,works of the ,reverend ,george ,whitefield1 ,m4,a4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation has been standardized4 ,most of the non-common abbreviations used to save space in printing have been expanded to the non-abbreviated form for easier reading4 ,the text may show quotations within quotations1 all set off by similar quote marks4 ,the inner quotations have been changed to alternate quote marks for improved readability4 ,characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps4 ,non-printable characteristics have been given the following ,italic text3 -- text emphasized text within italics -- text ,this book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling4 ,words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text4 ,these have been left unchanged unless indicated with a ,transcriber's ,note4 ,footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,transcriber's ,notes are used when making corrections to the text or to provide additional information for the modern reader4 ,these notes are identified by symbols in the text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,reverend ,,george ,,whitefield1 ,m4,a4 ,late of ,,pembroke-,,college1 ,,oxford1 ,and ,chaplain to the ,right ,honourable1 the ,countess of ,,huntingdon4 ,,containing ,all his ,,sermons and ,,tracts ,which have been already published3 ,,with ,a ,,select ,,collection of ,,letters1 ,written to his most intimate ,friends1 and ,persons of ,distinction1 in ,england1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 and ,america1 from the ,year #agcd1 to #aggj1 including the whole ,period of his ,ministry4 ,,also ,some other ,,pieces on ,,important ,,subjects1 never before printed2 prepared by ,himself for the ,press4 ,to which is prefixed1 ,an ,,account of his ,,life1 ,compiled from his ,original ,,papers and ,,letters4 ,,volume ,,iv4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,,edward and ,,charles ,,dilly1 in the ,poultry2 and ,messrs4 ,,kincaid and ,,creech1 at ,edinburgh4 ,,mdcclxxi4 ,,answer ,,to ,,the ,,bishop of ,,london's ,,last ,,pastoral ,,letter4 ,,answer ,,to ,,the ,,bishop of ,,london's ,,last ,,pastoral ,,letter4 ,my ,lord1 ,i ,,need make no apology for troubling your ,lordship with this4 ,as your ,lordship was pleased to make me the chief subject matter of your last ,pastoral ,letter1 ,i think it my duty to answer in the best manner ,i can4 ,your ,lordship is highly to be commended1 for the care you have taken in watching over the souls of those1 who are committed to your ,lordship's charge4 ,lukewarmness and enthusiasm1 are the two rocks against which even well-meaning people are in danger of splitting4 ,all ought to be thankful to that pilot1 who will teach them to steer a safe and middle course4 ,i would gladly hope1 that 8a zeal for ,,god in the discharge of your duty1 and a hearty concern for the safety of souls10 moved your ,lordship to write4 ,these are the principles1 ,i trust1 which now excite me1 to direct this answer to your ,lordship4 ,and1 blessed be ,,god1 that ,i can write with somewhat of that love and meekness1 which becomes a disciple of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and with all that humility and reverence1 which is due from a presbyter to a bishop of the church of ,,god4 ,lukewarmness and enthusiasm1 my ,lord1 are certainly the bane of true christianity4 ,i thank your ,lordship again for your kind cautions against them4 ,the only query is1 8,whether there was any occasion for your ,lordship's warning the people of your diocese1 against running into either of these extremes1 upon account of any thing1 ,i have either spoken or written80 ,your ,lordship thinks there was1 and quotes passages out of my ,journal to prove it2 if it can be proved1 ,i will ask public pardon1 both of your ,lordship and them1 with all my heart4 ,as for your ,lordship's cautions against lukewarmness1 ,i am not much concerned in them4 ,you do not seem to point at me in particular2 unless it is1 where your ,lordship 7page #aj47 informs your people1 8,that a diligent attendance on the duties of the station wherein ,providence has placed them1 is1 in the strictest sense1 the serving of ,,god40 ,none but those1 who condemn me unheard1 can justly charge me with affirming to the contrary4 ,however1 ,i beg leave to observe1 that your ,lordship1 7page #h47 calls that a very imperfect state of christianity1 which is no state of christianity at all4 ,st4 ,paul1 writing to the ,corinthians1 #b ,corinthians chapter xiii4 verse #e1 says1 8,examine yourselves1 whether ye be in the faith2 prove your ownselves40 ,and that they might have a certain rule1 whereby to judge whether they were in the faith1 truly so called1 or not2 he immediately adds1 8,know ye not your ownselves1 how that ,,christ ,,jesus is in you1 except ye be reprobates80 ,so that1 according to ,st4 ,paul's rule1 8,he that finds1 he has hitherto contented himself with a bare bodily attendance upon the public worship of ,,god1 and with following his daily employment on other days1 and with abstaining from the more gross and notorious acts of sin1 and from doing any hurt or injury to his neighbour1 and has rested finally upon these1 as the whole of what christianity requires of him20 is so far from being in a very imperfect state1 as your ,lordship is pleased to affirm1 page #h4 that he is in no state of christianity at all4 ,no1 my ,lord1 he is a reprobate1 or1 one who at present is out of a state of salvation1 nor can he ever have any assurance that he is in a state of salvation1 till he knows that ,,jesus ,,christ is in him1 by the indwelling of his ,holy ,spirit4 ,if ,i have mistaken your ,lordship's expression1 ,i will freely beg your ,lordship's pardon4 ,another thing1 my ,lord1 to me seems darkly expressed1 in page #ah4 7let not your ,lordship be angry1 for indeed ,i will endeavour to speak with all gentleness and humility73 your ,lordship's words are these3 8,nor need they any other evidence besides those good dispositions they find in their hearts1 that the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god co-operates with their honest endeavours to subdue sin and grow in goodness40 ,if by good dispositions1 your ,lordship only means good inclinations or desires1 ,i deny that to be a sufficient evidence1 that the ,spirit of ,,god co-operates with their honest endeavours to subdue sin and grow in goodness4 ,for there is a great difference between good desires and good habits3 many have one1 who never attain the other4 ,many have good desires to subdue sin1 and yet1 resting in those good desires1 sin has always had dominion over them4 ,a person sick of a fever may desire to be in health1 but that desire is not health itself4 ,in like manner1 many have good dispositions1 or desires to be good1 but that is not goodness itself4 ,and consequently men need more evidence than good dispositions1 to prove to themselves or others1 8that the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god co-operates with their honest endeavours to subdue sin40 ,if by good dispositions1 your ,lordship means good habits wrought in the heart by the ,spirit of ,,god1 such as peace1 love1 joy1 long-suffering1 goodness1 truth1 c4 ,i then agree a man needs no other evidence3 for these are the proper and genuine fruits of the ,spirit itself4 ,your ,lordship immediately adds1 8,nor that1 persevering in their course1 and praying to ,,god for his assistance1 and relying upon the merits of ,,christ for the pardon of all such sins1 failings1 and imperfections1 as are more or less unavoidable in this mortal state40 ,i beg leave to ask your ,lordship1 whether this does not savour too much of the common divinity1 ,that we are to do something for ourselves3 or1 in other words1 that we have partly a righteousness of our own1 and that ,,jesus ,,christ is to make up the deficiencies of that righteousness8 ,what else can your ,lordship mean1 by saying1 ,that we must rely on the merits of ,,christ for the pardon of 8all such sins as are more or less unavoidable in this mortal state80 ,did ,,jesus ,,christ come into the world1 my ,lord1 only to save us from the guilt of such sins1 as are more or less unavoidable in this mortal state8 ,the scriptures every where affirm1 that man hath no righteousness of his own1 8,that there is none righteous1 no not one2that all our righteousness is as filthy rags20 and that ,,jesus ,,christ died1 not only to save us from the guilt of all such sins1 failings1 and infirmities1 as are more or less unavoidable in this mortal state1 but from all wilful sins1 and also from that original corruption1 which every man naturally engendered of the offspring of ,adam1 brings into the world with him4 ,i hope ,i have not misunderstood1 or overstrained your ,lordship's expression4 ,i come now to your ,lordship's caution against enthusiasm4 ,for that1 ,i suppose1 your ,lordship intended more particularly against me4 ,and here1 my ,lord1 ,i beg leave to observe1 ,that1 in my opinion1 your ,lordship has by no means been clear enough in your definition of the word enthusiasm4 ,according to the fair rules of writing1 was it not first incumbent on your ,lordship to shew1 that the word enthusiast had a good as well as a bad meaning3 that it signifies no more than a person in ,god1 and consequently every christian1 in the proper sense of the word1 is an enthusiast8 ,for ,st4 ,peter writes1 8,that to us are given exceeding great and precious promises1 that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature40 ,and our church says1 8,if we receive the sacrament worthily1 we are one with ,,christ1 and ,,christ with us3 we dwell in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in us40 ,for which she has sufficient warrant from our ,,lord's prayer1 ,john xvii4 #bj1 c4 8,neither pray ,i for these alone1 but for them also which shall believe on me through their word2 that they all may be one1 as thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in thee1 that they also may be one in us1 ,i in them1 and they in me1 that they may be made perfect in one3 that the love wherewith thou hast loved me1 may be in them1 and ,i in them40 ,but indeed your ,lordship's definition of enthusiasm1 when examined1 does not convey any ill idea at all4 8,enthusiasm1 is a strong persuasion on the mind1 that they are guided in an extraordinary manner1 by immediate impulses and impressions of the ,spirit of ,,god40 ,had your ,lordship said1 a strong but groundless persuasion1 that they are guided in an extraordinary manner1 it would have been to your ,lordship's purpose4 ,but to affirm1 without any restriction1 that a strong persuasion that we are guided in an extraordinary manner by immediate impulses1 is enthusiasm in the worst sense of the word1 when your ,lordship yourself says1 7page #ed47 8,there is no doubt1 but ,,god1 when he pleases1 can work upon the minds of men by extraordinary influences10 to me seems a little inconsistent4 ,your ,lordship proceeds thus3 8,and this is owing chiefly to the want of distinguishing aright between the ordinary and extraordinary operations of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the extraordinary operations were those1 by which the apostles and others1 who were entrusted with the first propagation of the gospel1 were enabled to work miracles1 and speak with tongues1 in testimony1 that their mission and doctrine were from ,,god40 ,i suppose1 by extraordinary operations1 your ,lordship means the same as being guided in an extraordinary manner1 just above4 ,and if so1 according to your ,lordship's own definition1 ,i am no enthusiast4 ,for ,i never did pretend to these extraordinary operations of working miracles1 or speaking with tongues1 in testimony that my mission and doctrine were from ,,god2 ,i only lay claim to the ordinary gifts and influences of the ,spirit1 which your ,lordship 7page #bj47 says1 8,still continue30 and what need was there then1 my ,lord1 that the people of your ,lordship's diocese should be cautioned against enthusiasm upon my account8 ,but your ,lordship farther adds1 8,the ordinary gifts1 however real and certain in themselves1 are no otherwise discernible1 than by their fruits and effects40 ,had your ,lordship said1 ,no otherwise discernible to others1 than by their fruits and effects1 it would have been right3 but if your ,lordship means1 they are no otherwise discernible to ourselves1 in my opinion1 it is wrong2 for it is possible1 my ,lord1 for a person to feel and discern these ordinary gifts and influences of the ,spirit in himself1 when there is no opportunity of discovering them to others4 ,for instance1 on supposition that your ,lordship was assisted by the blessed ,spirit1 in writing your pastoral letter2 might not your ,lordship be sensible of an inward joy and complacency1 wrought by that self-same ,spirit1 which was not then discernible to others8 ,so is it possible for another to feel joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 with the rest of his fruits1 which at that time may not be discernible to others2 and which they1 who have never experienced the like1 may not believe1 though a man declare it unto them4 ,i hope1 my ,lord1 these reasonings carry with them their own evidence4 ,but to proceed3 7pages #ba1 #bb1 #bc1 #bd1 #be47 your ,lordship has taken pains to collect several passages out of the public liturgy1 to prove the doctrine of regeneration1 or our new birth1 to be the doctrine of the ,church of ,england4 ,your reason for so doing1 appears 7page #be47 8to arm your people against any suggestions1 as if our church were so regardless of the doctrine of regeneration and new birth1 as if there were need for any member of it1 to seek elsewhere for a more spiritual service40 ,if this1 my ,lord1 was intended to arm your people against any such suggestions made by me2 indeed your ,lordship does not do me justice4 ,as your ,lordship1 ,i find1 has done me the honour to peruse my ,third ,journal1 your ,lordship may remember this observation1 7page #ci47 that1 after ,i had baptized an adult1 ,i proved the necessity of the new birth1 from the office of our church4 ,in my sermon1 upon the indwelling of the ,spirit of ,,god1 which ,i have made bold to send to your ,lordship with this letter1 you will find1 ,i have quoted the expressions of our own church offices1 to prove the doctrine of the new birth1 as your ,lordship does in your pastoral letter4 ,my constant way of preaching is1 first1 to prove my propositions by scripture1 and then to illustrate them by the articles and collects of the church of ,england4 ,those that have heard me1 can witness1 how often ,i have exhorted them to be constant at the public service of the church4 ,i attend on it myself1 and would read the public liturgy every day1 if your ,lordship's clergy would give me leave4 ,what further satisfaction can your ,lordship require1 that ,i do not suggest to your ,lordship's people1 8as if our church were regardless of the doctrine of regeneration1 and new birth1 and as if there were need for any member of it1 to seek elsewhere for a more spiritual service40 ,in the following paragraph1 your ,lordship has the same insinuation1 as though ,i wanted to introduce extempore prayer1 and to lay aside the public liturgy of our church4 ,for after your ,lordship had been speaking against praying by the ,spirit1 and affirming that the scripture no where tells us1 that prayer is the single work of the ,spirit1 your ,lordship says to your people1 8you have great reason to be thankful to ,,god1 for a public service prepared to your hands40 ,my ,lord1 ,i never said to the contrary4 ,but does not your ,lordship seem to insinuate at the same time1 that we are not to depend on the ,spirit of ,,god1 to enable us to pray extempore1 either in public or private8 ,that prayer is not the single work of the ,spirit1 without any co-operation of our own1 ,i readily confess4 ,but that the ,spirit of ,,god does assist true christians to pray extempore1 now1 as well as formerly1 is undeniable1 if the scriptures be true4 ,for what says the ,apostle8 8,we know not what to pray for1 as we ought2 but the ,spirit itself helpeth our infirmities1 and maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered40 ,and this is founded upon a general promise1 made to all ,,god's people1 ,zachariah xii4 #aj4 8,i will pour upon the house of ,david1 and upon the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 the ,spirit of grace1 and of supplication40 ,and ,i believe1 my ,lord1 we may appeal to the experience of all true christians1 whether or no they did not find the ,spirit of supplication1 or a power of praying without a form1 increase in proportion to the increase of ,,god's ,grace or ,holy ,spirit in their hearts4 ,this is all1 my ,lord1 that ,i pretend to3 and where is the impropriety of this1 when your ,lordship confesses in the same page1 that 8the ,spirit of ,,god does particularly assist us1 in a due performance of religious offices80 ,further1 as your ,lordship seems to deny the immediate assistance of the ,holy ,spirit1 in our particular addresses at the throne of ,grace1 so your ,lordship seems to deny it also in our particular actions4 8,in like manner1 7you say7 we are firmly persuaded in general1 that we live under the gracious influence of ,,god's ,holy ,spirit1 and that he both excites and enables us to do good4 ,but that this or that thought or action is an effect of the sole motion1 or immediate impulse of the ,spirit1 without any co-operation of our own mind0,my ,lord1 who ever affirmed1 that there was no co-operation of our own minds1 together with the impulse of the spirit of ,,god8 ,your ,lordship adds1 8or that the ,holy ,spirit1 and our natural conceptions1 do respectively contribute to this or that thought or action1 in such a measure1 or to such a degree2 these are things we dare not say40 ,indeed1 my ,lord1 ,i do dare to say them4 ,for if there be any such thing as a particular providence1 why may we not expect particular direction from ,,god's ,holy ,spirit in particular cases8 ,does not our church1 my ,lord1 teach us to pray1 8that ,,god's ,holy ,spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts80 ,but your ,lordship says1 we dare not say this1 because our ,saviour has told us1 that we know no more of the working of the ,spirit1 than we know of the wind1 from whence it cometh1 and whither it goeth4 ,neither need we know any more of them3 but you must allow1 that we know as much4 ,cannot your ,lordship feel the wind then8 ,does not your ,lordship know when it makes any impression upon your body8 ,so easy it is for a spiritual man to know when the ,holy ,spirit makes an impression upon his soul4 ,without acknowledging this1 all the expressions of being led by the ,spirit1 walking by the ,spirit1 and such like1 must be only so many words without any real meaning4 ,your ,lordship acknowledges1 that the ,holy ,spirit does act in general1 and why not in the particular actions of our lives also8 ,for1 can the one be without the other8 ,does it not frequently happen1 my ,lord1 that the comfort and happiness of our whole lives1 depend on one particular action8 ,and where then1 my ,lord1 is the absurdity of saying1 that the ,holy ,spirit may even1 in the minutest circumstance1 direct and rule our hearts8 ,i have been the more particular1 my ,lord1 on this part of your ,lordship's letter1 because if this be proved1 many of your ,lordship's objections against my ,journals1 will fall to the ground4 8arffimed0 replaced with 8affirmed0 ,page #bg4 ,your ,lordship has the following paragraph4 8,,god forbid1 that in this profane and degenerate age1 every thing that has an appearance of piety and devotion1 should not be considered in the most favourable light that it is capable of4 ,but at the same time1 it is surely very proper1 that men should be called upon for some reasonable evidences of a divine ,commission40 ,i take it for granted1 that ,i am one of those men1 whom your ,lordship thinks should be called upon for some reasonable evidence of a divine ,commission4 ,but1 my ,lord1 what reasonable evidence does your ,lordship require8 ,did ,i not receive letters dimissory from your ,lordship's own hands to be ordained a priest8 ,did ,i not1 when ordained deacon1 affirm1 8that ,i was inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 to take upon me that office and ministration80 ,did not my ,lord of ,gloucester1 when he ordained me priest1 say unto me1 8,receive thou the ,holy ,ghost now committed unto thee1 by the imposition of our hands1 in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost80 ,and is not this1 my ,lord1 a reasonable evidence that ,i act by a divine ,commission8 ,if this be not true1 must not all those whom your ,lordship1 or the other ,bishops ordain1 act only by a human ,commission8 ,nay1 to use the words of ,bishop ,burnet in his ,pastoral ,letter1 8must not they who are ordained1 lie not only unto man but unto ,,god1 by saying1 they are inwardly moved by the ,holy ,spirit80 ,if your ,lordship in any wise disputes my acting by a divine ,commission1 you disclaim your own divine right and authority2 nor can you possibly avoid the dilemma1 of either allowing my divine ,commission1 or denying your own4 ,after your ,lordship has insinuated a demand for the evidences of my divine ,commission1 immediately follows these words2 8when they tell us of extraordinary communications they have with ,,god40 ,if by extraordinary communications1 your ,lordship means the extraordinary operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 as working miracles1 and speaking with tongues2 your ,lordship may assure yourself1 ,i never pretended to any such thing4 ,if1 by extraordinary communications1 your ,lordship means more assistance and comforts from ,,god1 at some times1 than ,i have at others1 7which is all ,i mean by extraordinary communications7 ,i own the charge8 ,and what is there1 my ,lord1 extraordinary in that8 ,again1 your ,lordship says1 7page #bh47 8,when they talk in the language of those1 who have a special and immediate mission from ,,god40 ,and does your ,lordship1 and the rest of the ,bishops1 ordain any1 without obliging them first to give good proofs1 that they have a special call or immediate mission from ,,god to the work of the ministry8 ,if ever you so do1 my ,lord1 do not your ,lordships lay hands too suddenly upon men8 ,page #bi4 ,your ,lordship writes thus4 8,when they profess to think and act under the immediate guidance of a divine ,inspiration40 ,and does not your ,lordship think and act by the same rule8 ,why1 otherwise1 does your ,lordship pray when you administer the holy ,communion1 8that ,,god would cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of his ,holy ,spirit80 ,page #ca4 ,your ,lordship says1 8when they speak of their preaching and expounding1 and the effects of them1 as the sole work of a divine ,power40 ,and would your ,lordship have me ascribe any1 the least thing to myself8 ,the good that is done upon earth1 doth not ,,god do it himself8 ,does not the ,apostle say1 8,not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves1 but our sufficiency is of ,,god80 ,and where then1 my ,lord1 is the absurdity of ascribing the effects of expounding and preaching to the sole work of a divine ,power8 ,again1 7page #cc47 8,when they boast of sudden and surprizing effects as wrought by the ,holy ,ghost1 in consequence of their preaching40 ,where1 my ,lord1 is the enthusiasm of such a pretension8 ,has your ,lordship been a preacher in the church of ,england1 for so many years1 and have you never seen any sudden or surprizing effects1 consequent upon your ,lordship's preaching8 ,was this my case1 should ,i not have reason to doubt1 my ,lord1 whether ,i had any more than a bare human commission8 ,or might ,i not take up the ,prophet's lamentation1 8,o my leanness1 my leanness60 ,my ,lord1 the gospel1 like its author1 is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever2 and1 if preached as it ought to be1 will prick numbers to the heart1 and extort the cry of the trembling goaler1 8,what must ,i do to be saved60 as surely now1 as it did seventeen hundred years ago4 ,these then are the sudden and surprizing effects1 my ,lord1 ,i always desire to have1 and ,i heartily pray ,,god1 your ,lordship and all your clergy may always see such effects in consequence of their preaching4 7,page #cd47 8,when they claim the spirit of prophecy40 ,what ,i have said about my success1 ,,god has been pleased to fulfil already4 ,what ,i have said about sufferings1 they who without cause are my enemies are fulfilling daily4 ,and as for the promises mentioned in my ,journal1 ,i freely own there are some particular promises1 which ,,god has so strongly impressed1 and does still impress on my heart1 that ,i verily believe they will be fulfilled4 7,page #ce47 8,when they speak of themselves in the language1 and under the character of ,apostles of ,christ1 and even of ,,christ himself40 ,if ,i am not to speak in an apostolical language1 why did my ,lord of ,gloucester give me an apostolical commission1 8whose sins thou dost forgive1 they are forgiven2 and whose sins thou dost retain1 they are retained80 ,and ,i hope1 my ,lord1 using the words which ,,jesus ,,christ used1 is not taking upon me the character of ,,christ4 7,page #cf47 8,when they profess to plant and propagate a new ,gospel1 as unknown to the generality of ministers and people1 in a christian country40 ',tis true1 my ,lord1 in one sense1 mine is a new gospel1 and will be always unknown to the generality of ministers and people1 even in a christian country1 if your ,lordship's clergy follow your ,lordship's directions4 ,for what says your ,lordship1 7page #df47 8,i hope1 that when your ministers preach to you of justification by faith alone1 which is asserted in the strongest manner by our church1 they explain it in such a manner1 as to leave no doubt upon your minds1 whether good works are a necessary condition of your being justified in the sight of ,,god40 ,but pray1 my ,lord1 where has the scripture made good works a necessary condition of our being justified in the sight of ,,god8 ,st4 ,paul says1 8by grace ye are saved1 through faith1 not of works1 and that1 least any man should boast4 ,for eternal life is the gift of ,,god through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord40 ,your ,lordship exhorts your clergy to preach justification by faith alone1 and quotes the #aath article of our church1 which tells us1 8we are justified by faith only1 and not for our own works or deservings40 ,at the same time1 your ,lordship bids them to explain it in such a manner1 as to leave no doubt upon their minds1 whether good works are a necessary condition of their being justified in the sight of ,,god40 ,your ,lordship1 in my opinion1 could not well be guilty of a greater inconsistency4 ,this1 my ,lord1 is truly a new ,gospel4 ,i am sure it is not what the ,apostles preached2 and it is as contrary to the doctrine of the church of ,england1 and the whole tenour of the gospel1 as light is contrary to darkness4 ,had your ,lordship insisted on your clergy's preaching up good works as a necessary fruit and consequence1 instead of a necessary condition of our being justified1 your ,lordship would have used your authority aright4 ,for we are commanded to shew forth or declare to others1 that we have a true faith by our works4 ,and the #abth article of our church says1 that 8good works follow after justification20 and how then1 my ,lord1 are they a necessary condition of our justification8 ,no1 my ,lord1 salvation 7if the gospel be true7 is the free gift of ,,god through ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,faith is the means whereby that salvation is applied to our hearts1 and good works are the necessary fruits and proof of that faith4 ,this1 my ,lord1 is the doctrine of ,,jesus ,,christ1 this is the doctrine of the church of ,england1 and it is1 because the generality of the clergy of the church of ,england do not preach this doctrine1 that ,i am resolved1 ,,god being my helper1 to continue instant in season and out of season1 to declare it unto all men1 let the consequences1 as to my own private person1 be what they will4 ,as for your ,lordship's blaming me for rashly censuring the clergy1 for their practice1 none are concerned1 but my indolent1 earthly-minded1 pleasure-taking brethren 7page #ci47 ,and surely1 your ,lordship will not stand up in their defence4 ,no1 ,i hope your ,lordship will not fail to rebuke them sharply4 ,and as for your ,lordship's suspicions1 page #ej4 7,for your ,lordship's sake ,i would not mention them7 ,i hope my life and doctrine will always prove them to be groundless4 ,would time permit1 ,i could now proceed to satisfy your ,lordship more particularly about the case of ,mr4 ,benjamin ,seward3 but as that is done in a letter sent to my ,lord of ,gloucester1 and as ,i am now to embark in a few hours1 ,i hope your ,lordship will excuse me1 if ,i only add my hearty prayers for your ,lordship's temporal and eternal welfare1 and subscribe myself1 my ,lord1 ,your ,lordship's obedient1 though unworthy son and servant1 ,g4 ,w4 ,blendon1 ,monday1 ,august #ac1 #agci4 ,the letter above mentioned1 as sent to the ,bishop of ,gloucester1 was occasioned by the ,bishop's acquainting ,mr4 ,whitefield1 in a letter1 8,that he ought to preach only in that congregation to which he was lawfully appointed40 ,this produced the following answer4 ,my ,lord1 ,i ,,thank your ,lordship for your ,lordship's kind letter4 ,my frequent removes from place to place prevented my answering it sooner4 ,i am greatly obliged to your ,lordship1 in that you are pleased to watch over my soul1 and to caution me against acting contrary to the commission given me at ordination4 ,but if the commission we then receive1 obliges us to preach no where but in that parish which is committed to our care1 then all persons act contrary to their commission when they preach occasionally in any strange place3 and consequently your ,lordship equally offends1 when you preach out of your own diocese4 ,as for inveighing against the clergy1 7without a cause7 ,i deny the charge4 ,what ,i say1 ,i am ready to make good whenever your ,lordship pleases4 ,let those that bring reports to your ,lordship about my preaching1 be brought face to face1 and ,i am ready to give them an answer4 ,st4 ,paul exhorts ,timothy1 8,not to receive an accusation against an elder under two or three witnesses40 ,and even ,nicodemus could say1 8,the law suffered no man to be condemned unheard40 ,i shall only add1 that ,i hope your ,lordship will inspect into the lives of your other clergy1 and censure them for being over-remiss1 as much as you censure me for being over-righteous4 ,it is their falling from their articles1 and not preaching the truth as it is in ,,jesus1 that has excited the present zeal of 7those whom they in derision call7 the ,methodist preachers4 ,dr4 ,stebbing's sermon1 7for which ,i thank your ,lordship7 confirms me more and more in my opinion1 that ,i ought to be instant in season and out of season4 ,for to me1 he seems to know no more of the true nature of regeneration1 than ,nicodemus did1 when he came to ,,jesus by night4 ,your ,lordship may observe1 that he does not speak a word of original sin1 or the dreadful consequences of our fall in ,adam1 upon which the doctrine of the new birth is entirely founded4 ,no3 like other polite preachers1 he seems to think in the very beginning of his discourse1 that ,st4 ,paul's description of the wickedness of the heathen is only to be referred to them of past ages3 whereas ,i affirm1 we are all included as much under the guilt and consequences of sin1 as they were2 and if any man preach any other doctrine1 he shall bear his punishment1 whosoever he be4 ,again1 my ,lord1 the ,doctor entirely mistakes us1 when we talk of the sensible operations of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he understands us just as those carnal ,jews understood ,,jesus ,,christ1 who1 when our ,,lord talked of giving them that bread which came down from heaven1 said1 8,how can this man give us his flesh to eat80 ,indeed ,i know not that we do use the word sensible1 when we are talking of the operations of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,but if we do1 we do not mean1 that ,,god's ,spirit does manifest itself to our senses1 but that it may be perceived by the soul1 as really as is any sensible impression made upon the body4 ,but to disprove this1 the ,doctor brings our ,,lord's allusion to the wind in the third of ,st4 ,john1 which is one of the best texts he could urge to prove it4 ,for if the analogy of our ,,lord's discourse be carried on1 we shall find it amounts to thus much3 that although the operations of the ,spirit of ,,god can no more be accounted for1 than how the wind cometh and whither it goeth2 yet may they be as easily felt by the soul as the wind may be felt by the body4 ,my ,lord1 indeed we speak what we know4 ,but1 says the ,doctor1 8,these men have no proof to offer for their inward manifestations40 ,what proof1 my ,lord1 does the ,doctor require8 ,would he have us raise dead bodies8 ,have we not done greater things than these8 ,i speak with all humility2 has not ,,god by our ministry raised many dead souls to a spiritual life8 ,verily1 if men will not believe the evidence ,,god has given that he sent us1 neither would they believe though one rose from the dead4 ,besides1 my ,lord1 the ,doctor charges us with things to which we are entire strangers1 such as the denying men the use of ,,god's creatures4 ,encouraging abstinence1 prayer1 c4 to the neglect of the duties of our stations4 ,,lord1 lay not this sin to his charge6 ,again1 he says1 8,that ,i suppose ,mr4 ,benjamin ,seward to be a person believing in ,,christ1 and blameless in his conversation1 before what ,i call his conversion40 ,but this is a direct untruth3 for it was through the want of a living faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 which he now has1 that he was not a christian before1 but a mere moralist4 ,your ,lordship knows that our article says1 8,works done without the ,spirit of ,,god1 and true faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 have the nature of sin40 ,and such were all the works done by ,mr4 ,benjamin ,seward1 before the time mentioned in my ,journal4 ,again1 my ,lord1 the ,doctor represents1 that as my opinion concerning quakers in general1 which ,i only meant of those ,i had conversed with in particular4 ,but the ,doctor1 and the rest of my reverend brethren1 are welcome to judge me as they please4,yet a little while1 and we shall all appear before the great ,shepherd of our souls4 ,there1 there1 my ,lord1 shall it be determined1 who are his true ministers1 and who are only wolves in sheeps cloathing4 ,our ,,lord1 ,i believe1 will not be ashamed to confess us publicly in that day4 ,i pray ,,god we all may approve ourselves such faithful ministers of the ,new ,testament1 that we may be able to lift up our heads with boldness4 ,as for declining the work in which ,i am engaged1 my blood runs chill at the very thoughts of it4 ,i am as much convinced1 it is my duty to act as ,i do1 as that the sun shines at noon-day4 ,i can foresee the consequences very well4 ,they have already in one sense thrust us out of the synagogues4 ,by and by they will think it is doing ,,god service to kill us4 ,but1 my ,lord1 if you and the rest of the bishops cast us out1 our great and common ,master will take us up4 ,though all men should deny us1 yet will not he4 ,and however you may censure us as evil doers1 and disturbers of the peace1 yet if we do suffer for our present way of acting1 your ,lordship at the great day will find1 that we suffer only for righteousness sake4 ,in patience therefore do ,i possess my soul4 ,i willingly tarry the ,,lord's leisure4 ,in the mean while ,i shall continually bear your ,lordship's favours upon my heart1 and endeavour to behave1 so as to subscribe myself1 my ,lord1 ,your ,lordship's obedient ,son1 and obliged servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,religious ,,societies ,,of ,,england4 ,written during the ,voyage to ,philadelphia1 #agci2 and particularly recommended to those who had then lately formed themselves into ,,religious ,,societies in ,scotland4 ,a ,,letter1 c4 ,my dear ,brethren in ,christ1 ,,the ,apostle in his epistle to the ,hebrews1 chapter x4 #bc4 exhorts them to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering2 and soon after adds1 as a most effectual means to so desirable an end1 8,let us consider one another to provoke unto love1 and to good works2 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together40 ,as christianity was not then the national religion1 ,i suppose the assemblies here intended1 were not such as our public congregations1 but rather little private societies1 or associations1 or churches1 as was the custom of the primitive christians1 who1 we are told1 continued stedfastly in the ,apostle's doctrine1 and in fellowship one with another4 ,this was the ,apostle's exhortation to the christians of those times2 and ,i am fully persuaded there never was more occasion for renewing it1 than the age wherein we live4 ,nothing hath of late more alarmed the enemies of the cross of ,,christ1 than the zeal that ,,god hath stirred up in the hearts of many to put in practice this apostolical injunction4 ,balls1 plays1 horse-races1 and such like unchristian and fatal entertainments1 are countenanced and supported by public authority4 ,and few as yet have had courage to speak1 preach1 or write for the suppressing them1 so plainly and publicly as they ought2 but1 if the children of ,,god meet 7as they are required7 to build up each other in their most holy ,faith1 almost every one's mouth is opened against them4 ,nay1 with grief it must be spoken1 even many of our masters in ,israel1 who ought to be patterns1 and promote every good word and work1 are not content with countenancing the polite and sinful diversions of the age by their presence and approbation1 but are generally most bitter in their invectives against religious societies4 ,the former1 though directly contrary to our baptismal vow1 are deemed innocent1 if not useful1 by them3 the latter1 they are continually crying down 7especially if any life or divine power be amongst them7 as schismatical1 seditious1 and tending to destroy the present established constitution4 ,for these1 and many such like reasons1 ,i1 as present with you in spirit1 though absent in body1 thought it my duty to put you in mind1 zealously to persist in your obedience to the forementioned injunction once delivered to the saints2 and so much the more1 as in all probability the day of persecution nearer and nearer approaches4 ,,god has given an harvest1 and there has been a gathering in3 a winnowing time will come4 ,his fan is already in his hand4 ,yet a little while1 and 7if the work lately begun be carried on7 ,i am persuaded he will throughly purge his flour4 ,the shepherds must first be smitten2 and next1 endeavours will be used to scatter the sheep4 ,the religious societies ,satan has undoubtedly desired to have1 that he may sift them as wheat4 ,my brethren1 watch and pray one for another1 that you may be enabled to stand in such an hour of temptation1 and having done all1 to stand4 ,be not ashamed of that wherein you ought to glory4 ,religious society is of divine extraction4 ,as ,,god made man1 so ,,god said1 8,it is not good that man should be alone3 ,i will make a help meet for him40 ,meet1 as ,i take it1 not merely for his body 7man had few corporal wants in paradise7 but chiefly and primarily for his better part the soul1 that he might have one to converse with of his own species1 bone of his bone1 and flesh of his flesh4 ,it is true1 man is now a fallen1 but yet he is a social creature3 and as the end of his coming into this world was to prepare for a better2 so without doubt the chief end of society in general1 and of religious society in particular1 is1 that we may be helps meet for each other in the great work of our salvation4 ,upon this account it was1 that the first christians so frequently assembled themselves together1 when obliged to shut the doors for fear of the ,jews2 and their continuing in fellowship with each other1 was one main reason why they continued stedfast in the apostles doctrine4 ,take then1 my brethren1 the primitive christians for your examples3 their practices are recorded for our learning4 ,no power on earth can lawfully forbid or hinder your imitating them4 ,in all such cases we must obey ,,god rather than man2 otherwise1 we so far deny our holy profession1 and are enemies to the cross of ,,christ3 and though1 because you have got a little out of the formal way1 some blind zealots may brand you as schismatical2 yet if you fear ,,god1 and truly honour the ,king1 and are of the number of those who are quiet in the land1 there is no reason can be urged against your societies1 which will not equally hold good against all assembling together for religious purposes4 ,in this respect1 a private prelate has no more authority than a private presbyter4 ,if it be lawful for more than five to meet in a private vestry1 it is equally lawful for more than five to meet in a private house2 as is the practice of some of the societies who are under the government of those called the ,twelve ,stewards4 ,if it be enquired of you1 by what authority you use sometimes to pray without a premeditated form of words2 you may enquire1 8,by what authority any one reads the church forms1 who is not commissioned so to do1 and that in any place but in the church10 where only they are appointed to be read1 and only by one so commissioned8 ,if they reply1 8,we have ,doctor ,woodward's form20 you may answer them with this question1 8,what difference is there1 in respect to others1 between a person's reading a form1 which few that hear it know beforehand1 and a person's praying extempore1 as the ,holy ,spirit gives him utterance80 ,if they laugh at the mention of 8praying by the ,spirit10 brethren1 ,i hope you know better4 ,stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith ,,christ has made you free2 and be not afraid1 by such a practice1 to make innovations in the church1 which does not confine its members to forms1 but within the church walls1 nor even there altogether4 ,in private assemblies1 such as yours1 all are left to their liberty2 and therefore1 as many as would hinder you in this1 at once discover their pitiable ignorance of that constitution they pretend to promote1 and an unhappy estrangement from the spirit and privileges of the gospel4 ,how to improve your meetings1 so as best to promote ,,god's glory1 and the good of your own souls1 ought to be your constant and chief concern3 for as christians in general1 so members of religious societies in particular1 are as cities built upon a hill2 and therefore it more highly concerns them to let their light so shine before men1 that they seeing their good works1 may glorify our ,father who is in heaven4 ,not that a communion of perfect saints is to be expected here on earth3 or that you ought to be immediately offended1 if some of your brethren should be overtaken with a fault4 ,in this world1 tares will be always springing up amongst the wheat4 ,many that are first1 will be last1 and the last first4 ,nay1 it is well if some1 like ,judas1 do not at length lay aside their profession1 and openly betray our ,master4 ,to prevent this1 you ought to be very cautious1 my brethren1 whom you admit into fellowship with you4 ,examine them again and again1 not barely whether they receive the sacrament1 and go to church2 but whether they be in the faith4 ,set them upon proving their own selves2 and by no means receive them into your brotherhood1 unless they can produce sufficient evidences of their having tasted the good word of life1 and felt the powers of the world to come4 ,this1 some may object1 is not a very good way to increase and multiply you as to number2 but it is the best1 the only way1 to establish and increase a communion of true saints4 ,and such a society1 consisting of a few solid christians1 is far preferable to one that is filled with a multitude of such as do not bring forth fruit unto holiness1 but have only the fig-leaves of an outward profession4 ,formal hypocrites will do any society more harm than good3 and however they may endure for a while1 and receive the word with joy2 yet1 having no root in themselves1 in time of temptation they will shamefully fall away4 ,next to your care about admitting others1 ,i think it highly concerns you1 whenever you assemble1 to remember the end of meeting1 yourselves2 and then 7to use the words of the wise son of ,sirach on another occasion7 8you will never do amiss40 ,now1 the end of your meeting1 brethren1 is not that you may think yourselves more holy than your neighbours1 much less to form a sect or party1 or promote a schism or sedition in the church or state4 ,no3 such thoughts1 ,i trust1 are far from you3 for they are earthly1 sensual1 devilish4 ,and1 if ever such designs should be set on foot1 ,i earnestly pray ,,god the abettors of them may be detected1 and all their schemes1 though never so plausibly concerted1 fall to the ground4 ,the only end which1 ,i hope1 you all propose by your assembling yourselves together1 is the same for which you were redeemed1 8,the renewing of your depraved natures1 and promoting the hidden life of ,,jesus ,,christ in your souls40 ,these terms1 however foolishness to others1 ,i trust1 my brethren1 are not so to you4 ,i take it for granted1 you are not only desirous of1 but already in some measure blessed with1 a saving experimental knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ in your hearts3 for unless a man be born again from above1 and made a partaker of the divine nature by the indwelling of ,,god's ,holy ,spirit1 he can in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,whoever denies this to be true in the most literal1 real1 and absolute sense of the words1 knows nothing yet as he ought to know3 for it is grounded on a self-evident truth1 that we are fallen from ,,god in ,adam1 and must be renewed in the spirit of our minds1 ere we can be restored to that blissful communion with him1 which is the free gift of ,,god and eternal life4 ,the only way to this1 is faith in ,,jesus ,,christ2 faith in contradistinction to1 though necessarily productive of1 good works4 8,i am the way1 the truth1 and the life3 whosoever believeth on me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live10 says ,,christ himself4 ,and ,i think it my bounden duty1 to exhort you at this time1 to contend earnestly for the doctrine of ,justification by faith only1 because so many blind guides are lately gone out into the world4 ,my brethren1 it is much to be feared that many of our present preachers are no better than doctrinal papists4 ,and however this1 to those who having eyes see not1 may be judged an uncharitable censure2 yet surely they cannot justly blame me for want of candour1 who consider1 that one of the most reputed orthodox prelates in the kingdom1 in a late pastoral letter advises his clergy1 8,so to explain the doctrine of justification in the sight of ,,god by faith only1 as to make good works a necessary condition40 ,such advice from a ,roman cardinal would be no more than we might expect2 but1 coming from a bishop of the ,church of ,england1 is surprising1 and much to be lamented4 ,,god forbid1 my brethren1 that you should so learn ,,christ6 ,if the scriptures are true1 such a doctrine is absolutely false4 ,the lively oracles no where declare good works to be a necessary condition of our justification in the sight of ,,god2 on the contrary1 they every where affirm1 that 8,salvation is the free gift of ,,god1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord3 that we are saved by grace through faith2 and that it is not of works1 lest any man should boast40 ,no1 my brethren1 in the great mystery of man's redemption by ,,jesus ,,christ1 boasting is entirely excluded4 ,we must not expect to be saved1 or any way recommend ourselves to ,,god1 by any or all the works of righteousness which we have done1 or shall1 or can do4 ,the ,,lord ,,christ is our righteousness1our whole righteousness3 imputed to us1 instead of our own4 8,we are compleat in him10 says the scripture4 8,we are accounted righteous before ,,god1 only for the merits of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 by faith10 saith the eleventh article of our church4 ,and if so1 how are good works1 my brethren1 a necessary condition of our justification in the sight of ,,god8 ,the law indeed says1 8,do this1 and live30 but the gospel brings us the glad tidings1 that 8,,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,,christ1 by his sacrifice1 and perfect obedience1 has every way fulfilled the law for us2 and ,,god will not require to be paid twice4 ,,christ bought our justification with a great price1 even with his own blood4 ,it comes to us freely1 without any regard to works past1 present1 or to come4 ,this is the constant language of ,,christ and his apostles2 and therefore1 to use the words of the forementioned article1 8,that we are justified by faith only1 is a most wholesome doctrine1 and very full of comfort40 ,observe1 my brethren1 justified by or through faith1 and not for faith2 for faith is only a means or instrument whereby the whole righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ is applied to the sinner's soul3 and whosoever does thus believe in his heart1 setting to his seal that ,,god is true1 may be assured that his pardon is sealed in heaven2 notwithstanding he has lived in an open breach of ,,god's commandments all his life-time before4 8,believe1 7says the apostle to the trembling jailor17 and thou shalt be saved30 8,whosoever believeth that ,,jesus is the ,,christ1 is born of ,,god40 ,so that this faith will not be dead1 idle or inactive3 for 'tis not a faith of the head1 or a bare assent to things credible as credible2 the devils thus believe and tremble3 but it is a faith of the heart1 a living principle of new life1 infused into the soul by the spirit of ,,god1 applying that inwardly1 which was wrought for him outwardly by the obedience and death of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and continually exciting the possessor of it to shew it forth by his works2 not as necessary conditions1 but as proofs of his justification in ,,god's sight2 and as so many tokens of his gratitude and love for what ,,god has done for his soul4 ,this is what the apostle stiles a 8,faith working by love40 8jaylor0 replaced with 8jailor0 ,i cannot conclude this better than in the words of a truly evangelical writer now before me4 8,the law 7sayst thou7 must be obeyed40 ,i answer1 8,,christ ,,jesus hath done that in his own person1 and justified me thereby2 and1 for my own part1 ,i will not labour now to fulfil the law for justification1 lest ,i should undervalue the merits of the man ,,christ ,,jesus1 and what he hath done without me2 and yet will ,i labour to fulfil1 if possible1 ten thousand laws if there were so many3 and ,o let it be out of love to my sweet ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,for the love of ,,christ constrains me40 ,you see1 my brethren1 this is a topic which ,i love to dwell upon4 ,a divine fire kindles in my heart1 whilst ,i am musing on1 and writing to you about it3 and ,i should here enlarge1 but ,i must hasten to recommend to you another thing of unspeakable importance to the well-being of christian society1 a spirit of universal love4 ,let not bigotry or party-zeal be so much as once named amongst you2 for it becometh not saints4 ,our ,,lord was a stranger to it4 ,whosoever did the will of his father1 the same was his brother1 his sister1 his mother4 ,wherever he saw the marks of true faith1 though in a centurion or a ,syrophenician1 who were aliens to the commonwealth of ,israel1 and strangers to the covenant of promise1 how did he publish and commend it8 ,be followers then of him1 my brethren1 as dear children2 and love all who love our ,,lord ,,jesus in sincerity and truth1 although they should not in all things follow with us4 ,pharisees and ,sadducees1 the self-righteous and free-thinkers of this generation1 all the children of the devil1 whether rich or poor1 high or low1 however they may differ in other respects1 yet agree in one thing1 even to conspire against the ,,lord and against his ,,christ4 ,why should not the children of ,,god1 notwithstanding their little differences1 unite in one common interest against spiritual wickednesses in high places8 ,o that all who call themselves christians1 were thus minded6 ,how should we see the kingdom of ,,christ come with power1 and ,satan like lightning fall from heaven6 ,from the beginning1 it hath been his policy to divide christians into sects and parties1 hoping not only to weaken their interest1 but to make them thereby believe1 that religion wholly consists in being of this or that particular communion3 and this subtilty of that old serpent hath so prevailed1 that though we all profess to hold one ,,lord1 one faith1 one baptism2 yet numbers look upon those who differ from them1 and that only in externals1 almost as creatures of another species1 and forbid us with such even to eat4 ,this was once the state of the ,jewish1 as it is now of the christian church2but ,,god shewed his dislike of such a temper1 by convincing ,peter in a miraculous manner1 that he was henceforward to call nothing common or unclean1 but freely to converse with all who feared him and worked righteousness1 for that all such were accepted of him4 ,my brethren1 be not you disobedient to this heavenly vision3 for our sakes no doubt it was written1 and for as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call4 ,the self-righteous1 and perhaps some who are weak in faith1 will censure and condemn your conduct 7as the brethren did ,peter7 when they behold your free conversation in ,,christ3 but ,peter has furnished you with an answer1 8,forasmuch as ,,god hath given to them the like gift as to us1 who believed on ,,jesus1 what are we1 that we should withstand ,,god80 ,how dare we make a difference1 when ,,god has made none8 ,how dare we not freely converse with those who have received the ,holy ,ghost1 as well as we8 ,further1 my brethren1 content not yourselves with reading1 singing and praying together2 but set some time apart to confess your faults and communicate your experiences one to another4 ,for want of this 7which ,i take to be one chief design of private meetings7 most of the old societies in ,london1 ,i fear1 are sunk into a dead formality1 and have only a name to live4 ,they meet on a sabbath evening1 read a chapter1 and sing a psalm2 but seldom1 if ever1 acquaint each other with the operations of ,,god's spirit upon their souls2 notwithstanding this was the great end and intention of those who first began these societies4 ,hence it is that they have only the form of godliness left amongst them1 and continue utter strangers to the state of one another's hearts4 ,how love1 or the power of religion can subsist in such a lukewarm and superficial way of proceeding1 is very hard to conceive4 ,my brethren1 let not your coming together be thus altogether in vain1 but plainly and freely tell one another what ,,god has done for your souls4 ,to this end1 you would do well1 as others have done1 to form yourselves into little companies of four or five each1 and meet once a week to tell each other what is in your hearts2 that you may then also pray for and comfort each other1 as need shall require4 ,none but those that have experienced it can tell the unspeakable advantages of such a union and communion of souls4 ,by this means1 brotherly love will be excited and increased amongst you1 and you will learn to watch over one another for good4 ,this will teach you the better how to pray1 and to give thanks for each other in your private retirement1 and happily prevent and deliver you from many snares of the devil3 for ,satan loves that we should keep his temptations to ourselves1 but cares not so much to meddle with those1 who he knows will discover his devices to their brethren4 ,besides1 this is a most effectual means for each to try the sincerity of his own heart1 as well as another's4 ,no one1 ,i think1 that truly loves his own soul1 and his brethren as himself1 will be shy of opening his heart1 in order to have their advice1 reproof1 admonition1 and prayers1 as occasions require4 ,a sincere person will esteem it one of the greatest blessings2 nor do ,i know a better means in the world to keep hypocrisy out from amongst you4 ,pharisees and unbelievers will pray1 read1 and sing psalms2 but none1 save an ,israelite indeed1 will endure to have his heart searched out4 8,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear40 8societes0 replaced with 8societies0 ,finally1 my brethren1 expect a large share of contempt2 for ,,christ's servants were always the world's fools4 8,as for this sect or heresy1 7said the ,jews to ,paul17 we know it is every where spoken against40 ,and ,paul himself1 before converted1 had authority from the chief priests1 to bring as many as he found of this way before them4 ,thus were the disciples of the ,,lord treated in the infancy of the church2 and as it was formerly1 so it is and will be now4 ,in our days1 to be a true christian1 is really to become a scandal4 ,if you were of the world1 the world would love its own2 but if you are not of the world1 and ,,christ has chosen you out of the world1 for this very cause the world most assuredly will hate you4 ,however it may seem strange to the natural man1 yet there never was a true saint1 who was not1 like his ,saviour1 accounted beside himself4 ,and they that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 must to the end of time suffer persecution for his name's sake4 ,but1 ,,god forbid1 my brethren1 that a little1 nay1 that all the contempt in the world1 should anywise move you away from the stedfast profession of the hope of the gospel4 ,our ,,lord was despised before us2 and you know the servant must not presume to be above his master4 ,no2 it is sufficient if he be as his master1 8,made perfect through sufferings40 ,be stedfast therefore1 my brethren1 quit yourselves like men1 be strong2 yea1 8,be strong in the ,,lord1 and in the power of his might40 ,be not ashamed of the gospel of ,,christ1 but follow your master without the camp1 bearing his sacred reproach4 ,when you are reviled1 revile not again4 ,bless1 my brethren1 and curse not4 ,be subject to the higher power in all lawful things1 and beware of all who would turn religion into faction4 ,remember again and again1 that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal2 and that it is our glory1 when called to it1 patiently to suffer for the truth's sake4 ,thus1 my brethren1 out of the fulness of my heart have ,i written unto you4 ,many of you ,i never yet saw1 and perhaps never may see in the flesh2 however1 ,i love you in the bowels of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and heartily beseech ,,god to bless what ,i trust his spirit has now enabled me to write unto you4 ,you see1 my brethren1 ,i have confined myself to such particulars as relate to the improving your societies1 and making them truly christian4 ,i hope you will in like manner take heed to your ways in common life1 and never give the adversary room justly1 to speak reproachfully of your conduct4 ,my brethren1 the eyes of all men are upon you4 ,indeed it highly concerns you to walk exceedingly circumspect towards those that are without4 ,i am sure you will not be offended1 if1 out of love1 ,i remind you to perform all relative duties with the utmost cheerfulness1 and with a single eye to the glory of ,,god4 ,let your obedience be constant1 universal and uniform1 founded on a living faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 that by well-doing you may put to silence the slanders of foolish and evil men4 ,let your speech1 and all your actions1 manifest whose disciples you are4 ,confess your ,,lord publicly before men1 and be not afraid to tell those that have ears to hear1 what ,,god has done for your souls4 ,it is good to keep close the secrets of a king1 but it is honourable to reveal the works of the ,almighty4 ,above all things1 my brethren1 have fervent charity among yourselves4 ,bear ye one another's burdens1 and so fulfil the law of ,,christ4 ,be pitiful1 be courteous1 be tender-hearted2 and let it be said of you as of the primitive saints1 ,see how these christians love one another4 ,fulfil all righteousness1 by constantly attending on every ordinance of ,,god4 ,use1 but not abuse the means of grace1 by resting on them2 knowing that 8,the kingdom of ,,god is not meats and drinks1 but righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost40 ,think that day lost1 wherein you do not make an advance in some of these4 ,the work of regeneration1 though instantaneous at first1 is progressive afterwards4 ,the seed sown in the heart must be continually watered1 otherwise it will not grow into a great tree4 ,i pray ,,god therefore to sanctify you throughout1 in spirit1 soul and body1 and preserve you blameless till the coming of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ with all his saints4 ,then all tears shall be wiped away from your eyes1 and we shall spend an endless eternity in singing praises to him that sitteth upon the throne1 even unto the ,lamb for ever and ever4 ,now unto ,him