  this  confefTed  to  be  a  jufl  Judg- 
ment :  —  but  he  becomes  a  Profelyte^  and 
all  is  well.  And  one  neceffary  Form  of 
Taylor.  Exorcifm  is^  "  Cunningly  to  get  out  of  the 
Polemic.  j)^^ii  the  Confefjion  of  fome  peculiar  Doc-- 
trifiCy  or  fome  new  Saiitt^  for  the  Edifica- 
tion of  the  By-Jlajiders,  In  this  Cafe  the 
Father  of  Lies  is  always  fuppofed  to  fpeak 
the  Truth,  —  He  is  commanded  too  to 
knock  his  Head  three  Times  againft  the 
Ground,  in  Adoration  of  the  Trinity.  *— 
If  he  will  not  yet  depart,  the  Exorcijl  is  to 
pray^  and  fpeak  louder.'* 

Much  the  fame  End  has  the  Judgment 

3  Journ.  upon  the  "  ^aker  ;  who  was   biting  his 

P-  43-      Lips,  and  knitting  his  Brows,  at  the  DiJJi- 

mulation  of  thefe  Creatures ;  but  fuddenly 

he  dropped  down  as  thunderjlrucky  —  in  an 

Agonjf 


(  ^S1  ) 

Agony  terrible  to  behold.  We  befdught 
God  not  to  lay  Folly  to  his  Charge,  And 
he  foon  lifted  up  his  Head,  and  cried  a- 
loud,  '  Now  I  know  thou  art  a  Prophet  of 
the  Lord.*'  'Tis  but  getting  2i  fit  Tool  iot 
the  Work ;  and  then  terrible  is  the  Judg- 
ment jor  oppofing  ^  but  inftantly  Mr.  Wefiey 
is  a  Prophet  of  the  Lordy  and  the  Man  is 
Jetjree. 

The  Inftances  of  the  Daughter^  and 
her  Mother,  have  the  like  Ifiue.  "  The^  joamo 
Girl  feeling  in  herfelf  fuch  a  Convidion,?.  51. 
[/.  e.  fenfible  that  one  of  the  dreadful  Fits 
was  coming  upon  her,]  ran  out  of  the  So- 
ciety in  all  Hafte,  that  Jl^e ,  might  not  expcfe 
herfelf.  Bat  the  Hand  of  God  followed 
her ;  fo  that  after  going  a  few  Steps,  fhe 
was  forced  to  be  carried  home,  and  there 
grew  worfe  and  v/orfe,  in  a  violent  Agony.'* 
— •  "  The  firft  that  was  deeply  touched  jbi^. 
was  JL-—  W — ;  whofe  Mother  had  not  p.  64. 
been  a  little  difpleafed,  when  flie  was  told, 
how  her  Daughter  had  expofed  herfelf  be- 
fore  all  the  Congregation.  The  Mother  her- 
felf was  the  next  who  dropped  down,  and 
Iq/i  her  Senfes  in  a  Moment  5  but  went 
Home  with  her  Daughter  full  of  Joy." 
So  wicked  a  Thing  is  it  to  be  offended  at 
the  ftrange  Fits  of  Methodifm -,  and  fo 
friiitlefs  the  Attempt  to  fly  from  it.  But 
if  we  remember  Mr.  Wcjlefs  ftrong  Ar- 
guings,  that  'tis  Satan  who  ftrikes  them 
L  1  down. 


C  ^5^  ) 

down,  and  deprives  them  pi  tl)^^\^  S^enfes  j 
we  may  learn  hov/  tnucli  he  h  the  Me- 
thodijl'KFxiendy^^not^^  ,^?2.^!?. 

run.away.  ,\^  ^V^  ^^^. 'vl-         .,  .    M  '^^I^ 
Thus  in  Popery y  the  Z^o;//  frequ€n|l^ 
ftands  their    Friend,    by   confirming^  th% 
Truth  of  their  DoBrine -zn^SairUjhip^  and 
tormenting  fuch  as  begin  tp-^/w/^^^  theni^ 
vvhart.   OX  meditate  a  Flight.     ^'  Whea:^^/ certain 
^^^''^^^'  Mofik  6^x6.  not  pay  due  Hoi^our  and  Reve- 
2d.'vol.   rence  to  St.  Oswald,  a  L^^/^  of  thefe  black 
Spirits  feize  him,    tear  hina,    throw  hinj 
down,  &c.   asking  him,    What  Madaefs 
poffeffed  them  to  defpife  Co  great  a  Pr/g/?/' 
Myfter.    —  0"^  of  St.  Ignatius\  Society  beginning 
jefuit.     toJluBuate,  and  form  a  Defign  of  y^r/zV^ 
^'^^'     the  Society 'y    the  Devil  met  him  in  the 
Shape  of  a  Man  of  a  terrible  Afpefl:,  and 
with  a  drawn  Sword  fi;ightened  him  back 
i^gain  to   the  Saint  *^-  who  rebuked   him^ 
faying,  Are  you  {o  wavering  ?  0  thou  of 
Ribaden.   little  Faith,  why  dldft  thou  douht  ?— ;"  It 
P-  395-     happened   to   St.   Anthony,  that  a   certain 
''""*  '^*  Novice  of  the  Order  ran  ^-z^wy,,  ^nd  ftole 
his  Ffaltcr.     But  the  Devil  met  him  with 
a  naked  Sword  in  his  Hand,  ^and  threateii- 
ed  to  kill  him,  if  he  returned  not  back  to 
the  Convent,  and  reftored  Friar  Anthony';^ 
Book.      The   WiWr^,  affrighted  with  his 
ftern  Look,  returned  to  the  Convent,  re- 
ftored the  Bo^^,  aM  begged  lo  be  admit- 
ted again  into  his  Ord^r^^  ^^3^.  _ 


(  259  ) 

^^Tb  the  fame  Parpofe,  and  by  the  fame 

J^il  Spirit,  were  the  Laughing  Fits  ju- 
dicioufly  inflided  on  fome,  "  who  faid,4  joum. 
the  Methodijjts  might  help  it,  if  they  would. ^'^^_ 
But  Godjliffyred  Satan  to  -teach  them  better. 
For  they  were  feized  in  the  fame  manner 
as   the  .reft,  and   thus  continued  for  two 
Days,  a  SpeBacle  to  alir  ^Htvb  plainly 
Satan  doth  the  Work,  'tis  his  good  Plea- 
fure  to  teach  them  better,  ^for  the  Ifjf^r^i  of 
Methodifm.      God  baf ely '  fufers,  ■  or  per- 
mits it -^  as  he  doth  other  Evils :'^^  iv^i<(i^ 
In  one  Para^rc^ph  we  have  no^fs'tfia-n 
three  JudgmP72ts  on  Vcvion%  'who  camt  t(j  - 
diftiirbthe  Methodijl  Meetrng-houfe .     * '  One 
of    the   Chief  havged   himfilf.     A    fec^ond 
had  been  tor  fDme'  Dciys^  in /w/g-  Pain^ 
AThirdconifpffed  to  Mr.  9^^,  that  h^ 
was  hired,    and  made  drunk  on  Parpbfe, 
but  when  he  came  to  the  Door,   \\t  could 
not  pr,  nor  open  his  Mouth.''— Thb  Mm 
might  be  ilmofl:^/^^^//rz/«^,  without  fup-  -'^i^^^ 
pofing  a  Miracle  6r  Judgment,     But  if  it 
mud  befuch;  ^th^st'sc  Pagan  Parallel, 
f  for  Popijh  ^re  innumerable)  concerning 
^  a  T^/w^/^  of  that  Pufitj  and  Majejly,  ^^Diodor, 
^imniediately  to  cure  Dijlempers  of  the  "Triie^^^^- 
■Votaries ;    hut   Defpifers,:  coming   thither,  p'^at! 
lofe  their  Voice,    and^ 'become  as   it  were 
d'ad"^  ^^  b^fuuit)!  ^>looJ  msfl 

'  rhthaja^fm^  ffiall  n^en- 

tion,  (for  there  are  fiiany  thore)  was  upon 
L  1  2  a  Man 


(  26o  ) 

a  Man  ior  beat mg  his  Wife^  who,  it  feems, 
4  Journ.  was  a  Methodifi.-    "I  vifited  one   whom 
P-  97-      God  is  ptirifyi?2g  in  the  Fire^  in  Anfwer  to 
the   Prayers  oj  his   Wife^  whom   he  was 
juft  going  to   beat^   (which  he   frequently 
did)  When  God  [mote  Mm  in  a  Moment^  fo 
that  his  Hand  dropped^  and  he  fell  down 
upon  the  Ground,  having  no  more  Strength 
than   a   new-born   Child.      He   has   been 
corji5ned  to  his  Bed  ever    fince ;    but  re- 
joices in    Hope."  —  In  ivhich    Cafe   Mr, 
Anfw.  to  Wejley  asks,  ^  Have  you  known  a  parallel 
p^'z'^'    One  in  your  Life  ? "-^Probably  72^^.  Thefe 
Crfes  are  not  ib  common  among  Z7i  Pr^-: 
tefiants.      The    Fapalins   deny,    that    Cod 
ever  enableth  fuch  Heretics  to  work  a  Mi- 
rack.      But  among   them    judgments  fall, 
thick  as  Hail,  upon  the  Violators  of  their 
dear  Perfons.     Such  was  the  Protediion  of 
xVieffing.    St.  Patrick ;    "  When  a  Man   of  a  Gi- 
P' ■^*      gantic  Stature   brandifhed    his    Sword    to 
kill  him  for  attempting  to  make  Converts 
in  Ireland^  immediately  zM  his  Strength  wi- 
thered away  -,  his  whole  Body  turned  Jiiff] 
and  he  could  neither  move  Foot,  nor  Hand 
tojirike.     The  Man  experiencing  this  Ju- 
dicial  Sign   upon    himfelf,    was   inftantly 
changed  into  another  Man,     And  both  Soul 
and  Body  were  Jet  free'' 

This  may  be  fomething  of  a  Parallel 
with  Mr.  We/ley's  Cafe,  and  of  as  good 
Authority,      And  hence  he  may  imagine 

himfelf 


(    26l    ) 

himfelf  rifing  into  an  Authority  like  what 

^hi  Maimburz  relates  of  one  ^fchn^  a  Mira-  ^  ^''f'^- 

7     ,r7      '  1  1  T^  Spnnhem. 

cierWorker^  who  made  even  hmpercrs  tovoi.  ii. 
fland  in  Awe  of  him,   as  a  Perfon    whop- 743- 
had  the  Scourges  of  God  in  his  Power,  to 
whom  Miracles  were  but  p/ay,    and  ^i;^;z 
72otbingy     The   Man,  no  doubt   defer vcd 
fuch  a  Scourge,  for  beating  his  Wife,  who 
was  a  Methodiji.     But  had  he  beat  her  for 
Dppofing  Methodifrn  5  —  the  Cafe  is  altered, 
quoth    Plowden,    .  The    Husband's    Right 
might  then  have  been  pleaded  for   exer- 
cifing   a  little  Difcipline  over  a  difobedienf 
Wife,      For   Mr.  Wefey^^  illuminated  Ac- 
quai?2tance,  Mijirefs  Bourignon,  hath  decided 
the  Point,  in  her   '  Light  rijen  in  Dark- 
?2efs.     '*  It  is  gre^it  Malice  in  her  to  think  Part  IV. 
to  oblige  her  Husband  not  to  adhere  any  ^^"^^  ^^' 
longer  unto  my  Sentiments,  —  concerning 
Perfed:ion,  whereof  her  Husband  has   had 
JExpenence. — She  hath  (worn  to  be  faithful 
to  her  Husband   till  Death,  —  One,    who 
loves  the  Juftice,  Goodnefs  and  Truth  of . 
"Cod,  thunders   ar:d  lightens,     when   Injuf- 
tice,  Malice,  or  Lying,  are  oppofed  to  the 
Senfc  that  he  bears  within  his  Soul  3  and 
he  mujl  fhew  his  Difpleafure,    though  it 
were   with;  fharp   and  rude  Languas^e,  or 
quarrelling  and  fightings  if  Need  requires/' 

§.  48.   But  other  Benefits  are  bellowed 
ppon  true  Methodifls^   after  they  have  un- 
derwent 


(.162   t,,„>    ^„g^_.,    ,  ,^ 
derwent  their   Paijis    and  ^i/^^^/^r.  A'bd^^^ 
certainly  they  deferve  a  very  -^;;^/^  Ttecom-- 
penfe  for  fuffering:^  thofe  exqti^fae'Torlureu. 
in  which. Mr,,.i^^/^y  fa.4?xccedinelY'"tfi- 

Horat.  ^:^^uaax ^peti,genm\:^  ,^^.r  -  -.  *^-. 
.  Ignem  fraude  mala  gentibm  intuULi  • 
^&JPo/i  ignem  Mtberid  domo 

SuhdiiBum^  macies  et  nova  fchrium-^^  ^^ 
^Lerrts  incubui:  ^  '"'^•^•avYj*    <^  '     prdT 

Which  Rt  of  Latin  may  be  ^^xplaine^ 
by  the  Story ;  qf  Pandora'^  Boy  ;  wliicfi 
1  learned,  vvhen'a  School-Bpy,  fiom  He* 

Oper.  &  jIqJ^     cc  ^ftej.  Jf^Qrtals    had   found   out  a; 

Yg^rf.6o.  Way  X.0  fteal  Fird  from  Heaven^  Jupiter 
ordered  Viilcan  to  form  a  Beautiful jVot^ani, 
who,  fliould  be  adorned  with  tTie  Gnjts  and 
Graces  of  all  the  Gods,  and  thence  called 
S^0d^ra.  Mercury's  Gontribution  wa?, 
^^pudence  ^  Subtlety^ ,  Lying ,  Wheedling  \ 
iricki^g^andl)ecett.  And  ffie  was  fent 
4pWD  .^ipp^ng  Men,  as  a  Punijhment  oxi 
iuch  as  were.,  fond  oi  .new  Inventions.  Foji: 
this  Eurpofe  fhe^|)roiight,dc)wn  2iJ$oXy '% 
zPrefent^  toEpimetheUs'y  [?.>.  One  that Js 
ivife,  when  'tiXpo  late,]  "who  fell  in  Love 
\w;ith  this  myftical  Lady,  ^nd  married  h^r  y 
(though  afterwards,  for .  fome  mifchievous 
Pra;:)ks,  Jupiter  transformed ^hjm  into  an 
'"  ;^^    But,    unhappily,    the  i/^  oi"  the 

Box 


(  263  ) 
jBdJAT.  was  no  fooner  opened  by  Epimetheusy 
but  "but  fle'^  a  Troop  of  all  Manner  of 
Difeafes  and  Calamities.  Hope  only  was 
left  at  the  Bottom  of  the  Box/'  Now  fup- 
pofing  tht  Methodi/i's  Pretences  to  Infpira- 
tion  to  be  reprefented  by  jlealing  Fire  front 
Heaven ;  and  the  opening  of  the  Box  by 
Mr,  Weflefs  Mouthy  which,  like  a  ptfti- 
lential  Blajiy  Jlrikes  Jo  many  to  the  Ground  *y 
—  yet  fome  furef-  Comfort  than  mere  Hope 
is  to  be  found  at  the  Bottoms         --^^^'^ 

This  -':e  Methodifis  may  h^Ve'^j^roved 
already,  (if  all  fhould  happen  to  prove  any 
t^mg^  but  2i31tjlake)  by  their  being  thuh- 
aei-fruck  Jnio  FMth\  ConverJicn\  and  fufi- 
fcaiion^'T,t\\t\tCerttfe^^  Tardon    ^ 

under  M'feal^  of  God  -,  (unlefs  the  Seal  w^""  '"^^ 
count  erf  cite  df  iiKd  of  their  ownputtpig*-)-^  \oh  iiaV 
Thdv  j^i^ancef  boih  of  prejiM  andfutur^ 
Sahatimy  (unlefs,  as  Mr. Whitef  eld  fyc^k^y 
**'  thofe,  who  had  them  noty  only  thdughi 
t!i%  had  therh  :**)— The  Gifts  of  Prophc:- 
^/?^,  feeing.  Thipgs  at  a  Difance,  ind 
knowing  the.  Secrets  of  the  Hearty  £cc. 
(unlefs  there  be  fomethihg  diabolical  in 
this  :)-T=-The  receiving  of  GracCy  and  the 
Entrance  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  very  M?- 
ment  they  are  ftruck  down,  God  entering 
into  their  Souls  -,  (unlefs  we  give  no  Credit 
to  Mr.  JVhiteJieldy  after  he  hath  co?ifeJJed 
that  he  hath  impofed  upon  the  World  by 
fo  nianv  I7;2/r^/^;.)---Suppofing  thefe  mag- 


(264) 

nificent  Benefits  to  fland  upon  a  fure  Foun- 
dation ;  fufficient  Amends^  I  hope,  is  here- 
by made  for  their  Sufferings  and  Tortures. 
Nor  are  they  without  Precedents  on  their 
Side. 

And    accordingly    Dr.   Wier    obferves, 
Pr^aig.    that    "  the   NunSy    whom    he    attended, 
p-  59^»     punlihed    by    the   Devil   with    incredible 
^^  '        Torments^  declared  they  would  not  be  with- 
out thefe  Calamities  on  any  Account,  be- 
caufe   they   produced    the  pecidiar  Grace 
and  Illumination  of  God. —  Another  falls  a 
Singing  in   her  Agonies^    becaufe  fhe  did 
not  in  the  leaft  hefitate  as  to   her  eternal 
Salvation  y 
Cafaub.         The  Alumbrado's  in  Spain  taught,  ''  that 
P^iT^f     <^€rtain    Ardors,    or   Burnings,  Tremblings, 
and  S^iakings,  were  a  fufficient  Token  of 
Grace ;    and  that  thofe  who   could  attain 
them   needed    nothing   elfe.      That    they 
might  y^'^  Qod  vifibly,    in   their  Ecjhuies, 
&c.''  ;^a  ^-^^ 

■  As  to  Mr.  Wejlef^  rejoicing  at  the  Suf- 
ferings of  his  Followers  5  Alex,  ab  AJexan-* 
Gvniai.     dro  tells  us,    ''  that  it  was    the   Cuftom 
Lib^6      ^f  divers  Nations  to    appeafe    their   Gods 
Cap.  26.  with   Human  Sacrifices,  and   the  Blood  -oi 
their  Captives ;  imagining,  that  the  Deity 
was  then  efpecially  propitiated,  when  they 
butchered  their  Fellow  Creatures-,   and  drew 
Divination  and  Prophecy  out  of  the  */or- 
tures  of  Mankind.'* 

Strabo^ 


(  265  ) 

Strabo,  (Book  XI.)  gives  this  Account  Edit. 
of  the  Religious  Aibaiti,     "  Many  of  them  p.^^Gg. 
are     quite     Enthufaji^     and     Prophefiers. 
When  a  Perfon  is  thus  pojjeffed  in  a  high 
Degree  -,  the  chief  Prieji  offers  him  up  a 
Sacrifice  to  the  Goddefs,    in   this   Manner. 
Being  exceedingly  expert  in   the   Bufinefs, 
he  ftrikes  the  Man  with  a  Spear  through 
the  Side  into  the  Heart.     From  the  Body^ 
vihitn  fallen^  they  gather  certain   Signs  of 
Di^'oi nation ;    v/hich  they'  piibUjh    to   the 
People.     The  Body  is  afterwards  trampled 
upon   by  way  of  Luftration'^     And   Ta-^ 
citus.  fays,  *'  The  Druids  in  Britain  ufed  Annal. 
to  conjult  their  Gods,  by  looking  into'  the  ^^'^*  \'^' 
Entrails  of  their  Captives.'*  '''^'  ^ 

One  pretty  extraordinary  Advantage   of 
the   Metbodifi's   Miferies,  fdmething  diffe- 
rent indeed  from  the   former,  is  the  i>V- 
nefit  of  hfng  God's   Grace.      For   befides 
that   Spiritual  Deferticns,  Defpairings  and 
Infidelities,    are  fo  frequent,    and  feem  to 
be   a   necefary   Part    in   the   Progrefs '  of 
Methodifm\    if   themfclves    may    be    cre- 
dited:—  Mr.  Whit e field  2jA\xxt\\\  us,   that 
*'  Mr.   H'ennant  preached    excelle?itly    ^joell^l  Jo^^ni. 
upon  the  ISJecrfiity  and  Benefits  of  Spiritual^'  ^'* 
Defertions.''      The  Beiiefits  of  being  for" 
fakeh  of  God  is  to  me  a  VQvyfira7ige  Doc- 
trine :  And  yet  a  much  more  jlrange  one, 
that  God   is  compelled^   and*  laid   under"  a 
Nccefiity  to   withdraw  his   Grace,      Thus 
M  m  one 


(  266  ) 

one  wild  Enthujiajlic  Teacher  ventures  to 
preach,    and  another  praifeth  his  Saying. 
And  in  the  next  Edition  of  the  ''^enefts 
and  NeceJJity  of  Alterations  in  the  Liiiirg^^* 
according  to   this  DoBriney  a  new  Prayer 
{hould  be  inferted,  ''  that   G?/  would  be 
pleafed  to  withdraw  his  Spiritual  Comforts 
^r\& Grace ?^:^6r^2X  leaft   this  Ame7idmen% 
offered,   ''  wherever  in  the  Common  V  ray  if 
the  Words  occur,    '  Take    not^k^IhJ^ 
'Spirit  from   us,  the  Word  «(?/  fhould  be 

r^^-But '^^'tis-^to  bFliope(!''"fome%?/^r  tyffeBs 
fellow.     For,  it  feems,  through  iuch /^/w- 
fid  Liijlrations   and  purgative  Fires^    our 
Metkodijls   arnv Qy-Sit  P erf e^ion,   Vi/ions   of 
God  and  Angels^  ingulphnients  Into  the  Deity ^ 
Union  with  God,  yea,  and  being  God,     That 
Mr.  Wejley  muft  mean  fuch  a  Perfection  as 
implieth   abfohite  Freedom  from    Sin,    and 
inward  Corruption ,  fuch  as  was  in  Chrijiy 
appears  by  his  earneft  Difpute  with  the 
Moravians,  and  contending,    that,  in  this 
Kefpe5fy  '  the  Servant  may  be  as  hisMaJier* 
Wefley   Hcnce,    faith   ''  the   Woman   in  a  high 
4  journ.  p^rj^,^^  J  am   vcry   ///,  —  but  I  am  very 
^'  ^^'      well:  —  For  I  am  united  to  Jefus.  —  My 
Beloved  hath  cleanfed  me  from  ail  Sin  ^ 
—  I  am  waihed,  I  am  cleanfed. -r- The 
^nemy  may  come ;   but  he  hath  no  Part  in 
Ibid.    %ey* — Hence,  (siy^  ?i  Moravian,  "I  am 
P--^^-     as  clofely  united  to  Chri/^  as  my  Arm  is 

.    f n  M 


,  t%) 

to  my  Body/'-— Hence,  in  the  Account  of 
the  two  Hitchens'Sy  after  their  Horrors, 
Roarings^  Infidelities,  Defpairs,  &€i^.  op,^ 
of  them  ^^  fees  Thoiifmzdsy  ajid  few  Thou^ 
fundi  of  Angels^  and  Jefus  Ch?iji  himielf; 
—  I  am  fanUificd^  J  am  ivhiter  iban  S?7GW. 
' — Why,  1  am  ail  God.'' — -  The  other  BrOr^ 
tbeVy  in  a  7naUgna7it  F<?'Z;£'r,  f^ys,  *'  I  fee 
the  Gates  of  Heaven  ftand  open,  and 
fefui  with  open  Arms  to  receive  me ; -r- 
Open  the  i?d'^'u^;7j,  O  my  God ^  and  come 
down  into  my  Soul.  Come  Father^  Son, 
and  Holy  Gbojl^  and  plunge  me  into  God^ 

y  Thus-^are  va^  deified^  \x^q  HercukSy 
who  by  putting  on  a  poifoned  Garme?2t  was 
drove  into  Madnefsy  eredted  x  Funeral  Fir^ 
for  himfelf^  threw  himfelf  into  the  Flamef^ 
and  th(2jnc9^,  was  ranked  among  x\\^,^I){r 
vjnitiesl^  ^l^hxm  Seneca  faith,  .^  V.^i.^?ss^. 

^^Wlicita  tanti  pretia  natales  haleni^^'^^^ 
'^f^'Semperque  inagno  confiitity  7iafci  Deuftt^  ^r 

h-^'^^  Alexander  the  Great  muft  needs  BIJ  f^^H 
fecmte  hi^  favourite  Hephe/lion  ;  and  ereftCaii^mn, 
Altars  to  him  as  a  God.     Some  Flatterer^s^^^'  '^* 
teftlfied,  that  Hepheflion  appeared  to  thertt, 
cured  DifeafeSy  and  delivered  Oracles,  Alex- 
ander was  wonderfully  pleafed,    as  being 
not   only   the  Son  of  a   God  himfelf,   blit 
able  to   make  GodsS"     Such   may   be  the 
Boaftings  of  a  Method! fi  Teacher, 

Mm  2  Of 


(  268  ) 

^,|  P£  this  Nature  was  the  Doflnoe  of  the 
7a'fer  Platoni/h,  fome  of  the  fubtkfi  Ene- 
mies that  Chrifiianity  ever  Ixad.  They 
Jambilc.  'taught,  '^  that  by  certain  Puro-ations  Men 
Sea.  3.  way  exchange  Humanity  jgr  Divtmty^^^ 
c.  6, 7,  gji^nay  yJ^  the  .♦S^/r/V  defcending  and  infiriu- 
^*  ating  itfelf  ^,^  m^y  fee  a  Light  like  Fire,  at 

the  Coming  or   Departure    of   the   God, 
This   Illumination    it  is,   which  banifheth 
,c\ll  human  h'btion^  Operation^   and  Senfes ; 
sod    makes    Men   fpeak   in   a  fenfekfs  and 
paving  Manner.''     And,  in  the  Words  .of 
P.  79.   ''Brocklespi^  t^  The  Soul  becom^th  her  own 
i±enotef)\  or  Unity -^    and    being  thus  <?/z^, 
'!3DSfji>i  4ik^  the  Firjl  Unity ^  flie  gaineth   the  S%/6^ 
'^l^'in^\C^ji>e.  Firjl   Unity  y    and   is  unittd  there- 
wljiji,  , conjoining  as   it  ^%XQ>,^^eniK£  iwiih 
Centres  and  being   o?2e  witk^G^Mis:  God, 
/aith  Plotinus.    En.  6.  L.  9v  G.  8,9,  10." 
\vi^,  ^^  come  to  the  Heretics  in  the  Pri^ 
i:^h.  n.lmj^^tjve  Churchy  Irenaus  (ays,  ''  They  talk 
Cap-57v.j^yich   of  PerfeBion-,  — Glory  of  having 
Chriji.  for  their  Mafier y-^r '2Si^    thai  they 
have  the  yi;;;£'  &ouls^   by  Grculationy   with 
Ifffus;  are  /ih  him,   and  fometimes  even 
i/eftfr^^^.^^\  -.:  Kr-'.^ay.-»  ^  ,vi^:^^u4\A'l  \^ 

More  ofmefe=Wildneffes  might  .he  pro- 
^duced  from  the  Ancient  Heretics:    but   I 
^'p^i^s  ^o  the,  like  Fanatical  Rants  mwngjbe 
rapijis,      M.    Cajaubon    affords    fuch    an 
Enthuf.  lnf|:ai)ce  in   ''  sijier  Catkarijie   of  Jefus -y 
^'  '  ^*     who  ufed  to  fall  into  Fits  of  Trcuiblings, 

caftincf 


v(  ^69  ) 

cslftnig  fcerfelf  on'the  Gr(?2^;7i,  enjoying  the 
iPr~^Jence'vf  God 'viftbly.     She   oiim  fawy 
and'  in  -fofi^aC    Degree  fitfferedy    through 
¥t\gh^fA^Q  Fains  of  Hell:    At '''other 
-Times* ^fte'Vbrily  thongh t  herfelf  i h ' 'Hea^oen. 
Cbrifi  6^tx\  "drew  fer' Soul  into  fox,  mark- 
ed htt  with  a  Marky  and  always  abode 
with  her.     Though  fhe  was  indeed  for  the 
mtoii'^'&i^i  deprived  of  her   XJndefJianding, 
And  >tht§  &oul  of^ClortJi  drew  htr  into  an 
Operatioti  of  the  Holy  Trinity ^  &c."*— St. 
Catharine  of  Sienna',''- (who  Was   troubled 
with'ffd  -many  Dijlempei^s  and  Devils,  but 
could '^^pel  them   from   others)    received 
fuch  a'  Bleffingv    -  "  For  one  Day  Cbrijl^^^^^^'''^ 
coming-itd^^her'  o^tntA  h'^tleff'Sid^,  and  ^^^  ^°* 
took  (>\xt'iitP''Heart,  and  carried  it  away. 
But  a  few  *D^ys  afterwards  he  brought  his 
own  ruddy  Heart,  and  put  it  into  h^t  left 
Side y  fifing,    ^^  ''My 'Daughter   Catherine, 
thou  haft  7?2y  Heart  inftead  of  thy  own'-'  _  ,  > 
and  then  he  clofed  zip  her  Side  again.     And 
that  it  might  be  known,  that  this  was  7J0t 
pure  Imagination,  there  remained  ever  after 
a  Scar  in  berSidc.'^-^Reve^iius,  Archbifiop 
of  Philippe,  writeth  concerning  fome  Nuns, 
(as  few  h^ve  his  Book,  B<^yk  may  be  con- 
i{\3i^'d  iri  iht  Article  Revenius  J  that  "they 
take  a  Pride  in  pretending  to  wonderful 
Performances ;  ^-^  talk  of  nothing  lefs  than 
their   Union  wiYh'^rda ,    which   is  only  a 
Union  mih  ih'dk^  o^*n  Spirit,   if  not  with 

a  worfe. 