that is able to keep you from falling1 and to preserve you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy1 to the only wise ,,god our ,saviour1 be glory and majesty1 dominion and power1 both now and ever4 ,amen6 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,inhabitants ,,of ,,maryland1 ,,virginia1 ,,north and ,,south-,,carolina4 ,a ,,letter1 c4 ,savannah1 ,january #bc1 #agdj4 ,,as ,i lately passed through your provinces1 in my way hither1 ,i was sensibly touched with a fellow-feeling of the miseries of the poor negroes4 ,could ,i have preached more frequently among you1 ,i should have delivered my thoughts to you in my public discourses3 but1 as business here required me to stop as little as possible on the road1 ,i have no other way to discharge the concern which at present lies upon my heart1 than by sending you this letter4 ,how you will receive it1 ,i know not2 whether you will accept it in love1 or be offended with me1 as the master of the damsel was with ,paul for calling the evil spirit out of her1 when he saw the hope of his gain was gone1 is uncertain3 but whatever be the event1 ,i must inform you1 in the meekness and gentleness of ,,christ1 that ,i think ,,god has a quarrel with you1 for your abuse of and cruelty to the poor negroes4 ,whether it be lawful for christians to buy slaves1 and thereby encourage the nations from whence they are brought to be at perpetual war with each other1 ,i shall not take upon me to determine2 but sure ,i am it is sinful1 when bought1 to use them as bad as1 nay worse than brutes3 and whatever particular exceptions there may be1 7as ,i would charitably hope there are some7 ,i fear the generality of you that own negroes1 are liable to such a charge2 for your slaves1 ,i believe1 work as hard1 if not harder1 than the horses whereon you ride4 ,these1 after they have done their work1 are fed and taken proper care of2 but many negroes1 when wearied with labour in your plantations1 have been obliged to grind their own corn after they return home4 ,your dogs are caressed and fondled at your tables2 but your slaves1 who are frequently stiled dogs or beasts1 have not an equal privilege3 they are scarce permitted to pick up the crumbs which fall from their masters tables2 nay1 some1 as ,i have been informed by an eye-witness1 have been1 upon the most trifling provocation1 cut with knives1 and have had forks thrown into their flesh3 not to mention what numbers have been given up to the inhuman usage of cruel task-masters1 who by their unrelenting scourges have ploughed upon their backs1 and made long furrows1 and at length brought them even to death itself4 ',tis true1 ,i hope1 there are but few such monsters of barbarity suffered to subsist amongst you3 some1 ,i hear1 have been lately executed in ,virginia for killing slaves2 and the laws are very severe against such who at any time murder them4 ,and perhaps it might be better for the poor creatures themselves1 to be hurried out of life1 than to be made so miserable as they generally are in it4 ,and indeed1 considering what usage they commonly meet with1 ,i have wondered1 that we have not more instances of self-murder among the negroes1 or that they have not more frequently risen up in arms against their owners4 ,virginia has been once1 and ,charles-,town more than once1 threatned in this way4 ,and though ,i heartily pray ,,god1 they may never be permitted to get the upper hand2 yet1 should such a thing be permitted by providence1 all good men must acknowledge the judgment would be just4 ,for is it not the highest ingratitude1 as well as cruelty1 not to let your poor slaves enjoy some fruits of their labour8 ,when passing along1 whilst ,i have viewed your plantations cleared and cultivated1 many spacious houses built1 and the owners of them faring sumptuously every day1 my blood has frequently almost run cold within me1 to consider how many of your slaves had neither convenient food to eat1 nor proper raiment to put on1 notwithstanding most of the comforts you enjoy1 were solely owing to their indefatigable labours4 ,the scripture says1 8,thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn40 ,does ,,god take care of oxen8 ,and will he not take care of the negroes also8 ,undoubtedly he will4 8,go to now1 ye rich men1 weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you40 ,behold the provision of the poor negroes which have reaped down your fields1 which is by you denied them1 crieth1 and the cries of them who reaped1 are entered into the ears of the ,,lord of ,sabaoth4 ,we have a remarkable instance of ,,god's taking cognisance1 and avenging the quarrel1 of poor slaves1 #b ,samuel xxi4 #a4 8,then there was a famine in the days of ,david1 three years1 year after year2 and ,david enquired of the ,,lord4 ,and the ,,lord answered1 ,it is for ,saul and his bloody house1 because he slew the ,gibeonites40 ,two things are here very remarkable2 first1 that these ,gibeonites were only hewers of wood and drawers of water1 or1 in other words1 slaves like yours4 ,secondly1 that this plague was sent by ,,god1 many years after the injury1 the cause of the plague1 was committed4 ,and for what end was this and such like examples recorded in holy scripture8 ,without doubt for our learning1 upon whom the ends of the world are come3 for ,,god is the same to-day1 as he was yesterday1 and will continue the same for ever4 ,he does not reject the prayer of the poor and destitute1 nor disregard the cry of the meanest negroes3 their blood which has been spilt1 for these many years in your respective provinces1 will ascend up to heaven against you2 ,i wish ,i could say1 it would speak better things than the blood of ,abel4 ,but this is not all4 ,enslaving or misusing their bodies1 comparatively speaking1 would be an inconsiderable evil1 was proper care taken of their souls3 but ,i have great reason to believe1 that most of you on purpose keep your negroes ignorant of christianity2 or otherwise1 why are they permitted through your provinces openly to profane the ,,lord's day1 by their dancing1 piping1 and such like8 ,i know the general pretence for this neglect of their souls1 is1 that teaching them christianity would make them proud1 and consequently unwilling to submit to slavery4 ,but what a dreadful reflection is this upon your holy religion8 ,what blasphemous notions must those have1 that make such an objection1 of the precepts of christianity6 ,do you find any one command in the gospel1 that has the least tendency to make people forget their relative duties8 ,do you not read1 that servants1 and as many as are under the yoke of bondage1 are required to be subject in all lawful things to their masters1 and that not only to the good and gentle1 but also to the froward8 ,nay1 may not ,i appeal to your own hearts1 whether deviating from the laws of ,,jesus ,,christ1 is not the cause of all the evils and miseries mankind now universally groan under1 and of all the vices we find both in ourselves and others8 ,certainly it is4 ,and therefore the reason why servants generally prove so bad is1 because so little care is taken to breed them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,,lord4 ,but some will be so bold perhaps as to reply1 8,that a few of the negroes have been taught christianity1 and notwithstanding have been remarkably worse than others40 ,but what christianity were they taught8 ,they were baptized1 and taught to read and write3 and this they may do1 and much more1 and yet be far from the kingdom of ,,god2 for there is a vast difference between civilizing and christianizing a negroe4 ,a black as well as a white man1 may be civilized by outward restraints1 and afterwards break through those restraints again2 but ,i challenge the world to produce a single instance of a negroe's being made a thorough christian1 and thereby made a worse servant2 it cannot be4 ,but further1 if the teaching slaves christianity has such a bad influence upon their lives1 why are you generally desirous of having your children taught8 ,think you1 they are any way better by nature1 than the poor negroes8 ,no1 in nowise4 ,blacks are just as much1 and no more1 conceived and born in sin1 as white men are3 both1 if born and bred up here1 ,i am persuaded are naturally capable of the same improvement4 ,and as for the grown negroes1 ,i am apt to think1 whenever the gospel is preached with power amongst them1 that many will be brought effectually home to ,,god4 ,your present and past bad usage of them1 however ill-designed1 may thus far do them good1 as to break their wills1 increase the sense of their natural misery1 and consequently better dispose their minds to accept the redemption wrought out for them by the death and obedience of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,not long since1 ,,god hath been pleased to make some of the negroes in ,new-,england1 vessels of mercy2 and some1 ,i hear1 have been brought to cry out 8,what shall we do to be saved80 in the province of ,pensylvania4 ,doubtless there is a time1 when the fulness of the ,gentiles will come in and then1 ,i believe1 if not before1 these despised slaves will find the gospel of ,,christ to be the power of ,,god to their salvation1 as well as we4 ,but ,i know1 all arguments to prove the necessity of taking care of your negroes souls1 though never so conclusive1 will prove ineffectual1 till you are convinced of the necessity of securing the salvation of your own4 ,that you yourselves are not effectually convinced of this1 ,i think is too notorious to want evidence4 ,a general deadness as to divine things1 and not to say a general profaneness1 is discernible both in pastors and people4 ,most of you are without any teaching priest4 ,and whatever quantity of rum there may be1 yet ,i fear but very few bibles are annually imported into your different provinces4 ,,god has already begun to visit for this1 as well as for other wicked things4 ,for near two years last past1 he has been in a remarkable manner contending with the people of ,south-,carolina3 their houses have been depopulated with the small pox and fever1 and their own slaves have risen up in arms against them4 ,these judgments are undoubtedly sent abroad1 not only that the inhabitants of that1 but of other provinces1 should learn righteousness3 and unless you all repent1 you all must in like manner expect to perish4 ,,god first generally corrects us with whips3 if that will not do1 he must chastise us with scorpions4 ,a foreign enemy is now threatning to invade you2 and nothing will more provoke ,,god1 to give you up as a prey into their teeth1 than impenitence and unbelief4 ,let these be removed1 and the sons of violence shall not be able to hurt you3 no2 your oxen shall be strong to labour2 there shall be no decay of your people by epidemical sickness2 no leading away into captivity from abroad2 and no complaining in your streets at home4 ,your sons shall grow up as young plants1 and your daughters be as the polished corners of the temple3 and1 to sum up all blessings in one1 8,then shall the ,,lord be your ,,god40 ,that you may be the people who are in such a happy case1 is the earnest prayer of1 ,your sincere well-wisher and servant in ,,christ1 ,g4 ,w4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,some ,,church-,,members ,,of ,,the ,,presbyterian ,persuasion1 ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,certain ,,scruples lately proposed1 in proper ,,queries raised on each ,,remark4 ,a ,,letter1 c4 ,new-,york1 ,november #a1 #agdj4 ,my dear ,friends1 ,,last night and this morning ,i read your queries and scruples4 ,whether they were compiled by church-members1 or ministers of the presbyterian persuasion1 ,i shall not take upon me to determine4 ,i think ,i may say with ,david1 though on another occasion1 8,joab's hand is in this40 ,if your ministers were really the authors1 and you only their representatives1 they have not acted simply4 ,they had better have spoken out4 ,i should as readily have answered them as you4 ,solomon says1 8,he that hateth reproof1 is brutish40 ,and if ,i know any thing of my own heart1 ,i should think myself obliged to any one that convinces me of an error1 either in principle or practice4 ,i therefore assure you1 that ,i do not find the least resentment stirring in my soul against those 7whoever they be7 that proposed the queries1 or against the reverend presbytery that advised you to send them to me in a public manner3 no1 ,i rejoice in it2 because it gives me an opportunity of doing what my friends know ,i have for some time proposed1 the correcting some passages in my printed sermons4 ,i think it no dishonour1 to retract some expressions that formerly dropped from my pen1 before ,,god was pleased to give me a more clear knowledge of the doctrines of grace4 ,st4 ,austin1 ,i think1 did so before me4 ,the ,,lord's dealing with me was somewhat out of the common way4 ,i can say1 to the honour of rich free distinguishing grace1 that ,i received the ,spirit of adoption before ,i had conversed with one man1 or read a single book1 on the doctrine of 8,free justification by the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,no wonder then1 that ,i was not so clear in some points at my first setting out in the ministry4 ,our ,,lord was pleased to enlighten me by degrees2 and ,i desire your prayers1 that his grace may shine more and more in my heart1 till it breaks forth into perfect day4 ,but to come to the exceptionable passages in my sermons4 ,you blame me for saying1 ,volume ,,ii4 page #ag4 8,that ,adam was adorned with all the perfections of the ,deity40 ,it is a wrong expression3 ,i would correct it thus3 8,all the moral communicable perfections of the ,deity40 ,again1 8,man was the perfection of the moral and material world3 let it stand thus3 8,the perfection of all the visible world40 ,volume ,,ii4 page #bb and #bc4 8,washes the guilt of sin away by the tears of a sincere repentance1 joined with faith in the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,this is false divinity3 ,i would now alter it thus3 8,recovers his former peace1 by renewing his acts of faith on the perfect righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,volume ,i4 page #gi4 8,and which alone can render any of our actions acceptable in ,,god's sight40 ,it should be1 8,and without which1 any of our actions cannot be acceptable in ,,god's sight40 ,volume ,i4 page #af4 8,who vainly depend on their own righteousness1 and not on the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 imputed to1 and inherent in them1 as necessary for their eternal salvation40 ,to avoid all mistakes1 ,i would express myself in this manner1 8,who have neither ,,christ's righteousness imputed to them1 for their justification in the fight1 nor holiness wrought in their souls as the consequence of that1 in order to make them meet for the enjoyment of ,,god40 ,volume ,i4 page #g4 ,for1 8,to qualify us for being savingly in ,,christ10 read1 8,to qualify us for living eternally with ,,christ40 ,the seeming contradiction in my sermon1 ,volume ,,ii4 page #abh4 compared with page #acg4 ,i think may be reconciled by that passage of the ,apostle1 8,after you believed1 you were sealed by the ,spirit of promise40 ,your arguing on this head1 page #ba4 section vii4 ,i think is not so clear4 ,might you not as reasonably have blamed ,,jesus ,,christ for saying to a dead man1 8,lazarus1 come forth80 ,however1 instead of quickening ,spirit1 volume ,,ii4 page #acg4 let it be read1 8sanctifying ,spirit40 ,volume ,,ii4 page #cc4 8,the man ,,christ ,,jesus is spiritually formed in your hearts40 ,i would alter it thus1 8,that ,,christ is formed within you40 ,volume ,i4 page #ec4 8,the many souls that are nourished weekly by the spiritual body and blood of ,,jesus ,,christ by your means40 ,let it be altered for these words1 8,nourished weekly at the ,,lord's supper by your means40 ,i see no reason to alter my explanation of the words1 8,baptizing them into the nature of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost20 and1 8,,christ spiritually conceived in the heart of ,eve30 ,i mean no more by these expressions than the ,apostle1 when he says1 8,know ye not that ,,christ is in you1 unless you be reprobates80 ,and again1 8,no one can call ,,christ1 ,lord1 but by the ,holy ,ghost40 ,and again1 8,we are made partakers of a divine nature40 ,volume ,,ii4 page #abh4 these words in the ,lord's prayer may be left out3 though1 if the word name signifies ,,god's attributes1 according to your own confession1 why may it not signify his essence8 ,what are ,,god's attributes but ,,god himself8 ,volume ,i4 page #ad4 ,after1 8essential ones too10 insert1 8if persons are capable of performing them40 ,these1 if ,i mistake not1 are all the passages in my sermons1 which you object against4 ,and now to convince you1 that ,i am not ashamed to own my faults1 ,i can inform you of other passages as justly exceptionable4 ,in my sermon on justification1 ,i seem to assert universal redemption1 which ,i now absolutely deny4 ,in my almost christian1 ,i talk of works procuring us so high a crown4 ,in my sermon on the marks of the new-birth1 ,i say1 8,we shall endure to the end1 if we continue so04 ,these1 and perhaps some other passages1 though capable of a candid interpretation1 ,i now dislike2 and in the next edition of my sermons1 ,,god willing1 ,i propose to alter them4 ,in the mean while1 ,i shall be thankful to any that will point out my errors2 and ,i promise1 by divine assistance1 they shall have no reason to say1 8,that ,i am one who hates to be reformed40 8,let the righteous smite me1 it shall be a kindness2 and let him reprove me1 and it shall be an excellent oil1 which shall not break my head3 for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities40 ,as for your insinuating1 that ,i countenance ,mr4 ,wesley in his errors1 it is no such thing4 ,i prefaced ,halyburton's ,memoirs before ,i saw what ,mr4 ,wesley had written2 and since ,i have seen it1 have more than once said1 8,if ,i had known what ,mr4 ,wesley had written1 ,i would not have prefaced ,halyburton at all4 ,i do not understand ,mr4 ,wesley in his interpretation of these words1 8,he that is born again of ,,god1 sinneth not20 and therefore have torn off that part of his preface1 out of several of those books which ,i have given away lately1 and have acquainted him in what ,i think in this particular he errs1 by sundry letters4 ,you wrong me1 if you think ,i am an ,antinomian4 ,for when ,i say1 8,,god made no second covenant with ,adam10 ,i mean no more than this3 8,,god made no second covenant with ,adam in his own person in behalf of his posterity2 nor did man's acceptance in the sight of ,,god1 after the fall1 depend1 either wholly or in part1 on his works1 as before the fall40 ,whoever reads the author of ,the ,whole ,duty of ,man1 will find he thinks otherwise2 and ,i believe your friends in ,scotland will not thank you for defending that book1 as you seemingly have done in your late queries4 ,your objections1 concerning my favourable opinion of some particular quakers that ,i have conversed with2 and also about some particular promises1 which ,i think have been made me1 you may find satisfied in my 8,answer to the ,bishop of ,london's last ,pastoral ,letter10 and in a 8,letter to the ,bishop of ,gloucester40 ,i am no friend to casting lots2 but ,i believe1 on extraordinary occasions1 when things can be determined no other way1 ,,god1 if appealed to1 and waited on by prayer and fasting1 will answer by lot now1 as well as formerly4 ,do not condemn me for preaching extempore1 and for saying1 ,i am helped often immediately in that exercise2 when thousands can prove1 as well as myself1 that it has been so4 ,neither should you censure me as one that would lay aside reading4 ,i am of ,bishop ,sanderson's mind3 8,study without prayer1 is atheism2 prayer without study1 presumption40 ,blame not me1 for the warmth of some of my adherents1 as you call them4 ,one of your ministers knows1 how sharply ,i rebuked one of them for his warmth1 at ,forks-,manor4 ,i am for loving as brethren1 and wish all would copy after the lowly ,,jesus4 ,but then ,i cannot discommend those 7supposing they do it in the spirit of meekness7 who exclaim against dry1 sapless1 unconverted ministers4 ,such surely are the bane of the christian church4 ,but my other affairs will not permit me to enlarge4 ,some of the latter part of your queries1 for your own1 and not my own sake1 ,i shall not mention4 ,i hope ,i can say with more sincerity than ,hazael1 8,is your servant a dog1 that he should do0 what you suggest6 ,but ,i pray ,,god to forgive you4 ,he knows my heart4 ,my one design is to bring poor souls to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i desire to avoid extremes1 so as not to be a bigot on the one hand1 or confound order and decency on the other4 ,and ,i could heartily wish the reverend presbytery1 when they advised you to publish your queries1 had also cautioned you against dipping your pen in so much gall4 ,surely your insinuations are contrary to that charity1 which hopeth and believeth all things for the best4 ,and ,i appeal to your own hearts1 whether it was right1 especially since you heard the constant tenor of my preaching in ,america has been calvinistical1 to censure me as a ,papist or ,arminian1 because a few unguarded expressions dropped from my pen1 just as ,i came from the university of ,oxford4 ,could ,archbishop ,tillotson1 or the ,author of ,the ,whole ,duty of ,man1 say so8 ,but ,i have done4 ,the ,,lord be with you6 ,i am a poor frail creature4 ,and as such ,i beseech you to pray for ,your affectionate friend and servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,a ,,letter ,to the ,,reverend ,,mr4 ,,john ,,wesley3 ,in ,,answer to his ,,sermon1 ,,entituled ,,free-,,grace4 ,but when ,peter was come to ,antioch1 ,i withstood him to the ,face1 because he was to be blamed4 ,,galatians ii4 #aa4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,,john ,,wesley4 ,,preface4 ,i ,,am very well aware1 what different effects the publishing this ,letter against the dear ,mr4 ,wesley's ,sermon will produce4 ,many of my friends1 that are strenuous advocates for universal ,redemption1 will immediately be offended4 ,many that are zealous on the other side1 will be much rejoiced4 ,they that are luke-warm on both sides1 and are carried away with carnal reasoning1 will wish this matter had never been brought under debate4 ,the reasons ,i have given at the beginning of the letter1 ,i think are sufficient to satisfy all1 of my conduct herein4 ,i desire therefore1 that they who hold ,election would not triumph1 or make a party on one hand2 7for ,i detest any such thing7 and that they who are prejudiced against that doctrine1 be not too much concerned or offended on the other4 ,known unto ,god are all his ways from the beginning of the world4 ,the great day will discover1 why the ,lord permits dear ,mr4 ,wesley and me to be of a different way of thinking4 ,at present1 ,i shall make no enquiry into that matter1 beyond the account which he has given of it himself in the following letter1 which ,i lately received from his own dear hands4 ,london1 ,august #i1 #agdj4 ,my dear ,brother1 ,i ,,thank you for yours1 ,may the #bdth4 ,the case is quite plain4 ,there are bigots both for predestination and against it4 ,god is sending a message to those on either side4 ,but neither will receive it1 unless from one who is of their own opinion4 ,therefore1 for a time you are suffered to be of one opinion1 and ,i of another4 ,but when his time is come1 ,god will do what man cannot1 namely1 make us both of one mind4 ,then persecution will flame out1 and it will be seen whether we count our lives dear unto ourselves1 so that we may finish our course with joy4 ,i am1 my dearest brother1 ,ever yours1 ,j4 ,,wesley4 ,thus my honoured friend1 ,i heartily pray ,god to hasten the time1 for his being clearly enlightened into all the doctrines of divine revelation1 that we may thus be closely united in principle and judgment1 as well as heart and affection4 ,and then if the ,lord should call us to it1 ,i care not if ,i go with him to prison1 or to death4 ,for like ,paul and ,silas1 ,i hope we shall sing praises to ,god1 and count it our highest honour to suffer for ,christ's sake1 and to lay down our lives for the brethren4 ,bethesda in ,georgia1 ,december #bd1 #agdj4 ,reverend and very dear ,brother1 ,,god only knows1 what unspeakable sorrow of heart ,i have felt on your account1 since ,i left ,england last4 ,whether it be my infirmity or not1 ,i frankly confess1 that ,jonah could not go with more reluctance against ,nineveh1 than ,i now take pen in hand to write against you4 ,was nature to speak1 ,i had rather die than do it2 and yet if ,i am faithful to ,,god1 and to my own and other's souls1 ,i must not stand neuter any longer4 ,i am very apprehensive1 that our common adversaries will rejoice to see us differing among ourselves4 ,but what can ,i say8 ,the children of ,,god are in danger of falling into error4 ,nay1 numbers have been misled1 whom ,,god has been pleased to work upon by my ministry1 and a greater number are still calling aloud upon me1 to shew also my opinion2 ,i must then shew1 that ,i know no man after the flesh1 and that ,i have no respect to persons1 any further than is consistent with my duty to my ,lord and ,master1 ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this letter1 no doubt1 will lose me many friends3 and for this cause1 perhaps ,,god has laid this difficult task upon me1 even to see whether ,i am willing to forsake all for him1 or not4 ,from such considerations as these1 ,i think it my duty to bear an humble testimony1 and earnestly to plead for the truths1 which ,i am convinced1 are clearly revealed in the word of ,,god4 ,in the defence whereof ,i must use great plainness of speech1 and treat my dearest friends upon earth with the greatest simplicity1 faithfulness and freedom1 leaving the consequences of all to ,,god4 ,for some time before1 and especially since my last departure from ,england1 both in public and private1 by preaching and printing1 you have been propagating the doctrine of universal redemption4 ,and when ,i remember1 how ,paul reproved ,peter for his dissimulation1 ,i fear ,i have been sinfully silent too long4 ,o then be not angry with me1 dear and honoured ,sir1 if now ,i deliver my soul1 by telling you1 that ,i think in this you greatly err4 ',tis not my design to enter into a long debate on ,,god's decrees4 ,i refer you to ,dr4 ,edwards his ,veritas ,redux1 which1 ,i think1 is unanswerable1 except in a certain point1 concerning a middle sort between elect and reprobate1 which he himself in effect afterwards condemns4 ,i shall only make a few remarks upon your sermon1 entitled ,free-,grace4 ,and before ,i enter upon the discourse itself1 give me leave to take a little notice of what1 in your preface1 you term an indispensible obligation1 to make it public to all the world4 ,i must own1 that ,i always thought you were quite mistaken upon that head4 ,the case 7you know7 stands thus3 ,when you was at ,bristol1 ,i think you received a letter from a private hand1 charging you with not preaching the gospel1 because you did not preach up election4 ,upon this you drew a lot3 the answer was 8preach and print40 ,i have often questioned1 as ,i do now1 whether in so doing1 you did not tempt the ,,lord4 ,a due exercise of religious prudence1 without a lot1 would have directed you in that matter4 ,besides1 ,i never heard that you enquired of ,,god1 whether or not election was a gospel doctrine8 ,but ,i fear1 taking it for granted1 it was not1 you only enquired1 whether you should be silent1 or preach and print against it8 ,however this be1 the lot came out 8preach and print20 accordingly you preached and printed against election4 ,at my desire1 you suppressed the publishing the sermon whilst ,i was in ,england2 but soon sent it into the world after my departure4 ,o that you had kept it in6 ,however1 if that sermon was printed in answer to a lot1 ,i am apt to think1 one reason1 why ,,god should so suffer you to be deceived1 was1 that hereby a special obligation might be laid upon me1 faithfully to declare the scripture doctrine of election1 that thus the ,,lord might give me a fresh opportunity of seeing what was in my heart1 and whether ,i would be true to his cause or not2 as you could not but grant1 he did once before1 by giving you such another lot at ,deal4 ,the morning ,i sailed from ,deal for ,gibraltar1 you arrived from ,georgia4 ,instead of giving me an opportunity to converse with you1 though the ship was not far off the shore2 you drew a lot1 and immediately set forwards to ,london4 ,you left a letter behind you1 in which were words to this effect4 8,when ,i saw ,,god1 by the wind which was carrying you out1 brought me in1 ,i asked counsel of ,,god4 ,his answer you have enclosed40 ,this was a piece of paper1 in which were written these words4 8,let him return to ,london40 ,when ,i received this1 ,i was somewhat surprized4 ,here was a good man telling me1 he had cast a lot1 and that ,,god would have me return to ,london4 ,on the other hand1 ,i knew my call was to ,georgia1 and that ,i had taken leave of ,london1 and could not justly go from the soldiers1 who were committed to my charge4 ,i betook myself with a friend to prayer4 ,that passage in the first book of ,kings1 chapter #ac4 was powerfully impressed upon my soul1 where we are told1 8,that the ,prophet was slain by a lion1 that was tempted to go back1 7contrary to ,,god's express order7 upon another ,prophet's telling him ,,god would have him do so40 ,i wrote you word1 that ,i could not return to ,london4 ,we sailed immediately4 ,some months after1 ,i received a letter from you at ,georgia1 wherein you wrote words to this effect4 8,though ,,god never before gave me a wrong lot1 yet1 perhaps1 he suffered me to have such a lot at that time1 to try what was in your heart40 ,i should never have published this private transaction to the world1 did not the glory of ,,god call me to it4 ,it is plain you had a wrong lot given you here1 and justly1 because you tempted ,,god in drawing one4 ,and thus ,i believe it is in the present case4 ,and if so1 let not the children of ,,god1 who are mine and your intimate friends1 and also advocates for universal redemption1 think that doctrine true1 because you preached it up in compliance with a lot given out from ,,god4 ,this1 ,i think1 may serve as an answer to that part of the preface1 to your printed sermon1 wherein you say1 8nothing but the strongest conviction1 not only that what is here advanced is the truth as it is in ,,jesus1 but also that ,i am indispensibly obliged to declare this truth to all the world40 ,that you believe what you have written to be truth1 and that you honestly aim at ,,god's glory in writing1 ,i do not in the least doubt4 ,but then1 honoured ,sir1 ,i cannot but think you have been much mistaken1 in imagining that your tempting ,,god1 by calling a lot in the manner you did1 could lay you under an indispensible obligation to any action1 much less to publish your sermon against the doctrine of predestination to life4 ,i must next observe1 that as you have been unhappy in printing at all1 upon such an imaginary warrant1 so you have been as unhappy in the choice of your text4 ,honoured ,sir1 how could it enter into your heart1 to chuse a text to disprove the doctrine of election1 out of the #hth of the ,romans1 where this doctrine is so plainly asserted1 that once talking with a quaker upon this subject1 he had no other way of evading the force of the ,apostle's assertion1 than by saying1 8,i believe ,paul was in the wrong40 ,and another friend lately1 who was once highly prejudiced against election1 ingenuously confessed1 8that he used to think ,st4 ,paul himself was mistaken1 or that he was not truly translated40 ,indeed1 honoured ,sir1 it is plain1 beyond all contradiction1 that ,st4 ,paul1 through the whole eighth of the ,romans1 is speaking of the privileges of those only who are really in ,,christ4 ,and let any unprejudiced person read what goes before1 and what follows your text1 and he must confess the word ,,all only signifies those that are in ,,christ2 and the latter part of the text plainly proves1 what1 ,i find1 dear ,mr4 ,wesley will1 by no means1 grant1 ,i mean the final perseverance of the children of ,,god4 8,he that spared not his own ,son1 but delivered him up for us all1 7i4 e4 all ,saints7 how shall he not with him also freely give us all things40 ,grace1 in particular1 to enable us to persevere1 and every thing else necessary to carry us home to our ,father's heavenly kingdom4 ,had any one a mind to prove the doctrine of election1 as well as of final perseverance1 he could hardly wish for a text more fit for his purpose1 than that which you have chosen to disprove it4 ,one that does not know you1 would suspect you yourself was sensible of this3 for after the first paragraph1 ,i scarce know whether you have mentioned it so much as once1 through your whole sermon4 ,but your discourse1 in my opinion1 is as little to the purpose as your text1 and instead of warping1 does but more and more confirm me in the belief of the doctrine of ,,god's eternal election4 ,i shall not mention how illogically you have proceeded4 ,had you written clearly1 you should first1 honoured ,sir1 have proved your proposition1 8that ,,god's grace is free to all10 and then by way of inference1 exclaimed against what you call the horrible decree4 ,but you knew that people 7because arminianism1 of late1 has so much abounded among us7 were generally prejudiced against the doctrine of reprobation1 and therefore thought if you kept up their dislike of that1 you could overthrow the doctrine of election entirely4 ,for1 without doubt1 the doctrine of election and reprobation must stand or fall together4 ,but passing by this1 as also your equivocal definition of the word grace1 and your false definition of the word free1 and that ,i may be as short as possible1 ,i frankly acknowledge1 ,i believe the doctrine of reprobation1 in this view1 that ,,god intends to give saving grace1 through ,,jesus ,,christ1 only to a certain number1 and that the rest of mankind1 after the fall of ,adam1 being justly left of ,,god to continue in sin1 will at last suffer that eternal death1 which is its proper wages4 ,this is the established doctrine of scripture1 and acknowledged as such in the #agth article of the church of ,england1 as ,bishop ,burnet himself confesses2 yet dear ,mr4 ,wesley absolutely denies it4 ,but the most important objections1 which you have urged against this doctrine1 as reasons why you reject it1 being seriously considered1 and faithfully tried by the word of ,,god1 will appear to be of no force at all4 ,let the matter be humbly and calmly reviewed1 as to the following heads4 ,first1 you say1 8if this be so 7i4 e4 if there be an election7 then is all preaching vain3 it is needless to them that are elected2 for they1 whether with preaching or without1 will infallibly be saved4 ,therefore1 the end of preaching to save souls is void1 with regard to them4 ,and it is useless to them that are not elected2 for they cannot possibly be saved2 they1 whether with preaching or without1 will infallibly be damned4 ,the end of preaching is therefore void1 with regard to them likewise4 ,so that in either case our preaching is vain1 and your hearing also vain40 ,page #ajth1 paragraph the #ith4 ,o dear ,sir1 what kind of reasoning1 or rather sophistry is this6 ,hath not ,,god1 who hath appointed salvation for a certain number1 appointed also the preaching of the word1 as a means to bring them to it8 ,does any one hold election in any other sense8 ,and if so1 how is preaching needless to them that are elected2 when the gospel is designed by ,,god himself1 to be the power of ,,god unto their eternal salvation8 ,and since we know not who are elect1 and who reprobate1 we are to preach promiscuously to all4 ,for the word may be useful1 even to the non-elect1 in restraining them from much wickedness and sin4 ,however1 it is enough to excite to the utmost diligence in preaching and hearing1 when we consider1 that by these means1 some1 even as many as the ,,lord hath ordained to eternal life1 shall certainly be quickened and enabled to believe4 ,and who1 that attends1 especially with reverence and care1 can tell but he may be found of that happy number8 ,secondly1 you say1 8that it1 the doctrine of election and reprobation directly tends to destroy that holiness1 which is the end of all the ordinances of ,,god40 ,for1 7says the dear mistaken ,mr4 ,wesley7 8it wholly takes away those first motives to follow after it1 so frequently proposed in scripture4 ,the hope of future reward1 and fear of punishment1 the hope of heaven1 and the fear of hell1 c40 page #aath4 ,i thought1 that one who carries perfection to such an exalted pitch as dear ,mr4 ,wesley does1 would know1 that a true lover of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ would strive to be holy for the sake of being holy1 and work for ,,christ out of love and gratitude1 without any regard to the rewards of heaven1 or fear of hell4 ,you remember1 dear ,sir1 what ,scougal says1 8,love's a more powerful motive that does them move40 ,but passing by this1 and granting that rewards and punishments 7as they certainly are7 may be motives from which a christian may be honestly stirred up to act for ,,god1 how does the doctrine of election destroy these motives8 ,do not the elect know that the more good works they do1 the greater will be their reward8 ,and is not that encouragement enough to set them upon1 and cause them to persevere in working for ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,and how does the doctrine of election destroy holiness8 ,whoever preached any other election1 than what the ,apostle preached1 when he said1 8,chosen through sanctification of the ,spirit80 ,nay1 is not holiness made a mark of our election by all that preach it8 ,and how then can the doctrine of election destroy holiness8 ,the instance which you bring to illustrate your assertion1 indeed1 dear ,sir1 is quite impertinent4 ,for you say1 8,if a sick man knows1 that he must unavoidably die or unavoidably recover1 though he knows not which1 it is not reasonable for take any physic at all10 page #aa4 ,dear ,sir1 what absurd reasoning is here8 ,was you ever sick in your life8 if so1 did not the bare probability or possibility of your recovering1 though you knew it was unalterably fixed1 that you must live or die1 encourage you to take physic8 ,for how did you know1 but that very physic might be the means ,,god intended to recover you by8 ,just thus it is as to the doctrine of election4 ,i know that it is unalterably fixed1 may one say1 that ,i must be damned or saved2 but since ,i know not which1 for a certainty1 why should ,i not strive1 though at present in a state of nature1 since ,i know not but this striving may be the means ,,god has intended to bless1 in order to bring me into a state of grace8 ,dear ,sir1 consider these things4 ,make an impartial application1 and then judge what little reason you had to conclude the #ajth paragraph1 page #ab1 in these words3 8,so directly does this doctrine tend to shut the very gate of holiness in general1 to hinder unholy men from ever approaching thereto1 or striving to enter in thereat40 8,as directly10 say you paragraph #aa1 8does the doctrine tend to destroy several particular branches of holiness1 such as meekness1 love1 c40 ,i shall say little1 dear ,sir1 in answer to this paragraph4 ,dear ,mr4 ,wesley perhaps has been disputing with some warm narrow spirited men that held election1 and then infers1 that their warmth and narrowness of spirit1 was owing to their principles8 ,but does not dear ,mr4 ,wesley know many dear children of ,,god1 who are predestinarians1 and yet are meek1 lowly1 pitiful1 courteous1 tender-hearted1 kind1 of a catholic spirit1 and hope to see the most vile and profligate of men converted8 ,and why8 because they know ,,god saved themselves by an act of his electing love1 and they know not but he may have elected those who now seem to be the most abandoned4 ,but1 dear ,sir1 we must not judge of the truth of principles in general1 nor of this of election in particular1 entirely from the practice of some that profess to hold them4 ,if so1 ,i am sure much might be said against your own4 ,for ,i appeal to your own heart1 whether or not you have not felt in yourself1 or observed in others1 a narrow-spiritedness1 and some disunion of soul respecting those that hold particular redemption4 ,if so1 then according to your own rule1 universal redemption is wrong1 because it destroys several branches of holiness1 such as meekness1 love1 c4 ,but not to insist upon this1 ,i beg you would observe1 that your inference is entirely set aside by the force of the ,apostle's argument1 and the language which he expresly uses1 ,colossians iii4 #ab1 #ac4 8,put on1 therefore1 7as the elect of ,,god1 holy and beloved7 bowels of mercy1 kindness1 humbleness of mind1 meekness1 long-suffering1 forbearing one another1 and forgiving one another1 if any man have a quarrel against any1 even as ,,christ forgave you1 so also do ye40 ,here we see that the ,apostle exhorts them to put on bowels of mercy1 kindness1 humbleness of mind1 meekness1 long-suffering1 c4 upon this consideration1 namely1 because they were elect of ,,god4 ,and all who have experimentally felt this doctrine in their hearts1 feel that these graces are the genuine effects of their being elected of ,,god4 ,but1 perhaps dear ,mr4 ,wesley may be mistaken in this point1 and call that passion1 which is only zeal for ,,god's truths4 ,you know1 dear ,sir1 the ,apostle exhorts us to 8contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints10 and therefore you must not condemn all that appear zealous for the doctrine of election1 as narrow-spirited1 or persecutors1 because they think it their duty to oppose you4 ,i am sure1 ,i love you in the bowels of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and think ,i could lay down my life for your sake2 but yet1 dear ,sir1 ,i cannot help strenuously opposing your errors upon this important subject1 because ,i think you warmly1 though not designedly1 oppose the truth1 as it is in ,,jesus4 ,may the ,,lord remove the scales of prejudice from off the eyes of your mind1 and give you a zeal according to true christian knowledge6 ,thirdly1 says your sermon1 page #ac1 paragraph #ab1 8,this doctrine tends to destroy the comforts of religion1 the happiness of christianity1 c40 ,but how does ,mr4 ,wesley know this1 who never believed election8 ,i believe they who have experienced it1 will agree with our #agth article1 8,that the godly consideration of predestination1 and election in ,,christ1 is full of sweet1 pleasant1 unspeakable comfort to godly persons1 and such as feel in themselves the working of the ,spirit of ,,christ1 mortifying the works of the flesh1 and their earthly members1 and drawing their minds to high and heavenly things1 as well because it does greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation1 to be enjoyed through ,,christ1 as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards ,,god1 c40 ,this plainly shews1 that our godly reformers did not think election destroyed holiness1 or the comforts of religion4 ,as for my own part1 this doctrine is my daily support3 ,i should utterly sink under a dread of my impending trials1 was ,i not firmly persuaded that ,,god has chosen me in ,,christ from before the foundation of the world1 and that now being effectually called1 he will suffer none to pluck me out of his almighty hand4 ,you proceed thus3 8,this is evident as to all those who believe themselves to be reprobate1 or only suspect or fear it2 all the great and precious promises are lost to them2 they afford them no ray of comfort40 ,in answer to this1 let me observe1 that none living1 especially none who are desirous of salvation1 can know that they are not of the number of ,,god's elect4 ,none1 but the unconverted1 can have any just reason1 so much as to fear it4 ,and would dear ,mr4 ,wesley give comfort1 or dare you apply the precious promises of the gospel1 being children's bread1 to men in a natural state1 while they continue so8 ,,god forbid6 ,what if the doctrine of election and reprobation does put some upon doubting8 ,so does that of regeneration4 ,but1 is not this doubting1 a good means to put them upon searching and striving2 and that striving1 a good means to make their calling and their election sure4 ,this is one reason among many others1 why ,i admire the doctrine of election1 and am convinced that it should have a place in gospel ministrations1 and should be insisted on with faithfulness and care4 ,it has a natural tendency to rouze the soul out of its carnal security4 ,and therefore many carnal men cry out against it4 ,whereas universal redemption is a notion sadly adapted to keep the soul in its lethargic sleepy condition1 and therefore so many natural men admire and applaud it4 ,your #acth1 #adth1 and #aeth paragraphs come next to be considered4 8,the witness of the ,spirit1 7you say1 paragraph #ad1 page #ad47 experience shews to be much obstructed by this doctrine40 ,but1 dear ,sir1 whose experience8 ,not your own2 for in your ,journal1 from your embarking for ,georgia1 to your return to ,london1 page the last1 you seem to acknowledge that you have it not1 and therefore you are no competent judge in this matter4 ,you must mean then the experience of others4 ,for you say in the same paragraph1 8,even in those who have tasted of that good gift1 who yet have soon lost it again1 7,i suppose you mean lost the sense of it again7 and fallen back into doubts and fears and darkness1 even horrible darkness that might be felt1 c40 ,now1 as to the darkness of desertion1 was not this the case of ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 after he had received an unmeasurable unction of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,was not his soul exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death1 in the garden8 ,and was he not surrounded with an horrible darkness1 even a darkness that might be felt1 when on the cross he cried out1 8,my ,,god6 ,my ,,god6 why hast thou forsaken me80 ,and that all his followers are liable to the same1 is it not evident from scripture8 ,for1 says the ,apostle1 8,he was tempted in all things like unto his brethren1 that he might be able to succour those that are tempted40 ,and is not their liableness thereunto1 consistent with that conformity to him in suffering1 which his members are to bear8 ,why then should persons falling into darkness1 after they have received the witness of the ,spirit1 be any argument against the doctrine of election8 8,yes1 you say1 many1 very many of those that hold it not1 in all parts of the earth1 have enjoyed the uninterrupted witness of the ,spirit1 the continual light of ,,god's countenance1 from the moment wherein they first believed1 for many months or years to this very day40 ,but how does dear ,mr4 ,wesley know this8 ,has he consulted the experience of many1 very many in all parts of the earth8 ,or could he be sure of what he hath advanced without sufficient grounds1 would it follow1 that their being kept in this light1 is owing to their not believing the doctrine of election8 ,no1 this1 according to the sentiments of our church1 8greatly confirms and establishes a true christian's faith of eternal salvation through ,,christ10 and is an anchor of hope1 both sure and stedfast1 when he walks in darkness and sees no light2 as certainly he may1 even after he hath received the witness of the ,spirit1 whatever you or others may unadvisedly assert to the contrary4 ,then1 to have respect to ,,god's everlasting covenant1 and to throw himself upon the free distinguishing love of that ,,god1 who changeth not1 will make him lift up the hands that hang down1 and strengthen the feeble knees4 ,but1 without the belief of the doctrine of election1 and the immutability of the free love of ,,god1 ,i cannot see how it is possible that any should have a comfortable assurance of eternal salvation4 ,what could it signify to a man1 whose conscience is thoroughly awakened1 and who is warned in good earnest to seek deliverance from the wrath to come1 though he should be assured that all his past sins are forgiven1 and that he is now a child of ,,god2 if notwithstanding this1 he may hereafter become a child of the devil1 and be cast into hell at last8 ,could such an assurance yield any solid lasting comfort to a person convinced of the corruption and treachery of his own heart1 and of the malice1 subtilty1 and power of ,satan8 ,no6 that which alone deserves the name of a full assurance of faith1 is such an assurance1 as emboldens the believer1 under the sense of his interest in distinguishing love1 to give the challenge to all his adversaries1 whether men or devils1 and that with regard to all their future1 as well as present attempts to destroy2 saying with the ,apostle1 8,who shall lay any thing to the charge of ,,god's elect8 ,it is ,,god that justifies2 who is he that condemns me8 ,it is ,,christ that died3 yea rather that is risen again1 who is even at the right hand of ,,god1 who also maketh intercession for me4 ,who shall separate me from the love of ,,christ8 shall tribulation or distress1 or persecution or famine1 or nakedness1 or peril or sword6 ,nay1 in all these things ,i am more than conqueror1 through him that loved me4 ,for ,i am persuaded1 that neither death nor life1 nor angels1 nor principalities nor powers1 nor things present1 nor things to come1 nor heighth nor depth1 nor any other creature1 shall be able to separate me from the love of ,,god which is in ,,christ ,,jesus my ,,lord40 8cryed0 replaced with 8cried0 ,this1 dear ,sir1 is the triumphant language of every soul that has attained a full assurance of faith4 ,and this assurance can only arise from a belief of ,,god's electing everlasting love4 ,that many have an assurance they are in ,,christ to-day1 but take no thought for1 or are not assured they shall be in him to-morrow1 nay to all eternity1 is rather their imperfection and unhappiness1 than their privilege4 ,i pray ,,god to bring all such to a sense of his eternal love1 that they may no longer build upon their own faithfulness1 but on the unchangeableness of that ,,god1 whose gifts and callings are without repentance4 ,for those whom ,,god has once justified1 he also will glorify4 ,i observed before1 dear ,sir1 it is not always a safe rule to judge of the truth of principles from people's practice4 ,and therefore1 supposing that all who hold universal redemption in your way of explaining it1 after they received faith1 enjoyed the continual uninterrupted sight of ,,god's countenance1 it does not follow1 that this is a fruit of their principle3 for that ,i am sure has a natural tendency to keep the soul in darkness for ever2 because the creature thereby is taught1 that his being kept in a state of salvation1 is owing to his own free will4 ,and what a sandy foundation is that for a poor creature to build his hopes of perseverance upon8 ,every relapse into sin1 every surprize by temptation1 must throw him 8into doubts and fears1 into horrible darkness1 even darkness that may be felt40 ,hence it is1 that the letters which have been lately sent me by those who hold universal redemption1 are dead and lifeless1 dry and inconsistent1 in comparison of those ,i receive from persons on the contrary side4 ,those who settle in the universal scheme1 though they might begin in the ,spirit1 7whatever they may say to the contrary7 are ending in the flesh1 and building up a righteousness founded on their own free will3 whilst the others triumph in hopes of the glory of ,,god1 and build upon ,,god's never-failing promise1 and unchangeable love1 even when his sensible presence is withdrawn from them4 ,but ,i would not judge of the truth of election1 by the experience of any particular persons3 if ,i did 7,o bear with me in this foolishness of boasting7 ,i think ,i myself might glory in election4 ,for these five or six years ,i have received the witness of ,,god's ,spirit2 since that1 blessed be ,,god1 ,i have not doubted a quarter of an hour of a saving interest in ,,jesus ,,christ3 but with grief and humble shame ,i do acknowledge1 ,i have fallen into sin often since that4 ,though ,i do not1 dare not allow of any one transgression1 yet hitherto ,i have not been 7nor do ,i expect that while ,i am in this present world ,i ever shall be7 able to live one day perfectly free from all deficits and sin4 ,and since the scriptures declare1 8,that there is not a just man upon earth10 no1 not among those of the highest attainments in grace1 8that doeth good and sinneth not20 we are sure that this will be the case of all the children of ,,god4 ,the universal experience and acknowledgment of this among the godly in every age1 is abundantly sufficient to confute the error of those who hold in an absolute sense1 that after a man is born again he cannot commit sin2 especially1 since the ,holy ,ghost condemns the persons who say they have no sin1 as deceiving themselves1 as being destitute of the truth1 and making ,,god a liar1 #a ,john i4 #h1 #aj4 ,i have been also in heaviness through manifold temptations1 and expect to be often so before ,i die4 ,thus were the ,apostles and primitive christians themselves4 ,thus was ,luther1 that man of ,,god1 who1 as far as ,i can find1 did not peremptorily1 at least1 hold election2 and the great ,john ,arndt was in the utmost perplexity but a quarter of an hour before he died1 and yet he was no predestinarian4 ,and if ,i must speak freely1 ,i believe your fighting so strenuously against the doctrine of election1 and pleading so vehemently for a sinless perfection1 are among the reasons or culpable causes1 why you are kept out of the liberties of the gospel1 and from that full assurance of faith which they enjoy1 who have experimentally tasted1 and daily feed upon ,,god's electing1 everlasting love4 ,but perhaps you may say1 that ,luther and ,arndt were no christians1 at least very weak ones4 ,i know you think meanly of ,abraham1 though he was eminently called the friend of ,,god2 and1 ,i believe1 also of ,david1 the man after ,,god's own heart4 ,no wonder1 therefore1 that in a letter you sent me not long since1 you should tell me1 8that no baptist or presbyterian writer whom you have read1 knew any thing of the liberties of ,,christ40 ,what6 neither ,bunyan1 ,henry1 ,flavel1 ,halyburton1 nor any of the ,new-,england and ,scots divines4 ,see1 dear ,sir1 what narrow spiritedness and want of charity arise from your principles1 and then do not cry out against election any more on account of its being 8destructive of meekness and love40 ,fourthly1 ,i shall now proceed to another head4 ,says the dear ,mr4 ,wesley1 page #ae1 paragraph #af1 8,how uncomfortable a thought is this1 that thousands and millions of men1 without any preceding offence or fault of theirs1 were unchangeably doomed to everlasting burnings80 ,but who ever asserted1 that thousands and millions of men1 without any preceding offence or fault of theirs1 were unchangeably doomed to everlasting burnings8 ,do not they who believe ,,god's dooming men to everlasting burnings1 also believe1 that ,,god looked upon them as men fallen in ,adam8 ,and that the decree which ordained the punishment1 first regarded the crime by which it was deserved8 ,how then are they doomed without any preceding fault8 ,surely ,mr4 ,wesley will own ,,god's justice1 in imputing ,adam's sin to his posterity2 and also1 that after ,adam fell1 and his posterity in him1 ,,god might justly have passed them ,,all by1 without sending his own ,son to be a saviour for any one4 ,unless you heartily agree to both these points1 you do not believe original sin aright4 ,if you do own them1 then you must acknowledge the doctrine of election and reprobation to be highly just and reasonable4 ,for if ,,god might justly impute ,adam's sin to all1 and afterwards have passed by all1 then he might justly pass by ,,some4 ,turn on the right hand1 or on the left1 you are reduced to an inextricable dilemma4 ,and1 if you would be consistent1 you must either give up the doctrine of the imputation of ,adam's sin1 or receive the amiable doctrine of election1 with a holy and righteous reprobation as its consequent4 ,for whether you can believe it or no1 the word of ,,god abides faithful4 8,the election has obtained it1 and the rest were blinded40 ,your #agth paragraph1 page #af1 ,i pass over4 ,what has been said on paragraph the #ith and #ajth1 with a little alteration will answer it4 ,i shall only say1 it is the doctrine of election that mostly presses me to abound in good works4 ,i am made willing to suffer all things for the elect's sake4 ,this makes me to preach with comfort1 because ,i know salvation does not depend on man's free will1 but the ,,lord makes willing in the day of his power1 and can make use of me to bring some of his elect home1 when and where he pleases4 ,but1 ,fifthly1 ,you say1 paragraph #ah1 page #ag1 8,this doctrine has a direct manifest tendency to overthrow the whole christian religion4 ,for1 say you1 supposing that eternal unchangeable decree1 one part of mankind must be saved1 though the christian revelation were not in being40 ,but1 dear ,sir1 how does that follow8 ,since it is only by the christian revelation that we are acquainted with ,,god's design of saving his church by the death of his ,son4 ,yea1 it is settled in the everlasting covenant1 that this salvation shall be applied to the elect through the knowledge and faith of him4 ,as the prophet says1 ,isaiah liii4 #aa4 8,by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many40 ,how then has the doctrine of election a direct tendency to overthrow the whole christian revelation8 ,who ever thought1 that ,,god's declaration to ,noah1 that seed-time and harvest should never cease1 could afford an argument for the neglect of plowing or sowing8 ,or that the unchangeable purpose of ,,god1 that harvest should not fail1 rendered the heat of the sun1 or the influence of the heavenly bodies unnecessary to produce it8 ,no more does ,,god's absolute purpose of saving his chosen1 preclude the necessity of the gospel revelation1 or the use of any of the means through which he has determined the decree shall take effect4 ,nor will the right understanding1 or the reverent belief of ,,god's decree1 ever allow or suffer a christian in any case to separate the means from the end1 or the end from the means4 ,and since we are taught by the revelation itself1 that this was intended and given by ,,god as a means of bringing home his elect1 we therefore receive it with joy1 prize it highly1 use it in faith1 and endeavour to spread it through all the world1 in the full assurance1 that wherever ,,god sends it1 sooner or later1 it shall be savingly useful to all the elect within its call4 ,how then1 in holding this doctrine1 do we join with modern unbelievers1 in making the christian revelation unnecessary8 ,no1 dear ,sir1 you mistake4 ,infidels of all kinds are on your side of the question4 ,deists1 ,arians1 ,socinians1 arraign ,,god's sovereignty1 and stand up for universal redemption4 ,i pray ,,god1 that dear ,mr4 ,wesley's sermon1 as it has grieved the hearts of many of ,,god's children1 may not also strengthen the hands of many of his most avowed enemies6 ,here ,i could almost lie down and weep4 8,o tell it not in ,gath6 ,publish it not in the streets of ,ascalon1 lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice1 lest the sons of unbelief should triumph60 8,askelon0 replaced with 8,ascalon0 ,further1 you say1 page #ah1 paragraph #ai1 8,this doctrine makes revelation contradict itself40 ,for instance1 say you1 8,the assertors of this doctrine interpret that text of scripture1 ,jacob have ,i loved1 but ,esau have ,i hated1 as implying that ,,god1 in a literal sense1 hated ,esau and all the reprobates from eternity60 ,and1 when considered as fallen in ,adam1 were they not objects of his hatred8 ,and might not ,,god1 of his own good pleasure1 love or shew mercy to ,jacob and the elect1 and yet at the same time do the reprobate no wrong8 ,but you say1 8,,god is love40 ,and cannot ,,god be love1 unless he shews the same mercy to all8 ,again1 says dear ,mr4 ,wesley1 8,they infer from that text1 ,i will have mercy on whom ,i will have mercy1 that ,,god is mercy only to some men1 viz4 the elect2 and that he has mercy for those only1 flatly contrary to which is the whole tenor of the scripture1 as is that express declaration in particular1 ,the ,,lord is loving to every man1 and his mercy is over all his works40 ,and so it is1 but not his saving mercy4 ,,god is loving to every man3 he sends his rain upon the evil and upon the good4 ,but you say1 8,,god is no respecter of persons40 ,no6 ,for every one1 whether ,jew or ,gentile1 that believeth on ,,jesus1 and worketh righteousness1 is accepted of him3 8,but he that believeth not shall be damned40 ,for ,,god is no respecter of persons1 upon the account of any outward condition or circumstance in life whatever2 nor does the doctrine of election in the least suppose him to be so4 ,but as the sovereign ,,lord of all1 who is debtor to none1 he has a right to do what he will with his own1 and to dispense his favours to what objects he sees fit1 merely at his pleasure4 ,and his supreme right herein1 is clearly and strongly asserted in those passages of scripture1 where he says1 8,i will have mercy on whom ,i will have mercy1 and have compassion on whom ,i will have compassion10 ,romans ix4 #ae4 ,exodus xxxiii4 #ai4 ,further1 in page #ai1 you represent us as inferring from the text1 8,the children not being yet born1 neither having done good or evil1 that the purpose of ,,god1 according to election1 might stand3 not of works1 but of him that calleth4 ,it was said unto her 7unto ,rebecca71 ,the elder shall serve the younger2 that our predestination to life no ways depends on the fore-knowledge of ,,god40 ,but who infers this1 dear ,sir8 ,for if fore-knowledge signifies approbation1 as it does in several parts of scripture1 then we confess that predestination and election do depend on ,,god's fore-knowledge4 ,but if by ,,god's fore-knowledge1 you understand ,,god's fore-seeing some good works done by his creatures as the foundation or reason of chusing them1 and therefore electing them1 then we say1 that in this sense1 predestination does not any way depend on ,,god's fore-knowledge4 ,but ,i referred you1 at the beginning of this letter1 to ,dr4 ,edwards's ,veritas ,redux1 which ,i recommended to you also in a late letter1 with ,elisha ,cole on ,god's ,sovereignty4 ,be pleased to read these1 and also the excellent sermons of ,mr4 ,cooper1 of ,boston in ,new-,england1 which ,i also sent you1 and ,i doubt not but you will see all your objections answered4 ,though ,i would observe1 that after all our reading on both sides the question1 we shall never in this life be able to search out ,,god's decrees to perfection4 ,no1 we must humbly adore what we cannot comprehend1 and with the great ,apostle at the end of our enquiries cry out1 8,o the depth1 c40 or with our ,,lord1 when he was admiring ,,god's sovereignty1 8,even so ,father1 for so it seemeth good in thy sight40 ,however1 it may not be amiss to take notice1 that if those texts1 8,,god willeth that none should perish10 8,i have no pleasure in him that dieth10 and such like1 be taken in their strictest sense1 then no one will be damned4 ,but here's the distinction4 ,,god taketh no pleasure in the death of sinners1 so as to delight simply in their death2 but he delights to magnify his justice1 by inflicting the punishment which their iniquities have deserved4 ,as a righteous judge who takes no pleasure in condemning a criminal1 may yet justly command him to be executed1 that law and justice may be satisfied1 even though it be in his power to procure him a reprieve4 ,i would hint farther1 that you unjustly charge the doctrine of reprobation with blasphemy1 whereas the doctrine of universal redemption1 as you set it forth1 is really the highest reproach upon the dignity of the ,son of ,,god1 and the merit of his blood4 ,consider whether it be not rather blasphemy to say as you do1 page #bj1 8,,christ not only died for those that are saved1 but also for those that perish40 ,the text you have misapplied to gloss over this1 see explained by ,ridgely1 ,edwards1 ,henry2 and ,i purposely omit answering your texts myself1 that you may be brought to read such treatises1 which1 under ,,god1 would shew you your error4 ,you cannot make good the assertion1 8,that ,,christ died for them that perish10 without holding 7as ,peter ,boehler1 one of the ,moravian brethren1 in order to make out universal redemption1 lately frankly confessed in a letter7 8,that all the damned souls would hereafter be brought out of hell40 ,i cannot think ,mr4 ,wesley is thus minded4 ,and yet without this can be proved1 universal redemption1 taken in a literal sense1 falls entirely to the ground4 ,for how can all be universally redeemed1 if all are not finally saved8 ,dear ,sir1 for ,,jesus ,,christ's sake1 consider how you dishonour ,,god by denying election4 ,you plainly make salvation depend not on ,,god's free-grace1 but on man's free-will2 and if thus1 it is more than probable1 ,,jesus ,,christ would not have had the satisfaction of seeing the fruit of his death in the eternal salvation of one soul4 ,our preaching would then be vain1 and all invitations for people to believe in him1 would also be in vain4 ,but1 blessed be ,,god1 our ,,lord knew for whom he died4 ,there was an eternal compact between the ,father and the ,son4 ,a certain number was then given him1 as the purchase and reward of his obedience and death4 ,for these he prayed1 ,john xvii4 and not for the world4 ,for these1 and these only1 he is now interceding1 and with their salvation he will be fully satisfied4 ,i purposely omit making any further particular remarks on the several last pages of your sermon4 ,indeed had not your name1 dear ,sir1 been prefixed to the sermon1 ,i could not have been so uncharitable as to think you were the author of such sophistry4 ,you beg the question1 in saying1 8,that ,,god has declared1 7notwithstanding you own1 ,i suppose1 some will be damned7 that he will save all10 i4 e4 every individual person4 ,you take it for granted 7for solid proof you have none7 that ,,god is unjust1 if he passes by any1 and then you exclaim against the horrible decree3 and yet1 as ,i before hinted1 in holding the doctrine of original sin1 you profess to believe that he might justly have passed by all4 ,dear1 dear ,sir1 ,o be not offended6 ,for ,,christ's sake be not rash6 ,give yourself to reading4 ,study the covenant of grace4 ,down with your carnal reasoning4 ,be a little child2 and then1 instead of pawning your salvation1 as you have done in a late hymn book1 if the doctrine of universal redemption be not true2 instead of talking of sinless perfection1 as you have done in the preface to that hymn book1 and making man's salvation to depend on his own free-will1 as you have in this sermon2 you will compose an hymn in praise of sovereign distinguishing love4 ,you will caution believers against striving to work a perfection out of their own hearts1 and print another sermon the reverse of this1 and entitle it free-grace indeed4 ,free1 because not free to all2 but free1 because ,,god may withhold or give it to whom and when he pleases4 ,till you do this1 ,i must doubt whether or not you know yourself4 ,in the mean while1 ,i cannot but blame you for censuring the clergy of our church for not keeping to their articles1 when you yourself by your principles1 positively deny the #ith1 #ajth1 and #agth4 ,dear ,sir1 these things ought not so to be4 ,,god knows my heart1 as ,i told you before1 so ,i declare again1 nothing but a single regard to the honour of ,,christ has forced this letter from me4 ,i love and honour you for his sake2 and when ,i come to judgment1 will thank you before men and angels1 for what you have1 under ,,god1 done for my soul4 ,there1 ,i am persuaded1 ,i shall see dear ,mr4 ,wesley convinced of election and everlasting love4 ,and it often fills me with pleasure1 to think how ,i shall behold you casting your crown down at the feet of the ,lamb1 and as it were filled with a holy blushing for opposing the divine sovereignty in the manner you have done4 ,but ,i hope the ,,lord will shew you this before you go hence4 ,o how do ,i long for that day6 ,if the ,,lord should be pleased to make use of this letter for that purpose1 it would abundantly rejoice the heart of1 dear and honoured ,sir1 ,your affectionate1 though unworthy brother and servant in ,,christ1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,a ,,vindication ,,and ,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,remarkable ,,work of ,,god ,,in ,,new-,,england4 ,,being ,some ,,remarks on a late ,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,the ,state of ,religion in ,new-,england1 since the ,reverend ,mr4 ,george ,whitefield's ,arrival there40 ,in a ,,letter to a ,,minister of the ,,church of ,,scotland4 ,a ,,vindication1 c4 ,cambuslang1 ,august #ca1 #agdb4 ,reverend and dear ,sir1 ,i ,,have read the pamphlet entitled1 8,the ,state of ,religion in ,new-,england1 since the ,reverend ,mr4 ,george ,whitefield's arrival there1 in a letter from a gentleman in ,new-,england to his friend in ,glasgow40 ,i think the contents no way answer the title page4 ,it rather ought to be intitled1 ,the ,state of ,religion falsely stated4 ,for ,i am persuaded1 some things are therein asserted1 without sufficient evidence to prove them1 and many more things falsely represented1 and set in a wrong light3 the design of the pamphlet itself is base and wicked4 ,it is intended1 if possible1 to eclipse the late great and glorious work1 begun and carried on for some time in ,new-,england2 to invalidate the testimonies that have been given of it1 and thereby of consequence to bring a reproach upon1 and to hinder the spreading of a like glorious work1 which ,,god of his infinite mercy has for some time been carrying on in this land4 ,give me leave to send you a few observations upon this anonymous pamphlet4 ,i call it anonymous1 because the publisher has not thought proper to put down the name of the writer of the first letter ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 at length1 which ,i think he was bound in duty to do4 ,the publisher indeed1 in the advertisement prefixed to the letter1 tells us1 8,the reader may depend upon it1 that the following letter is genuine1 from a gentleman who hath always had a good character for sound understanding1 integrity1 sobriety of manners1 piety2 and1 notwithstanding his engagements in secular affairs1 has never been an unconcerned spectator of any thing that might affect the state of religion40 ,but ,i must beg the publisher's pardon1 if ,i tell him1 that ,i am one of those readers who cannot depend upon all this1 merely upon his desiring me to do so4 ,for really there is one thing in the letter which makes me shrewdly suspect that the letter itself is not genuine1 at least that there has been some additions made to it since it came to ,scotland4 ,for the supposed writer of this letter1 page #ae1 says1 8,in the preface to the sermon published by ,mr4 ,edwards of ,northampton1 which ,i see is reprinted among you40 ,now how this gentleman could see at ,boston1 ,may #bd1 that ,mr4 ,edwards's sermon was reprinted in ,scotland1 which was not done till the ,june following1 ,i know not4 ,if it be said1 that by the words among you he means in ,britain1 ,i see that the printed advertisement in the ,london ,weekly ,history1 of the publication of ,mr4 ,edwards's sermon in ,england1 is dated ,may #a1 and says1 8,this day is published40 ,i myself was one that was chiefly concerned in publishing of it4 ,i sent the first copy to ,scotland1 and to my certain knowledge it was never published in ,britain till ,may #a4 ,is it probable that people at ,boston should know of this ,may #bd8 ,what a character this gentleman has always had for 8sound understanding1 integrity1 sobriety of manners and piety10 ,i will not take upon me to determine1 nor does the publisher give us opportunity to know what character the gentleman really has had1 since he does not publish his name3 but however that be1 ,i fear he has forfeited his good character 8for sound understanding1 integrity and piety10 by writing this letter4 ,and though he may not be altogether an 8unconcerned spectator of any thing that might affect religion10 yet ,i fear he has been so taken up with 8his engagements in secular affairs10 that he hath not given himself sufficient time to enquire into matters of fact1 but has heard with others ears1 and seen with others eyes1 and has not himself attended as he ought1 to the one thing needful4 ,he says in the beginning of his letter1 page the #c;d1 8,i am sorry you have had such accounts of persons1 and things1 transmitted you from this country1 as you mention in your letter2 they are far from being true1 and must come from men of narrow minds1 and great bigotry1 or from such as basely affect popularity1 or from well-meaning weak christians1 of little knowledge of human nature1 or the history of mankind40 ,what accounts this gentleman refers to ,i know not4 ,if he means the accounts in the ,weekly ,history1 as ,i suppose he does2 ,i think this gentleman is sadly mistaken4 ,most of the accounts were transmitted by the honourable ,mr4 ,williard1 secretary of the province4 ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,colman1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,cooper1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,prince3 persons ,i am intimately acquainted with1 and who are by no means 8,men of narrow minds1 great bigotry1 or little knowledge of human nature1 or the history of mankind3 but have deservedly had a good character for sound understanding1 integrity1 sobriety of manners and piety30 ,some of these were honoured several years ago with degrees1 by the university of ,glasgow1 upon recommendation from the ,honourable society at ,edinburgh for ,propagating ,christian ,knowledge2 of which society several of the most intelligent gentlemen in the nation are members3 such honours were done to ,messrs4 ,colman1 ,prince1 and ,cooper4 ,now whether they1 or this anonymous writer1 are to be most credited1 ,i leave any reasonable man to judge4 ,indeed he boldly asserts1 8,that these accounts are not true30 but what proofs does he bring of the falsity of them8 ,none at all4 ,let us but know who this writer is1 ,i am persuaded my honoured friends at ,boston1 will soon bring him to the test of these assertions4 ,he goes on thus 8,indeed some persons of very good sense were once inclined to think ,,god was doing wonders in this place40 7,boston7 ,and ,i am persuaded these very same persons have not altered their opinion yet1 but actually believe that ,,god has done wonders2 if turning people from darkness to light1 and making them new creatures1 is doing wonders4 8,but that was a time when a superstitious panic ran very high1 and bore down every body that was not well fixed and established2 either by a natural steadiness of temper1 or by strong reasoning and reflections4 ,but as soon as the passions of the people subsided1 and men could coolly and calmly consider1 almost every one of but tolerable sense and understanding in religious matters1 in great measure changed their opinions of the spirit that prevailed here1 and had been raised by ,whitefield and ,tennent40 ,what had been raised by ,mr4 ,whitefield and ,tennent8 ,,god forbid6 that either ,mr4 ,tennent or ,i should ascribe any of that work to ourselves4 ,no1 it was raised by the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god4 ,it was no superstitious panic1 but a plentiful effusion of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it's true1 it did run high2 glory be to ,,god for it6 and did bear down every body1 except those who would not submit to the ,redeemer's scepter1 through self-righteousness and unbelief2 which ,i am afraid this writer terms1 natural steadiness of temper1 strong reasoning and reflection4 ,nor is it true that 8,almost every one of but tolerable understanding in religious matters1 in a great measure have changed their opinions of the spirit that prevailed at that time40 ,no1 dear ,sir1 they yet believe it to be a glorious work of ,,god1 as is evident from the late writings of some of these eminent ministers in ,new-,england1 just mentioned4 ,what the writer says of me in the following paragraph1 page #dth1 is not worthy notice4 ,he is welcome to make as free with my character as he pleases1 and ,i freely forgive him4 ,however ,i thank him for doing me the justice to say1 8,that ,i collected money for the ,orphan-house in ,georgia40 ,it was not then for myself2 nor does he charge me with embezzelling the #e or #fjj l4 ,he could not do this justly1 because before the writing of this letter1 an account came to ,boston how ,i had expended it4 ,and as for being 8,a bold and importunate beggar10 ,i acknowledge ,i learned that from the wise ,man1 who tells me1 8,whatever thou findest in thy hand to do1 do it with all thy might20 and from the apostle ,paul1 who in the second epistle to the ,corinthians1 chapter viii4 #i4 shews himself to be the most bold1 insinuating and importunate beggar for pious uses1 that ,i ever yet met with4 ,i think ,i am much obliged to the writer1 for what he says concerning me in this respect4 ,but ,i wish he had not made so free with the character of my honoured friends4 ,he cries out against slander in others1 and at the same time1 through the whole letter1 he is guilty of the most palpable slander himself4 ,he is pretty favourable to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,webb1 and the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,cooper of ,boston4 ,he only calls them1 page the #gth1 8,two great admirers of ,whitefield and ,tennent1 flaming zealots for certain favourite opinions and tenets40 ,and so indeed they are1 blessed champions1 ,i know them well1 for certain favourite opinions1 and tenets of the church of ,scotland2 such as original sin1 the imputed righteousness of ,,christ1 election1 and other glorious gospel truths4 ,but as for ,mr4 ,tennent1 he seems quite angry with him4 ,never was a man more wrongfully represented4 ,this letter-writer says1 8,he has often heard1 that ,mr4 ,tennent had always been remarkable in the ,jerseys1 for his uncharitable and divisive courses40 ,but does the hearing of this1 prove the truth of it4 ,i have the happiness of being personally and very intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,tennent4 ,i scarce know a man of a more catholic spirit4 8,he is a man of no learning40 ,his writings prove the contrary4 ,his antagonists abroad dare not say they have found him so4 8,his great business in his sermons is either to puzzle1 or to fright the hearers1 but especially the last1 which he did by roaring out1 and bellowing hell and damnation1 devils1 and all the dreadful words he could think of40 ,indeed1 to the honour of the grace of ,,god be it spoken1 he is a son of thunder1 especially in his application1 and when he is preaching the law2 at such times1 under him1 people cannot easily sleep3 but withal1 he is a workman that needs not be ashamed1 and is taught of ,,god rightly to divide the word of truth4 ,as for puzzling his hearers1 ,i fear that ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 thinks he did so1 because he generally insists much on the new birth1 imputed righteousness1 divine faith1 and the other peculiar doctrines of the gospel4 ,these things are all foolishness to the natural man1 and puzzled ,nicodemus himself1 when discoursed with by our blessed ,,lord1 ,john iii4 #i4 8,nicodemus answered and said unto him1 how can these things be80 ,again1 8ministers in general1 he calls carnal1 unconverted1 blind-leaders of the blind1 rational1 moral1 dry1 husky preachers1 that were leading the people to hell40 ,i suppose ,mr4 ,tennent said1 8,that carnal blind preachers who preach morality without due regard to gospel grace and motives2 who do not preach justification by faith1 and regeneration1 they who do not preach ,,christ as all in all1 were blind-leaders of the blind1 and were leading the people to hell40 ,but it is absurd to suppose he thought that all ministers in general were such4 ,i know a great body of ministers1 of whom he thinks most highly4 ,but1 8,he exhorted people to leave them1 and to go about exhorting one another1 and telling their experiences40 ,this ,i cannot believe is truly represented2 for ,i have now a letter by me published by ,mr4 ,tennent1 against persons going about in the character of exhorters2 but if they only exhorted christians not to forsake the assembling of themselves together1 to provoke one another to love1 and good works1 and to tell one another what ,,god had done for their souls1 he did no more than what every gospel minister should do4 ,he says1 8,he was followed by all sorts of people40 ,this ,i think was a proof that he was of a catholic spirit1 and not of a divisive uncharitable temper4 8,as much as ,whitefield was40 ,and ,i pray ,,god he may be followed a thousand times more4 8,and by many preferred to him40 ,very justly4 8,he was most censorious and uncharitable2 every one that was not exactly of his mind he damn'd without mercy40 ,this is calumny indeed4 ,i know many ministers who do not think as ,mr4 ,tennent does in all respects2 whom he notwithstanding highly values4 ,but ,i suppose the writer was angry with him1 because he pronounced all in a state of condemnation that were not born again1 and that did not believe in1 and lay hold on the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,his master authorizes him to pronounce such a sentence1 8,he that believeth not shall be damn'd40 ,again1 8,his sermons were sometimes as confused and senseless as you can imagine40 ,it is well they were not always so4 8,he seemed to have a particular quarrel with reason1 learning and morality2 for he seldom finished a sermon without saying something against them40 ,never ,i believe1 but when these things are magnified to the prejudice of divine revelation1 illumination1 or of ,,christ's imputed righteousness3 for ,mr4 ,tennent is a solid1 learned1 rational1 and not only a moral1 but true holy man4 ,the ,rev4 ,doctor ,colman1 in a letter to me published in the first weekly paper printed at ,glasgow1 writes thus of him3 8,we received him just as we did you1 as an angel of ,,christ4 ,he was abundant and fervent in labours1 and ,,god has been pleased to own his labours with abundant success40 ,the honourable and truly pious ,secretary ,williard1 writes thus3 8,there has been so evidently the finger of ,,god in directing you into this province1 and after your departure1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,tennent1 through your earnest and importunate request to him1 and in the wonderful success that has attended both his and your ministry1 as also the labours of our own ministers for some months past2 that many who like not the work1 are sadly put to it1 to keep their eyes shut against the evidences thereof40 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,cooper1 in a letter printed in the ,weekly ,history1 ,no4 #b;d1 7which the printer has mistaken for ,colman17 calls him1 8,dear ,mr4 ,tennent4 ,he came10 says he1 8in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel indeed4 ,he was with us several months4 ,many thousands were awakened1 and ,i believe many truly converted4 ,there is quite another face of religion in this town1 as well as in many places in the country4 ,many ministers as well as people are greatly quickened4 ,blessed be ,,god1 who put it into your heart to move him to come1 and inclined his heart to come1 and help us40 ,i could bring a cloud of witnesses to testify the falseness of the character given to ,mr4 ,gilbert ,tennent by this letter-writer4 ,the account which he gives of himself to me in a letter published in the ,weekly ,history1 ,no4 is admirably sweet3 his book1 intitled1 ,the ,presumptuous ,sinner detected1 and his many printed sermons1 and his preface to his deceased brother's treatise upon the ,new ,birth1 which is now in the country 7and which ,i would recommend7 shew him to be a man of great learning1 solidity1 and piety4 ,and ,i am not without some distant hopes1 that the people of ,scotland will have an opportunity of hearing him ere long1 and then they may judge for themselves4 ,after such a false and scandalous character given of that great man of ,,god ,mr4 ,gilbert ,tennent1 ,i think ,i may justly suspect the truth of all that this writer says in the subsequent part of the letter4 ,from such a letter-writer as this1 what truth can we expect8 ,the writer himself gives me leave to speak in this manner4 ,for he seems to make the validity of what follows1 to depend on the character he gave of me and ,mr4 ,tennent1 page the #fth1 8,from such men as these 7,whitefield and ,tennent7 and such doctrines and ways of preaching as theirs1 what fruit can you expect08 ,now all he says about me is1 8,that ,i collected in ,new-,england #e or #fjj l4 sterling for the ,orphan-house in ,georgia3 that ,i was a bold and importunate beggar10 c4 ,this could have no influence upon the people's minds1 to raise a bad spirit among the people4 ,and as for the character he gives of ,mr4 ,tennent1 ,i have proved it to be absolutely false3 consequently1 whatever he builds upon the foundation of ,mr4 ,tennent's bad character1 amounts to nothing at all1 since he has not proved the character given of him to be true4 ,but suppose ,mr4 ,tennent was the man he is represented to be1 does it therefore follow that all the great and glorious work carried on in ,new-,england1 by other ministers1 and in other places where ,mr4 ,tennent and ,i never were1 is enthusiasm and delusion8 ,by no means2 and yet this is the whole drift of the pamphlet4 ,surely the writer knows not what spirit he is of4 ,in the #f1 #g1 #h1 #i1 and #ajth pages1 he represents things in a most ridiculous dress1 and takes upon him to condemn all the converts1 to a man1 7though he could not possibly be acquainted with the hundredth part of them17 as 8,self-conceited1 superstitious1 enthusiastic1 censorious1 slanderous40 ,at the same time he seems to ridicule the concern which the people were under when they were brought to cry out1 8,what shall we do to be saved40 ,he laughs at them for asking one another 8,how do you feel8 have you seen ,,christ80 ,he boldly asserts1 that 8the boasted converts1 not one in a hundred excepted1 make religion consist1 in the feeling of inward impulses1 impressions1 and in an inexplicable faith1 joys1 extasies1 hearing of sermons1 and such like40 ,in short1 he by this and the whole drift of his letter1 seems to me to be far from deserving the character given of him1 in the advertisement affixed to the title-page of the pamphlet4 ,page the #aath1 he falls foul of ,mr4 ,moorhead1 and speaks almost as freely of him as of ,mr4 ,tennent4 ,i cannot say ,i was very intimate with ,mr4 ,moorhead when at ,boston3 but the letters that have lately come from him1 and from others concerning him1 bespeak him to be a man of a good spirit1 and one whom ,,god has blessed with abundant success4 ,and ,i have great reason to believe that he is a man not over credulous3 because ,i have heard from his friends here1 that he did not overmuch favour the work of ,,god that was at ,northampton in ,new-,england some years ago1 and therefore probably1 would not readily favour the late work in ,boston and other parts1 had he not sufficient evidence that it was a work of ,,god4 ,page #adth1 ,the letter writer takes upon him to assert1 8,that a pamphlet published in ,scotland1 intitled1 ,christ riding in the ,chariot of ,salvation1 is stuffed with abominable lies40 ,as a proof of it1 he urges1 8,that the students in ,boston1 got nothing by ,whitefield and ,tennent but enthusiasm1 pride1 a contempt of their betters1 c40 ,what they got by me ,i know not2 but ,i have great reason to believe they got something that was good1 under ,,god1 by ,mr4 ,tennent2 for ,dr4 ,colman1 in a letter to me1 which was printed in the ,glasgow ,weekly ,history1 ,no4 #a1 writes1 8,at ,cambridge the college is entirely changed2 the students are full of ,,god1 will ,i hope come out blessings in their generation1 and ,i trust are so now to each other4 ,many of them are now1 we think1 truly born again1 and several of them happy instruments of conversion to their fellows4 ,the voice of prayer and praise fills their chambers2 and sincerity1 fervency1 and joy1 with seriousness of heart1 sit visibly on their faces4 ,i was told yesterday that not seven of a hundred remain unaffected4 ,i know how the good tidings of this will affect and please you4 ,,god give you like joy every where in the fruit of your labours40 ,and the honourable ,secretary ,williard about the same time writes to me thus3 8,but that which forebodes a more lasting advantage1 is the new face of things at the college1 where the impressions of religion have been1 and still are very general1 and many in a judgment of charity brought home to ,,christ2 and divers gentlemen's sons1 that were sent there only for a more polite education1 are now so full of zeal for the cause of ,,christ1 and of love to souls1 as to devote themselves entirely to the studies of divinity40 ,in the same page he would fain tax ,mr4 ,gilbert ,tennent with a lie2 for it was he wrote the account in the ,weekly ,history1 ,no4 #a4 ,says he1 8,it is said1 when ,mr4 ,gilbert ,tennent preached at ,marblehead and ,charles-,town1 his voice had like to have been drowned with their outcries40 ,but he mistakes1 it is not said so3 for ,i have searched narrowly into the pamphlet and weekly history1 and find no mention of an outcry1 but only a great shock given at ,marblehead4 ,it was at ,portsmouth4 ,mr4 ,gilbert ,tennent writing to his brother says1 8,that there were at ,portsmouth and ,charles-,town1 in time of sermon1 such outcries that his voice had like to have been drowned40 ,i think ,mr4 ,tennent is the best judge of what he heard with his own ears4 ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's living near ,charles-,town1 and having never heard a word of this from the minister with whom he frequently conversed1 is no proof it was not so4 ,it might have been so1 and yet not come into the minister's mind to tell ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 of it4 ,in the same page1 he finds fault with the accounts given of some young children 8who talked of the things of ,,god as if they were people of #gj or #hj years4 ,alas6 how easily are mankind deceived6 ,how fond are they to impose on themselves and others6 ,some of these ,i have conversed with30 but did he converse with all1 or with these mentioned in the pamphlet8 ,if not1 how can he urge this as another lie in the pamphlet8 ,i take ,mr4 ,abercromby1 who sent the account of the children1 and who is a preacher of good character1 to be a better judge of the matter than ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 ,but this anonymous letter-writer1 seems resolved to condemn every thing in the gross4 ,indeed he speaks favourably of the church of ,england4 8,i must do justice1 says he1 to the church of ,england10 page #af4 8,there are three congregations of that way in ,boston3 they all live in love and peace2 their ministers speak against enthusiasm and bigotry every day2 not above three or four at most1 of some thousands that are of the episcopal persuasion1 are taken with this new-light 7as they call it72 they all1 says he1 stand fast to the church1 and their numbers increase very fast40 ,one would imagine1 by this1 ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 is a church of ,england man1 and it should seem a bigoted one too3 and then no wonder he speaks against the new-light4 ,their ministers ,i believe do preach against what ,i fear he terms enthusiasm1 8,the powerful feeling operations of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,but ,i cannot think they preach so much against bigotry4 ,for in a conference ,i held with all three of those ministers in ,boston1 the head of them1 to prove that we ought all to be of the church of ,england1 brought this text1 8,that they may be all one1 even as thou ,o father and ,i are one40 ,they assert baptismal regeneration1 deny perseverance1 and free justification by faith without works1 and seem to think of ,mr4 ,gilbert ,tennent just as this letter-writer does4 ,no wonder then he is so friendly to them4 ,but why should ,i say more8 it would be endless1 as well as take up too much of my precious time to be more particular in my observations upon ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's letter4 ,there are some matters of fact mentioned in it1 such as 8a blind lad's preaching in ,connecticut1 page #ab4 ,mr4 ,d's manner of preaching in a hot day1 page #ac10 and some other things1 which ,i cannot take upon me to make replies to1 and which1 if true1 will by no means prove the late work of ,,god in ,new-,england to be only enthusiasm and delusion4 ,ere long ,i hope to see ,boston4 ,then ,i will endeavour to send an impartial account4 ,indeed ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 page #ag4 seems not to care for my return to ,boston4 ,but ,i hope to have a prosperous journey to them in some months1 by the will of ,,god1 and see how they do4 ,in the mean while1 give me leave to observe1 that the publishers of this pamphlet 7for ,i believe there are more than one concerned in it7 have almost saved me the trouble1 and have taken an effectual way to confute themselves4 ,for they have annexed to this letter1 an 8,appendix1 containing proofs for the facts in the foregoing letter1 extracted from sermons preached by some of the most eminent ministers in ,new-,england1 lately printed at ,boston40 ,but these extracts by no means contain proofs of all the facts recorded in the foregoing letter1 consequently all the facts in the letter which are not proved by these extracts1 we have reason to doubt of4 ,i have not an opportunity of getting all the sermons of the reverend ministers mentioned in the title page3 but it grieved me1 when ,i saw extracts taken out of their writings to prove1 that the work lately begun and carried on in ,new-,england was enthusiasm and delusion4 ,this was the chief reason of my writing you this letter2 it will grieve them to hear that their writings have been used to so bad a purpose4 ,the compilers of the pamphlet have dealt with their sermons1 as the devil dealt with the scripture1 when he tempted our ,,lord in the wilderness2 ,i mean1 marred and wholly misapplied them4 ,the publishers stile them1 at the head of the appendix1 some of the most eminent ministers in ,new-,england2 and depend much upon their authority1 to prove the facts of ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's letter4 ,and ,i desire no other authority than these very eminent ministers sermons1 out of which the extracts are taken1 to prove that the work lately begun and carried on in ,new-,england is not enthusiasm and delusion1 but a great and marvellous work of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,the compilers1 indeed1 in order to make the world believe they had been impartial1 have published a sentence or two1 wherein ,dr4 ,colman has written favourably of the ,orphan-house in ,georgia1 and says1 8the order of it is admirable1 c40 but this is only a disguise4 ,for they have been far from acting fair in this respect4 ,the ,doctor complains in the ,p4 ,s4 of that letter1 page #dd4 that 8some of my friends have made too free with my letters in printing only part of them1 and mixing them with parts of others without distinction40 ,i think it is my duty to take all the blame from off my friends1 upon myself1 as to printing only parts of his letters2 for ,i was the only person concerned2 but as for mixing them with others1 without distinction1 ,i know nothing of it4 ,the letters were sent to me from the ,doctor4 ,i thought it would be improper to publish any other parts of the ,doctor's letters than what respected the success of the glorious gospel1 and that ,i thought he would gladly have published3 but if the ,doctor found fault with my friends2 ,i am sure he justly may blame these compilers who have published only part of this letter of his4 ,one would have thought they should have taken a caution from this very ,p4 ,s4 ,but they were afraid1 as it would seem1 of the contents of it2 for a friend who has seen and read the whole letter1 sends me the following extract out of it4 8,i hope we are retrenching our superfluity and luxury2 our young people have thrown by much of their finery and gaiety1 and seem to have eye and heart on things spiritual and heavenly2 and if ,,god build them up into families1 with their present prudent pious dispositions1 it promises greatly for the next generation1 that glory will dwell in our land1 and his work appear to children's children40 ,and in that very part of it they have printed1 the ,doctor says enough to overthrow the whole design of the pamphlet1 page #db4 8,all this notwithstanding1 there has been a great and glorious work of ,,god going on among us1 from the day of ,mr4 ,whitefield's visit to us40 ,i have a sermon of the ,doctor's now before me1 intitled1 8,the word of ,,god magnified by him10 preached ,april #bb1 #agdb1 8wherein his testimony is humbly given for the great and wondrous work of ,,god's grace manifest in many parts of the land40 ,the last paragraph of that sermon begins thus1 8,i close with giving glory to ,,god1 for the great and good work of his grace which he hath so visibly begun1 spread1 and is carrying on in every part almost of our provinces40 ,this very sermon ,i believe has been in the hands of the compilers of this pamphlet4 ,how then could they be so bare-faced1 and so injurious1 to the good man's character1 as to print any part of his letter1 to subserve so base a design8 ,i believe they will not have the ,doctor's thanks for this4 ,the like treatment they have given the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,turell1 another of the eminent ministers1 from whom they have taken extracts to prove the facts of ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's letter4 ,i am persuaded ,mr4 ,turell will be much concerned to find any part of his sermon thus misused2 and how the compilers of this pamphlet could dare to make this use of his writing1 ,i cannot imagine2 for1 in the very first page of the preface to that very sermon1 out of which they have taken their extracts1 he speaks of himself 8as one of the friends and zealous promoters of the good work30 nay he begins his preface with these words1 8the occasion of my publishing this brief direction to my people1 is partly to vindicate my character1 which has been injured by a report spread1 that of a zealous promoter of the glorious work of ,,god's grace and ,spirit appearing1 ,i am become an opposer30 which shews1 that ,mr4 ,turell would not care to be represented as an opposer of that work1 and consequently would not chuse1 that his writings should be produced to prove the principal facts in this letter of ,a4 ,m4's1 who would represent the whole as enthusiasm and delusion4 ,what opinion ,mr4 ,turell had of persons of this gentleman's spirit1 is evident from the fourth page of the same preface1 which the compilers of the pamphlet could not but see4 ,his words are these1 8,as for the profane triumphs of the opposers1 7of such ,i mean7 who attribute the whole of this glorious scene to the devil1 or wild enthusiasm1 a heated imagination1 c4 ,i detest their opinion1 though ,i am far from judging their state4 ,i am confident that of the many that ,i have discoursed with under the common impressions 7two or three excepted7 they have been all wrought upon in a way agreeable to the gospel3 and just as ,i should have desired some years ago4 ,and ,i must testify1 to the glory of ,,god1 and his sovereign rich grace1 that ,i do behold the distinguishing marks of ,,god's spirit on many4 ,my brethren1 let us pray for the preservation1 revival1 progress1 and universal spread thereof40 ,in page #ad4 of his directions1 he says1 8,i charitably believe1 some scores in this place have been seriously wrought upon2 and the far greater part of them have declared1 ,,god has made me the happy instrument of their awakening40 ,and1 page #ah1 says he1 8the names of ,whitefield and ,tennent 7though liable to err7 ,i have once and again mentioned to you with honour2 they have been raised by ,,god to do abundance of good40 ,how does this agree with the account ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 gives of the spirit raised by us1 and with that scandalous character he gives of ,mr4 ,tennent in particular2 and when these quotations are parts also of one of the treatises1 out of which one of the extracts mentioned in the appendix is taken1 and are written by one of those eminent ministers whose writings are referred to1 to prove the principal facts recorded in ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's letter4 ,but what surprises me most of all is1 that they should extract any thing from ,mr4 ,parsons to prove ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's matters of fact4 ,indeed1 in the passage cited from him1 page #da of the pamphlet1 to use the words in the ,glasgow ,weekly ,history1 ,no4 #ce4 ,i see only a warning against rashly concluding persons to be in a converted state2 because1 some who have been thus well judged of do afterwards fall away into errors1 or appear to be deluded1 or turn out impostors2 and the warning enforced by an instance1 and indeed but by one instance1 of a person who was a visionary4 ,mr4 ,parsons's caution to others against concluding too rashly that people are converted1 is a presumption1 that he is cautious in that matter himself2 yet in this very sermon of ,mr4 ,parsons's1 out of which the extracts mentioned in the appendix are taken1 he says1 page #dd1 8,i hope not less than an hundred and fifty souls are converted in about nine months past30 though his parish is small1 consisting only of #abj families4 ,i could heartily wish that the whole sermon was printed2 it is directly levelled in many parts of it against persons of ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4's spirit and sentiments1 and is intended as a needful caution for those lately converted1 to avoid extremes1 and take care to walk consistently4 ,he has all along been a great promoter of this work3 in a letter dated ,december #af1 #agda1 to ,dr4 ,colman1 and which is printed in the ,weekly ,history1 he mentions a most wonderful effusion of the ,holy ,ghost in his congregation4 ,in that letter he makes an honourable mention of ,mr4 ,tennent3 8,i have reason1 says he1 to bless the ,,lord that he sent him for our help2 and indeed by an enquiry since1 ,i find his labours were blessed to give a more general shock than appeared at the very time40 ,the other eminent ministers sermons ,i have not yet met with3 but ,i have great reason to believe they have been treated in the same manner3 the time would fail me1 dear ,sir1 to send you all the vouchers that might be produced for the glorious work in ,new-,england4 ,messrs4 ,webb1 ,cooper and ,prince1 in a preface to a sermon by ,mr4 ,m#8,gregor1 a presbyterian minister1 and which ,i hope also will be reprinted1 speak nobly of it4 ,mr4 ,edwards's sermon ,i think is most admirable1 and answers all the objections that ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 or others can make against it4 ,in short1 if any work had all marks of a divine signature1 this undoubtedly has4 ,when ,i consider how ,mr4 ,a4 ,m4 so quarrels with it1 and endeavours to represent it in so ridiculous a light1 ,i cannot but wish he may consider ,romans viii4 #g4 #a ,corinthians ii4 #ad4 8,the carnal mind is enmity against ,,god2 and the natural man discerneth not the things of the spirit of ,,god1 because they are spiritually discerned40 ,the sum of the matter seems to be this2 there has been a great and marvellous work in ,new-,england3 but1 as it should seem1 by the imprudences of some1 and the overboiling zeal of others1 some irregularities have been committed in several places1 which ,mr4 ,tennent himself1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,parsons1 printed in the ,boston ,gazette1 has borne his testimony against1 as strongly as any of these eminent ministers4 ,this1 dear ,sir1 is nothing but what is common4 ,it was so in ,old-,england some few years ago4 ,many young persons there1 ran out before they were called3 others were guilty of great imprudences4 ,i checked them in the strictest manner myself1 and found as they grew acquainted with the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and their own hearts1 the intemperance of their zeal abated2 and they became truly humble walkers with ,,god4 ,after a gathering1 there will always be a sifting time3 and the church is generally shaken before it is settled4 ,but must the whole work of ,,god be condemned as enthusiasm and delusion because of some disorder8 ,no1 ,i wish with all my soul1 that those who extracted from ,mr4 ,parsons1 had observed what he says1 page #da1 and #db4 8,it is very much to be feared10 says he1 7speaking to persons who cried down the whole work of ,,god because of the imprudences and miscarriages of a few7 8that you are strangers to the sanctifying influences of the ,holy ,ghost1 when you can so easily pass over the table of the rich dainties which ,,god spreads for his own children1 which while they feast upon1 their souls are drawn out in rivers of pleasure and love2 and like the crow1 light upon1 and greedily pick up1 every bit of filthy carrion you can meet with40 ,dear ,sir1 as ,i allow you to publish my letter2 out of compassion to the compilers and publishers of the pamphlet1 ,i cannot but express my concern1 that they may seriously consider1 whether this mentioned by ,mr4 ,parsons be not directly their case4 ,and that they may take heed lest the ,,god of this world may have blinded their eyes3 since they had this and the other sermons before them1 they must sin against light and knowledge in publishing such a tract4 ,and therefore1 to use the words of ,mr4 ,parsons in his sermon1 page #db4 8,it is not possible that you should be innocent1 but on the contrary plunge yourselves under amazing guilt1 by such a dreadful conduct4 ,whilst you stand amazed at the rings of the wheels1 as things too high and dreadful for you2 whilst you know not what to make of the effusions of the ,holy ,spirit1 but are blundering at every thing amiss2 when ,,god is working a work of his astonishing grace before your eyes which you will not believe2 beware lest that come upon you1 which is spoken of in the prophets1 #8,behold1 ye despisers1 and wonder and perish6' ,dear immortal souls1 ,i beseech and persuade you1 by the mercies of ,,god and the astonishing love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 that you would not sacrifice the operations of the blessed ,spirit to your own prejudice1 by means of our imperfections3 ,i beseech and charge you by the coming of the great ,jehovah in the word of his grace1 that you do not despise his glorious name1 and the riches of his mercy1 now offered to you4 ,i charge and admonish you by the dignity and worth of your immortal souls2 by the powerful impressions of an approaching change2 by the certain tremendous appearing of the ,great ,judge2 by the inexpressible agonies of hell1 and inconceivable joys of an everlasting heaven1 that you do no longer reject1 nor once more cavil against the glorious interest and kingdom of the blessed ,,jesus triumphing at this day1 and inviting the miserable slaves of the devil1 to become the happy subjects of it4 ,i warn and charge you before the great ,,god1 and the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and the holy ,angels1 upon your peril1 that you take diligent heed to these things4 ,and if you reject to hear1 if you dare reject1 or boldly despise the admonition1 remember you are answerable at the great tribunal1 and must expect a most fearful share of torments among the damned world1 for such unspeakable guilt40 ,thus speaks this great and good man3 my heart warmed1 dear ,sir1 whilst ,i was reading his discourse2 it is close1 succinct and powerful3 how could the publishers1 after reading such a dreadful warning1 print any thing out of his sermon1 to prove the work in ,new-,england1 to be enthusiasm8 ,i would heartily join with him and the other ministers in ,new-,england1 was ,i there1 in bearing a faithful testimony against any thing that ,i might judge to be inconsistent with the precious rules of the holy scriptures4 ,at the same time ,i pray1 that even the ministers themselves may act with the same caution they recommend to their people1 and then ,i doubt not but we shall see a happy end put to what may now be irregular or disorderly4 ,the dear ,redeemer has assured us1 8that the gates of hell shall never prevail against his church40 ,he will cause that all things shall work together for her good4 ,the wrath of man shall turn to his praise1 and the remainder of it shall he restrain2 he will bring order out of confusion1 and the church shall be more than conqueror through his love4 ,i will therefore conclude this long letter1 with the words of the psalmist in the second psalm1 ,why rage the heathen8 and vain things1 ,why do the people mind8 #b4 ,kings of the earth do set themselves1 ,and ,princes are combin'd ,to plot against the ,,lord1 and his ,anointed1 saying thus1 #c4 ,let us asunder break their bands1 ,and cast their cords from us4 #d4 ,he that in heaven sits1 shall laugh3 ,the ,,lord shall scorn them all4 #e4 ,then shall he speak to them in wrath1 ,in rage he vex them shall4 #f4 ,yet notwithstanding ,i have him ,to be my ,king appointed1 ,and over ,sion1 my holy hill1 ,i have him ,king anointed4 ,upon this assurance1 ,i rest in peace1 and am1 reverend and dear ,sir1 in the kingdom and patience of ,,jesus1 ,your affectionate and obliged friend1 brother and servant1 ,g4 ,w4 ,by way of ,p4 ,s4 to this letter1 give me leave to send you a copy of the preface to ,mr4 ,m#8,gregor's sermon1 to which ,i have referred in my letter1 and which is signed by three eminent ministers of ,boston4 ,dated1 ,boston1 ,january #ab1 #agdb4 ,this will give you a clear insight into what body of doctrines is professed and taught by the promoters of this work3 how far they are from bigotry1 and also may explain how the remaining violent opposers of those doctrines came to be so much exasperated4 ,the ,,preface to ,mr4 ,m#8,,gregor's ,sermon4 ,,as all the protestant churches in ,europe1 both ,episcopalian and ,presbyterian1 happily agreed at the time of the ,reformation in the scripture doctrines of grace1 as appears by the published harmony of their confessions2 in particular1 the church of ,scotland in #aefj1 the church of ,england in #aefbc1 and the church of ,ireland in #afaf2 so it must be owned that the ,presbyterians have generally persevered in a steady adherence to the original doctrines of the ,reformation1 to the present day4 ,and as the ,assembly's shorter catechism has been all along agreeable to the known principles of the ,new-,england churches1 and has been generally received and taught in them1 as a system of christian doctrine agreeable to the ,holy ,scriptures1 wherein they happily unite2 it is a great pleasure to us1 that our ,presbyterian brethren who come from ,ireland are generally with us in these important points1 as also in the particular doctrines of experimental piety arising from them1 and the wondrous work of ,,god agreeable to them1 at this day making its triumphant progress through the land2 all now happily combining to illustrate and confirm each other in so glaring and strong a manner as is irresistible to serious and unprejudiced beholders2 and has already forced many men of clear minds1 strong powers1 considerable knowledge1 and firmly riveted in ,arminian and ,socinian tenets1 to give them all up at once1 and yield to the adorable sovereignty and irresistibility of the ,divine ,spirit in his saving operations on the souls of men4 ,for to see on the one hand1 such men as these1 some of them of licentious lives1 long inured in a course of vices1 and of high spirits1 coming to the preaching of the word1 some only out of curiosity1 others with a strong antipathy and meer design to get matter of cavilling and banter2 all at once1 in opposition to their inward enmity1 resolutions and resistances1 to fall under an unexpected and hated power2 to have all the strength of their resolution and resistance taken away2 to have such an inward view of the horrid wickedness not only of their lives1 but also of their hearts1 with their exceeding great and immediate danger of eternal misery1 as has amazed their souls and thrown them into distress unutterable1 yea forced them to cry out in the assemblies with the greatest agonies3 and then in two or three days1 and sometimes sooner1 to have such unexpected and raised views of the infinite grace and love of ,,god in ,,christ1 as have enabled them to believe in him1 lifted them at once out of their distresses1 filled their hearts with admiration1 and joy unspeakable1 and full of glory1 breaking forth in their shining countenance and transporting voices to the surprise of those about them3 and to see them kindling up at once1 into a flame of love and praise to ,,god1 an utter detestation of their former courses and vicious habits1 yea by such a detestation the very power of those habits at once receive a mortal wound3 in short1 to see their high spirits on a sudden humbled1 their hard hearts made tender1 their aversion from the ,holy ,,god now turned into a powerful and prevailing bent to contemplate upon him as revealed in ,,christ1 to labour to be like him in holiness1 to please and honour him by an universal and glad conformity to his will and nature1 and promote his holy kingdom in all about them2 loving them1 forgiving them1 asking forgiveness of them1 abounding in acts of justice and charity1 in a meek and condescending carriage towards the meanest1 and aspiring after higher sanctity4 ,and to see other gentlemen of the like knowledge1 parts and principles1 and of sober1 just and religious lives1 as far as their meer reason with outward revelation are able to carry them1 and prepossessed against this work as imagined enthusiasm1 yet at once surprizingly to find themselves intirely destitute of that inward sanctity1 and supreme love to ,,god1 and holiness1 which the gospel teaches as absolutely needful to see the kingdom of grace and glory2 to find themselves no more than conceited ,pharisees1 who had been working out a righteousness of their own for justification2 and to have a clear discovery of their inward enmity to ,,christ1 and the nature and way of redemption by him1 with the native vileness of their hearts and lives1 they had never seen before3 in short1 to find themselves yet unrenewed in the spirit of their minds1 and under the heavy wrath and curse of ,,god2 to open into the clear discovery of their past delusions2 to find the hardness of their hearts1 the blindness of their minds1 and their utter impotence to convert themselves1 or believe in ,,christ2 to lose all their former confidence1 give up their beloved schemes1 see themselves undone and helpless1 and sink into a great distress3 and then condemning themselves as guilty wretches1 humbly lying at the foot of absolute and sovereign ,grace1 and looking up to ,,christ the only ,mediator to reconcile them to the glorious ,,god1 to justify them wholly by his own most perfect righteousness1 and to enlighten1 quicken1 sanctify1 dwell in1 and govern them by his ,almighty ,spirit2 and there to wait till they find a new and mighty life and power come into their souls1 enabling them to embrace1 trust in1 and love this divine ,redeemer1 rejoice with satisfaction in him1 and perform every kind of duty both to ,,god and man with pleasure1 and with quite another frame and spirit than before4 ,such great and sudden turns as these1 are as evident demonstration as we can possibly conceive of the truth of the inspired scriptures1 and in particular of those scripture doctrines1 of the sovereign and victorious grace of ,,christ1 received and taught among us3 we see with our eye1 that when he rideth forth on the word of truth1 conquering and to conquer1 his right-hand teaches terrible things4 ,he makes his arrows so sharp and piercing in the hearts of his stoutest enemies1 as oblige them to fall down under him2 and when the day of his power comes on any people1 he makes the most obstinate to be most gladly willing and obedient to him4 ,and these principles of grace1 and these works of ,,god1 do most invincibly confirm each other4 ,and though it must be owned with sorrow1 that some few who see these wondrous works continue unconvinced1 yet this is no more strange than that some of the most learned and religious men1 as were the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 who saw the wondrous works of ,,christ on earth1 yet continued unconvinced that they were the works of ,,god1 yea pursued him with unrelenting enmity and violence4 ,however1 it is a reviving consolation to us1 that as this work surprizingly goes on from town to town1 it goes on more and more to silence the most fierce opposers3 though mighty oppositions rise at first1 it bears them down before it1 and our more mighty ,saviour seems resolved to go on still from conquering to conquer4 ,in vain do its remaining enemies attempt to brand it with the name enthusiasm4 ,for this is like the gentile ,romans branding the ,jewish religion with the hated name of superstition2 and if this work is truly enthusiasm1 then we have been wholly mistaken in the meaning of the word3 and what they call enthusiasm1 is a glorious and blessed work of ,,god1 most powerfully and suddenly changing the very hearts and lives of men2 making them in a great degree like to ,,christ in love1 and righteousness1 and holiness1 and meekness1 and humility2 filling their hearts with holy joy1 and their mouths with praises4 ,but we must remit the remaining opposers to the law and testimony of ,,god himself in the inspired oracles2 as doth our reverend and dear brother the author of the following valuable sermon4 ,and we are glad on this occasion to join our testimony with him1 both to the same doctrines of grace1 and to the wondrous work of ,,god agreeable to them2 as also to declare our great satisfaction to see him and others of our said presbyterian brethren concurring with us in them2 with our apprehension that our uniting in these important points1 is such a powerful band of union in christian love and fellowship1 as should overcome the remains of every kind of prejudice that may yet subsist among our people3 and our earnest wishes1 that with a tender and meek forbearance of each other in different sentiments about church order and government1 we may all unite in maintaining and promoting these more excellent and momentous points of grace1 and vital piety4 ,,thomas ,,prince1 ,,john ,,webb1 ,,william ,,cooper4 ,boston1 ,january #ab1 #agdb4 ,a ,,brief ,,account ,,of ,,the ,occasion1 ,process1 and ,issue1 ,of a ,late ,,trial ,,at ,,the ,,assize held at ,,gloucester1 ,march #c1 #agdc ,,between ,some of the ,people called ,,methodists1 ,plaintiffs1 ,,and ,certain ,persons of the ,town of ,,minchin-,,hampton1 in the said ,county1 ,defendants4 ,,in ,a ,,letter to a ,,friend4 ,and when the town-clerk had appeased the people1 he said1 ,ye men of ,ephesus1 what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the ,ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess ,diana1 and of the image which fell down from ,jupiter4 ,seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against1 ye ought to be quiet1 and to do nothing rashly4 ,for ye have brought hither these men1 which are neither robbers of churches1 nor yet blasphemers of your goddess4 ,wherefore if ,demetrius1 and the craftsmen which are with him1 have a matter against any man1 the law is open1 and there are deputies2 let them implead one another4 ,but if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters1 it shall be determined in a lawful assembly4 ,for we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar1 there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse4 ,acts xix4 #cedj4 ,a ,,brief ,,account1 c4 ,london1 ,march #ab1 #agdd4 ,my dear friend1 ,,on ,thursday evening ,i came hither from the ,gloucester assizes1 where ,i have been engaged in a trial between some of those who are called ,methodists1 and some violent rioters4 ,perhaps this news may a little startle you1 and put you upon enquiry 7as it hath done some others7 8,how we came to go to law with our adversaries1 when it is our avowed principle to suffer patiently for the truth's sake80 ,i will tell you1 my dear friend3 though perhaps there is nothing in the world more abused than the law1 and there are very few that go to law out of a proper principle2 yet we hold1 that there is a proper use of it1 and the law is good1 when used lawfully4 ,whether or know we have used it lawfully in the present case1 ,i shall leave my friend to judge1 after ,i have told him the motives that induced us to engage in it4,the ,methodists1 you know1 are every where accounted enthusiasts1 in the worst sense of the word2 but though they are accounted such1 yet they would not be enthusiasts in reality4 ,now we look upon it to be one species of enthusiasm1 to expect to attain an end1 without making use of proper means4 ,we also think1 that believers should be very careful not to be fond of suffering persecution1 when they may avoid it1 by making application to the higher powers4 ,we are likewise of opinion1 that good christians will be good subjects1 and consequently it is their duty1 as much as in them lies1 to put a stop to every thing1 in a rightful way1 that may prove destructive to the king or the government under which they live4 ,christian ministers1 in particular1 we think1 ought to consider the weakness of people's grace1 and1 in pity to precious souls1 do what they can to remove every thing out of the way1 that may discourage or prevent poor people's hearing the everlasting gospel4 ,these considerations1 my dear friend1 for some time past1 have led me to examine whether the ,methodists in general 7and ,i myself in particular7 have acted the part of good subjects1 and judicious christian ministers1 in so long neglecting to make an application to the superior courts1 and putting in execution the wholesome laws of the land1 in order to prevent those many dreadful outrages which have been committed against us4 ,i need not descend to particulars4 ,our ,weekly ,history is full of them2 and before that came