(  270  ) 
a  worfe.      They  boaft  of  myftical  Tran- 
fubftantiations.    Concentrations   of  Heartj, 
Annihilation,  — •  Marriage  with  the  Deity >^ 
—  Spiritual  Intoxications ;  —  Super-eflen-^ 
tial  Unions,  the  Gulph  of  Annihilation  y4 
an  2ihioxh^nt  Enthujtaf??!'^  Oblivioii  of  all 
Things,  inducing  an  Abyjjal  Identification 
-i'ol  ^*if^iffy   GoJy    Der^c  Confricafion  y    Spiritual 
"^    Irtipudence,  mifanthropical  Afpirations,  the 
Joys  of  Darknefs  and  obfcure  Night,  Gfrl 
Thefe,  and  the  like  enormous  Words,  and 
thi^  unintelligible    Jargon,    is    frequentljf 
repeated  in  the  77ew  School  of  Piety,    by 
their  own  chofen  MaJlerSy  and  curious  She- 
DifcipIeSy  fo  as  to  he  felt  ifj  their  inward^ 
Parts.''  —  Almoft  the  whole  of  ^iefifm^ 
and  my  flic  Divinity,  confifleth  in  paffing 
jffgiJ  through  Combats  with  Devils,  Purgations^ 
ill  ti^fPains  like  Hell,  Drynefs  of  Soul,  Prtvationi 
<5f  *3  ^"-'f^j  Qface^  Defpair  and  Damnation, — here- 
by they  attain  Perfe5lion,  Transformation^ 
a  BQ\i\^fwallowed  up  in  God,  perfonal  Dei^ 
f  cation,  fo  as  not  to  know  or  difli?jguijh  thein^. 
felvesfrom  God  himfelf*'      This  Language' 
may  ferveas  a  Counterpart,  to  Metbodifm,  ef^, 
pecially  when  a  little  tinftured  with  Mc- 
ravianifm. 

vjArrived  to  this  Degree  of  PerfeBion^ 
they  fave  themfclves  a  deal  of  Trouble  aa 
to  the  Matter  of  good  Works,  which  the 
Methodifls  fo  egregioufly  undervalue,  and 
every  true  Moravian  fo  heartily  condemneth. 
^DiU  Xhefe 


(  27^  ) 
Thefe  latter,  according  to  their  own  Rule, 
ipay  eafily  and  certainly  be  in  a  fafe  Way 
to  Salvation^  for  ''  the  only   Way  to  be  Wefley 
fdvedis  to  avoid  good  Works/'     For 'tis ^•^^g"'"'^* 
the   Bufinefs  of  the  latter   to   fteal  away 
Mr.  Wejlefs  half-injiru5ied  Dijcipks^    and 
to  perfeB  what  he  had  begun.     Hinc  illc^ 
Jachry ma.  ---Hencey  fays  he,  ''  I  went  tps  Jo"rn. 
H —  T'— r,  a  young  Man,  who  did  onceP-  "^9'  ^o- 
run  welly    but  now   fays,    '   he  faw  the 
Devil    in    the  Corner   of  every  Church, 
and  in  the  Face  of  every  one  who  had 
been  there. — •  And  if  you  gp  to  Church  and 
Sacrament y    you   will   be  dtimned'\     Into 
thefe   Spiritual  Wickednejjh  the  Methodifi^ 
have  ran  greedily  in  Crowds:   Not  a  little, 
I   fuppofe,    enlightened  by  their  admired 
Bourignon  ;  who  "  thus  anfwers  the  Quef-  i^^^it, 
tipn^^  whether  the  Perfedl  and  Regenerated^?.^  in. 
ought    to    ufe  the    Sacrament Sy    or   not  :^^"^'  3^. 
*  No.    For   he   that  is  truly   born   again^ 
poffeffeth .  all   the  Sacraments    in   himfeff^ 
and  needs  not  to  feek  them  out  of  himfelf. 
He  is  returned  to  the  State  of  Inmcenccy 
wherein  Adam  lived   before    his    Sin.  — 
The  Dm/  has  invented  the  frequenting 
the  Sacraments^     And  fuch  a  PerfeBio- 
niji  was  St.  Bridgety  whom  (in  the  very 
Words  oi  Ribadeneira)  "  G^^  commanded 
to  go  to  Romcy  where,   by  Means  of  In-r. 
dulgenceSy  as  by  a  Jhorter  Cuty   it  was  more 


31311  r 


Iflbe 


(    272    ) 

liTue  is  the  main  Thing/'     And  the  Me^ 

tbodifls   have    been   {o    well   tutor'd,    that 

5  Journ.  after  all    their    Fanatical  Pranks^    ''  they 

^  ^^"      are  as  fure  their  Sins  are  forgiven,   as  they 

can    be  of  the    Shining    of  the    Sun:  — 

they  are    as   fur-e  of  Heanjen^    as   if   they 

were   already   there."      To   Heaven   they 

muftj    and  will  go  ?   And  what   lefs   can 

be  expe-ded  than  taking  it. by  Violence^  after 

fuch  frefiimptuoiis  Demands  upon   God\  as- 

a  Teft  of  their  Humility  ?  Thus  infolently 

5  journ.  humble   fpeaks  Mr.   Whitefield,    "  1   here 

^'^ll^^'' demand  xkij.Kx^r — What  fignifieth  being 

3  Journ.  a  Sinner?    "  Chrift  is  bmind  to  pay  the 

P-  '^j^^    Debt.''     And  Mr.  JVeJlefs  Mother  claims 

her  Manfion  in  the  Skies,'*     And  yet,  one 

may  be  as  fure^    as  they  can    be   to    the 

contrary^  that  "  God  be,  merciful  to  me  a 

Simier^''  would  become  the  very   hejl  of 

them,  when  they  are  leaving  this  World. 

li  fuch  Proofs  of  Salvation  may  be  de- 
pended on,  and  Heaven  to  be  thus  tnfured -^ 
If  there  be  no  Mifiake  or  Dehfon  in  the 
Cafe  'y  and  their  own  Word  be  a  fiifficient 
Security ;  —  I  fee  no  Reafon    why   other 
fimilar   Accounts   may  not?  defcrve   to   be^ 
credited. —  Let  the  Pagan  Magiciany  jipol- 
Ph'iloar.    loniuSy  ftand  forth.     '*  When  he  entered  a 
Clear,      certain  Temple^  he .  heard  a  Voice  of  fing- 
ing*  in  thefe  Words,    *  Come^  conic  up  into 
Miffio.    Heaven  \  come,*' r^h^t  the  Indian  Tamuli 

Evangel.  ^^  heard,  "  teaching, that  the  ^^y?  of  them 

p.  6;.  '  ;:>  J 

^  pais 


(273  ) 
pafs  into  Paradife  \  but  through  Rivers  of 
Fire^  Darknefs^  Milk  and  Water ^ — Though 
fometimes    they   have    a  more   expeditions 
Way  ^  if  any  one  attends  once  or  twice  to 
fome  peculiar  Do^rine  of  the  Priejl ;  or  if, 
before   his  Death,   he  thrice  take  hold  of 
a  Cow's  Tail^  according  to  a  religious  Rite^i 
immediately  his  Si?2s  are  forgiven y  and  he 
is  carried  up  to  Heaven.''  —  Let  the  Faith 
of  the  Mohammeda7ts  be  true ;     '^  among  Bu?beq. 
whom  are  many  Vagabond  Pretenders  /o^^*^^'^' 
SanSlity^  counterfeiting  a  Stupidity,  Which 
Sort    of   Men    is    highly    valued    among 
them,  becaufe  Fools  and  Madmen ^  as  Per- 
fons  undoubtedly  predeflinated  to  Sahation^ 
are  accounted  Saints   even  in  this   Life'* 
And  'tis  thought  an  effedlual  Way,  if,  in-    sale*s 
ftead  of  a  Shrowd,    a  Man  can  get  to  be  Koran, 
buried  in  their  Prophet's  Shirt," —  Let  us^*  ^ 
applaud  Don  ^ixot's  Maxi?n,    that  ''  all 
KnightS'Errant  go  diredly  to  Heaven," — 
Then  what  St.  Findan  heard   out   of  St. 
Blafus's    Tomb    is    unqueftionably    true  ; 
"  your  Seat  is  already  prepared  in  Heaven^  Mabll. 
and  your  Sins  are  forgiven." — Then  *5^/- ^f  g^^"' 
vation  is  wrapped  up  in  2i  Monk's  Cowle,^.  381/ 
'Tis    but  dying  in    Simon   Stock's   Scapu- 
lary^  or  St.  Francis's  Rope^  and  all  is  fafe. 
Get  but  into  one  of  their  Orders^  or  their 
Conjrate7'nities  \  and  the  Bulls  of  his  Ho- 
linefs  will  fecure  your  Salvation,     '*  Make  Brev. 
but  a  few  Vifits  to  St.  Francis's  Chapel x^^^^'^'^'^^^' 
rM  n  and 


Aug. 


(  274  ) 

;and  Chrijl,  who  promifed  him  to  deny 
nothing  that  he  asked,  hath  efFedually 
forgiven  all  your  Sins  upon  Confejjiony  — - 
Then  the  moft  nafty^  ridiculous^  crack-^ 
brain' dy  nay  wicked  Saints^  Murtherers^ 
^rayfors  and  Rebels^  fuch  as  the  Saints^ 
Francis^  Dominic >,  Ignatius^  Thomas- a ^ 
Becket,  Hildebrand^  &c.  ^re,  without 
Doubt,  in  Heaven^  becaufe  canonized  by 
St.  Peter's  Vicar. 

J  particularly  mention  the. /^,  becaufe 
(to  fhew  the   World  how   much   Popery 
is  mended)  no    longer    ago    than   Septem-r 
her   25,     1728.,    this  Hildebrand    (Grego^ 
ry  VII.  one  of  the  moft  wicked  of  Man- 
kind, and   mofl  infamous  even   of  Popes) 
was  exalted  into  a  Saint  by  Benedi^v  XIII. 
and  in  a  Supplement  to  theRomaiv^Brenjiaryy 
his   Fejiival  is  ordered   to  'b^'^kept  by  all 
Chrijlians^  W\i\\  2i  double  Office ^  on  May  2^. 
The  Collea:  is,  "  O  God,  the  Strength 
of  all  that  truft  in  thee,  who  haft  endued 
the  BleJJed  Gregory,  thy  Confejjbr  and  PopCy 
with  Virtue  and  Conftancy  to  defend  the 
Xjiherty  of  the  Church  ;   grant  to  us,  that 
by  his  Example  and  InterceJJion,  we  may 
overcome  valiantly  all  that  oppofeth  us." 
And  to  point  out  in  v/hat  Particular   his 
Zeal  is  to  be  imitated,  the  Lejjons  for  the 
Day  tell  us.     "  No  Pope,  fince  the  Apo- 
file's.  Days,  did,    or  juffered  more  for  the 
Church,  ox  fought  more  jd^fpc^rately  for  it. 

Againft 


{  ^75) 

Againft  the  impious  Attempts  of  the  E^^ 
per  or  Heiiry  (the  Fourth)  he  flood  an  /«- 
trepid  Champion^  and  deprived  him  of  the 
Communion  of  the  Faithful^  and  of  his  Do- 
minions-^  and  abfohed  all  his  SubjeSis  from 
their  Allegiance. — While  he  was  celebrating 
Mafs,  a  Dove  was  feen  flying  down  from 
Heaven^  and  fitting  with  expanded  Wings 
on  his  right  Shoulder,  as  a  Proof  that  he 
was  guided  by  the  Infpiration  of  the  Holy 
Ghofl. — .  At  length  this  true  Saint  went  to 
Heaven^  &c/'  —  ^'  By  Order  of  our  mofl 
Holy  Father  EenediB.  XIII.  Lord  of  the 
City^  and  the  World,  (Urbis  &  Orbis.J 
Signed,  N.  Cardinal  Cofci a."  The  whole 
Service  is  reprinted  in  Verpoortennii  Fafci- 
culo  Difjertationum,    Coburg.  1739. 

Such  Saints  as  thefe  may  however  be 
in  Danger  oi going  down  Stairs  into  Heaven ; 
as  Juvenal  fmartly  fays  of  the  Cofifecration 
of  Claudius^ 

— Tremiilumque  caput  defcendere  jufjit         Sat.  6. 
■AdCcelum.—  --  "^^^f-^" 

Defcends  into  the  Skies  His, trembling  Head, 

Se72eca  vixMtihy  in  his  Apocohcynfo/is,  ox: 
Apotheofis  of  a  Pumpkin,  )  "  that  this 
Pumpkin  Claudius  had  during  his  Life  a 
Temple  in  Britannia ;  and  that  he  died  in 
grievous  Torture^  while  he  was  hearing  a 
Comedy i  In  Yixin^- oi  h\^  Conficration  \\q 
N  n  2  went 


(276) 

went  indeed  up  to  Heaven^  but  the  C?- 
leftial  Council  not  bearing,  that  fuch  Per- 
fons  fliould  be  made  Gods  by  low  Mortals, 
inftantly  decreed,  that  he  fhould  leave 
Heaven  within  thirty  Days.  Accordingly 
he  was  packed  away,  and  hurried  down  to 
the  Infernal  Regions.'* 

Both  Baleus  and  Flatina^  in  their  Lives 
of  Boniface  VIII.  tell  us,  "  that  he  imca- 
nonized  St.  Herman  of  Ferrara^  and  or- 
dered his  Bones  to  be  dug  up,  and  burn- 
ed, after  he  had  been  venerated  for  a  Saint 
for  twenty  Years."  oU£i4iiinl   afli 

But  who  will  venture  to  apply  this  to 

the   Methodifts  ?    Their    Teachers     indeed 

have  been  very  free  and  generous  in  the 

Difpofal  of  Heaven.      They  can  prefently 

reftore  their  Followers  to  Paradife^  or  fend 

them  to   Heaven ;    nay,    can  place   them 

there  in  what  Degree  of  Glory  they  pleafe, 

Seward    and  make  **  Mr.  Seward' s  Sijiers  fiine  with 

journ.    ^  refulgent  Splendor^   above  the  reft  of  the 

^"    ^*    Heavenly  Hojl.'*     They  can  make  "  Our 

Dear  Lord  come  and  perfume  their  Graves ; 

can  make  Angels  come,   and  carry   them 

up  to  Heaven ;  can  even  plunge  them  into 

the  Urinity^  and  make  them  all  God y 

And  what  then  ?  What  marvel  this  ? 
Do  not  Papifts  the  fame  ?  The  Pope  by 
Canonization  ftocketh  Heaven  with  as  many 
Inhabitants  as  he  will ;  though  they  have 
been  Madmen^    Rogues^    and    Jfa/jins.  — 

He 


(  ^n  ) 

He  affigneth  to  each  what  particular  Man-    Sexti 
Jion  he  judgeth  proper,  as  we  find  in  their l-^,  nf* 
Canon  Law,  and  its  Gloffes.  —  He  hath  aTit.  22. 
Power  fuperior  to  all  created  Beings^  hath 
a  Pontificial   Omnipotence^    and    commands 
Angels.     And  P.  Clement  VI.  acflually  ex- 
erted this  Authority  in  his  Bull,  in  Favour 
of  Pilgrims,    "  we  peremptorily  command 
the  Angels  of  Paradife  to  introduce  their 
Souls  into  Paradife,  abfolutely  freed  froin 
Purgatory.'*  —  And  if  any  one  of  thefe 
Pilgrims,  upon  his  Return  home,  fhould 
by  the   Inftigation   of  the  Devil  commit 
any  Sin  ;  it  is  our  Will  and  Pkafure,  that 
the  Punifhment  of  Hell  fhall   not  in  any 
wife  he  infliBed  on  him  -,  —  unlefs  on  Ac- 
count of  other  Sins,  which  he  fhail  com- 
mit afterwards.'' — Out  of  mere  Shame,  the 
Papifts  were  very  diligent  in  burning,  or 
fecreting  this  Bidl,  and  thinking  they  had 
eflfe6tually   done  it,    began  to  deny    that 
there  was  ever  fuch   a  Btill-,    or  at  leaft 
that  had  the  Sanc^^lion  of  the  Pcpe'-s  Seal. 
But  WeJ/elus  of  Groningen,  Chancellor  Ger- 
fon,  Corn,  Agrippa,  &c.  affirm,  that  Copies 
are  now  to  be  feen,  with  the  Pope's  Seal 
annexed,  in  the  Archives  at    "Vienna,   hi- 
mogis,  and  PoiBiers.     And  luckily  Johan. 
Hoornbeek^  found  a  Copy  of  it  in  the  Pub- 
lick  Library  at  Utrecht,  which  he  pubiiflied 
with  Obfervations.     See  at  the  End  of  his 
Bull<z  P.  Vrbani  VIII. 

Whv 


(  278  ) 

Why  the  Pope  fhould  have  a  RefervCi 

as  to  Sins  to  be  committed  afterwards^  is 

not  without  Reafon.     For  Indulgences  miijl 

be  piir chafed  again  and  again.     And  hence 

may  be  collefted,  why  Mr.  Wejley  talks  io 

much   of  the  Methodifl's  having  "  Aflii- 

rance  of  Pardon^    and   Salvation  for  the 

prejent.'*     It  is  fit  they  fhould  be  brought 

to  ConfeJJion^  toties  quoties^  and  make  their 

Sexti     Offerings.  —  It  ftands  in  fo  many  Words 

Lib!T'  i^  their  Canon  Law,  that  ''  God  affumed 

Tit.  6.    St,  Peter  info  Partner/hip  with  the  Undi^ 

vided  Unity/*     And,  as  'tis  confidently  af- 

ferted,  that  the  Pope  fucceeds  St.  Peter  in 

all  his  Power  and  Privileges ;  how  can  he 

Cafal.  de  be  denied  the  fame  Honour  ?-— "  His  Power 

^f^'       too  of  ca7W?iizing  others  is  not  only   un- 

^^''^^'  queftionable,  but  a  Point,  in  which  he  is 

certainly   infallible,    and    cannot    be    mif 

taken  r 

Thefe  are  high  Claims  to  great  Things. 
And  yet  one  may  be  tempted,  with  Re- 
gard to  fuch  Ca?2onizers  and  God-makers^ 
to  join  Iffue  with  jigefilaiis,  in  Plutarch^ 
Ed.  Parif.  "  The  T'hafans  had  determined  to  make 
y^^J^-  him  a  God,  and  eredl  Temples  to  his  Di- 
vinity-^  and  fending  Ambaffadors  to  ac- 
quaint him  with  it ;  he  asked  them,  whe- 
X^tt  their  City  could  make  Gods  of  Men  ^ 
'ftiey  replying,  that  it  could.  Go  then^ 
jTaitlx  he-,   make  w/r/^/t?^i /uch,  and  then 


2IO. 


(  279  ) 

I  fliall  bejlev^e  ,^hat.  youv  can,  tnake  a  God  of 

"  §.  49.  But  to  return  from  this  imperii^ 
ne'nt  Digrejjion  : — I  proceed  to  confider,    in 
the  laft  Place,  the  famous  MethodiJl'DoC" 
trine  concerning  Regeneration^  or  the  New 
Birth,     Whereby  they  do  not  mean  Re- 
generation   by    Baptijm  ;    but    fomething 
diftindi    and   oppofite.     The   Scriptures  in- 
deed may   talk   of  a  fecond  and  fpiritiial 
Birth  by  Baptifm^  of  the  Wajlnng^   or  La-- 
"Very  of  Regeneration  ;  but  what  avails  that, 
if  they  take  upon  them  profanely  (as  Mr. 
Whitejield  does  in  exprefs  Words)  to  call 
"  Baptifmal  Regeneration^  the  Diana  of  the 
frefent  Age  ?"  —  Or,  as  Mr.  Wejley  more 
gently   fpeaks,    "  if  the   Wafnng  of  the^  J^^^ra' 
Holy  Ghojly  which  was  given  in  Baptifm^'  '^^' 
be  finned  away  ?  —  Or,    what  if  after  all 
our  befl  Endeavours,  Baptifmal  Regenera- 
tion be  ineffedtual?  For,  fays  he,  '^  though  3  Joum. 
I  have  ufed  all  the  Means  for  twenty  Years,  P*  ^3- 
I  am   not  a   Chriftian.     Verily,  verily,  I 
fay    unto  you,    I  miift   be    born    again'' 
And   he    calls  thofe   ''  Blind  Leaders    of  P.  82, 
the  Blind,  who  fpeak  of  the  New  Birtby 
as  if  it  were  no  more  than  Baptifm'' 

Therefore,    another   greater  and   better 
New  Birth  muft  be  fuperadded  to  fupply 
the  DefeB,     And  yet  one  would  think  the 
former  fiifficient  for  all  Furpofes  of  a  Chrif- 
tian y 


(  28o  )  ^ 
tian  ;  fuppofing  only  thaf  "St.  F^z/7  fpeaks 
Ephef.  -.  Truth',  "  C^r//?  fandtified  and- ^cleanfed 
26.  the  Church  with  tht  wajhing  of .^Water  ^^ 
—-that  he  might  prefent  it  to  himfelf  a 
Glorious  Churchy  not  having  Spoty  or  V/riu" 
kle^  or  any  fuch  Thing/'— 

But  I  am  again  forgetting  mylelf,  and 

;:    tTitle-Page^  which  mentioned  not   Confu^ 

Hation,  h\ii  o^\fComparifon»     To  this  then 

let- u&  proceed.      This   Myfdcal  Regenera" 

^ifi;??:isv  it  feenis,   two-fold^  a  Lejer^  and  a 

wvfley   Greater,  ■    *-  Born  again    in    the  Higher 

3  journ.  ^^^  of  the- Word,    into   a  thorough^    in- 

^* '        ward  Change,    by   the  Love  oftiodJh^d^ 

abroad  in  the  Heart.     Born  again  in  the 

^    i- .  Lower  Senfe  is  receiving  RemiJJion  of  Sins'' 

Whitf.    —Mr.  Whitefield  mzkes  Converjion  to  be  the 

3  J°'-^»'n-  fame  Thing  with  the  New  Birth,    And  Count, 

^We%    Zin^endorf  [^ys,  ^^  fitfificdtiqn  is  the  fame      ' 

2  Journ.  23  beiiig  bom   of  God,     When  a  Man  isi 
^*  ^'^*      begQite-n  of  Gody  his  Fear,  and  Sorrow,  aacj.^ 

Serfe  of  the  Wrath  of  God^^  are  the  Pangs^\ 

cfi^tJoeiNew  Birth,''— Mr,  Brainerd  fays.pf^^ 

Journ.    ''^  xht  Indian  Conjurer,  one  of  thofe  whom 

p.  86.     \^Qy  c2l\\  Powvjows,  that  after   his  Co?2ver-r^ 

fiony  in  all  Refpeds,  he  bears  the  Marks  of}^ 

Wefley   om^-£reated a-new  in  Chrifl  Jefus'" — *^  One/^, 

3  Journ.  j-eceives  a  full  clear  Senfe  oi  Pard^i^.^^mit^^ 

Pdwer  to  fiii  no  more,"  ^.     ^_      jj.^^^.;H> 

iThey  muft  not,  howev,^4  4'  yet  wrap,. 

themfci^es  up  in  Security,     For  IVlr.  Wejley  ^ 

4  joiirn,  ^vriteSi,  ^^j^-many  go  thtoagh''tH^w  Wilder- 


(  28i  ) 

nefe-State  of  Doubts  and  Fears^  andjlrong 
Temptatio72Sy  after  they  have  received  Re- 
mijjion  of  Sins, --^  After  a  clear   ^J/urance"^  ^^^^^• 
that  Goi  hath  forgiven  their  Sins,  —  they^*  ^^' 
are  not   to  think   themfelves  any   Thing 
even  after  this,  till  thoroughly  renewed  af- 
ter the  Image  of  God''  —  Of  this  he  him- 
f elf  is  an  experimental  Witnefs.     "  I  con- 2  Joum. 
tinned  to   feek    it   ( faving   Faith )    with  P- '9  5© 
ftrange  Indifference,  Dulnefs  and  Coldnefs, 
and  unufually  frequent  Relapfes  into  Sin, 
ii\\JFed?icfdayy  May  2^^  (173S)  and  then 
Afjurance  was  given  me,  that  he  had  taken 
away  77iy  Sins,  even  mine''  —  But  imme- 
diately after  this  New  Birth,  he  ov/neth, 
"  Satan's  Suggeftions  that  he  had  no  Faith  ^V.^o-ii, 
—  was  fnuch  buffeted  with  TemptationSy  and 
a  Charge   of   not   having  a  more  fenfble 
Changer — I  anfwered,  (fays  Mv/jVefey) 
I  fm  not  to  Day 'y   and   Jefus  my  Mailer 
has    forbid    me  to    take  Thought  for  the 
Mcrrowy     Accordingly  to-morrow^    ^'  he 
hath  manifold  Temptations^ — -but  comes  off 
more  than  Conqueror  y — has  Freedom  from 
Sin;  not  one  unholy  Defire.** — Yet  two 
Days  afterwards,    fays,    "    /  grieved  th(:  > 

Spirit  of  Gody    and  God  hid  his  Face  : , 

Again  aflaulted  -,  —  had  more  Comfort,  — 
on  which  I  began  to  prefume ;  —  then 
thrown  into  Perplexity,  whether  I  had 
any  Faith  at  all."  —  And  long  after  this, 
*'  1  was  much  in  Doubt,  whether  Gods  Jou^- 
Oo  would  P'^°^ 


|POuld  not ,  jay  mc^  afide^j^.y^"  ^^^^f^ 
J2;.— ^(O  how  jfalkn  Anct^jhts^A^^pn^ 

nefled  this  ^o^^-^'<???/^i^«)  that  th^,^^;^ 
cf  Qod  had  taken  away  her  Sins^[,fr^iBX 
fjie.^J^cr^  tjjpap  t^>p.Lt?ve  of  Gp^J'  ^WSl 

ityo]  r  or  move*  ^    -^Here  obferve,   this  .Woman 

^'    -was  hor?i  .again  both    ia  the   Loiter   a)id 

^^,  ^v Again  ;  /'   A  'young-  Man,,  who 

Ljdgqfjpq.;j^r>own   the   Peace  of  God^  but 

L^^ljiW^dClt  away,  hzi  zfrefl:  a?id  clear 

Manifejlation  of  the  hove  of  God\,;<:^^iOi^ 


Ib^t;ihejr^gt^^^j'2m//i^/i   niay   be  r/z^^:^-  ?>£- 
i^^^j   agjaia  and   again,  -to  an  indefinite 
jri^  .^d^-^h^t  a  Man  may  keep  a  Birth-' 
\^^i^^^'S  ^^\' ^^  his   Life^   and  ^e,^^eJ:J 
dl3^  exgeriencQ  the  "Throws .  and  Pangs. of 
iiQHKl^fSV^''^'     [Hereby   we  may  be  fatif- 
'     ..^Sp^ju-ll^^t.-the  invented  Peculiarity  of  their 

^  ^ji^gj  nQthingbut  tht.renemng  of  the  Spnit 

"^"dd  qoi&i?^^-^^^^  ^f^^^^^^>  ^^*  ^.Mng^^rencnsocd 

^^^^tio  Repentance  5  —-renewed-  in  Righte- 

.^c^M^s  pnd  true  I^oUneJl^^^^t^^^jhe  fmge 

T     orW^^^/^  '^/^^^  created liii,  &;c4,,:.v         ^'   ■• 

'  rite'  ^wr^  or  hi^tfr  ^^^>  '^f^:^^M^^'' 


J.^^^3  ) 

a^l|FjMe  ''Torm^hts^,  ^aiid    Agonies  of  a 
J^ofn<ik  ^^rcAail  ^;FC)r, ,  '^  It  is  in  |Ke  whitf* 

Feci  moV^^^^«  ^^f  Bc^^^ll  experienci^ 
fBmfi  *^  h^tcP^'ff^vek    e'er    Chriji' Ts 
jtfmUWtm?''^^'  As  my  M.^/6fr  bom  Weiley 
ftfff^^h^par^y^'^,  fo  did  I  feel -great  3  J^^m. 
J%/«lff%^^uI^  ifi^:teiffg^^^^ 
I  thoiiglit  (Kc  Pains  of  Hell  were  upon  me, 
and  that  my  Soul  was  takin^'leave  of  my 
Body.    Wasjn  this  violeht  ^|-d;>;jj?  fof  a$otit 
four  Hbiii-^^'^ihtn  began  to  fiel  r:^as  %mi 

^^^^^Ko,tl?i¥|  Kf^^tmk  i©iitn|i  #^if^%ffe 
'jlk^'-^gomei  of  Death,  the  Pciim  of  HeH^ 
"dflj  thinking  they' are  /;?.i&//,  will  fc?Vfe. 
^-^  Devils  are  dragging  them  to  ii/f//,  their  Pag.  19. 
Bodies  alnrtt)fl:'  torn   afunder :  — •  Tfiiy  'ai?e 
fcized   with  the  Spirit   of  Fear,    Horrot, 
and  Defpaf^;i^^^fe^ti  the  Pains  of  liell?.  40,^ 2, 
i^jtiJli^^B,  ^^n&\K€'i^f^hoJ  God  Jloed  Srdfnd^' 
^ in h^^HeWt  :'^  Andth^r]  in  Defpair,  liath 
the  fame:  -^  Another  finking  down  even 
as  dead,  h^th  her  Srns  take7i  i^4yf--^  'On^  ^  journ. 
in  a  Fever  feels  great.  Terrors  j  fears  leftp-  76. 
"^  he  fliould  ^ro/>  info  Hell :—  Another  over-  2  Journ. 
^whelmed  with  a  hofribk  Dread ,  expecting  P  ^^• 
'ii^^x\g'Witt6^h^  up  in  a  Mo- 

''litSht/'^In  general,  as  Mr.  JVeJley  fpeaks, 

"  The  being  in  Oreo,    (/.  ^.  in  Hell)  :iS  i  Journ. 
"they  phrafe  it,  is  thought  an  indifpenBhU"^^^' 
Preparative  for  being  a  Ojrijiiah'''''    ^'' 
O  o  2  The 


,xfftfol\jte^M  fame  AcQpunts .  we  :b^^_Q^^'^^raim 
journ.  f^r^  I  **  one  /W^V^z  felt  that  it^ofe^aav.i^ 
p.  8,  ^^' gone 'Cafe  withdhim,  and  thought  heitnuft, 
linj^  down  tq  j^f// ;--- but  is  fyon  anotbjBr: 
Man,  created  a-new  in  Chrijl  Jefus. — A. 
Cqnjiirer^  and  Mur^hemr'^  giving  cut.  that 
he%\ai  jhnie^  Gre^t  orie,  >-r-^  thinks  God  willi 
fend  hini:vip^pn^y/,  i&  juft.  drc^ping  into 
itj^  ■■  he  ^ould;.t^^  I  rlDiriw 

^.ii^nce^  Mr.  /^'g/?^j  defcriteth  the'  {cvt*y 
r^i[  (^yings  out^    Roarings^    Tellings y  Con-' 
11  lo^I^lfi?^'^^^    ContorfionSy    with    the:  unutterable 
"  8{.Q  .(^gojues  of  Mind  and  Body^—,  by  fuch  Bx-^x 
preflions,    as  "  groaning  for  Deliverance,. 
calling  to  G<?J,^a^  out  of  the  BeJJiy  of  Hell\ii 
as  in  their  i^^m  ^«^  P^^j^f,  >&c%o  atid-ift 
they  have  a  fjarp  and  long- labour, y  thely. 
all  J  ^^^J  ^^^  inflrong  Pain  for  Jome  Days,- as  yet: 
A  .W'lnot.  delivered  at  ail  5  //^  Children  are  cotneX 
'c^  '^ to ''the  Birth y  hut  there  is  not   Slrengtbiim 
brw^  forth y — The  fame  is  evidently  fup-^j 
j)c^^d    by    Mr.  Wbitefieldy    in   his   Letter? 
whitf.    frpn^jMr.7^^/?j^',   "  A  Wqrn^n  feized  withi 
3  jfjurn.  iii|tl)|ners,,th^^^^  Agonies  of  Death  I '-^ 

"  *  '  ^ *  fiye :  D2iy ^  /h.e  ^tra'^dled  and  groaned^  t heri t 
in .^;^ie;;;^«/  wasfidl.ff^  JLove  and  Joy.'^i-^ 
Ifer  .^>ip;;ids  ,^|jav^^^^fppu^^ed  ,her:/;/i?^  fotj 
p.  8 1 .  tj^eie,  tf?pe r X earsi..' '^^  Seward,  undergo-* 
ingt^reat  jnward  Agonies  .0n4  Tortures, 
Ijke  dipfe  of  St.  Paul,  sl  -po^n  travelling: 
V^pm^i ,  Vi  ho.  Xo\A .  Str^^w^Jh^^s ,  (^s  a  Mid- 


^%^  ^'^'' 


tuf^\%f  ^the^N4\v''Birth?^:^'^  One  having  7  Jown; 
droptdoWn^«s*1f  Ihot'with  ^'Giin-y  u^ovi^'^X]: 
his  rifmg,  I  had  half  an  Hour's  Convert;' 
fation.  with  him  on  the  Nature  of  the  Nml 

Hhowkdge  with  Mr.  Wcf,ey,xo  be  *^  fome-" 
thing  more  than  that  o(  Baptifm :"'  To 
which  I  fhall  (oon  find  ^pro/>e?- Par^I/el 
throughoiit.  But  firft  fhall  mention  a  few 
Comparifons  sis  to  Hell  felt  in  ttit  New  Birth. 

"^Whf^rcb  hf8  in  general,  fliat  "  ^^^ol,iu 
rible  and  rigid  Trembling  and  Quaking  is'^'  ^^^^ 
called  Tccgragi^eii/,  iei^ig  in  Hell,  or  a^iJig- 
Hellr  —  Barfolits  Jays,    that  Jgnatius  felP 
the  -throes  y^f.  m^ert^tM  Wpe  ai  bai  df^ 
Hell,  and  that  the  Devils  could  not  invent^ 
^worfeTarturer — ^'  St.  I'erefa's  Spiritual    Life. 
Regenerati^^n  was^ffi^sV  "  ^uf  L^/'^pl^:"^^^^- 
ceth  her  in  Hm  lo  fee  the  Torments  pre-} 
pared  for  her  thcre.«^The  Entrance'  is  Hlie' 
^■"Wwy  7iarrou>,  dark   Furnace : -^^'^^ 
End   of  the   Paf&ge   is   a  certain   hollov?    ^^'^ 
Place,  hka  2,'Prejs  in  a  Wall,  into  which 
{he  faw  -herfelf  crowded  extremely  c/(?/^^. 
—  But  ^s  to  the/^t'/Z/Tg-  Part,  "tis  a  Thiilg, 
that  ca-ft  ne-ither  be  related,   or  underftood." 
Sh^Mt^Fire  in  her  Soul.     Alfthemoft 
infttpportable  Pains  (lie  had  endured,   thd*. 
caufed  by  the  Dm/,  are  nothing  of  what 
I  -felt  there,   p>efing,    agonixing,  fiflinil 
dejperMe  and  t<)rturing '  Difcontent  and  Dif- 

^^l  ,  giijt 


^yaTo  fay  -  W^^a^mfi,  ''dr  'rehA 
tng  of'jhe-  Sold,  WWi^  imi^l^htSaid 
tears  itfelf  in  Piecb^j^^— by  an  Hniertop'Wtre 
and  De(p.air\  burned,  and  cut  in  Piece- 
meat  itNt  t)rt(^^; '  ;i«tni^^}1^^ 
-^-^  She  ■'  is^^igam  ye^i^ced^'%''-^^^  St'M, 

Vol.  II.  for  Jfonip  particular  Sins/*^^^(f  ftill  aftei- 
P-  3i-  0s^^  MFloofctb  all  the  'Co^i/Shiidhi'  of 
Gd^i'-f^^^^  Virtues,  even  Faith  itfelf,  are 
fiifpended^  ^,0'  tlie  ^evii  bringing  her  to 
iirch  Heavineis  arid*  Darknefs,  as  cannot 
te  exprepd,  ffiuch  le.Is  exaggerated.  -^-^ 
The    L^r^  tells    her,    it    was   from-    the 

^"'^^'in  this  Companfony  (befides  the  general 

Smilmde    with     t'\\t'   Meth&difiical    New 

'■'Mrth)  may  be  obferved,  ther-Refembkn^e 

^witli   ^oor    Mv^    WBifefield,     whorii     the 

^'lyevii  Jhut  v^  in  Jbis. '  Chfet^    dnd  locked  up 

^M'^Jrgri^  jifAirY—  The'  Devils  being 

^W^'Caufe  of  the  Pa?2gs  in  the  Ne%v  Birth', 

^-p  fA'd'  the  .NeceiTiTy   of  ^^ts  toeing  feveral 

3^mes  repeated,  '  '\   '  ^ ":  ^  - 

Pag.  65.  i^^^qd' farther  on,  T^^/&3^i^^^'%at  the 

Religious  und(^i-  her  Inftitution  every  Mdfitb 

giye    their    Superior    an  Account  of  their 

~§>/*h*/";  v^herein,  ^vith  ^reat  Fidelity,  they 

^fcbVer  all  the':Tii^riiii^s  aM'  Windingg 


(  ^l7  ) 

f0Qt^  4o  ^imJiJf:}-  *-:I  fpent  the  Remainder 
iif^|^^ilii?:j-anci  the  following  \V.eek,  in.ex^^j 
wining  tho^Q  of  the  &ae/)' ;  ipeakingyH'^r 
rally  to  eacpj-thdit  I  iriigbt  ?nore  perfe^^ 
know  the  State  oftl^eir  Souls  Jo  Godward.*^ 
This  is.  the,  identical  Man^  who  hacj^itbe 
..^urance  folemnly  to  ^ecla^^J^"  |FiM  ^^^^^"  ^^ 
fraBife  is,  the  QQnfeljlon..of,J^veva^  -. 

conjointly^  72ot  to  a  Priejl^biit'-to  each  otherl''^' 

Net  that  i/ire  Confeffiony   even  to,  Mr. 