out1 several of our brethren1 both in ,england and ,wales1 have received much damage from time to time1 and been frequently in great hazard of their lives4 ,wiltshire has been very remarkable for mobbing and abusing the ,methodists2 and1 for about ten months last past1 it has also prevailed very much in ,gloucestershire1 especially at ,hampton1 where our friend ,mr4 ,adams has a dwelling-house1 and has been much blessed to many people4 ,this displeased the grand enemy of souls1 who stirred up many of the baser sort1 privately encouraged by some of a higher rank1 to come from time to time1 in great numbers1 with a low-bell and horn1 to beset the house1 and beat and abuse the people4 ,about the beginning of ,july last1 their opposition seemed to rise to the highest4 ,for several days they assembled in great bodies1 broke the windows1 and mobbed the people to such a degree1 that many expected to be murdered1 and hid themselves in holes and corners1 to avoid the rage of their adversaries4 ,once1 when ,i was there1 they continued from four in the afternoon till midnight1 rioting1 giving loud huzzas1 casting dirt upon the hearers1 and making proclamations1 8,that no ,anabaptists1 ,presbyterians1 c4 should preach there1 upon pain of being first put into a skin-pit1 and afterwards into a brook40 ,at another time they pulled one or two women down the stairs by the hair of their heads4 ,and on the #ajth of ,july they came1 to the number of near a hundred1 in their usual way1 with a low-bell and horn1 about five in the afternoon1 forced into ,mr4 ,adams's house1 and demanded him down the stairs whereon he was preaching1 took him out of his house1 and threw him into a skin-pit full of noisome things and stagnated water4 ,one of our friends1 named ,williams1 asking them1 8,if they were not ashamed to serve an innocent man so80 they put him into the same pit twice1 and afterwards beat him1 and dragged him along the kennel4 ,mr4 ,adams quietly returned home1 and betook himself to prayer1 and exhorted the people to rejoice in suffering for the sake of the gospel4 ,in about half an hour1 they came to the house again1 dragged him down the stairs1 and led him away a mile and a half to a place called ,bourn-brook1 and then threw him in4 ,a stander-by1 fearing he might be drowned1 jumped in and pulled him out2 whereupon another of the rioters immediately pushed him into the pool a second time1 and cut his leg against a stone1 so that he went lame for near a fortnight4 ,both the constable and justices were applied to1 but refused to act2 and seemed rather to countenance the mobbing1 hoping thereby ,methodism 7as they called it7 would be put a stop to1 at least at ,hampton4 ,for a season they gained their end4 ,there was no preaching for some time1 the people fearing to assemble on account of the violence of the mob4 ,upon my return to town1 ,i advised with my friends what to do4 ,we knew we wanted to exercise no revenge against the rioters1 and yet we thought it wrong that the gospel should be stopped by such persons1 when the government under which we lived countenanced no such thing2 and also1 that it was absurd to thank ,,god for wholesome laws1 if they were not to be made use of4 ,we knew very well1 that an ,apostle had told us1 that magistrates were ordained for the punishment of evil doers2 and that they bear not the sword in vain4 ,we were also fearful1 that if any of our brethren should be murdered by future riotings 7as in all probability they might71 we should be accessary to their death1 if we neglected to tie up the rioters hands1 which was all we desired to do4 ,besides1 we could not look upon this as allowed persecution1 since it was not countenanced by the laws of the land1 and we might have redress from these rioters and inferior magistrates1 by appealing to ,csar1 whose real friends and loyal subjects we judged ourselves not to be1 if we suffered his laws to be publicly trampled under foot by such notorious rioting2 and which1 though begun against the ,methodists1 might terminate in open rebellion against ,king ,george4 ,for these and such like reasons1 we thought it our duty to move for an information in the ,king's-,bench against five of the ring-leaders1 and fixed upon the riot which they made on ,sunday1 ,july #aj1 when they put ,mr4 ,adams and ,williams into the skin-pit and brook4 ,but before this was done1 ,i wrote a letter to one whom they called ,captain1 desiring him to inform his associates1 8,that if they would acknowledge their fault1 pay for curing a boy's arm1 which was broken the night ,i was there1 and mend the windows of ,mr4 ,adams's house1 we would readily pass all by2 but if they persisted in their resolutions to riot1 we thought it our duty to prevent their doing1 and others receiving1 further damage1 by moving for an information against them in the ,king's-,bench40 ,i also sent a copy of this letter to a minister of the town1 and to a justice of the peace1 with a letter to each from myself3 but all in vain4 ,the rioters sent me a most insolent answer1 wrote me word1 8,they were in high spirits1 and were resolved there should be no more preaching in ,hampton40 ,finding them irreclaimable1 we moved the next term for a rule of court in the ,king's-,bench to lodge an information against five of the ring-leaders1 for the outrage committed1 violence offered1 and damage done to ,mr4 ,adams and ,williams1 on ,sunday1 ,july #aj4 ,the rioters were apprized of it1 appeared by their council1 and prayed the rule might be enlarged till the next term4 ,it was granted4 ,in the mean while they continued mobbing1 broke into ,mr4 ,adams's house one ,saturday night at eleven o'clock1 when there was no preaching1 made those that were in bed get up1 and searched the oven1 cellar1 and every corner of the house1 to see whether they could find any ,methodists4 ,some time after1 they threw another young man into a mud-pit three times successively1 and abused the people in a dreadful manner4 ,the next term came on4 ,we proved our accusations by twenty-six affidavits2 and the defendants making no reply1 the rule was made absolute1 and an information filed against them4 ,to this they pleaded ,,not ,,guilty2 and1 according to the method in the crown-office1 the cause was referred to the assize held at ,gloucester1 ,march #c;d4,thither ,i went1 and on ,tuesday morning last the trial came on4 ,it was given out by some1 8,that the ,methodists were to lose the cause1 whether right or wrong40 ,and ,i believe the ,defendants depended much on a supposition1 that the gentlemen and jury would be prejudiced against us4 ,we were easy1 knowing that our ,saviour had the hearts of all in his hands4 ,being aware of the great consequences of gaining or losing this trial1 both in respect to us and the nation1 we kept a day of fasting and prayer through all the societies both in ,england and ,wales4 ,our ,scotch friends also joined with us2 and chearfully committed our cause into his hands by whom kings reign and princes decree justice4 ,we had about thirty witnesses to prove the riot and facts laid down in the information4 ,our council opened the cause 7as ,i heard1 being not present when the trial begun7 with much solidity and sound reasoning3 they shewed1 8,that rioters were not to be reformers2 and that his ,majesty had no where put the reins of government into the hands of mobbers1 or made them judge or jury40 ,one of them in particular1 with great gravity reminded the gentlemen on the jury of the advice of ,gamaliel1 a doctor of the law1 recorded ,acts v4 #ch1 #ci4 8,refrain from these men1 and let them alone2 for if this council1 or this work1 be of men1 it will come to nought3 but if it be of ,,god1 ye cannot overthrow it1 lest haply ye be found even to fight against ,,god40 ,our witnesses were then called4 ,i came into court when the second witness was examining4 ,mr4 ,adams and four more 7three of which were not called ,methodists7 so clearly proved both the riot and the facts laid to the charge of the ,defendants1 that the ,judge was of opinion there needed no other evidence4 ,the council for the ,defendants then rose1 and exerted a good deal of oratory1 and ,i think said all that could well be said1 to make the best of a bad matter4 ,one urged1 8,that we were enthusiasts1 and our principles and practices had such a tendency to infect and hurt the people1 that it was right1 in his opinion1 for any private person to stand up and put a stop to us2 and whoever did so1 was a friend to his country40 ,he strove to influence the jury1 by telling them1 8,that if a verdict was given against the ,defendants1 it would cost them two hundred pounds3 that the ,defendants rioting was not premeditated2 but1 that coming to hear ,mr4 ,adams1 and being offended at his doctrine1 a sudden quarrel arose1 and thereby the unhappy men were led into the present fray1 which he could have wished had not happened2 but however it did not amount to a riot1 but only an assault40 ,their other council then informed the jury1 8,that they would undertake to prove that the ,methodists began the tumult first40 ,he was pleased also to mention me by name1 and acquainted the court1 8,that ,mr4 ,whitefield had been travelling from common to common1 making the people cry1 and then picking their pockets1 under pretence of collecting money for the colony of ,georgia2 and knowing that ,gloucestershire was a populous country1 he at last came there4 ,that he had now several curates1 of which ,mr4 ,adams was one1 who in his preaching had found fault with the proceedings of the clergy1 and said if the people went to hear them1 they would be damned4 ,he added1 that there had lately been such mobbing in ,staffordshire1 that a regiment of soldiers was sent down to suppress them2 insinuating that the ,methodists were the authors4 ,that we had now another cause of a like nature depending in ,wiltshire2 and that we were not of that mild pacific spirit1 as we would pretend to be40,this1 and much more to the same purpose1 though foreign to the matter in hand1 pleased many of the auditors1 who expressed their satisfaction in hearing the ,methodists in general1 and me in particular1 thus lashed1 by frequent laughing4 ,the eyes of all were upon me4 ,our ,saviour kept me quite easy4 ,i thought of that verse of ,horace1 ,hic murus aheneus esto1 ,nil conscire sibi1 null pallescere culp4 ,tertullus's accusing ,paul came also to my mind1 and ,i looked upon myself as highly honoured in having such things spoken against me falsely for ,,christ's great name's sake4 ,to prove what the ,defendants council had insinuated1 they called up a young man1 who was brother to one of the ,defendants1 and one of the mob4 ,he swore point blank1 8,that ,mr4 ,adams said1 if people went to church1 they would be damned2 and if they would come to him1 he would carry them to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,he swore also1 that the pool in which ,mr4 ,adams was thrown1 was no deeper than half way up his legs4 ,he said first1 that there were about ten of them that came to the house of ,mr4 ,adams2 and then he swore that there were about threescore4 ,he said1 there was a low-bell1 and that one of the ,defendants did ask ,mr4 ,adams to come down off the stairs1 but that none of them went up to him2 upon which ,mr4 ,adams willingly obeyed1 went with them briskly along the street1 and1 as he would have represented it1 put himself into the skin-pit and pool1 and so came out again40 ,he said also some other things2 but through his whole evidence appeared so flagrantly false1 that one of the counsellors said1 8,it was enough to make his hair stand an end40 ,the ,judge himself wished1 8,he had had so much religion as to fear an oath40 ,so he went down in disgrace4 ,their second evidence was an aged woman1 mother to one of the defendants4 ,she swore1 8,that her son did go up the stairs to ,mr4 ,adams1 and that ,mr4 ,adams tore her son's coat1 and would have broken his neck down stairs40 ,but she talked so fast1 and her evidence was so palpably false1 that she was sent away in as much disgrace as the other4 ,their third and last evidence was father to one who was in the mob1 though not one of the defendants4 ,the chief he had to say was1 8,that when ,mr4 ,adams was coming from the pool1 one met him1 and said1 8,brother1 how do you do80 ,upon which he answered1 8,that he had received no damage1 but had been in the pool1 and came out again40 ,so that all their evidences1 however contrary one to another1 yet corroborated ours1 and proved the riot out of their own mouths4 ,the book was then given to a justice of the peace1 who had formerly taken up ,mr4 ,cennick1 for preaching near ,stroud1 and had lately given many signal proofs that he was no friend to the ,methodists4 ,but he intending to speak only about their characters1 and the council and ,judge looking upon that as quite impertinent to the matter in hand1 he was not admitted as an evidence4,upon this1 his ,lordship1 with great candour and impartiality1 summed up the evidence1 and told the jury1 8,that he thought they should bring all the ,defendants in guilty2 for our evidences had sufficiently proved the whole of the information1 and also that the riot was premeditated40 ,he said1 8,that1 in his opinion1 the chief of the ,defendants evidence was incredible2 and that1 supposing the ,methodists were heterodox1 7as perhaps they might be7 it belonged to the ecclesiastical government to call them to an account2 that they were subjects1 and rioters were not to be their reformers40 ,he also reminded them of the dreadful ill consequences of rioting at any time1 much more at such a critical time as this2 that rioting was the fore-runner of1 and might end in1 rebellion2 that it was felony1 without benefit of clergy1 to pull down a meeting-house2 and1 for all as he knew1 it was high-treason to pull down even a bawdy-house4 ,that this information came from the ,king's-,bench2 that his ,majesty's justices there thought they had sufficient reason to grant it2 that the matters contained in it had been evidently proved before them1 and consequently they should bring all the ,defendants in guilty40 8falsly0 replaced with 8falsely0 ,upon this the jury were desired to consider of their verdict4 ,there seemed to be some little demur amongst them4 ,his ,lordship perceiving it1 informed them1 8,they had nothing to do with the damages1 7that was to be referred to the ,king's-,bench7 they were only to consider whether the ,defendants were guilty or not40 ,whereupon1 in a few minutes1 they gave a verdict for the prosecutors1 and brought in all the ,defendants1 8guilty of the whole information lodged against them40 ,i then retired to my lodgings1 kneeled down1 and gave thanks1 with some friends1 to our all-conquering ,emmanuel4 ,afterwards ,i went to the inn1 prayed1 and returned thanks with the witnesses1 exhorted them to behave with meekness and humility to their adversaries1 and after they had taken proper refreshment sent them home rejoicing4 ,in the evening ,i preached on those words of the ,psalmist1 8,by this ,i know1 that thou favourest me1 since thou hast not suffered mine enemy to triumph over me40 ,,god was pleased to enlarge my heart much4 ,i was very happy with my friends afterwards1 and the next morning set out for ,london1 where we have had a blessed thanksgiving season1 and from whence ,i take the first opportunity of sending you as many particulars of the occasion1 progress1 and issue of our trial1 as ,i can well recollect4 ,what report his ,lordship will be pleased to make of the case1 and how the ,defendants will be dealt with1 cannot be known till next term2 when ,i know ,i shall apprize you of it1 as also of our behaviour towards them4 ,in the mean while let me entreat you to give thanks to the blessed ,,jesus in our behalf1 and to pray that his word may have free course1 may run and be glorified1 and a stop be put to all such rebellious proceedings4 ,i remain1 ,sir1 ,your very affectionate friend1 and humble servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,for more particulars of this affair1 see ,volume ,,ii4 ,letters #ebf1 #ebg1 #ebi1 #ede1 #edi1 and #eej4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,rev4 ,,thomas ,,church1 ,m4,a4 ,vicar of ,,battersea1 and ,prebendary of ,,st4 ,,paul',s2 ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,his ,serious and ,expostulatory ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,rev4 ,,george ,,whitefield1 ,on ,occasion of his late ,,letter to the ,bishop of ,,london1 and other ,bishops4 ,a ,,letter1 c4 ,london1 ,may #bb1 #agdd4 ,reverend ,sir1 ,i ,,have read your expostulatory letter1 and thank you for prefixing your name4 ,had the author of the observations been so ingenuous1 he would have saved you and me some trouble2 but as he hath not1 and the pamphlet was published in such a way1 ,i cannot think myself justly chargeable with ill-manners or censoriousness1 for treating him and their ,lordships concerned1 in the manner ,i have done4 ,our ,saviour dealt always very plainly with the rulers of the ,jewish ,church2 and when one was offended1 and said1 8,master1 thus saying1 thou reproachest us also10 he was so far from recanting1 that he said1 8,and woe unto you also ye lawyers40 ,in the same spirit1 the proto-martyr ,stephen addressed himself to the ,jewish ,sanhedrim1 and said unto them1 8,ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears1 ye do always resist the ,holy ,ghost2 as your fathers did1 so do ye40 ,and however shocking1 ,rev4 ,sir1 it may appear to you1 7page #dc;d of your letter7 for us to urge our ,,lord's example and his blessed apostles1 yet ,i think it quite consistent for a minister1 who has received an apostolical commission at his ordination1 8,receive thou the ,holy ,ghost now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands1 c40 to make use of the example of our ,,lord and his apostles1 in vindication of his conduct2 because ,,christ left us an example1 that we might follow his steps2 and we are called to be followers of the apostles1 as they were of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i know not how to give flattering titles1 and therefore must stand to it1 that they are false witnesses1 however dignified or distinguished1 and lay to my charge a thing that ,i know not1 who tax me with being an open defier of government1 for preaching in the fields4 ,neither do ,i think ,i have wronged the author of the observations at all1 by insinuating1 8,that the design and scope of this pamphlet was to represent the proceedings of the ,methodists as dangerous to the church and state1 in order to procure an act of parliament against them1 or oblige them to secure themselves by turning dissenters40 ,that this was his drift1 7at least that he intended to move the government against the ,methodists in general1 and me in particular7 ,i think appears quite plain from a little two-penny paper lately published1 7,i suppose by the same anonymous author7 wherein he declares1 8,that though ,mr4 ,whitefield has pleaded in behalf of the ,methodists1 that they are an harmless and loyal people1 yet #ast4 ,he cannot possibly be supposed to know all the persons1 or even one tenth part of those present at his meetings of #cj1 #ej1 or #hjjjj4b;d4 ,when he appoints or holds a meeting1 all people are at liberty to come1 and to carry on such purposes as they think proper4#c;d4 ,such a free and safe resort for great multitudes to one place1 subject to no controul or examination1 is doubtless a great opportunity put into the hands of seditious persons to raise disturbances40 ,he adds1 8,how consistently with the act of toleration1 or with what safety to the public1 these field-preachings may be continued1 let the world judge40 ,if this be not intended to move the government against me1 surely there was never a motion made against any man living2 but with what little shew of true reasoning ,i need not mention4 ,let the world judge4 ,here lies the point1 ,rev4 ,sir3 the generality of the clergy are offended in their hearts1 that his majesty is so mild towards his harmless and loyal people the ,methodists4 ,they have denied the ,methodist preachers the use of their churches1 and think1 if field-preaching was put a stop to1 ,methodism1 as they term it1 would be less extensive4 ,but were they to gain their point1 and the preachers to be bound1 yet perhaps after all they would find themselves mistaken1 for the word of ,,god would not be bound4 ,and ,i remember a saying of the then ,lord ,chancellor to that holy martyr ,bradford1 8,thou hast done more hurt 7as he called it7 by thy letters and exhortations since thou hast been in prison1 than thou ever didst before40 ,however this be1 field-preaching is at present the clergy's eye-sore4 ,hence they raise a clamour that it is unlawful4 ,we deny it4 ,we say the act of toleration urged against us is nothing to the purpose1 for we are true members of the established church2 and that if we were not 7quod magno mercenter ,atrid7 yet the trial of ,mede and ,pen is an adjudged case4 ,but still1 if you or any other person please to move for an information against me1 for preaching in a field1 or a street1 though ,i purpose to go abroad shortly1 yet ,i shall think it my duty to stay some time1 to make a legal defence4 ,but if not1 henceforward whatever questions may be put to me in print1 about the lawfulness of field-preaching1 they will lie unanswered4 ,not that ,i think it is barely field-preaching that gives the generality of the clergy such offence4 ,no1 it is the doctrine that ,i preach there1 that is the grand cause of their contending with me4 ,you are pleased1 ,rev4 ,sir1 to say 7,page #cith7 8,that ,i have revived the old ,calvinistical disputes concerning predestination1 c40 7,i suppose you mean justification by faith alone1 the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 man's utter inability to turn to ,,god1 or to do good works1 c47 8,which you say had happily slept for so many years40 ,but if this be my shame1 ,i glory in it4 ,for what is this but reviving the essential articles of the ,church of ,england1 which undoubtedly are ,calvinistical1 and which1 by your own confession1 have happily slept for so many years8 ,this is too true4 ,but however you may count this a happiness1 yet in my opinion it is one of the greatest judgments that has befallen our nation4 ,and if it had not been for the remnant of free-grace1 dissenting ministers1 7stiled by the author of the observations1 dissenting teachers7 and the little flock of the ,methodist preachers1 that the ,,lord ,,jesus has raised up and preserved amongst us1 many of the essential doctrines of the articles of the ,church of ,england might have1 as you term it1 happily slept many years more4 ,these1 ,rev4 ,sir1 are the real sentiments of my heart4 ,i think they are founded on truth and soberness4 ,and if so1 blame me not1 as you do 7page #bast7 for comparing the ,church of ,england1 as it now subsists1 to a leaky ship4 ,for is it not too evident that she is not only leaky1 but really sinking1 when several of the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops1 and a prebendary of ,st4 ,paul's1 can openly plead for works being a condition of our justification in the sight of ,,god8 ,this was the particular charge my ,lord of ,london gave his clergy in his last pastoral letter1 8,so to explain the doctrine of justification by faith alone1 as not to exclude good works from being a condition of our justification40 ,was the great apostle of the ,gentiles now living1 what anathema's would he pronounce against such ,judaizing doctrine8 ,was ,luther on earth1 how would he thunder against such a charge8 ,for he calls justification by faith alone1 articulus stantis aut cadentis ecclesi4 ,this is the great fundamental point in which we differ from the church of ,rome4 ,this is the grand point of contention between the generality of the established clergy1 and the ,methodist preachers3 we plead for free justification in the sight of ,,god1 by faith alone1 in the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 without any regard to works past1 present1 or to come4 ,you 7,bellarmine like7 are for making your works1 conditions 7page #agth72 8,and joining your honest1 though imperfect endeavours to serve and please your ,maker1 with a hearty trust and confidence in his everlasting mercies10 7page #db47 ,you say1 7page #ehth7 we are very far from building wholly on our morality20 we say1 our morality is not to be built on at all1 but that 8,,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,this1 you think1 is one of my errors4 ,but if it be an error1 it is a scriptural error2 and so plainly taught in the eleventh article of our church1 that he that runs may read3 and however you may blame me for insinuating1 8,that some of the clergy may adhere to his majesty only for his preferments1 and consequently not appear altogether so hearty in a time of danger20 yet ,i cannot think it an instance of hard-judging at all4 ,for if persons can deliberately subscribe to the doctrines of justification by faith alone1 and other articles that are purely ,calvinistical1 yet so explain them away as plainly to prove they scarce believe a word of them1 ,i should not wonder if they turned ,jacobites1 or went over to the pretender1 whenever they saw it suited their worldly interest so to do4 ,that ,i am not alone in my opinion1 give me leave1 ,rev4 ,sir1 to transcribe a passage ,i lately met with in the latter end of a book1 entitled1 ,the ,honeycomb of ,free ,justification1 written by one ,mr4 ,eaton1 ,a4,m4 of ,trinity ,college in ,cambridge1 printed at ,london in the year #afdb4 8,free justification was first enjoined to be diligently taught1 for the reformation of the church1 by ,king ,henry ,,viii4 but was by ,king ,edward ,,vi4 and ,queen ,elizabeth1 principally established by parliament1 and singled out from all the rest of the established articles of religion2 and reduced into sermons and homilies to be 7after the people's sight of their lost estate1 and woeful misery by sin7 principally taught1 and chiefly known and understood of all the subjects and commons of the land1 for these four causes4 #ast4 8,because it is the only immediate cause and means of our peace with ,,god4 ,for being justified by faith we have peace with ,,god1 ,romans v4 #a4 and our assurance of free salvation by ,,jesus ,,christ1 and is therefore called the justification of life1 ,romans v4 #ah4 #8,for whom ,,god justifieth1 them he also glorifieth1' ,romans viii4 #cj4 #b;d4 8,because it is the ordinance of ,,god 7quite contrary to the judgment of popish carnal reason7 that powerfully causeth people to leave their sins1 and live a true sanctified and godly life4 ,titus ii4 #aa to #ae4 ,romans #eth and #fth chapter4 #c;d4 8,because it is the chief cause and means to discover and suppress the ,romish antichrist1 popery1 c4 and all other superstitions1 sects1 errors and schisms out of the land2 and to establish unity1 peace and concord in matters of religion1 and of assurance of free salvation1 and makes every man to keep in a lawful vocation1 and to do it profitably in love4 ,galatians v4 #ac4 #dth4 8,to direct ministers to go with a right foot to the truth of the gospel1 ,galatians ii4 #ad4 in sound preaching1 and pure declaring of the word of ,,god1 by true faith of free justification1 because 7saith the established doctrine of our church7 sincere preachers ever were1 and ever shall be but a few2 and their preaching of ,,god's word most sincere in the beginning1 by process of time waxeth less and less pure1 and after is corrupt1 and last of all quite laid down1 and left off2 because free justification is a doctrine hardly learned in a church1 and soon lost again1 ,galatians i4 #f4 and yet is the true strength1 happiness and safety of the whole land1 ,isaiah lxii4 #af40 ,hereupon1 the #eth part of the sermon against disobedience and rebellion1 established by ,queen ,elizabeth1 teacheth the commons1 that such bishops or ecclesiastical persons1 as by pride and ambitious rule1 do by terms of error1 schism1 or heresy1 hinder this main light of ,,god's word from the people1 are the chiefest traytors in the land3 and the #fth and last part largely teacheth1 that such subjects and commons to whom through ignorance of ,,god's word1 this light of righteousness1 and this sun of understanding doth not shine1 although they may brag1 as did sometimes the ,jewish clergy and people1 that they cannot lack knowledge1 yet are such by their blind dead faith1 traytors to ,,god1 traytors to their king1 traytors to their own souls and bodies1 and traytors to the whole land and country40 ,thus writes that good man ,mr4 ,eaton4 ,i leave you1 ,rev4 ,sir1 to make what use of it you please4 ,you see we have human as well as divine authority on our side4 ,and yet we are looked upon as erroneous1 and are accordingly denied the churches3 and what for8 even for preaching up the doctrine of justification by faith alone2 for which the glorious martyrs of the ,church of ,england burnt in ,smithfield4 ,if this be not like ,nero's setting ,rome on fire1 and then charging it upon the christians1 ,i know not what is4 ,this is really1 ,rev4 ,sir1 the truth of the case4 ,however1 we are willing to frequent the church1 and receive the holy sacrament1 if the clergy please to give us leave4 ,this ,i think we may do1 without being guilty of the inconsistency you charge us with 7page #bith71 because in the #bfth article of our church we are taught1 8,although in the visible church the evil be ever mingled with the good1 and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the word and sacraments3 yet1 forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name1 but in ,,christ's1 and do minister by his commission and authority1 we may use their ministry1 both in hearing the word of ,,god1 and in receiving of the sacraments3 neither is the effect of ,,christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness1 nor the grace of ,,god's gifts diminished from such1 as by faith1 and rightly do receive the sacraments ministered unto them1 which be effectual1 because of ,,christ's institution and promise1 although they be ministered by evil men40 ,this ,i think a sufficient vindication1 for the methodists keeping in the church4 ,but if some cannot go thus far1 nor bear to hear the doctrine of justification by faith alone continually preached against1 the preachers must thank themselves if any entirely desert the church1 and run to meeting-houses or elsewhere1 to get food for their souls4 ,for ,i am persuaded1 if the doctrine of justification by faith alone be banished from our pulpits1 people may attend to their lives end1 and yet never have the whole counsel of ,,god 7as you think they may1 page #ej47 declared unto them4 ,i could enlarge upon this point1 and also answer the charge of enthusiasm which you bring against me in several parts of your letter4 ,but ,i willingly omit it1 because ,i shall have occasion to write more explicitly on these points in my second answer to the ,observations3 ,i have some reasons for deferring it at present4 ,but ,i assure you1 ,rev4 ,sir1 you must not expect me to treat that anonymous author with less justice than in my last4 ,for however worthy perhaps he may be in your sight1 ,i think ,i shall prove him to be no better than an unskilful slandering sophister2 and if a clergyman1 an unorthodox blind guide4 ,as for the irregularities ,i have been guilty of1 in curtailing the liturgy1 or not using the common-prayer in the fields1 c4 ,i think it needless to make any apology1 till ,i am called thereto in a judicial way by my ecclesiastical superiors4 ,they have laws and courts4 ,in and by those1 ecclesiastics are to be judged2 and ,i am ready to make a proper defence1 as ,i mentioned in my answer to the first part of the observations1 whenever it shall be required at my hands4 ,only ,i would beg leave to observe1 that by calling extempore prayer1 extempore effusions1 you cast a slur upon the whole body of dissenters1 and on many of the reformed churches abroad4 ,and as the free grace dissenters have helped to keep up the ,calvinistical disputes1 which you say have happily slept in the established church for so many years2 was it not for his ,majesty's great kindness1 and the lenity of his government1 they would meet with no better treatment than the poor ,methodists do now4 ,indeed you say 7page #dast7 8,we do not oppose or deny the true scripture doctrine concerning these points1 7viz4 ,free justification1 the new birth1 and the in-dwelling of the spirit7 but only your account and explication of them40 ,give me leave therefore1 ,rev4 ,sir1 if you are pleased to favour me with another letter1 to let me know how you explain these important points1 or what you can find inconsistent with scripture1 or the articles of the church of ,england1 in those discourses which ,i have published1 and in which ,i have endeavoured to treat on these points in an explicit manner4 ,i would observe to you1 that ,i wish every non-resident minister in ,england1 could give as good an account of their non-residence1 as ,i can of my absence from ,savannah4 ,to satisfy you1 ,rev4 ,sir1 ,i will acquaint you with the whole4 ,when ,i first went abroad1 ,i was appointed to be minister of ,frederica4 ,but upon my arrival in ,georgia1 finding there was no minister at ,savannah1 and no place of worship at ,frederica1 by the advice of magistrates and people1 ,i continued at ,savannah1 teaching publicly1 and from house to house1 and catechising the children day by day1 during the whole time of my first continuance in ,georgia2 except about a fortnight in which ,i went to ,frederica to visit the people1 and to see about building a church1 for which ,i had given fifty pounds out of some money ,i had collected1 and of which ,i have given a public account4 ,about four months after1 ,i came over to ,england to receive priest's orders1 and collect money for building an ,orphan-house4 ,at the request of many1 the honourable trustees presented me to the living of ,savannah4 ,i accepted it1 but refused the stipend of fifty pounds per annum1 which they generously offered me4 ,neither did ,i put them to any expence during my stay in ,england1 where ,i thought it my duty to abide1 till ,i had collected a sufficient sum wherewith ,i might begin the ,orphan-house1 though ,i should have left ,england sooner1 had ,i not been prevented by the embargo4 ,however1 ,i was more easy because the honourable trustees1 ,i knew had sent over another minister1 who arrived soon after ,i left the colony4 ,upon my second arrival at ,georgia1 finding the care of the ,orphan-house1 and the care of the parish1 too great a task for me1 ,i immediately wrote over to the honourable trustees to provide another minister4 ,in the mean while1 as most of my parishioners were in debt1 or ready to leave the colony for want of being employed1 and as ,i believed1 that erecting an ,orphan-house would be the best thing ,i could do for them and their posterity1 ,i thought it my duty1 from time to time1 to answer the invitations that were sent me to preach ,,christ ,,jesus in several parts of ,america1 and to make more collections towards carrying on the ,orphan-house4 ,the ,,lord stirred up many to be ready to distribute and willing to communicate on this occasion4 ,i always came home furnished with provisions and money1 most of which was expended among the people1 and by this means the northern part of the colony almost entirely subsisted for a considerable time4 ,this was asserted1 not very long ago1 before the house of commons4 ,and now1 ,sir1 judge you whether my non-residence1 was any thing like the non-residents of most of the ,english clergy4 ,when ,i was absent from my parishioners1 ,i was not loitering or living at ease1 but preaching and begging for them and theirs3 and when ,i returned1 it was not to fleece my flock1 and then go and spend it upon my lusts1 or lay it up for a fortune for myself and relations4 ,no3 freely as ,i had received1 freely ,i gave3 and 8therefore when the ear heard me1 then it blessed me2 and when the eye saw me1 it gave witness to me3 because ,i delivered the poor that cried1 and the fatherless1 and him that had none to help him4 ,the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me2 and ,i caused the widow's heart to sing for joy40 ,i am become a fool in glorying4 ,but you have compelled me4 ,the ,,god and ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ knoweth that ,i lie not4 ,i fought not theirs1 but them4 ,and however you may judge me1 7page #bjth7 as though ,i chose this itinerant way of preaching for the sake of ,profit2 yet ,i assure you the last day will prove that you and all like-minded are quite mistaken4 ,i choose a voluntary poverty4 ,the love of ,,god and the good of souls is my only aim4 ,the manner of my call to my present way of acting1 if the ,,lord gives me freedom1 shall be the subject of a future tract4 ,i send you this short letter1 to convince you that ,i am really willing to give an answer of the hope that is in me1 with meekness and fear4 ,i shall only add1 if you do not like the example of ,gallio 7page #bgth7 ,i would humbly recommend to you the advice of ,gamaliel4 8,refrain from these men1 and let them alone3 for if this council1 or this work be of men1 it will come to nought3 but if it be of ,,god1 ye cannot overthrow it1 lest haply ye be found even to fight against ,,god40 ,i am1 ,rev4 ,sir1 ,your affectionate brother and servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 8meakness0 replaced with 8meekness0 ,,an ,,answer ,,to ,the ,,first ,,part of an ,,anonymous ,,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,observations upon the ,conduct and ,behaviour of a certain ,sect usually distinguished by the ,name of ,,methodists40 ,,in ,a ,,letter ,,to ,the ,,right ,,reverend the ,,bishop of ,,london1 and the other ,,right ,,reverend the ,,bishops concerned in the ,publication thereof4 ,false ,witnesses did rise up3 they laid to my ,charge ,things that ,i knew not1 ,psalms xxxv4 #aa4 ,a ,,letter ,to the ,right ,reverend ,the ,bishop of ,,london1 c4 ,london1 ,march #agdd4 ,my ,lords1 ,,the ,apostle ,peter exhorts us1 8to be ready to give an answer to every one that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us1 with meekness and fear40 ,and if this is to be our conduct towards every one1 much more are we bound to behave thus to those who are overseers of the church of ,,god1 and consequently are invested with an authority to require an answer at our hands4 ,a desire of complying with this apostolical injunction1 induced me1 my ,lords1 about five weeks ago1 to publish an ,advertisement1 wherein ,i desired an open publication of several anonymous papers1 entitled1 ,observations upon the conduct and behaviour of a certain sect1 usually distinguished by the name of ,methodists4 ,papers1 which1 upon enquiry1 ,i found had been printed some considerable time1 had been read in the societies of ,london and ,westminster1 and handed about in a private manner to particular friends1 with strict orders to part with them to no one4 ,what could be the meaning of such a procedure1 ,i know not4 ,but this ,i know1 however such a clandestine way of acting1 may savour of the wisdom of the serpent1 it does not bespeak that harmlessness of the dove1 which our ,saviour in an especial manner recommends to his ministers4 ,whereas some anonymous papers against the people called ,methodists in general1 and myself and friends in particular1 have been for some weeks printed in a large edition1 and handed about and read in the religious societies of the cities of ,london and ,westminster1 and given into the hands of many private persons1 with strict injunctions to lend them to no one1 nor let them go out of their hands to any2 and whereas1 after having accidentally had the hasty perusal of them1 ,i find many queries of great importance concerning me1 and my conduct1 contained therein2 and as it appears that one paper has little or no connexion with another1 and a copy1 when applied for1 was refused me1 and ,i know not how soon ,i may embark for ,georgia2 ,i am therefore obliged hereby to desire a speedy open publication of the aforesaid papers1 in order that a candid1 impartial answer may be made thereto by me1 ,george ,whitefield4 ,london1 ,january #bf1 #agdd4 8harmlesness0 replaced with 8harmlessness0 ,who the real author of these papers may be1 ,i am not yet able for a certainty to find out4 ,but ,i had reason to believe1 that my ,lord of ,london was concerned in composing or revising them4 ,that ,i might not be mistaken1 after the publication of the advertisement1 ,i wrote his ,lordship a letter1 wherein ,i desired to know1 whether his ,lordship was the author of this paper or not1 and also desired a copy4 ,his ,lordship was pleased to send word by my friend1 who carried the letter1 that 8,i should hear from him40 ,hitherto his ,lordship has not favoured me with an answer4 ,only some time ago1 one ,mr4 ,owen1 a printer1 in ,amen-,corner1 ,pater-noster ,row1 who is printer to my ,lord of ,london1 left a letter for me1 wherein he informed me1 that he had orders from ,,several ,,of ,,the ,,bishops to print the ,observations on the conduct and behaviour of the ,methodists 7,,with ,,some ,,few ,,additions7 for their use2 and when the impression was finished1 ,i should have a copy4 ,why my ,lord of ,london1 or the several other ,bishops concerned1 should conceal their names1 or why a copy should be denied me1 so long after the papers had been printed1 ,i leave the world to judge4 ,i cannot think such a way of proceeding can gain your ,lordships any credit from the public1 or any thanks from the other ,bishops who have not interested themselves in this affair1 and who1 ,i believe1 are more ,,noble1 than to countenance the publication of any such performance4 ,my ,lord1 ,london1 ,february #a1 #agdd4 ,simplicity becomes the followers of ,jesus ,christ1 and therefore ,i think it my duty to trouble your ,lordship with these few lines4 ,i suppose your ,lordship has seen the advertisement published by me1 about four days ago1 concerning some anonymous papers1 which have been handed about in the societies for some considerable time4 ,as ,i think it my duty to answer them1 ,i should be glad to be informed whether the report be true1 that your ,lordship composed them1 that ,i may the better know to whom ,i may direct my answer4 ,a sight also of one of the copies1 if in your ,lordship's keeping1 would much oblige1 my ,lord1 ,your ,lordship's most obliged1 dutiful son and servant1 ,george ,whitefield4 ,p4 ,s4 ,the bearer will bring your ,lordship's answer2 or if your ,lordship please to favour me with a line1 be pleased to direct for me1 to be left with ,mr4 ,j4 ,syms1 c4 ,sir1 ,february #c4 #agdd4 ,my name is ,owen4 ,i am a printer in ,amen-,corner2 and ,i waited upon you to let you know1 that ,i have had orders from several of the ,bishops1 to print for their use1 such numbers of the ,observations upon the conduct and behaviour of the ,methodists1 7with some few additions7 as they have respectively bespoken4 ,and ,i will not fail to wait upon you with one copy1 as soon as the impression is finished4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,your most obedient1 c4 ,it is a weighty thing with me1 my ,lords1 to have insinuations made1 or queries put to me1 in respect to my practice and doctrine1 in such a public manner1 by persons that are placed at the head of the church4 ,it is true1 your ,lordships have not put queries to me in your own names2 but as the author has concealed his1 and these papers are printed by your ,lordships orders1 you have thereby adopted them for your own2 consequently1 ,i am put under a necessity of directing this letter as ,i have done4 ,and ,i can assure your ,lordships1 that with great deference to the dignity of your office1 after earnest prayer1 with ,i trust some degree of humility1 and unfeigned simplicity of heart1 ,i now sit down to perform my promise1 to give a candid and impartial answer to the fore-mentioned papers1 which were sent me last week1 7collected into a pamphlet7 by ,mr4 ,owen2 and ,i suppose1 by your ,lordships order4 ,i never yet was1 and hope never shall be so far left to lean to my own understanding1 as to fancy myself infallible4 ,young as ,i am1 ,i know too much of the devices of ,satan1 and of the desperate wickedness and deceitfulness of my own heart2 not to be sensible1 that ,i am a man of like passions with others1 and consequently may have sometimes mistaken nature for grace1 imagination for revelation1 and the fire of my own temper1 for the pure and sacred flame of holy zeal1 which cometh from ,,god's altar4,if therefore1 upon perusing the pamphlet1 ,i find that ,i have been blameable in any respect 7as in all probability ,i may7 ,i will not only confess it1 but return hearty thanks both to the compiler and your ,lordships1 though unknown4 ,indeed1 it is but of little consequence to the merits of the cause to know who the author is4 ,only thus much may be said1 your ,lordships yourselves being judges1 it is not quite fair to give stabs in the dark2 and it is some satisfaction to the person attacked1 to know who and what his antagonists are1 that he may know the better how to deal with them4 ,but since that cannot be granted1 it may be more to the purpose1 to consider the matters contained in the pamphlet1 and to answer for myself1 so far as ,i am concerned4 ,it is entitled1 ,observations upon the conduct and behavior 7i4 e4 upon the conduct and conduct7 of a certain sect1 usually distinguished by the name of ,methodists4 ,i think the title ought rather to run thus1,misrepresentations of the conduct and ,,principles1 of many orthodox1 well-meaning ministers1 and members of the church of ,england1 and loyal subjects to his ,majesty ,king ,george1 ,,falsely ,,termed ,a ,,sect1 and usually distinguished1 ,,out ,,of ,,contempt1 by the name of ,,methodists4 ,this title1 my ,lords1 would just answer the contents4 ,for the principles as well as conduct of the ,methodists are struck at1 and greatly misrepresented in this pamphlet4 ,and the ,methodists are no sect1 no separatists from the established church1 neither do they call people from her communion4 ,besides1 the author ought to have added1 ,a new edition1 with several alterations1 additions and corrections2 for otherwise the world is made to believe1 that this is the self-same composition which was handed about some months ago1 and of which ,i had a hasty reading4 ,whereas there are several things omitted1 some things added1 and divers alterations made in this new edition2 so that the title-page is not only injudicious1 but false and scandalous4 ,and if the title-page is so bad1 ,i fear the design and scope of the pamphlet itself is much worse4 ,for is it not to represent the proceedings of the ,methodists as dangerous to the church and state1 in order to procure an act of parliament against them1 or oblige them to secure themselves by turning dissenters8 ,but is not such a motion1 at such a season as this1 both uncharitable and unseasonable8 ,is not the administration engaged enough already in other affairs1 without troubling themselves with the ,methodists8 ,or who would now advise them to bring farther guilt upon the nation1 by persecuting some of the present government's most hearty friends8 ,i say1 my ,lords1 the present government's most hearty friends4 ,for though the ,methodists 7as the world calls them7 disagree in some particulars1 yet ,i dare venture to affirm1 that to a man they all agree in this1 to love and honour the king4 ,for my own part1 ,i profess myself a zealous friend to his present ,majesty ,king ,george1 and the present administration4 ,wherever ,i go1 ,i think it my duty to pray for1 and to preach up obedience to him1 and all that are set in authority under him1 in the most explicit manner4 ,and ,i believe1 should it ever come to the trial1 the poor despised ,methodists1 who love his ,majesty out of principle1 would cleave close to him in the most imminent danger1 when others that adhere to him1 only for preferments1 perhaps might not appear altogether so hearty4 ,my ,lords1 ,i have now been a preacher above seven years1 and for these six years past1 have been called to act in a very public way4 ,your ,lordships must have heard of the very great numbers that have attended me3 sometimes several of the nobility1 and now and then1 even some of the clergy have been present4 ,did they ever hear me speak a disloyal word8 ,are there not thousands can testify1 how fervently and frequently ,i pray for his ,majesty ,king ,george1 his royal offspring1 and the present government8 ,yes1 my ,lords1 they can4 ,and ,i trust1 through the divine assistance1 ,i should be enabled to do so1 though surrounded with popish enemies1 and in danger of dying for it as soon as my prayer was ended4 ,this1 my ,lords1 as far as ,i am acquainted with them1 is the present temper of my friends1 as well as myself4 ,and may ,i not then appeal to your ,lordships1 whether it be not the interest of the administration to encourage such persons1 or at least to let them alone8 ,gallio1 on a like occasion1 thought it his wisdom to act thus4 8,for when the ,jews made insurrection with one accord against ,paul1 and brought him to the judgment-seat1 saying1 this fellow persuadeth men to worship ,,god contrary to the law2 he said unto the ,jews1 if it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness1 ,o ye ,jews1 reason would that ,i should bear with you4 ,but if it be a question of words and names1 and of your law1 look ye to it1 for ,i will be no judge of such matters40 ,nay1 he was so far from approving of their motion1 that he drove them from the judgment-seat4 8,whereever0 replaced with 8,wherever0 ,my ,lords1 ,i know of no law of the state that we have broken1 and therefore we have not incurred the displeasure of the civil power4 ,if your ,lordships apprehend that we are liable to ecclesiastical censures1 we are ready to make a proper defence whenever called to it by our ecclesiastical superiors4 ,as for myself1 your ,lordships very well know that ,i am a ,batchelor of ,arts1 have taken the oaths1 subscribed to the articles1 and have been twice regularly ordained4 ,in this character ,i have acted both at home and abroad1 and know of no law of our government which prohibits my preaching in any field1 barn1 street1 or out-house whatsoever4 ,it is true1 one or two of my friends1 who preach as ,i do1 were bred dissenters1 and had been licensed1 and preached in licensed places before my acquaintance with them2 and one or two of the houses where the ,methodists meet1 have1 without my knowledge1 been licensed since2 and therefore the author of the pamphlet is quite mistaken in his first paragraph 7as well as the title page and design of his pamphlet7 wherein he declares1 that 8it does not appear that any of the preachers among the ,methodists have qualified themselves and the places 7it would have been better ,english if he had said1 qualified themselves1 and licensed the places7 of their assembling1 according to the act of toleration2 which act warrants separate assemblies for the worship of ,,god1 that before were unlawful40 ,i wish the author had taken a little more care to inform himself before he published the pamphlet4 ,he would not then have been guilty of so many egregious mistakes1 or without cause have condemned the innocent1 as he hath done4 ,however1 in the general1 he is right1for1 as yet1 we see no sufficient reason to leave the church of ,england1 and turn dissenters2 neither will we do it till we are thrust out4 ,when a ship is leaky1 prudent sailors1 that value the cargo1 will not leave it to sink1 but rather continue in it so long as they can1 to help pump out the water4 ,i leave the author1 my ,lords1 to make the application4 ,but whether the ,methodists are church-men or dissenters1 the acts of ,king ,charles ,,ii4 referred to1 page #c4 paragraph #a4 and page #d1 paragraph #b4 make nothing against them1 neither do they prove the ,methodists to be violaters of the statute law1 by their being field-preachers4 ,and what the author so peremptorily affirms1 page #d4 paragraph #c4 7and which1 by the way1 is one of the few additions made in this1 which was not in the last edition7 is directly false4 ,for he says1 that 8it has not been known1 that a ,dissenting teacher of any denomination whatever1 has thought himself warranted under the act of toleration1 to preach in fields or streets40 ,it may not1 indeed1 be known to the author2 but ,i know1 my ,lords1 two of the most eminent among the ,dissenting ministers1 who have thought themselves warranted1 if not by the act of toleration1 yet by the laws of the land1 to preach out of doors2 and accordingly1 when the house would not contain the people1 they have preached in a field or orchard1 and near the common high-way4 ,my ,lords1 ,i have been perusing all the acts of ,king ,charles ,,ii4 wherein the word field is mentioned1 and find they are intended 8to suppress seditious conventicles1 for promoting further1 and more proper1 speedy remedies against the growing and dangerous practices of seditious sectaries1 and other disloyal persons1 who1 under pretence of tender consciences1 have1 or may1 at their meetings contrive insurrections 7as late experience hath shewn704 ,these1 my ,lords1 are the preambles of the acts4 ,these are the only field-meetings ,i can find that are prohibited4 ,and how1 my ,lords1 can such acts be applied to the ,methodists8 ,does not such an application imply a charge against the ,methodists1 as though they were seditious sectaries1 disloyal persons1 who1 under pretence of tender consciences1 have1 or may contrive insurrections8 ,has any late experience shewn this8 ,no1 my ,lords1 and ,i hope no future experience ever will4 ,how then can your ,lordships1 with a safe conscience1 encourage such a pamphlet1 or bespeak any number of ,mr4 ,owen1 in order1 as may be supposed1 that they should be dispersed among your ,lordships' clergy8 ,well might the author conceal his name4 ,a more notorious libel has not been published4 ,i am apt to believe1 that ,mr4 ,owen the printer is of my mind also2 for he has taken care in the title-page1 not to let the world know where1 or by whom1 this pamphlet was printed4 ,it comes into public like a child dropt1 that no body cares to own4 ,and1 indeed1 who can be blamed for disowning such a libel8 ,for how1 my ,lords1 does it appear by these acts1 what the author so confidently asserts1 page #d1 paragraph #b1 8that this new sect of ,methodists have broken through all these provisions and restraints1 neither regarding the penalties of the laws1 which stand in full force against them1 nor embracing the protection which the act of toleration might give them1 in case they complied with the conditions of it80 ,how can he immediately add1 8and if this be not an open defiance to government1 it is hard to say what is80 ,may ,i not more justly say1 if this be not an open defamation1 and open defiance of all rules of charity1 it is hard to say what is8 ,might he not as well tax the ,methodists with high treason8 ,father1 forgive him6 ,,lord ,,jesus1 lay not this sin to his charge6 8consciencies0 replaced with 8consciences0 ,though the reign1 my ,lords1 of ,king ,charles ,,ii4 wherein the acts before referred to were made1 was not the most mild and moderate in religious matters1 yet your ,lordships very well know the famous trial of ,mede and ,penn2 and1 after the jury had been confined a long time1 they brought them in1 guilty only of speaking in ,gracechurch-street4 ,and if ,quakers met with so much lenity under the reign of ,king ,charles1 what liberty of preaching in fields1 and elsewhere1 may not the loyal ministers and members of the church of ,england1 nay1 protestant ,dissenting teachers also1 expect under the more gentle and moderate reign of his present ,majesty ,king ,george1 who1 as ,i have been informed1 has declared1 8there shall be no persecution in his days40 ,may the crown long flourish on his royal head1 and a popish ,pretender never be permitted to sit upon the ,english throne6 ,to this1 ,i believe1 all the ,methodists will heartily say1 ,amen1 and ,amen4 ,that the ,methodists1 in general1 are members of the ,established ,church1 the author of the pamphlet himself confesses4 ,for1 page #d1 paragraph #d4 after he has1 without proof1 charged them with making open inroads upon the national constitution2 he adds1 that 8these teachers and their followers affect to be thought members of the national church40 ,and his following words prove that they not only affect it1 but are members of the ,established ,church in reality3 for1 says he1 8and do accordingly join in communion with it40 ,and it appears1 paragraph #f4 that some of the ,methodists communicate every ,lord's-day4 ,what better proof can they give of their being members of the ,church of ,england8 ,it would be well if all her members gave a like proof4 ,but then1 says our author1 page #d1 paragraph #d1 they do it in a manner that is 8very irregular1 and contrary to the directions laid down in the rubrick before the communion1 which is established by the act of uniformity40 7,here is another correction in this new edition47 ,in the copy that ,i read1 it was 8contrary to the directions laid down in our great rule1 the act of uniformity40 ,i am glad the author found out his mistake1 in putting the act of uniformity1 for the rubrick4 ,i hope the next edition will come out more correct still4 ,this rubrick1 says he1 directs as follows3 page #d1 paragraph #d3 8,so many as intend to be partakers of the holy communion1 shall signify their names to the curate1 at least1 some time the day before40 ,and1 for not doing this1 the new sect of ,methodists1 paragraph #e4 page #f4 is charged not only with breaking through1 but 8notoriously despising these wholsome rules40 ,but how unjust is such a charge8 ,when ,i read it1 it put me in mind of what the poor persecuted officers of the children of ,israel said to ,pharaoh1 ,exodus v4 #ae1 #af4 8,wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants8 ,there is no straw given unto thy servants4 ,they say unto us1 ,make brick1 and behold thy servants are beaten1 but the fault is in thy own people40 ,for1 my ,lords1 is it not the business of the clergy to see this rubrick put in execution8 ,and is it not the duty of the church-wardens1 according to the #bhth canon1 quoted by our author1 page #e1 paragraph #d1 8to mark whether any strangers come often1 and commonly from other parishes to their churches1 and to shew the ministers of them40 ,but1 my ,lords1 where is this rubrick or canon observed1 or insisted on by the ministers or church-wardens through ,england1 ,ireland1 ,wales1 or his ,majesty's town of ,berwick upon ,tweed1 except now and then1 when they entertain a grudge against some particular ,methodists8 ,these1 my ,lords1 would rejoice to see1 that ministers and church-wardens would do their duty in this particular4 ,for many of them have been so offended by the clergy's promiscuously and carelesly admitting all sorts of people to the communion1 that if it had not been for me1 they would have left the church only upon this account4 ,we would therefore humbly recommend it to your ,lordships1 that you1 and the rest of the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops1 would insist upon curates and church-wardens putting this1 and all other such wholesome laws and rubricks into execution4 ,that which is holy would not then be given unto dogs1 nor so many open and notorious evil-livers take the sacred symbols of our ,,lord's most blessed body and blood into their unhallowed hands and mouths4 ,the ,methodists wish your ,lordships prosperity in this much wished-for1 though long neglected part of reformation1 in the name of the ,,lord4 ,at the same time1 my ,lords1 ,i would not say any thing that might any way encourage disorders2 neither would ,i persuade the ,methodists to leave their own parish-churches when the sacrament is administered there4 ,on the contrary1 ,i would have them take the author's advice1 page #f1 paragraph #f1 8,if particular persons are disposed to receive weekly1 when the sacrament is not administered at their own parish-church1 to repair privately to the church nearest their own1 where the sacrament is administered every ,lord's-day1 having first signified their names to the minister1 as the rubrick directs40 ,this1 ,i believe1 they will readily comply with4 ,for ,i cannot think with this author 7in the same paragraph71 that the reason of their coming in such numbers is1 that they may have the 8vain pleasure of appearing together in a body1 and as a distinct sect40 ,we would rather1 according to the rules of that charity which hopeth all things for the best1 believe that they come together in such companies to animate and encourage one another4 ,dr4 ,horneck1 ,i remember1 in his account of the primitive christians1 remarks1 that 8where you saw one christian1 you might generally see more40 ,and is it not delightful1 my ,lords1 to behold a communion table crouded8 ,do not such as complain of it1 discover something of the spirit of those ,pharisees1 who were angry when so many people brought their sick to be healed by our ,,lord ,,jesus on the sabbath-day8 ,for ,i cannot think1 that the ministers complain of this1 only on account of their being hereby 8put under the difficulty 7paragraph #e1 page #f47 either of rejecting great numbers as unknown to them1 or administering the sacrament to great numbers1 of whom they have no knowledge10 