Wejleyy   will  be  a  fiifficiait  Preparation  for 

the  New  Birth  :—.Pe?2anc^s  are  tQ  he  un- 

j^r gq:cif  ^  \i  dl  y,5f  s  Purgatiom  ^  c{^tdy  Lujlrations 

of  a  (Tr^^/ Kind    are  to  fee  their. Poition 

(not  the  SatisfaBion  of  Chrijl)  before  their 

^b^^j^g  ^n  again^^  thefc  ^s  an  E^unia- 

Jeni'  to  Purgatory^    and   rieceffary  for  the 

E:<piationfor  Srn,  —  I  adjourn   this  Point 

for  a. Minute,  ..t^^u/^  ^^^rnuft  jio^-lpm^ 

Madam  Bourignony^whofc  Inftitutiom,  Kay- 

ing  thrown  a  Ma^n  io^p  a  dangerous  Dijieni- 

fcr^  filling  him  w.itli^;:row3  Sadnefs  and 

Sighing,  &c.    She  teifs  his  Wife,  1'  that 

her  Do&ine   is   a  Milky  \f^o'verytour'\ 

thai  begetteth  Virgins ;  ,.the  Man's,  Sorro^ 

"good  and  wholefoaae5--7-^,^".^^/f//;?^  defign^d 

^^P/?2/r^d'  his  SouJ,  to  bring  him  to.J?^^- 

feBiony  to  uynte  him  ^o  God : —  That  ,tli^c 

"whol^fonie  Pr?//;j  a^id  Sighs  are  the  Tlj'ro'es 

^M^'i^^if^  ^^^  that  Children, 

Natural  or  "Spirkii^l,  cannot  be  born  again 

M^'^i^  Wherefor^yi 

^^\^\      *  -  efteem 


(  288  ) 
cftcem   your  Husband  happy  for  his  Child^ 
bearirig  Pains''     Light  rifen  in  Darknefs, 
Part  IV.  Lett.  22. 

Thefe   Signs  of   the    TSlev)  Birth  were 
much  the  fame,  when  ^takerifm  had  got 
Footing  in  the  Nation.     And  that  Popery 
{tX.  it  on  Foot,  and  furniflied  it  too  with 
StiltSy  Mr.  Wejley   muft  have  heard.     In 
^^^^J"""  Turner'^  Hijiory  of  Providences,  *' Dodlor 
Glanvill    Templar  relateth  the  Cafe  of  Robert  Church^ 
on  Witch- ^^;2,  who  was  leaving  the  Church  of  En^ 
laT.  6.     glandy  and  embracing  ^/:?/^^r//;;:j  ^  his  Wjfe 
Ed.  1726.  being  farther  gone,  and  a  Principle  wrought 
in  her.     But  the  Man  a   little  hefitating, 
was  told  by  a  ^aker^  that  he  Jlxuld  fee  a 
Sign.     Within  a  few  Nights  there  was  a 
violent  Storm  over  his  Room,  and  a  Voice 
within  him  faid,  fng  Praifes^  fng  Praifes ; 
thou  fhalt  fee  the  Glories  of  the  New  Jeru^ 
falem\   and   a  glimmering  Light  appeared 
all  over  the  Room.     The  Voice  then  com- 
manded him  to  get  out  of  his  Bed  naked^ 
to  go  fo  to  fome  Relations^   and  threaten 
them  with  Fire  and  Briraflone,  like  that 
on  Sodom  and  Gomorrah ^  if  they  did  not 
obey.    He  went  nakedy  performed  his  Mef- 
fage,  and  returned  Home,  where  he  flood 
72aked   three  or   four    Hours  -,    the  Spirit 
within  him,  in  an  unufual  Manner  \  fome- 
times   forcing  him    to  fng,  fometimes  to 
hark  like  a  Dog. — The  Spirit  too  bad  him 
kill  his  obftinate  Brother  and  Sifter.     And 

made 


(ig9  )^^  ^ 

ftii^  'Bii#  uttei-  witfa'^^riR^me?s 
ftWiiy  -places  in  Scripture,  of  which  h^ 
knew  nothing  (before.  The  Drift  was  to 
perfuadcT  film  to  ^akerlfm^  of  which  ^e£t 
It'namtd"  triaViy.  In  about  three  pr  four 
Hours  the  Man  came  to  himfetfy  md  gave; 
a  perfe<ft  Account  of  all  that  had  befallen 
him.  Some  Nights  afterwards  the  fame 
Trouble  was.  renewed.  His  Wife  was  tor-^ 
tured  with  extraordinary  Pain's -y  and  the 
Childrenc6tn'p\d\nQAyih2Ll  their  Moiiths 'tvere  ?  .^  ■- 
flopped  as  with  Wool  Upon  Dr.  Templar' i  ^^^^^  ^ 
Continuance  with  him,  and  by  Prayer^  he  ' 
was  'ptvft&Xy  free  from  all  Moleflation ;  and 
Ite,^-by  the  Do^dr's  Advice/  kept  clofe  to 
1^€' Public  Ser'vice  cf  God^  2lVlA.  had  no- 
thing to  do  with  the  ^akers^  or  their 
Writings.^^nttho.  Shaker  gave  out,  "  that 
tbe  Pciii'et  of  Qod  would  come  upoji  him  a-^. 
gainJ'^  kxi&  accoridingly  on  the  Tenth 
of  the  Month,  his  Troubles  returned.  Tfe. 
Voice  fkid  ma'riy  Things,  and  quoted  Scrips 
fufe  to  bring  him  from  the  Church  to^ 
^akerifm  \  and  faid,  "  it  would  ftrive 
with  him,  as  \hz  Ahgel  ii\A  with  Jacobs 
until  the  Breaking  of  the  Day  :  At  which 
Time  it  left  him.  When  the  Spirit  c^rtie 
again,  he  was  peremptory  in  refifling  it^ 
and  faid  it  was  a  Spirit  of  Delufion. 
tJpoji  which  the  Spirit  denounced  a  Curfe 
and  Damnation  upon  him  3  ^d  fo  left 
him  with  a  very  great  Heat  in  his  Body. 
''  Pp  After 


(  290  ) 
After  this  being  comforted,  ai)^  confider- 
ing  what  had  happened,    A  Voice  within 
him  Jpakt\   and   faid,    ''    that   the  Spirit, 
which  was  before  upon  him,   was  a  Spirit 
of  Delufion^    but  now    the   true  Spirit  of 
God  was  come  into  him.'*     It  acquainted 
him,  that  the  Dodlrine  of  the  Trinity  was 
true,  and  that  God  had  an  Ele5i  People, 
&c.  the  Truth  of  which  the  Minifier  of 
the  Town  would  inftrud:  him  in.-— A  few 
Days  after,  the  Spirit  came  upon  him  in 
the  Fields  and  preffed  him  to  believe,  that 
he   was  aded  upon   by   the  good  Spirit ; 
of  which,  however,  he  much  .doubted.  — 
One  Night  it  told  him,   "  if  he  would  not 
believe  without   a   Sign^    he  fhould  have 
what  Sign   he  would  ?  Upon  that  Robert 
Chiirchnan  defired,  that  if  it  was   a  good 
Spirit^  the  Wire-Candlefick,  which   flood 
upon  the  Cupboard^  might  be  turned  into 
Brafs ;    which  the   Spirit    faid   he  would 
do.     Prefently  there  was  an  tinfavory  Smell 
m  the  Room,  but  nothing  was  done  to- 
wards  fulfilling    .the    Promife.      On    the 
L^r^'i-Z)^j  following,  it  came  upon  him 
in  Church :   When  the  Chapters  were  read, 
he  turned  to  them  in  his  Bible y   but  was 
not  able  to  read.      When  the  Pfalm  was 
fung,    he  could  not  pronounce  a    Syllable, 
The  next  Day  his  Speech  was  wholly  taken 
from  him..    "  As  we  were  praying,  (fiiys 
Dr.  Templar)   he   wa.?  tl^pwn  out  of  \his 


(  291   ) 
Bed^  and  called  to  me,  with  great  Vehe- 
mence, to  hold  my  T^ongue,    When  Prayer 
was  done,  his  Tongue  was   bound  as  be- 
fore, till   at  laft  he  broke  out  into  thefe 
Words,  '^   Thhie  is  the  Kingdom^''  which 
he    repeated    above    a     hundred    Times. 
Sometimes  he  was  forced  into  an  extreme 
T,aughter  ;    fometimes   into   Smging ;     his 
Hands  beating  his    Breajl,    with    unufual 
Heavings    in   his    Body,      The   Dijiemper 
continued  'till  towards  the  Morning  of  the 
next  Day ;  when  the  Voice^  fignifying  that 
it  would  leave    him,    bad  him    get   upon 
his  KneeSy   in  order  to  that  End.     He  did 
fo,    and  prefently  he  had  a  perfedt  G?;;;- 
7nand  of  himfelf-,    and  gave   a   fober  Ac- 
count of  all  that  paffed,   having  a  diJlinEl 
Remembrance    of  what  the   spirit    forced 
him  to  do.  —  But  foon   after  the  Spirit 
raged  again  after  its  former  Manner ;  but 
he  was  by  Prayer  intirely  releafed.     This 
prevailed  upon  him^  his  Familyy  and  many 
others^  to  difclaim  ^lakerifm^   and   attend 
the  Parochial  Church,     You  may  be  con- 
fident  of  the  Truth  of  what   is   here   re- 
lated by  J.  T".  ' — Immediately  follows,  in 
Turner^  the  Cafe  of  one  John  Gilpin,    He 
was  much  taken  with  the  new  DoBrine  of 
^lakerifm  ;  and  being  diredled  to  hearken 
to  the  Voice  ^within  him,  one  Day  as  he  was 
walking  in  his  Chamber y  he  began  to  quake 
extremely,  could  not  Jfandy  but  fell  upon 
P  p  2  his 


(    292    ) 

his  Becly  where  he  cried  and  howled  in  a 
terrible  and  hideous  Manner,  (as  others  of 
them  ufed  to  do)  which  he  looked  upon 
as   the   Pains  of  the  New  Birth ;   by  De- 
grees he  cea fed  from  howling ^  and  rejoiced, 
that  now  he  could  witnefs  againft  the  Af/^ 
nijlers  of  England ^    as  Falfe  Prophets  and 
Priejis  of  BaaL      After   this   he   has  di- 
vers painful,  unfeen  Strokes,— hears  Voices^ 
—  difcerns  fomething  enter  into  his  Body^ 
which  Satan  fuggefted  to  be  the  Spirit  of 
Cod  like  a  Dove, --^Hc  is  in  great  Rapture^ 
as  apprehending  his  Spiritual  Marriage  and 
Union   with    Chrijl ;   and  heard  the    Voice 
faying,  *^  Chriji  in  God^  and  God  in  Chrijl^ 
end  Chrifl  in  thee''    Which  Words  he  was 
compelled  to  fing  in  a  f  range  Ma?iner ;  as 
alfo  divers  PafTages  of  Scripture ;  then  the 
Devil  raifed   him   up,    and   bid  him    be 
humble  y  then  brought  him   on   his  Knees 
again. — Then,  carried  about  the  Town^  he 
proclaimed,  ^^  I  am  the  Way^    the  Truths 
and  the  Life^      Once   being  caft    upon 
his   Back   on  the  Ground^  the  Voice  faid, 
''  Thou  flialt    have   two  Angels  to  keep 
thee ; ''    and    immediately    two    Swallows 
came  down  the  Chimney.     After  this  he 
goes  roaring  about  the  Streets ;  his  Hand 
is  forced  to  take  up  a  Kjiife^  and  put  it  to 
his   T^hroat^  the  Voice   faying,    "   Open  a 
Hole  there y   and  I  will  give  thee  Eternal 
Jt^,'/    ^ut  perfuaded  by  his  Wife  to  go 

to 


v/c 


(  293  ) 

to  Bed^  In  the  Morning  he  roared  out, 
*'  TSSow  the  Devil  is  gone  out  of  me:** 
At  which  Inftant  there  was  heard  a  great 
Thunder. — The  Devil  came  again  and 
feid,  "  that  it  was  Satan  that  had  pofjefed 
him  hitherto,  but  now  Cbnjl  was  come, 
and  had  cajl  out  Satan ;  and  that  what  he 
had  done  before  in  his  Cloaths  in  Obe- 
dience to  Satan^  he  muft  undo  in  his  Shirf 
m  Obedience  to  Chrijiy  Whereupon  he 
goes  out  into  the  Streets  in  his  Shirt,  and, 
in  Obedience  to  the  Devil's  Command,  h 
carried  hy  four  Women  into  his  Bed.  Then 
ht  feels  in  his  Belly  the  Living  Water  of  the 
Spirit^  flowing  up  and  down,  and  two 
Angels  wait  upon  him  in  the  Shape  of 
Butterflies.  After  this,  fufpeding  that  he 
was  aBed  by  Sat  an  .^  he  cries  out,  *^  Lord^ 
what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  The  Devil 
anfwered,  "Tis  now  too  late-y  Sentence  is  already 
pajjed  againft  thee:*  Hereupon  he  lay 
down  in  Defpair  j  but  prefently  the  Devil 
told  him,  "  that  it  v/as  a  white  Devil  that 
had  deluded  him  this  fecond  Time,  but 
that  now  Chrifl  was  come  indeed,  and 
would  cafi  him  cut:*  He  then  thought 
the  Devil  was  ejected-,  but  then  all  his 
Members  fell  on  working,  as  if  the  Pa7jgs 
of  Death  were  upon  him  -,  the  Foice  tell- 
ing him,  *'  that  they  were  the  Tangs  of  the 
Jt^ew  Birth,  a?id  Chrifl  was  new-formed  in 
him:\     And  iht  Devil  told   him,   "that 

now 


(  294  ) 

now  he  ihould  work  Wonders^  and  cajl  out 
Devils    hi    Ckrift's    Namey      The    Man 
thinking  it  all  a  Satanical  Deliifton^  he  fell 
into  a  horrid  Fear,    and  the  Devil   told 
him,  ''  that  all  this  while  he  had   been 
Jerving  him  ,  and  that  it  was  too  late  to  r^ 
fe72t.      Hence   he   fell   into  Dcfpair^    and 
great  Terrors.     But  at   laft  God  gave  him 
Repentance^    and  Peace   in    his   Confcience, 
Whereupon    he  publijloed  a    'Narrative  of 
thefe  Things,  as  a  Caution  to  others  ^ — at- 
tefted  under  the  Hand    of  the  Mayor   of 
Kendal^    Minijier,    School-majler,    &c."  — 
'^'here    follows    more    of    this    Satanical 
fjocking  Kind  -,  '  many  filling  into  dread- 
ful Trem!?li??gs  in  their  whole  Bodies  and 
Joints,  with  Riflngs  and  Swellings  in  their 
Bowels ',    Shriekings,   Yellings,  Howlings, 
and  Roarings.      And  yet  fome  were   in- 
duced by  thefe  Artifices  to  leave  the  Church 
for  ^akerifm ;  being  perfuaded   to  expert 
the  Power  to  cojne,   &c/* 

Much  m-ore  I  could  produce  from  the 
early  Accounts  of  ^akerifin^  concerning 
their  horrible  Fits^  knocking  down  People 
by  a  Look^  or  JVordy  and  fpreading  the 
Contagion  inftandy  among  Numbers ;  —  all 
Marks  and  Proofs  of  the  Ne%v  Bi?^th,  But 
what  I  have  here  tranfcribed  may  be 
thought  tedious ;  though,  I  hope,  not 
unfeafonable^  or  impertinent .  For  here  we 
have    a  ftrange    Fanaticifni    caught   from 

Popery 


(  295  ) 

Popery  by  the  fakers,  and  from  both  by 
the  Methodijis ;  who  have  taken  a  Copy  of 
the  PiBure  very  exadly,  and  in  the  moft 
minute  Lifies  and  Features,  Some  Diffe- 
rence there  is,  as  to  the  Methodijis  taking 
up  a  Delufon,  which  (as  far  as  I  can  judge) 
the  fakers  have  been  laying  down  ^  —  and 
as  the  Mi?2ijiers  of  the  Church  took  Occafion 
from  fuch  horrible  Actions,  Appearances, 
and  Pretenfions,  to  recover  the  Sufferer 
from  their  Dehfions-^  which  Mr.  Wejley 
is  perverting  to  their  Confirmation,  Whe- 
ther all  be  not  mere  Diabolical  Operation, 
or  Magical  Impofiure^  or  fuggli^ig  Artifice^ 
or  Natural  Enthufiafm  highly  worked  up 
by  a  cunning  Operator,  cr  the  EffeB  of 
Jome  unaccountable  Difiemper  5  —  and  how 
far  all,  pr  any  of  thefe  may  be  concerned, 
and  where  to  fix  their  Boundaries ;  —  I 
confefs  myfelf  2/;^^^/^  to  determine.  Though 
in  general  it  is  clear  enough,  ^  that  the 
Myftery  of  Iniquity  is  working,    . 

But  I  muft  remember  what  I  mention- 
ed, concerning  fome  other  cruel  Purgations 
and  Lujlrations  like  Purgatory,  which  the 
Methodifis  muft  undergo,  as  Preparatory  to 
the  New  Birth,  Hence,  I  fuppofe,  the 
Devojjfiire  Farmer,  (as  before  related)  fo 
readily  fubmitted  to  the  Difcipline  of  fo?'ty 
Stripes fave  one,  and  his  Wife  to  a  Purg-- 
ifjg  by  Fire  and  Water  — Hence  Mr.  V/efiey 
mentions  '^  one.  whom, G^^  is .purifyii^giA  l^^^^n. 


(  296  ) 

in  the  FirCy  for  beating  his  Wife^  a  Me^ 

ihodiJI,  in   Anfwer  to  the  Prayers  of  his 

Wife/*  —  Hence  he  fpeaks  fo  often  of  a 

3  Journ.  Fire    burning    in    his   Difciples.      *'  One 

P-95-      was  crying  continually,  Ibiirn^  Ibum^  O! 

what  fliall  I  do  ?  I  have  a  Fire  within  me'* 

5  Journ.  —  Another  fays,  "  I  felt  the  very  Fire  of 

P-^3-      Helhy  all  my  Body  was  in  as  much  Pain, 

as  if  I  had  been  in  a  burning  Jiery  Furnace'* 

And  hence  his  Conftruftion  of  that  Text, 

*^  concerning   the   Fiery  Trials  which  is  to 

try  us y     I   Pet.   iv.    12.    (which  ignorant 

Commentators  expound  by  Perfecutions)  as 

belonging  to  his  i?iward  FirCy  &c. 

After   the   fame  Manner   the    Papa/ins 

Thyrs   teach.     "  StvtX2i\  PoJJeffed  PerfonSy   or  the 

Daemon.  £)^*u//  in  them,    complain   of  burning  at 

1*18/123.^^^  Pr^;7t:^,    or  by  the   Prayers  of  the 

Saints ;  and  hereby  being  in  a  double  Fire.'' 

DeLoc.  — The   fame    Author    fays,    "  that    the 

infeft.      Devilsy    who  poflefs  othei-s,  bring  a  Fire 

^'  ^^'      like  that  of  Hell  with  them,  and  caufe  a 

Tom.  IV. terrible  Burning.**  —  In  the  Malleus  Male^ 

^' "^*   jicarum  we  find  thefe  inward  Burnings  \.o 

be  2.  certain  Sign  of  bei?2g  be-deviN,"    He 

Tom.  iii.writeth  again,  "  that  by  a  good  Exorciji 

P-^»229.one  Fire  muft  be  driven  out  by  another, 

and  the  Devily  who  lurks  in  his  Prey,  be 

put  to  Flight  by  burning  Alethodsy  like  the 

Flames  of  Hell  5  and  then  he  will  go  out 

in  the  Shape  of  FirCy  but  leave  a  Burning 

behind  him.'* 

But 


f  ^97  ) 

But  whatever  Likenefs  thefe  torturbig 
Lujirations  may  carry  of  Purgatory ;  Mr. 
fi^ejley  may  perhaps  dtflinguijh  (as  he  did 
with  Regard  to  Confejjhn)  that  Popifo  Pur- 
gatory lies  on  the  other  Side  the  Grave  5 
his  belongs  only  to  this  Life,  But  this 
Pretence  muft  be  deemed  mere  Cavil.  By 
antedating  and  forejialling  the  Time^  he 
hath  PopiJJj  Examples 'y  and  may  take  Ad- 
vantage of  Papal  Difpcnfations,  v/hich 
fometimes  commute  the  Petiancey  and  releafe 
Perfons  from  the  Torments  of  Purgatory 
after  Deaths  upon  Condition  of  their  un- 
dergoing equivalent  Sufferings  here.  Oneoji^,  2. 
fuch  Inftance  we  had  before  of  Pope  Cle-^^v- s\ 
ment :  Another  fuch  Grant  we  fee  in  Spe- 
culu77i  Exemiplorum:  Another  in  Diarium 
Minimoriimy  September  12.- —  Another  hi 
the  Fr  and  [can  Martyr  ology^  May  14,  where 
"  Sifier  Cafildis  requefted,  that  (he  might 
enjoy  in  this  Life  the  Punifhment  fhe 
was  to  receive  in  Purgatory.  It  was 
granted,  and  fhe  was  feized  with  a  Holy 
Fire,  (Jgne  Sacro,  or  St.  Anthony's  Fire) 
from  Head  to  Foot,  which  totally  con- 
fumed  her/'" — There  may  indeed  be  fome 
Danger  in  making  this  Exchange-,  the  Suf- 
ferings here  being  certain^  the  other  ima- 
ginary. 

But,  even  upon  this  Suppofiticn,  ^'  the 
Torments  in-flkled  on  the  Methodijls  will 
be  great  Gain  ;  by  bringing  them  to  a  State 

Q.q  of 


p 


( 298 } 

of   FerfeBion^    and    unfmning    Obedience^ 
which    will    be   full  Proof   too  of   their 
Pardon  and  Solvation J^l^^^^  Aqd    that^,^j^a- 
Perfection  extendeth  not  barely  to  a  Sim- 
Utude  with  Chrifi,    but   an   Equality',    we 
may   recall  Mx.  Wefley\  certain  "  JSx^f- 
ricnces,  of  fome  of  his  Followers  being /^§ 
free  from   iriward  Corruption^  and  all  Re- 
mainders of  Corruption,    as  Chrift  himfelf 
^vas  :'*  —  ^"^  Pardon,  with  Power  to  fin  no 
more,  &cqJ'     We  may  obferve  how  car^:? 
fully,  for   Fear   of  a  Miftake,    he  inferts 
4  journ.  Expreffions  to  this  Purpofe :  *'  Thoroughly 
P*  5^*      renewed  after  the  Image  of  Chrifl-y  —-an 
p.  82"^'"   entire  Change  from  the  Image  of  the  t)ev\l 
to  the  Image  o( God, —  Mr.  ffhite/ield  too; 
*'  All  experience  Pangs  and  Travels,  e'er 
Chrift   is  formed   in   them,    and   brought 
forth   in  the   Me  a  jure  of  his  Fulnefs,  who 
filleth  all  in  ally     Such  is  their  PerfeBion^ 
equal  to  God's  Fulnefs,  and  f o.  t,o  be  brought 
forth    in   us.      And   yet  .j^He  ^,  fame    Mr. 
Wbitefield,  (as  a  Proof  of  his  Confflency  2ind. 
Journ.  Impartiality)  complains  elfewhere,  '*  that 
'^'      fome   Englifi   Friends    had   thrown   a.fide 
the  Ufe  of  Means,  and  were  difputing  |c!^f 
finkfs  PerfeBion,  and  u?iiverfal  Redemption  J^ 
This  is   one  of  his  '  Flome -Strokes'   upon 
Mr.  Wefley,  and  Adherents, ^ 
'^^J^Tfiiis  "^  mi^'; .th^,^  be 

pliinged  over  llead  aiid  pars  into  Variety 
of  TQr(urel.bcyond  Exp2;elJioh^_  or  Conception  3 
'•'^  '''^  """''  '■    ^"■'    ''^'   ^"'"'^      ''  ■■"  '  in 


(  299  ) 

in  %akes  of  Fire,  as  bad  as  Purgatory ^  or 
^^ell',  and  then  they  have  the  Favour  of 
being   told   by    their   Teachers^   that  they 
itQ  reg^nirafe  and  incorruptible.     And  thofe 
who  .have  the  Jlrongeji  Fancy^  the   boldefi 
Imagination  and  Prefumptiony  will  fooneft 
believe^  —  and   be   deceived.     Let  me   fee 
among   them    but  a  Jingle   Injlaiice^   that 
will  exceed  the  Cafe  of  that  mighty  Hero 
of  Antiquity,  Achilles,     "  When  he  was 
youngs  the   old  Lady,  his  Mother^  dipped 
him  in  the  Stygian  Lake^  as  a  fure  Me- 
thod of  rendering  him  invulnerable.     But, 
unluckily,  as  fl:ie  held  him  by  the  Hcel^ 
while  fhe  was  wajlnng  him,  that  Part  re- 
friained  unfecure ;  and  in  the  Day  o(  Battky 
there  the  Pythian  God  mortally  ^wounded him,'* 
After  all  x\'\t\^  Lujlrations^  the  old  Serpent 
will  bite  them   by   the  Heel,     Th^  common 
Cdkf'bf  Enthiifiapn^    that    whatever    the    .^. 
'Saints  do,  after  the  A^ew  Birth,  is  no  Sin, 
or  thzt  God  feet h  no  Sin  in  the  Ele^,   will 
fcarce  inflire  them  3 — ■  Nor  yet  Mr.  fVhite-^- 1  Deal. 
^eld'%  modeft  Aflurance  of  Chrif's  Prero-'^-  46* 
^ative   being    transferred   to   hi?n -^  /'  G^^/3  Journ. 
being   pleafed   to  fhew  me,  that  1  fiouW'^'^' 
bruife   Satan's   Head :'' —  Nov    the   fame 
Power  affumed  by  other  Methodiflsy   "  of  Wefley 
bruifing  his  Head,  and  trampling  him  un-^  \^^' 
der  their  Feet/^     Which,  however,  may 
deferve  as   much   Credit ,  as  the   Story  of 
^^  St.  Z)//«y?/^;i's "holding  the  Devil  by  the 
QLq  2  Nofe 


(  300  ) 

Ncfe  with  a  Pair  of  red-hot  Tongs  y''  —  or, 

Vita     ''  St.  Gertrude  s  hanging  the  Devil  upon  a 

Gertrud.  QH^het,  whicU  her  Hijlorian  fays,/ fbe ^  did, 

^ *  ^    ■     truly  ^  liierally^  mid  corporally : '  'r— Or, '  *  elthe  r 

Sarum.    aSV.  'Juliana' ^^  or  St,  Margaret''?,  herce  Com^ 

Feb.  2  2.    bat  with  the  jPfvil,  and  their  taking  him 

up  in  their  Arms,   and  throwing  hini  out 

upon  the  Dungbill,'\^\7^*^<L  w\um'\H 

§.  50.    It^  were   no   difficult  Matter   to 
pfofcclite^this  Subjea:,  of-fiich  Pbautaftic 
Privileges    attained    by  inch   horrible  Me- 
thods ;  —  through  Turks,  Iiifidels^and  He- 
^'''''^^l'^^*?etics,  and  ether  ivickedly  Entbufiajh'c  Sec- 
^i'M'ieiy  'efpecialiy  Papijls  ^-r-and  hereby  trace 
jSfit'fo  nyiny'  ge?2ui?2e   Marh\  of  falje   Re- 
,  i^^;?;;,— but  true  Lnpofture. 
^\    But  i  prqmifed  a  proper  and  complete 
parallel  m^o)}^'^^  New  Birth, 

^Which   I  am  now  to  perforra,  • —  by  two 
^"Coniparijons ',    the  Firfl^of  w^hich  fhall   be 
^the   famous  Initiation.  into^Jhe   Myjleries\ 
'^that    confurnmate   DeluJionXof,  ih  Heathen 
'Worldy  and  which  hath  been  called^'  the 
mod  execrably-facred  Iny^ptiqxi\ofJ,ii?*^^<?- 
//cj/ Pravity  and  Fallacy.*''' ,':-^^^  .— 

"^^^^^^W(tht^r   Platonijls, ;  ( whai^'i^  ^ , the 
'  moft    acute    and   bitter    Enemies    to    the 
Chriftian  Religion)  in  Oppofition   to  Bap^ 
tifmal  Regeneration^  boafted  greatly  of  their 
Hieroc.  cmti  Myftical  Jnjiitutiom.      Hierocles  wri- 

Pv2?3'.  .^^^^r\t^nv^1^^^^  ^'^^  Purgation 


(  3f  I  ) 
of  the  Soul,  and  its  Rejtitution^  to  be  Initiated 
into  our  Mylieries,  ' —  which  bring  on  the 
Te7'feBim  of  the  whole  Man.  Without 
thefe  Cathartics  of  the  Lucid  Body^  we 
offend  both  in  Body  and  Mind.  But  by 
Initiation  Men  are  upon  ihitWing  for  a 
T articipcition  of  Divinity  ;  are  reftt/red  to 
their  Primitive  State^  become  Gods,  and 
are  no  longer  Mortals. 

''}f^  !^Kt^T^nitiated  are   carried    through     g^ 
terrible    KificnSy    Concujjions    of  the  P lace,  Brockks- 
FirCy  aiLd  Smoke,    and  Darknefs,  and  'yj-^)'*  P- ^°» 
ripus  frightful  OhjeBs ;  — •  through  Purga- 
fc^  and  Hell  conveyed   into  Elyfium  and 
Heaven.'"      •'  This    Theurgy,  fo%^    Sacred 
Work,  is  the  Art  of  Divine  Operations,  to 
.cure  Difeafes,  drive  away  Damons,  perfect 

^^A  regenerate  the  Soul  by  magical  Cere^ 
"monies',  ^ud  is  introductory  to  celefUal  11- 
himinations,  Infpirations,  Apparitions,  and 
God-Societies  'y  to  all  fublime  and  venerable 
■Sp^Saclesr;'^*  A?,'mSoids  there  Is  n  Prin^ 
ciple  ofRedtiSficn  •  they  have  certain  Tokens 
and  Imprejjions  from   God,    whereby  they 

^^^re   moved   to   return.      And    they  have 

^|JtoVided  a  7nagical  Fountain  of  Virtue  for 
%6uls  in  the  Cavities  of  Hecate  s  left  Side  ; 

'^and  certiiln  jD^///Vj,  called  'A//.eiAi3cTo/,  In- 
exorable,    arid  not' to  be  fweetened,  ^c.'\ 

v<s^'^amblictis  fyedisdf^^  Damons  thai'ter-Uy^tx. 
rify  and  threaten  horrihh,   and  agitate  and  ^^^^•^^; 


(    302    ) 

draw  Souls  by  ajlonifhing  and  floakmg  the 
Itmgination.     But  this  is  refolved  into  the 
Authority  of  the  Priejiy  who,  in  Virtue  of 
the  fecret  Myjlenes^  ads  not  as  a  M?;/,  but 
2i%zGod',  and  therefore  his  Commands  are 
iironger    than    would    otherwife    become 
him.     Not  that  he  intends  to  execute  what 
h^  threateneth  ;  but  to  {[-it\N '^-hzi  Autho- 
rity he  hath,  by  Means  of  his  Union  "witb 
the  Gods :    Which    Union    he    hath    pro- 
ciii'edhy  his  Knowledge  of  thQ  fecret  Sym- 
bQls,''- -^i^^Tht  Dcvmons  have  the  Guar- 
dianfliip- of  the  Ineffable  Myfteries;^w\mh 
comprehend  the  Difpofition  of  the  World J^' 
St.   ^^5/?/;?  relateth    the?  Sentiment    of 
P^rphyrw'^"  Flatonijl^    (not    the    Jamoiis 
DeClv.  One;  he  will  come  in  afterwards)  ''  that 
Lib?  10.  the  Soul    by   co.n^dn^heurgigd-h'Cbnfecra'' 
Cap.  9.   tiomy  which  ithey  call  hiitiations^  is  ren- 
CapMo.^*^^''^^    and    apt  for  the   Reception   of 
Sfihrt'^  andAngelsy  and  to y^^'  the  Gods,'*  '^ 
h^SfepTa  particular  Example  we  may  call 
hv'^uUany xhz   Apoflafe^  once   a  LeBurer 
in    the  Chrifiian  Churchy    who,    like    the 
Meihodijls,  fet  up  the  New  Birth  of  the 
Myfteries  Platojiic^  againft  that  of  Baptifm-^ 
and.  ^Sr Gregory  Nazianzen  hath  it  in  his 
Fir/}   SteJitentic,    *'  oppofed    an   execrable 
Initiation   to    the    Chrifiian    Initiation   by 
Baptijm  ; — for  this  he  defcendeth  into  ftib^ 
tcrrmean  Dens  of  Dark?7efs  to  confult  Z)^- 
monSy  and  bring  out  Prophecy ,  where  he  is 

itruck 


(  3^3  ) 
ftruck  with  Terrors^  ftrange  unufual  Sounds^ 
fiery  Spe^acleSy  many  idle  and  fon?ndab!e 
Objedsj.  and  tins  again  ind  again.  What 
Impojiurts,  ajid  Dchujmis  were  his  Fate  ht^ 
fore  he  returned,  they  can  teil,  who  arie 
initiated  themfelves,  or  initiate  others.  — 
But  he  returns  with  a  ghaftly,  mad  Look, 
as  pojjejjed  hy  a  Dcemon.  This  they  call 
Enthujiafm.  And  he  was  highly  delighted 
with  his  Toj^tures  and  Burnings, —  This 
was  not  the  leaft  of  his //////^//^j/'--- St.^:, -f^Jj!"- 
Cyril  alfo  upbraideth  him  on  the  fame 
Account,  "as  a  Patron  of  thofe  noUurn^l 
and  immodeji  Myjteries . "  •  h::  ''■  1 1  o  i q  m o:^ 

So  far  concerning  the  Platonijls,  But 
I  have  a  Mind  to  enlarge  a  little,  and  be 
more  particular  about  the  Myjleries,  for  the 
Sake  of  better  Comparijon,  And,  for  the 
fame  Reafon,  I  would  once  more  l^rft  '^•^*^-'' 
run  over  the  principal  Occurrence^  in  the 
Progrefs  cf  Methodifin.  "  They  fet  out 
with  triflingly  fuperftitioia  Rules,  prepared 
for  great  Things,  and  undergoing  a  Fun^^ 
gationy  by  unreafonable  Faftings,  Watch- 
ings,  Mortifications  ;  .neither  lauglmig^  nor 
fmilingy  unlefs  compelled  to  it  by  the 
De'-oil',  private  Confe[jions^  without  itif 
Manner  of  Referve ;  —  pafs  tht  fiery  Tridi 
of  Blajphemies^  Lifidelities  and  Atheiftn^^^ 
are  fmitten  by.the  Dcvil^  or  their  'Teacher'ii 
with  -.Falls  to  .^the  Ground,  Heaving^,' 
Sweati^?>v,  P^oaxjtigs    Shrieks,    Yelling^V 

^'-r  ^  '  with 


(  304  ) 
with  Pains,  Coavulfions,  Trepidation^, 
Terrors,  Madnefs,  Defpair,  Combats  with 
Satan ;  Deprivation  of  the  SenfeSy  Aftonifh- 
ment.  Amazement  and  Stunning.- — -They 
have  Intervals  and  ViciJJitudes  of  Light  and 
Darknejs  j  alternate  Rilings  and  Fallings  j 
Spiritual  Deje5iiG7is  and  Defertions,  and 
again  Confolations  and  Prefumptions  5  ride 
triumphantly  with  Chrijl  in  his  Chariot^ 
and  then  move  heavily  when  he  taketh 
off  his  Chariot -wheels  -,  are  carried  up  to 
Heaven,  and  down  again  to  He//.  As  the 
Foundation  of  the  New  Birth ^  they  feel 
all  pojjible  Agonies^  Pangs  and  Tortures  of 
Mind  and  Body  ^  are  in  He//,  or  feel  all 
He//  within  them.  But  Things  begin  to 
mend  ;  they  fall  into  Ecftacies,  Revela- 
tions and  Vifions ;  they  fee  and  hear  dif- 
ferent Sounds  and  Voices,  Apparitions  and 
Spec!l:acles  of  Devils  and  He//-,  and  thefe 
changed  for  God,  Ange/s,  and  Heaven. 
But  going  down  to"  He/l  they  conquer 
Satan,  and  trample  him  under  Foot ;  — 
they  are  fluflied  with  Perfedl:ion,  AiTu- 
rances  of  Pardon  and  Salvation  5  become 
canonized,  are  plunged  into  God,  are  a/l 
God.  Hence  ihty  ]\i\i\y  contemn  and  ana- 
t/jemaiize  a//  t/je  IJnmethodized,  as  of  a 
tnean  and  reprobate  Way  ;  with  their  Mo- 
rality they  fink  into  He//:' 

Such   is   the  Compofition   of  this  New 
Difpenfaiion.     And  if  every  Parficu/ar  be 

not, 


(  205  ) 
not,  ftridly  ipeaking,  a  necejjary  Part  of 
their  New  Birth  j  'tis  all  a  prelmiiiary 
IntroduSiioriy  or  a  P^r/  ^/z^^*  Methodijl's 
Progrefs^  •—  under  the  DireBion  of  illumi- 
nated and  infpired  Teachers. 

Would  not  this  amaze  any  Perfon,  who 
has  any  Reverence  or  Regard  to  certain  /;/- 
fpired  Writings^  called  the  Bible?  With 
what  Face,  or  by  what  Authority,  do 
thefe  bold  Mifcreants  make  thefe  Hellifi 
Horrors  and  Tortures  a  fundamental  Part 
of  the  Chrijiian  Religion  ?  Whence  the 
Prefumption,  or  where  taught  in  the  Bible^ 
that  in  order  to  be  born  again,  *^  all  muft 
pafs  through  thefe  Pangs^  and  God  is  com- 
pelled  to  defert  them,  and  fo  leave  them 
in  Defpairy  Blafphemy^  &c.  And  that  they 
are  to  be  knocked  dowUy  and  ufiaccountably 
tormented  by  the  Devil^  or  Man  ?  Where 
is  it  required y  (as  furely,  if  neceffary,  it 
would  plainly  and  peremptorily  be)  that 
fuch  Infey^ial  Seizures  are  the  appointed 
Preparatio?2S  for  a  Chrifian's  Regeneration  ? 
Yes,  they  have  the  Face  even  to  teach 
thisy  and  (as  if  every  one  had  been  fuch  a 
violent  Perfccutor^  and  every  one  was  to 
be  converted  in  his  extraordinary  Manner) 
both  Mr.  We/ley  and  Whitefield  have  pro- 
duced St.  Paul's  being  ftruck  to  the 
Groujidy  and  continuing  three  Days  bUnd^ 
as  being  in  this  Manner,  and  during  this 
Time,  in  the  Pangs  of  the  New  Birth, 
R  r  V'hereaG. 


(  3o6  ) 
Whereas,  it  had  been  much  more  to  their 
Purpole  to  have  thought  upon,  *' the  fa- 
crificing  of  your  Sons  and  your  Daughters 
unto  Devils,-^  The  Tabernacle  of  your  God 
Moloch,  to  whom  Children  were  confecrated 
by  paffing  through  the  Fire,  in  the  Valley 
oi  Gehenna y^mA^^^\^^  DeviliJJ:  Sacri^ 
Jice  was  done,  in  order  to  extort  Prophecy 
out  of  the  miferable  Sufferers,  Whence 
making  Children  pafs  through  the  Fire, 
and  ufing  Divinationy  are  fo  often  joined 
m  5^r;^^^r|.^^ -^^^   e.vsVi  Jcdj  noi3.OTiotnl 

§.51.  But  r  return  to  the  Heathen  Myf^ 
ttries,    wherein   the    profound    Secrets!^ 
Faganifm  were  couched.  "Thek  Religious^, 
Ceremonies   were    inftituted   in   Honour  of 
fome  of  their  -Gods  and  Goddejjesy  3s  Bac- 
chus, Venus,  Cybele,  Hecate,' lji5,&cc.  The  . 
Deities    were  not  fo   much   dtftin^  Per- , 
Jons,  as  paffing  under  different  Names  j  and  i 
the  Ceremonies  were  very  much  alike.   But; 
the  moft  remarkable^  and  which  in  a  Man^^^^ 
ner  comprized,  and  fwallowed  up  all  th^^ 
reft,  were  the  Eleufinian  Myfteries,  facred.> 
Book  II.  tQ  Q^y.^^  ^^^^  Proferpina.     Mr.  Warburton^l^x 

beet.   4.        .  T    •         TA-      •  r  '  11  .  * 

m  his  Di'-oine  Legation,  hath  given  us  a 
large   and    good  Account  of  them ;    and. 
could  I  have  procured  Meurfius  de  Eleuji- 
niisl  m  Particular  would  have  ,  been  want- 


olas'/:. 

J  But 


(  3^7  ) 
"^'But   I  miift  pick  up  the  beft  Helps  I 
cahi     What  gave  Birtb  to  the  Myfieriet^ 
which  give^  the  New  Birth  to  the  Initiated^ 
was  xM^  ^*^P/uto  having  ravijlded  Fro-   Tully 
j^r//;7^,'(fucK  Actions  being  common  with  4  Verf, 
Heathen  Deities)   carried  her  down  to  Hell^  ^^^'  ^' 
through  a  difnuil  and  dark  Pa^ge^   near. 
Syracufey    which  grew  afterwards    famous 
for   many    Prodigies  and  Miracles.      Her 
inconfolable  Mother,  Ceres,  ftroUed  about  all 
the  World  in   Queft  of  her,  and  having 
Information  that  Pluto   had  got  Pojfejfion 
of  her,    and  whirled  her   to  the  Infernal 
i?^^/e?;^j,  fBe  lighteth   a   Torch  at  Mount 
^/;?^,   (  which   hath    burned  ever    fince ) 
and    plungeth    down    to  fetch    back    her 
Daughter  to  Light  and  Life  -,  and  fo  far 
obtains,  that  her  Time  fhould  be  divided 
between  Hell  and  Heaven.'* — This  Story ^ 
with  the  Incidents  and  Event  of  the  Ram- 
blings  of  the  Goddefs,  was  mimicked  in  the 
Myfteries  ^    and    by    Scenical   Machineries 
reprefented  to  the  Initiated:    "  The  itv^/- Gale  Hift. 
tjig  Goddefs  in  the  Courfe  of  her  Ramble s'^''^'''' 
fat  down  upon  a  Stone,  called  hence 'TrgrgctAriiitph, 
AygAocro^,  the  Vnlaughing  Stone.     Thefcus^^'^'"'^; 
ohe  of  the  M'tiated,  fat  down  upon   theJchoi?' 
fame,  before  his  Defcent  into  Hell:*     And 
upon  this   Stone,    we  may    fuppofe  Mr. 
Wefley  was   fitting,    in  a    melancholy  Mood^ 
when  he  majde  that  ''  Solemn  Vow  never 
to  laugh^  or  even  iojmile  more/* 

R  r  2  The 


(  3o8  ) 

The  Myfteries  are  generally  allowed  to 
have  been  a  cunning  Device^  invented  with 
politick  Views  by  Men  fiippofed  to  be  in- 
fpired^  bt  fome  Prophetic  Women  5  —  fach 
as  Orpheus^  one  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Myf- 
terieSy  and  Compofer  of  Hymns  for  the  Ufe 
of  the  Initiated', — or  the  Prophet efsSibyllay 
infpired  by  Apollo^  and  who  Jwell'dy  roar'd^ 
grew  mad'y         -^^  '^^-  ^^^SP^^  ^^  ^ 

^neidVI.  And  heav' d  impatient  of  th*  incumbent  God. 

She  v/^s  ^uide  to  Mneas,  prefcribed  his 
PrayerSy^a^p^^  Night-- Sacrifices  ^  tf  Lambsy 
&CC.  to  HecatCy  the  Furies y  Proferfind  and 
Pluto  ^y  fhe  condudled  him  through  iZbrr^ri 
and  Darknefs  to  the  Infernal  Manfions^  and 
brought  him  back  in  Triufnph, 

Their  Myjleries  were  divided   into   the 

greater  2indi  the  lejjer :  In  the  lejjer   (after 

fome  magnificent  Promifes  arid  Expefta- 

^ipn^J  the  VotarieSy  by  Way  of  Prepara- 

tory  CeremonieSy    were    injoin*d    FaJlingSy 

Night'watchingy  Confeffion  to  the  Prefident 

of  the  Myjleries^    with   Variety  of  crucia- 

ting   Lujlrations.      Thus    qualified,    they 

\NQ>xt  initiated  into  the  greater.     For  thefe, 

ijiiH  they  underwent  more  tremendous  Rites-,  Re- 

3/jt;oi  irejaitations  were  made  to  their  Eyes  and 

lil'^^^iv"^^  and  SpeBacleS'y 

loboia^oC^  //(5w//;2^i  of  Men^  Women,  and 

•lobcriH  ^Chitdcen  ^  —  Things    which    caufed    the 

^^^'^^^'"^^kS'difmai  Agonies  of  Body  and  Mind  5 

Coldnefs, 


(  3^9  ) 

Coldnefs,  Sweats,   Terrors,  Confternation, 
Lofs   of  Senfes,  or  elfe  the  utmoft  Tor- 
tures, Defpair  and  Madnefs.     They  were 
furrounded  with  all  the  Infer7ial  Appara- 
tus of  Serpents^  Furies^  Devils^  and  Hell. 
—  Recreated  fometimes  with  a  little  Light 
and   Hope  I    Mixtures,    or  Viciffitudes   of 
Light  and  Darknefs,  of  Horrors  and  Com- 
forts :  —  At  length  the  Scejies  are  changed ; 
El)jium  and   Heaven    dance    before    their 
Eyes  5  they  fee,  and  hear,  Gods  and  God- 
dejjes :  —  Then  they  come  out  purified  and 
perfect ;  regenerated ^  and  bo?m  again  j  ex- 
ulting in  a  Security  of  Happinefs  in  Life^ 
and  after  Death  of  afcending  to  Jupiter • 
While  the    Non-Initiated  are   to  be  mife- 
rable  all  their  Days,  and  finally  wallow  in 
Mud  and  Mire,  m  Horror  ^nd  Darknefs, 
and  Tortures,  in  IlelL  ^^^-  j.^^^  ^'^ 

Such  is  the  Nature  and  rrWifs* of  the 
My  ft  cries. 

The  ingenious  Mr.  Warhurton  has  hence 
tafeen  Occafion''ta-make  Mneas's  Defce^it 
into  Hell,  (as  defcribed  by  Virgil)  to  fig- 
nify  nothing  elfe,  but  that  Hero's  Initia- 
tion into  the  Myjleries  5  and  he  hath  work- 
ed up   the   Co7nparifon   Into  a  furprizing 
Like?2efs,     Antient  Writers,    indeed,     fay,Hiftcr. 
T\iz\,  Hercules,  when  he  was  going  down  ^""^^^'i^' 
to  Hell,   to  drag  Cerberus  thence,   was  pre- p.  121. 
viQully  admitted  to  the  Myjleries^  of  Ceres  -, ^^^^^'^^ 
and  that  feveral  others  ^^i^  initiated,  by  p.  252— ' 

way 


(  3IO  ) 
way  of  Expiation  of  their  Crimes,  l^efore 
their   Defcent   to  thofe  gloomy   Regions. 
But^s  they  exprefsly  fay.  That  they  were 
initiated   into    the  fmaller    Myjleries  only, 
the  Matter  may  eafily  be  reconciled,  and 
the    Defcent    into    Hell    afterwards    may 
ojVifignify  their  becoming  Epoptc^^  or  Initia- 
'""'tion  into  the  gf^and  Myjleries 'y    efpecially 
'  'as  the  Ceremofiies  of  this  latter  were  con- 
cealed as  much  as  poffible,  and  the  Epopta 
were   under   an   Oath    not  to   reveal   the 
Secret. 

I  can  hardly,  I  confefs,  allow  the  Myf-' 
teries  to  have  been  originally  of  fuch  an 
^  innocent  Nature^  and   with  fuch  good  De-- 
r^^k^gny  as  Mr..  :^^r/5^r^;r pleads  for.     But  as 
'  he  acknowledgeth,     that  "   they   became 
in   time,    and  by   Report  very   early  too, 
horridly  corrupt y    the   Seafou  of  Lujl  and 
Revenge ;  "  there  needs  no  great  Difpute. 
— As  to  the  "  double  Do^lrine  (the  Con- 
fequence   of  Initiation)  faying  one  Thing 
when  they  thought  another -,    the   external^ 
2Xidi  internal 'y  a  vulgar y  and  a  fecret  one; 
the   firft  openly   taught,    the   fecond   con- 
fined to   a  jeleB  Number ;"  — •  the  Confi- 
.-deration  of  this  Point  I  leave  to  Mr.  Wefleyy 
whom  we  allow  to  be  an   Ads.p\dn  the:: 
double  Dodlrine,  __  ^  _An^  ^^"^^^  '' 

§.  52.  It  is  not  to  be  expeded  that  my 
bar^Wprd  Ihould  be  taken  by  Mr.  Wefkyy 

whofe 


(  311  ) 
whofe  oxm  may  fometimes  be  fufpcH^d: 
And  therefore  I  fhall  produce  my  Vouchers y 
as  a  yujiifcatmi  of  my  Comparifon  of  the 
Myjieries  with  Methodifm^  knd^  as  no  bad 
Entertainment  for  the  Reader, 

'«  So  much  Honour  was  paid   to  thofeseeGori^ 
who  v^ere  to  ht  initiated  into  the /iaW"^  ^.'^^^• 
il^y?^r/Vx,  that  it  was  ufual  to  carry  themp/2"45. 
thither,  and  accompany  them,  in  a  Cha- 
riot."    This  was  to  anfwer  the  Original 
of  the   MyJlcries^    Pluto's  whirling   away 
Profe?-pina  in  his  Chariot  to  Hell ;  where 
{he  was  to  lye-in,  and  bring  forth  future 
Gods.     Thus  in  the  Poet :  "  ^  ^^^^^  "^^  '^^'"^^ 

And  P/j//^  thus,  comforts  her :      j^    ,3n:iiJ   hl 

AmiJJum  Tie  crede  "Diejn,     Sunt  altera  Tiokh,  cs 
Sidera  :  funt  orhes  alii :  lumenq-^  videbli;  ^ « 

Purius',  Elyfiimq-,  magis  mirabere  folem^  ..'Y 
Cidtorefq-,  Pios, —  ,  J^.. 

famfelix  oritur  Proles':  j^am  Iceta  Futuros 
EsXpedlat  Natura  Deos^T^'^^  '\  '^  1  ''  Vv"- 

And  thus  in  the  early  Days  oi  Methodifm^ 
we  find   "the   Preacher,    and   his  ^k-^fz^^-Compar. 
Lambsy  riding-in  their  Lord's  Chariot,   Iri^*'^' 
his  dear  Arms '^  and  fucking  the  Brcafts  of '" 
his  Conflation y  &c/* 

But  it  may  bej  fit  to   treat  the  Myjle-- 
ries'm  a  mor oferiem  Manner^    Accord- '^ 

ingly 


(  3^2  ) 

ingly  let   us   fee   the  very   Words  of  An- 
tiquity, 

Thofe  among  the  Antients^  who  were 

either  initiated  into  the  Myjieries^  or  ap-- 

proved  of  them   upon  political  Accounts, 

fpeak  of  them  in  very  high  Terms.    Ifocrates 

Paneoyr.  faith,  that  "  Ceres y  after  her  Wanderings 

Ed.steph.jn  queft  of  Proferpina^   came   to  Attica:, 

^'^  '      and  for  the  KindncfTes  flie  received  (which 

none   but  the   Initiated  muft  hear)  gave 

our  Anceftors  two  excellent  Gifts  5  Corn  \ — 

and   the    facred    Myficries^    whereby    the 

Initiated  gain   better    Hopes    as    to  their 

Departure  out   of  Life,    and  Eterfjity  of 

PhTd.      Duration.''  —  Plato  fays,  "  that  whoever 

Serr.  Ed.  jg  j^^^.  initiated  and  lujirated,  fhail  in  the 

feperate  State   wallow  in   Mire  \    but  the 

Initiated /hall  dwell  with  the  Gods  J'  —  A 

Fragment  of  Pindar  (preferved  by  Clem. 

Alexandriniis)  fpeaketh   of  the   Eleufinian 

EdVottei.JilyJleries;  *'  Happy  is  the  Man  who  hath 

P-52S.     (^Q^  ^jjg  common  fniterranean  Myfteries : 

he  knoweth    the  End  (or   PerfeBion)  of 

hije^^    he  knoweth  the  Sovereignty  given 

of  God y — Some  of  their  Poets  talk  in  the 

2  Plotarc.  fame  Strain.     *'  Thrice  happy  the  Mortals, 

p.  21.      who,  admitted  to  xhtio.  Initiations y  defcend 

to  Hades.     For  they  only  can  live  there  5 

all  Evils  belong  to  others."     This  from 

Sophocles. The     comical    Arijlophanes 

(though,  I  fuppofe,  according  to  Cuftom, 
'tis  mere  Banter)  brings  in  Hercules  telling 

Bacchus^ 


(313) 
BacduSy    thsit   **  he  muft  fwim  in   Dirt^^^- 
and  Ordure^    where  the  Profane  lie  5    but^*^'^^'^' 
afterwards  ftiould  enjoy  divine  Lights^  and 
Myrtle 'Groves^    and  Womeuy    and  Mufic, 
Thefe  belong  to  the  Initiated/'     And  foon 
after   he  introduceth  a  Chorus  of  the  Ini- 
tiated  exulting,    "  On  us  only  doth    the 
Orb  of  Day  fliine  benignant ;  we  only  re- 
ceive Pleafure  from  its  Beams/' 

And  Cicero^  (who  well   knew   how  tOp^L^^ 
accovunodate  himfelf  to  Times  and  Things)  lib.  2. 
foUoweth  the  Greeks  in  the   fame   grand ^^P-  ^^' 
Account;  with  fome  Exception  to  ;2C<^2/r- 
nal  Celebrations,  jo  'i-\ttt'^'^<!:' (1 

This  high  Opinion  of  the  Myftertes  was 
very  far  from   being  general ^   or  received 
by  great  and  good  Perfons.     Thofe   great 
Men,    Agefilaus  and  Epamino^idas^   would 
not  fubmit  to  an  Initiation,     For  Plutarch,  PM^rc, 
immediately  after  the   Verfes  of  Sophocles^  ^'°^- 
before   cited,    gives   this  Account.     (And 
the  fame  we  have  more  largely  in  the  Life 
of    Diogenes    by    JD.   Laertiiis,)     "  ThcLaert.  in 
Athenians  z^\v\^  Diogenes  to  be  /«/V/Wf^,OJogen, 
becaufe  fuch  had  the  Precedency  in  a  future  ^^'^^  ^^^ 
State ;    he  replied,    *  Ridiculous  Thing ! 
that  Ageftlaus  and  Epaminondas  muft  rowl 
in   Dirt ;    and   every   Scoundrel  initiated^ 
fuch  as   Patecion  the  "Thief  be   happy  in 
the  Elyfian  Fields''     Nor   Ihall  we  enter- 
tain  the   better   Notion   of  the   Myflei'ieSy 
when  we  find  fo  mfe  and  good  a  Man  as 
S  f  Socrates 


(  314  ) 

Socrates    refufing    Initiation,     For    which 
(though  perhaps  he  had  ftronger)  he  gives 
Luclan.     this  Reafon :    "  If  ihQ  My  fieri  es  were  bad, 
c^^2.  '   ^^  fljould  not  be  able  to  conceal  the  Secret^ 
but  muft  difcoiirage  every  one  from  Initia- 
tion ;  and  if  good^  Humanity  would  oblige 
him  to  difcover  it  for  the  public  Benefit'^ 
Vol.  2.     — Plutarch^  in  the  Defedi  of  Oracles^  fays, 
p.  417.     cc  Concerning  the  iV/\//^r;Vj,  in  which  we 
have  all  that  can  be  proved,  either  negatively 
or  affirmatively,    concerning  the  Truth  of 
Dcemons^    (to   fpeak    with   Herodotus)    let 
me  hold  my  Peace^  or  fpeak  nothing  but 
what  h  favourable.     The  Solemnities  how- 
-ever,  wherein  there  are  fuch  Dilacerations^ 
Fajiings^  and  HoivVrngs^  and  likewife  filthy 
Talk^  Madncjs  and  Noife^  and  f  ablations  5 
I  do  not  apprehend  thefe  to  be  any  Wor- 
fhip  of  the  Gods^  but  inftituted  as  fo  many 
Sweetners    to    appeafe    and    avert    ^wicked 
Spirits''     Upon  which  Dr.  Gale  hath  this 
Remark,    in    his   Notes   upon    Jamblicus : 
Bag.  195-  "  Plutarch^    when   he  was  about  to   de- 
fcribe  the  Frauds  and  Pravity  of  D(zmons^ 
pafleth  by   the   Myjleries  themfehes  (from 
which  he  could  beil  and  moft  plainly  have 
performed    it)  hindered    by   a  fuperfiitious 
Reverence  ufual  with  the  Greeks,'"     What 
Plutarch   mentions   of    Herodotus   may  be 
feen  in  his  fecond  Booky  where  fpeaking  of 
gait..       thofe  "  Images  and  Reprefe?2tationSj  which 
Gronov.   ^^^  Mgyptiaus  Call  Mvfleries^  of  thefe  (fays 
P^^"^-  "  he) 


(315) 

he)  '  though  I  know  them  all  very  well, 
I    Ihall    fay   nothing  5  *    or,    *  favour   my 
Words.'     And   concerning   the  Initiations 
of  Ceres y  v^hich  are  called  Thefmophoriay  I 
fhall  have  an  equal  Giia?'d  upon  my  Tongue^ 
except  as   to   what  may   be   holily  faid  of 
them/'     Some  Parts   of  them,    it   feems, 
were  not  fo  very  holy.  —  Nor  can  we  fup- 
pofe  that   Dc?72ofthe?2es,    or  the   Generality 
of  the  People  y  thought  highly  of  the  Myfteries;^ 
when  pleading  his  Caufe  againjl  EfchineSy 
in  a   Concourfe  of  almofl  all  Greece,    he 
thus  ridiculeth  his   Adverfary  :     '*  WhenDeGoron: 
you  was  grown  up,  you  waited  upon  your 
Mother,  and  read  Books  to  her,  when  flie 
was  initiating ;    at  Night   putting  Fawn- 
Jkins  on  the  Initiated,  becoming  their  Cup'- 
bearer,     hijlrating  their   Bodies,     rubbing 
them  with  Dirt  and  Bran  -,  and  after  this 
Purification,    ordering    them    to   exclaim, 
*  /  have  fied  from  the  Evil,  I  have  found 
the  Good','  proud  that  none  could  howl  fo 

well    as    yourfelf. After   this,    who 

would  not  blefs  Efchines,  and  efleem  him 
happy  ?  " 

But  whether  the   Myfteries  were  good, 
or  bad.  Authors  are  pretty  well  agreed  as 
to  the  preparatory  Cere7no?iies,  and  Manner 
ol  Initiation :   whereby  they  v*^ere  to  Ke- 
prefe?2t,   and  Aci  over  again,    the  ASfions 
and  Pajions    of  the    Deities,    for   whofe 
Honour  the  Myfi cries  w^ere  inftituted.     As 
to  any  real  Good,    it   might,    for   what  I 
S  f  2  know. 


(  3i6  ) 
know,    be  as  great,    as  what   hath   beeii 
efFedted  by  Free  Mafoiis^  or  Free  Methodijls. 
Something  bad  will   appear  prefently.  — 
But  let  us  confider  the  preparatory  Rites, 

That  Initiation  might  feem  a  venerabU 

and  jolemn    Thing,    the    Devotees    were 

taught  to  qualify  themfelves  by  Prayer  to 

the    Damons^     FaJlingSy    Watchings^    Con-- 

fejjion  to  the  Prieji^  and  other  Luftrations. 

The-    We  read  in  Plutarch^  "  that  Fajling  is  to 

^'^'''''  precede  the  Myjieries  of  Ceres r     And  that 

2  vol.       ConJeJJion  was  required; — ^^Antalcidas  being 

P-  217'     examined  by  the  Priefly    in  order  to  his 

Initiation^     what   grievous  Crimes  he   had 

committed,    made   Anfwer,    '  If  I   have 

been  guilty  of  any  fuch  Crime,  the  Gods 

know  it  already,'' 

The  Coftfejjion  was  a  Trick  of  the  Majlers 

of  the  Ceremonies  to  get  the  People  under 

their  Girdle.     But  the  Fajii^ig  and  Watch'^ 

ing  were  to  correfpond  to  the  Sufferings  of 

CaUimac.  Ccres  5  "  who  neither  eat^  nor  drank^  nor 

^^'^'^^ftepty  nor  waJJjed,  but  fat  upon  the  Ground 

fqualid  and  dry^  and  crying^  till  fhe  heard 

of  her   Daughter,''     See  her  Story,    and 

how  fhe  came  hence  to  be  called  the  Faji-^ 

ing  GoddefSy  in  the  Scholia  upon  Nicander. 

We  find  too  in  Diodorus  Si  cuius  ^  a  Quo- 

GoTrai.    taticn  from  CarcinuSy  an  old  Poet^  *'  that 

p.  13^'     while  her  Myjieries  were  celebrating,   the 

City  kept  a  Faft,"     So  fays   Arifiophanes^ 

Avef.       <«  In  this  Celebration  we  are  ufed  to  Fafl:.*' 

V.  1518.  Th^ 


(.317) 

The  fame  in  Plutarch,  Pag.  378 ;  where 
'tis  added,  "  This  is  called  the  forrowful 
Fejiival,  becaufeof  the  great  Grief  of  Ceres 
for  her  Daughter* s going  to  Hell'* 

Orpheus,  a  Sort  of  Magical  PraEiitioner,  Paufan. 
and  Father  of  the  Myjleries,  introduced ^*^- 9- 
Expiations,  Luftrations,  &c.  for  wicked 
Ad:ions,  as  well  as  extraordinary  Cures  of 
Diftempers,  and  Appeafements  of  divine 
Wrath,  for  the  Ufe  of  the  Initiated. 
Whence  we  read  of  fo  many  Perfons, 
guilty  of  Murder,  &c.  defiring  to  be 
initiated  y  either  as  a  Pretence  of  their 
Innocency,  or  Expiation^  or  Cover  of  their 
Crimes* 

How  horrible  the  Procefs  was  in  thefe 
Methodiji'ltke  hiitiations,  will  appear  from 
the  following  Accounts  of  their  Tortures^ 
Terrors,  Vici/Jitudes^  Regeneration,  and 
fomething  tending  to  Generation. 

Stobceus  citeth,  from  Themijlius,  two 
ftrong  Paffages.  "  The  Perfon  to  be 
initiated,  in  his  firft  Entrance,  was  feized 
with  Horror,  ajlonijloing  Dizzinefs^  Anxiety ^ 
and  Dijirefs  of  all  Kinds,  unable  to  flaiid, 
or  find  any  Way  to  extricate  himfelf.  But 
when  the  Prophet  openeth  the  Porch  of 
the  Temple,  wipeth  and  adorneth  the  Image, 
and  flieweth  it  to  the  Candidate  for  Ini- 
tiation,  fliining  with  a  divi^ie  Brightnefs ; 
all  Cloud  and  Obfcurity  were  intirely  dif- 
perfed.     And    M/W   (O  Ny^)    broke    out 

from 


(  3i8  ) 

from  the  Depths  full  of  Light  and  Blaze ^ 
inftead  of  the  former  Darknefs."  The 
other  Paflage  is  brought  by  Mr.  Warbiirton, 
whofe  TranfMtiGn  I  am  glad  to  borrow. 
Towards  hiitiation^  "  The  firft  Stage  is 
nothing  but  Errors  and  Uncertainties^ 
laborious  JVanderings -,  a  rude  and  fearful 
March  through  Night  and  Darknefs,  And 
now  arrived  on  the  Verge  of  Deaths  and 
Initiation^  every  Thing  wears  a  dreadful 
Afpedi,  It  is  all  Horror^  Tremblings 
Sweatings  and  Affright'ment.  But  this 
Scene  once  paft,  a  miraculous  and  divine 
Light  difclofes  itfelf  j  and  ihining  Plains^ 
and  flowery  Meadows  open  on  all  Hands 
before  them.  Here  they  are  entertained 
with  Hymns  and  Chorus's,  with  the  fub- 
lime  Do(Strines  of  [acred  Knowledge^  and 
with  reverend  and  holy  Vifons.  And  now 
become  perfeBy  initiated^  and  jree^  they 
are  no  longer  under  Reflraifits ;  but  crowned 
and  triumphant  they  walk  up  and  down 
the  Regions  of  the  Blcfjed,  &c. "  Mr, 
Warhiirton  brings  another  Paffage  from 
Froclus :  ''  In  the  Celebration  of  the  Myf- 
teries  it  is  faid,  that  the  Initiated  meet 
with  many  Things  of  multiform  Shapes 
and  Species,  prefiguring  the  firft  Genera-- 
Apollon.  tion  of  the  Gods,  '  Medea,  in  the  utmofl 
Argonaut.  £)ift^.^^'^^  drives  to  the  Temple  of  Hecate -y 
verU59-and  having  purified  herfelf,  calls  upon 
Brinw,    the  night-u'andcring,    fubterranean 

Goddefs, 


(  319  ) 

Goddcfs,  ^een  of  Hell.'  Upon  which  the 
ScholiiTjl  fays  -,  that  Troferpina  is  called  fo, 
as  being  the  terrifying  and  aflonipjing 
Damony  and  fending  thofe  apparitions 
termed  Hecatea  ;  which,  as  they  often 
change  their  Form,  occafion  her  being 
called  Empiijay  i.  e.  the  SpeBre,  or  Hob- 
goblin, "  Accordingly  Mr.  Warburton 
rightly  obferves,  that  '  when  the  Shews  were 
represented,  Proferpine  alo?ie  prefided.' — 
This  emi?2e7Jt  Writer  will,  I  doubt  not, 
excufe  me,  if  I  tranfcribe  more  from  his 
Book,  on  this  Article  ^ — though  we  fhould 
happen  to  differ  in  our  Sentiments,  as  to 
one  Poi?2f. 

"  So  Proclus :    *  In  the  holy  My/leries,^^^^'^'^- 

''  before   the   Scene   of  the   Myjlic   Vifions,"^'  '^7- 

*'  there  is  a  Terror  infufed  over  the  Minds 

*'  oj  the  Initiated.^     And  we  prefently  fee 

*'  what  occafioned  it.     For  JEneas  is  now 

*'  engaged  among  all  the  real   and  imagi^ 

*^  nary  Evils  of  Life;    all  the  Difeafes  of 

*'  Mind  and  Body  ;  all  the  Terribites  vific 

"  jormce ;   the  Ce?2tnurs,    Scyllce,  Chimcera^ 

"  Gorgons,    and  Harpies.     And  thefe  are 

they   which  Pletho   calls   ccAAoV.otcl   T<xi 

'  l^op(pcL^  (paL(TfA.cLrcL,  as  feen  in  the  Entra?tce 

^  of  the  Myjleries, — /Eneas  then,  with  his 

'  Guide,  walks  in  the  ISlight  through  the 

^  fiadowy  Kingdom  of  Pluto. — When  hep.  20-^; 

*  comes  to  Purgatory^  prefently  Cries  and 

'  Lamentations  u'ere  heard  \    which  Pro- 


cr 


''  clus 


(    320    ) 

*^  clus  tells  us  were  heard  in  the  Myjleries. 

!ft  Bdit.  *'  — He  comes  now  to  the  Confines  of  Tar- 

P.  215.  cc  farus'y — where  Rhadamanthus  [the  Fa- 
"  ther  ConfeJfor\  extorts  a  CcnfeJJion  of  all 

P.  217.  "  Crimes.— -One  Species  of  Offenders  are 
**  //6^   Invaders  and  Violators  of  the   holy 

P.219— .  "  Myjleries. — Arijiides  exprefsly  tells  us, 
*'  that  no  where  were  more  ajlonijhing 
*'  Words  Jung  than  in  thefe  Myjleries,  His 
"  Reafon  is,  that  the  Sounds  and  Sights 
"  might  mutually  affift  each  other  in 
**  making  an  ImpreJJion  on  the  Minds   of 

p.  220.  *'  the  Initiated. — At  length  he  arrives  at 
•'  the  Borders  of  Elyftum ', — here  he  under- 
"  goes  the  Lujlration-y  and  then  enters 
"  into  th^  Abodes  of  the  Bleffed. — And  this 
"  Succeffton,  from  Tartarus  to  Elyfium^ 
"  makes  Ariflides  call  thofe  Rites  moji 
"  horrible^  and  yet  mojl  ravijhingly  pleafafit.*' 
This  laft  Expreffion  recalls  to  mind  that 
Tourn.    ^f    ^^-    Wejley's    Initiated:    ''  A   Flame 

p.  19.  *  kindled  in  my  Heart,  with  Pains  fo  vio- 
lent^ and  yet  fo  very  ravijhing^  that  my 
Body  was  almoft  torn  ajunder. — /  fweaied. 
I  trembled,  I  fainted.  I  fung^  And  in 
Truth,  the  Man  muft  be  blind,  who  can't 
fee  the  whole  of  this  Jhiftijig  Machinery 
in  the  Myferies^  employed  in  the  Initiation 
of  the  Methodifs. 