because it is too notorious that hundreds receive the blessed sacrament1 both in ,london and other places1 where there are no ,methodists1 whom the minister knows little or nothing at all about1 and takes no pains to enquire after4 ,o that the ,author's mentioning this1 may be a means of stirring up the clergy to approve themselves good shepherds1 by seeking1 as much as in them lies1 to know the state of all that come to the holy communion6 ,glad am ,i1 my ,lords1 to find that the author1 in this edition1 hath left out the complaint which was in the copy ,i first read1 of such crowds coming to receive the sacrament1 8because the ministers who are afternoon-lecturers1 were thereby put under the hardship of not having time for necessary rest and refreshment1 between morning and evening duties4 ,for might not our ,,lord say unto them1 8,you slothful servants1 cannot you labour for me one day in a week8 ,cannot you lose one meal to feed my lambs1 without complaining of it as an hardship80 ,surely none can make such a complaint1 but such 8whose god is their belly1 whose glory is their shame1 who mind earthly things40 ,but ,i need not mention this1 because the ,author himself seems ashamed of it4 ,and indeed this1 as well as the other objections against the ,methodists1 are so trivial1 and the acts referred to as discountenancing their field-preaching1 so impertinent1 that the ,author1 without the least degree of a prophetic spirit1 might easily foresee1 paragraph #h1 page #h1 8that this1 and every other such complaint against the ,methodists1 would be censured not only by them1 7but by every impartial person7 as a discouragement to piety and devotion1 and particularly a religious observation of the ,lord's-day40 ,nay1 my ,lords1 he might have foreseen that it would be censured as a wicked1 false1 and ill-designing libel4 ,for is it not wicked1 to represent innocent and loyal persons as open defiers of government1 page #d1 paragraph #b1 and making open inroads upon the national constitution1 7paragraph #d47 without bringing any real proofs of either8 ,i am not1 my ,lords1 of the ,author's opinion1 paragraph #h1 page #h1 8that this slander 7of his being a libeller7 is effectually confuted1 by looking back to the state of the several religious societies in ,london and ,westminster for many years past40 ,this will only serve to increase every unprejudiced person's censure of this performance1 and more effectually1 without the least degree of slander1 prove it a notorious libel4 ,for wherein do the ,methodist societies transgress the laws of church or state1 any more than the societies in ,london and ,westminster8 8,do the particular members of each society 7paragraph #h4 page #h47 attend the public duties of the day1 together with their neighbours1 as the laws of church and state direct80 ,do not the members of the ,methodist societies the same8 8,have the members of the religious societies in ,london and ,westminster 7as the ,author mentions in the same paragraph7 also 7by private agreements among themselves7 their evening meetings1 to employ the remainder of the day in serious conversation1 and in reading good books1 c40 ,have not the members of the ,methodist societies liberty to enter into a like private agreement among themselves8 8,have the members of the ,london societies behaved with modesty and decency1 without any violation of public order and regularity80 ,so have ours1 my ,lords1 as all must confess who have been present when our societies met4 ,and therefore1 my ,lords1 if these ,london societies1 as our ,author says1 paragraph #h1 page #h4 have received no discouragements1 but1 on the contrary1 have been countenanced and encouraged by the bishops and clergy2 why do not the ,methodists meet with the same treatment8 ,are they not as loyal subjects8 ,if the one read a prayer1 may not the other pray extempore8 ,does any law of ,,god or man forbid it8 ,if the one meet in a vestry1 or private house1 may not the other meet in a ,foundery or ,tabernacle8 ,are not your ,lordships1 therefore1 reduced to this dilemma1 either to encourage both or neither8 or at least give the world better reasons than the ,author of this pamphlet has1 why your ,lordships should countenance and encourage the one1 and so strenuously discountenance and discourage the other4 ,for my own part1 my ,lords1 ,i know of no reason why they are discountenanced1 except this1 8,the ,methodist societies 7as they are called7 are more for the power of godliness than those other societies of ,london and ,westminster40 ,i assure your ,lordships1 ,i have not been altogether a stranger to these societies4 ,i used to meet with some of them frequently1 and have more than once preached their quarterly sermon at ,bow-church4 ,some1 who before had only the form of godliness1 our ,saviour was since pleased to call effectually by his grace4 ,but when they began to talk feelingly and experimentally of the new-birth1 free justification1 and the indwelling of the ,spirit of ,,god in believers hearts1 they were soon looked upon as righteous over-much1 and accordingly were cast out by their self-righteous brethren4 ,these were the late extravagances1 my ,lords1 into which the ,author 7just at the conclusion of his first part7 says1 that some have been unhappily misled2 and this1 my ,lords1 was the first rise of the societies which the ,methodists now frequent4 ,o that he and all who oppose them1 had been misled into the like extravagances6 ,i mean a real experience of the new-birth1 and the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ imputed and applied to their souls by faith1 through the operation of the eternal ,spirit6 ,for without this they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,these things1 my ,lords1 the first members of the religious societies in ,london and ,westminster were no strangers to4 ,nay1 their being misled into what the ,author calls the ,methodists late extravagancies1 was the rise of their societies1 as well as ours2 and they met for the very same ends1 and ,i believe in the very same spirit as the ,methodists now do4 ,for a proof of this1 ,i would refer the ,author to ,dr4 ,woodward's account of the rise and progress of the religious societies in the city of ,london1 c4 ,my ,lords1 ,i have been reading over this second chapter1 and in reading it1 could scarce refrain weeping1 when ,i considered how blind the author of this pamphlet must be1 not to discern1 that the first religious societies answered1 as to their spirit1 experience1 and ends of meeting1 to the ,methodist societies1 as face answers to face in the water4 ,let him not1 therefore1 mention the predecessors of the present ,london societies 7the last words of the first part7 as though that would strengthen his cause4 ,indeed1 my ,lords1 it weakens it much4 ,for1 was it possible for these predecessors to rise from the dead1 and examine our principles and practices1 and those of the present religious societies of ,london and ,westminster1 ,i believe they would utterly disown them1 and turn ,methodists too4 ,and why1 my ,lords1 should the ,author be so averse to field-preaching8 ,has not our ,saviour given a sanction to this way of preaching8 ,was not the best sermon that was ever preached1 delivered on a mount8 ,did not our glorious ,emmanuel 7after he was thrust out of the synagogues7 preach from a ship1 in a wilderness1 c48 ,did not the ,apostles1 after his ascension1 preach in schools1 public markets1 and such like places of resort and concourse8 ,and can we copy after better examples8 ,if it be said1 8that the world was then heathen10 ,i answer1 and am persuaded your ,lordships will agree with me in this1 that there are thousands and ten thousands in his ,majesty's dominions1 as ignorant of true and undefiled religion1 as ever the heathens were8 ,and are not persons who dare venture out1 and shew such poor souls the way to heaven1 real friends both to church and state8 ,and why then1 my ,lords1 should the civil power be applied to in order to quell and suppress them8 ,or a pamphlet encouraged by several of the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops1 which is manifestly calculated for that purpose8 ,i would humbly ask your ,lordships1 whether it would not be more becoming your ,lordships characters1 to put your clergy on preaching against revelling1 cock-fighting1 and such like1 than to move the government against those1 who out of love to ,,god and precious souls1 put their lives in their hand1 and preach unto such revellers1 repentance towards ,,god1 and faith towards our ,,lord ,,jesus8 ,what if the ,methodists1 8by public advertisements do invite the rabble80 7as our ,author is pleased to write1 page #d1 paragraph #b47 ,is not the same done by other clergy1 and even by your ,lordships1 when you preach charity sermons8 ,but1 my ,lords1 what does the ,author mean by the rabble8 ,i suppose1 the common people4 ,if so1 these are they who always heard the blessed ,,jesus gladly4 ,it was chiefly the poor1 my ,lords1 the 1 the turba1 the mob1 the multitude1 these people1 who1 the scribes and pharisees said1 knew not the law1 and were accursed2 these were they that were evangelized1 had the gospel preached unto them1 and received the ,spirit of ,,god's dear ,son4 ,not many mighty1 not many noble are called1 says the ,apostle4 ,indocti rapiunt clum1 dum nos cum doctrina descendimus in ,gehennam1 says one of the fathers4 ,and therefore1 my ,lords1 supposing we do advertise the rabble1 and none but such make up our auditories1 7which is quite false7 if this be the ,methodists shame1 they may glory in it4 for these rabble1 my ,lords1 have precious and immortal souls1 for which the dear ,redeemer shed his precious blood1 as well as the great and rich4 ,these1 my ,lords1 are the publicans and harlots that enter into the kingdom of heaven1 whilst self-righteous formal professors reject it4 ,to shew such poor sinners the way to ,,god1 to preach to them the power of ,,christ's resurrection1 and to pluck them as firebrands out of the burning1 the ,methodist preachers go out into the highways and hedges4 ,if this is to be vile1 by the help of my ,,god1 ,i shall be more vile2 neither count ,i my life dear unto myself1 so that ,i may finish my course with joy1 and be made instrumental in turning any of this rabble to righteousness4 ,and more especially do ,i think it my duty to invite1 and preach to this rabble in all places1 where providence shall send me1 at this season2 that ,i may warn them against the dreadful effects of popish principles1 and exhort them to exert their utmost endeavours to keep out a popish ,pretender from ever sitting upon the ,english throne4 ,in acting thus1 ,i humbly apprehend1 ,i can do most service to the cause of the blessed ,,jesus1 to his present ,majesty ,king ,george1 to my fellow-subjects1 and the government under which ,i live4 ,and however such kind of preachers may be every where spoken against now1 yet ,i doubt not but at the great decisive day1 they will be received with an ,euge bene1 and shine as stars in the firmament for ever and ever3 whilst those1 who have only 8divined for hire1 have fed themselves1 and not the flock1 and lorded it over ,,god's heritage10 perhaps1 may pay dear for their preferment1 and rise to everlasting contempt4 ,pardon me1 my ,lords1 for expressing myself here with some degree of warmth4 ,i must own it gives me concern1 to see some of the clergy strain at a gnat and swallow a camel1 and attempt to pull the mote out of our eyes1 before they have pulled the beam out of their own4 ,is it not ridiculous1 my ,lords1 even in the eyes of worldly men1 and does it not render the ,author of this pamphlet1 justly liable to contempt1 to charge the ,methodists with breaking canons and rubricks1 which is really not their faults2 when at the same time he knows1 that the generality of the clergy so notoriously break both canons and rubricks1 and that too in the most important articles1 such as not ,,catechising1 ,,pluralities1 ,,non-,,residence1 c4 every day themselves8 ,with what face can he do it8 ,is not this like ,nero's setting ,rome on fire1 and then charging it upon the christians8 ,may not 8physician heal thyself10 be immediately retorted on him8 8wordly0 replaced with 8worldly0 ,but ,i have done4 ,i would not bring a railing accusation against any4 ,neither would ,i1 my ,lords1 when giving a reason of the hope that is in me1 do it any other way than with meekness and fear4 ,i would therefore now proceed to answer the other parts of the pamphlet2 but ,i shall reserve that for another letter1 which1 ,,god willing1 shall be published in a short time4 ,in the mean while1 ,i humbly recommend this to the divine blessing1 and to your ,lordships considerations1 and beg leave to subscribe myself1 my ,lords1 ,your ,lordships most obedient son and servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,,an ,,answer ,,to ,the ,,second ,,part of an ,,anonymous ,,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,observations upon the ,conduct and ,behaviour of a certain ,sect1 usually distinguished by the ,name of ,,methodists30 ,,in ,a ,,second ,,letter ,,to ,the ,,right ,,reverend the ,,bishop of ,,london1 and the other the ,right ,reverend the ,,bishops concerned in the ,publication thereof4 ,my heart's desire and prayer to ,,god for ,israel is1 that they might be saved4 ,for ,i bear them record1 that they have a zeal for ,,god1 but not according to knowledge4 ,for they being ignorant of ,,god's righteousness1 and going about to establish their own righteousness1 have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of ,,god4 ,romans x4 #a1 #b1 #c4 ,a ,,second ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,right ,rev4 the ,bishop of ,,london1 c4 ,on board the ,wilmington1 ,captain ,darling1 bound from ,plymouth to ,piscataqua in ,new-,england1 ,august #be1 #agdd4 ,my ,lords1 ,i ,,troubled your ,lordships with a letter some time ago4 ,i now proceed1 according to my promise1 to answer the remainder of the anonymous pamphlet entitled1 ,observations upon the ,conduct and ,behaviour of a certain ,sect usually distinguished by the ,name of ,methodists4 ,the author opens the second part with this preface3 8,besides the many ,irregularities which are justly charged upon these itinerant preachers as violations of the laws of church and state2 it may be proper to enquire1 whether the doctrines they teach1 or those lengths they run1 beyond what is practised among our religious societies1 or in any other christian church1 be a service or disservice to religion8 to which purpose1 the following ,queries are submitted to consideration40 ,it is here taken for granted1 that the ,methodists 7termed by our author1 either out of contempt1 or by way of periphrasis1 these itinerant preachers7 are justly charged with many ,irregularities1 which amount to violations of the laws of church and state4 ,but how has the author proved1 what he here takes for granted8 ,i humbly apprehend not at all4 ,for has it not appeared in my answer to the first part of his observations1 that neither the act of toleration1 nor that of ,charles ,i,id1 any way affects the ,methodists1 as being loyal subjects to his majesty ,king ,george1 and members of the ,church of ,england8 ,how then have they been justly charged with violations of the laws of the state8 ,and has it not been equally made to appear1 that the irregularity the author says the ,methodists have been guilty of1 in coming to other parish churches to receive the sacrament1 is owing to the negligence of your ,lordship's clergy and church-wardens8 ,how then have they been justly charged with violations of the laws of the church8 ,but may we not suppose by his speaking so contemptuously of these itinerant preachers1 that itinerant preaching itself1 is one of the many irregularities and violations of the laws of the church at least1 if not of the state1 which according to this author are justly charged upon these itinerant preachers8 ,his eighth query1 page #aath 7which for method sake ,i would here beg leave to make some remarks upon7 bespeaks as much4 ,for he herein submits it to the consideration of the public1 8,whether1 in a christian nation1 where the instruction and edification of the people is provided for1 by placing ministers in certain districts1 to whom the care of the souls within those districts is regularly committed2 it can be for the service of religion1 that itinerant preachers run up and down from place to place1 and from county to county1 drawing after them confused multitudes of people8 an evil which our church has wisely provided against1 says our author1 in the ordination of a priest1 by expresly limiting the exercise of powers conferred upon him1 of preaching the word of ,,god1 and administring the holy sacraments1 to the congregation where he shall be lawfully appointed thereunto40 ,here indeed is a heinous irregularity charged upon these itinerant preachers1 even a violation of the commission given them when they were ordained priests2 but with what justice1 ,i would refer to your ,lordships consideration4 ,for if the commission given us1 when ordained priests1 absolutely prohibits us to preach any where but to the congregation where we shall be lawfully appointed thereunto1 will it not prove too much8 and has not the author1 in endeavouring to reproach us1 unwarily reproached your ,lordships also8 for are not your ,lordships then equally irregular1 equally violators of the laws of the church1 whenever you preach 7though it be never so seldom7 out of your ,lordships respective diocesses8 ,and does not this commission1 thus strictly taken1 absolutely forbid any presbyters whatsoever preaching any where besides in their own particular congregations8 and if so1 are not all ministers that exchange pulpits equally irregular1 at least as really violators of their ordination commission1 as these itinerant preachers8 8,willmington0 replaced with 8,wilmington0 8religigion0 replaced with 8religion0 removed duplicate 8and0 8publick0 replaced with 8public0 8therunto0 replaced with 8thereunto0 ,our author in the following paragraph under the forementioned query tells us1 8,that the bishops indeed and also our two universities have power to grant licenses to preach1 of a larger extent1 to such clergymen as they judge proper2 who1 in virtue thereof may1 if they chuse1 travel from place to place as itinerants4 ,but then the church has provided in that case 7,can4 #ej71 that neither the minister1 church-wardens1 nor any other officers of the church shall suffer any man to preach within the churches and chapels1 but such as by showing their licence to preach1 shall appear unto them to be sufficiently authorized thereunto40 ,what these licences for itinerant preaching are to which the author here refers1 is not certain4 ,does he not seem to mean the common licences which your ,lordships give the clergy1 when they take upon them holy orders8 ,are not these the licences which the church-wardens examine8 ,and what is the end of these licences8 ,was it ever heard before that they were to qualify persons to be itinerant preachers8 ,is not the plain end of them1 to satisfy the church-wardens that the persons who offer their service have had a regular ordination1 and are sufficiently authorised to preach8 ,and does not the author know that these licences now are little regarded8 ,do not our letters of orders answer the same end to all intents and purpose8 ,were they not judged sufficient at our first setting out into the ministry8 ,and after all1 what is it that the ministers and church-wardens can do to persons that have not these licences8 ,why they are not to suffer them to preach within their churches and chapels8 but have they any power1 my ,lords1 to hinder them from preaching without their churches or chapels8 ,no1 blessed be ,,god1 their power is limited within3 hitherto can they go1 and no further4 ,and therefore supposing these itinerant preachers1 though they have no licenses1 do not preach within any churches or chapels1 unless with the ministers or church-wardens consent1 how are they justly charged with violating a law of the church1 though they should preach without doors to as great multitudes as shall be inclined to hear them8 ,he proceeds in the #c;d paragraph under this #hth query to write thus3 8,the practice of licensing itinerant preachers was occasioned by the low talents of many incumbents in the more early days of the reformation1 whose abilities carried them no farther than to the reading of homilies2 a defect which has long been remedied by a liberal education of sufficient numbers of persons for the ministry1 who regularly perform the office of preaching1 as well as other duties1 in the parishes committed to their care4 ,and if the forementioned defect did still continue1 as ,,god be thanked it does not1 it would be ill supplied by our modern itinerants1 who make it their principal employ1 wherever they go1 to instil into the people a few favourite tenets of their own2 and this1 with such diligence and zeal as if the whole of christianity depended upon them1 and all efforts towards the true christian life1 without a belief of those tenets1 were vain and ineffectual40 ,but1 my ,lords1 what can this author mean by writing thus8 for supposing the practice of itinerant preaching was primarily occasioned by the low talents of many incumbents in the more early days of the reformation1 does it therefore follow1 that there can be no other just cause assigned for itinerant preaching now8 ,what if the generality of the present incumbents depart from the good old doctrines that were preached in the more early days of the reformation1 and notwithstanding their liberal education1 make no other use of their learning but to explain away the articles and homilies1 which they have subscribed in the grammatical and literal sense8 ,is it not necessary1 in order to keep up the doctrines1 and thereby the real dignity of the church1 that either the clergy thus degenerated1 should be obliged to read the homilies as formerly1 and to preach consistently therewith2 or that those who do hold the doctrines of the reformation1 should go about from place to place1 and from county to county1 nay from pole to pole1 if their sphere of action extended so far1 to direct poor souls that are every-where ready to perish for lack of knowledge1 into the right way which leadeth unto life8 ,that this is the case between the established clergy and these itinerant preachers1 will appear presently2 and how then can this author charge them with making it their principal employ1 wherever they go1 to instil into the people a few favourite tenets of their own8 ,has the author followed them wherever they have preached1 that he asserts this so confidently concerning them8 ,is it not to be wished that he had at least taken care to have been better informed8 for then he would have saved himself from the guilt of a notorious slander4 ,is it not evident to all who hear them1 that the favourite tenets which the itinerant preachers make it their principal employ to instil into people's minds wherever they go1 are the great doctrines of the reformation1 homilies and articles of the church8 such as 8,man's bringing into the world with him a corruption which renders him liable to ,,god's wrath and eternal damnation3 ,that the condition of man after the fall of ,adam1 is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself1 by his own natural strength and good works1 to faith and calling upon ,,god3 ,that we are accounted righteous before ,,god1 only for the merit of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ by faith1 and not for our own works or deservings3 ,that they are to be accursed1 who presume to say1 that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth1 so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law1 and the light of nature40 ,these1 my ,lords1 are some of the favourite tenets of these itinerant preachers4 ,their others are like unto them4 ,can these1 my ,lords1 be properly called their own8 ,or ought it not to be the principal employ of every true minister1 wherever he goes1 to instil such tenets1 and that too with the utmost diligence and zeal1 into the people's minds8 ,does not a great part of christianity depend on them8 ,and are not all pretensions to a true christian life1 without a belief of these tenets1 vain and ineffectual8 ,may not these itinerant preachers therefore complain unto your ,lordships of this anonymous author1 as ,mephibosheth complained to ,david of treacherous ,ziba8 ,doubtless he hath slandered them4 ,and wherefore does he speak so contemptuously of itinerant preachers8 ,is it not an amiable and honourable character8 ,and may ,i not take the freedom of acquainting your ,lordships1 that if all the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops did their duty1 7especially my ,lord of ,london1 whose diocess is of such a vast extent7 they would all of them long since have commenced itinerant preachers too8 ,but to return to an examination of the other part of the author's preface4 ,after he has taken it for granted1 that many irregularities are justly charged upon these itinerant preachers1 as 8,violations of the laws of church and state10 he adds1 8,it may be proper to enquire1 whether the doctrines they teach1 and those lengths they run beyond what is practised among our religious societies1 or in any other christian church1 be a service or disservice to religion40 ,the religious societies or any other christian church6 ,what1 does our author make the religious societies a church8 ,this is going further than the ,methodists1 whom he is pleased to stile only a sect4 ,but if the religious societies1 my ,lords1 be a church1 may it not be proper to enquire how their doctrines or practices came to be set up as a rule and standard for others to go by1 so that persons doing service or disservice to religion must be judged of according as they deviate from or adhere to the religious societies either in doctrine or practice8 ,or supposing the religious societies were to be a standard for others to go by1 was it not incumbent on the author to give the public a short summary and account of their doctrines and practices8 ,for otherwise how can the world possibly judge whether the ,methodists do deviate from them2 or if so1 whether they do thereby service or disservice to religion8 ,indeed1 this author has told us in his first part1 how the religious societies behave on ,sundays2 but he has no where acquainted us with the principles they hold1 or how they behave on other days4 ,and till he does1 ,i will venture to affirm1 that unless these itinerants teach other doctrines than the present religious societies generally hold1 and run greater lengths in christianity than the generality of them1 it is to be feared1 now run1 they will be in great danger of never arriving at 8the mark for the prize of their high-calling in ,,christ ,,jesus their ,,lord40 ,i have been the more particular1 my ,lord1 in the examination of the preface1 because the author1 by annexing these words1 8to which purpose the following queries are submitted to consideration10 seems to lay it down as the ground-work and foundation of all the subsequent queries4 ,and if the foundation be so weak and sandy1 how slight and superficial must be the superstructure8 ,i suppose your ,lordships will readily grant1 that it is the bounden duty of every regular and fair writer 7especially when he is charging others with irregularities as violations of the laws of church and state7 to take care that he does not violate the laws of christian charity4 ,or if he puts queries to the public concerning any persons1 ought he not to take heed that those queries are founded upon truth1 and that the charges therein exhibited are really matter of fact8 ,but our author has notoriously neglected this fundamental rule1 and thereby not only cast a lasting blot and odium upon his own character1 if his name was known1 but also hath done real hurt to the cause he would defend4 ,the query already examined concerning itinerant preaching1 wherein he has charged the ,methodists with instilling into people a few favourite tenets of their own1 sufficiently demonstrates this4 ,but this is not all2 several of the other queries now coming under consideration are by no means founded on truth1 and contain charges against these itinerants1 whereby they are as much wronged and unjustly vilified as ever ,stephen was1 when the ,jews suborned men who said1 8,we have heard him speak blasphemous words against ,moses and against ,,god1 this holy place and the law40 ,to prove this1 we need only examine the two queries which immediately follow the preface4 ,query #ast4 8,whether notions in religion may not be heightened to such extremes1 as to lead some into a disregard of religion itself through despair of attaining such exalted heights8 and whether others1 who have imbibed those notions1 may not be led by them into a disregard and disesteem of the common duties and offices of life1 to such a degree at least as is inconsistent with that attention to them1 and that diligence in them1 which providence has made necessary to the well-being of private families and public societies1 and which christianity does not only require in all stations and in all conditions1 but declares at the same time 7,colossians iii4 #bb4 ,ephesians v4 #f47 that the performance even of the lowest offices in life1 as unto ,,god 7whose providence has placed people in their several stations7 is truly serving ,,christ1 and will not fail of its reward in the next world40 8#e0 replaced with 8v0 for consistency ,query #b4 8,whether the enemy of mankind may not find his account in their carrying christianity1 which was designed for a rule to all stations and all conditions1 to such heights as make it fairly practicable by a very few in comparison1 or rather by none80 ,his #eth and #fth queries1 page the #ajth1 are like unto them4 ,they run thus1 8,whether those exalted strains in religion1 and an imagination of being already in a state of perfection1 are not apt to lead men to spiritual pride1 and to a contempt of their fellow-christians2 while they consider them as only going on in what they account the low and imperfect way10 7i4 e4 as growing in grace and goodness only by degrees78 ,and again1 8whether the same exalted strains and notions do not tend to weaken the natural and civil relations among men1 by leading the inferiors1 into whose heads those notions are infused1 to a disesteem of their superiors2 while they consider them as in a much lower dispensation than themselves2 though those superiors are otherwise sober and good men1 and regular attendants on the ordinances of religion80 ,here again it is supposed1 that these itinerant preachers either imagine themselves to be in a state of perfection1 or at least teach others to imagine that they are2 and that the consequence of this is a weakning the natural and civil relations among men1 by leading them to a disesteem of their fellow-christians1 and superiors1 who are supposed to be in a lower dispensation than themselves4 ,heavy charges1 my ,lords1 these are indeed6 ,but what evidence does our author produce to prove them8 ,why really none at all4 ,for here is no quotation at the bottom of either of these queries from any of their writings2 so that we cannot tell whether they are levelled against these itinerant preachers in general1 or any one of them in particular4 ,and therefore the ,prebendary of ,st4 ,paul's1 who has been pleased to reply to my first letter1 in vindication of this author1 has done wrong in affirming1 8,that under each query there is some quotation either from my journals or other writings1 whereon it is founded40 ,but there is no such thing under these four1 wherein such heavy charges are included4 ,and therefore may ,i not argue1 as the author does upon another occasion in his first part1 page #hth1 that 'till some proof does appear1 the presumption must be that he has none8 ,in the mean while1 ,i dare challenge this author1 and the whole world1 to produce any passage out of my writings1 wherein ,i have taught any other christianity1 than what1 through the aids of the ,blessed ,spirit1 is practicable by all persons in all conditions2 or that ,i ever preached otherwise than 8,that the performance even of the lowest offices of life as unto ,,god1 whose providence has placed people in their several stations1 is truly a serving of ,,christ1 and will not fail of its reward 7though not of debt1 yet of grace7 in the next world40 ,neither did ,i ever imagine that ,i had attained1 or was already perfect1 or taught persons to imagine that they were so3 no1 ,i expect to carry a body of sin and death about with me as long as ,i live1 and confess from my inmost soul1 that ,i am the chief of sinners1 and less than the least of all saints3 ,i am so far from thinking that an imagination that we are already in a state of perfection1 is only apt to lead men into spiritual pride1 that ,i condemn it as the very quintessence and highest degree of it4 ,and the more we are conformed to the divine image1 the more exact ,i believe we shall be in keeping up our natural and civil relations among men1 in giving all honour to whom honour is due1 and in lowliness of mind esteeming each other better than ourselves4 ,and if so1 my ,lords1 may not the author1 for thus charging these itinerants in general without distinction1 be justly stiled a libeller8 ,and how will he undertake to prove1 that any one of these itinerant preachers in particular1 carries christianity to any greater heighth than he himself does1 query #acth1 page #af1 where in speaking of the ,holy ,spirit1 he has these words1 8,whose peculiar office it is1 to season the heart with humility1 and to root out of it the seeds 7what is that but the very inbeing87 of pride and vain-glory40 ,is he not very irregular in writing thus at random2 nay1 does he not hereby himself openly violate the laws both of church and state8 ,it is true1 our author would appear an advocate for both2 but does not his third query1 page #ith1 plainly prove him a real friend to neither2 especially the latter8 ,he there asks1 8whether in particular1 the carrying the doctrine of justification by faith alone to such a heighth1 as not to allow1 that a careful sincere observance of moral duties is so much as a condition of our acceptance with ,,god1 and of our being justified in his sight2 whether this ,i say1 does not naturally lead people to a disregard of those duties1 and a low esteem of them2 or rather to think them no part of the christian religion80 ,it is plain from hence1 that one of these extremes to which these itinerants exalt christianity1 and whereby it's queried1 whether they do service or disservice to religion1 8is their carrying the doctrine of justification by faith alone to such a height1 as not to allow that a careful and sincere observance of moral duties is so much as a condition of our acceptance with ,,god1 and of our being justified in his sight40 ,our author it seems is for another way of salvation1 query #eth1 page #ajth1 viz41 8for men's gradually working out their own salvation1 by their own honest endeavours1 and through the ordinary assistances of ,,god's grace2 with a humble reliance upon the merits of ,,christ for the pardon of their sins and the acceptance of their sincere1 though imperfect services40 ,this is our common divinity4 ,this is what my ,lord of ,london in his last pastoral letter against luke-warmness and enthusiasm1 exhorted his clergy to preach4 ,but how contrary is all this to the articles and homilies of our church8 ,for what says the #aath article8 8,we are accounted righteous before ,,god1 only for the merit of our ,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ by faith1 and not for our own works or deservings4 ,wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholsome doctrine1 and very full of comfort1 as more largely is expressed in the homily of justification40 ,and if both the article and homily of the ,church of ,england expresly declare1 that we are justified before 7or in the sight of7 ,,god1 by faith1 and faith only1 how can 8a careful and sincere observance of moral duties be a condition1 my ,lords1 of our acceptance with ,,god1 and of our being justified in his sight80 ,and if the doctrine of being justified by faith only be a wholsome doctrine1 and very full of comfort1 how can this author in the latter part of this query now before us1 enquire1 8whether preaching this doctrine does not naturally lead people to a disregard of moral duties1 and a low esteem of them2 or rather to think them no part of the christian religion80 ,does he consider1 that in writing thus1 he directly symbolizes with the infidel1 ,romans vi4 #a4 who is introduced after the apostle had been insisting at large on this doctrine of justification by faith only1 as speaking like our author1 8,shall we sin then that grace may abound80 ,the apostle immediately rejects the motion with a me genoito2 and so reply these itinerants1 my ,lords1 8,,god forbid40 ,for what says the #abth1 article of our ,church8 8,albeit that good works1 which are the fruits of faith1 and follow after justification1 cannot put away sins1 and endure the severity of ,,god's judgment2 yet are they pleasing and acceptable to ,,god in ,,christ1 and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith1 insomuch that by them a lively faith1 may be as evidently known1 as a tree discerned by the fruit80 ,and do we then by preaching the doctrine of justification by faith only1 naturally lead people to a disregard of moral duties and a low esteem of them1 much less to think them no part of the christian religion8 ,do we not rather establish them1 by laying a foundation whereon true moral duties can only be built1 so as to be acceptable in the sight of ,,god8 for what says our #acth article8 8,works done before the grace of ,,christ1 and the inspiration of his ,spirit1 are not pleasant to ,,god1 for as much as they spring not of faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 neither do they make men meet to receive grace1 or 7as the school authors say7 deserve grace of congruity2 yea rather1 for that they are not done as ,,god hath willed and commanded them to be done1 we doubt not but they have the nature of sin40 ,to this query our author annexes the following observation4 8,the words of the pious and judicious ,mr4 ,chillingworth are very material to this purpose3 ,for my part1 says he1 ,i do heartily wish that by public authority it were so ordered1 that no man should ever preach or print this doctrine1 that faith alone justifies1 unless he joins this together with it1 that universal obedience is necessary to salvation40 ,what piety and judgment ,mr4 ,chillingworth might be remarkable for1 ,i know not2 but if by 8universal obedience being necessary to salvation10 he means what our author does 7or otherwise this quotation is nothing to the purpose7 justification in the sight of ,,god1 then ,mr4 ,chillingworth's writing after this manner is a specimen neither of his piety or judgment2 because the quite contrary doctrine is contained in our articles1 and established by public authority4 ,so that to wish for justification by faith alone to be put down by public authority1 what is it in effect but to wish for the utter subversion of the grand doctrine of the reformation8 ,perhaps it may not be impertinent1 or a vain repetition1 if ,i here beg leave to transcribe a passage 7which ,i lately printed in my answer to the ,prebendary of ,st4 ,paul's7 out of the ,honeycomb of ,free ,justification1 written by one ,mr4 ,eaton1 of ,trinity ,college in ,cambridge1 printed at ,london in the year #afdb4 8,free justification was first enjoined to be diligently taught1 for the reformation of the church1 by ,king ,henry ,,viii4 but was by ,king ,edward ,,vi4 and ,queen ,elizabeth1 principally established by parliament1 and singled out from all the rest of the established articles of religion2 and reduced into sermons and homilies1 to be 7after the people's sight of their lost estate1 and woeful misery by sin7 principally taught1 and chiefly known and understood of all the subjects and commons of the land1 for these four causes4 #ast4 8,because it is the only immediate cause and means of our peace with ,,god4 ,for being justified by faith we have peace with ,,god1 ,romans v4 #a4 and our assurance of free salvation by ,,jesus ,,christ1 and is therefore called the justification of life1 ,romans v4 #ah4 #8,for whom ,,god justifieth1 them he also glorifieth1' ,romans viii4 #cj4 #c;d4 8,because it is the chiefest cause and means to discover and suppress the ,romish antichrist1 popery1 c4 and all other superstitions1 sects1 errors and schisms out of the land2 and to establish unity1 peace and concord in matters of religion1 and of assurance of free salvation1 and makes every man to keep in a lawful vocation1 and to do it profitably in love4 ,galatians v4 #ac4 ,a second point is not mentioned4 #dth4 8,to direct ministers1 to go with a right foot to the truth of the gospel1 ,galatians ii4 #ad4 in sound preaching1 and pure declaring of the word of ,,god1 by a true faith of free justification1 because 7saith the established doctrine of our church7 sincere preachers ever were1 and ever shall be but a few2 and their preaching of ,,god's word1 most sincere in the beginning1 by process of time waxeth less and less pure1 and after is corrupt1 and last of all quite laid down1 and left off2 because free justification is a doctrine hardly learned in a church1 and soon lost again1 ,galatians i4 #f4 and yet is the true strength1 happiness and safety of the whole land1 ,isaiah lxii4 #af40 8,hereupon1 the #eth part of the sermon against disobedience and rebellion1 established by ,queen ,elizabeth1 teacheth the commons1 that such bishops or ecclesiastical persons1 as by pride and ambitious rule1 do by terms of error1 schism1 or heresy1 hinder this main light of ,,god's word from the people1 are the chiefest traytors in the land3 and the #fth and last part largely teacheth1 that such subjects and commons to whom1 through ignorance of ,,god's word1 this light of righteousness1 and this sun of understanding doth not shine1 although they may brag1 as did sometimes the ,jewish clergy and people1 that they cannot lack knowledge1 yet are such by their blind dead faith1 traytors to ,,god1 traytors to their king1 traytors to their own souls and bodies1 and traytors to the whole land and country40 ,thus far ,mr4 ,eaton4 ,and whether he or ,mr4 ,chillingworth wrote with most piety and judgment on this head1 ,i leave to the author's consideration4 ,and at the same time appeal to your ,lordships1 whether the ,methodists1 by preaching up the doctrine of justification by faith alone1 carry christianity to an extreme8 or1 whether or not this author1 by making moral duties a condition of our acceptance with ,,god1 and of our being justified in his sight1 is not himself guilty of an irregularity which amounts to a violation of the laws both of church and state8 ,may not this also1 my ,lords1 serve as an answer to our author's #ajth query1 page #abth4 8,whether it be for the service of religion1 to discourage people from reading ,archbishop ,tillotson's ,sermons and the ,whole ,duty of ,man8 to whom our ,methodists might have added many more of our best writers after the restoration4 ,for1 all these 7together with explaining the whole work of our redemption by ,,christ7 endeavoured to turn the minds of people to the practice of moral duties1 and to cure them of that madness and enthusiasm into which they had been led by the ,antinomian doctrines1 and others of the like tendency1 during the times of anarchy and confusion80 ,undoubtedly2 for are they not both wrong in their foundation8 ,the latter indeed lays no foundation by justifying faith at all1 and therefore may be more properly termed ,half the ,duty of ,man2 and the former1 like our author1 contrary to the laws of church and state1 makes good works a condition of our acceptance with ,,god1 and of our being justified in his sight4 ,and though ,i might have spared my borrowed comparison of putting the ,archbishop on a level with ,mahomet1 7for which ,i ask the public pardon1 though perhaps even this confession may be turned to my reproach7 yet ,i can by no means agree with our author in this same query1 page #acth1 that either his ,grace1 or the author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man1 explained the whole work of our redemption by ,,christ4 ,for how can that be possibly done1 without explaining the doctrine of justification by faith alone8 ,and therefore1 whatever good the ,archbishop1 and many other of our best writers after the ,restoration 7as this author stiles them7 might design by endeavouring 8to turn the minds of people to the practice of moral duties1 and to cure them of that madness and enthusiasm into which they had been led by the ,antinomian doctrines1 and others of the like tendency1 during the times of anarchy and confusion10 may ,i not appeal to your ,lordships1 whether that of the ,poet be not too applicable to his ,grace1 to the ,author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man1 and to writers of that stamp3 ,incidit in syllam1 qui vult vitare ,charibdin8 ,for1 is there no way1 my ,lords1 of turning people's minds to the practice of moral duties1 without turning their minds from the doctrine of justification by faith alone1 without which1 moral duties cannot be acceptable to ,,god at all8 ,what is this1 my ,lords1 but1 ,pharaoh like1 to command ,,god's ,israel to make brick without giving them straw8 ,and supposing it be true1 that the people before the restoration had been led into madness and enthusiasm1 by ,antinomian doctrines1 was there no other way1 my ,lords1 of curing them of this madness1 but by preaching down the most fundamental article of the church of ,england1 and so by preaching up the doctrine of justification in the sight of ,,god1 partly by works1 and partly by faith1 bring them half way to the church of ,rome8 ,do not these itinerants1 my ,lords1 by laying down faith as the foundation1 and building the superstructure of universal obedience as the fruit of it thereon1 keep a proper medium1 and take the most effectual method of preserving people from ,antinomianism on the one hand1 or madness and enthusiasm1 anarchy and confusion on the other8 ,and is not this1 my ,lords1 the constant tenor of their sermons8 ,do they not first labour to bring people to a real faith in ,,christ as the ,,lord their righteousness1 and then exhort those that believe1 to be careful to maintain and shew forth their faith1 by a constant uniform performance of all manner of good works8 8,pharoah0 replaced with 8,pharaoh0 ,how disengenuous then is this ,author's #ith query1 page #ab4 8,whether it does not savour of self-sufficiency and presumption1 when a few young heads1 without any colour of a divine commission1 set up their own schemes1 as the great standard of christianity3 and1 how can it be reconciled to christian humility1 prudence1 or charity1 to indulge their own notions to such a degree1 as to perplex1 unhinge1 terrify1 and distract the minds of multitudes of people1 who have lived from their infancy under a gospel ministry1 and in the regular exercise of a gospel worship2 and all this1 by persuading them1 that they have never yet heard the true gospel1 nor been instructed in the true way of salvation before3 and that they neither are1 nor can be true christians1 but by adhering to their doctrines and discipline1 and embracing christianity upon their schemes8 ,all the while1 for the sake of those schemes1 and in pursuance of them1 violating the wholesome rules1 which the powers spiritual and temporal have wisely and piously established1 for the preservation of peace and order in the church40 ,here he charges these itinerants 7though without proof1 as he had done in the preceding one7 with 8setting up their own schemes1 as the great standard of christianity10 and with telling people that 8they neither are1 nor can be true christians1 but by adhering to their doctrines and discipline1 and embracing christianity upon their schemes40 ,is not this calumny all over8 ,for where has this author made it appear1 that the ,methodists preach contrary to the articles of the established church8 ,or how does he or can he prove1 that they affirm1 8,people neither are1 nor can be true christians1 without adhering to their discipline80 ,where are any quotations to this purpose in his observations8 ,is not this1 my ,lords1 all gratis dictum8 ,and therefore1 to use some of his own words1 8,does it not savour of self-sufficiency and presumption1 and can it be reconciled to christian humility1 prudence1 or charity10 to indulge his prejudice against any persons living to such a degree1 as to lay things to their charge which they never thought of or said8 ,for do not these itinerants freely converse with persons of all communions8 ,have ,i not in particular communicated with the church of ,scotland1 and preached among the churches in ,new-,england8 ,do not the generality of the clergy cry out against me as a latitudinarian1 and look upon me for so doing1 as the bigotted ,jews did on ,peter1 for going unto the uncircumcised ,gentiles2 though ,i say as he did1 8,can any man forbid me to converse with and communicate with those who have received the ,holy ,ghost as well as we80 ,are not these notorious matters of fact8 ,and how then can this author insinuate1 that these itinerants tell people1 that they neither are1 nor can be christians without adhering to their discipline8 ,but further1 how scornfully does he speak of these itinerants8 ,he stiles them a few young heads4 ,and how unwarily has he thereby shewed his ignorance of the lively oracles of ,,god8 ,for has he never read what ,david saith1 ,psalms viii4 #b4 8,out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength1 because of thine enemies1 that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger80 ,or that of the ,apostle1 #a ,corinthians i4 #bg1 #bh4 8,but ,,god hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise2 and ,,god hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the things which are mighty2 and base things of the world1 and things which are despised1 hath ,,god chosen1 yea and things that are not1 to bring to nought things which are80 ,how presumptuously does he also tax these few young heads in this same query1 with acting 8without any colour of a divine commission80 ,for have not several of these young heads received a commission from your ,lordships8 ,and does not the success they have met with1 as also their being strengthened to stem and surmount such a torrent of opposition1 afford some colour at least1 that they have acted by a divine commission indeed8 ,for how could a few young heads1 my ,lords1 or any men whatsoever1 do such things1 unless ,,god was with them8 ,but our ,author1 it seems1 looks upon what they call success1 in a different light1 and therefore1 in this #ith ,query1 further asks1 8,how it can be reconciled to christian humility1 prudence1 or charity1 to indulge their own notions to such a degree1 as to perplex1 unhinge1 terrify1 and distract the minds of multitudes of people1 who have lived from their infancy under a gospel ministry1 and in the regular exercise of a gospel worship2 and all this1 by persuading them1 that they have never yet heard the true gospel1 nor been instructed in the true way of salvation before40 ,to prove this particular part of the ,query1 he refers to passages which my ,lord of ,london was pleased to extract out of my third ,journal some years ago1 such as1 8,i offered ,,jesus ,,christ freely to them2,i think ,wales is excellently well prepared for the gospel of ,,christ2,received news of the wonderful progress of the gospel in ,yorkshire1 under the ministry of my dear brother ,ingham2,i was refreshed by a great packet of letters1 giving me an account of the success of the gospel2,a most comfortable packet of letters1 giving me an account of the success of the gospel40 ,but how do all these passages1 my ,lords1 put all together1 afford the least shadow of a proof of what this ,author here lays to these itinerants charge8 ,or how can offering ,,christ freely1 and hearing and writing of the success of the gospel1 be interpreted as perplexing1 unhinging1 terrifying1 and distracting the minds of multitudes of people1 c48 ,is not this1 my ,lords1 like the other proofs he brings against these itinerants in some other respects8 ,and may ,i not venture to affirm now1 whatever ,i did some years ago1 that if the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops1 and ,reverend the ,clergy1 hold the same principles with this anonymous ,author1 then the generality of the poor people of ,england1 however regular they may have been from their infancy in the exercise of a gospel worship1 never yet lived under a gospel ministry1 have never yet heard the true gospel1 or been instructed in the true way of salvation4 ,for how can that be1 when the fundamental doctrine of the gospel1 ,i mean justification by faith alone in the sight of ,,god1 must be necessarily every where preached down8 ,does not ,luther call this1 ,articulus stantis aut cadentis ecclesi8 ,and is there any thing1 my ,lords1 so very irreconcilable to christian humility1 prudence1 or charity1 for a few young heads1 who do hold this doctrine1 7seeing those who seem pillars1 and are the aged heads of the church1 are so much out of order7 to venture out and preach this doctrine to as great multitudes of people as will give them the hearing8 ,and supposing some of these multitudes should be unhinged1 terrified1 distracted1 or disturbed a little1 is it not better they should be thus unhinged from off their false foundation here1 than by building upon their own works1 and going about to establish a righteousness of their own1 endanger their eternal salvation hereafter8 ,the distracting people's minds to such a degree as to occasion sudden roarings1 agonies1 screamings1 tremblings1 dropping-down1 ravings1 and such like1 is by no means the great end proposed by these itinerants preaching1 much less was it ever urged by them as an essential mark of the co-operation of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,and therefore1 my ,lords1 is not our ,author very unfair in stating his #dth ,query1 page #aj1 as he has done3 8,whether a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion1 paid by good men in a serious and composed way1 does not better answer the true ends of devotion1 and is not a better evidence of the co-operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 than those sudden agonies1 roarings and screamings1 tremblings1 droppings-down1 ravings and madnesses1 into which their hearers have been cast2 according to the relations given of them in the ,journals referred to80 ,would not one imagine by this ,query1 that these itinerants laid down such things as screamings1 tremblings1 c4 as essential marks of the co-operations of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,but can any such thing be proved8 ,are they not looked upon by these itinerants themselves1 as extraordinary things1 proceeding generally from soul-distress1 and sometimes it may be from the agency of the evil spirit1 who labours to drive poor souls into despair8 ,does not this appear from the relation given of them in one of the ,journals referred to8 ,are there not many relations of the co-operation of the ,spirit in the same ,journal1 where no such bodily effects are so much as hinted at8 ,and does not this give ground to suspect1 that 8the due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion1 paid by 7what our ,author calls7 good men1 in a serious and composed way10 is little better than a dead formal attendance on outward ordinances1 which a man may continue in all his life-time1 and be all the while far from the kingdom of ,,god8 ,did ever any one before hear this urged as an evidence of the co-operation of the ,spirit8 ,or would any one think1 that the ,author of the observations ever read the relations that are given of the conversion of several in the holy scriptures8 ,for may we not suppose1 my ,lords1 that many were cast into sudden agonies and screamings1 ,acts ii4 #cg4 when 8they were pricked to the heart1 and said unto ,peter and the rest of the apostles1 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do to be saved80 ,or what would this ,author think of the conversion of the ,jailor1 ,acts x4 #bi1 #cj4 8who sprang in1 and came trembling and fell down before ,paul and ,silas2 and brought them out1 and said1 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved80 ,or what would he think of ,paul1 who trembling and astonished1 ,acts ix4 #f4 said1 8,,lord1 what wilt thou have me to do80 and was afterwards1 verse #i1 8three days without sight1 and neither did eat nor drink80 ,is it not to be feared1 that if this ,author had been seated upon the bench1 and heard this ,apostle give an account of his own conversion1 he would have joined with ,festus in crying out with a loud voice1 8,paul1 much learning hath made thee mad80 ,and are not all these things1 and whatever else is recorded in the book of ,,god1 written for our learning8 ,is not ,,god the same yesterday1 to-day1 for ever8 ,and may he not now1 as well as formerly1 reveal his arm and display his power in bringing sinners home to himself as suddenly and instantaneously as in the first planting of the gospel church8 ,but it seems1 by ,query #g1 page #aj1 that our ,author doubts whether there be any such thing as a sudden and instantaneous change4 ,for he there enquires1 8,whether a gradual improvement in grace and goodness1 is not a better foundation of comfort1 and of an assurance of a gospel new birth1 than that which is founded on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change2 which1 if there be any such thing1 is not easily distinguished from fancy and imagination2 the workings whereof we may well suppose to be more strong and powerful1 while the person considers himself in the state of one who is admitted as a candidate for such a change1 and is taught in due time to expect it80 ,here it is to be observed1 that after telling of a sudden and instantaneous change1 he adds1 8if there be any such thing40 ,what1 my ,lords1 does this ,author profess himself an advocate for the church of ,england1 and yet say1 8,if there be any such thing as a sudden instantaneous change80 ,does he not hereby lay an ax to the very root of the baptismal office8 ,for if the child be actually regenerated by the ,holy ,ghost1 when the minister sprinkles water upon him in the name of the blessed ,trinity1 does it not follow1 that if any change at all be wrought in the child at that time1 it must be sudden and instantaneous8 ,and does he then say1 8,if there be any such thing80 ,and do your ,lordships assent thereto8 ,with what reason then are these itinerants upbraided for talking of a sudden1 instantaneous change1 upon which the very essence of baptismal regeneration1 that ,,diana of the present clergy1 entirely depends8 ,besides1 with what confidence or rules of fair reasoning can he here enquire1 8,whether a gradual improvement in grace and goodness1 is not a better foundation of comfort1 and of an assurance of a gospel new-birth1 than that which is founded on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change2 which1 if there be any such thing1 is not easily distinguished from fancy and imagination2 the working whereof we may well suppose to be more strong and powerful1 while the person considers himself in the state of one who is admitted as a candidate for such a change1 and is taught in due time to expect it80 ,however unintelligible the latter part of this ,query may be1 does not the former part of it seem to imply1 that these itinerants found the assurance of the gospel new-birth on this sudden and instantaneous change wrought on their hearers under their sermons1 exclusive of a gradual improvement in grace and goodness afterwards6 ,but is not this mere slander8 ,for however they may humbly hope1 that ,sinners1 when deeply impressed1 may be suddenly and effectually wrought upon1 yet how can it be proved that they reckon them real converts1 till they see them bring forth the fruits of the ,spirit1 in doing justly1 loving mercy1 and walking humbly with their ,,god8 ,or if this was not the case1 does not the author himself1 if he holds baptismal regeneration1 found his comfort on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change8 ,and do not the greatest part of the poor souls now in ,england1 go on secure that they shall be eternally happy1 and yet have no better foundation of comfort1 and assurance of a gospel new-birth1 than that which is founded on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change wrought upon them in baptism8 ,is not our ,author1 my ,lords1 also in this ,query1 guilty of another egregious mistake6 ,for the foundation of comfort which these itinerants lay and depend on is1 the compleat and all-sufficient righteousness of ,,jesus1 and the new birth or change wrought in the heart1 is by them looked upon only as an evidence that the persons thus changed1 have indeed gotten a foundation on this rock of ages1 and consequently a sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life4 ,and is not all this1 my ,lords1 easily distinguished from fancy and imagination8 ,and does not our ,author lead people to a wrong foundation for comfort1 by directing them to look for it