The  Terrors  of  Initiation  were  fo  emi- 
nent, that  they  became  proverbial-^  and 
every  Thing  dark^  difmaly  and  tremendous^ 

was 


(    321    ) 

was  compared  to  the  Myjiertes,  Nor 
would  the  Punifhments  and  Tormerits 
have  been  fupportabk^  had  they  not  been 
relieved  by  fuch  Alternations^  as  Dion 
Chryfojlome  relates;  *^  When  one  leads  aWarburt. 
Greek,  or  Barbarian,  to  be  initiated  in  aP"  ^^^' 
certain  myjlic  Dome,  he  fees  many  myjiic 
Sights,  and  hears  in  the  fame  Manner  a 
Multitude  of  Voices-,  Darknefs  and  Light 
alternately  affeft  his  Senfes ;  and  a  Thou- 
fand  other  uncommon  Things  prefent 
themfelves  before  him.'*  The  fame  muft 
have  been  the  Sufferings  of  Mr.  Wejlefs 
Patients  ;  horrible,  as  jhe  defcribes  them, 
and  intolerable,  beyond  Expreflion,  or 
Conception,  were  it  not  for  the  like  Vi^ 
ci/Jifudes',  and  efpecially  as  the  Scene  was 
at  length  totally  changed  ;  *'  the  Coifines 
of  Death  fucceeded  by  the  New  Birth, 
Devils  by  Angels  and  God,  and  Hell  by 
Heaven,'' 

Lamentable,  however,  were  the  Effects 
of   the    Myfleries   upon   People's   Mmds ; 
^-   filling,  as  Plutarch  writes,  many  Thou- 2^^^^- 
fands   with   Defpondency    and  Defpair'' — P'  ^^' 
How  the  Metkodijls  have  been  puihed  into 
this  Gulph,  we  have  already  feen. 

That  Madnefs  too,  which  hath  appeared 
to  have  been  caufed  by  Methodijm,  was 
either  real,  or  well  aBed  by  the  Initiated 
of  old  ',  and  this  in  Imitation  of  Ceres, 
who  was  drove  to  thefe  Extremities  upon 
T  t  the 


(    3^2    ) 

the  infernal  Seizure  of  Prcferpina.  We 
2  Vol.  i^^ye  a  Figure  in  Spanheirns  Ohfervations 
^'  ^  ^'  on  Callimachusy  ( taken  from  a  Statue  in 
Italy)  very  expreffively  reprefenting  the 
Goddefs  in  the  Height  of  Sorrow^  Dejpair^ 
and  Madnefs,  Which  anfwers  well  to 
fome  of  Mr.  Wefley's  own  Sufferers^  as 
himfelf  defcribes  them;  and  may  ferve 
for  a  Front  if  piece  to  his  next  JournaL 

Ally    however,    is    not    lo    dreary  and 
dreadful     Ceres  herfelf,    though  feeming- 
ly  inconfolabky  was  capable  of  Comfort  and 
Exhilaration :    of  which  we  have  an  Ac- 
count in  two  Particulars ;  which  provoked 
her  to  Drink y  and  to  Laugh.     Apolkdorus 
(Lib.  I.    Cap.  5.)    acquaints  us,    that  in 
Hiftor.     her  Peregrination,  "  fhe  was  provoked  to 
^°^^^'^'      Laughter  by  fome  loofe  and  fcurrilous  Talk 
^' ^^'      of  an  old  Woman  \  whence  arofe  the  Prac- 
tice of  fuch  fcurrilous  Jokes  among  the 
Women  in  the  Myjleries^     And  Nicander^ 
Gorrxi     in.    his     AkxtpharmicSy     mentions    "  the 
jEdit.       mingled  Cup  (Kujce^i/ot,)  which  the  Goddefs. 
^'  *^'^*^*  drank,  after  being  forced  into  a  Laugh  by 
the  idle  Prate  of  one  fambe'"     See  the 
Scholia. — We  have  too  the  Authority  of 
Lib.  5.     Diodorus  Siculus :    "  In  the  Celebration  of 
?'  "^'^'     the  Myfteries  of  Ceres ^    'tis   a   Cufom  to 
entertain  one  another  with  filthy   Convert 
fation ;  becaufe  the  forrowful  Goddefs  was 
provoked  to  Laughten  by  obfcene  Talk,'" 

The 


(  323  ) 

The  other  Circumftance,  flill  more 
abominably  filthy  and  obfcenCy  I  fhall  men- 
tion prefently.  In  the  mean  Time  it  may 
be  remembered,  that  thefe  Myfieries  were 
(for  the  mofi  Part)  celebrated  in  the  Night, 
as  caufing  the  greater  Horror  and  Venera-- 
tton :— and  that  fome  Part  of  the  Myfieries , 
the  Grand  Secret^  was  kept  under  the  Seal 
of  the  moft  religious  Sile72cey  and  that  by 
^folemn  Oath.  But  (as  in  fuch  Cafes  there 
is  generally  a  Reafon  given^  and  a  true 
Reafon)  we  may  believe  the  true  Reafon 
was — to  cover  Shame. 

But  for  Illufiration  and  Confirmation  of 
what  concerns  the  Myfieries,  I  muft  intreat 
Room  for  a  fpecial  Exa?nple ;  that  of  Apu^ 
kills,  the  famous  ?nagical  Debauchee,  who 
gives  an  Account  of  his  own  Initiation, 
''  In  hopes  of  ending  my  Miferies,  I  de-p»ietam; 
termined  to  apply  to  the  Prefence  of  the^^^-  ^* 
Goddefs  -,  and  having  purified  myfelf  {^\txi 
Times,  I  prayed,  '  O  divine  Ceres,  who 
inhabiteft  Eleufis -, —  and  thou  Proferpina, 
drendful  in  noBurnal  Howlings,  potent  to 
reftrain  the  Afidults  of  SpeBres,  &c. '* 
[Then  he  relates  his  frightfully-pleafant 
Dream,  imaging  out  the  Myfieries-,  and 
defires  to  be  fet  at  Liberty  from  the  Shape 
of  an  Afs^  into  which  he  had,  by  Sorcery^ 
been  transformed.  ]  •"  The  Goddefs  ap^ 
peared,  and  faid,  '  Go,  kifs  the  Hand  of 
the  Priefi,  and  put  off  that  deteflable  Skin. 
T  t  2  Nor 


(  324  ) 
Nor  fear  any  of  my  Operations  to  be  diffi- 
cult. Among  my  chearful  Ceremonies^  and 
pleafant  Sights^  none  ftiall  abhor  that  Z)^- 
fcrmity  which  you  now  wear;  or  mali^ 
doi/JIy  i?2terpret  the  new  Form  you  are  to 
aiTume.  And  remember,  you  are  engaged 
tome  for.J^if^;*r  For  Ji've  you  fhall,  bappy 
a72d  glorious ',  and  when  you  die,  and  de- 
fcend  to  the  Regions  beloWy  you  fhall  in- 
habit Elyfiumy  and  fhall  adore  me,  whom 
you  r\Qm.^rJee^,  Jhining  through  acherontic 
Darknefsy-—^^Av^dktd  out  of  this  Dream, 
I  arife  full  of  Fear,  and  Joy,  and  profufe 
Sii:eat  -,  ar^d  purify  myfelf  again.  —  And 
(after  a  Sight  of  feveral  ridiculous  Figures) 
the  peculiar  Pmnp  of  the  faving  Goddefs 
began';  and  the  whole  Society  of  Initiated, 
Petfons  of  both  Sexes  and  all  Ages,  came 
together.  Soon  after  the  G^^k  pafs  in 
Review,  condefcending  to  walk  with  human 
Feet:  Gods  ccelejlial  and  inferjial,  ox  change 
ing  their  Forms  from  one  to  the  other. — 
Among  the  Initiated,  one  carries  in  his 
happy  Bofom  an  Effigies  of  a  D.eity,  of  a 
f  range  Form,  but  venerable  for  its  Jubtle 
Invention  and  Novelty,  and  to  be  kept  with 
a  prQJound  and  religious  Silence.  —  And  lo ! 
the  Bcncfts  promifed  by  the  Goddefs'  attend 
me;  and  the  Prieji  brings  my  Safety^ 
with  a  Crown  in  his  right  Hand.  I  was 
overflowed  with  Joy^  bat.wduld  not  be 
toq,j^e/^;,  ifp^  the  Af- 

.,.    '  •  fembly: 


(  325  ) 
fembly  :  but  greedily  devoured  the  Crown. 
Immediately  my  deformed  a/mine  Face  Jlips 
off\  every  Part  of  the  Beaji  goes  av^ay; 
and,  what  chiefly  troubled  me  before, 
?ny  Tail  no  more  appeared.  The  People 
wonder ;  the  Religious  revere  fiich  an  evi^ 
dent  Miracle^  a?2d  eafy  Renovation  y  and 
with  one  Voice  atteft  fuch  an  illujirioiis 
Favour  of  the  Goddefs.  But  I  Hood  f  lent 
and  aflonijljed 'y  unable  to  comprehend  my 
Joy,  or  in  what  Words  my  new  VoicCy 
my  Tongue  born  again,  fhould  thank  the 
Goddefs.  But  the  Priefl,  being  divinely 
infpired^  ordered  a  Shirt  to  be  brought  to 
cover  me,  and  other  Garments.  Then  he 
faid,  *  Here  is  an  End  of  thy  Calamities, 
Thy  former  Birtby  Dignity ,  or  Learningy 
have  profited  thee  7iothing,  Come,  attend 
thtfaving  Goddefs  with  Triumphant  Steps. 
Let  the  Profane  fee ;  let  them  fee,  and  ac- 
knowledge their  Error,  But  you,  Lucius, 
though  now  ft  free,  continue  feady  to 
cur  Society,  ami  Worfloip  of  the  Goddefs  : 
then  you  fhall  better  feel  the  Fruits  of  your 
Liberty'  Thus  fpoke  \h^  prophetic  Priefl, 
fatigued  and  out  of  Breath,  and  then  held 
his  Peace.  —  I  \itZ2.m^  famous  :  all  pro- 
nounced me  thrice  happy,  whom  the  Power 
of  the  Deity  had  reformed  ifito  a  Man ; 
and  who,  for  his  Probity  and  Goodnefs, 
had  deferved  to  be  born  again,  and  im- 
inediately  efpoifed  to  the  facred  Rites, — And 

my 


my  Relations  haften  to  enjoy  my  Sight y 
and  divine  Return  from  HelL-^Aftcv  this 
I  delired  to  be  initiated  in  Form  into  the 
Secrets  of  the  holy  Night.  But  the  Priejl 
diredled  me  to  wait  the  Call  of  the  GoddefSy 
who  elected  whom  fhe  thought  fit,  brought 
them  to  a  new  Birth^  and  reftored  them  to 
the  Courfe  of  a  new  Life. — At  length  the 
Time  came,  I  was  carried  to  the  Confines 
of  Deaths  trod  th^  Threjhold  of  Proferpinay 
anji  returned  back.  I  faw  the  Sun  (hining 
in 'the  Middle  of  the  Night -y  and  was 
among  Gods  ccelefiial^  and  Gods  infernal, 
Lo !  I  have  related  what  you  have  heard, 
but  can't  underfi^and.  Nor  will  I  relate 
any  Thing,  but  what  is  allowed^  to  pro* 
fane  Minds.  I  was  adorned  in  ~  what  is 
called  the  Olympiac  Stolen  had  ?l  Crown 
fet  on  my  Head  j  enjoyed  a  moft  facetious 
Entertainment^  &c.  till  the  Myfiery-Birth 
vvas  completely  ended^  Soon  after,  by 
t\\tlfiftin^  of  the  Goddefs,  I  took  Shipping, 
and  went  away  to  Ro?ney  that  holy  City,'* 
So  much  is  an  ExtraS  from  Apuleius, 

The  Myfleries  were  early  brought  into 

ancient  Etruria  (now  Tufcany)  from  ^gypt 

or  Greece :    and  were  celebrated  in  great 

Conformity  to  Methodifin.     Of  which  we 

might  give  Proof  from  that  learned  Work 

of  Gorius,    Mufceum   Etrufcum.      I    fhall 

Muf.       juft  touch  upon  a  few  Particulars.     *'  A 

P'^^'^^^c.     '  certain 

p.  3 30-, 


(  327  ) 

certain  great  Secret  belonged  to  them, 
which  the  Myflce  were  fworn  never  to 
reveal,  The  Secret  was  carried  (by  Virgins 
generally)  in  a  little  Cheft,  which  contained 
tht  Jilent  'Siud  myjierious  Fearfuhiefs. — Or- 
pheiiSy'HercitleSy  Ulyfes,  and  others  were 
ifiitiated,  as  believing  they  lliould  become 
thereby  jiijlery  and  more  holy ;  have  the 
Prefe?2ce  of  the  Gods ^  afid  be  finally  happy. 
But  firft  tliey  muft  go  through^  diverfe 
Luftrations ;  they  were  to  make  full  Con- 
fejjion  of  whatever  they  had  done,  faid,  or 
thought-  and  were  tied  to  a  Wbeel^  either 
as  an  Emblem  of  extorted  Confijfion,  or  of 
the  Tortures  they  were  to  undergo  in  Ini- 
tiation  :  —  in  which  Ceremony  the  Furies 
appeared  with  their  hijfmg  Serpents^  and 
other  Monjlers,  threatening  terrible  Things. 
This  was  tranfadted  in  a  dif7?2al,  dark 
Cavern.  After  Variety  of  Punijh?nents,^ 
they  had  gayer  ProfpeBs  -,  and  were  told,  ' 
t\\Qy  vftvQ  regenerated^  and  fhould  live  for- 
ever. They  were  carried  to  the  Myftefies 
in  Chariots,  and  after  Initiation  placed  up- 
on a  Throne/*  With  much  more  to  this 
Purpofe.  One  may  add  fome  ancient  /;?- 
fcriptions  on  the  Monuments  of  initiated 
Heathem.  "  In  cetertum  Renatus,  &c.  "iEtert. 
In  order  to  efFed  this  New  Birth,  "it  isRenat. 
remarkable  (faith  Mr.  fVarburton  fvom^''^^^' 
Bufebius)  that  t)\z  M^fagogue  {Chief  prieft 

of 


(  328  )  . 

of  the  Myfterles)  was  habited  like  the  Crett- 
tor,''  What  Sort  of  Habit  tKis  might 
be,  I  can't  fay.  But  furely  Mr.  Wejley 
muft  prcdigiouQy  plume  himfelf,  and  ap- 
pear divinely  magnificent  in  fuch  an  Ac- 
coutrement.— The  Myftagogiie  had  a  farther 
Office,  that  oi  Jfoe^wing  and  explaining  thQ 
My/lerieSy  and  all  the  RepreJentatio?2s  that 
paffed  in  the  Initiating  Cerenwny^  and  was 
thence  called  Hicrophanta^  which  Office 
5  Journ.  wB  find  Mr.  Wejley  performing,  when„ 
p.  82,91.  upon  a  particular  Examination  of  what  his 
Initiated  had  fuffered,  ©<:.  he  fo  nicely 
explaineth  what  Appearances  were  from 
God,  and  what  from  Satan,         ^'^^'^^  ^'^'^ 

Of  one  Thing  more  it  may  be  proper 
to  remind  the  Methodijis,  Vifgii  tells  us, 
that  ''  lifter  Mneas  hzd  been  lb  Well  con- 
diioled  and  if:ft7'-u5led,  had  received  fo  man/ 
glorious  PrediBions  and  Fromifes,  and  feen 
fuch  rare  Shews  in  Elyjium  3 — both  Z?^',  and 
his  Guide,  came  out  at  laft  through  the 
Ivory  Gate 'y  through  which  the  Gods 
below  fend  up  vain  and  delufive  Dreams""-^. 
Let  Mr.  Wejley,  and  his  Initiated,  beware 
oi  Fallacy  in  the  End. — ^^' 
III.  Book.  Milton  makes  Satan,  in  his  Wanderings, 
474— •  find  out  a  Place  called  The  Limbo  of  Vanity, 
or  Faradife  of  Fools)  to  which  ftraggle 
Idiots,  Eremites,  and  Friars,  with  all  their 
Trumpery,     They  think  they  are  at  Hea- 

ven[s 


f  329  ) 

ven's  Gates,  and  that  St.  Peter  ftands  ready 
with  his  Keys, 

rFhtnhf 

A  uiolent  Crofs-JVind^  from  either  Coajl^ 

Blows  them  tranfuerfe  ten  thmjand  Leagues  avjry^ 

Into  the  devious  Air.     Then  7mght  yru  fee 

Cowls^  Hoods^  and  Habits  with  their  Wearers  tofty 

And  fluttered  ifito  Rags ;  then  Relics^  Beads y 

Indulgences.,  Difpmfes^  Par  dons  ^    Bulls , 

The  Sport  of  Winds. 

And  'tis  well,  ifDealhigs,  Appeals,  Journals^ 
modern  Prophecies  and  InfpirationSy  with 
thofe  of  the  old  Sybils  incur  not  the  fame 
Fate; 

l<le  turbata  volent  rapidis  ludibria  ventis. 

§.53.  But  I  mentioned  fome  Circum- 
ftances  in  the  Myjleries,  abominably  objcene 
and  profane.     For    whatever   the   Deities^ 
to  whom  the    Myjleries  were  cofijecrated^ 
did  or  fufFer'd, — all  was  to  be  figured  czit^ 
and  a5led  over  again,  m  the  Myfieries  them^ 
fehes, — Things  indeed   not  to  be  namedy>^ 
and  yet  the  Wickednefs  of  which  ought  not 
to  be  concealed:  —  Things  fo  fcandalous.  and 
infamous,  that  even  in  the  old  Tirrj'es  of 
Heathenifm,    the  Play-Wrights    oftij'n    lay 
their  Scenes  of  Debauchery  in  the  Myjleries : 
and  Hijlorians  fupply  us  with  many  Ac- 
counts of  Lewdftefs  committed  there.     Ju^ 
'Venal  fays, 

Not  a  Bonce  Seer  eta  Tjea. — — -  Sat.  6. 

■  Ifiacce  Sacraric,  Lence,  3^5'  '^^^ 

U  a  —Heuce 


(  330  ) 

Aa^'^'','   —Hence  Arijlophanes  in  fucli  a  free  Man- 

Sc.  \y     ner  exagitates  the  myjlerioiis  Solemnities^  the 

Aa.  3.     horrible   5^^r^/i, attending  them,    and  im- 

^^•^'      piide^t  Figures:      And,  if  his  Words  ^re 

not  clear  enough,  the  Scholia  will  fuffici- 

ently   explain   them.      His  youngs    tender 

Tigs,  Jdcrificed\f^,i:the'  Myfleries^.^^^vii 

Thefmop. Truth  the  Male  and  Female  Parts:    and 

V.  291—.  his  Honey-cakes  offered  to  Ceres  and  Profer- 

pina^    which    were    carried    in    the  ■  iitjk-^ 

Chefts,  were  made  up  in  thok  Shapes, \^' ^^^ 

ThQ  ,I??2purities  of  this  Society  will  fee 

more  evident,  by  turning  to  the  Fathers^ 

and    other     Ecclefiajlical  ,  Writers,       Mj^^ 

FaticB^rs  here  are  manjj:.and  plain ;  but  I 

c6nfine  myfelf  to  a  few:    And,    not  pro- 

discing  fuch  as  fpeak  oF  them  ia  general, 

ikunmcdcjl^  di aboil cal^J^cz.  ihali  ftick  to  a 

particular  Cafe.  ,^^^  s    ^^  m^^^-^W  ^^  m^^     >, 

^lertulhan  lays,  ^^  As  to  the  Superftition 

of  \h^  Ekti/inia?i  Myfteries^  what  they  c(?;z- 

B^ql  is  the  Shame  of  them.     Therefore  they 

^^^"^t  Adrnijjion  torturous,  take  Time 

\nt\\t  Initiation y  fet  a  Seal  on  the  Tongue^ 

and  inftru(5l  the  Epoptce  for  five  Years,  to 

faife  a  K'gh    Opinion  of  them   by  F)elay 

ajid  ExpeBation,     But  all  the  Divinity  'm, 

X\\t  JacreJ  Domes,  the  Whole  of  what  thev 

a/bire  to^  yv'liat  fealeth  the  Tongue,  is  this-; 

---^•^Symrdcfun('mernbri  Virilis  revclatmv 

\}t^i(^^^L^  their  Sacrilege,  they 

pretend 


_Ac?ver/. 

Valcnt. 
tap.    I. 


(  331  ) 
pretend  thefe   Figiars  are  only  a  77tyjiical 
Reprefentation  of  ve?ier  able  Nature  J'- 
'  ""Th^  '  original  Reafon    of  fuch    Figures 
Bei ng  expofed  to  Vie w^  and;  lisid  in  Vene- 
ration,   in  the  MyJierieSy    we   learn  from 
others.     Clemejts  Alcxandrinus  giveth  a  full 
Account  of  this  Religion  of  tloe  Myjieries^ 
too  prolix  to  be  tranfcribed  ;"-^  /-^  Of  theirprobrept. 
•^/V^^^  Inftitution,  Cruelty^  Stupidity ^  Mad-^^"^  2. 
nefs^  snaking  GoddeJJes  of  Harlots^  corrupts 
ing  Mankind  :  —  the  Myjleries  of  Ceres  are 
nothing   but  Reprefentations^^^f  Jincejluous 

Deities : their  ridiczdous  1^xdamation$, 

upon  Ad777iJ]ion  were,  '  I  have  eat  out  oJT 
the  Timbrel  J  I  have  drank  out  of  the 
Cymbal^  I  have  carried  the  Cheft^  I  have 
crept  into  thtfecret  Chamber,'  In  the 
Cheft  Piidcridian'-^Bacchi  inclufum  erat, — 
Cijlam  et  veretriirn  nova  Religione  colenda  tra^ 
Amt\—\\.  is  a  Shanie\to, mention  the  filthy 
CHrcumftanccs  in  the'  Story  of  CereL  \x\ 
her  Wanderings,  flie  was  entertained  by 
6he  5^2/^0;  '\vho;  finding  file  could. not 
Klake  ih&Goddefs^driitk^,  reduclis  vefiibus 
St'cidtas  corporis  partes  Div{;e  ocidis  objicit : 
with  which  Spedaclc  the  Goddcfs  was,  fo 
delighted,' tfettilie  drank  immediately,  anid 
burft  ou'fk  Ijiiighing,  Thefe  are  the  fee  ret 
My  fieri  es  3  ''\Vhich  Orpheus  alfo  injoined, 
whofe  Verfes  ,on  that  Occaiion  I  will  rq-r 
c\X^6?'  YVht  obfcene  Verfes  may  there  be 
feen.]  '*  The  common  Sign  and  Bymbol 
U  u  2  of 


(  332  ) 
of  the  Initiated  is ;    '  I  have  fajl^dy  I  have 
drank  of  the  fningkd  Ciip-y    I  have  taken 
fomething  from  the  Chejl -,   making  Ufe  of 
it,  I  have  put  it  into  the  Bajket,  and  from 
the  Bajket  replaced  it  in  the  Chefir      Egre- 
gious Spedacles !    and  efpecially  becoming 
a  Goddefs :  Worthy  of  Darknefs  and  Fire  ; 
worthy  of  the  Grecians,  viha  hereby  are 
to  be  happy  after  Deathy  beyond  dl  Hope 
and  Expeftation.     Heraclitus^  the  Ephejian^ 
'      calls  fuch  Perfons,  '  Night-rovers,  Magi-- 
dans,  Bacchinals,  ikfv/?/Vi/— What  People 
call  the  Myftcries,  have  xhzi^  unholy  Rites 
tf  Initiation.— \m.y^M^^Vi\.  Wordiip  of  what 

lib.  5.  ought  not  to  be  named,  &c'l  Arnohius 
hath  the  fame  Accouatcj-  ,witi>  4^vc^^  ^o^At: 
Circumftances,  too  indecent  to  be  men- 
tioned, which  were  the  Foundation  of  the 
MyflerieSy    and  put   in    PraBice   in   their 

Siclet.  I.  Celebration, — ^ — Gregory  Nazianzen  tells, 
how  Ceres  herfelf  followed  the  ^Example 
oi  Bauho  :  '"''  ^ 

Hac  ubi  fata  Dea  ejl,  coxam  dctexit  utramq-. 

This  was  to  inflame  Jier  A^r]pij;ers :  and 
ih,^fe  Things  ^re  .even  nQ^ob^ejtved  irt 
tlie  Initiations.'' — And,  in  the  fame  Ora- 
tioriy  he  takes  Notice,  "  of  eighty  Degrees 
"'-^'\' '  'and  Kinds  of  preparatory  PuniJhmenfSj  and 
r  J^o'vqT^^^fe./Which  the  Ca?ididatesj  yvcre  to  go 


(  333  ) 
tbfoiigh,  before  they  could  h^comt  perfect y 
aitd  of  the  Number  of  the  Epoptce^  who 
Were   to  j^c^  alir      Whether  Mr.   WeJIey  ^  ]<^mT.. 
may  allude  to  any  fuch  indecent  Sights  in^-  s»- 
the'-  Variety:' Vf  Tiimhlings  and  Agitations  \n 
his   Affemblies,   1  can't   &y:     His  •  Worcls 
are  thefe  ^  and  the  emphatiQal  oncsinlt'alicf^ 
as   here   fubjoined.;    '^  Olie  had    run  out 
of  the  Society  in  all  Haite,  that  /he  might 
not  expofe  herfclf. — The  fame  Ofi^ence  wasp.  64J 
given  in  the  Evening.    .The  firft  that  was 
deeply   touched   v^a&''S-^'^J5f~-^     wKofe 
MotherhadfbeeTi  rib't^k  lir^fe^-difpleafed^  a 
Day  or  tW6  before,  ^  wheii"  Ifie  'was  told, 
that  her  Daughter  had  expofed  herjelf  be- 
foi'e  atl  the  Gonn;regation/*     fi^,  and   the 
Q\hm  Spe^ators,  know  beft^^SOiQli  "ai^ 

Fejia  infejla  DeOy  Divumq-,  Sticerrima  Sacra. 
Infejled  Feajlsy  and  tnojl  execrably  facredU-ites^ 

Nor  do  I  conceive  that  the  Fathers  have 
done  any  Injury  to  the  venerable  My jl cries -y 
as   they   appeal   for  Proof  to  the  myjlical 
Writers  themfelves.     And  the  Matter  may 
receive  more  Light  from  what  has  already 
beeA' cited,  from  Authors  \ov\^  before  the 
Times  oi  Chripianity.     I  will  add  a  few 
more,     Plutarch^   though  generally  pi^^t ty  pi^^a^^l,^ 
J}:y  as  to  the  MypiS^ies^  fpeaks  thus  in    his  Vol  2. 
Dialogue  called'^fiz-c^f/M.     "  L^^^Vas  theP-7^^""^' 
.LlStJouii  only 


(  334  ) 
only  Thing  that  could  mollify  the  inexorable 
Pluto^  and  make  him  give  back  Euridice 
to  Orpheus,  Wherefore,  my  Friend,  'tis  a 
good  Thing  to  be  Partaker  of  the  Eleiifi-^ 
nian  Myjieriei.  For  I  fee  that  the  mad 
Viyjiical  Lovers  have  the  beft  Place  in  the 
l^l^^^jer  Regions.''  Athenceus  writes  thus  • 
Athcn xus,  * V*  Heraclides,  the  Syracufian^ . :  in  :)hi s  Book 
lib.  14.  of  Laws  and  Cujioms^  lays,  that  in  the 
p^"]/^'^^^'A%'?fr/V5  of  Ceres y  certain  Honey-cakes^ 
made  in  the  Shape  of  Fudejtda  Muliebria^ 
were  carried  about  for  a  S>bew^2Si^  offered 
to  ih^GoddeJJes^  Thefe  were  called  Myllir 
for,  this  Reafon,  I  fuppofc,  &/W^i  e:^plains 
IvlyAXctV,  a  Harlot,  Hersce  we  may  con- 
jeilure  why  the  initiated  Ladies  yNtvQ  called 
Melijjk^  Bees.  [See  Befych.  i^  Theocrit. 
Idyll.  15.  Veri:  94.  SchoL]  Tiie  laft 
named  Author,  makes  a,  Lover  fay  to  his 
Mifirefs^  "  I  envy,  O  dear  Woman, 
Jajion-,  who  enjoyed  fuch  Things,  as  the 
f^^r.ofane  and  Uninitiated  are  not  to  know'* 
^f.yrHe  meaneth,  faith  the  Scholiaji^  the  ;;;y/- 
tical  Love  of  Jafion  and  Ceres,''  The  Na- 
ture of  their  Love  may  be  found  in  Homer y 
Q(;lyfl:  5.  Verf;  125. 

^  ^We  have  her^  a  good  i?/,^^  what  the 
real  Secret  was,  in  the  Myjleries^  fo  care- 
fully to  be  concealed    from  the  Pr^^«^. 
And   'tis  no  fmall  ConiirmatLon    of    this 
Somn.      w.hi^h  ;we  read  in  A/^crdJ^/wj.    ''  Niimenius^ 
j^cipion.    th.eJ?i6//<?/5/>/?^r,  too  inquifitive  into  Secrets,, 


ap. 


t^^^\ 


had 


(335) 

had  divulged  fomething  of  the  Eleufinian 
Myfteries:  for  which  the  Goddefjh  were 
enraged  ;  and  he  faw  them,  in  a  Vifwn^ 
landing  before  a  fublic  SieiiJ,  in  mcret?'i^ 
cial  Habits^  and  with  loofe  Gejliires  :  when 
he  aflced  them  the  Reafon  of  this  unbe-^ 
coming  Appearance,  they  anfwered,  that 
they  were  dragged  forcibly  from  the  Dome 
of  their  Cbajlity,  and  profiitiited  to  every 
Comer."'  v 

Such  my  filed  Turpitude-^  ^&,P  t'  dlii 'peB- 
fuaded,  xhc  grand  Secret  to  be  uhder  the 
Seal  of  Silence:  and  that  when  the  Initiated 
themfelves  difcover  what  they  are  allowed 
to  difcover,  referving  what  (as  they  fpeak) 
himthwftd  or  Jitito  be  publifhed,— 'tis 
no  more  than  hiding  their  Shame.  And 
for  this  Rcafori  I  agree  with  the  learned 
Authors,  who  contend,  that  "  the  Igno-^ 
ranee  ofl  theivMyJteries'preferves  their  Vene- 
ration J  ^       ■  t"^"     ':::j:    L'-;  -.:.'■ 

I  know  indeed  v^^-Jubitme  BoBrinet 
are  fometimes  pretended  to  lie  hid  under 
thefe  external  Reprefeiitaticm^ :  'r^-^ —  Such 
Phyfical,  Pbiiafophical,  and  Rekgiom  Know- 
ledge, as  the  Generation  of  the  Gods^  the 
Seminal  Principles  of  all  Things,  the  Fe- 
cundity of  Nature,  and  (by  fome  few)  the 
true  Theology  of  the  Unity  of  the  Deity,  &c. 
But  were  not  the  natural  Figures  Jljenvn? 
Are  not  the  Pudenda  utriujq-,  Sexus,  Con- 
fpeoius  Deoruim'^&inDearum  in  Nuditate, 

pretty 


(  336  ) 
pretty  Means  of  conveying  fuch  Do(flrines  ? 
And  fuppofing  the  beji  Defign  of  the  ori- 
ginal Inftitutioh^  was  it  not  accompanied 
with  a  ftrange  Mixture  oi  impure  Incentives^ 
fit  only  for  a  Methodifl  arrived  at  Per^ 
fediion  to  grapple  with  ? 

Nor  do  I  queftion  but  thefe  impudefit 
ReprefeiitationSy  and  Behaviour  of  the  Ini- 
tiated^ were  a  Part  of  the  original  In/iitu- 
tion  J  becaufe  the  Myjieries  were  to  imitate 
and  aB  (as  I  laid  before)  the  Pafjions  and 
Actions  of  their  Patron'GoddeJJes, 

What  I  have  faid  fcands  confirmed  by 
tinqueflicnable  Authority ;  I  mean  that  of 
the  eminent  Platonifl^  Jamblicus',  to  whom 
Mankind  in  general  gave  the  Preccde?tcy 
in  the  Knowledge  of  the  Myjieries,  The 
famous  Porphyry^  who  was  more  a  Philo- 
fopher  than  a  Mijlagogue^  had  written  a 
Letter  to  jamblicus  j  whom  he  conceal- 
eth  under  the  Name  of  Anebo :  becaufe, 
,*  I  fuppofe,  it  might  not  be  proper  to  cor- 
refpond  with  an  Initiated,  concerning  the 
Secrets  of  the  My/leries,  too  plainly  and 
openly.  In  the  Letter  he  afkcth  him  fuqh 
Queftions  as  thefe:  ''  Why,  in  'their 
Theurgic  Rites,  they  invocate  Gods  both 
Ccelejlial  and  Subterranean^ — What  is  it 
that  difringuijljes  Gods  from  Damons  ? 
Which  are  Vifble,  and  which  Invifibk  ? 
By  what  Mark  are  we  to  difcern  the  Pre- 
fence  or  Apparition  of  a  God,  from  that  of 

an 


....^.,,T.....    (  337)  ^ 

m^Angeiy  "Archangel,   Dcemon,   or  Detfied 
Hero  ?     For  all  of  them  love  iofpeak  boaji^ 
ingly  of  themfeheSy    and  make  a  fliew  by 
Phantafms  and  Apparitions, ^^Ylo^  comes 
Prophecy   to  pafs  ?    As,    in  Dreams,   En- 
thufiafms,     divi?je    Raptures,     and     Ecjla- 
cies :    Some   Prophefying  by    the   Help  of 
Watery    others  by  Vapours-,    others  from 
their  own  Fancies,   affifted  by  Darknefs,  or 
certain  Potions,  or  Verfes,  &c. — Simple  and 
young  People  are  beft  fitted  for  this  Bufinefs. 
And  fuch  Prophecy  may  proceed  from  Lofi 
of  Senfes,  dijiempered  Madnefs  or  Alienation 
of  Mind,  Dizzinefs,  DijlraBion  of  nought-^ 
,^C^^or.  Fancy  artificially  raifed  by   Sorcery  ; 
or  elfe  the  Deception  of  wicked  Men  and 
Spirit s,-^^\\2X  is  the  Meaning   of  Gods 
JuhjeB  to  Human  Paffions  and  Infirmities  % 
to   whom  therefore   the   wife  Worfhippers 
confecrate  the  Phalli,  and  obfcene  Difcourfes? 
— How  is  it,  that  thefe  Gods,  fuppofed  to 
be  our   Superiors,  muft   be  compelled,  and 
fubmit  to  us,    as  if  they  were  Inferiors'? 
That   their   Worfloippers  muft  come  pre- 
pared and    purged    from  all   Defilement; 
and   yet  tbemfelves  £hall  inftigate   all  that 
\  come,  to  illicit  Venery  ?  —  Whether  there 
be  no  other  Way   to  Happinefs,  but  this  ? 
Whether  it   be  proper  that,  in  Prophetic 
theurgy,  the  Glory  of  Man  (hould   be  the 
Point  aimed  at?     Or  whether  the  Mind 
doth  not  invent  and  forge  great  Things  out 
Xx  of 


(338) 
(ij  common  Incidents  ? — If  thofe  who  thus 
mechanically  converje  with  the  'Deities^  have 
wo  Method  of  Happinefs  that  is  7nore  fecure 
or  77i07^e  credible,  nothing  but  thefe  horrible^ 
ufelefs^  Inventiom\  —  certainly  this  is  not 
the  IVork  of  the  Godsy  or  good  Spirits ; 
but  of  a  deluding  Damon  \  or  elfe  all  is 
human  Invention^  and  Fi^ion  of  corruptible 
Nature:' 

Thefe  are  Porphyry's  ^eries  concerning 
2lJI range  Syfem  of  Pagan  Methodifm,  To 
which  famblicus^  in  his  Book  P>e  Myfteriis^ 
endeavours  to  give  a  Solution,  I  fliall 
tranfcribe  as  much  as  concerns  our  prefent 
jambl.  Purpofe.  ^'  Let  us  run  over  Particulars. 
Tfi^i'  ^^^  affirm  EreBicnem  Phalhrum  to  be  a 
cap!  li.  Symbol  of  Generative  Virtue,  inciting  to  the 
Generation  of  the  World.  For  which 
Reafon  there  are  great  Numbers  of  thofe 
confecratcd  Figures  \  the  whole  World  re- 
ceiving its  Fecundity  from  the  Gods,  And 
as  to  the  cbfcene  Converfation ;  I  efteem  it 
as  a  Symbol  of  Want  of  Good  in  Matter, 
and  of  that  Turpitude  in  Nature,  which  is 
afterivards  to  be  adorned.  Of  which  Adorn- 
ment Nature  has  the  ftronger  Appetite,  the 
more  it  knoweth  of  the  Indecencies  of  thefe 
Things.  And  again,  it  purfueth  the  Forms 
of  good  Things,  by  having  learned  from 
flthy  Difcourfe  isjhat  Filthinefs  is.  By  fuch 
Difcourfes  People  {hew  they  have  a  Senfe 
of  Turpitude 'y  but  the  Turpitude  itfelj  thty 

throw 


(  339  ) 
throw  ofF,  and  turn  their  whole  Deilre  to 
the  Contrary.  Another  Reajon  hkewife  may 
be  given  for  thefe  Things.  The  flrong 
Inclinatmis  of  Nature,  by  being  totally 
rejlroined,  become  ftronger.  Bat  being 
indulged  in  fome  Meaftire^  and  for  a  JJjort 
Time,  they  rejoice  in  Moderation,  and  are 
fatisfed :  and  being  thereby  purified,  they 
defijl  afterwards,  not  fo  much  from  Com- 
pulfion,  as  Perfiiafion.  Therefore,  as  in 
Plays,  by  feeing  the  Paffions  of  others  we 
are  fenfible  of  our  own  ;  moderate  them, 
and  purge  them  away :  fo  in  the  facred 
.Myjleries,  hy  feei?Jg  and  hearing  Obfcenities^ 
we  are  freed  from  any  Injury  fuch  Repre- 
fentations  might  caufe  in  Fa^,  Such 
Things  then  you  fee  are  introduced  as  a 
Medicine  to  the  Soul,  as  moderating  the 
Evils  incident  to  Nature,  and  freeing  and 
delivering  us  from  our  Chains,'" 

Thus  that  Majier  of  the  Myfleries  plainly 
owneth  the  Truth  of  the  Fa^s :    he   gives 
not  the  lead  Intimation  of  their  being  any 
Innovation,    or   Corruption  of  the   original 
Defign,      And   his   Pleas  and  Excufes  for 
fuch  tJif anions  Sights,  Difcourfes  and  Actions^ 
may  fairly  be  leit  to  the  Judgment  of  the 
moft  ordinary   Capacity.  — But  ftill  happy 
Confequences  are   the  final  JJjiie,      For   he 
tells    us   in    the    next    Chapter-,     *'  'TisjamW. 
manifeft  that  the  whole  is  falutary  to  the^y^"^^' 
Soul.     For  in   feeing  the  bleffed  SpeBades"^^'  '''' 
X  X  2  (meaning 


(  340  ) 
(meaning  of  Gods  a?2d  Goddeffes)  the  Soul 
is  changed  into  a72other  Life,  worketh  other 
Operations  5  thinketh  itfelf  no  Human  Crea- 
ture,^  and  thinketh  rightly.  For  putting 
off  its  own  proper  Life,  it  is  chang^  into 
the  mofl  hlefjed  Energy  of  the^  Godsr  So 
much  for  Jamblicus. —  ,jt  -^ay 

Warb'jrt.  Mr.  Warburton  obferves,  ^'  one  infu- 
P-  h8.  perable  Objiacle  in  Paganifm,  to  a  Life  of 
Purity  and  Holinefs,  was  the  vicious  Ex^ 
amples  of  their  Gods,  And  that  this  Evil 
was  remedied  by  the  Myjieries^  But  I 
conceive  this  Evil  was  i^ih^v  promoted  than 
remedied  thereby.  As  an  Inftance  of  Per- 
fons  jufiifying  one  another  from  fuch  Cce- 
lejiial  Examples,  he  fays,  from  Euripides^ 
Hercul.  that  "  Thejciis  confqles  his  Friend  Hercules 
Furens^^^  by  ^he  Examples  of  the  Cri7nes  of  the  Godsr 
But  It  muft  be  remembered,  that  both 
thefe  Beros  were  of  the  Order  oj  the  Ini- 
tiated y  fome  of  the  frft  too,  as  living  not 
lefs  than  twelve  Hundred  Years  before 
Chrifl  :-^7LT\i  that  fuch  an  accurate  Writer 
as  Euripides  vv^ould  fcarce  have  put  that 
Excufe  into  their  Mouths,  had  it  not  been 
conjormable  to  the  original  Plan,  but  direflly 
contrary. 

The  Poet,    fpeaking  of  Affignations  in 
xhtTemplesoilfis,  Ceres,  &c,  adds, 

Sat.  6.       Credit  enhn  ipfiih  Domina  fe  voce  moneri. 

V-  527^.  En  ardmam  &  mente7n,  cum  qua  Dii  nc5fc  loquantur, 

^'  The 


(  341  ) 

^^  The  Party  believes  himfelf  directed  by 
the  Voice  of  the  Goddefs  herfelf.  See  the 
Mind  and  Soul,  that  is  fitted  for  a  Conver-^ 
fat  ion  with  the  Gods  by  Night'' 

Something,  in  the  preceding  Account 
of  the  Myjieries^  might  have  been  obferved 
concerning  the  not  uncommon  Pracftice  of 
initiating  Rogues  and  Harlots.  But  I  fliall 
fay  no  more  of  the  Myfteriozis  Trade ;  only 
dedicating  what  hath  been  faid  upon  the 
Subjed— — To  Mr.  Jrejllcy  Hall,  whofe 
DoBrine  and  PraBice  have  been  fo  con^ 
formable  3— To  Mr.  Wefefs  initiated  Lady, 
''  who,  after  being  in  Defpair  and  in  Hell^ 
&;c.  had  her  horrible  Dread  taken  away, 
and  began  to  fee  fome  Dawni?2gs  of  Hope  j 
but  ^2^foon  after,  if  not  at  that  very  Time^ 
a  common  Profitute  ;*'  Together  with  her 
Admirers  3  —  And  to  all  others  whom  it 
may  concern. 

§.  54.  Having  thus  drawn  a  Parallel 
between  the  Myfteries  of  Methodifm  and 
thofe  of  downright  P^^/^;^//^,  I  {hall  con- 
clude my  Comparifon  with  a  Parallel  fronri 
Paganizifjg  Popery,  namely,  St.  Patricks 
Purgatory,  in  Ireland. 

Giraldus  Cambrenfis,  Matthew  Paris,  and 
others,  have  faid  much  of  this  memorable 
Place  :  but  as  Meffingham  hath  brought  all 
together,  in  his  Lives  of  the  Hibernian 
^mnts^  I  fliall  make  my  ExtraB  from  him. 

*'  That 


(  342  ) 
MfiTingh.  «  That  there  was^  and  /V,  fuch  a  Thing 
P-  92— •  ^g  ^^^  Patricks  Purgatory y  is  agreed  by 
antient  and  modern  Writers  -,  and  the  Cer- 
tainty muft  be  afferted,  to  refute  the  Impu^ 
dence  of  Heretics, — The  Occafion  of  it  was 
this.  While  St.  Patric  was  humbling 
himfelf  in  Faftings,  Watchings,  and  Prayer, 
Chrijt  appeared  to  him,  and  fliewed  him  a 
dark  Den  3  faying,  '  Wlioever  in  true 
Faith  and  Penitence  fhall  enter  into  this 
T)eny  and  continue  there  for  twenty-four 
Hours,  he  fliall  ht  purged  fro?7i  all  the  Sins 
of  his  whole  Life.*  The  Truth  of  this  is 
confirmed  by  the  antient  Breviaries^  &cc. 
To  quefiion  it,  would  be  to  give  the  Lie 
to  all  Antiquity  and  Piety.  [Mr.  Wejlef^ 
fole  Teftimony,  as  to  his  oiim  Purgatory^ 
will,  by  all  tmprcjudiced  P^r/Swjr,-. Redeemed 
cf  equal  Veracity .  ]  v   . 

The  Den  is  in  an  Ijland  of  the  Province 
ofUljler-,  one  Part  wjiereof  is  the  ^orr//^/^ 
Station  cf  Devils ;  the  other  Part  is  in-r 
comparably  illuftrated  with  the  vifible  Pre- 
fence  cf  Angels  and  Saints.  If  any  rafli 
Perfon,  as  hath  been  the  Cafe,  lliould  pre- 
fumptuoufly  enter  into  the  former.,  he  is 
fcized  upon  by  Cacgdemons^  or  Rvil  Spirits^ 
and  afflid-ed  with  various  TormentSy  till  he 
has  almoft  loft  the  Shape  of  a  Man,  But 
if  any  one  endiireth  thefe  Torments,  after 
Confefion  and  Pe^iitencCy  he  fhall  not  under^ 
^o  any   niorc   infernal  Punifrments,     For 

St. 


(  343  ) 
Sti  Fatric^  finding  it  difficult  to  convince" 
that  incredulous  Nation  of  the  Truth  of 
future  infernal  Pu72ifbments  and  heavenly 
Joys,  merited  of  Heaven  to  bring  this  ocular 
Demonftration  and  Proof  of  it,  here  q\\ 
Earth.  Jacobus  de  Vttriaco  attefts  this  j 
'  that  if  any  one  truly  penitent  and  confejjed 
defcendeth  hither,  he  is  lufirated  and puri-^ 
fed  by  the  Devils,  by  ten  Thoufand  Sorts 
oi  Tortures.  And  whoever  returns  thence 
thus  hifirated,  he  can  never  laugh  or  joke 
afterwards,  or  intermeddle  with  worldly 
Affairsr  [Mr.  Wefey  hath  been  a  httle 
peccant  here ;  who,  after  his  repeated  Re- 
folution  not  to  laugh,  no  not  for  a  Moment -^t  Journ. 
nor  to  fpeak  a  Tittle  of  wordly  Things -."^^  ^'^' 
— Confeffeth,  that  ''  he  hath  fmce  engaged An'?.v^i 
often  in  worldly  Bufinejs,  the  Order  of  Pri?«  Enthuf 

vidence  requiring  itr Who  ah^o  hath^*  '5* 

been    united    to     Ve?nis    Philomeides,     the 
Laughter 'Loving  Dame. 

We  now  difcourfe  only  concerning  a 
prefent  Purgatory,  of  meritorious  Puniftj-- 
ments  in  this  Lije,  for  the  \J{q  of  fuch  as 
are  making  a  Pilgrimage  in  the  Lord. 
Which  is  to  be  difiinguijled  from  that 
future  Purgatory,  which  lies  on  the  other 
Side  of  the  Grave.  And  it  was  deligned 
by  St.  Patric  for  a  Proof  that  there  was 
fuch  a  Thing  as  a  Place  of  Torment  to 
come:,  and  which  might  be  efcaped,  by  a. 
prefent  Expiation,  through  this  lujtral  fire. 

This 


10. 

to 


(  344  ) 
This  appears  by  the  Hymn  compofed  in 
Memory  of  St.  Patric, 

The  Order  and  Manner  of  paffing  into 
this  Purgatory  followeth.      '*  You    mufl 
undergo   a   Courfe    of    Fa/ling^    ufing    a 
meagre  Diet ;  and  that  only  to  be   tafted 
once  in  twenty-four  Hours,  however  your 
Guts  may  grumble.     But  you  may  refrefh 
and   moiften   your   Mouth,    with   certain 
Waters ;  which  are  as  light  and  wholefome 
as  the  Waters  of  the  Spaw,     You  are  regu- 
larly to  keep  the  holy  Stations :   and  when 
you  are  weary  at  Night,  you  are  not  to 
lie  down  on  a  Bed^  Couch^  or  Pillow  ^  but 
irjay  He   on   your   Chak^    or    wrap   your 
Breeches  about  your  Head. — Whoever  un- 
dertakes this  Progrejs  muft  be  admitted  by 
the    Spiritual   Father ^    who  pre/ides   over 
''Purgatory ;    mufl     betake    themfelves    to 
what  are   called    the  Penal  Manfions^    or 
Pcfjitential  Cells  of  the  Saints ;  where  they 
mufl:  whirl  themfelves  kw^n  Times  round 
the  Crofs,     A  rough  and  Jiony  Path  thence 
leadeth  them*  to  a  Lake ;  at  the  Bottom  of 
which  is  a  Stone^  whereon  they  muft  fix 
their  Feet,  which  will  be  cruelly  tired  ajid 
torn  ;  but  in  lefs  than  half  a  Quarter  of  an 
Hour,  by  the  Help  of  Prayer,  they  will 
Jeel  a  fmgular  Refrejhment   and   Strength 
from  the  Stone :   St.  Patric  having  prayed 
formerly  upon  it,    and  left  the  Imprejfion 
of  his  Feet, 

Thefe 


(  345  ) 

Thefe  Aujierities  having  been  repeated 
for  feven  Days,  on  the  eighth  the  troubJe- 
fome  Ceremonies  are  all  to  be  doubled. 
Then  the  Candidates  are  convened  before 
the  Spiritual  Father ^  who  fpeaks  to  them 
a  Word  oi  Exhortation ;  and,  in  a  pre- 
?neditated  Fornix  gives  them  an  Accounty 
or  yoiirnaly  of  fuch  Fxa'mples  as  muft  move 
the  moft  Stupid,  foften  the  moft  Hardened^ 
aad  terrify  the  moft  Audacious :  and  pre- 
paring them  by  Confejjion  and  Ahfolution, 
and  Warnings  againft  the  Powers  of  ID  ark- 
nefsy  he ^  bring  them  to  the  Mouth  of  the 
Z)^;^^,^  Where  you  may  fee  them  in  an 
Agcn)\,  7^%  if  paffing  into  another  World -^ 
Jighing,  groaning y  prayings  &c. 

The  De7i  itfelf,  into  which  they  now 
defcend,  i%  2i_d,arky  Igw^  narrow  Hole^  [As 
when  Satan  fiiut  Mr.  TVhitcfield  into  a 
Clofety  and  locked  him  up  in  Iron- Armour.'] 
where  they  muft-  (loop  or  creep,  unable  to 
gOy  Jlcmd,  or  fit.  There  is  a  fmall  Window 
on  one  Side,  wliich  lets  in  a  little  Light : 
and  at  the  Extremty  is  fitnated  that  horrible, 
Gulphy  which  God ,  fliewed  to  St.  Patric, 
for  the  Terror  of  {he  Objlinate.  (But  the 
Den  is  now  m2idc  fnoot her  and  plainer  by 
Papal  Difpcnfations,)  They  then  plunge 
themfelves  72aked  in  the  Lake;  and  being 
luji rated  by  this  Expiation,  they,  come  out 
renewed  and  born  again,    able  to  conquer 


the  old  Serpent, 


y  y  The 


C  346  ) 

The  Benefit  attending  the  Vifitation,  Sd- 
ihfaBion^    and  Purgation   of  this   Den  is 
undeniable.     Ajid  the  Paim  and  Piinijb^ 
ments   may    eafily   be   colledled   from    th'^ 
Darknefs^    Narrownefs^    and  long  Continu-^ 
ance  in  the  Hole ;  the  fuffocating  Breath  of 
Numbers    crowded    together  ;     Exulcera- 
tiom  of  the   Feet,    Penal   Celh,    Fa/tings^ 
Watchings^    ly^^g   on    the  Ground^    crying 
and  wailing,    and    Abdication    of  Earthly 
Comforts:- — as  well  2iS  horrible  Vifom  and 
Spe^res.  >,o    -iii 

This  is  to  be  obferVed^  ^^^  that  the  Sexes 
are  not  allowed  promifcuoufly  to  go  toge- 
ther 5   hnt  xht  Men  feparately,  ^nd  Women 
feparately,     \_hi  this  Particular  Mr*  Wefley 
4JQurn.   ^iffei-s;    Warmly   alTerting  that  '^  the  un- 
""'      married   Men  and    Wfi7nen    ought    to    go 
together/'  binu   JfidJ     tS^ii\    gaimioi 

MeJJingham  thien^  prodeeds'  to^Ulufirdte 
and  confirm  what  he  had  faid,  by  a  fpecial 
Injlance,  ^'  When  St.  Patric  was  favoured 
with  this  Proof  of  Purgatory,  for  the  Con-^ 
verfion  of  the  Irif/o  to  the  Catholic  Faith^ 
many  Penitents  deicended  into  it :  of  whom 
fome  pcrijhed  there  5  others  returning  dfe-* 
dared  what  Torments  they  had  fuffered^' 
and  wliat  joyful  Sp^^Bacles  they  had  feen  : 
Which  Accounts  St.  Patric  ordered  to  be 
preferved.  Afterwards-  one  Owen,  who 
had  been  many  Years  a  Soldier  in  King 
Stephen  s  Army,  being  under  Compunaiorx 


(  347  ) 

for  his  wicked  Life^  and  many  enormcm 
FiceSy  would  needs  undergo  the  moft 
grievous  of  \PenanceSy  by  entering  into  St. 
Patries.  Purgatory,  The  Prior  of  the 
Place,  preparing  him  as  ufually,  tells  him 
he  fliould.,  meet  with  certain  Mej]enger% 
from  God,  who  would  inform  him  of  what 
he  was  to  do,  or  fuffer  :  But  when  fhey 
W3re  gone,  the  Tempters  fliould  attack  him. 
The  Soldier^  refolved  to  make  trial  of 
this  7iew  and  uncommon  Warfare^  goes  in- 
trepidly into  the  Den-,  where  he  foon 
found  himfelf  in  total  Darknefs,  But  e'er 
long  a  little  Light  appeared  :  and  he  came 
to  a  Room,  not  unlike  a  Monkif^  Cloijler  % 
where  fome  fhaven  Religious^  approached, 
and  blejjed  God  for  infpiring  him  with  the 
good  Purpofe  of  expiating  his  Sins;  in- 
forming him,  that  unlefs  he  proceeded 
coiiragioujlyy  he  fliould  perijh^  Body  and 
SouL  For  as  foon  (fay  they)  as  we  are 
gone^  a  Multitude  oifoul  Spirits  will  cooie^ 
bringing  grievous  Tortures^  and  threateniiig 
worfcy  perfuading  you  alfo  to  return,  and 
promifing  to  carry  you  to  the  Gate,  where 
you  came  in.  But  have  Courage  :  in  your 
Torments  call  upon  Chrift,  and  you  fhall 
immediately  be  fet  free.  And  fo  they  left 
him. 

The  Soldier,  thus  intruded,  ftood  wait- 
ing for  a  Combat  with  the  Devils :   and  pre- 
fently  he  heard  a  tumultuous  Noife,   as  if 
Y  y  2  the 


■(  34B  ) 
the   whole   World    was    in    Commotion ; 
whereby  he  was  almoft  driven  out  of  his 
Senfes,     After  ih'i^  horrible   Noiji  follows 
the  7nore  horrible  vifible  ylfpeBoflthe  Devi  Is-, 
pho  derided,    and   infulted  him,    faying, 
•^  other  Mortals  come  not  to  us,  till  after 
Death-:    you  honour  our  Society  fo  much, 
as  to  furrender  Body  and  Soul  to  us  while 
alive.     And  v/e  will  revv''ard  you  according- 
ly.    You  came  hither  to  endure  Torments 
for.  your  Sins :  and  Ihall   have   what  you 
wanted.     But  however,    as  a  Favour  for 
your  fmner  Services^    if  you  pleafe,    we 
will  condudl  you  out  wihurty  to  the  Gate 
sphere-  you  came   in^  -^B\x%-thp,'tindau72ted 
Soldier  is  neither  fliaken-  by  their '  MenaceSy 
nor  inveigled  by  their  Allurements. 
vv  The    Devils,     feeing    themfelves    con- 
itemiied,  bind  him  Hand -and  Foot,  throw 
him    into  a   Fire,    and   drag   him  about 
with  /ri?/2  Hooks :   whereby  having  endured 
' ^t^l, Torment,    he  <aMs  upon  Chrifty  and 
is  entirely  deliveFed;    not  fo  much   as^:k 
lingIe.S))/7r/^  remaining,  n  a'^ncurr        a^^^ 
Hence  fome  of  them -earry  biTm '  into^ 
difmal and  dark  Region-,- where  nothing  but 
Devils   was  to   be  feen ;    and   v/here  his 
Body^    was    pierced    with  a   Stiffnefs    znA 
Rigor,  by  a  peflilent  Wind.     They  carry 
him  farther  into  the  Hearing  of  Rowlings, 
Wailings,  and  Cdamours^-^'mX^^,  Sight  of 
Wretches  tormented  in  a  mifera  We 'Manner.: 

and 


(  349  ) 

and  throwi72g  him  on  the  Ground^  they  en« 
deavour  to  torment  him^  like  the  rejl.  But 
the  Name  ofjejus  forced  them  to  give  over. 
• — Thence  they  convey  him  to  another 
Field  full  of  greater  Mifery ;  among  Jiery 
Serpents  clinging  to  poor  Mortals,  and 
eating  into  their  Hearts,  *  Thefe  Tortures, 
fay  they,  ate  prepared  for  ^i?^/,  unlefs  you 
confent  to^^  back'  But  the  Name  ofChriJi 
again  prevented  them. 

They  drag  him  to  ^  Field  Jlill  more 
dreadful-,  where  are  People  pierced  with 
Iron  Nails  from  Head  to  Foot,  without 
Interval^  and  roarifigy  as  if  they  v/cre 
Mlingi  •^nd  iQvtmtd  with  both  a  cold  and 
burnifjg  Wind.  But  nothing  could  aftrio^ht 
the  Soldier, 

Thence  he  is  hurried  into  a  Jour th  Fields 
full  of  Fires,  and  every  invented  Torment  of 
every  Kind  5  above  all  Expreffion  or  Con-* 
ception.  They  fhew  him  a  burning  Wheels 
and  throw  him  upon  it  to  torture  him  :  but 
by  the  Name  of  Jefus  he  comes  down  un- 
hurt. Through  more  Tortures  thefe  /;/« 
fernal  Dogs  carry  him  to  the  very  Entrance 
of  Hell',  and  all  flounce  in  together  with 
the  Soldier:  where  he  felt  fuch  intolerable 
Mifery,  that  for  a  long  Time  he  forgot  the 
Name  ofJeJus,  and  iiooi  perfect ly  afcnifJjed. 
Here  they  ihew  a  Bridge  over  Hell^  ex- 
tremely Jlippery,  Jiarrow,  and  high;  and 
compel  him  to  walk  upon  it  3  \vhich   he 

did, 


(  350  ) 
did,    by  the  Name  of  Jefus^    without  a?2y 
Siip^  or  makmg  a  falfe  Step,     Which  pro- 
voked the  Devils  to  fuch  horrid  Clamour  $ 
and  profane  Outcries^    as  were   more   in-- 
fufferabk  than  all  his  other  Punlfiments, 
!XOm  brave  Soldier  being  ihnsfetfreefrojn 
the  Vexation  of  the  Devi  Is  ^  is  prefented  with 
a  View  of  the  Gates  of  Paradlfe  5  whence 
the  Sal?2ts  came  out   to  meet  him,   with 
CrofeSy  I'VaX'CandleSy  and  Colours  flyings  to 
carry  him  into  Paradlfe  *,    where  he  was 
entertained   with  the  7noJl  delegable  Sights 
and  harmonious  Sounds.     The  Man  affirmed^ 
that  this  proceeded  not  from  Ecftacy  ^  btt^, 
that  he  faw  all  with    his  corporeal  Eye^^^\ 
and    had  corporeal  Feeling  and  Experience 
of  the  Sufferings.     He  afterwards  entered 
ambng  the  Monks  i   and  had,  upon  Con- 
tinuance,    an    ylffurance    of    Salvation. ''\ 
Thus  endeth  this  Mcthodlftico-Monkl/Ij  Story. 
And   'tis   fubmitted   to   the  Judgment  of 
every   Man  In    his    Senfes^     whether  th^'' 
principle  Myfiery  of  Methodlfm   bears   any 

Refef7iblance   of  true  Chrl/llanlty -, and 

whether  it  be  not  d^perfeii  Copy  of  the  moji 
horrible  Devices  In  Paganlfm  and  Popery, 

Let  us  now  recapitulate  fome  of  the 
Ingredients  for  making  a  true  Methodlft. 
He  muft  fet  out  on  Foot^  with  a  fanBlfed 
CounienancCy  and  high  Pretences  to  Piety  -^ 
which  is  to  confift  of  unfcrlptural  Pecull" 
arltieSy    wbimfical  StrldfncjJeSy    and    bitter 

Zeal 


(  350 

Zeal  againfl  innocent  and  indifferent  Things o 
In  order  to  catch  Fame  ftill  niore  effedlually, 
he  muft  be  a  deep  Dealer  in  the  black  Arty 
of  Calumny  andJJncharitablenefs ,  muft  feem- 
m^Y  dejpife  Money\  and  be  often  caUing 
out  for  Siifferings  and  Perfecution,     How- 
ever wicked  he  hath  been,  let  him  injianta-- 
neoiify  be  called  converted-,  perfeBed^  afjurei 
of  Salvation  \  and   talk  much   of  ImpiilfcSy 
ImpreJJionSy  Feelings^  Raptures^   and  Ecfa^ 
cies.     But  above  all,  let  him  boaft  of  In^ 
fpiratiomy    divine    MiJjionSy  familiar    and 
amorous  Converfations  with  God^  talking  with 
him  Face  to  Face^  and  fitting  down  with ; 
him  at  Table.      By   Degrees  he  becomes 
e^ual  to  Prophet Sy  ApoJileSy  or  Chrifl  him'- 
felf :    is   entitled    to    Vijions^    Revelations^ 
Prophecies y    an^   Miracles.      Thus   armed 
with  a  conceited  Imagination  and  fpiritual 
Pridcy  he  is  to  combat  Satany  and  all  thq^v 
t)ogs  of  Hell  y  and  (as   he  is  ordained)  to 
run  the  Gantlope  through  'Terror Sy  Doubts y, 
Scepticifmy  Fnfidelityy  Atheifmy  fpiritual  De-k 
fertionsy  and  Lofs  of  God's  Grace y  (Things 
highly  beneficialy   and  abfolutely  necefjary) 
Defpondency^  and  Defpairy    DiJiraBion  and 
Mad?iefs  :~\hxoM^  violent  Agonies y  Dii-^J 
fiortionsy  and  Convulfions  -,  the  Pains  of  Helli  \ 
Pa?nnationy    and  Hell  itfelf-y    through    aHj 
the  Miferies,^an^   Tortures,    beyond   Ex^-r: 
prefrionor  t^eFGrmtiQiii,'  which  either  God 


or 


(  352  ) 

cr  Nature^  Satan  or  the  Preachery  can 
bring  upon  him  :  — *  But  having  undergone 
thtkjiery  Liijirations^  he  hath  Apparitions 
cf  God  and  Angels  coming  to  carry  him  to 
Heaven :  His  is  united  to  God :  he  is  plunged 
into  God :  he  is  All  God,  — -  This  Pngrefs 
indeed  may  happen  to  want  a  trifling  Cir^ 
cumfiance^  the  DireBion  of  Scripture  ;  but 
that  DefeB  is  fufficiently  fupplied  from 
Heatbenijm  and  Popery, 

And  who  can  help  admiring  the  deep 
Artifice  and  Management?  What  hath 
hitherto  been  imputed  to  Pits  and  Di- 
Jiemper — to  Cheat  and  Impofiure — to  Witch-^ 
crafty  Sorcery y  Magicy  and  fome  diabolical 
Illufion — all  is  engrafted  into  the  pure  Reli- 
gion of  Method! fts ,  all  is  God s  Worky  and  a 
Manifeftation  of  what  he  hath  done  for  their 
Souls,  And  when  Mr.  JVefiey^  and  his 
AfjociateSy  have  clearly  vindicated  the  Pa^ 
ralkls  I  have  brought  (from  Popery  parti- 
cularly) from  Enthifiafm  and  hnpojiurcy 
their  own  Difpeitfation  may  Hand  fair  for 
2i  favour  able  Co?2jlru5fion, 

It  may  behove  me  in  the  Clofcy  to  leave 
my  fudgmenty  in  as  plain  a  Manner  as  I 
can,  concerning  this  myfterious  Part  of 
Methodifn ;  in  which  the  principal  Diffi- 
culty feems  to  lie.  Thus  then  I  Judge, 
**  If  there  be  any  Thing  in  it  exceeding  the 
Potuers  of  Nature,  knoivn  or  fecret ;    any 

Thins 


(  353  ) 
Thing  beyond  the  Force  of  Bifiemper,  or 
of  Imagination  and  Enthuftafm  artfully 
worked  up  5  any  Thing  above  the  Reach 
of  Juggle  and  Impofture ;  (which  I  take  not 
upon  me  to  affirm,  or  deity)  —  In  that 
Cafe,  I  fee  no  Reafon  againft  concluding, 
that  'tis  the  Work  of  jo  me  evil  Spirit -,  '4 
Sort  of  magical  Operation^  or  other  diaboh- 
cal  Illufwn. 


Z  ^ 


APPEN- 


(  355  ) 


APPENDIX. 


CONTAINING 


A  few  Inftances  of  the  Natural  and 
Adual  Tendency  of  Enthufiaftic 
Methodifm  to  Popery ;  f7-om 
Englidi  Hiftory. 