from 8a gradual improvement in grace and goodness80 ,for1 what says the ,apostle1 #a ,corinthians iii4 #aa4 8,other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,,christ ,,jesus108who 7as he speaks in the first chapter of the same epistle1 verse #cj47 is made unto us of ,,god1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification and redemption80 ,this foundation1 as well as this sudden and instantaneous change1 whether wrought in or after baptism1 our ,author1 it is to be feared1 is too great a stranger to3 at least1 he gives too great evidence1 that he has made but little improvement in grace and goodness2 for he asks in his #aath ,query1 page #ac1 8,whether1 the frame of human nature fairly considered1 the ,author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man1 did not do better service to religion1 in laying down rules to keep recreations of all kinds within the bounds of innocence1 than they who now censure him1 and absolutely deny that recreations of any kind1 considered as such1 are or can be innocent80 ,what rules the ,author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man may have laid down to keep recreations of all kinds within the bounds of innocence1 it may be needless here to enquire4 ,is it not sufficient1 my ,lords1 to mention1 that the holy scriptures 7wherein the whole duty of man1 and that too in respect both to faith and practice1 is fully and really taught7 lay down one golden universal rule for recreations and every thing else1 that 8,whether we eat or drink1 or whatsoever we do1 we must do all to the glory of ,,god80 ,whatever recreations people take to the glory of ,,god1 these itinerants1 my ,lords1 think are quite allowable3 but if they are made use of meerly for self-pleasing1 and not to ,,god's glory1 nor to fit us for his service1 they do affirm1 that all such recreations neither are nor can be innocent4 ,and if the ,author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man1 or any other ,author whatsoever1 hath set any other bounds1 or fixed any other rule1 however fairly he may have considered the frame of human nature1 is it not evident1 that he has not fairly considered the frame and nature of true christianity8 ,for does not that1 my ,lords1 turn our whole lives into one continued sacrifice to ,,god8 ,and if we fairly consider the frame of human nature1 how weak and frail it is1 and how easily diverted from pursuing our one great end1 are not those the greatest friends to religion1 who caution people against leading themselves into temptations1 or making use of any recreation that may put them out of a spiritual frame1 and unfit them for the service of ,,god8 ,is this going any further than the ,apostle did1 who so strictly cautions christians 8not to grieve the ,spirit of ,,god1 whereby they are sealed to the day of redemption80 ,our ,author1 under this head1 has referred to a passage out of one of my ,journals1 wherein ,i gave an account of my being in some polite company at ,maryland1 who were disposed to cards2 and also a passage out of my letter from ,new-,brunswick1 occasioned1 if ,i mistake not1 by meeting a man who thought it allowable to play at cards in the ,christmas holidays1 from the liberty given him by the ,author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man4 ,and will our ,author allow playing at cards to be a lawful recreation for a christian8 ,is this one of the recreations of all kinds which may be kept within the bounds of innocence8 ,is it not a kind of casting lots8 ,has it not the appearance of evil8 ,will he not hear the church8 ,and what says the #geth canon8 8,no ecclesiastical person shall at any time1 other than for their honest necessities1 resort to any taverns or alehouses1 neither shall they board or lodge in any such places4 ,furthermore1 they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labour1 or to drinking or riot1 spending their time idly by day or by night1 playing at dice1 cards1 or tables1 or any other unlawful game3 but at all times convenient1 they shall hear or read somewhat of the holy scriptures1 or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise1 always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty1 and endeavouring to profit the church of ,,god1 having always in mind that they ought to excel all others in purity of life1 and should be examples to the people to live well and christianly1 under pain of ecclesiastical censures to be inflicted with severity1 according to the qualities of their offences40 ,an excellent canon this6 ,and may ,i not argue from it thus8 ,either this canon is founded upon the word of ,,god1 or it is not3 if it be not1 why is it not abrogated8 if it be1 why is it not put in practice8 ,why do the clergy encourage frequenting of taverns1 alehouses1 and gaming by their own example8 ,are not such practices in this canon supposed to be quite contrary to the purity of life and excellency of example which may be justly required from them8 ,and if such things are unseemly in a clergyman1 are they not in a degree equally unseemly in laymen1 whose privilege as well as duty it is1 to be 8holy in all manner of conversation and godliness10 and who are universally commanded 8to shine as lights in the world amidst a crooked and perverse generation80 ,my ,lords1 might it not reasonably have been hoped1 that your ,lordships were too well acquainted with real and inward religion1 to think that a soul born of ,,god1 and made partaker of a divine nature1 can stoop so low1 and act so unlike itself1 as to seek for recreation in gaming8 ,does not the glorious and plenteous redemption1 that great1 inexpressibly great and present salvation1 which the great ,high-priest and ,apostle of our profession has purchased for us by shedding his dear heart's blood1 and whereby we are redeemed from this present evil world1 set us above such trifling things as these1 supposing they were not directly sinful8 ,are not christians 8kings and priests unto ,,god80 ,and is it not as much beneath the dignity of their heaven-born spirits1 to stoop to so low an amusement as gaming of any kind1 as ever it was beneath the dignity of the ,roman ,emperor to spend his time in the amusement of catching flies8 ,does not our ,author1 therefore1 my ,lords1 by writing thus1 strike at the very vitals of religion1 and prove too plainly that he is a stranger to the power of the dear ,redeemer's resurrection8 ,need we1 therefore1 wonder at his #abth ,query1 page #ab1 wherein he enquires1 8,whether the strong expressions which are found in their printed ,journals1 of extraordinary presences of ,,god1 directing and assisting them in a more immediate manner1 do not need some testimonies of a divine mission1 to clear them from the charge of enthusiasm80 ,under this query our ,author has also mentioned several passages of my ,journals1 extracted by my ,lord of ,london1 in his last pastoral letter against lukewarmness and enthusiasm1 and has also been at great pains to extract many more out of my four last ,journals1 which have been printed since1 and which1 according to our ,author1 are more full of enthusiasm1 if possible1 than the three first8 ,but does not this ,author forget1 that ,i answered his ,lordship's letter1 and proved1 that his ,lordship was mistaken in his definition of enthusiasm2 and that1 according to his definition1 ,i was no enthusiast8 ,did ,i not also prove1 that the propositions on which his ,lordship's quotations were founded were false8 ,has his ,lordship1 or any one for him1 been pleased to make any reply to that answer8 ,not as ,i have heard of4 ,and therefore1 was it not incumbent upon this ,author1 my ,lords1 to have disproved or invalidated my answer to his ,lordship's letter1 before he could honourably mention the passages referred to therein1 to prove me an enthusiast8 ,but passing by this1 with the other many irregularities which are justly charged upon this anonymous ,author1 if he asks 8whether the strong expressions which are found in their printed ,journals 7,i suppose he would have said his printed ,journals1 for ,i find under this ,query no ,journals referred to but mine7 of extraordinary presences of ,,god directing and assisting them in a more immediate manner1 do not need some testimonies of a divine mission1 to clear them from the charge of enthusiasm80 ,i would ask this ,author again1 8,what testimonies he would have80 ,can he bring any proof against the matters of fact recorded in these ,journals8 ,or will he venture to affirm1 that ,i did not feel the divine presence in an extraordinary manner1 that is1 more at one time than another8 ,or that ,i have not been directed in a more immediate manner1 at certain times1 when waiting upon ,,god8 ,were not such-like queries put by the heathens to the primitive christians8 ,and was not their answer1 ,monstrare nequeo1 sentio tantum8 ,i would further ask1 what this ,author means by a divine mission8 ,did not my ,lord of ,gloucester 7for ,i must again repeat it7 give me an apostolical one1 when he said1 8,receive thou the ,holy ,ghost by the imposition of our hands80 ,and can it be enthusiasm1 or is there any thing extraordinary in saying1 that ,i felt more of the influences of this ,holy ,ghost1 and was assisted in a more immediate manner in my administrations at one time1 than another8 ,or is it not more extraordinary 7only indeed that it has been a good while too too common7 that the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops should take upon them to confer the ,holy ,ghost1 and the ,reverend the ,clergy profess they are inwardly moved by it1 and yet charge every expression they meet with1 wherein his blessed influences are spoken of as felt and experienced1 with being downright enthusiasm8 ,but what shall we say8 8,the natural man discerneth not the things of the ,spirit3 they are foolishness unto him1 neither can he understand them3 because they are spiritually discerned40 ,what if some of the expressions1 my ,lords1 in the ,journals are strong8 ,does that prove them enthusiastical8 ,or what if feeling the presence of ,,god1 and being directed in a more immediate manner1 be something extraordinary to our ,author1 does it therefore follow that it is so to others8 ,or is this ,author like minded with the ,right ,reverend the ,bishop and the ,reverend the ,clergy of the diocese of ,litchfield and ,coventry1 who reckon the indwelling1 and inward witnessing of1 as also praying and preaching by the ,spirit1 among the karismata1 the miraculous gifts conferred on the primitive church1 and which have long since ceased8 ,if so1 no wonder that the expressions referred to are strong and extraordinary to him4 ,but1 my ,lords1 may ,i not beg leave to tell this ,author1 that these itinerant preachers have not so learnt ,,christ8 ,no1 they believe that ,,jesus is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever3 and that he is faithful1 who hath said to his ,apostles1 and in them to all succeeding truly christian ministers1 8,lo1 ,i am with you always1 even to the end of the world40 ,consequently they believe the ,comforter will abide with them for ever1 witnessing with their spirits that they are children of ,,god2 leading them by a diligent search of the holy scriptures into all truth2 guiding them together with the word1 the voice of friends and ,providence1 in all circumstances by his counsel2 giving them utterance when called to speak to the people from ,,god1 and helping their infirmities1 and assisting them in prayer when called to speak to ,,god for the people4 ,inwardly moved by this ,spirit1 and not by any hopes of human grandeur or preferment1 these itinerants1 my ,lords1 first took on them the administration of the church2 and his blessed influences they have from time to time happily experienced1 as thousands whose eyes have been opened to discern spiritual things1 can testify4 ,and being without cause denied the use of their brethrens pulpits1 and having obtained help from ,,god1 they continue to this day1 witnessing both to small and great the grand doctrines of the ,reformation1 justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and the necessity of the indwelling of the ,spirit in order to be made meet to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance1 among all them that are sanctified4 ,in doing thus they know of no 8wholesome rules1 wisely and piously established by the powers spiritual and temporal10 ,query #ith1 page #ab4 which they have violated3 or should they be commanded by the whole bench of ,bishops to speak no more of this doctrine1they have an answer ready1 8,we cannot but speak the things that we know40 ,we take this to be an ungodly admonition2 and therefore1 8whether it be right in the sight of ,,god1 to obey man rather than ,,god1 judge ye40 ,and though for so doing1 they should be mobbed1 as they frequently have been1 and though ,,god be not the author of confusion or tumult1 as our ,author would have it1 page #ab1 yet they know of one who was mobbed himself upon a like account1 and commanded ,timothy to approve himself a minister of ,,god in tumults4 ,being sensible of the indolence and unorthodoxy of the generality of the clergy1 they think they are sufficiently warranted by the example of the ,prophets of the ,old1 and of ,,jesus ,,christ and his ,apostles in the ,new-,testament1 7whatsoever our ,author may say1 ,query #hth page #aa47 to bear a faithful testimony against them4 ,and being called by the ,providence of ,,god abroad1 after their unworthy labours had been blessed at home1 they have judged it meet1 right1 and their bounden duty1 from time to time1 to publish accounts of what ,,god had done for their own and other people's souls3 which1 though despised by some1 and esteemed enthusiastical by others1 have been owned to the instruction and edification of thousands4 ,but whether this may be properly called 8open and public boasting1 unbecoming the modesty and self-denial of a minister of the gospel1 especially one who would be thought to carry on his ministry under the immediate guidance of the blessed ,spirit10 7as our ,author intimates in his last ,query of this #b;d ,part72 or whether they were written with a single eye to the ,redeemer's glory1 they are willing to leave to the determination of that ,,god1 to whom all hearts are open1 all desires are known1 and from whom no secrets are hid4 ,i could here enlarge2 but having detained your ,lordships too long already1 ,i am1 ,your ,lordships most obedient son and servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,,some ,,remarks ,upon a late ,,charge against ,,enthusiasm1 ,delivered by ,the ,right ,reverend ,father in ,,god1 ,,richard1 ,lord ,bishop of ,litchfield and ,coventry1 to the ,reverend the ,,clergy in the several parts of the ,diocess of ,litchfield and ,coventry1 in a ,triennial ,visitation of the same in #agda2 and published at their request in the present ,year #agdd4 ,in a ,,letter to the ,rev4 the ,,clergy of that ,diocess4 ,matthew xi4 #be1 #bf4 ,at that time ,jesus answered and said1 ,i thank thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of ,heaven and ,earth1 because that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and hast revealed them unto babes4 ,even so1 ,father1 for so it seemed good in thy sight4 ,,to ,the ,reverend the ,,clergy ,of the ,diocess of ,,litchfield and ,,coventry4 ,on ,board the ,wilmington1 ,captain ,darling1 ,september #bj1 #agdd4 ,reverend ,brethren1 ,,as you profess to know the scriptures1 ,i need not inform you1 that the character of young ,elihu shines in the #cb;d chapter of the book of ,job with a superior lustre1 above that of his other three friends who came to converse with him4 ,the humility and modesty wherewith he first addresses himself to them is peculiarly amiable4 8,i am young1 says he1 and ye are very old1 wherefore ,i was afraid1 and durst not shew you my opinion4 ,i said1 ,days should speak1 and multitude of years should teach wisdom40 ,but knowing by experience1 that 8great men are not always wise1 neither do the aged understand judgment1 he said1 ,hearken unto me1 and ,i also will shew my opinion40 ,and that they might not censure him for rashness in speaking1 he assures them1 verses #aa1 and #ab4 that he had well weighed the matter before he broke silence4 8,behold1 ,i waited for your words2 ,i gave ear to your reasons1 whilst you searched out what to say4 ,yea1 ,i attended unto you2 and behold there was none of you that convinced ,job1 or that answered his words40 ,and that they might not be offended at his plain speaking1 or expect that he would be over-awed from delivering his soul1 by their superiority in age1 learning1 or circumstances of life1 in the two last verses of the chapter1 he boldly1 but honestly tells them what they were to expect from him4 8,let me not1 ,i pray you1 accept any man's person1 neither let me give flattering titles unto man1 for ,i know not to give flattering titles3 ,in so doing my ,maker would soon take me away40 ,and it is very remarkable1 that though we are told this young man's wrath was kindled against ,job and his three friends1 verses #b and #c4 and though 7as it appears from the ensuing chapters7 he spoke very close and cutting things1 yet at the end of the book1 we find no blame laid on him by the great heart-searching ,,god2 whereas the other three are severely reproved1 and commanded to apply to ,job for the benefit of his prayers4 ,animated by1 and willing to copy after so bright an example1 ,i now sit down to write you this letter2 in which ,i would beg leave to make some remarks on your ,right ,reverend ,diocesan's late charge against enthusiasm4 ,had ,i continued in my native country1 ,i should have taken the freedom to have written to his ,lordship himself2 but as ,i heard that he was very aged1 and probably before this could reach ,england1 might be called to give up his account to the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls1 ,i thought it most advisable to direct this letter to you1 at whose request1 as appears by the title-page1 this charge was printed4 ,it is not my design to enter upon a critical examination of every paragraph4 ,i would observe in general1 that his ,lordship's main design1 from the beginning to the end of it1 is1 to prove 8that the indwelling and inward witnessing of the ,spirit in believers hearts 7if there were ever any such things at all7 as also praying and preaching by the ,spirit1 are all the extraordinary gifts and operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 belonging only to the apostolical and primitive times1 and consequently all pretensions to such favours in these last days are vain and enthusiastical40 ,in order to evince this1 his ,lordship selects several passages of holy writ1 which1 in his opinion1 are misapplied by those whom his ,lordship is pleased to stile modern enthusiasts1 and undertakes to shew1 page #aath1 8that they are to be interpreted chiefly1 if not only1 of the state of the apostolical and primitive church1 and that they very little1 if at all1 relate to the present state of christians40 ,whether or not his ,lordship hath succeeded in his undertaking1 will best appear by a candid and impartial review thereof4 ,the first attempt of this nature which we meet with in his ,lordship's charge1 is page the #abth4 ,his words are these3 8,that ,i may proceed in a regular manner1 with regard to those passages of scripture that ,i shall select on this occasion1 ,i chuse to begin with the original promise of the ,spirit1 as made by our ,,lord1 a little before he left the world4 ,it occurs in the #adth and #afth chapters of ,st4 ,john's gospel2 in which he uses these words3 #8,when the ,spirit of truth is come1 7whom ,,christ had just before promised to send from the ,father1 chapter #adth1 verse #afth7 he will guide you into all truth1 and he will shew you things to come4' ,and again1 #8the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever ,i have said unto you4' ,it is very clear 7proceeds his ,lordship7 from the bare recital of these words1 that as they were spoken to the apostles1 so they peculiarly belong to the apostles themselves1 or to the inspired persons in the primitive church40 ,but granting that these words do belong peculiarly to the apostles1 does it therefore follow1 that they do not at all belong to their successors1 or in common to all believers upon whom the ends of the world are come8 ,were not the apostles then representatives of the whole church8 ,and may not what was spoken to them1 in a proper degree be said to be spoken to us and to our children1 and to as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call8 ,does not his ,lordship confess1 page #acth1 8that in one of these passages it is added1 that the ,father will give you another comforter1 that he may abide with you for ever80 ,and does not his ,lordship allow1 page #adth1 8that in the largest sense in which this may be understood1 it is synonymous with ,,christ's promise to his disciples at his ascension1 that he would be with them always1 even to the end of the world20 that is1 as himself explains it1 8by the perpetual presence of the ,holy ,spirit1 as the guardian of his church 'till the end of the world80 ,but how can ,,christ be with his church by the perpetual presence of his ,spirit1 or how can the ,holy ,spirit 8be the guardian of his church 'till the end of the world10 unless it is by opening and bringing all things to our remembrance1 whatsoever ,,jesus hath said to us in his revealed will1 guiding us thereby into all truth1 and teaching us all things necessary to eternal salvation8 ,this promise1 it is true1 as his ,lordship observes1 page the #aeth1 8was fulfilled in a most solemn manner by the descent of the ,holy ,spirit on the ,apostles1 and others with them1 at the feast of ,pentecost1 that is recorded so particularly in the second chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles40 ,and it is as true1 7as his ,lordship intimates page #afth7 8that ,st4 ,peter makes an application of the prophecy of ,joel1 to the miraculous effusion of the ,spirit on that memorable occasion4 ,but does not his ,lordship by intimating1 that this promise of our ,,lord was wholly compleated on the day of ,pentecost1 prove too much8 for does it not then follow1 that no one after the day of ,pentecost was to expect the ,holy ,ghost to bring all things to their remembrance1 to teach them all things1 and shew them things to come8 ,how then could this promise be fulfilled in the apostle ,paul1 who was converted some time after8 or how could this remain in the primitive church in the inspired persons1 or abide with the church for ever to the end of the world8 ,and supposing the apostle ,peter does make an application of the prophecy of ,joel to the miraculous effusion of the ,spirit on the day of ,pentecost1 ,acts the #b;d1 verses #afth1 #agth1 c4 does it therefore follow1 that this promise of our ,saviour extends no farther than that day8 ,does he any where intimate any such thing through his whole discourse8 ,or is it any new thing for prophecies to have several fulfilments8 ,is not that prophecy1 8,out of ,egypt have ,i called my son10 which was originally spoken concerning ,,god's ,israel1 applied by the evangelist ,matthew1 chapter #b;d4 verse #aeth1 to the ,son of ,,god himself8 ,and therefore granting that this promise was in an extraordinary degree fulfilled in the day of ,pentecost1 how does it follow1 that it is not now1 and will be in an ordinary way1 fulfilling to the end of the world8 ,and consequently1 may not this promise of our ,,lord be pleaded by all his disciples1 for the indwelling of his blessed ,spirit1 and his inward teaching1 by the instrumentality of his revealed will1 now as well as formerly 7especially since his ,lordship1 page #aeth1 clears us from pretending to the operations of the miraculous kind7 without being censured for so doing as modern enthusiasts4 ,but this inward teaching and indwelling of the ,spirit1 his ,lordship will by no means allow even the primitive christians to have had in common1 and therefore1 page #ceth 7which ,i come to next1 for method's sake7 he comments upon another remarkable scripture1 that1 in his ,lordship's opinion1 #8has been misapplied to later ages1 and indeed to the present times1 by several enthusiasts1 but was really peculiar to the times of the apostles4' ,it occurs1 says his ,lordship1 page ibid4 in the first epistle of ,st4 ,john1 chapter ii4 verse #bjth1 #bgth4 8,but ye have an unction from the ,holy ,one1 and ye know all things4 ,but the anointing which ye have received of him1 abideth in you3 but as the same anointing teacheth you all things1 and is truth1 and is no lie2 and even as it hath taught you1 ye shall abide in him40 ,this unction from the ,holy ,one1 and this anointing1 his ,lordship1 in five or six pages1 labours to prove was some extraordinary gift residing in some particular inspired persons1 and not in the believers in general to whom the apostle wrote4 ,but with what shadow of argument does his ,lordship reason thus8 ,for though it be certain 7as his ,lordship intimates page #cgth7 8that there were several such inspired teachers among the first christians1 who were endowed with various gifts of the ,spirit1 and among them with the gift of prayer1 and preaching1 and revelation of the true sense of the prophetical parts of the ,old ,testament20 yet how does it appear1 that these inspired teachers are the particular persons referred to by the ,apostle in this passage8 ,if that was the case1 would not the epistle itself more properly have been directed to them1 as having the oversight of the flock8 ,or is it not probable at least1 that the ,apostle would have had something to say to them1 as well as to the 8little children1 young men1 and fathers10 verses #abth1 #acth1 to whom he writes so particularly8 ,and is it not evident from the whole context1 that this unction from the ,holy ,one was not an extraordinary gift residing in any particular inspired person1 but the indwelling of the ,spirit1 believers in general1 whereby they had an experimental proof1 that ,,jesus was indeed the ,,christ1 and therefore needed not that any man should teach them1 that is1 further teach them1 for the ,apostle writes unto them as knowing persons1 verse #abth1 c4 ,is not this interpretation quite consistent with the whole scope of the ,apostle in this epistle1 which was to comfort himself1 and believers in general1 now so many antichrists were abroad1 that 7since ,,jesus ,,christ had declared1 ,matthew xxiv4 #bd4 that the elect could not be finally deceived7 they having a proof of their election by receiving this unction from above1 this indwelling of the ,holy ,ghost in their hearts1 were now enabled1 in a way far superior to1 though not entirely exclusive of human teaching1 to guard against the seducers of the day8 ,and consequently1 may not the indwelling of the ,spirit be insisted upon now1 as the privilege of all real christians1 without their being justly stiled for so doing1 modern enthusiasts4 ,again1 is not his ,lordship greatly mistaken in his explanation of the #afth verse of the #hth of ,romans1 8,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,,god40 8,this passage1 says his ,lordship1 page #ahth1 as it is connected with the preceding one1 relates to the general adoption of christians1 or their becoming the sons of ,,god1 instead of the ,jews1 who were then rejected by ,,god1 and had lost that title4 ,but what was the ground of this preference that was given to christians8 ,it was plainly the gifts of the ,spirit1 which they had1 and which the ,jews had not4 ,that ,spirit then1 which by its gifts enabled the ,apostles and other christians to work miracles of various kinds1 was a demonstration1 that ,,god was in them of a truth1 and that their religion was owned by him in opposition to that of the ,jews1 whom he had deserted in a judicial manner40 ,the conclusion his ,lordship draws from these premises1 we have page the #bjth4 8,that the fore-mentioned testimony of the ,spirit1 attended with the testimony of our own spirit1 i4 e4 the consciousness of the sincerity and good lives of private christians1 was the public testimony of the miraculous gifts of the ,spirit which ,,god had conferred on the ,apostles1 and many of the first christians2 and which shewed that they and their brethren were the true church of ,,god1 and not the ,jews4 ,and this was a plain criterion in the first great controversy1 namely1 to which of those two churches men were obliged to adhere in communion4 ,and consequently1 this witness of the ,spirit1 which shews that we christians are the sons of ,,god1 cannot possibly be applied to the mere private testimony of the ,spirit given to our own consciences1 to prove that we1 or private christians1 are the sons of ,,god and heirs of salvation1 as is pretended by modern enthusiasts40 ,but does not his ,lordship here argue from a mistaken supposition1 that the ,apostle1 in the #hth of the ,romans1 is speaking of the miraculous power our ,,lord gave to his first ,apostles to work miracles1 in confirmation that their doctrine was of ,,god8 ,is there any such thing so much as hinted at through the whole chapter8 ,is not the whole scope of it to shew the privileges of those1 who 8being justified by faith0 alone1 chapter #eth1 8have peace with ,,god through our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ80 ,does not the ,apostle therefore at the first verse say1 8,that there is no condemnation to them who are in ,,christ ,,jesus80 ,does he not say1 verse the #ith1 that 8the ,spirit of ,,god dwelt in them80 ,does not his ,lordship allow1 page #af1 c4 ,that the ,apostle in this and the preceding verses treats of that 8spiritual principle in christians which enables them to mortify the deeds of the body1 and overcome carnal inclinations80 ,and what shadow of a reason can be given to prove that the same spiritual principle is not spoken of in verse #afth1 as bearing witness with believer's spirits that they were the children of ,,god8 ,is it not said1 verse #aeth1 to be something that they had received8 8,but ye have received the spirit of adoption1 whereby ye cry ,abba1 ,father40 ,and is not the obvious sense of these verses put together plainly this1 8,that true believers1 those who are christians indeed1 have the ,spirit of ,,god dwelling in them1 verse #ith2 are led by this ,spirit1 verse #adth2 have gotten an inward witness from this same ,spirit1 that they are ,,god's children1 and therefore need not be brought into bondage1 and fear1 lest ,,god would reject them1 but may have free access1 and with a full assurance of faith1 and a holy child-like simplicity1 draw near unto him1 crying ,,abba1 ,,father80 ,his ,lordship1 to prove that this is not the sense of this passage1 but that the testimony of the ,spirit here spoken of1 is a public gift of working miracles1 refers1 page #aith1 to ,galatians iii4 #b4 where the ,apostle puts this question to them3 8,received ye the ,spirit1 7i4 e4 according to his ,lordship1 the power of working miracles7 by the works of the law1 or by the hearing of faith80 which 7says his ,lordship7 the same ,apostle presently after explains1 when he says at verse #eth1 8,he therefore that ministereth to you the ,spirit1 and worketh miracles among you1 doth he it by the works of the law1 or by the hearing of faith80 ,but is not here a plain antithesis between administring the ,spirit and working miracles8 ,do they not evidently imply two distinct things8 ,and can it be supposed1 that the ,spirit which the ,apostle asks1 verse #b;d1 8,whether they had received by the works of the law1 or the hearing of faith10 was a power to perform such miracles1 at least that only8 ,would it not then follow1 since he declares in the #hth of the ,romans1 8that if any man have not the ,spirit of ,,christ he is none of his10 that either all believers did receive his ,spirit in his miraculous gifts1 or that no one is a believer that has them not8 ,and doth not the ,apostle in this very epistle make it appear1 that the ,spirit here spoken of is not this miraculous outward testimony8 ,for what says he1 ,galatians iv4 #f4 8,and because ye are sons1 ,,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into your hearts 7whereby it is plain the ,spirit was received into the heart7 crying1 ,abba1 ,father80 ,and does not this quite clear up that passage of ,romans1 chapter viii4 verse #ae4 about the witnessing ,spirit and the ,spirit of adoption1 viz4 that believers 7besides seeing the miracles which the ,apostles wrought7 had an inward testimony of the ,holy ,ghost1 he making an inward application of the merits of ,,christ to their souls1 and giving them an inward testimony that they were indeed the adopted sons of ,,god1 and therefore in a holy confidence they might cry1 ,abba1 ,father8 ,is there any thing forced in this interpretation8 ,and consequently 7notwithstanding what appears to the contrary from his ,lordship's explanation7 may not persons assert1 that there is such a thing as a witness or testimony of the ,spirit given to our own consciences1 to prove that private christians are the ,sons of ,,god and heirs of salvation1 without being censured for so doing as modern enthusiasts8 ,may ,i not likewise venture to affirm1 that his ,lordship is equally mistaken in his interpretation of the #bfth and #bgth verses of the same chapter1 which runs thus3 8,likewise the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmities3 for we know not what we should pray for as we ought1 but the ,spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,and he that searcheth the heart1 knoweth what is the mind of the ,spirit1 because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of ,,god80 ,the ,spirit here spoken of1 according to his ,lordship1 was the ,spirit acting in the inspired person1 who in the apostolical age1 says his ,lordship1 page #bdth1 8had the gift of prayer1 and interceded for the whole congregation2 so that what is here said of the ,spirit1 is by an easy figure transferred to the spiritual or inspired person1 who prayed in that capacity1 for the whole christian assembly4 ,it is he that maketh intercession with ,,god for private christians1 with vehement and inexpressible groanings or sighs40 ,but however easy it may be to find out a figure to transfer what is here said of the ,spirit1 to the spiritual or inspired person1 yet how will it be easy to find a figure to interpret this of the spiritual or inspired person at all8 ,for has it not already been shewn1 that this whole chapter is no where speaking of any such spiritual inspired person1 but of the ,spirit of ,,god dwelling in all believers8 8hy0 replaced with 8by0 ,his ,lordship goes on1 page ibid4 to comment upon the #bgth verse3 8,and he that searcheth the hearts1 knoweth what is the mind of the spirit1 7i4 e4 of the spiritual or inspired person7 because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of ,,god40 ,that is1 says his ,lordship1 8,,god knows the intentions of the spiritual person1 and judges of the vehemence of his desires in prayer for the whole assembly1 for whom he makes intercession1 with regard to the immediate subject of affliction2 literally indeed1 according to ,,god 7kata ,theon7 or relatively to him1 but by construction1 conformably to the will of ,,god2 namely1 that in a most fervent manner1 the person that has the inspired gift of prayer1 which he uses for the benefit of the whole assembly1 he1 ,i say1 leaves it entirely to ,,god1 whether it be best that christians should suffer afflictions for the gospel1 or be delivered from them4 ,and such an intention of his prayer cannot but be highly acceptable to ,,god1 who searches his heart1 and approves of such an act of profound resignation to his will40 ,thus far his ,lordship4 ,but where is there through the whole chapter any mention made of an assembly1 or of any spiritual inspired person praying in its behalf8 ,does it not require a very profound understanding to search it out8 ,is it not more agreeable to the whole scope of the apostle in this chapter1 to believe1 that this spirit here mentioned as helping infirmities1 or distresses1 and assisting in prayer1 is the common privilege of all believers8 ,is he not said to make intercession for the saints in general8 ,and does not his ,lordship1 page #bb;d1 in effect own this8 ,for what says his ,lordship8 8,now on this occasion1 he1 the apostle1 adds another proof of the truth of christianity1 and that christians are the adopted sons of ,,god1 and more especially with regard to their sufferings at that time1 for the sake of their religion1 says he1 verse #bfth4 ,likewise the ,spirit also1 7or rather even1 kai7 helpeth our infirmities 7or our distresses1 for the word ,astheneiais signifies both47 ,and then he mentions in what instances he does so1 viz4 in prayers to ,,god about bearing afflictions1 or being delivered from them2 and which of these two is most profitable for us1 the ,spirit knows better than we ourselves1 and therefore instructs christians how to pray with regard to their sufferings4 ,we know not1 says he1 what we should pray for as we ought2 that is1 whether it be best for us to bear afflictions1 or to be delivered from them according to our natural inclinations40 ,and after writing thus1 how inconsistent is it in his ,lordship to say1 that this is done by the ,spirit acting in the inspired person only1 who made intercession for the whole assembly8 ,is not the quite contrary1 ,i could almost say1 self-evident8 ,and how then can those who1 from this passage of the #hth of the ,romans1 humbly claim the gift and grace of prayer now1 as well as formerly1 for so doing1 be justly termed modern enthusiasts4 ,may we not further enquire1 whether his ,lordship's interpretation of the #dth and #eth verses of the #b;d chapter of the first epistle to the ,corinthians be sound and consistent8 ,the words are these1 page #bgth4 8,and my speech and my preaching were not with the enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power1 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,,god10 ,as to the former part of these words1 8,my speech and my preaching were not with the enticing words of man's wisdom10 his ,lordship seems to agree with the interpretation put upon them by those whom he is pleased to term enthusiasts2 but the latter1 8,the demonstration of the ,spirit and of power10 his ,lordship1 in pages #bith1 #cjth1 #cast1 and #cb;d1 would fain shew1 means no more1 than that the ,apostle proved ,,jesus to be the ,messiah by proofs out of the prophecies of the ,old ,testament1 and evinced the truth of christianity by performing miracles4 ,and supposing this may be one sense of the words1 yet if this be the sole meaning of the ,apostle's expression1 would it not have better become such a scholar as ,paul was1 to have said1 8,he came to them in the demonstration of the scriptures1 rather than of the ,spirit80 ,can any parallel passage be produced1 where the word ,spirit is thus put for the scriptures8 ,and therefore1 by the demonstration of the ,spirit1 may we not understand1 that the ,spirit of ,,god himself1 whilst the ,apostle was preaching1 wrought a demonstrative conviction in the souls of his hearers1 not only that what he spake was of ,,god1 but also that he was assisted in speaking by the ,spirit of ,,god8 ,does not this agree with what he says1 #b;d epistle ,corinthians iii4 #b1 #c4 8,ye are our epistle1 written in our hearts1 known and read of all men3 forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of ,,christ ministered by us1 written not with ink1 but with the ,spirit of the living ,,god1 not in tables of stone1 but in fleshly tables of the heart40 ,and though it should be allowed that the word ,dunamis 7as his ,lordship observes1 page #cjth7 8in its ordinary sense in the ,new ,testament1 must signify the power exerted in miraculous operations30 yet how is it foreign to the ,apostle's purpose to interpret it also of a divine power or energy1 which ordinarily attended the word preached by him2 ,i mean such a power as accompanied the word when the ,,lord opened the heart of ,lydia1 and when so many were pricked to the heart1 and made to cry out1 8,men and brethren1 what shall we do to be saved80 ,does not the word ,dunamis seem to carry this sense with it1 #b ,corinthians iv4 #g48 8,but we have this treasure in earthen vessels1 that the excellency of the power 7,dunameos7 may be of ,,god1 and not of men40 ,and is not ,apollos said to be 7,dunatos engraphais7 mighty1 or powerful1 in the scriptures1 though we do not hear that he performed any miracles at all8 ,and though his ,lordship is pleased to say1 page ibid4 8,for by this power of ,,god here spoken of1 that it is a power to work miracles appears expresly10 from the immediately following verse1 in which is assigned the reason for using this method of proving christianity to be true1 8that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,,god30 yet will it not equally hold good1 that their faith stood not in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,,god8 ,if by the power we understand a divine power attending the word preached in convincing the conscience1 and changing the hearts of men1 exclusive or besides a power of working miracles4 ,his ,lordship in the same page proceeds thus4 8,by the power of ,,god therefore must necessarily be understood the miraculous operations performed by ,,jesus ,,christ and his ,apostles1 as a divine testimony of their authority40 ,he goes on in the #gth1 #ajth1 and following verses1 to explain this 8demonstration of the ,spirit and of power20 and tells us1 8,that this wisdom of ,,god is a mystery1 or wisdom formerly hidden from the world1 which was couched in the types and prophecies of the ,messiah in the ,old ,testament1 under the title of the ,law of ,moses1 the ,psalms1 and all the prophets that were actually fulfilled in ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,for1 says he1 #8the ,spirit searcheth all things1 even the deep things of ,,god4 ,now we have not received the spirit of the world1 7viz4 of oratory and philosophy7 but the spirit which is of ,,god1 that we might know the things that are freely given to us of ,,god4' ,that is1 that we might learn of the ,spirit the true meaning of those writings which he dictated himself1 and which none but the ,spirit of ,,god could know1 since the gospel is the contrivance of ,,god alone for man's salvation2 and the benefits of it are freely and of his mere grace conferred upon us40 ,but in all these passages1 where is there a shadow of a proof1 that by the word power1 the ,apostle meant only that he worked miracles among them8 ,is there any such thing so much as hinted at in those verses8 ,or what greater reason is there to infer from hence1 that the demonstration of the ,spirit means no more than proving ,,christ to be the ,messiah1 from the books of the ,old ,testament8 ,his ,lordship goes on1 page #cast1 to comment upon the #acth verse of the #ast ,corinthians #b;d4 thus3 8,the apostle adds1 #8,which things also we speak not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth1 7viz4 as before by oratory and philosophy7 but which the ,holy ,ghost teacheth2 comparing spiritual things with spiritual4' ,from which last passage it appears that the words which the ,holy ,ghost is said to teach1 must be prophetical revelations made of ,,jesus ,,christ in the ,old ,testament1 which were clearly discovered to the ,apostles1 and explained by them to the world by the same ,holy ,spirit1 that perfectly knew those deep or mysterious things of ,,god in the holy scriptures1 which related to and were fulfilled in ,,jesus ,,christ2 and whose expositions of his doctrine were authorized by the miracles they wrought in confirmation of it40 ,but supposing this be in part true1 have not the words a further meaning8 ,and by 8,words which the ,holy ,ghost teacheth10 may we not understand1 words which the ,holy ,ghost did immediately put into this and other ,apostles minds whilst they were preaching1 speaking1 or writing8 ,was there not such assistance promised to the ,apostles8 ,did they not speak as the ,spirit gave them utterance8 ,and since ,,jesus ,,christ has promised in an especial manner to be with his ministers1 even to the end of the world1 may they not humbly claim the divine influence to assist them in a degree in preaching now1 as well as formerly1 by bringing to their remembrance the words and things he had taught them in the holy scriptures before1 and so opening a door of utterance to them1 without being1 for so doing1 justly stiled modern enthusiasts4 ,his ,lordship1 in order to give a sanction to these his several interpretations1 quotes ,chrysostom1 ,origen1 and ,athanasius3 but does his ,lordship deal candidly or simply in this matter8 ,for though they may in some respects agree with his ,lordship's literal interpretation1 do they not give a spiritual one also8 ,does not his ,lordship himself1 page #db;d1 citing the authority of ,athanasius1 that great light of the christian church1 in effect confess this8 ,does he not say1 that he interprets the unction of the ,holy ,one not merely of divine grace8 ,but does it therefore follow that he did not interpret it at all of divine grace8 ,nay1 does it not follow1 that he did interpret it of the divine grace of the ,spirit of ,,god dwelling in all believers1 as well at least as of the miraculous gifts of the ,spirit8 ,does not ,ignatius1 one of the most early writers1 stile himself ,theophoros1 and the people to whom he writes ,theophoroi8 ,and can it be supposed1 that ,origen in particular1 7who his ,lordship professes again and again1 in his treatises against ,woolston1 to be such a spiritual interpreter of scripture17 has in these passages so tenaciously cleaved to the literal interpretation1 as utterly to deny the indwelling and inward witness of the ,spirit8 ,is not this entirely opposite to the whole tenor of his writings1 as well as the writings of the most ancient fathers8 ,and has not his ,lordship1 out of his great zeal against enthusiasm1 by writing thus1 unwarily run into an extreme8 ,and as he justly charged the infamous ,woolston with sticking too close to the spirit1 and not minding the letter1 has he not in this performance so closely adhered to the letter1 and so sadly neglected the spirit1 as almost totally 7if his interpretations be true7 to exclude the ,holy ,ghost in his operations1 since the primitive times1 out of the christian world8 ,is not this matter of fact8 ,are not these words of truth and soberness8 ,be not angry therefore1 but bear with me a little1 if like ,elihu1 8,i speak that ,i may refresh myself4 ,for behold my belly is as wine which hath no vent1 it is ready to burst like new bottles40 ,let his ,lordship write what he pleases to the contrary1 8there is a ,spirit in man1 and a holy ,spirit in believers1 and an ordinary inspiration of the ,almighty1 which now1 as well as formerly1 giveth them spiritual understanding40 ,but supposing it was not so1 and all his ,lordship's glosses upon the forementioned passages1 were as right as in my opinion they are wrong1 could you1 ,reverend ,brethren1 7,i appeal to your consciences7 in your own hearts even wish that they were so8 ,if you should answer1 ,yes1 7as your requesting his ,lordship to print this charge1 gives me too great reason to think you would17 8,tell in it not in ,gath1 publish it not in the streets of ,ascalon1 lest the daughters of the ,philistines rejoice1 lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph40 ,for if this be the case1 in what a poor benighted condition has the ,,lord ,,jesus left his church in these last days8 ,and what avails it to have his doctrines and divine mission evinced formerly by gifts and miracles1 if we are deprived of the inward teachings and indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,it is true1 his ,lordship does talk here and there of the ,blessed ,spirit1 and of his ordinary influences3 but what are his ordinary operations1 if he is neither to dwell in us1 nor to give us an inward testimony in our hearts1 that we are born of ,,god8 ,what signifies talking of his assistances1 and at the same time declare1 that they can neither be inwardly felt1 or perceived1 nor believers be supernaturally assured thereby of their salvation8 ,or if we are to expect no operations of the ,spirit that are supernatural1 as his ,lordship again and again intimates1 what are the natural operations that we are to look for8 ,or can there possibly be any operation of the ,holy ,spirit which is not supernatural8 ,what can deists and the whole tribe of unbelievers wish for more than such doctrine8 ,does not his ,lordship1 by writing thus1 greatly hurt the cause he would defend2 and out of a zeal to prove christianity no enthusiasm1 unwittingly run into that fault which he would throw upon these against whom his charge is levelled1 page #b;d2 ,i mean1 8does he not act in concert with infidelity against our established religion1 our great common salvation80 ,how must the church of ,rome also glory in such a charge8 ,is it not after their own heart8 ,is not the denying the witness of the ,spirit in believers hearts1 one of the main pillars of ,popery8 ,are not papists kept in slavery1 and taught to trust to the absolution of their priest2 because it was one of the determinations of the council of ,trent1 that none can here below attain from the ,spirit a certainty of their being finally saved8 ,his ,lordship has done well in signalizing himself by writing against the papists and infidels4 ,but what will it avail1 or how can his ,lordship flatter himself that the efforts of the latter1 page #b;d1 8have been sufficiently opposed30 since by writing against the witness of the ,spirit1 he so nearly symbolizes with the one1 and by crying down all supernatural operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 joins hands with the other8 ,besides1 8,if there are no proofs of the truth of our religion by the inward testimony of the ,spirit1 as his ,lordship affirms1 page #eb;d4 or even by the infallible application of the several marks of truth in it by the ,holy ,spirit1 to the minds of men1 and his making so strong and violent an impression on them1 as to form 7horresco referens7 a new unintelligible sort of divine faith1 page #ec40 how shall we distinguish true and divine faith1 from that which is false and barely historical8 ,are not the devils capable of such a faith8 ,nay1 have they not as real faith as christians themselves1 if there be no other faith but what is wrought by external revelation and outward miracles8 ,do they not thus believe and tremble8 ,and can it be supposed1 that all the miracles that the ,apostles wrought1 and the glorious sermons that they were enabled to preach1 were only to shew people what communion they were to be of8 ,is not this bringing the gospel down to a mere history1 which one may read of the exploits of an ,alexander2 and making faith to be a bare assent of the understanding1 which a person may have1 and yet be no more benefited by the death of ,,christ1 than ,simon ,magus was in believing that he was crucified8 ,but further2 supposing his ,lordship had shewn1 that every one of those passages he has commented upon1 had been misapplied by modern enthusiasts2 yet are there not besides a great cloud of witnesses to be fetched from the lively oracles1 to prove that the indwelling1 and inward witness of the ,spirit1 are the privileges of all believers8 ,will you permit me to instance only in a few8 ,what think you of that passage in ,st4 ,john's gospel1 chapter vii4 #cg1 #ch1 #ci4 8,in the last day1 that great day of the feast1 ,,jesus stood up and cried1 saying1 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink4 ,he that believeth on me1 as the scripture hath spoken1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters4 ,but this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive80 ,how1 ,i pray you1 are we to understand that petition of our ,,lord for his disciples1 just before his passion1 in the same evangelist1 chapter xvii4 #bj1 #ba4 8,neither pray ,i for these alone1 but for them also which shall believe on me through their word3 that they all may be one1 as thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in thee2 that they also may be one30 ,and again1 verses #bb1 #bc4 8,that they all may be one1 even as we are one1 ,i in them1 and thou in me1 that they may be made perfect in one80 ,how would you explain that question of the ,apostle's to the ,corinthians1 7a church famous for its gifts above any church under heaven7 8,know ye not that ,,christ is in you1 unless you be reprobates80 ,how do you explain that assertion of the evangelist ,john1 in his #ast epistle v4 #aj4 8,he that believeth hath the witness in himself80 ,or that of the ,apostle ,paul to the ,ephesians1 chapter i4 #ac1 #ai4 ,and again1 chapter iv4 #cj8 ,how do you interpret that passage1 #b ,corinthians xvi4 #af8 ,or what say you to that exhortation of ,st4 ,jude1 verse #bj4 8,but ye1 beloved1 building up yourselves in your most holy faith1 praying in the ,holy ,ghost1 keep yourselves in the love of ,,god80 ,can any of these passages1 with any manner of consistency1 be interpreted of the miraculous gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 or be confined to the primitive church8 ,do they not speak of an indwelling witnessing spirit1 which all believers in all ages have a right to expect1 till time shall be no more8 ,and now1 my ,reverend ,brethren1 if these things be so1 may not that question be very justly put to you1 which our ,,lord on a like occasion asked ,nicodemus1 a ruler of the ,jews3 8,are ye masters of ,israel8 ,are ye ministers of the ,church of ,england1 and know not these things80 ,what has his ,lordship been doing so many years1 in professing to confer the ,holy ,ghost by imposition of hands on so many ministers1 saying unto them1 8,receive the ,holy ,ghost by imposition of our hands10 if there are none of those assistances from the ,blessed ,spirit to be expected now1 which were conferred when our ,saviour first spoke these words to his disciples8 ,how can his ,lordship in conscience make use of the ordination office8 ,or how could you1 before many witnesses1 publicly confess that you were inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost to take upon you the administration of the church8 when you openly deny him in his most powerful1 and as to believers1 in his common operations4 ,should you not tremble to think1 how much this looks like belying the ,holy ,ghost1 and acting the dreadful crime of ,ananias and ,sapphira over again1 or lying not only unto man1 but unto ,,god8 ,and why are you so zealous for the church1 and continually crying out1 8,the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord10 and yet trample her offices1 collects and articles in effect under your feet8 ,with what consistency can you use the baptismal office1 and solemnly say unto ,,god1 8,we yield thee hearty thanks1 most merciful ,father1 that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant with thy ,holy ,spirit10 and yet agree with his ,lordship1 page #fa1 in asserting1 8to that federal rite of baptism is annexed the preventing or preparatory grace of ,,god1 as is likewise 7on a due improvement7 that of the assisting kind80 ,is this all that is implied in the baptismal office8 ,and is regeneration no more than this8 ,what a miserable condition then are those in1 who have only their baptismal regeneration to depend on8 ,for who is there that has improved1 nay who is there that has not sinned away this preparatory grace8 ,is not this directly contrary to the whole baptismal office8 ,and are not those to be reckoned friends to mankind1 who bid them look for a better regeneration than this amounts to8 ,again1 with what propriety can his ,lordship1 in the office of confirmation1 pray unto ,,god to give the persons to be confirmed 8the ,spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the ,spirit of counsel and ghostly strength80 ,or how can ministers in general1 in the collect for ,whit-sunday1 say1 8,grant us by the same ,spirit to have a right judgment in all things1 and evermore to rejoice in his holy comforts80 ,why are the passages1 wherein these blessings are promised to the first ,apostles1 appointed to be read at this festival1 if we are not in our degree to expect the same mercies8 ,and if these things are not to be inwardly felt1 and we are not to be supernaturally assured of our salvation1 wherefore do you make use of those words in the visitation of the sick8 8,the ,almighty ,,lord1 who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him1 to whom all things in heaven1 in earth1 and under the earth1 do bow and obey1 be now and evermore thy defence1 and make thee know and feel1 that there is none other name under heaven given to man1 in whom and through whom thou mayest receive health and salvation1 but only the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ30 ,or with what propriety can you subscribe to the #agth article1 wherein we are told1 8,that the godly consideration of predestination1 and our election in ,,christ1 is full of sweet1 pleasant1 and unspeakable comfort to godly persons1 and such as feel in themselves the working of the ,spirit of ,,christ80 ,and if there be no such thing as inspiration at all1 how can you1 consistent with your principles1 use the church collect before the communion office1 and pray 8,almighty ,,god to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of his ,holy ,spirit80 ,or how can you agree with the #acth article1 which affirms1 8,that works done before the grace of ,,christ1 and the inspiration of the ,spirit1 are not pleasant to ,,god80 ,are not all these things against you8 ,do they not all concur to prove1 that you are the betrayers of that church which you would pretend to defend8 ,alas1 what strangers must you be to a life hid with ,,christ in ,,god1 and the blessed fruits of the ,spirit1 such as love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance2 when you know of no other first-fruits of the ,spirit1 than the miraculous gifts of the ,holy ,ghost conferred on some particular persons in the primitive church1 which a man might have1 so as to prophesy and cast out devils in the name of ,,christ1 and yet be commanded to depart from him in the last day8 ,how miserable must the congregations be1 of which you are made overseers8 ,and how little of the divine presence must you have felt in your administrations1 that utterly deny the spirit of prayer1 and the ,spirit's helping you to preach with power1 and consider them as things that have long since ceased8 ,is not this the reason why you preach as did the scribes1 and not with any divine pathos and authority1 and see so little good effect of your sermons8 ,have not your principles a direct tendency to lull poor souls asleep8 ,for if they are not to look for the supernatural operations of the ,spirit of ,,god1 or any inward feeling or perceptions of this ,spirit1 may not all that are baptized1 and not notoriously wicked1 flatter themselves that they are christians indeed8 ,but is not this the very quintessence of ,pharisaism8 ,is not this the dark1 benighted state the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles confesses he was in1 before he was experimentally acquainted with ,,christ1 or knew or felt the power of his resurrection8 ,is not this a prophesying falsely1 to say unto people1 8,peace1 peace10 when there is no true solid scriptural ground for peace8 ,and are not you then properly the persons his ,lordship speaks of1 page #ast1 as 8betraying whole multitudes into an unreasonable presumption of their salvation80 ,for is it not the highest presumption1 for any to hope to be saved without the indwelling of the ,spirit1 since the ,apostle declares1 in the most awful manner1 8,if any man have not the ,spirit of ,,christ1 he is none of his80 ,is it not high time for somebody to rouze the sleepy world out of this state1 though it should cost them some melancholy thoughts8 ,may they not justly despond and despair too of being saved in such a condition8 ,for how can they possibly be good christians1 or indeed christians at all1 unless they some time or other feel the ,spirit of ,,god in their hearts8 ,or how can any justly be stiled enthusiastical pretenders to immediate inspiration and new revelation1 page #c;d1 who only claim what is promised in the will of ,,god already revealed1 and exhort all to add diligence to make their calling and election sure8 ,and why should that great man of ,,god1 ,dr4 ,owen1 be so particularly mentioned by his ,lordship1 page #aeth8 ,has there a more solid critical learned divine appeared for many ages in the christian world8 ,being dead1 doth he not yet speak8 ,do not his works praise him8 ,or supposing he was an enthusiast1 as his ,lordship calls him1 how can he be a modern one8 ,has he not been dead now above fifty years8 ,and why is he mentioned with an c48 ,would his ,lordship have us understand ,dr4 ,goodwin1 ,mr4 ,baxter1 and writers of the ,puritan stamp8 ,but in reproaching them1 does not his ,lordship equally brand ,archbishop ,usher1 ,bishop ,hall1 ,bishop ,davenant1 ,bishop ,hopkins1 and others1 nay all the godly reformers and martyrs1 and the compilers of our articles1 homilies1 and liturgy also8 ,were they not equally enthusiastical with those1 which his ,lordship in this charge would condemn2 and may ,i not therefore say1 if they were enthusiasts1 would to ,,god you were not only almost1 but altogether such as they were8 ,has not his ,lordship