(No.  I.)  T!he  miraculous  Life  and Converfion 
of  Father  Bennet,  of  Canfield,  in  Effex. 
Do  way,   1623. 


cc 


HE  was  a  Profejlant  and  Ptirita?!^ 
by  Birth  and  Education  ^  but 
had  an  extraordinary  Call  to  be  a  Papijij 
and  a  Capuchin  ;  and  in  one  Moment  was 
wholly  changed  into  another  -Man ;  and 
conftrained  to  embrace  the  Catholic  Commu^ 
nion  by  Divine  Infpiration.  In  his  Story  of 
hitnfelf  he  faith,  '  I  was  a  Libertine,  ad- 
Zz  2  difted 


(356) 
didted  to  various  Vices  5  I  faw  my  miferable 
State,  and  fought  to  amend  «iy  Life.     But 
alas !    How  many  Blocks  lay  in  my  Way  ? 
What  Stratagems  did  not  the  old  Serpent  ufe 
to  hinder  me  ?     He  appeared  to  me  tranf- 
formed  into  an  Angel  of  Light ;  talked  long 
with  me,  perplexed  me,  but  did  not  wholly  . 
overcome  me. — He  planted  his  Battery  of 
Fredejlination  again  ft  me,  and  (aid,  I  was 
predeftinated  to  be  damned  in  the  End  3  and 
that" my  good  Purpofes  wxre  nothing  but 
a  Brain-Sickjiefs^    &CC.     Which  'Te?2tatio?is 
made  me  extremely  melancholic.    But  when 
I  had  abandoned  all  Lets  and  Hindrances^ 
my  moft  affli<3:ing  Trouble  was,   what  Re-- 
ligion  I  Jldonld  embrace,-—!  began  to  pray^ 
fajl,  watch y  and  lie  hard.— After  this  I  iliw 
in  the  Fields  a  Vifion^  of  an  extraordinary 
Nature,  which  I  related  to  a  Friend  Vv'ho 
Was  a   Catholic:    He   was  highly  pleafed, 
and  told  me  of  Exorcifms  done  by  Catholic 
Priefls^  with  many  other  marvellous  Thi?2gs, 
.^*The  Devil  then   fo  affaulted   me,    that 
when  I  took  the  Book  cj  Refolutions  into  my 
Hands   to  read,    it    profited  me   nothing* 
And  he  told  me,  that  my  Spirit  fliould  be 
fo  turmoiled,  that  I  fliould  be  in  danger  of 
lojing  my  Wits  >  and  that  my  Brain  was  al- 
ready cracked.     Being  unexperienced  i?i  Spi-^ 
ritual  Combats^  I  was  forely  beaten  by  this 
'fierce  Battail,  and   grew  wonderfully  weak 
^nd  opprejed :    I  was  deprived  of  my  SenJeSy 
'  and 


(  357  ) 
and  brought  to*  the  Door  of  Defpair  ;  and 
perceived  that  God  was  gone  a  wbilefrojn  me. 
In  the  Midft  of  this  great  Defolatkn  and 
Objcurityy  a  Beam  of  Light  {hone  upon 
me ;  and  my  Tribulations  were  recom- 
penfed  with  Plenty  oi  Cmifolafions,  Joy,  and 
Peace:  And  '  thou,  O  Lord,  didft  re- 
"vealy  by  an  inexplicable  Manner^  the  clear 
and  perfed:  Sight ^  and  afjured  Knowledge ^ 
of  thy  only  true  Religion^  with  abfolute 
Certainty:  The  next  Morning  I  went 
to  2Ln  old  infamous  Prifon,  called  Newgate^ 
which  was  commonly  filled  with  Priejls:^ 
where  I  met  with  a  Triejly  to  whom  I 
made;  Co?7fe//2on,  and  was  reconciled  to  the 
Holy  Church,  Then,  following  the  Motiojis 
of  divine  Injpiration,  I  propofed  to  retire  to 
fome  Monajlery,  This  was  not  w^ithout 
great  Contrai^iety  and  Perplexity  of  Spirit, 
But  the  Lord  called  me  with  fo  clear ^  ma-- 
nifejiy  and  loud  a  Voice-,  that  I  could  not 
refjl  the  Call,  In  which  RaviJJoment  and 
Alienation  of  Se?2fe,  I  was  out  of  my f elf]  and 
tranfported  into  God, 

I  had  before  refolved  with  myfelf  to  be- 
come a  Religious,  of  the  Order  of  St, 
Francis ;  but  was  in  great  Doubt  whether 
I  fhould  take  the  Habit  of  the  Cordeliers  or 
the  Capuchins,  At  length  fuch  Vigour  and 
Force  of  Spirit  was  given  to  me,  that  I 
■  refolved  to  become  a  Capuchin ;  and  in-- 
■fiantly  I  had  an  Infpiration^  which  faid  to 

me, 


(  358  ) 

me,  *  Lo !  now  all  the  Vifion  is  accom- 
pliilied.'  For  that  Vifion  Ihewed  me  all 
viundane  Vanities  paft  ;  and  the  Habits  and 
I  HolineJJcs  of  the  Francifcans^  particularly  of 
the  Capuchins.  So  I  took  the  Habit ;  and 
others,  by  my  Example  and  Counfel^  did  the 
fame/^ 

Thus  much  Father  Bcjinet  fays  himfelf. 
What  follows  is  from  the  Writer  of  his 
Life. 

"  From  the  Inftant  Qi\i\%Converfion^  he 
was  as  a  Coal  all  en  Fire^  glowing  with 
Zeal',  —  He  had  fo  many  Vifions,  Revela- 
tions, and  Lights  of  the  Spirit,  towards 
obferving  the  Rules  of  St.  Francis ;  and 
God  infpired  him  fo  ^nanifeflly,  that  he  could 
not  admit  of  any  Doubt.  One  Day  a  gloria 
cus  Angel  appeared  to  him,  encompafled 
with  Light,  and  with  a  Book  in  his  Hand  -, 
which  the  Angel  opened,  and  turned  over 
the  Leaves  for  him,  directing  him  to  a 
Place,  where  it  was  God's  Will  that  he 
fbould  be  a  Capuchin.  [Mr.  Whitefield  feems 
7  journ.  ^^  ^'^^^  h^^n  more  honoured,  when  "  the 
p.  66.  Lord  himfelf  gave  him  a  Text,  and  direcflcd 
him  to  a  Method,  as  he  was  going  up  the 
'Fulpit-Stairs.''] 

The  Devil  was  fully  employed  in  fetting 
Gi7is  tor  him  -,  omitting  no  Tenfation,  out- 
ward cr  inward  -,  prefaging  that  the  Sai?it 
would  overthrow  his  Kingdom,  if  he  were 
fuffered  to  pcrfevere :  and  therefore  ap- 
peared 


(  359  ) 

feared  to  him  fometimes  in  a  religions^ 
fometimes  in  a  dreadful  For??!,  The  Vifions 
which  he  had  in  the  Beginning  grew  more 
common  and  fearful,  grievous  to  the  Ap- 
prehenfion.  Our  Lord  made  him  fee  and 
hear  all  the  Tor??2e?2fs  and  Pai?ts  of  Hell  j 
the  horrible  Cries  of  Devils,  and  Blafphe??iies 
which  they  yelp  forth,  their  Defpair,  and 
Ste?ich  of  their  Dimgeons :  which  made 
him  terribly  roar,  to  the  Aftonifliment  of 
all  the  Religious'"  [  I  have  had  the 
Honour  to  hear  Mr.  Whiteficld  roar  out 
in  the  fai?2e  Mafiner,  upon  feeing  fuch  a 
Vifion  of  Hell,  in  the  Midft  of  his  Preach- 
ment.'] 

''  Thefe  and  other  /irange  y^ccidentsmzdQ 
the  Fathers  fufpedl  fome  Illufion  of  the 
Devil',  but  upon  Trial,  he  appeared  to  go 
upon  the  fame  Foundation  with  Saint 
Fra?2cis,  when  he  eftablified  his  Rule, 

■  His  Rapts  and  Ec/lacies  threw  him  into 
fuch  zDtforder  that  they  had  recourie  to 
Phyficians.  The  Phyficians,  who  feldom 
have  recourfe  to  God,  wJien  they  can  find 
any  Belief  in  Nature,  applied  ^Pigeons  to 
him ;  pricked  his  Legs  and  Thighs  with 
great^  Pi?iS',  but  they  could  difcern  no 
Motion  nor  Senfe  in  him.  At  leno-th,  after 
he  had  been  out  of  bimfelf  for  tv/o  Days, 
he  came  to  himfelf  again  ;  and  was  fo  pof- 
feffed  with  Joy  a?id  Jubilation,  that  though 

he 


(36o) 
he  was  all  Humtlity,  he  was  forced  to  make 
outward  Shew  of  it. 

Notwithftanding  this,  to  Jhut  the  Gate 
to  Vanity^  which  creepeth  in  infenfibly  like 
a  Serpent^  they  did  humble  him  by  all 
Sorts  of  Inventions  j  told  him  he  was  z///- 
profitable^  and  talked  of  taking  the  Habit 
from  him.  Bat  he  had  a  Revelation  againft 
that.  For  having  once  untied  the  Cord^ 
wherewith  he  was  girded,  the  blejjed  Vir- 
gin appeared,  took  his  Girdle^  put  it  on 
again,  and  ajfured  him,  that  he  fhould 
perfevere  a  Child  of  St,  Francis."  [No 
Wonder  then,  that  Mr.  WrjJry  fliould  be 

3  Journ.   in  fuch  a  Fright,  that  *'  God  would  drop 
p.  60.      hjjjj^    and    /ay   him   afide-,''     or    that    his 

4  Journ.   <«  Brother  Charles  fhould  adually  leave  ofi 
p.  ^1—9' Preachings  and  become  ay?///  Brother  \  till, 

in  Verification  of  Mr.  J,  Weflcfs  Prophecy y 
*  that  he  fhould  roufe  himjelf  like  Sajnpfon^ 
and  be  avenged  on  his  EneinieSy'  —  he  once 
more  became  a  Friar  Predicant. ''^^  "  After 
this,  there  was  fcarce  an  Hour  and  a  Half 
out  of  four  and  twenty,  when  he  felt  not 
himfeif  drawn  by  divijie  TraBs  into  a  Vnion^ 
and  T^ranfcrmation  into  Jefus  Chrifl ;  which  , 
left  violent  ImpreJJions^  Pains,  and  Dolours 
en  his  Body  and  Soul.  But  the  Plcafure  he 
took  in  them,  was  an  infallible  Argument^ 
that  fuch  AttraBions  were  truly  from  Gody 
and  not  lliufions  of  Satan. 

Befides 


fsfii  ) 

Befides  thefe,  he  laboured  under  painful 
toifeafe^  for  twelve  Tears -,  for  all  which 
he  rejoiced  exceedingly  :  Becaufe  nothing 
makes  us  return  fo  foon^  a?  a  Snail  within 
his  Shelly  as  when  God  cometh  to  fmite  the 
Horn  of  our  PreJu?nption  and  Arrogancy , 

God  only  'knoweth  how  many  religious 
Men  and  Women  have,  by  the  Sublimity  of 
his  DoBrine^  been  exalted  to  the  high  State 
of  Perjediion,  But  his  more  particular 
Deftgn  was  the  Converfwn  of  Heretics^ 
efpecially  the  Protefants  in  his  own  Country, 
For  which  Reafon,  after  various  Peregri- 
nations,  he  returned  to  England,,  and 
underwent  grievous  Perfecutions,  But  yet 
he  exhorted  the  Catholics  to  live  as  Lambs 
ixmong  Wolves,  He  was  takeii  up,  and  ex- 
amined by  Sir  Fr,  Wafingham,  Chief  Seer e^ 
tary  of  State,  a  Man  moft  obftinate  and 
ftiff  in  his  falfe  Religion  ;  who  committed 
him  to  the  Tower ;  whence  he  was  fent 
Prifoner  to  the  Cajile  of  Wifoitch.  In  his 
Way  through  Cambridge,  he  was  led 
through  all  the  Streets,  as  a  firange,  mon^ 
Jlrous  Spectacle  -,  and  followed  with  odious ' 
Shouts,  and  defpiteful  Reproaches. 

While  he  was  at  V/if^tch  many  Pro- 
t  eft  ant  Minifters  came  to  dijpute  with  him  ; 
but  departed  from  him  with  their  own 
Shame.  Among  other  Corferences,  he  had 
a  remarkable  one  with  the  pretended  Biftoop 
of  Ely,  who  was  named  Dr.  Eaton  -,  which 
A  a  a  he 


(  362  ) 
he  fo  well  managed,  that  the  Catholics 
thought  it  was  God's  Spirit  which  fpake 
within  him,  to  the  Dijloonour  and  Con- 
fujion  of  the  Bifiop^  and  his  Adherents, — 
After  three  Years  Imprifonment^  Father  Ben^ 
net  ivas  banijl^ed  into  France. 

Being  ill  of  a  Fever ^  God  cured  him  by 
a  Miracle.  For  he  felt  a  certain  Sweetnejs^ 
and  a  certain  Voice  afiired  him,  '  that  he 
fhould  receive  a  perfect  Remedy  on  the 
Feaji  of  the  Seraphic  St,  Francis,'  Accord- 
ingly on  that  Day  the  Voice  iaid,  *  Go, 
and  fing  confidently,  for  thou  art  now 
wholly  cured  of  thy  DifeafeJ 

He  inflidted  a  Judgment  too  on  a  Man, 
w^ho  drew  his  Son  by  Force  out  of  the 
Monafiery,  For  upon  his  threatening  the 
Man  with  Puniflhment  for  this  e?2ormous 
Crime ^  behold  a  Thing  very  ftrange,  and 
worthy  of  Mark  !  At  that  very  Time  Sen-- 
tence  was  gtven  in  Heaven  ^  and  was  fhortly 
after  put  in  Execution  ^^  the  Man  fell  fick, 
mid  diedy  to  ratify  the  true  Predi&ion  of  this 
good  Father. 

If  I  fliould  fpeak  as  is  meet  of  his  ftrait 
Vjiion  with  God,  the  Force,  Perfedion,  and 
Continuance  of  it,  I  fhould  fay,  that  his 
whole  Life,  fince  he  became  a  Capuchin, 
was  a  CG72ti?2ued  Rapt,  and  Ecjiacy  ^  which 
made  him  become  engulfed  in  the  Know- 
ledge of  the  Creator ',  in  the  illuminated 
Lijc^  and  afured  Way  of  P erf e^ ion.     After 

his 


( 363 ) 

his  Ecfladesj  who  can  prefume  to  fay  this 
was  natural,  and  that  they  were  nothing 
elfe  but  Swoo?2mgs?  —  In  his  laft  Sicknefs, 
God  revealed  to  him  the  Time,  Day  and 
Hour,  of  his  Death,  And  before  he  died, 
the  Religious  about  him  conjedlured  that  he 
Ja^dD  fomething,  and  that  the  Devil  was 
now  attempting  to  wound  him.  But  foon 
after,  the  blepd  Father  faid,  it  fufficethz 
which  made  them  beheve  the  Tentation  was 
paft,  and  the  Enemy  vangui/Ijed,*' 

So  much  for  Father  Bennet.  And  wha 
would  not  believe,  were  there  any  Truth 
in  Tranfmigration^  that  his  Soul  palled  inta 
Mr.  Wejley  f 

(No.  2.)  "  The  Life  of  the  Lady  Warner^' 
called  SiOicr  Clare  of  Jefus. — Lond.  1692. 

Some  Years  ago  I  tranfcribed  a  few  Paf- 
fages  hence,  from  mere  Curiofity^  and  with- 
out any  Thoughts  of  Methodifm,  Had  I 
now  the  Book^  an  exaSer  Comparifon  might 
be  drawn.  The  Extract  I  then  made  was 
as  follows. 

*'  She  was  bred  a  Protejlanty  but  con- 
verted by  a  Jefuit  to  Popery, — She  refolved 
on  a  rigorous  Courfe  of  Life,  to  break  off 
all  Commerce  with  Creatures,  and  receive 
no  worldly  SatisfaBion, — She  receives  the 
Habit  at  Liege -^ — is  particularly  devoted  to 
A  a  a  2  John 


(  364  ) 

John  Baptifi,  St.  Au/iin,  Mary  Magdalen^,, 
and  St.  Terefa ;  for  whom,  when  a  Pro- 
tejlant^  ihe  had  a  particular  Efteem,  from 
reading  her  Z///^.— rShe  fees  a  Stream  of 
glarimg  Light  come  from  the  blefjed  Sacra^ 
/;^^;?^  towards  her.  She  taftes  the  S\yeet- 
nefs,  of  Union  with  G(?^.— During  the  Con- 
tagion of  the  Plague,  the  Abhefs  infures 
her  Safety^  and,  that  of  all  the  reft;  '  Good 
Sifter,  ;  bp  iUOt  afraid  :  none  of  ?72y  Religious 
fhail^take' any  Harm  from  this  InfeBion' 
For  our  bkjjed  Lady  had  appeared  to  the 
Abbefs,  with  all  her  'Religious  under  her 
Mantle  \  afiiiring  her,  that  Ihe  would />r^- 
ferve  them  from  the  Plague.  [Mr.  Weflefs 
Society  fafe.  i(i*\sa:rJikc  Gafe^^u.  4  Journal^^ 

R   5:6,    61.]   -■•:■' ^^     ^.^^V.     1^3     sr^' 

Hearing  a  Sermosnv\©jij'r^riZ  ^7^  blacky  but 

comely ;    the  ^/%/}  told,  hec,  *  You  alfo, 

Sijler   Clare,  muft   black  yourfelf : '    upon 

which    jQie    went  into    the   Kitchen,    and 

Macked  her  Face  and  Hands  all  over  with 

Soot ;  which  caufed  fome  Diverfion  among 

the  A7lav5.— She  had  many  Vifits  from  her 

belove^d  fefuSy—xtctistd,  the  Gift  of  Infpi- 

ration,  and   burned  in  the  Fire  of  divine 

Love. — However,  flie  felt .  great  Defolaticny 

Drynefs,  and  Darknefs,  not  to  be  exprefjed.^ 

'By  tXiQ  purgative  and  illujm72ati?7g  Way,  (ho. 

^attains'  to  the  Unitive ;    and  by  a  perfe3 

Annihilaticn  of  herfelf,  comes  to  a  Kind  of 

Deiformity. — She  fays,    God  requires  no- 

thing^^ 


,  (365) 

thing,  but  that  we  believe,   he  fony,  and 
hefaved; — that  we  muft  be  very  lincere 
to  our  Confejfor,  telling  him  even  our  pq/Jing- 
Thoughts, ' —  God  feems  to  ^withdraw  him^ 
felf  from  her,  with  all  interior  Co?nforts  and 
Feelings  of  his  Prefencc ;    and  flTie  thinks 
htdtXi  totally  abaitdoned.     She  begs  Aid  of 
St,  Bruno  and  St,  Terefa  -,  but  requefts  of 
Chriji  to  take  her  for  his  Spoufe,  or  at  leaft 
for  his  Handmaid. — Was  confirmed  in  her 
Opinion  that  God  had  forfaken  her,  becaufe 
fhe  was  deluded  in  two  Points,  which  fhe 
thought  God  had  revealed  to  her  ;■ — that  fhe 
fhould  die  oi  thai  lllnefs  3  and  die  before  her 
Brother  Clare. — She  was  in  continual  Con-- 
vulfions  of  Doubts  and  Fears,  notwithfland- 
ing    all    the   Gufts  and  Comforts  her  Soul 
tafted  from  her  Heavenly  Spoufe ;    and  fhe 
feemed  perfectly  forfaken  by  him    in   her 
laji  Sicknefs. — But  her  Countenance  after 
Death  retained  an  Angelical  Sweetnefs  :  and 
her  Body  filled  the  Church  with  a  wonder- 
ful Perfume'' 

(No.  3  )  Tranfcrlbed  from  the  "  Life  of  her 
Sifter  in  Law,  called  Sifter  Mary  Clare."; 
Printed  with  the  former. 

*'  She  was  converted  alfo  to  Popery,  and 
the  moft  perfeS-  State  :  —  was  fo  good,  that 
(he  never  loft  her  Bapiifnal  Vow  by  any 
rnortal  Sin.- — In   her  'Prayer^    for  feveral 

Years, 


(  366  ) 

Years,    ilie   never  found  any  fpiritual  or 

fenfible   Guji -,    but   continual    Aridity  and 

Defolatioji ', — In  Oiprofoimd  Dejotation^  and 

no  Eafe  from  Heaven.^ Once,    kneeling 

down  in  her  Cell^  flic  chanced  to  fpy  in  a 
Chijjk  of  the  Wall  a  little  Sc7'oll  of  Paper ; 
which  taking  out  and  unfolding,  fhe  found 
thefe  Words  in  it,  "  Be  at  Reji,  and  affiidi 
y our f elf  710  more:    all  is  well  between  God 
and  you'"     This  filled  her  with  Joy;    as 
undoubtedly    coming    from  Heaven^    God 
having  fent  it  by  an  Angel — She  makes  a 
formal  Oblation  of  herfelf  to  God,  in  Words 
dictated  by  the  Holy  Ghofl. — But  ftill  fhe  is 
in  Darknefs,  as  to  the  interior  State  of  her 
Souly  has  no  Light  or  Comfort  in  Prayer^ 
Communion,  divine  Offices,  or  ajiy  Exercifes 
cf  Devotion ;-— is  in  obfcure  Faith  ;  and  fears 
ihe  has  no  Faith,  becaufe  no  Fervour  -,  but 
remains  as  a  Stone,  an4  ^h^  .J}(^  F^elifigs  of 
God.  ....  .iT^nV-^ 

But  yet  fhe  has  many  Infpirations  from 
God, — She  always  hears  the  \txy  fifl  Stroke 
cf  the  Bell,  calling  her  up  to  Matins,  by 
the  Help  of  an  AngeL — She  anjiihilates  her- 
felf before  her  Crucifix,  and  acknowledgeth 

the  Abyfs  of  her  own  Nothingnefs, She 

prayeth,  '  O  my  fweet  Jefus,  letmerepofc 
upon  thy  [acred  Brea/l,  and  fetch  my 
Health  out  of  thy  moft  blejjed  Heart," — 
Even  in  her  lafi  Moments  fhe  fays,  that  fhe 
was  totally  void  of  all  feifble  Confolation 

and 


(3^7) 

^nd  Devotion :  hufrejoiced  to  fee  herfelf  m 

this  Aridity,   quite  parched,   and  dried  up, 

and  become  a  /Vi;/;;^  Hohcaufl  to  the  divine 

Fire  of  Love,  without  the  leaji  Drop  ofCo??!-- 

/c?rr— Her  Prayer  was  very  extraordinary 

and  intenfe,  md  priviledged  with  a  fuper" 

natural  Sujpenfion  above  the  Reach,  of  Senfe. 

— ^She  IS   in  ^  a '  Calm,    amidflv  the  Storms^ 

which  Defertions,  Obfcurities,  Aridities,  and 

Defolatiom  that  fur  rounded  her,  endeavoured 

to   raije -^"-^God" s  divine   Imprejmn,  -  a?id 

Operations  of  the  Spirit,  were  fo  \tvyfecret^ 

that   her   Condition   was   unknown  even -t^,-, 

herfelf     For    while  fJ:e  enjoyed  God,  by ~^. 

jecret,  but  infenfible  Vnion,  {ho,  thoui^ht  %  ' 

did  nothing  but  kneel  like  a ^S/^cXcr./^    \ 

Stone,      And  though   God^  permitted   her 

xiotiofee  what  Jfje  did,  and  fhe  w-A^.totaUy- 

infen/ib/e'd{  what  j^aiTcd  bctwcQn  God.^24,    . 

ifer  Soul,^^yct  ilie  had  fuch  £fecret  lh/pu//C 

—Though  ilie  thought  God  had  fpxfaie^^ 

her,    Til  the  fame  Time    file   enjoye(i  her 

Beloved,  whom  ihe  thought  Jhe.  had  7a/?  .• 

He  hindering  her  from  having  any  Senfetf 

this  Union;  and  receiving  :any  Con  fort  in  it;-^ 

as  he  hindered  his  B^nmitym  the  Garden 

from  ^^^  -Beatify -Vipn;^  v.r\>:^Q  jiis  ^j^^/ 

was  exceedtngH-forrbwfid,^\lc^Cor^  Vq^o,,^ , 

tained  a  fmilnig.  Count enance  2.({^x  her  1^(^^\^ 

parture,  ai\A  exprcffed  lier  foy'*\  ^.     .^ 

What  a  \\^i^]Pattern  have  we,  in  thde 
tM^o  Injianees^^  ^V  MethodijUcd  Jejuitlfm?^ 


(  36S  ) 

We  fee  how  eafily  two  Sifiers  of  a  Jhallow 
Capacity^  mela?icholy  'Temper^  aiid  efithiifiajiic 
Turriy  are  made  a  Prey  to  crafty  Seducers  i 
and  that  the  taking  a  fpiritual  Delight  in 
reading  the  Legends  of  the  Saints^  and 
other  Popifo  Books  (recommended  by  Me- 
thod? ft  'Teachers  to  Proteflants)  - —  is  being 
ha  If  Way  over  Sea  already.  And  what 
good  Per jo?i  C2.v.^  without  feme  Degree  of 
Indigjtation^  fee  the  Weaknefs  and  Misfor- 
tunes of  human  Nature  made  a  Handle  for 
Sedi{ceme?2t?  How  dextroufly  doth  an 
Angel  convey  an  Afjurance  from  Heaven. 
through  a  Chink  in  the  ^^//.?-— -As  eafily  as 
a  Methodift-Teacher  can  through  a  Crack  in 
the  Brain,  Who  will  not  obferve  from 
what  Model  our  neiso  Difpenfation  is  taken  ? 
*'  Throusfh  the  Wildernefs-State  of  Doubts 
and  Fears ;  a  Coldnefs,  and  fenfeleft,  un- 
afteded  Heart,  even  at  the  Holy  Communion ; 
Horrors,  Drynefs^  Defolation ;  —  through 
Intervals  of  Light  and  Darknefs^ — into  Im- 
prejjions.  Feelings^  Ltfpirations^  Cotnmuni-^ 
nations  nsjith  God^  PerfeBion,  Deifonnity^ 
and  IJniony  Hence  hath  been  learned  "  the 
Benefit  and  Neceffity  of  fpiritual  Defertion 
iind  Defpair  \ — the  driving  People,  by  pro^ 
per  Management y  out  of  their  Senfs^  and 
then  telling  them,  that  in  that  very  Moment 
the  Lord  Jefus  enters  into  their  Souls  J' — - 
If  a  Methodifl  die,  ''  Never  did  I  fee  fuch 
a  fine   Corpfc/'    fays  Mr.   Wefley,  ''  Our 

Lord 


(  369) 
Lord    comes  and   perfumes   her  Grave,'^ 
fays  Mr.  Whitcfield, 

Every    Scrap    of  it    is    rank  Jefidtical 
7opery. 

(No.  4.)  ExfraB  from  "  A  Declaration  of 
egregious  '[FcpiJJj  Impojiures  in  cajling  out 
Devils,  &c.    By  S.  H." 

This  5.  H.  was  Sam.  Harfnet,  fuccef- 
fively  BiJI:op  of  Chichejier^  Norwich^  and 
Arcbhijhop  of  York  :  who  hath  there  given 
us  ''  Copies  of  the  Ex  a  ???i nations  ami  Con- 
fejjions  of  the  Parties  themfe^ves,  pretended  to 
be  popffed  and  difpofjejjed,  from  the  Records 
in  the  High  CommiJJion  Court.'*  Lond.  1603. 

"  About  twelve  Priejis  were  concerned 
in  this  Affair;  all  under  the  DircBion  of 
Wejiony  alias  Edmunds^  the  Jefuit.  They 
publilhed  in  1585,  or  1586,  a  Book 
of  Miracles^  containing  many  wonderful 
Things  done  by  Virtue  of  Exorcifms^  &c. 
whereby  they  gained  a  great  Number  of 
Profelytes ;  and  wherein  we  fee  the  fulled 
Prcot  of  their  lying  Wonders,  a?id  counter^- 
feit  Zeal, 

For  a  particular  Inftance,  they  chofe  the 
Houfe  of  a  trujiy  Friend^  v/hofe  Houfe 
they  faid  was  haunted:  and  he  having  three 
Servants  that  were  Protejlants,  upon  thefe 
they  were  to  try  their  Skill.  Accordingly 
B  b  b  the 


(  370  ) 
the  wicked  Spirits  made  a  horrid  Racket ; 
blew  out  the  Candles^  except  fuch  as  were 
hallowed 'y    turning    every    Thing    upjide" 
down\  and  making  even  the  Priejlsfume  and 
fweat. 

They  convinced  the  Servants  of  ihc  great 
Power  oj^  the  Devil  in  that  Place  j-^nd  if 
the  Maid  did  hntjjip  in  the  Kitchen^  it  was 
the  Devil  who  came,  and  tripped  up  her 
Heels  ,\  becaufe  {he  was  waffling  zjoul  Shirt 
of  the  PrieJl'Sy  which  was  defigned  to  whip, 

the  Devil  out  of  the  PoJJeJJed, Another 

Time,  the  Devil  Jlipt  into  Sarah  Williams^ s 
Leg  :    but  the  Priefl  claps  his  holy  Hofe  on 
the  Place;   and   makes   him  tumble,  and 
bawl  out,  ''  Pull  off:   pull  of.     Eafe  the 
poor  Devil  of  his  Pain,'*— Th^  facred  Stole 
is   wrapped   about   the  Neck  of   another 
PoJJeJJed  ',  which  fo  clofely  begirt  the  Devil, 
that  he  Jlared^  fumed,  and  foamed,  as  if  he 
had   been  mad. — They  told  them  ftrange 
Stories  of  the  Fits  of  other  poffejjed  Perfons, 
what  Words  they  fpake^  and  what  Sights 
they  faw  :    how  the  bleffed  Virgin,  with  a 
^rain  of  ccelcfial  Ladies,    came  down   to 
grace  the  miraculous  Cures*     Which  made 
the  wife  Spectators  cry  out,  Oh  !  the  Catho- 
Jif  Faith  I    Oh  /  fenfelefs  Heretics.    .  ^  , 
^"'  By  fuch  Means  having  aflonif^edaMcQn^ 
vinced  the  Servants-,    the  firfl:  Thing  they 
'^rder  them  to  do  is,  ,1©  renounce  their  here^ 
%cd  Religion,  be  reconciled  to  the  Pope^ 
.  aad 


(  %7^  ) 
and  folemnly  engage  ne'ver  to  leave  Popery^ 
And  they  are  rebaptized,  with  all  the 
ridiculous  Ceremonies  of  Tu-ff\  Crofs-Puff^ 
Impuff,  a7id  Expuff'y  with  the  Application 
oi  Salty  Spittle y  and  Oil,  —  to  their  Lips, 
Nofe,  Eyes,  and  Ears,  &c.  Then  they 
are  difpojejjed  in  this  Manner.  The  Party 
is  tied  down  in  the  holy  Chair ^  [  Mr. 
^^^t'^*^  Poflefled  are'tommonly  held  by 
four  or  five  flrong  Perfons]  and  drenched 
with  holy  Potions  of  Sack,  Oil,  and  Rue^ 
ice. '  They  forced  the  Maid  to  drink  large- 
ly of  this  ?ioifo?ne  Po//W>^/perfuading  her, 
that  it  was  the  Devil  within  her  that  de- 
iefted  it,  not  her.  Hereupon  fhe  grows 
Jtck,  giddy,  and  falls  into  cold  Sweats  :  then 
is  fumigated  with  Feathers,  Brirnjione^  and 
other  Stinks,  in  a  Chajingdi/lj  of  Coals ;  and 
her  Face  held  clofe  to  it,  till  black  as  a 
ChinDiey 'Sweeper,  Hence  Reachings,  Strug- 
glings,  Dizzinefs,  Swoonings,  almoft  Lofs  oj 
Senfes,  babbling  Nonfenfe,  ravings  Fits,  Ex^ 
clamations  that  all  the  Devils  in  Hell  were  in 
her, — They  put  things,  as  little  Kfiives,  in 
her  Mouth  -,  ftick  Pi?2s  in  her  Flefli. — In 
general,  the  Parties,  by  fuch  Managemeyit^ 
tumble,  wallow,  foam,  howl,  roll  their  Eyes ^ 
and  gnajh  their  'Teeth ;  are  in  Trances,  fee 
Vifons,  &c.  When  they  are  thus  fitted 
for  the  good  Purpofe,  the  Devil  in  them 
muJi  be  found,  and  difodged:   he  j^  hunted 


(  372  ) 
from   Place  to  Place,    Toe,    Foot,    Leg^ 
Thigh,  Hands,  the  mod  nafty  and  fecret 
Parts  i  and  the  holy  Relics  muft  be  appUed 

If  the  Devil  be  obfihtate,  they  muft' 
chafe y  broil,  burn  him,  and  make  him 
roar :  the  Priejl's  very  Gloves,  Stockings, 
Girdle,  Shirt,  can  fearch  and  roajl  the 
Devil,  But  the  bejl  Exorcifms  are  holy 
Water,  Potions,  hallowed  Candles,  Brim- 
Jiohey  Sec.  which  will  varioufly  torment 
him  ;  efpecially  if  they  add  whipping.  One 
of  the  Patients  confeffed  that  '  Ihe  did  not 
know  how  it  fared  with  the  Devil-,  but 
was  fure  Jhe  was  all  black  and  blue,  felt 
grievous  Pain,  and  was  almojl  killed' 

The  common  Signs  and   Marks    of  a 
PcJJeffion  were,  Unwillingnefs  to  fign  them 
with  the  Crofs  -,    nor  to-  bear  the  Applica- 
tion of  Relics,  nor  the  Gojpel  in  their  Cafkef^ 
nor   the    Words   Ave  Mary,  nor  Catholic 
Church,  nor  Prefence  of  the  Priejl.     [The 
like  Signs   are  in    Mr.    Wejleys    Pofe/Jed. 
4journ.  ''  Trembling  at  the  Name   of  yejusi-^-i 
|).  94—6.  crying    ^ut,     "-  Field  ^  Preacher  I     Pield^i 
Preacher!    I  don't  like   Field-Preaching:: ^ 
This   repeated   for   two    Hours    together. 
With  rpitting,  and  all   the  Expreflion$'^<>f4 
[tro7ig  Averjw?h — By  Pr'ayer  her  Pangs  in^^ 
creafcj—^hc  could  not ,  l^e^x.^^^h^gT.  ys 

At 


(  371  ) 

At  -length  however,    by  the  Force  of 
their  Exorcifms,    tney  extorted  the  Tniib 
from  the  D^.vils^  who  confcfTed  their  In^ 
Jufficiency    to    wi'-hftand  tliem*      By    this 
Command  over  Devils  they   procured  Re- 
verence to  themfelves. Sometimes  the  / 

Devil  can't  b^  expelled,  in  the  Name  otl 
the  Trinity^   by  Virtue  of  the  Sacramepf^' 
and  the  like;  but  by  the  Power  of  th^  holy.. 
Priefthood  away    he    flies.      Such    is    thee. 
Dignity  of  their  Office.     [Thus  ''  one  of  3  journ. 
Mr.  Weflefs  Poffcfcd  owned,  that  Churchy,  P-  8—9- 
Sacrament^  Scripture^  Prayer  profited  no-;  . 
thing; — but   upon    Mr.    TFefley's  praying:,'' 
he  faid,  ^  Now  I  know  God  loveth  me.—  p.  43. 
Now  I  know  thou   art  a  Prc^/:?^/  of  the 
Lord. — Ay,   this  is  he,  who  I  laid  wa,^,a,.^ 
Deceiver:' — ^'  The  Devil  is  forced  to  let  a  \  joum. 
Woman,  'whcm  htpofjejjcd,  be  quiet  while  p-  ^6. 
Mr.  7F^(?y  was  there.     He  had  promiied 
her  fo  ;  and  kept  his  Word/']     '      ""'^    '"^ 

Their  Way  of  attacking  Prof^P;2ff%^, 
this:    '  Their  Hearts  bleed  foi  Soriuw,  in*' 
feeing  poor  Creatures  in  this  v/oful  Plight^ 
they  burn  with  Bowels  of  Commiferatiqn.-cv 
they  will  lay  down  their  Lives  to  do  themj 
good,  and  deliver  them  from  S^i'^;^.*     [A 
Metbodijl  could  not  have  fpoke  more  re/i- 
giotijly,]  :jp    '" 

They  played  their  Artillefft\nt&Y  ou 
young  Boys  and  Girls  of  fixteen  or  f^tn^ 

"^-  teenj 


(  374  ) 
teen  j — upon  Perfons  of  a  melancholy  Tem- 
per ;     hypochondriac^    hyfieriCy    or   epileptic 
People ;  and  any  Way  dijiemperedy  in  Mind 
or  Body.  '-  ^^^y^  ^S^\^  oi  §.n>  ■ 

■■  Any  Thing  is  fwallowed  by  theft.  Devils 
in  the  Shape  oiCats,  with  Saiicer-eyes^  2ir\d. 
as  big  as  a  Majliff,  run  upon  their  Heads, 
or  under  their  Coats.  The  Devil  comes 
ill  the  Form  of  JVind,  blows  out  the 
Candle^  or  blows  the  jifkes  about  the 
Room ;  in  the  Shape  of  a  Toady  of  a 
Moufe^  ox  2i  Dnim\  m  z  Vizard- Majky  or 
in  7  the  Habit  of  'an  EngliJJo  Protejlant 
Minifter, 

The  Devil  to  be  expelled  muft  go  out  in 
fome  vifible  Form  ^  and  for  Proof  of  his 
Departure,  muft  make  a  Hole  in  the 
Window y  or  blow  out  tht Candle;  get  out 
of  the  Tofefed's  Ear  in  the  Shape  of  a 
Wokje:,  his  Voice  be  heard  by  the  Cook^  as 
he  fkipped  over  the  L^r^fT;  or  vanilh  up 
\\\z  Chimney  m  the  Shape  of  Smoke:  and, 
to  fhew  what  a  Fright  he  was^  in.  muft 
leave  an  unfavoury  Smell.  "^"^  :^^^ 
;  •  For  better  Confirmation ^  tliey  relate  di- 
vers Miracles^  and  fhew  others.  The 
Priejfs  facred  Hands ^  Thianb^  or  Finger^ 
having  been  anointed  with  the  &-^  0/7, 
fhines  forth  as  a  Fire^  or  the  Siin.^ — The 
Holy  Sacrament  appears  fo  bright^   that  it 

caa't  be  looked  upon. — The  Pripft  can  tell 
^ai  ^V^^i\c\  oj  griiit  i    x^^^  X^^  biuow  ^vj^p 


(  375  ) 
who  hath  been  at  Mafs  by  the  Smell — ^^ 
Sarah  WilUanis  is  made  to  confefs,  that  tlie 
Devil  made  her  drop  her  Beads ,  and  un- 
willing to  adore  the  blejjed  Hoji.  She  lay 
paft  all  Senfe  in  a  Trance,  utterly  bereaved 
of  all  her  Senfes  at  once.  The  Friejl  no 
fooner  came  near  her,  but  fhe  difcerns 
who  he  is  by  \ht  SmelL — William  Tr afford 
had  a  Devil  in  him,  that  rebounded  at  the 
Dint  of.,  the.J^rieffs  Breathy  unabk..ta 
Itand  iti.  .^^-7^    ,.    ^,     ,-. ,  o    ,,,.r,  ■.,-...> 

The,  ^(?^<J  ^  Miracles,  Accounts  of 
Vifions,  Exorcijmsy  and  Numbers  of  Con- 
verts, made  a  great  Noife ;  and  put  Ter- 
fons  in  Authority  upon  making  Inquiry. 
ThQy  feized  iome  of  the  Perfons  concerned, 
Agents  and  Patients,  who  upon  Examina- 
tion, ni^iQ,  Confe/Jjon  upon  Oath  of  all  4ha|; 
hath  been  faid,  and  much  more.        ,,^  ^.' 

They  feverally  witneffed,  ^  that  they 
wxre  feduced,  and  engaged  to  aB  their 
reJj^eBiv^ef^arts  \\x  the  Impojiure,  by  Flat^ 
teryy  Fear,.  lo,atbfc?ne  Potions,  and  Fumiga-^ 
tions ;  by  Oaths  and  Vows  of  Adherence ;  by 
the  Bond  of  violated  Chajlity : — That  the 
Priejls  t9!4;Jthetn  they  would  be  burned 
hi  Heretics, fi^^thty  confeffed  any  Thing, 
and  would;  go  to.  the  Devtl;  with  Pro- 
mifes  oi  Pavour,.Po'wex,  and  Money,  if  thty 
^v Qv td faithful,    . 

l^j*tJ^yf  .QWne(;l,.  jhat . jji  fheir  £j^r<://^x 
tfiey  would   fay  any  Thing  to  plea/e   the 

Triejl', 


(  27(>  ) 
Pne/i ;  would  pretend  fometimes  to  be  In 
Tra?iCcSy  and  haVe  Vijkh^  of  'turgatorj.  of 
Cbrijl^  and  the  Virgin^  &c.  and  thereby  'hey 
would  fometunes  avoid  their  intolerable, 
ftinking  Fumigations  and  Drinku  When 
they  complained  of  Tortures  in  their  Ex^ 
orcijms^  the  Prieji  told  them  it  was  the 
Devil  that  put  them  to  fo  much  Pain^ 
and  ill  Ufage  3  and  that  what  they  faid  was 
not  from  themfehes^  but  the  Devil  In  them, 
—  After  being  cxorcifed.^  tbey  were  per- 
fbaded  to  declare  that  they  fometimes  f  :oke 
in  Greeks  or  Latin ;  of  which  they  never 
faid,  nor  knew  a  Word. — They  were  fo 
manageable^  that  the  Prieji  would  put  his 
Finger  into  one  of  their  Mouths^  in  the 
moft  raving  ToJ/eJ/ton,  bidding  him  bift  it^ 
if  ht  coula :  but  the  Devil  acknowledged 
he  dared  not  bite  it,  hccauje  it  had  touched 
the  Lord,  The  Vriejis  were  very  cautious 
in  keeping  away  Perfons  of  Senje^  as  Infidels 
and  Incredulous  5  and  did  not  like  curious 
Beholders^  and  AJkers  of  impertinent  ^ef- 
tionsy  Vv^ho,  they  faid,  would  hinder  the 
EffeB  of  the  Operation. 

They  wltneffcd,  that  divers  Attempts 
were  made  agamfc  the  Cbaftity  of  the- 
Maidens :  —  that  one  of  the  Priejls  en- 
deavoured to  f educe  Sarah  Williams ;  who 
therefore  could  not  bear  his  Co?npany :  but 
Jie  tells  her,  '  it  is  not  Jl^ey  but  the  Devil, 

who 


(  377  ) 

who  did  not  like  him.*  And  it  was  the 
Devil  that  tempted  her,  or  any  of  the 
Maids^  to  fay,  they  were  with  Child  by  the 
'Priefls.  When  fhe  had  get  a  Sweetheart, 
and  intended  to  leave  them,  they  declared, 
that  *  the  Devil  had  been  fo  bufy  with 
her,  had  fo  ferretted  and  torn  the  Tart, 
that,  whoever  married  her,  fhe  would  never 
have  a  C7j//^/-— All  of  them  had  their  darling 
Women^  and  Mijirejjes, 

Befides  thefe  private  Comforts,  they  had 
that  of  making  Converts :  and  one  of  the 
Priejls  depofeth,  upon  his  Confcience,  that 
the  Number  of  Converts  could  not  be  lefs 
than  Five  Hundred  in  Half  a  Tear  ;  induced 
by  their  Miracles,  a7id  Command  over  Devils, 
All  thefe  were  to  be  ready  at  the  Call,  to 
deftroy  the  ^een.  Government,  and  'Tro- 
teftant  Religion, 

To  this  End,  the  Devils  were  fcmetimes 
made  to  give  out  of  the  Mouths  of  the 
Fofjejjed,  that  they  were  going  to  ring  jor 
the  ^een ;  —  that  they  mull:  go  to  Court, 
where  all  were  their  Friends :  —  that  they 
were  obliged  to  attend  a  Protejlant's  Fu^ 
neral,  in  order  to  carry  him  to  Hell.  And 
they  raifed  fuch  a  Storm  at  the  Man's 
Funeral,  that  his  good  Wife,  rather  than 
go  to  the  fame  Place,  was  foon  perfuaded 
to  turn  Catholic, 

C  c  c  Another 


(  37^  ) 

Another  Ufe  they  made  of  Miracles ; 
which  was  to  give  Authority  to  their  ptxu- 
liar    DoSirines -^    as    Purgatory ^    Tranfiib-r 

Jlantiation^  the  Immaculate  Conception  \  to 
Equivocation^  the  Depojing-Do^rine,  Ajjaf- 

fination.  Stabbing^  &c.  —  And  likewife  to 
gain  Credit  to  a  new  Saint ^  or  Relic ;  fuch 
as  Sherwin^  Bryan^  Coltam^  and  efpecially 
Father  Campian  ;  whofe  Girdle^  which  he 
wore  when  he  went  to  Tyburn^  was  fo 
effeBiial  in  Cajling  out  Devils. 

Some  of  thefe  Examinants  fay,  that  the 
Triejls  intended  to  have  carried  them  of^ 
before  they  were  apprehended  %  but  were 
difappointed.  They  inftruded  them  how- 
ever to  //V,  for  [weary  fay  or  do  any  Thing  \ 
all  being  lawful  {ox  the  Sake  o{\h^  Church'^ 
and  becaufe  they  fhould  not  be  called  be- 
fore lawful  Powers^  or  compete?it  Judges^ 
as  being  Heretics. 

They  own  too,  that  the  Infiuence  of  the 
Priefts  over  their  Cojjverts  was  fo  ftrong 
and  bewitching,  that  it  was  with  the  ut-- 
fnoft  Difficulty  they  were  brought  to  dif- 
cover  any  Thing,  although  they  knew  all 
to  be  a  Cheat, 

In  Confirmation  of  all  this,  one  of  their 
own  Priefis^  (who  was  taken)  Anthony 
Tyrrel,  dedared  upon  Oath,  and  wrote  his 
Confeflion  with  his  own  Hand  ;  '  That 
^he  Pope,    King   cf  Spain,    and  Duke  of 

Guije^ 


(  379  ) 
Cuife^  were  then  thought  to  have  a  Defign 
of  tTivadifig  England',  which  was  to  be 
farther'd  by  the  Priejls  in  England,  under 
the  Diredion  of  Edmunds,  the  Proviiicial 
ofthejefnits;  who  faid,  th^t  his  Exora/ms 
would  make  the  Devils  then^felves  confefs, 
that  their  Ki?7gdo?n  "was  near  ot  an  End. — 
As  touching,  fays  he,  the  DifpoJJeffiojis  of 
the  Parties,  their  Fits,  Traiices,  andVifwns^ 
divers  Difcourfes  were  penned ;  among 
which  I  myfelf  (Tyrrel)  did  pen  one. — JVe 
that  were  Priejis  were  thereby  greatly  mag- 
nified hy  Catholics,  Scijmatics,  and  weak 
Prctejlants  -,  and  there  was  fcarce  any 
Thing,  I  am  perfuaded,  that  we  could  not 
have  wrought  upon  our  Converts  to  at- 
tempt.— And  I  am  fully  perfuaded,  that 
the  other  Examinants  have  depofed  the  Truth 
in  the  Points  belonging  to  their  PcJJeJJion 
and  DifpoJjeJJion' 

In  fl:iort,  Tyrrel  difcovered  the  whole 
Myjiery,  and  Ihewed  how  eafy  it  was  to 
impofe  upon  young  and  weak  People, 

Some  of  the  Crimijials  jied  -,  fome  were 
taken  ;  and  Ballard,  Babington,  and  otjiers, 
were  executed'' 

And  fliali  we  not  yet  difcern,  what  Sort 
of  Lambs  live  among  us  Wolves?  Shall  we 
?7ever  be  upon  our  Guard  again  ft  pretended 
Miracles,  Exorcifms,  and  Cheats  ?  A  gain  ft 
anv  fpe clous  Impojlor,  carrying  a  Pope  in 
hil  Belly  ? 

Laocoon 


(  38°  ) 

Laocoon  ardens  fitmmd  deciirrit  ah  arce  : 
Et  frocul^  O  mijeri^  quce  tanta  injafiia^  cives  ? 
Creditis  ave5tos  hoftes  ?  Sic  nottts  Ulyjjes  ? 
Aut  hoc  inclufi  ligno  occult antur  Achivi  ; 
Aut  hcec  in  mfirosfabricata  ejl  machina  miiros^ 
InfpeBiira  domos^  venturaq-y  dcfuper  urbi : 
Ant  aliquis  latet  Error. — 
SicfatuSy  validis  ingentem  viribiis  hajlam 
Contorfit.    Stetit  ilia  tremens^  utercq-,  recufjo 
Jnfonuere  cavce^  gemitiimq\  dedtre  cavernce. 


ERRATA. 

RE  FACE,  Page  viii.  Line  26.   for  cummunicatbig 
read  co?»municanng. 


p 


Page  48 
P.  128, 
P.  180, 
P.  186, 
P.  217, 
P.  228, 
P.  248, 
P.  250, 

P.  252, 
P.  253. 
P.  269, 
P.  302, 
P.  307, 
P.  312, 
P.  327, 

P.  33^ 
P-  333> 
P.  336, 

P-  343, 
P.  344, 


Line  20,  after  depart ec^y   add  ". 
.  10,  in  the  Margin  add,   5  Journ.  p.  91—. 
,26.  in  the  Margin,  for  G  err  an  read  Serran. 
.  10,  for  w^  read  ^f. 
.  26,  after  all^  dele  ". 
.  25,  after  MeJJage  for  ( . )  put  ( ;). 
.23,  after  Confnit,  add  ". 
.  8,  iov  fourteen  Hundred  read  tn.vo  Hu?idred. 
.  24,  after  Vehemence^    add  ". 
.  23,  for  Iris  read  Jfis. 
.  25,  and  28,  for  Renjenius  read  Roimiius^ 
.28,  for  ^  tell  tenth  read  Steliteutic. 
in  the  Margin,  for  Pojiic  read  Poetic. 

1 7,  iovfeperate  \t2Afeparate. 
11)  rhe  Margin,  dele  j^tern.  Renat. 
in  the  Margin,  for  Probrcpt  reaft  Protrept. 

28,  after  more^   add  Pagans. 

19.  for  Mijiagogue  read  Myjlagogue, 

21,  after  i)^;;;^?,  add]. 

17.  for  undertakes  read  undertake. 


ADDENDA- 


(38i  ) 


ADDENDA 


T  O    T  H  E 


MYSTERIES. 


T 

jufUy 


H  E  Pagan  Myjleries  being  of  fuch  an 
immoral  Nature^  and  Tendency ^  it  might 
be  thought  ftrange,  were  no  Notice 
taken  of  them  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  And 
therefore,  though  fuch  an  Enquiry  might 
carry  us  into  too  great  a  Length,  yet  I  fhall , 
not  intirely  pafs  it  over.  There  can  be  then  ' 
little  Doubt,  but  they  are  pointed  out  by  St. 
7aul :  "  It  is  a  Shame  even  to  [peak  of  thofe 
things  that  are  done  oj  them  in  Secret ^  And 
where  Chrijlianity  is  termed  the  Myjlery  of 
Godlinefs^  it  is  fet,  I  am  perfuaded,  in  Op- 
pfttion^  not  only  to  the  Myftery  of  Iniquity 
that  was  to  work  in  the  Chrijlian  Worlds  but 
like  wife  to  the  preceding  Myjleries  among 
the  Geyitiles,     Nor  is  it  improbable,  that  the 


Jpofle  writeth 


in  dired: 
Ddd 


Oppofitlon    to   the 
Appear^ 


{    3^2    ) 

Appearances^  TretenceSy  and  Impoftures  of 
."^^"J*  thofe  falfe  Divhiities :  ''  Without  Contrc- 
verfy  great  is  the  Myjlery  of  Godlinefs :  God 
was  manifeft  in  the  Fle/Jo,  jnftijicd  by  the 
Spirit y  feen  of  Angels^  preached  unto  the  Gen- 
tileSy  believed  on  in  the  Worlds  received  up 
into  Glory''  [If  a  Criticifm  I  have  heard  of 
may  be  admitted,  which  inftead  of  'AyyeAoi^, 
Angels,  would  put  'Ai/Opti^Troi?,  Men,  it  feems 
very  agreeable  to  the  Apofle's  Climax,  and 
Scope  of  his  Reafom?7g.] 

In  the  Old  Tejlament,  Dent,  xxiii.  17. 
(not  indeed  in  the  Hebrew,  but  in  the  Sep- 
tuagint)  after  the  Words,  ''  Inhere  JJjall  be 
no  Whore, — nor  Sodomites  of  the  Sons  of  Ifrael,^ 
WQ  find  added  Words  of  this  Import, 
'^  There  fliall  not  be  an  Initiator,  nor  an 
Initiated,  of  the  Sons  or  Daughters  oi  Ifrael"' 
'Tis  poffible  this  additional  Claufe  may  have 
been  inferted  by  the  Seventy,  by  Way  of 
Inter pretatio7i  of  the  preceding  Words. 
They  knew  the  Nature  of  the  Myferies  full 
well ;  and  we  are  led  to  this  Meaning  by 
the  Impurities  forbidden,  and  by  the  Frice 
of  the  Dog  in  the  next  Verfe ;  the  Egyptian 
God  Anubis  being  ufually  figured  with  a 
Dog's  Bead,     Edit.  Daniel,  Schol. 

We  may  obferve  alfo,  that  Philo  the  Jew 
(de  Sacrific)  exprefsly  ranketh  the  Prohi- 
bition  of  the  Myjieries  among  the  Laws  of 
Kdltio  Mofes.  ^'  The  Law,  faith  he,  exprefsly 
excludeth  the  whole  of  the  Myf  cries,  their 

Inchant" 


Mangey 
p.  260-— 


( 383 ) 

Inchantments  ajid  execrable  Scurrilities^  from 
the  Holy  Ordinances :  not  permitting  thofe 
educated  in  her  Society  to  celebrate  fuch 
Heathen  Rites ;  nor,  depending  on  fuch 
myftical  Ceremonies,  to  difregard  the  Truth -y 
and  to  follow  the  Works  of  Night  and  Dark- 
nefs^  omitting  what  defer veth  the  Light  and 
the  Day,  Let  none  therefore  among  the 
Dijciples  of  Mofes  either  initiate^  or  be 
initiated :    it  being  equally  wicked  either  to 

teach ^    or  to    learn   the    Myfteries. 'Tis 

generally  the  Cafe  with  them,  that  710  good 
Per  [on  is  initiated  j  hut  Thie^ces^  and  Pirates, 
and  mad  Gangs  of  abominable  and  immodejl 
Wofnen  \  after  parting  with  their  Money  to  the 
initiating  Priefts"'  Several  of  the  Fathers 
have  taken  Notice  of  the  fam.e  Paffige  in  the 
Septuagint^  and  explained  it  in  the  fame 
Manner. 

For  farther  Proof  of  the  Turpitude  in  the 
Myfteries  of  Ifis  and  Ofiris^  and  that  it  was  fo 
from  the  Beginnings  we  need  only  confult 
Diodorus  Sicidus,  Lib.  i.  '*  i/?^  being  over-PditIo 
whelm.ed  with  Grief  for  the  Lois  of  her  ^^'°^'''^- 
Hulband  Qfiris^  took  particular  Care  in  deify- 
ing him  to  corfe crate  his  Pudenda  -,  which 
flie  ordered  to  be  pecidiarly  honoured  and 
adored  in  the  Myfteries,  And  the  fame  holy 
Infiitution  was  obferved  with  the  fame  Cere- 
monies,  when  carried  into  Greece  by  Orpheus : 
where  the  common  People,  pardy  from  Ig- 
norance, and  partly  from  a  Love  of  the 
D  d  d  2  new 


(  3^4  ) 

new  God,  (Phallus)  were  very  fond  of  being 
initiated.'^ 

Much  more  might  be  collefted  (even  from 
initiated  Authors^    however    generally   Jhy) 
concerning  the  infamous  Origin  of  the  Myf^ 
teries:  which  I  pafs  over.     But  fhall  add  a 
Word  or  two  from  yqfephus  (contra  Apion.^ 
of  the  Sight  of  the  Deities^  which  the  Ini- 
tiated enjoyed.      The  Account,    which  he 
lib.  I.     has  from   Manetho,    is   thus.     "  Amenophis^ 
<^' 26, 33.^{^Q    wanted    a    Pretence    for    driving  the 
Ifraelites  out  of  /Egypt,  had  a  flrong  Defire 
o{ feeing  the  Gods,     This  Defire  he  commu- 
nicates to  a  Perfon  deemed  to  be  a  Partaker 
of  the   Divine  Nature,    on  Account  of   his 
prophetical  Knowledge :    who  told  him,  that 
he  might  have  a   Sight  of  the  Gods,    if  he 
would  purge  the   Country  of  Leprous  and 
Unclean   People.      And   one  Charcemon   alfo 
pretends  he  hath  a  Dream  from  Ifis  to  the 
fame   Purpofe."     Thus   Calumny    and  Myf 
iery  were  imployed   for  expelling  the   true 
Worfippers  of  the  Deity,     Thefe  pretended 
Diod.  Sk.*^  Dreams  from  Ifis  were  the  common  Cant 
p.  21, 22.  of  the  Initiated^  and  flie  would   appear  to 
the  Difordered  in  Mind  or  Body,  and  cure 
their  incurable  Dijlempers''     Orus^  to  whofe 
Happinefs   by    Initiation    Amenophis    afpired, 
was  the  Son  of  Ofiris  and  Ifis,  ( who  firfl  in- 
fituted  the   Myfleries)  and  consequently  the 
firft  initiated  King-^  and  thereby  a  Devotee 

to 


( 385 ) 

to    the    Impurities    before-mentioned    from 
Dtodorus, 

This  might  lead  us  to  confider  the  Anti^ 
quity  of  the  Myjieries.     For  the  be  ft   Chrono- 
logerSy    particularly   ArchbiJJjop   UJljcr^    place 
the  Reign  of  Orus  i?i  Egypt  between  one  and 
two  Hundred  Tears  before  the  Times  ofMofes. 
And  if  Ntw2emus  the   Pythagorean   may   be 
depended  upon,  (and  why  fliould  he  not?) 
as  cited  by   EufebiuSy  the   Initiating  Pr/^^Pr^paret. 
were  the  Perfons  that  inftigated  Pharoah  to^'^-  9- 
opprefs    and   perfecute  the   Hebrews,      For  ^^' 
having  mentioned  the  Initiations  and  other 
Inflitutions  of  the  Magi  and  Egyptians^   he 
fays,  that  ''  Jannes  and  Jambrees,  who  op- 
pofed   Mofes  [he  calls  him  Mufaus~\  when 
the  Jews  were  expelled  Egypt^  were  Egypti^ 
an  Myftery-PrieftSy  and  in  high  Reputation 
for  Magic,'*     Here  we  have  the  fame  Mira- 
ck-MongerSy  whom  Mofes  calls  th^  JVifemeny^^od.Wf, 
the  Sorcerers,  and  Magicians  of  Egypt :  —  A^*' 
Paffage,  which  does  no  great  Credit  to  the 
Origin  of  the  Myjleries ;  nor   to  our  modern 
IfiitiatorSy  who  are  mangling  the  Gofpel, 

The  Eleufmian  Myjleries  were  indeed  of 
a  later  Date;  and  yet  were  celebrated  in 
Greece  at  no  great  Diftance  of  Time  from  the 
former.  For  the  Writers  on  the  Ariindelian 
Marbles  colled  thence,  that  they  commenced 
about  fourteen  Hundred  Years  before  Chrijl-y 
which  is  not  above  ninety  Years  after  the 
Deliverance  from  Egypt  by  Mofes, 

But 


(  386  ) 
But  ^'henever,  or  however,  they  were 
brought  into  Greece,  and  transferred  to  the 
Honour  of  Ceres  and  Projerpina^  they  were 
of  the  fame  Nature^  and  obferved  with 
equally  chajie  Cerernojiies,  with  thofe  of  Ifis. 
For  (befides  what  has  been  mentioned  al- 
ready of  Jafion)  Diodoriis  Siculus,  in  his 
Lib.  5.  Account  of  th.e  Myjleries,  writeth,  "  that 
p-  323~-  Ceres  for  her  Love  to  Jafwn,  to  whom  flie 
was,  ufed  to  grant  the  laft  Favour,  came  and 
fhewed  herfelf,  with  ether  Deities^  at  the 
■JSluptials  of.  his  Sijier  : — that  indeed  each 
Particular  of  the  Myfleries  was  known  only 
to  ih^  Initiated ',  who  boafted  much  of  the 
Prefe72ce  of  the  Deities,  .and  the  njcondcrful 
and  fudden  Relief,  which  they  brought/' 

One  Contrivance  for  "  giving  the  Initiated 

a  Sight  of  the  Divinities,  was  by  means  of 

a  Looking'glafs,  wherein  none  could  fee  their 

own  Faces,  but  had  a  clear  View  of  the  Gods 

Lib.  8.     and  GoddeffesJ'     This  we  have  from  Paifa^ 

Pr:-fpnr.     ^^^'^^ '   ^"^  Eifebius  rclatcs  the  fame  Thing. — 

lib  2.  c.  I  So  eafily  might  weak  People,  and  under  the 

iitmofi:  Afonif^ment,  be  deluded  by  Figures 

behind  a  Glafs,  in  a  pvopcr  Haiit  and  Pojture-, 

and   efpecially    by   living   Perfons,    perfonat^ 

ing  the  Deifies  in  any  Manner  they  thought 

fit. 

As  a   Proof  of  the  Indecencies,    Sozomen 

Fccl.Hift.writetb,  *«  that  Theophilus,    Bijljop  of  Alex- 

ca^    i'     ^^"'^'''^^^h  egregioully  ridiculed  and  expofed  to 

public  View  the  f}:a?neful  Figures  belonging 

to 


(  3^7  ) 

to  the  MyJierieSy  the  Phallus^  &c.  which  he 
brought   out    of   the   Pagan  Temple,      For 
which  the  enraged  Heathens  raifed  a  Tumulty 
and  maff acred  a  great  Number  oi  the  Chrijli^ 
am  J' — Even    the  initiated  Paujanias   (not- 
withftanding   his  ufual    Ref^rvednefSj    fome- 
tinies  bllrts  out  a  little  too  much,  and  inti- 
mates fomething  y^<^;;/^//:  — ''  as  frequentEdMo 
AJfignatiom '^  —  the  Pronenefs  of  the  rel/gious^'^''^^'^'^* 
Females  to  Venery  y-^2i  Mixture  of  the  O/pfcene^igslVoo, 
and  Miraculous ',---' i\\Q  Continuance  of  the  20,  519, 
Eleujman  Fejiival  for  a  TFeek-^  on  the  third -^^;A^^^.* 
Day  whereof  all  Males^  even  the  Dogs^  are649,'  650. 
excluded 'y   but   the   next  Day   the   Men  are 
admitted  among  them,  when   they  pafs  the 
Time  in  /porting^  and  light  Difcourfe  3  —  the 

^  Amours  of  CereSy  of  a  very  ftrange  Kind; 
with  the  Secrecy  enjoined ;  —  The  Obfcenities 
in  the  Myjleries  ofCupid^  and  fuitable  Hpnns'* 
— A  man  initiated ^  and  under  an  Oath  of 
Silence^  could  not  well  have  difcovered  more 
oixki^true  Nature  of  the  Myjleries^  and  the 
Reafon  why  they  ought  not  to  be  divulged. 
We  are  afTured  too,    that  onQ   Day  of  the 

.  Eleufmian  Fefival  was  fet  apart  for  the  Rites 
of  Venus  and  Cupid,  and  another  for  thofe  of 
Bacchus :  'both  which  were  confefTedly  i?eyond 
mcafure  abommabic.  Nor  v/ill  cur  Opinion 
be  more  favourable,  when  vJt  remember 
what  Athefiaus  writes  3  "  Apelles  being  ex--^^^- «3' 
tremely  defirous"  of  drawing  a  Venus  from^the 
famous  Phryne,  could  find  do  Opportunity 
E  e  e  of 


(388) 

of  feeing  her  naked,  without  going  to  the 
Eleufwian  and  Neptunian  Games -^  where  fhe 
Jiripped  herfelf  in  the  Sight  of  all  the  Men, 
and  went  into  the  Sea  to  wafh  herfelf.    From^ 
which  Sight  of  the  Myjiical  Goddefs  he  copied 
his  admirable  Venus  Anadyome^  rifing  out  of 
the   Sea/'  — I  apprehend  therefore  that  no 
great  Strefs  is  to  be  laid  upon  thofe  initiated 
Authors^     who     have     thought    themfelves 
obliged  to  fty  nothing  but  what  was  good  of 
the  Myjieries;  or  have  talked  of  the  Unity 
of  the  Deity y  as  the  great  Secret  of  them ; 
perhaps  to  avoid  the  Shame  of  being  thought 
Dupes  to  a  Foolery ^  or  inquifitive  into  fome- 
thing  wcrfe. 

But  as  J  agree  with  Mr.  War  burton^  that 
nothing  is  meant  by  Virgil  in  the  Defcent 
of  Mneas  to  Hell^  but  his  Initiation  into  the 
Myjleries;  it  may  afford  fome  Light -to  ob- 
ferve,  that  not  enly  JEneas^  but  many  other 
antient  Heroes ^  recorded  to  have  went  down 
to  Hell^  and  afterwards  to  have  been  deified 
and,  tranfiated  into  Heaven^  were  all  Knights 
of  the  divine  Order  of  the  Myfteries.  For 
Inftance,  Bacchus^  Herctdes^  l^hefeus^  Or-- 
pbeiis,  &c.  a   3ib 

Taufanias^  in  his  accurate  Defcrlption  of 

I  ID.  -i-i.  <c  2.  Painting  by  PolygnotuSy  oiUlyJIes  defcend- 

"^'  ^  "   ing  to  Hell  to  confult  the  Prophet  Tirejias^  a- 

mong  oti'jer  Figures  takes  particular  Notice  of 

d  Virgin  with  a  Chefi  on  her  Knee,  like  that 

iifid  in  th^  Miseries  of  C'-r^i ',  -dnd  (^iThefeus 

and 


(  3^9  ) 

end  Perithotis  fitting  on  a  Throjie^'  as  was 
ufual  for  the  Initiated, 

In  the  Comedy  of  Arijlophanes  called  the 
Frogs,  is  afted  the  Defcent  of  Bacchus  to  Hell^ 
attended  with  Xantbias  as   his  Efquire^    to 
fetch  up  a  Toet  fit   to  write  a  Panegyric  on 
the  Myjleries,     But  thus   fays   the  Scholiafty 
(Verfe  357.)  *'  It  is  to  be  underftood,  that 
though  he  feems  to  fpeak  of  the  Initiated  as 
in  Hell,  in  reality  he  meaneth  the  Myjleries 
at  Eleufis ;  that  being  properly  the  Sce?ie  of 
the  Drama.''     So  that  taking  this  Key  with 
us,  we  are  let  into  the  chief  TranfaBions  and 
Incidents  of  the  Myjleries,  under  the  Cover 
of  Bacchus' s  Voyage   to    the    lower    Regions, 
*^  After    due    Preparation,    and    InJlruSionVtv.i^G-. 
from  one  of  the  Adepts^  and  paying  Charon 
the  Ferryman  his  Fare,  (for  no  Pay,  no  Paf 
fage)  they  are  ferenaded  by  a  Chorus  of  croak-- 
ing   Frogs,     [The  Emblems  ,of  Papal  Im-- 
priors.   Rev.  xvi.    13.]      After   paf?ing  the  HS---. 
black  River,    they  are  terrified  out  of  their  ^5°— - 
Senfes  by  the   Sight  of  Monfiers,    Serpents^ 
Hobgoblins,  SpeBres  continually  varying  their 
Forms,    and  oihtx  Apparitions  of  Damons. 
They  are   fhewn  the  Dirt,   Mud,  and  Eat- 
crementSy  in  which  the  Profane  and  Unini- 
tiated wallow.     Then  are  inveloped  in  Dark- 
nefs,    and  are   brought  to  the  very  Gate  of 
Pluto.    Happinefs  however  comes  in  its  Turn,  162. 
and  Serenity  after  a  Storm :    a  fuddcn  radiant 
Spkndor  of  Light  furrounds  them,    and  the 

dreadful 


(  39^0 

lo6y  i^\. dreadful  SpeBres   vanilli.     They  are  blefled 

with  the  Sight  of  beautiful  Ladies^  and  have 

295— •   the  free  Uje  of  them  -,    HarlotSy  and  Inftru- 

410—19,  nient3  of  Pleafure,    of  both  Sexes :    are   de- 

550.        lighted    with   Songs,    Mufic,    and  Dancing-^ 

__    the  My  flic  T'orch^    and  Night- Revels  ^   enter 

375—.   into  all  Sorts  of  ridiculous ,  lofe,  and  obfcene 

390—.  Dljcourfe  ;    all  Manner  of  Clamour,  Tumidt, 

^^°'       and  Ribaldry  ;    with   other  facred  Sporti?igs. 

They  have  a  Converfation  with  Macus,  one 

of  the  infer nal  Conjefjors  'y  and  are  handfomely 

yoj,      entertained  by  ^een  Rroferpine.    And  Macus 

fairly  acknowledgeth,  that  there  are  few  ^W 

Terfons  in  that  Tlace.     There  are  too  Prayers 

and  Hymns  to   Ceres,    and   to   other  Jirange 

Deities,  of  a  new  a?id  peculiar  Stamp.'' 

The  Charadfer  given  to  one  of  the  Votaries 
I  leave  to  fuch  as  zx^  fond  of  it.  "  'Tis  the 
Bufinefs  of  the  Man  of  Prudence,  who  hath 
his  Senfes  about  him,  and  hath  made  feveral 
Voyages,  always  to  be  turning  himfelf  about, 
and  not  fland,  like  a  Statue,  in  one  Attitude. 
— I  will  reprehend  him  firft,  that  ye  may 
know  what  a  Boajler,  and  Impofior  he  is ; 
and  how  he  hath  deceived  the  Spe^ators'\ 


112—. 


940 -. 


N        I        S. 


■> 


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ii 


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