undesignedly put an honour upon the ,methodists1 by joining them in such company8 ,might not his ,lordship easily foresee1 that such a procedure as this1 would rather increase than diminish the progress of ,methodism1 which his ,lordship seems to have unwittingly prophesied of three years ago1 when this charge was first delivered8 ,see margin of page #fj4 ,for what in an human way can have a more natural tendency to strengthen the ,methodists hands1 than their having a public occasion to shew1 that they preach up the great doctrines of the reformation1 and are thrust out of the synagogues for no other reason1 than because they preach articles of faith1 to which they have subscribed1 as the expression is in the literal and grammatical sense8 8solemny0 replaced with 8solemnly0 8fedral0 replaced with 8federal0 8undestanding0 replaced with 8understanding0 ,o my reverend brethren1 my heart is in pain for you3 indeed ,i could weep over you4 ,surely you are not all of his ,lordship's mind4 ,and yet the title-page of this ,charge seems at least to imply1 that it was printed at the request of the generality of you4 ,o be not angry if ,i entreat you1 if there be any consolation in ,,christ1 or fellowship of the ,spirit1 to think of these things1 and lay them to heart4 ,remember1 ,i beseech you1 remember the good confession you made before many witnesses1 when you professed that you were inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost to take upon you the administration of the church4 ,and consider with yourselves1 what a horrid prevarication it must be in the sight of ,,god and man1 to subscribe to articles in the literal and grammatical sense1 which you do not believe8 ,reflect on what is spoken by the ,prophet1 8,they have run1 and ,i have not sent them1 therefore shall they not profit this people at all40 ,think what a dreadful thing it is to preach an unknown1 an unfelt ,,christ2 and how awful it will be to have the blood of thousands required at your hands at the great day8 ,as you have received an apostolical commission1 labour after an apostolical spirit4 ,and do not set yourselves to oppose or run down his blessed operations in others1 because you do not feel them in yourselves4 ,beware of thus doing despite to the ,spirit of grace3 and be not like the ,pharisees1 who 8neither entered into the kingdom of ,,god themselves1 and those that were entering in they hindered40 ,seek you after a righteousness which exceeds theirs4 ,call to mind1 ,i beseech you1 that ye are the lights of the world4 ,if therefore that light which is in you be darkness1 how great must that darkness be8 8,ye are the salt of the earth2 but if the salt hath lost its savour1 wherewith shall it be salted8 ,it is thenceforth good for nothing1 but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men40 ,,god seems now about to rise to shake terribly the earth4 ,we hear of wars and rumours of wars4 ,o let your loins be girt1 your lamps trimmed1 and be ye like unto servants that are waiting for the bridegroom3 that if he should come at the second or third watch1 he may find you so doing4 ,smite not your fellow-servants2 but rather take ye ,gamaliel's advice3 8,refrain from these men1 and let them alone4 ,for if this counsel or work be of men1 it will come to nought2 but if it be of ,,god1 ye cannot overthrow it1 lest haply ye be found to fight against ,,god40 ,the harvest is great1 very great1 and souls are every where perishing for lack of knowledge4 ,why should the labourers be so few8 ,think of that awful saying of the angel of the ,,lord1 8,curse ye ,meroz1 curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof1 because they came not to the help of the ,,lord1 to the help of the ,,lord against the mighty40 ,shew that you love ,,christ above all things1 by feeding his lambs and his sheep2 by being instant in season and out of season4 ,that so when the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls shall appear1 you may give up your accounts with joy1 and not with grief4 ,suffer me also 7as undoubtedly you requested his ,lordship to publish this charge for their instruction7 to give a word of exhortation to your ,parishioners4 ,you see1 ,sirs1 that ,i have used great plainness of speech in my remarks upon this charge of your ,right ,reverend ,diocesan4 ,do not without examination contradict and blaspheme1 but be noble1 as the ,bereans were1 and 8search the scriptures whether these things be so or not3 to the law1 and to the testimony40 ,let that determine who are the seducers1 who are the enthusiasts1 and the enemies to the ,church2 those who preach up the doctrine of justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and the indwelling and witnessing of the ,spirit2 or those who tell you1 that they were the miraculous gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 and not to be expected in these last days4 ,say not within yourselves1 8,we have ,,jesus for our saviour1 we have been born again in baptism1 we are members of the ,church of ,england1 we do nobody any harm1 we will do what we can1 and ,,jesus ,,christ will do the rest20 but seek ye after a better righteousness than your own1 even that 8righteousness which is by faith20 and earnestly press after that indwelling of the ,spirit1 and that true inward holiness and purity of heart1 without which no man living shall see the ,,lord4 ,get acquainted with the collects1 homilies1 articles and old writers of that ,church whereof you profess yourselves members1 and let not ignorance be the mother of your devotion4 ,remember that 8,,god is a spirit1 and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth40 ,see that your zeal be according to knowledge3 and count not those to be troublers of ,israel1 nor like the misguided ,jews1 irritated thereto by the high priests1 raise mobs against them1 as turners of the world upside down1 who out of love to your souls1 have put their lives in ,,god's hands1 and shew unto you the true way of eternal salvation4 ,place not holiness in outward buildings1 nor reject the gospel because preached to you in the fields1 in the streets and lanes of the city4 ,see1 hear1 and judge for yourselves1 and beware lest that come upon you which is spoken by a ,prophet3 8,behold1 ye despisers1 and wonder and perish3 for ,i work a work in your days1 which a man shall not believe1 though one declare it unto him40 ,as for those among you1 who in derision are termed ,methodists1 be you thankful to that ,,god1 who ,i trust has made you wise unto everlasting salvation1 and given you not only to believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus1 but also to suffer for his name4 ,you have lately been enabled joyfully to bear the spoiling of your goods4 ,think it not strange1 if you should hereafter be called to resist unto blood4 ,fear not the faces of men1 neither be afraid of their revilings4 ,having believed on the ,,lord ,,jesus1 with your hearts1 in spite of all opposition from men and devils1 make confession of him with your mouths unto eternal salvation4 ,contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints1 and sealed by the blood of your martyrs3 at the same time1 8be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear40 ,if you were of the world1 the world would love its own2 but because you are not of the world1 but the ,,lord ,,jesus hath chosen and redeemed you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you4 ,follow him therefore chearfully without the camp1 bearing his reproach4 ,the more you are afflicted1 the more you shall multiply and grow4 ,for verily no man hath lost houses or lands for ,,christ's sake1 and the gospel1 who shall not receive a hundred-fold in this life with persecution1 and in the world to come life everlasting4 ,persecution is your privilege3 it is a badge of your discipleship3 it is every christians lot in some degree or other4 ,only be ye careful to give no just offence1 either to ,jew or ,gentile1 or the church of ,,god4 ,and as you profess to have received the ,holy ,ghost in his sanctifying gifts and graces1 and to have the ,spirit of ,,god dwelling in you1 be ye studious to bring forth the fruits of the ,spirit in your lives2 that all who are acquainted with you may take knowledge that you have been with ,,jesus4 ,call no man master but ,,christ4 ,follow others only as they are followers of him4 ,be fond of no name but that of ,,christian4 ,beware of making parties1 or calling down fire from heaven to consume your adversaries4 8,bless them that curse you1 and pray for them that despitefully use you40 ,labour to shine in common life1 by a due conscientious discharge of all relative duties1 and study to adorn the gospel of our ,,lord in all things4 ,if you are good christians1 you will fear ,,god1 and for his sake honour the ,king4 ,be thankful for the many blessings you enjoy under the government of his present ,majesty ,king ,george1 and continue to pray to ,him1 by whom kings reign1 and princes decree justice1 to keep a popish ,pretender from ever sitting on the ,english throne4 ,be cloathed with humility3 and always count yourselves beginners in religion4 ,let it be your meat and drink to do and suffer the will of your ,master1 and forgetting the things which are behind1 reach forward to the things which are before1 and never cease striving1 till you are filled with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,determine to know nothing but ,,jesus1 and him crucified4 ,remember his agony and bloody sweat1 his shameful cross and passion4 ,chearfully pledge him in his bitter cup1 and as he was1 so be ye in this world4 ,think of his last and new commandment1 and 8love one another with a pure heart fervently20 looking and preparing for that blessed hour1 when he shall come and call you to sit down with him at the marriage-feast in the realms of light and love1 where the wicked shall cease from troubling1 and where your weary souls shall be at rest4 ,n4 ,b4 ,the ,methodists in ,staffordshire were mobbed the ,shrove-,tuesday before1 and plundered of their substance to the amount of seven hundred pounds sterling4 ,finally1 ,i would drop a word to ,,you1 who have been lately called out into the highways and hedges1 and have been honoured as instruments to compel many poor sinners to come in4 ,against you1 my brethren1 his ,lordship's charge seems to be particularly levelled4 ,but ,i am persuaded you will be nothing terrified thereby1 since you know1 ,i believe1 by happy experience1 what it is to have the hidden mysteries of the kingdom of ,,god opened to your souls1 and to have the ,comforter come and abide with you4 ,you have often felt his blessed influences1 whilst you have been praying to that ,,god whom you serve1 dealing out the bread of life in his name to the people4 ,ye are highly favoured4 ,having believed1 ye speak1 and in your degree can say with our ,saviour1 8,we speak the things that we know40 ,,god1 who hath commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 hath shone into your hearts with the light of the glorious gospel4 ,put not therefore this light under a bushel1 but preach the word2 8,be ye instant in season and out of season2 rebuke1 reprove1 exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine4 ,do the office of evangelists1 and make full proof of your ministry40 ,and whilst others are calling for miracles from you1 to prove that you are sealed and sent by the ,spirit1 do you labour after the conversion of precious souls as seals of your mission1 who shall be your joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,whilst others are approving themselves ministers of ,,christ1 by dignities and great preferments1 do you approve yourselves as the ministers of ,,god in much patience1 c4 ,see #b ,corinthians vi4 #dh4 ,set the glorious company of the ,apostles1 the goodly fellowship of the ,prophets1 and the noble army of martyrs always before you4 ,o think how abundant they were in labours1 in stripes above measure1 in deaths oft1 and how they rejoiced when they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ,,jesus ,,christ's sake4 ,above all1 look ye unto ,,jesus the author and finisher of your faith2 consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself1 lest ye be weary and faint in your minds4 ,are you esteemed mad8 ,so was he4 ,are you termed deceivers of the people8 ,so was he4 ,are ye looked upon as actuated by an evil spirit8 ,he was called ,beelzebub1 the very chief of the devils4 ,are ye thrust out of the synagogues8 ,so was he4 ,do men hunt for your precious lives8 ,so they did for his4 ,the ,jews sought often to kill him1 but they could not1 because his hour was not yet come3 and so it shall be with you4 ,you are immortal till your work is done4 ,the witnesses shall not be slain till their testimony is finished4 ,set your faces therefore as flints3 let your brows be harder than adamant3 fear not the faces of men1 lest ,,god confound you before them4 ,give not place to those who oppose the operations of the ,spirit1 no not for an hour4 ,go ye forth in the strength of the ,,lord1 making mention of his righteousness1 and his only4 ,remember that blessed promise1 8,lo1 ,i am with you always1 even to the end of the world40 ,,jesus is the same now as he was yesterday4 ,and if you are really thrust out into the harvest by ,,jesus1 he will give you a mouth and wisdom1 which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist4 ,you see how dreadfully the scriptures are interpreted4 ,give yourselves therefore to reading4 ,search the scriptures4 ,but above all things1 pray that ye may be taught of ,,god3 without which1 notwithstanding all critical and human learning1 you will never be scribes well instructed to the kingdom of heaven4 ,continue to go out into the highways and hedges4 ,consider what multitudes there are around you every where1 ready to perish for lack of knowledge4 ,and though your enemies1 for want of arguments1 should so far prevail1 as to bring you before governors for so doing1 fear not1 for it shall be given you1 as well as unto the first preachers of the everlasting gospel1 what ye shall speak4 ,o men1 greatly beloved1 my heart is enlarged towards you4 ,give me leave to say unto you1 as the angel did to ,daniel1 8,be strong10 yea be strong3 quit yourselves like men3 put on the whole armour of ,,god4 ,and then1 though you should be cast into a den of lions1 that ,,god whom you serve1 is able1 and will deliver you4 ,though afflicted1 destitute1 tormented here on earth1 verily great shall be your reward in heaven4 8abundandant0 replaced with 8abundant0 ,and now1 my reverend brethren1 to whom this letter is particularly inscribed1 what shall ,i say more8 ,i commend it1 and you1 to the great ,,god1 and to the word of his grace1 which is able to build you up1 and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified4 ,i have written to you out of the fulness of my heart2 and praying that ,,god may give us a right judgment in all things1 ,i beg leave to subscribe myself1 7though the chief of sinners1 and less than the least of all saints71 ,your affectionate younger brother1 and fellow-servant in the kingdom and patience of ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,the ,reverend the ,,president1 and ,,professors1 ,,tutors1 and ,,hebrew ,,instructor1 of ,,harvard-,,college in ,,cambridge2 ,in ,,answer to ,a ,,testimony ,published by them against the ,reverend ,mr4 ,,george ,,whitefield1 and his ,conduct4 #b ,corinthians vi4 #h1 #i1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4;,as deceivers1 and yet true2 as unknown1 and yet well known3 as dying1 and behold1 we live2 as chastened1 and not killed2 as sorrowful1 yet always rejoicing2 as poor1 yet making many rich2 as having nothing1 and yet possessing all things4 ,o ye ,corinthians1 our mouth is open unto you1 our heart is enlarged4 ,ye are not straitened in us1 but ye are straitened in your own bowels4 ,a ,,letter1 c4 ,boston1 ,january #bc1 #agde4 ,reverend and honoured ,gentlemen1 ,,when the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles was accused before the ,governor of ,csarea1 ,acts xxiv4 by ,tertullus1 7employed for that purpose by ,ananias the high-priest1 and the ,elders7 as 8a pestilent fellow1 a mover of sedition among all the ,jews throughout the world1 and a ringleader of the sect of the ,nazarenes10 he thought it his duty 7being beckoned to by the ,governor7 to answer for himself2 and in his answer proved1 that he was in no wise guilty of the things that were laid to his charge4 ,you1 ,gentlemen1 seem to view me in the same light1 wherein ,tertullus1 ,ananias1 and the ,elders viewed ,paul2 and accordingly have thought proper to publish a testimony against me and my conduct1 wherein you have undertaken to prove1 page #d1 that 8,i am an enthusiast1 a censorious1 uncharitable person1 and a deluder of the people40 ,will you give me leave1 since ,i think the great ,governor of the church beckons to me by his providence so to do1 without minutely criticising upon the diction and method of your testimony1 to answer for myself1 and in the spirit of meekness examine the proofs you bring to make good your charges against me4 8,by an enthusiast 7you say1 page #d47 we mean one that acts1 either according to dreams1 or some sudden impulses and impressions upon his mind1 which he fondly imagines to be from the ,spirit of ,,god1 persuading and inclining him thereby to such and such actions1 though he hath no proof that such persuasions or impressions are from the ,holy ,spirit40 ,this definition of an enthusiast1 7whether exactly right or not7 you are pleased to apply to me2 and accordingly at the bottom of the aforementioned page you assert1 that ,i am 8a man that conducts himself according to his dreams1 or some ridiculous and unaccountable impulses and impressions on his mind10 and 8that this is ,mr4 ,whitefield's manner1 is evident both by his life1 his ,journals1 and his sermons40 8,from these pieces 7you add1 page #e47 it is very evident that he used to govern himself by his dreams3 one instance of this we have in his life1 page #ab4 #8,near this time ,i dreamed that ,i was to see ,,god on mount ,sinai4 ,this made a great impression upon me4' ,another like instance we have1 pages #ci1 #dj4 #8,i prayed that ,,god would open a door to visit the prisoners4 ,quickly after1 ,i dreamed that one of the prisoners came to be instructed by me3 the dream was impressed much upon my heart3 in the morning ,i went to the door of the goal4' ,once more1 a like instance we have1 page #dc4 #8,i dreamed ,i was talking with the ,bishop2 and that he gave me some gold1 which chinked in my hands3' and1 page #dd4 #8,the guineas chinking in my hand1 put me in mind of my dream4'0 ,now1 say you in the next paragraph1 8if we consider these instances1 we must suppose him conducting himself by dreams40 ,but1 ,gentlemen1 how will these premises admit of such a conclusion8 ,in writing a brief account of ,,god's dealings with me from my infancy to the time of my ordination1 ,i have mentioned three particular dreams2 but how does this prove1 that ,i conduct myself 7,i suppose you mean in the general course of my life7 by dreams2 or that this denominates me an enthusiast1 who 7according to your definition7 acts according to dreams or 8some sudden impulses and impressions upon his mind1 which he fondly imagines to be from the ,spirit of ,,god1 persuading and inclining him thereby to such and such actions1 though he hath no proof that such persuasions or impressions 7,i humbly apprehend to make up the sense there should be added1 or dreams7 are from the ,holy ,spirit80 ,may not a person1 in a few instances of his life1 have some remarkable dreams1 which may be explained by subsequent providences1 without being an enthusiast1 or justly termed one that acts or conducts and governs himself according to dreams8 ,the author consistently uses 8goal0 for 8gaol04 ,besides1 ought you not to have quoted the passages as they stand in my life1 and then every one must see1 ,i was far from acting according to dreams1 even in these instances4 ,the first ,i mentioned because it was a means under ,,god of awakening me in some degree1 as ,i suppose hath been the case of many2 and is this a conducting of myself by a dream8 ,as for the second1 the case was thus3 as ,i used to visit the prisoners at ,oxford1 so upon my coming to ,gloucester1 my compassion for the poor prisoners there1 and the hopes ,i had of being serviceable to them1 inclined me to visit them also2 for which reason ,i prayed most earnestly1 that ,,god would open a door for me to visit them2 quickly after ,i dreamed that one of the prisoners came to be instructed by me3 the dream was impressed much upon my heart4 ,in the morning ,i went to the door of the goal4 ,this dream was no further a reason of my going thither1 than as it was a means of exciting me to pursue the reasonable inclination ,i had before4 ,and subsequent providences made me afterwards judge1 that ,,god directed the dream for that purpose4 ,as to the third1 ,i was so far from being conducted by it1 that as ,i have said in the account ,i gave of it1 which1 ,gentlemen1 you would have done well to have observed1 ,i always checked the impression it made upon me4 ,these are the only dreams ,i think that are mentioned in any of my writings2 and all these are in the account of my life3 though you are pleased to say1 page #e1 8,from these pieces namely my ,life1 ,journals1 and ,sermons it is very evident that he used to govern himself by dreams40 8,as plain it is1 7you add1 page ibid47 that he usually governed himself by some sudden impulses and impressions on his mind1 and we have one instance that may satisfy us1 that his first setting out upon his itinerant business1 was from an enthusiastic turn4 ,journal from ,london to ,gibraltar1 page #c1 he says1 #8,he will not mention the reasons that persuaded him it was the divine will that he should go abroad1 because they might not be deemed good reasons by another2' but saith1 #8,he was as much bent as ever to go1 though strongly solicited to the contrary1 having asked direction from heaven about it for a year and half4'0 ,and does not this prove1 ,gentlemen1 that ,i acted cautiously in the affair1 and took time to consider of the step ,i was about to take8 and consequently was not governed herein by some sudden impulse or impression on my mind1 and without consulting ,providence1 continuing instant in prayer1 and conferring with friends on the occasion1 for the space of a year and half1 as you well observe8 ,and what if ,i did not mention 8the reasons that persuaded me it was the divine will that ,i should go abroad1 because they might not be deemed good reasons by another40 ,does it therefore follow1 that ,i was governed in the affair by impulses and impressions1 or that ,i had no good reasons to give8 ,besides1 ,gentlemen1 how does it appear that this passage refers to my first setting out upon my itinerant business8 ,i think ,i mention only going abroad to ,georgia1 whither ,i was then bound1 and where ,i intended to settle4 ,at this time ,i had no thought of being an itinerant4 ,it did not appear to be my duty to set out upon that business1 for a considerable time afterwards4 ,how ,i was induced at length to set out upon it1 ,i may give an account of in a future tract2 but till that be published1 how can any one fairly determine 8whether my first setting out upon this itinerant business1 was from an enthusiastical turn or not40 8,other instances 7you say1 page ibid47 there are1 wherein he shews it to be his custom to attribute any common turn of his mind to a motion of the ,holy ,spirit upon him1 without any more reason than any man may1 any recollections of his memory1 or sudden suggestion of his own understanding4 ,such a one you have1 ,journal from ,gibraltar to ,savannah1 page #c4 #8,i went to bed with unusual thoughts and convictions that ,,god would do some great things at ,gibraltar4'0 ,but1 ,gentlemen1 if ,i say1 ,i went to bed with unusual thoughts and convictions1 how is this an instance of 8my attributing any common turn of my mind to a motion of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,you endeavour to prove it further1 page #f4 by a second passage taken out of another ,journal from ,savannah to ,england1 page #bb4 where it is said1 8,that the lesson before he left ,savannah1 being ,st4 ,paul's shipwreck3 and that before his leaving ,charles-,town1 being the first of ,jonah1 made such a deep impression upon him1 that he wrote to his friend to acquaint him1 he was apprehensive he should have a dangerous voyage2 and it happening to be bad weather accordingly1 he says1 #8,,god hath now shewed me wherefore he gave those previous notices4'0 ,but1 ,gentlemen1 how is this an instance of my attributing any common turn of my mind to a motion of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,was it a common turn of my mind to have ,paul's shipwreck1 and the first of ,jonah powerfully pressed upon me8 ,i do not know that it was4 ,but you are pleased to draw this further inference from the quotation1 page ibid41 8,so that every scripture that came to his view1 was received as the bath-kol of the ,jews1 and he plainly shews himself as much directed by this way of finding out the will of ,,god as he calls it1 as the old heathens were by their sortes ,homeric ,virgilian40 ,but how does this prove1 that every scripture that came to my view1 was received as the bath-kol1 c4 ,i think ,i mentioned only the first of ,jonah1 and the xxviith of ,acts3 but you say of this1 7my receiving every scripture that came to my view as the bath-kol7 we have a very full instance1 same ,journal1 page #ch1 where you 8have a particular application of the words which appeared upon the ,doctor's first opening the ,common ,prayer1 #8,the ,,lord hath visited and redeemed his people'40 ,but how is this a very full instance1 when these words did not appear to my view at all1 but to the ,doctor's8 ,it was he that was reading1 not ,i2 only as you are pleased to express yourselves1 8,i wisely observed that so it was1 for about eight o'clock the men saw land40 ,was there any thing unwise in such an observation8 ,or was there any thing enthusiastical in saying1 that ,,god had visited and redeemed his people1 when after we had been pinched with hunger1 and almost starved1 he was pleased to give us a sight of land8 ,you proceed1 page #f1 to lay something more to my charge3 8,sometimes he speaks as if he had communications directly from the ,spirit of ,,god40 ,and is it a crime for a believer1 and a minister of ,,jesus1 to speak of his having communications directly from the ,spirit of ,,god8 ,i thought that was no new thing to the ministers and people in ,new-,england1 especially since such a remarkable revival of religion has been vouchsafed unto them4 ,how are believers sealed2 or how is the divine life begun and carried on1 if there be no such thing as having divine communications directly from the ,spirit of ,,god8 ,again1 7page ibid47 you bring a fresh accusation against me4 8,sometimes1 and indeed very frequently1 he 7in a most enthusiastic manner7 applies even the historical parts of scripture particularly to himself1 and his own affairs2 and this manner he endeavours particularly to vindicate1 ,sermon on ,searching the ,scriptures1 page #bdf4 of his ,sermons3 #8,it is this application of the historical parts of scripture1 when we are reading1 that must render them profitable to us2' and appeals to the experience of the christian1 that if he hath so consulted the word of ,,god1 he has not been plainly directed how to act1 as though he had consulted the ,urim and the ,thummim4 ,for in this plain and full manner he says1 page #ch4 of his life2 #8,the ,holy ,spirit hath from time to time let him into the knowledge of divine things1 and hath directed him in the minutest circumstances4' ,and1 no doubt1 hence it is1 that he says1 forementioned sermon1 page #bdg1 #8,that ,,god1 at all times1 circumstances1 and places1 though never so minute1 never so particular1 will1 if we diligently seek the assistance of his ,holy ,spirit1 apply general things to our hearts4' ,which1 though it may be true in some measure as to the doctrinal and preceptive parts of scripture1 yet it is evidently enthusiastic to say so as to the historical parts of it40 ,but1 however the saying so may appear evidently enthusiastical to you1 ,gentlemen1 after maturely weighing the case1 it does not appear in that light to me3 for does not the ,apostle tell ,timothy1 #b ,timothy iii4 #af1 #ag4 8,that all scripture 7therein1 undoubtedly1 including the historical as well as doctrinal and preceptive parts7 is given by inspiration of ,,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction and instruction in righteousness1 to make the man of ,,god perfect1 thoroughly furnished to every good work40 ,and does not the same ,apostle1 speaking of scripture histories1 say1 #a ,corinthians x4 #aa4 8,now all these things happened unto them for ensamples1 and they are written for our admonition1 upon whom the ends of the world are come40 ,and if it be evidently enthusiastical thus to apply the historical parts of scripture to our own cases in private1 is it not equally enthusiastical to preach upon and apply the historical parts of scripture to particular cases or persons in public8 ,and further1 if it is evidently enthusiastical to apply the historical parts of scripture to ourselves and to our affairs1 then supposing such words as these1 8,go in peace1 ,be whole of thy plague1 ,son be of good chear20 or that historical passage in ,john vii4 #cg4 should be applied to a particular soul in deep distress1 7as no doubt they have often been7 must not that soul reject them entirely for delusions8 ,and if so1 how many that are real believers1 must be brought into unspeakable bondage8 ,page #h1 you go on thus3 8,to mention but one instance more1 though we are not of such letter-learned as deny1 that there is such an union of believers to ,,christ1 whereby they are one in him1 as the ,father and he are one1 as the ,evangelist speaks1 or rather the ,spirit of ,,god by him2 yet so letter-learned we are1 as to say1 that the passage in ,mr4 ,wd's sermon of the indwelling of the ,spirit1 page #caa4 contains the true spirit of enthusiasm1 where he says1 #8,to talk of any having the ,spirit of ,,god without feeling of it1 is really to deny the thing4' ,upon which we say1 that the believer may have a satisfaction1 that he hath the assistance of the ,spirit of ,,god with him in so continual and regular a manner1 that he may be said to dwell in him1 and yet have no feeling of it40 ,but1 ,gentlemen1 is not this in effect to deny the indwelling of the ,spirit8 ,for how is it possible that the believer can have a satisfaction1 that he hath the assistance of the ,spirit of ,,god with him in so continued and regular a manner1 that he may be said to dwell in him1 and yet the believer have no feeling of it8 ,for my part ,i cannot comprehend it4 ,i could as soon believe the doctrine of transubstantiation1 and therefore cannot retract what you are pleased to say contains the true spirit of enthusiasm1 8,to talk of any having the ,spirit of ,,god without feeling it1 is really to deny the thing40 ,the reason you give why the ,spirit of ,,god may dwell in a believer1 and yet the believer himself have no feeling of it2 in my apprehension carries no proof and conviction with it at all4 ,i think you reason thus1 page ib4 8,the metaphor is much too gross to express 7however full7 this satisfaction of the mind1 and has led some to take the expression literally1 and hath 7we fear7 given great satisfaction to many an enthusiast among us since the year #agdj1 from the swelling of their breasts and stomachs in their religious agitations1 which they have thought to be feeling the ,spirit1 in its operations on them40 ,who these enthusiasts1 and what these religious agitations are which you are pleased to mention1 ,i cannot tell3 neither do ,i know by whom this metaphor of feeling the ,spirit1 has been misunderstood1 or taken in too gross a sense4 ,but such a way of speaking and writing is very common amongst the most eminent divines1 as well as in the articles of the ,church of ,england4 ,in her #agth article she speaks thus3 8,as the godly consideration of predestination and our election in ,,christ is full of sweet1 pleasant1 and unspeakable comfort to godly persons1 and such as feel in themselves the working of the ,spirit of ,,christ1 c40 ,mr4 ,guthrie1 in his ,trial of a saving ,interest in ,,christ1 page #aji4 and which used to be ,dr4 ,owen's ,vade mecum1 hath this remarkable paragraph3 8,i speak with the experience of many saints1 and ,i hope according to scripture1 if ,i say there is a communication of the ,spirit of ,,god which is let out to some of his people sometimes1 that is somewhat beside1 if not beyond1 that witnessing of a sonship spoken of before4 ,it is a glorious manifestation of ,,god unto the soul1 shedding abroad ,,god's love in the heart4 ,it is a thing better felt than spoken of3 it is no audible voice1 but it is a flash of glory filling the soul with ,,god1 as he is life1 light1 love1 and liberty1 countervailing that audible voice1 #8,o man greatly beloved1' ,daniel x4 #ai4 putting a man in a transport with this on his heart1 #8,it is good to be here1' as ,matthew xvii4 #e4 ,it is that which went out from ,,christ to ,mary1 when he but mentioned her name1 ,john xx4 #af4 #8,,jesus saith unto her1 ,mary3 she turneth herself and saith unto him1 ,rabboni1 which is to say1 ,master4' ,he had spoken some words to her before1 and she understood not that it was he2 but when he uttereth this one word1 ,mary1 there was some admirable divine conveyance and manifestation made out unto her heart1 by which she was so satisfyingly filled1 that there was no place for arguing and disputing whether or no that was ,,christ1 and if she had any interest in him4 ,that manifestation made faith to itself2 and did purchase credit and trust to itself1 and was equivalent with1 #8,thus saith the ,,lord4' ,this is such a glance of glory1 that it may in the highest sense be called the earnest1 or first fruits of the inheritance1 ,ephesians i4 #ad4 for it is a felt arm-full of the holy ,,god40 ,worthy ,mr4 ,baxter1 in his ,gildas ,salvianus1 page #dj4 speaking of the danger of ministers preaching an unknown and unfelt ,,christ1 writes thus3 8,o ,sirs1 all your preaching and persuading of others1 will be but dreaming and trifling hypocrisy1 till the work be thoroughly done upon yourselves4 ,how can you set yourselves day and night to a work1 that your carnal hearts are averse from8 ,how can you call out with serious fervour upon poor sinners1 with importunate solicitations1 to take heed of sin1 and to set themselves to a holy life1 that never felt yourselves the evil of sin1 or the worth of holiness8 ,i tell you1 these things are never well known till they are felt1 nor well felt till possessed3 and he that feeleth them not himself1 is not so like to speak feelingly to others1 nor to help others to the feeling of them40 ,thus wrote ,mr4 ,guthrie and ,mr4 ,baxter3 and even the ,reverend ,president himself1 in his sermon before the convention1 ,may #bh1 #agda1 page #cd4 hath these words2 8,not but that the saints may feel this very sensibly1 and it is a joy unspeakable and full of glory40 8,silvianus0 replaced with 8,salvianus0 ,but if such a way of writing displeases you now1 and you are of the opinion1 8,that a believer may have a satisfaction1 that he hath the assistance of the ,spirit of ,,god with him1 in so continual and regular a manner1 that he may be said to dwell in him1 and yet have no feeling of it10 ,i cannot wonder1 ,gentlemen1 that my writings are offensive2 because1 as you observe at the end of this paragraph page #h1 my compositions are1 and ,i hope always will be1 full of these things4 ,you close your proofs of my being an enthusiast1 with these words1 8,the whole tends to persuade the world 7and it has done so with respect to many7 that ,mr4 ,w4 hath as familiar a converse and communion with ,,god1 as any of the ,prophets and ,apostles1 and such1 as we all acknowledge to have been under the inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,what tendency my writings may have to make people think so highly of me1 ,i cannot determine3 but this ,i affirm1 that ,i would not have undertaken to preach the gospel for ten thousand worlds1 had ,i not been fully persuaded that ,i had a degree of that ,spirit1 and was admitted to a degree of that holy and familiar converse and communion with ,,god1 which the ,prophets and ,apostles were favoured with1 in common with all believers4 ,and if this had not been the case1 should ,i not1 ,gentlemen1 have lied to ,,god as well as unto man1 when ,i declared at my ordination1 that 8,i was inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost10 who1 ,i believe1 according to ,,christ's promise1 will be with every faithful minister 7and so as to be felt too7 even to the end of the world4 8,as a natural consequence of the heat of enthusiasm1 by which 7you are pleased to say7 he was so evidently acted20 in a following paragraph1 page #h4 you say1 8,in the next place1 we look upon ,mr4 ,whitefield as an uncharitable1 censorious1 and slanderous man20 habitually such1 for that is the idea your words seem to convey4 ,but1 ,gentlemen1 does it follow that ,peter could properly be stiled a cursing1 swearing man1 because with oaths and curses he denied his ,,lord8 ,or could ,david1 that man after ,,god's own heart1 be properly stiled a murdering adulterous man1 because he committed adultery with ,bathsheba and murdered her husband ,uriah8 ,or1 can a believer be stiled properly an hypocrite1 because he has yet got a great deal of hypocrisy remaining in his heart8 ,i suppose1 by no means4 ,no more1 according to my apprehensions1 can any man be justly called an uncharitable1 censorious1 and slanderous man1 if he be not habitually so2 supposing it should be proved either from his writings or conduct1 that he may have been somewhat rash or uncharitable in his judgment passed upon some particular persons or things4 ,but how1 ,gentlemen1 do you prove this charge1 ,that ,i am an uncharitable1 slanderous man8 ,why1 page #i4 8,from his monstrous reflections upon the great and good ,archbishop ,tillotson1 7as ,dr4 ,increase ,mather stiles him7 comparing his sermons to the conjuring books which the ,apostle persuaded the people to destroy40 ,but this1 ,i humbly apprehend1 does not prove that ,i cast reflections1 which you call monstrous1 upon ,archbishop ,tillotson as to his personal character1 but only his books1 which ,dr4 ,increase ,mather himself1 as ,i have been informed by the ,reverend ,mr4 ,gee1 who was brought up under his ministry1 and directed by him in his studies1 constantly warned the students against4 ,and by the way1 ,i cannot but observe1 that this holy venerable man of ,,god1 ,dr4 ,increase ,mather1 if we may credit the writer of his life1 dealt as much in impressions and inward feelings1 as the person against whom you are pleased to publish this testimony4 ,and though he might call the ,archbishop a great and good man for his eminency in station1 and great generosity and moderation towards the ,dissenters1 yet ,i believe he never called him a great and good divine2 nor do ,i think he would blame me for what ,i have said concerning ,mr4 ,gn1 and ,mr4 ,hn4 ,but that which affords you the greatest occasion to denominate me a censorious1 uncharitable1 and slanderous man1 and which ,i apprehend chiefly stirs up your resentment against me is1 to make use of your own expression1 page #i4 8,my reproachful reflections upon the ,society which is immediately under our care40 ,i think the reflections are these3 8,and as far as ,i could gather from some who well knew the state of it1 the ,college not far superior to our ,universities in piety and true godliness4 ,tutors neglect to pray with1 and examine the hearts of the pupils2 discipline is at too low an ebb2 bad books are become fashionable among them2 ,tillotson and ,clarke are read1 instead of ,shepard1 ,stoddard1 and such like evangelical writers40 ,and1 ,gentlemen1 were not these things so at the time when ,i wrote8 ,wherein then1 in writing thus1 have ,i slandered ,harvard ,college8 ,but then you say1 page #aj1 he goes further still1 when he says1 page #if1 both of ,yale ,college1 as well as ours3 8,as for the ,universities1 ,i believe it may be said1 ,their light is now become darkness1 darkness that may be felt40 ,and must it not be so1 when tutors neglect to pray with1 and examine the hearts of the pupils1 c4 ,and this is all ,i meant4 ,for ,i had no idea of representing the ,colleges in such a deplorable state of immorality and irreligion1 as you1 ,gentlemen1 in your testimony1 seem to object4 ,i meant no more1 than what the ,reverend ,president meant1 when speaking of the degeneracy of the times1 in his sermon at the annual convention of ministers1 ,may #bh1 #agda1 he adds1 8,but1 alas6 how is the gold become dim1 and the most fine gold changed6 ,we have lost our first love3 and though religion is still in fashion with us1 yet it is evident1 that the power of it is greatly decayed40 ,however1 ,i am sorry1 ,i published my private informations1 though from credible persons1 concerning the colleges1 to the world3 and assure you1 that ,i should be glad to find1 the ,reverend ,president was not mistaken when he undertook1 from his own examination of things1 seven months after1 to 8assure that venerable audience on the day of the convention1 that their society hath not deserved the aspersions which have of late been made upon it1 either as to the principles there prevalent1 or the books there read30 and assure you further1 that what he adds is true in respect of me1 8,that such as have given out a disadvantageous report of us1 have done it in a godly jealousy for the churches of ,,christ1 which are supplied from us40 ,i would bless ,,god1 and at the same time1 ,i would ask pardon for the mistake1 if ,i was mistaken therein2 for ,i unfeignedly wish your prosperity1 and therefore was as willing to publish the reformation in the ,college1 as ever ,i was to speak of its declension4 ,from thence may there always proceed those streams1 which may make glad the city of our ,,god6 ,to proceed3 again you say1 page #aa4 8,we think it highly proper to bear our testimony against ,mr4 ,whitefield1 as we look upon him to be a deluder of the people4 ,and here we mean more especially1 as to the collections of money1 which1 when here before1 by an extraordinary mendicant faculty1 he almost extorted from the people40 ,extorted from the people8 ,how1 ,gentlemen1 could that be1 when it was a public contribution8 ,i never heard the people themselves make any such objection4 ,nor did ,i ever see people1 in all appearance1 offer more willingly3 they seemed to be those chearful givers1 whom ,,god declares he approves of4 ,you go on to prove me a deluder thus3 8,as the argument he then used was1 #8,the support and education of his dear lambs at the ,orphan-house1' who 7he told us1 he hoped7 might1 in time1 preach the gospel to us and to our children2 so it is not to be doubted1 that the people were greatly encouraged to give him largely of their substance1 supposing they were to be under the immediate tuition and instruction of himself1 as he then made them to believe2 and had not this been their thought1 it is1 to us1 without all peradventure1 they would never have been persuaded to any considerable contribution upon that head2 and this notwithstanding1 he hath scarce seen them for these four years40 ,but how does all this prove me a deluder of the people8 ,for can it be proved1 that what was collected1 was not made use of for the support and education of the dear lambs at the ,orphan-house8 ,or did ,i promise that any of these dear lambs should come in four years time to preach in ,new-,england8 ,or did ,i in the least intimate that ,i had a design to be always resident at the ,orphan-house8 ,and if by various and unexpected interpositions of ,providence1 ,i have been prevented seeing them these four years1 can ,i help that8 8,and besides1 you say1 he hath left the care of them with a person1 whom the contributors know nothing of40 ,i suppose1 ,gentlemen1 you mean ,mr4 ,barber4 ,but do these contributors know nothing of him8 ,did ,i not mention him publicly at the time of collecting1 as one of their own countrymen1 and one bred up in one of their own colleges8 ,was he not with me in person8 ,and did ,i not again and again declare1 that he was to be intrusted with the education and spiritual concerns of the children and family8 ,assuredly ,i did4 ,but you add1 8,and we ourselves have reason to believe that he is little better than a ,quaker40 ,what reason1 ,gentlemen1 you may have thus to judge of him1 ,i cannot tell1 but ,i have great reason to believe he is a thorough ,calvinist1 and a dear man of ,,god1 much acquainted with the divine life1 and sweetly taught rightly to divide the word of truth4 ,i heartily wish all that had the care of youth1 were like-minded1 whatever name you are pleased to give him4 ,but you say1 8,furthermore1 the account which ,mr4 ,w hath given the world of his disbursements of the several contributions1 for the use of his ,orphan-house1 7wherein there are several large articles1 and some of about a thousand pounds our currency charged in a very summary way1 #8,for sundries1' no mention being made therein what the sum was expended for1 nor to whom it was paid7 is by no means satisfactory40 ,would you not1 ,gentlemen1 have done well to have said1 by no means satisfactory to us8 ,for1 ,i am well persuaded most of the contributors depended on my veracity1 and would have been satisfied as to themselves1 though ,i had given no account of the disbursements at all4 ,besides1 ,gentlemen1 did you ever see an account of that nature more particular8 ,is that of the ,society for propagating the gospel more so8 ,or would you yourselves1 ,gentlemen1 be more particular1 supposing an account of what has been received and disbursed for ,harvard-,college1 should ever be required at your hands8 ,the manner of my preaching you seem1 page #ab4 8as much to dislike1 and bound to bear a testimony against1 as the man himself40 ,and why8 because it is extempore preaching4 ,this1 to use your own words1 page ibid41 8,we think by no means proper2 for that it is impossible that any man should be able to manage any argument with that strength1 or any instruction with that clearness in an extempore manner1 as he may with study and meditation40 ,but1 ,gentlemen1 does extempore preaching exclude study and meditation8 ,timothy1 ,i believe1 was an extempore preacher1 and yet the ,apostle advises him to give himself to reading3 and ,i am of ,luther's opinion1 that study1 prayer1 meditation1 and temptation1 are necessary for a minister of ,,christ4 ,now you say1 8,mr4 ,w evidently shows1 that he would have us believe his discourses are extempore40 ,and so they are1 if you mean that they are not written down1 and that ,i preach without notes3 but they are not extempore1 if you think that ,i preach always without study and meditation4 ,indeed1 ,gentlemen1 ,i love to study1 and delight to meditate1 when ,i have opportunity1 and yet would go into the pulpit by no means depending on my study and meditation1 but on the blessed ,spirit of ,,god1 who ,i believe now1 as well as formerly1 frequently gives his ministers utterance1 and enables them to preach with such wisdom1 that all their adversaries are not able to gainsay or resist4 ,this1 ,i think1 is so far from being a lazy manner of preaching1 and the preacher in doing thus1 is so far from offering that which cost him nothing1 as you object1 page ibid4 that ,i have generally observed1 extempore preachers are the most fervent1 laborious preachers1 and ,i believe 7at least ,i speak for myself who have tried both ways7 that it costs them as much1 if not more close and solemn thought1 as well as faith and confidence in ,,god1 as preaching by notes4 ,and however you are pleased to add1 page ibid4 that this way of preaching 8is little instructive to the mind1 still less cogent to the reasonable powers10 yet1 ,i believe it is the preaching which ,,god hath much honoured1 and has been frequently attended with very great success in many ages of the christian church4 ,and if we may pray1 ,i see no reason why we may not preach extempore4 ,the rashness of some of my expressions1 as well as the dangerous errors1 which you are pleased to say1 page #ac1 have been vented in my extempore discourses1 ,i humbly apprehend1 are no sufficient objections against extempore preaching itself2 because we often see1 that those who preach by notes1 and write too1 as may be supposed1 with study and meditation1 are guilty of as rash expressions1 and vent as dangerous errors1 as those who1 you say1 preach either without study or meditation4 ,what the dangerous errors are1 that have been vented in my extempore discourses1 you have not thought proper to specify1 unless it be that once or twice through mistake ,i said1 8,that ,,christ loves unregenerate sinners with a love of complacency2 nay1 and that ,,god loves sinners as sinners40 ,these were indeed unguarded expressions2 but ,i recalled it publicly as soon as ,i was made sensible of my mistake3 and ,i think too before your testimony against me was published4 ,were these my settled principles1 ,i would agree with you in your enlargement upon it1 page #ac1 8,which1 if it be not an unguarded expression1 must be a thousand times worse2 for we cannot look upon it as much less than blasphemy1 and shows him to be stronger in the ,antinomian scheme1 than most of the professors of that heresy themselves40 ,but as it was only a lapsus lingu1 and the whole current of my preaching and writing was1 and is directly contrary to such principles1 ,i would not have you1 ,gentlemen1 by thus representing me as an ,antinomian1 enroll yourselves in the number of those 8that make a man an offender for a word1 and lay a snare for them that speak in the gate40 ,indeed1 ,gentlemen1 ,i utterly detest ,antinomianism1 both in principle and practice4 ,and though you are pleased to say1 8,that it is not unlikely1 and that it is to be suspected1 7that ,i am an ,antinomian7 because the expression was repeated2 and when he was taxed with it by a certain gentleman1 he made no retraction30 yet ,i did1 ,i thought1 what amounted to it3 for when he told me of my mistake1 7if we understand the same gentleman7 ,i bowed and thanked him for his kind information3 as ,i would willingly do all1 who at any time are so kind as to come in the spirit of meekness1 to tell me of my faults1 and freely converse with me face to face4 removed duplicate 8,i0 ,lastly1 you are pleased to say1 page ibid4 8,we think it our duty to bear our strongest testimony against that itinerant way of preaching1 which this ,gentleman was the first promoter of among us1 and still delights to continue in40 ,now by an itinerant preacher 7you say7 8,we understand one that hath no peculiar charge of his own1 but goes about from country to country1 or from town to town1 in any country1 and stands ready to preach to any congregation that shall call him to it3 and such a one is ,mr4 ,w40 ,i own the charge2 and am willing to put the case on the same issue as you do1 page #ad3 8,indeed if there were any thing leading to this manner of management1 in the directions and instructions given either by our ,saviour or his ,apostles1 we ought to be silent1 and so would a man of any modesty2 if 7on the other hand7 there be nothing in the ,new-,testament leading to it4 ,and surely 7you add7 ,mr4 ,w will not have the face to pretend he acts now as an evangelist40 ,but indeed1 ,gentlemen1 ,i do1 if by an evangelist you mean1 what the scripture ,i presume means1 8,one who hath no particular charge of his own1 but goes about from country to country1 or from town to town1 in any country1 and stands ready to preach to any congregation that shall call him to it40 ,for does not that general commission given by our ,,lord to his ,apostles1 8,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature10 authorize the ministers of ,,christ1 8even to the end of the world10 to preach the gospel in any town and country1 though not of their own head1 yet whenever or wherever ,providence should open a door1 even though it should be in a place 8where officers are already settled1 and the gospel is fully and faithfully preached40 ,this1 ,i humbly apprehend1 is every gospel minister's indisputable privilege1 and therefore cannot judge that it is being wise above what is written1 to give it as my opinion1 as you say ,i have done1 page #ad4 8,that itinerant preaching may be very convenient for the furtherance of the good of the churches1 if it were under a good regulation40 ,for itinerant preaching is certainly founded upon the word of ,,god1 and has been agreeably approved of1 and practised by many good men1 with great and happy success both in ancient and later times8 ,was not the reformation begun and carried on by itinerant preaching8 ,were not ,knox1 ,welch1 ,wishart1 and those holy men of ,,god1 several of the good old puritans1 itinerant preachers8 ,are not itinerants sent forth by the societies for propagating the gospel and promoting christian knowledge both in ,england1 ,scotland and ,denmark8 ,and did not holy ,mr4 ,baxter in his appendix to his ,gildas ,salvianus or ,reformed ,pastor1 in conjunction with others1 earnestly and with weighty reasons recommend itinerant preaching1 even where the gospel was fully and faithfully preached1 in #afeg8 ,which is expressed in the following terms3 8,to the ,reverend and faithful ,ministers of ,,christ in the several ,counties of this ,land1 and the ,gentlemen and other natives of each ,county1 now inhabiting the ,city of ,london4 8,reverend and beloved ,brethren1 ,,the whole design and business of this discourse1 being the propagation of the gospel1 and the saving of men's souls1 ,i have thought it not unmeet to acquaint you with another work to that end1 which we have set on foot in this county1 and to propound it to your consideration1 and humbly invite you to an universal imitation4 ,you know1 ,i doubt not1 the great inequality in ministerial abilities1 and that many places have ministers that are not qualified with convincing1 lively1 awakening gifts3 some must be tolerated in the necessity of the church1 that are not likely to do any great matters towards the conversion of ignorant1 sensual1 worldly men3 and some that are learned1 able men1 and fitted for controversies1 may yet be unfit to deal with those of the lower sort4 ,i suppose if you peruse the whole ministry of a county1 you will not find so many and such lively1 convincing preachers as we could wish4 ,and ,i take it for granted1 that you are sensible of the weight of eternal things1 and of the worth of souls2 and that you will judge it a very desirable thing that every man should be employed according to his gifts1 and the gospel in its light and power should be made as common1 as possible we can3 upon these and many the like considerations1 the ministers in this county resolved to chuse out four of the most lively1 yet sober1 peaceable1 orthodox men1 and desire them once a month to leave their own congregations1 to the assistance of some other1 and to bestow their labour in the places where they thought there was most need2 and as we were resolving upon this work1 the natives of this county1 inhabiting the city of ,london1 having a custom of feasting together once a year1 and having at their feast collected some monies by contribution1 for the maintaining of a weekly lecture in this county1 7besides other good works7 did 7by their stewards7 desire us to set up the said lecture1 and to dispose of the said monies in order thereto3 and their judgments upon consultation did correspond with our design4 ,so that the said money1 being sufficient to satisfy another1 that shall in their absence preach in their own places1 we employ it accordingly1 and have prevailed with some brethren to undertake this work4 ,i propound to your consideration1 ,reverend ,brethren1 and to you1 the natives of each county1 in ,london1 whether the same work may not tend much to the edification of the church1 and the welfare of souls1 if you will be pleased speedily and effectually to set it on foot through the land8 ,whether it may not1 by ,,god's blessing1 be a likely means to illuminate the ignorant1 and awaken the secure1 and countermine seducers1 and hinder the ill success of ,satan's itinerants1 and win over many souls to ,,christ1 and stablish many weak ones in the faith8 ,and not doubting but your judgments will approve of the design1 ,i humbly move1 that you will please to contribute your faculties to the work2 that the ,londoners of each county will be pleased to manifest their benevolence to this end1 and commit the monies to the hands of the most faithful1 orthodox ministers1 and that they will readily and self-denyingly undertake the work4 ,i hope the ,gentlemen1 natives of this county1 will be pleased to pardon my publishing their example1 seeing my end is only the promoting of men's salvation1 and the common good4 ,and that you may more fully understand the scope of our design1 ,i shall annex the letters directed to the several ministers of the county1 which the lecturers send to the ministers of the place1 and receive his answer1 before they presume to preach in any congregation40 8,to all the rest of the ,ministers of the ,gospel in this ,county1 our ,reverend and beloved ,brethren1 grace and peace in our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 8,reverend ,brethren1 ,,the communication of the heavenly evangelical light1 for the glory of our ,redeemer1 in the conversion1 edification and salvation of men's souls1 is that which we are bound to by many obligations1 as christians1 and as ministers of ,,christ1 for his church1 and therefore must needs be solicitous thereof3 and it is that which the spirit of grace1 where it abideth1 doth proportionably dispose the heart to desire3 by convictions of the excellency and necessity of this work1 and of our own duty in order thereto1 and by the excitation of undeserved grace1 our hearts are carried out to long after a more general and effectual illumination and saving conversion of the inhabitants of this county in which we live3 which while we were but entering upon a consultation to promote1 it pleased ,,god 7without our knowledge of it7 to put the same thoughts into the hearts of others4 ,the natives of this ,county of ,worcester who dwell in ,london1 meeting at a feast1 7as is their yearly use7 collected a sum of money for the setting of eight poor boys to trades1 and towards the maintaining of a weekly lecture1 and have committed the execution of this last1 to our care3 and upon consultation with their stewards1 and among ourselves1 both they and we are satisfied1 that a moveable lecture on the ,lord's-day is the likeliest way for the improvement of their charity1 to the attainment of their ends4 ,for1 #ast1 many people through poverty cannot1 and many through negligence will not come to a week day's lecture3 experience telleth us1 that such are usually attended but little by those that have the greatest need3 #b;dly1 and thus the benefit may extend to more1 than if it were fixed in one place4 ,we have therefore desired our reverend and dear brethren1 ,mr4 ,andrew ,tristram1 minister at ,clent1 ,mr4 ,henry ,oasland1 minister at ,bewdley1 and ,mr4 ,thomas ,baldwin1 minister at ,wolverly1 and ,mr4 ,joseph ,treble1 minister at ,church ,lench1 to undertake this work1 and that each of them will be pleased every fourth ,lord's-day to preach twice in those places1 where they shall judge their labours to be most necessary3 and as we doubt not but their own congregations will so far consent for the good of others2 so do we hereby request of you our brethren1 that when any of them shall offer their labours for your congregations1 in preaching the said lecture1 you will receive them1 and to your power further them in the work4 ,for as we have no thoughts of obtruding their help upon you1 without your consent1 so we cannot but undoubtedly expect1 that men fearing ,,god1 and desiring their people's everlasting good1 will chearfully and gratefully entertain such assistance4 ,and we hope1 that none will think it needless1 or take it as an accusing the ministry of insufficiency3 for the ,,lord doth variously bestow his gifts3 all that are upright are not equally fitted for the work3 and many that are learned1 judicious1 and more able to teach the riper sort1 are yet less able to condescend to the ignorant1 and so convincingly and fervently to rouze up the secure1 as some that are below them in other qualifications3 and many that are able in both respects1 have a barren people2 and the ablest have found by experience that ,,god hath sometimes blest the labours of a stranger to do that1 which their own hath not done4 ,we beseech you therefore interpret not this as an accusation of any1 which proceedeth from the charity of our worthy country-men in ,london1 and from the earnest desires of them and us1 to further the salvation of as many as we can4 ,and that you may have no jealousies of the persons deputed to this work2 we assure you that they are approved men1 orthodox1 sober1 peaceable1 and of upright lives1 happily qualified for their ministerial work1 and zealous and industrious therein2 and so far from being likely to sow any errors or cause divisions1 or to draw the hearts of people from their own faithful ,pastors1 that they will be forward to assist you against any such distempers in your flocks4 ,not doubting therefore1 but as you serve the same ,master1 and are under the same obligations as we1 so as many as are heartily addicted to his service1 will readily promote so hopeful a work1 we commend you and your labours to the blessing of the ,,lord4 ,your brethren and fellow-labourers in the work of the gospel4 ,kiderminster4 ,in the name and at the desire of the ministers of this association4 ,evesham4 ,richard ,baxter1 ,john ,boraston1 ,jarvis ,bryant4 ,in the name of the ministers of this association4 ,giles ,collier1 ,george ,hopkins1 ,john ,dolphin40 ,this is and shall be my endeavour1 and was so when ,i was here last1 my conscience also bearing me witness in the ,holy ,ghost1 notwithstanding some of my expressions have been made to speak things1 and convey ideas which ,i never intended4 ,and therefore1 ,gentlemen1 judge ye1 whether you have said right in page #aath1 8,and now is it possible1 that we should not look upon him 7,mr4 ,w47 as the blameable cause of all the quarrels on the account of religion1 which the churches are now engaged in3 and this not only on account of his own behaviour1 but also as the coming of those hot men afterwards 7who together with the exhorters that accompanied them1 cultivated the same uncharitable dispositions in our churches7 was wholly owing to his influence and example80 ,is this1 ,gentlemen1 a fair way of arguing8 ,is it not enough for me to answer for myself1 without having the faults of others that came after me1 laid to my charge also8 ,did not the papists as justly1 who charged ,luther with all the imprudencies of his adherents1 and the confusions that attended the reformation8 ,besides1 ,i do not understand1 who you mean by those hot men4 ,surely you do not include the reverend ,mr4 ,tennent4 ,,god did make me an instrument of sending him to ,new-,england4 ,i thank him for it1 as ,i believe several of ,harvard ,college1 many ministers1 and thousands of the common people1 in the several parts of ,new-,england1 will be found to do1 through the ages of eternity4 ,as for others1 ,i knew nothing of their coming1 neither do ,i well know who you mean1 and consequently can be no more justly charged with their misconduct1 than the first founder of ,harvard ,college can be charged with all the bad principles and practices which any of the members of that society have been guilty of1 since his decease4 ,that ,mr4 ,tennent's labours and mine were remarkably blessed1 the reverend ,mr4 ,president himself testified in the fore-mentioned sermon1 page #bc1 wherein are these words3 8,indeed those two pious and valuable men of ,god1 who have been lately labouring more abundantly among us1 have been greatly instrumental in the hands of ,,god1 to revive this blessed work2 and many1 no doubt1 have been savingly converted from the error of their ways1 many more have been convicted1 and all have been in some measure roused from their lethargy40 ,and even in this testimony1 you are all pleased to say1 page #c1 that 8by a certain faculty which he hath of raising the passions1 he hath been a means of rousing many from their stupidity1 and setting them on thinking1 whereby some may have been made really better40 ,and if these things are so2 if many have been roused from their stupidity1 and made really better2 if the blessed work of ,,god was revived1 and there is no doubt but many have been savingly converted from the error of their ways1 many more convicted1 and all in some measure roused from their lethargy2 is it to be wondered at1 that many of the people should be strongly attached to such an instrument1 though it should be most evident 7as you say1 page ibid47 8that he hath not any superior talent at instructing the mind1 or shewing the force and energy of those arguments for a religious life1 which are directed to in the everlasting gospel80 ,for1 is it not natural for people to love their spiritual ,father8 ,would not the ,galatians have plucked out even their own eyes1 and have given them to ,paul8 ,and is it not the bounden duty of all that love ,,jesus1 to love those who labour in the word and doctrine1 and are made greatly instrumental in the hands of ,,god to revive his blessed work amongst them8 ,and supposing that they have not any superior talent at instructing the mind1 c4 ought they not the more to thank and adore the sovereignty of their heavenly father1 who sends by whom he will send1 and chuses the weak things of this world to confound the strong1 and hides those things from the wise and prudent1 which he is pleased to reveal unto babes8 ,gentlemen1 ,i profess myself a ,calvinist as to principle1 and preach no other doctrines than those which your pious ancestors1 and the founders of ,harvard ,college1 preached long before ,i was born4 ,and ,i am come to ,new-,england1 with no intention to meddle with1 much less to destroy the order of the ,new-,england churches1 or turn out the generality of their ministers1 or re-settle them with ministers from ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,ireland1 as hath been hinted in a late letter written by the reverend ,mr4 ,clap1 ,rector of ,yale-,college3 such a thought never entered my heart2 neither1 as ,i know of1 has my preaching the least tendency thereunto4 ,i am determined to know nothing among you1 but ,,jesus ,,christ and him crucified4 ,i have no intention of setting up a party for myself1 or to stir up people against their ,pastors4 ,had not illness prevented1 ,i had some weeks ago departed out of these coasts4 ,but as it is not a season of the year for me to undertake a very long journey1 and ,i have reason to think the great ,,god daily blesses my poor labours1 ,i think it my duty to comply with the invitations that are sent me2 and1 as ,i am enabled1 to be instant in season and out of season1 and to preach among poor sinners the unsearchable riches of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this indeed ,i delight in4 ,it is my meat and my drink4 ,i esteem it more than my necessary food4 ,this ,i think ,i may do1 as a minister of the ,king of kings1 and a subject to his present ,majesty ,king ,george1 upon whose royal head ,i pray ,,god1 the crown may long flourish4 ,and as ,i have a right to preach1 so ,i humbly apprehend the people1 as christians1 as men1 and ,new-,england men in particular1 have a right to invite and hear4 ,if pulpits should be shut1 blessed be ,,god6 the fields are open1 and ,i can go without the camp1 bearing the ,redeemer's sacred reproach3 this ,i am used to1 and glory in2 believing that if ,i suffer for it1 ,i shall suffer for righteousness sake4 ,at the same time ,i desire to be humbled1 and ask public pardon for any rash word ,i have dropped1 or any thing ,i have written or done amiss4 ,this leads me also to ask forgiveness1 ,gentlemen1 if ,i have done you or your society1 in my journal1 any wrong4 ,be pleased to accept unfeigned thanks for all tokens of respect you shewed me when here last4 ,and if you have injured me in the testimony you have published against me and my conduct 7as ,i think1 to say no more1 you really have7 it is already forgiven without asking1 by ,gentlemen1 ,your affectionate humble servant1 ,g4 ,w4 ,p4 ,s4 ,i have been obliged to be very brief1 on account of the variety of business in which ,i am necessarily engaged1 and my daily calls to preach the everlasting gospel4 ,,remarks ,,on ,a ,,pamphlet1 ,,entitled1 ,the ,enthusiasm of ,,methodists and ,,papists compared2 ,,wherein ,several ,mistakes in some ,parts of my past ,writings and ,conduct are acknowledged1 and my present ,sentiments concerning the ,,methodists explained4 ,,in ,a ,,letter to the ,,author4 ,out of the eater came forth meat4 ,judges xiv4 #d4 ,,remarks1 c4 ,,sir1 ,i ,,have perused your anonymous ,pamphlet2 and though upon some accounts it does not deserve an answer1 yet1 as it may serve a good purpose1 and be a means of rectifying some mistakes1 ,i shall trouble you with a few remarks upon it4 ,who1 or what you are1 the world is left to guess4 ,if a clergyman1 you have done well to conceal yourself1 the whole strain of your performance discovering a levity unbecoming such a character4 ,you yourself seem conscious of its needing an apology3 for in your preface1 after having just hinted at the 8extravagant freaks of ,methodism10 you add1 8,and if in proving it1 ,i am sometimes guilty of a levity of expression1 'tis to be hoped some allowance will be made1 in consideration of the nature of the subject1 it being no easy matter to keep one's countenance1 and be steadily serious1 where others are ridiculous40 ,assure yourself1 ,sir1 ,i shall make all the allowance you can reasonably desire2 but at the same time must observe to you1 that if others are ridiculous1 that is no reason why you should make yourself so2 and if recovering the persons concerned out of their extravagant freaks1 be only a remote design of your composition1 you have unhappily fixed upon a most improbable1 ineffectual remedy2 ,i mean1 irreligious banter4 ,however this be1 your principal design is obvious1 8,as a caution to all ,protestants1 to draw a comparison between the wild and pernicious ,,enthusiasms of some of the most eminent ,saints in the ,popish communion1 and those of the ,methodists in our own country30 ,and who those eminent saints are you specify1 page #i1 section #b4 8the most wild1 and extravagant1 the most ridiculous strolling1 fanatical1 delirious1 and mischievous of all the saints in the ,romish communion40 ,for otherwise1 you say1 8the parallel would not hold1 but come off defective2 the whole conduct of the ,methodists 7not any one branch1 it seems1 to be excepted7 being but a counter-part of the most wild fanaticism of the most abominable communion10 in its most corrupt ages4 ,vid4 ,pref4 ,this is avowedly your principal design 7which though ,i think somewhat too restrained to answer exactly to your title page7 must be acknowledged to be a very expedient one2 if1 besides cautioning protestants1 you intended1 at the same time1 to expose the ,methodists1 and to have them looked upon and treated as ,papists4 ,how you have succeeded in this attempt1 will appear when we come to examine the parallel you have drawn between them4 ,to this ,i shall confine myself1 and consequently1 on purpose1 omit making any direct reply to the account you give of the ,montanists2 it being not only quite foreign to the title page and principal design of your tract 7as you say1 8they arose in the second century1 before popery had a being107 but at the best very precarious1 being not founded upon writings of their own1 which1 as you inform us1 are long since lost4 ,to come then to your more direct comparison between popish and methodistical enthusiasts3 8,from a commiseration or horror1 arising from the grievous corruptions of the world1 perhaps from a real motive of sincere piety1 they both set out with warm pretences to reformation30 page #aj4 section #b4 ,and is not this commendable1 whether in ,methodists or in ,papists8 ,or ought any one1 think you1 to take upon him holy orders1 and witness that good confession before many witnesses1 8,that he is inwardly moved thereto by the ,holy ,ghost10 without having a real motive of sincere piety1 and a warm intention at least 7if that be what you mean by a pretence7 to promote1 as much as in him lies1 a real reformation8 ,if by pretence1 you would have us understand a mere hypocritical pretence1 you are then guilty of a self-contradiction3 for how can pretence and reality be reconciled8 ,which of the two was the case of the ,methodists at their first setting out1 if you please1 we will leave to the great day1 to be determined by ,him who is appointed to be judge of quick and dead2 to whom alone all hearts are open1 all desires known1 and from whom no secrets are hid4 ,actions are cognizable by us1 and not intentions4 ,let us see how your parallel holds good in respect to these4 8,for the better advancement of their purposes1 both1 commonly 7you say1 page #aa4 section #d47 begin their adventures with field preaching4 ,in which particular1 though the practice of the ,methodists be notorious1 it may not be amiss to produce some of their own words1 were it only for the sake of the comparison40 ,but1 good ,sir1 ought any one1 merely for the sake of making a comparison1 7though ever so just7 to exceed the bounds of truth1 which you have here confessedly done8 ,for what words have you produced1 or indeed can you produce1 to prove that the ,methodists began their adventures with field-preaching8 ,if we may believe your own words1 is not the quite contrary notorious8 ,for1 section #e4 page #ae4 you tell us1 8,that after the ,methodists had traduced the clergy1 as long as they were permitted to do it1 in their own churches and pulpits1 they set about this pious work of defamation more heartily in the fields40 ,here then your parallel fails at first setting out1 you yourself being judge4 ,and here ,i would dismiss this article1 being founded on a mistake1 was it not proper to take notice of a cursory remark or two1 which you have thought proper to make upon it4 ,you ask1 page #ad4 8,how comes ,mr4 ,whitefield to say1 there was never any such thing as field-preaching before8 ,was it from the mere vanity of being thought the founder of it8 ,or was he ignorant of the practice several years ago1 and even in our own nation80 ,i thank you1 ,sir1 for informing me better1 and am glad to find that field-preaching was practised in our nation several years ago4 ,why then such a noise about it now8 ,from what degrees of vanity my expressing myself in that manner might proceed1 ,i cannot now remember3 but if1 as you insinuate1 page #cc4 8,it is easy to foresee there is to be some future calendar or legend of the saints10 7,i presume you mean ,methodist saints7 ,i care not if the following article be inserted concerning me4 8,such a day the ,reverend ,george ,whitefield1 having had an university education1 and been regularly ordained deacon and priest of the ,church of ,england1 and invited to preach in most churches of the cities of ,gloucester1 ,bristol1 ,westminster1 and ,london1 in the last of which places he collected near a thousand pounds for the charity children1 being causelesly denied the further use of the churches1 because he preached up the necessity of the new birth1 and justification in the sight of ,,god by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 began to preach the same doctrines in the fields40 removed duplicate word 8be0 ,this is the real truth3 and whether ,i was the founder or reviver of such field-preaching in this nation1 need ,i be ashamed1 merely because ,st4 ,peter of ,verona1 ,st4 ,nicholas of ,nolasco1 ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua1 and ,st4 ,ignatius were field-preachers before me8 ,can you recollect no earlier1 or more unexceptionable field-preachers than these8 ,what do you think of ,,jesus ,,christ and his ,apostles8 ,were they not field-preachers8 ,was not the best sermon that was ever delivered1 delivered from a ,mount8 ,was not another very excellent one preached from a place called ,mars-,hill8 ,and did not ,peter and ,john preach above seventeen hundred years ago in ,solomon's ,porch1 and elsewhere1 though the clergy of that generation commanded them to speak no more in the name of ,,jesus8 ,these were the persons that ,i had in view1 when ,i begun my adventures of field-preaching4 ,animated by their example1 when causelesly thrust out1 ,i took the field2 and if this be my shame1 ,i glory in it3 for1 7to make use of the words of the late great ,colonel ,gardiner1 when he once looked upon the spot where this adventure was carried on2 and ,o that ,i may speak it with a becoming humility17 8,i am persuaded it will be said at the great day of this and that man1 that they were brought to ,,god there40 ,another of your cursory remarks on field-preaching1 is this2 8,have not the ,methodist preachers1 as well as ,st4 ,anthony1 been attended with a sturdy set of followers1 as their guards1 armed with clubs under their cloaths1 menacing and terrifying such as should dare to speak lightly of their apostle80 ,you add1 8,i have heard it often affirmed40 ,and so might the heathens have said1 that they heard it often affirmed1 8that when the primitive christians received the blessed sacrament1 they killed a young child1 and then sucked its blood40 ,but was that any reason why they should believe it8 ,it is true indeed1 some of the ,methodist preachers have more than once been attended with a sturdy set of followers armed with clubs and other weapons1 not as their guards1 but opposers1 and persecutors2 and who have not only menaced and terrified1 but actually abused and beat many of those1 who came to hear him1 whom you1 ,i suppose1 would call their apostle4 ,both ,methodist preachers and ,methodist hearers too1 for want of better arguments1 have often felt the weight of such irresistible power1 which1 literally speaking1 hath struck many of them dumb2 and ,i verily believe1 had it not been for some superior invisible guard1 must have struck them dead4 ,these are all the sturdy set of armed followers1 that the ,methodists know of4 ,other guards1 besides those common to all christians1 they desire none4 ,and whatever you may unkindly insinuate1 about my being aware of a turbulent spirit1 a fighting enthusiasm amongst them1 because ,i said1 8,i dread nothing more than the false zeal of my friends in a suffering hour20 ,i think many years experience may convince the world1 that the weapons of their warfare1 like those of their blessed ,redeemer and his apostles1 have not been carnal3 but thanks be to ,,god1 however you may ridicule his irresistible power1 they have1 through him1 been mighty to the pulling down of ,satan's strong-holds1 in many a sturdy sinner's heart4 ,but to return to the church1 where in reality the ,methodist adventures were begun4 ,section #eth1 page #ae1 you tell the world1 8that after they had traduced the clergy1 as long as they were permitted to do it1 in their own churches and pulpits1 in order to seduce their flocks1 and collect a staring rabble1 7pretty language this1 ,sir17 they set about this pious work of defamation mere heartily in the fields40 ,i was reading further1 expecting to find your parallel4 ,but ,i see it is wanting4 ,are the ,methodists then originals in this particular8 ,or could you1 among all the histories of your eminent saints1 find no instances of ,st4 ,anthony's1 ,st4 ,francis's1 and ,st4 ,ignatius's carrying on this pious work of defamation in their days8 ,will you suffer me to supply the deficiency1 by laying before you some examples1 which1 though of an earlier date1 may1 by unprejudiced persons1 be esteemed as suitable1 as any of a popish extraction8 ,in the ,new ,testament1 7a book you seem to have laid aside1 or at least little adverted to1 when writing your pamphlet7 we are informed1 ,that when ,john ,baptist1 8saw many of the ,pharisees and ,sadducees come to his baptism1 he said unto them1 ,o generation of vipers1 who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come80 ,the same book tells us1 that ,st4 ,stephen being full of the ,holy ,ghost1 and within a few moments of his death1 said to the whole ,jewish sanhedrim1 8,ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears1 ye do always resist the ,holy ,ghost2 as your fathers did1 so do ye40 ,and our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 the master of both these1 in one chapter denounces no less than thirteen woes against the scribes and pharisees1 whose chief power of doing good1 and promoting the common salvation1 he well knew1 depended upon their character1 as much as any clergy in any age of the church whatsoever4 ,not that ,i would be understood by this to insinuate1 that all which the ,methodist preachers have spoken against the clergy1 was spoken in the same ,spirit1 or with the like divine authority1 as our ,,lord1 his harbinger1 and his protomartyr1 spoke4 ,that would be carrying the parallel too far indeed4 ,there is generally much1 too much severity in our first zeal4 ,at least there was in mine4 ,all ,i would therefore infer is this1 that what some 7not to say you1 ,sir17 may term 8,gall of bitterness and black art of calumny10 may be nothing but an honest testimony against the corruptions of a degenerate church1 and may1 without any degree of wickedness1 be supposed to come from the 8,spirit and power given from ,,god40 ,if we deny this1 not only ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 and almost all the prophets1 but likewise ,,jesus ,,christ and his ,apostles1 must be looked upon by us1 7as ,i suppose they were by the men in whose day they lived7 as great slanderers1 and dealing much in this black art of calumny and defamation4 ,but1 if the ,methodists have been so much to blame1 for carrying on this pious work of defamation1 in the church and their journals2 will that authorise you in practising the same black art in your pamphlet8 ,give me leave 7since you have taken that liberty with me7 to gather some of your flowers on this occasion4 8,this dangerous and presumptuous sect2 strolling predicants2 itinerant enthusiasts2 methodistical enthusiasts20 with many other flowers of a like nature1 though not of a very scriptural scent1 may be picked off almost every page of your performance4 ,upon the review of which1 ,i suppose you will own1 that you are at least even with the ,methodists4 ,only it must be allowed1 there is this difference2 you are taking up a trade1 which they1 as far as ,i know to the contrary1 have for some time laid down4 8stroling0 replaced with 8strolling0 ,and why must you disturb the dead on this occasion8 ,were there not flowers enough to be gathered out of ,mr4 ,wesley's ,journal and mine1 without calling up ,mr4 ,seward's ghost 7as you have in effect done1 by quoting his ,journal7 in order to terrify your readers8 ,good man6 ,he has long since entered into his rest1 and consequently cannot now answer for himself4 ,permit me to speak a word or two in behalf of my deceased friend4 ,he was certainly a serious warm christian1 but 7like his fellow-traveller7 in the heat of his zeal1 spoke and wrote some unguarded things4 ,his and my treatment of ,archbishop ,tillotson1 was by far too severe4 ,we condemned his state1 when we ought only in a candid manner1 7which ,i would do again if called to it7 to have mentioned what we judged wrong in his doctrines4 ,i do not justify it4 ,i condemn myself most heartily1 and ask pardon for it2 as1 ,i believe1 he would do1 was he now alive4 ,but then1 do not you still go on1 ,sir1 to imitate us in our faults3 ,let the surviving ,methodists answer for themselves3 let ,seward and ,tillotson lie undisturbed4 ,and if you think me blameworthy 7as ,i certainly was7 to write so disrespectful of the one2 why should you1 by making an ill-natured quotation1 rake as it were into the very ashes of the dead1 only for the poor gratification of digging up a flower1 to blacken the memory of the other8 ,but to proceed4 ,for several pages1 you go on imitating us in this same pious work of defamation4 ,if you can bear to read your own words1 ,i will transcribe a few of them3 section #f4 page #ag4 8,but though these strolling predicants have allured some itching ears1 and drawn them aside by calumniating their proper pastors1 they have sense enough to know the itch will go off1 and their trade not continue long1 unless they can produce something novel or uncommon2 what the wandering sheep have not been used to in their churches4 ,therefore they must find out1 or rather revive such peculiarities1 as have formally attended enthusiasms1 and are most likely to captivate the vulgar4 ,hence their0,but hold1 ,sir2and before you run yourself quite out of breath1 ,i intreat you to stop a little1 whilst ,i put to you one or two questions4 ,believe you these things of the ,methodists8 ,i suppose you believe them3 otherwise1 ,why assert them so strongly8 ,how then can you put even a perhaps to your supposition of their 8setting out with a real motive of sincere piety80 ,had not you best alter the title of your book1 or at least make some addition to it8 ,let it run thus3 8,the enthusiasm and imposture of the ,methodists and ,papists compared40 ,for surely1 unless persons were arrived at a very high degree of imposture1 they could not purposely 7as you seem to infer they did7 design these things4 ,by your leave1 we will examine the evidence you produce in proof of these bold assertions3 8,the first necessary point for drawing followers1 is to put on a sanctified appearance1 by a demure look1 and precise behaviour1 in discourse or silence1 in apparel and food2 and other marks of external piety40 ,section #g4 page #ah4 ,again1 section #h4 page #bj4 8,at first1 the ,methodists1 as a shew of humility1 made it a point not to ride1 either on horseback or in a coach1 though occasionally1 and for conveniency-sake1 they have since thought proper to deviate from their rule40 ,well1 ,sir1 you see then they are not altogether incorrigible4 ,let them alone2 and who knows but for their conveniency-sake1 and it may be from a deeper knowledge of the world1 of themselves1 and of ,,god1 they may be reformed in some other particulars8 8,upon the same account1 you say1 section #i4 page ibid4 fine cloaths and rich furniture stand absolutely condemned30 7not by me1 it seems1 for ,i find no quotations out of my ,journals annexed7 8,but oh6 7as a part or consequence of this7 how good and saint-like it is1 to go dirty1 ragged1 and slovenly6 ,and how piously did ,mr4 ,whitefield therefore take care of the outward man6 ,my apparel was mean1 c40 ,section #aj4 page #ba4 ,really1 ,sir1 whilst ,i read this part of your performance1 ,i could not help thinking1 that a person of your turn of mind1 would have been apt to have joined with those naughty boys1 who1 when they saw that demure1 rough1 hairy1 slovenly enthusiast1 called ,elijah1 followed after him1 and cried1 8,go up1 thou bald pate1 go40 ,or1 if you had lived in ,john ,baptist's time1 and seen him come preaching in the wilderness1 with a camel-hair garment1 and a leathern girdle about his loins2 especially if you had heard1 that his meat was only locusts and wild honey2 would you not have been tempted1 think you1 to give in your verdict amongst those who said1 8,he had a devil80 ,know you not1 that these are extremes which young awakened persons are apt to run into when under a sense of sin1 and influenced by what the ,apostle calls the spirit of bondage8 ,do ,i not mention them as such8 ,and are they not things which of themselves fall off1 when persons are brought into the comforts of religion1 and have received the spirit of adoption1 whereby they cry1 ,abba1 ,father8 ,but ,i shall leave you at present1 to make as merry as you will with the sanctified appearances1 and dirty ragged cloaths of these enthusiastical ,methodists4 ,let us pass on to your #aath section1 page #bb4 8,of this nature likewise1 is their utter condemnation of all recreation1 in every kind and degree4 ,mr4 ,whitefield laments10 7indeed ,i do1 ,sir1 even now ,i am grown older7 8that in his younger days he was not convinced of the absolute unlawfulness of playing at cards1 and of reading and seeing plays40 ,and if you are in advanced years1 and a clergyman too1 and are not convinced of the unlawfulness of cards1 and can find time from your other studies and duties of your calling1 to see or read such plays as the generality of ours are1 ,i think you ought to lament it too4 ,for what says our church in her #geth canon8 8,no ecclesiastical persons shall at any time1 other than for their honest necessities1 resort to any taverns or alehouses2 neither shall they board or lodge in any such places4 ,furthermore1 they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labour1 or to drinking or riot1 spending their time idly by day or night1 playing at dice1 cards1 or tables1 or any other unlawful game2 but at all times convenient1 they shall hear or read somewhat of the ,holy ,scriptures1 or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise1 always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty1 and endeavouring to profit the church of ,,god2 having always in mind1 that they ought to excel all others in purity of life1 and should be examples to the people to live well and christianly1 under pain of ecclesiastical censures to be inflicted with severity1 according to the qualities of their offences40 ,o when shall this once be6 ,in your #abth section page #bd4 you go on to rally these enthusiastical ,methodists for their seeming contempt of money4 ,and again1 section #ac4 page #bf4 you say1 8,another bait to catch admirers1 and very common among enthusiasts1 is a restless impatience and insatiable thirst of travelling1 and undertaking dangerous voyages for the conversion of infidels2 together with a declared contempt of all dangers1 pains1 and sufferings40 ,and then1 after drawing your usual comparison between these enthusiastical ,methodists and popish saints1 you make this judicious remark1 8,the windmill is indeed in all their heads40 ,had ,i a mind to return your false and low wit1 ,i might reply1 8,there is a greater windmill in thine own20 but at present1 ,i am too serious to make sport with my own deceivings4 ,surely1 ,sir1 you forget yourself1 or you never would write thus at random3 for is there any thing1 that the blessed ,author of our religion more recommends to his disciples1 than to 8take heed and beware of covetousness10 and to 8take heed1 lest at any time their hearts should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness1 or the cares of this life80 ,what said ,st4 ,peter8 8,silver and gold have ,i none40 ,what says ,st4 ,paul8 8,but thou1 ,o man of ,,god1 flee these things40 ,and in respect to contempt1 and sufferings for the gospel1 does not our ,,lord command us to expect1 to prepare for1 and rejoice in them8 ,nay1 does he not bid us to leap for joy1 and be exceeding glad1 when we have all manner of evil spoken against us falsely for his name's sake8 ,in obedience to this command1 did not the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles declare1 that he took pleasure in infirmities1 in reproaches1 in necessities1 in persecutions1 in distresses for ,,christ's sake8 ,did he not1 like his ,,lord1 go about doing good8 ,was he not filled with a holy restless impatience and insatiable thirst of travelling1 and undertaking dangerous voyages for the conversion of infidels8 ,and had he not a declared contempt of all dangers1 pains1 and sufferings1 when1 like a true christian hero1 he said to his mourning friends1 8,what mean ye to weep and break my heart8 ,i am ready not only to be bound1 but to die also for the ,,lord ,,jesus80 ,dare you1 ,sir1 call the ,apostles enthusiasts8 ,or think you all this was only a bait to catch admirers8 ,and yet1 what have you done less1 by asserting1 that an insatiable thirst of travelling1 c4 is very common among enthusiasts8 ,i add1 among our ,,lord and his ,apostles also3 and can we copy after more unexceptionable examples8 8,but the ,methodists contempt of money is only a seeming contempt40 ,that is more than you know4 ,here you are again invading the divine prerogative4 ,the great day will determine this4 ,in the mean while1 ,i would observe to you1 that whatever can be produced out of any of my writings1 to prove that ,i have desired1 or prayed for ill usage1 persecution1 martyrdom1 death1 c4 ,i retract it with all my heart1 as proceeding from the overflowings of an irregular1 though well-meant zeal4 ,however it might be with me formerly1 ,i now find myself no ways disposed to say with ,peter1 8,though all men deny thee1 yet will not ,i40 ,alas6 alas6 we know not what feathers we shall be1 when tossed in the wind of temptation6 ,sufferings for the cause and cross of ,,christ1 will come fast enough of themselves1 without our praying for them4 ,but should the ,methodists be called even to die for the cause in which they are embarked1 as ,i am verily persuaded it is the cause of ,,god1 so ,i doubt not but suffering grace will be given for suffering times1 and the ,spirit of ,,christ and of glory will rest upon the sufferers souls4 ,but it is time to follow you to your #adth section page #ca4 8,the pious cruelty of corporal severities1 or mortification by tormenting the flesh1 is another common method of gaining a reputation for sanctity4 ,such as long and rigorous fastings1 gashing and flaying the body with scourges1 armed with rowels and sharp tags1 and rolling naked in thorns and thistles40 ,but these last particulars1 you say1 8,our own disciplinarians cannot1 in any tolerable measure1 pretend to come up to40 ,what occasion was there then for mentioning them8 ,only to cast a popular odium upon these enthusiastical ,methodists4 ,hoc est erugo mera4 8,however1 something of this kind we have from their own relation40 ,and something of this kind we have in the ,evangelist's relation of the life of ,,jesus of ,nazareth2 who1 as we are informed1 before he came out into his public ministry1 underwent a long and rigorous fasting1 even of forty days and forty nights4 ,and something of this kind we have in the relation that disciplinarian the ,apostle ,paul gives of himself2 for he tells us he was in fastings often4 ,it is true he does condemn 7as you observe1 page #cc47 that 1 the not sparing of the body1 as useless and superstitious1 when done in order to recommend us to the favour of ,,god1 or put in the place1 or joined with the merits of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,yet elsewhere1 he informs us1 that he made it his common practice to keep his body under1 77 and bring it into subjection3 and think you all this was only to 8gain a reputation for sanctity80 ,if you will believe himself1 it was for a nobler and more important end1 8,lest while he preached to others1 he himself should be a cast-away40 ,and how do you know but these ,methodists might1 at their first setting out1 have used1 and even now may use abstinence for the same purpose8 ,nay1 that this very motive led them into some extremes in it1 which however must be esteemed an error of the right side8 ,why will you still persist in taking the keys out of the hands of ,omniscience1 and presumptuously judge the intentions of people's hearts8 ,if we had a mind to imitate you in this rash way of judging1 might not we suspect1 7as your pamphlet came out in that season7 that in order to wound our church governors through the sides of the ,methodists1 you intended this part of your pamphlet as a burlesque upon them1 for enjoining such a long and rigorous fasting1 as that of forty days1 commonly called ,lent8 ,i should now proceed1 in order1 to the examination of your #aeth1 #afth1 and #agth sections2 but as these1 together with the #aith1 wholly refer to ,mr4 ,wesley1 ,i shall leave you to his correction1 if he thinks proper to take you in hand4 ,however1 there is something so extraordinary in your #agth section1 that1 ,i think1 it calls for a cursory remark4 8,but1 previous to this elevated state1 that we may not wander too far from the saints progress1 comes their conversion2 which1 as another instance of fanatical peculiarities1 they represent as sudden and instantaneous40 ,instantaneous conversion1 a fanatical peculiarity6 ,i presume instantaneous regeneration must be a fanatical peculiarity also4 ,what then becomes of that ,diana of the present age1 baptismal regeneration8 ,which must be instantaneous1 and that always too1 if every child is really regenerated when baptized8 removed duplicate word 8the0 ,but this only by the by4 ,in your #ahth section1 page #dc4 you return to me4 8,after these sudden conversions1 usually they receive their assurances of salvation2 and these 7as also the proofs of their conversion7 are certainly known1 heard1 seen or felt2 they can ascertain the particular time and place of their receiving them2 as so many seals of the ,spirit40 ,these you call1 page #dd4 8,presumptuous imaginations40 ,is assurance of faith then1 in your opinion1 a presumptuous imagination8 ,for you not only ridicule the ,methodists way of expressing it1 which in several respects may have been unguarded2 nor are you content with asserting1 that some who really had not this assurance1 have presumptuously imagined they had it1 which we readily grant2 for there is counterfeit as well as current coin3 but you seem to explode the thing itself4 ,and yet you intend in this pamphlet1 to draw a parallel between the ,methodists and ,papists4 ,could you give a greater proof of your symbolizing with the ,papists yourself8 ,or need you be informed1 that one grand article of the council of ,trent is this1 8,that there is no such thing as a person's knowing that his sins are forgiven him1 or being assured of his salvation20 and that with good reason3 for if there be such a thing as being assured of the forgiveness of our sins by the internal testimony1 whether mediate or immediate1 of the ,spirit of ,,god2 and if a person ought to be satisfied only with that1 then how could the people be brought to believe in1 and trust to the mere external verbal absolution of a priest8 ,our church1 on the contrary1 in one of her homilies1 says1 that a true faith 8is a sure trust and confidence in ,,god1 that by the merits of ,,christ1 his sins are forgiven1 and he reconciled to the favour of ,,god40 ,and that the ,scriptures every where promise to believers1 a sure and internal witness from the ,spirit of ,,god1 to witness with their spirits that they are his children1 is so evident1 that he who runs may read4 ,what says our ,,lord8 8,he that believeth in me1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water40 ,this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive4 ,what says ,st4 ,paul8 8,because ye are sons1 ,,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into your hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our ,spirit1 that we are the children of ,,god40 ,saith another1 8,he that believeth hath the witness in himself40 ,and a third exhorts all 8to give diligence to make their calling and election sure40 ,art thou a master in ,israel1 a protestant minister1 and a minister of the ,church of ,england1 and knowest not these things8 ,but to come nearer to a close4 ,your #bjth section is introduced thus3 8,and where will these bold enthusiasts stop80 ,i answer for one1 in order to relieve both myself and you1 even here1 ,sir4 ,and without giving you the trouble of taking a flight after us to heaven1 from whence1 you say1 page #dh4 8,these methodistical enthusiasts have taken the sacred light and fire1 in order to compass effectually their own1 and others delusion10 ,i will freely and readily acknowledge1 that you and others have had too much occasion for reflection1 by several things that have been unwarily dropped up and down in my ,journals4 ,these1 you inform us in your preface1 are what you have chiefly consulted4 ,in this you have acted wisely enough for your purpose2 though whether candidly or not1 ,i will leave you and the world to judge1 since there were later writings of mine1 which might as easily have been procured4 ,my ,journals were some of my most early performances1 wrote too in the very heights of my first popularity 7which is apt to make the strongest head run giddy7 in the midst of which1 persons very often do things1 which after-experience and riper judgment teach them to correct and amend4 ,this is true1 however1 in respect to myself2 and1 to convince you that this is the real language of my heart1 and not extorted from me by your pamphlet1 ,i will lay before you an extract of a letter written by me to a worthy friend in ,south-,carolina1 in my late return from ,bermudas1 and published1 with very little alteration1 in ,scotland months ago4 ,vide the ,letter at full length1 volume ii4 page #adc4 ,on board the ,brigg ,betsey1 ,june #bd1 #agdh4 8,reverend ,sir1 ,,yesterday ,i made an end of revising all my ,journals4 ,blessed be ,,god for letting me have leisure to do it4 ,i purpose to have a new edition before ,i see ,america4 ,alas6 alas6 in how many things have ,i judged1 and acted wrong6 ,i have been too rash and hasty in giving characters both of places and persons4 ,being fond of scripture language1 ,i have often used a style too apostolical1 and at the same time ,i have been too bitter in my zeal1 wild-fire has been mixed with it2 and ,i find that ,i have frequently written and spoken too much in my own spirit1 when ,i thought ,i was writing and speaking entirely by the assistance of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,i have likewise too much made impressions1 without the written word1 my rule of acting2 and too soon1 and too explicitly1 published what had better been kept in longer1 or left to have been told after my death4 ,by these things1 ,i have given some wrong touches to ,,god's ark1 hurt the blessed cause ,i would defend1 and stirred up needless opposition4 ,this has humbled me much since ,i have been on board1 and made me think of a saying of ,mr4 ,henry's1 8,joseph had more honesty than he had policy1 or he never would have told his dreams40 ,at the same time1 ,i cannot but bless1 and praise1 and magnify that good and gracious ,,god1 who imparted to me so much of his holy fire1 and carried me1 a poor weak youth1 through such a torrent both of popularity and contempt1 and set so many seals to my unworthy ministrations4 ,i bless him for ripening my judgment a little more1 for giving me to see1 confess1 and ,i hope in some degree to correct and amend some of its mistakes4 ,i thank ,,god for giving me grace to embark in such a blessed cause1 and pray him to give me strength to hold on1 and increase in zeal and love to the end4 ,thus1 dear ,sir1 ,i have unburdened my heart to you4 ,i look upon you to be my ,fidus ,achates1 and therefore deal thus freely4 ,if ,i have time and freedom before we land1 ,i think to begin and write a short account of what has happened for these seven years last past2 and when ,i get on shore1 ,,god willing1 ,i purpose to revise and correct the first part of my life40 ,this ,i am now about1 and when finished1 shall send it into the world1 ,i hope in a more unexceptionable dress2 though ,i am fully satisfied before-hand1 that write or speak of the things of ,,god as unexceptionably as may be1 they will be always esteemed foolishness by the natural man1 because they can only be spiritually discerned4 ,however1 the way of duty is the way of safety4 ,let me but be found in that1 and ,i can then chearfully leave the consequences with ,,god4 ,in the mean while1 ,i thank you1 ,sir1 for pointing out to me a very wrong expression in the last part of my life4 ,my words are these2 8,i could no longer walk on foot as usual2 but was constrained to go in a coach1 to avoid the ,hosanna's of the multitude40 ,your remark runs thus1 section #h4 page #bj4 8,very profane1 unless it be a false print for huzza's40 ,i could wish it had been so2 but the word was my own2 and though not intended to convey a profane idea1 was very wrong and unguarded1 and ,i desire may be buried in oblivion1 unless you1 or some other kind person1 are pleased to remind me of it1 in order to lay me low before ,,god and man4 ,a review of all this1 together with my having dropped some too strong expressions concerning absolute reprobation2 and more especially1 my mentioning ,mr4 ,wesley's casting a lot on a private occasion1 known only to ,,god and ourselves1 have put me to great pain4 ,speaking of this last1 you say1 page #ge4 8,a more judicious sentiment1 perhaps1 never dropt from ,mr4 ,whitefield's pen40 ,i believe1 ,sir1 the advice given was right and good2 but then it was wrong in me to publish a private transaction to the world2 and very ill judged1 to think the glory of ,,god could be promoted by unnecessarily exposing my friend4 ,for this ,i have asked both ,,god and him pardon years ago4 ,and though ,i believe both have forgiven me1 yet ,i believe ,i shall never be able to forgive myself4 ,as it was a public fault1 ,i think it should be publicly acknowledged2 and ,i thank a kind providence for giving me this opportunity of doing it4 ,as for the letters1 out of which you1 and the author of the 8,observations on the conduct and behaviour of the ,methodists10 have taken so many extracts1 ,i acknowledge that many things in them were very exceptionable1 though good in the main2 and therefore they have been suppressed some time4 ,casting lots1 ,i do not now approve of1 nor have ,i for several years2 neither do ,i think it a safe way 7though practised1 ,i doubt not1 by many good men7 to make a lottery of the scriptures1 by dipping into them upon every occasion4 ,and now1 ,sir1 ,i am somewhat prepared to hear what follows in your #dhth page4 8,nothing less than inspirations1 revelations1 illuminations1 and all the extraordinary and immediate actions of all the persons in the sacred ,trinity1 will serve their turn4 ,so that now every flash of zeal and devotion2 every wild pretension1 scheme1 tenet1 and over-bearing dictate2 impulses1 impressions1 feelings1 impetuous transports and raptures2 intoxicating vapours1 and fumes of imagination2 phantoms of a crazy brain1 c4 all are ascribed1 with an amazing presumption1 to the extraordinary interposition of heaven setting its seal to their mission40 ,judge you now1 ,sir1 whether ,i am one of those1 of whom you are pleased to speak thus1 page #di4 8,in short1 whatever they think1 say1 or do1 is from ,,god2 and whatever opposeth1 and stands in their way1 is from the ,devil40 ,no1 ,sir1 my mistakes have been too many1 and my blunders too frequent1 to make me set up for infallibility4 ,i came soon into the world2 ,i have carried high sail1 whilst running through a whole torrent of popularity and contempt2 and1 by this means1 have sometimes been in danger of oversetting4 ,but many and frequent as my mistakes have been1 or may be1 as ,i have no part to act1 if ,i know any thing of my heart1 but to promote ,,god's glory1 and the good of souls1 as soon as ,i am made sensible of them1 they shall be publicly acknowledged and retracted4 ,at the same time1 ,i should lie against reason1 scripture1 and above fourteen years experience1 if ,i denied1 that ,,god has been pleased1 from time to time1 to vouchsafe me comfortable assistance and supports2 or that a great and glorious work 7if the conversion of souls may be termed so7 has been begun1 and is now carrying on in these1 and several other parts of the world1 by the instrumentality of those whom you stile enthusiastical ,methodists4 ,indeed1 the ingenious author of the 8,considerations upon the conversion and apostleship of ,st4 ,paul10 speaking of the enthusiasm that appears not only in the lives of some enthusiastical heretics1 but even some of the methodists now1 ventures to say1 that 8all the divine communications1 illuminations1 and extacies to which they have pretended1 evidently sprung from much self-conceit1 working together with the vapours of melancholy upon a warm imagination40 ,that the mentioning these divine communications so freely to the world1 might be mixed with some degrees of unobserved vanity1 or want of caution1 may be probable4 ,but roundly to assert1 that all their communications were only pretended1 and sprung from no other sources but self-conceit1 vapours of melancholy1 and a warm imagination1 is ,i think unbecoming so young a convert as that author1 is a blemish to his performance1 and a mistake which1 ,i trust1 he himself will be happily convinced of1 when he comes to experience more of the power of that ,redeemer's resurrection1 which the ,apostle1 of whose conversion he in the main so excellently treats1 longed so much to know4 ,without running such lengths in judging others1 or needlessly fearing to be accounted enthusiasts or methodists ourselves2 when writing in defence of christianity1 ,i think we may rationally allow1 that there may be much light and assistance given from ,,god1 though at the same time something of our own imaginations may possibly be blended with it4 ,this ,i take to be true with respect to the ,methodists4 ,that imagination has mixed itself with the work1 cannot be denied2 and is no more than what must necessarily be expected2 for whoever saw fire without some smoke8 but that the work itself is of ,,god2 and as good ,bishop ,latimer said1 when the papists laid a lighted faggot at ,dr4 ,ridley's feet1 so we may venture to affirm1 8a candle is lighted in ,england 7through the instrumentality of the ,methodists17 which will not easily be put out40 ,the doctrines which they chiefly insist upon1 are the great doctrines of the reformation3 8,that man is very far gone from original righteousness4 ,that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon ,,god4 ,that we are accounted righteous before ,,god1 only for the merit of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ1 by faith1 and not for our own works or deservings4 ,that albeit good works1 which are fruits of faith1 and follow after justification1 cannot put away our sins1 and endure the severity of ,,god's judgment2 yet are they pleasing and acceptable to ,,god in ,,christ1 and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith2 insomuch that by them a lively faith may be evidently known1 as a tree is discerned by its fruits40 ,these are doctrines as diametrically opposite to the church of ,rome1 as light to darkness4 ,they are the very doctrines1 for which ,ridley1 ,latimer1 ,cranmer1 and so many of our first reformers were burned at the stake4 ,and ,i will venture to say1 are doctrines which1 when attended with a divine energy1 and preached with power1 8without taking to their assistance the several arts of management and craft10 always have1 and always will1 maugre all opposition1 make their way through the world1 however weak the instruments that deliver them may be1 and whatever offences and divisions about some non-essentials may arise among themselves4 ,these are things which always did1 and always will happen in the purest ages of the church4 ,paul and ,barnabas were permitted not only to fall out1 but to separate from each other1 merely on account of a dispute that arose about taking with them one ,john1 whose surname was ,mark4 ,and yet this was over-ruled for the furtherance of the gospel4 ,there was an incestuous person in the church of ,corinth1 when under even a truly apostolical inspection4 ,and to what heights the contentions arose between ,luther1 ,calvin1 and ,zwinglius1 at the first dawnings of the reformation1 about predestination and the sacrament2 and that of ,bishop ,cranmer1 ,ridley1 and ,hooper1 many years after1 about the vestments1 is too notorious to be mentioned4 ,it must needs be1 that such offences come1 whilst good men carry about with them the remainders of indwelling sin1 prejudices of education1 blindness in their understandings1 and have an artful enemy always near at hand1 and always ready to blow up the coals of contention1 in order to raise a smoke1 whereby he may blacken or blemish the work of ,,god4 ,the blessed ,,jesus wisely permits such things1 to cure us of spiritual pride1 to remind us of the necessity of looking to himself1 to teach us to cease from man1 by convincing us1 that the best of men are but men at the best1 to inure us to long-suffering and forbearance one towards another1 to excite in us a more eager desire after heaven1 where these disorders will be at an end1 and for a more glorious display of his infinite wisdom and power at the day of judgment2 when he will convince the wondering world1 that in spite of all the subtlety1 malice1 and rage of his enemies1 together with the weaknesses1 blindnesses1 and jarrings of his friends1 he has fully accomplished that glorious work1 for which he came to shed his blood2 ,i mean the renewal of a multitude of souls1 which no man can number1 out of every nation1 language1 and tongue1 by making them partakers of his righteousness1 and1 through the powerful operations of his blessed ,spirit1 bringing them back to1 and re-instamping upon them that divine image1 in which they were originally created4 ,to awaken a drowsy world to a sense of this1 to rouse them out of their formality1 as well as profaneness1 and put them upon seeking after a present and great salvation1 to point out to them a glorious rest1 which not only remains for the people of ,,god hereafter1 but which by a living faith the very chief of sinners may enter into even here1 and without which the most blazing profession is nothing worth2 is1 as far as ,i know1 the one thing1 the grand and common point1 in which all the ,methodists endeavours do center4 ,this is what some of all denominations want to be reminded of2 and to stir them up to seek after the life and power of godliness1 that they may be christians not only in word and profession1 but in spirit and in truth1 is1 and1 through ,,jesus ,,christ strengthening me1 shall be the one sole business of my life4 8,as for all those 7as one expresses it7 who are for clipping the wings of the mystic dove1 and for confining the power and ,spirit of ,,god within the bounds of human establishments1 ,i am well aware of what opposition ,i must continue to meet with from that quarter4 ,but blessed be ,,god1 there are some few amongst us that are men of greater latitude1 who can think1 and dare speak1 more worthily of ,,god's sovereignty1 and acknowledge a work to be his1 though it be not according to the exact measure of canonical fitness40 ,amongst these1 ,i shall be sure to find hearty friends and well-wishers4 ,and if by others of more confined principles1 ,i am for this accounted an enthusiast1 papist1 or any thing else1 they or you are very welcome to confer that1 or any other title1 upon1 ,sir1 ,your very humble servant1 ,g4 ,w4 ,,an ,expostulatory ,letter1 ,,addressed ,,to ,,nicholas ,,lewis1 ,,count ,,zinzendorff1 ,,and ,lord ,advocate of the ,,unitas ,,fratrum4 ,o foolish ,galatians1 who hath bewitched you8 ,galatians iii4 #a4 ,,an ,expostulatory ,letter1 c4 ,london1 ,april #bd1 #agec4 ,my ,lord1 ,,although ,i am persuaded1 that nothing hath a greater tendency to strengthen the hands of infidels1 than too frequent altercations between the professors of christianity2 yet there are certain occasions1 wherein the necessary defence of the principles of our holy religion1 as well as the practice of it1 renders public remonstrances of the greatest use and importance4 ,the sacred pages afford us many examples of this nature4 ,when ,aaron was prevailed on by the ,israelites1 to make a golden calf1 and offer sacrifice to it1 what an holy indignation did ,moses express against him and them8 ,when ,peter and ,barnabas were carried away with the dissimulation of the ,jews1 how openly did the ,apostle ,paul withstand them to the face1 and reprove them before all1 8,because they were to be blamed80 ,and when this same ,apostle saw the churches of ,corinth and ,galatia in danger of being drawn away from the simplicity of the gospel1 what a fervent testimony did he bear against the authors and abettors of such a destructive scheme8 ,i mention these instances1 my ,lord1 because ,i hope they will serve as a sufficient apology for my troubling your ,lordship with this letter4 ,for these many years past1 have ,i been a silent1 and ,i trust ,i can say1 an impartial observer of the progress and effects of ,moravianism1 both in ,england and ,america2 but such shocking things have been lately brought to our ears1 and offences have swelled to such an enormous bulk1 that a real regard for my king and my country1 and1 if ,i am not greatly mistaken1 a disinterested love for the ever-blessed ,,jesus1 that ,king of kings1 and the church which he hath purchased with his own blood1 will not suffer me to be silent any longer4 ,pardon me1 therefore1 my ,lord1 if at length1 though with great regret1 as the ,searcher of hearts knows1 ,i am constrained to inform your ,lordship1 that you1 together with some of your leading brethren1 have been unhappily instrumental in misguiding many real1 simple1 honest-hearted christians2 of distressing1 if not totally ruining numerous families1 and introducing a whole farrago of superstitious1 not to say idolatrous fopperies1 into the ,english nation4 ,for my own part1 my ,lord1 notwithstanding the folio that was published 7,i presume under your ,lordship's direction7 about three years ago1 ,i am as much at a loss as ever1 to know what were the principles and usages of the ancient ,moravian church2 but if she was originally attired in the same garb1 in which she hath appeared of late amongst many true-hearted though deluded protestants1 she is not that simple1 apostolical church the ,english brethren were made to believe about twelve years ago4 ,sure ,i am1 that we can find no traces of many of her present practices in the yet more ancient1 ,i mean the primitive churches1 and which we all know were really under an immediate and truly apostolical inspection4 ,will your ,lordship be pleased to give me leave to descend to a few particulars8 ,pray1 my ,lord1 what instances have we of the first christians walking round the graves of their deceased friends on ,easter-day1 attended with hautboys1 trumpets1 french-horns1 violins1 and other kinds of musical instruments8 ,or where have we the least mention made of pictures of particular persons being brought into the first christian assemblies1 and of candles being placed behind them1 in order to give a transparent view of the figures8 ,where was it ever known1 that the picture of the ,apostle ,paul1 representing him handing a gentleman and lady up to the side of ,,jesus ,,christ1 was ever introduced into the primitive love-feasts8 ,or do we ever hear1 my ,lord1 of incense1 or something like it1 being burnt for him1 in order to perfume the room before he made his entrance among the brethren8 ,or can it be supposed that he1 who1 together with ,barnabas1 so eagerly repelled the ,lycaonians1 when they brought oxen and garlands in order to sacrifice unto them1 would ever have suffered such things to be done for him1 without expressing his abhorrence and detestation of them8 ,and yet your ,lordship knows both these have been done for you1 and suffered by you1 without your having shewn1 as far as ,i can hear1 the least dislike4 ,i might here take notice of the married women's being ordered to wear blue knots1 the single women pink1 and those that are just marriageable1 pink and white2 the widows that are past child-bearing1 to wear white1 and those that are not so1 blue and white knots2 and also of the episcopal knot of ,mrs4 ,hannah ,nitschman1 7who is1 ,i am informed1 the present general ,eldress of the congregation7 which is sometimes of a purple1 and sometimes of a rose colour4 ,these1 with many other fanciful things1 might be considered2 but my mind at present is too full of concern to dwell upon any thing but what more immediately strikes at the welfare of society1 and what hath a still more fatal tendency to draw away unwary souls from the simplicity of the gospel4 ,would to ,,god ,i could with a safe conscience be excused even from this6 ,again1 my ,lord1 ,i beg leave to enquire1 whether we hear any thing in scripture of eldresses or deaconesses of the apostolical churches seating themselves before a table1 covered with artificial flowers1 and against that1 a little altar surrounded with wax tapers1 on which stood a cross1 composed either of mock or real diamonds1 or other glittering stones8 ,and yet your ,lordship must be sensible this was done in ,fetter-lane chapel1 for ,mrs4 ,hannah ,nitschman1 the present general eldress of your congregation1 with this addition1 that all the sisters were seated1 cloathed in white1 and with ,german caps2 the organ also illuminated with three pyramids of wax tapers1 each of which was tied with a red ribbon2 and over the head of the general ,eldress1 was placed her own picture1 and over that 7horresco referens7 the picture of the ,son of ,,god4 ,a goodly sight this1 my ,lord1 for a company of ,english protestants to behold6 ,alas6 to what a long series of childish and superstitious devotions1 and unscriptural impositions1 must they have been habituated1 before they could sit silent and tame spectators of such an antichristian scene4 ,surely1 had ,gideon1 though but an ,old ,testament saint1 been present1 he would have risen and pulled down this1 as he formerly did his father's altar4 ,or had even that meek man ,moses been there1 ,i cannot help thinking1 but he would have addressed your ,lordship1 partly at least1 in the words with which he addressed his brother ,aaron1 8,what did this people unto thee1 that thou hast introduced such superstitious customs among them80 ,a like scene to this was exhibited by the single brethren1 in a room of their house at ,hatton ,garden4 ,one of them1 who helped to furnish it1 gave me the following account4 ,the floor was covered with sand and moss1 and in the middle of it1 was paved a star of different coloured pebbles1 upon that was placed a gilded dove1 which spouted water out of its mouth into a vessel prepared for its reception1 which was curiously decked with artificial leaves and flags2 the room was hung with moss and shells2 the ,count1 his son1 and son-in-law1 in honour of whom all this was done1 with ,mrs4 ,hannah ,nitschman1 and ,mr4 ,peter ,boehler1 and some other labourers1 were present4 ,these were seated under an alcove1 supported by columns made of pasteboard1 and over their heads was painted an oval1 in imitation of marble1 containing the cyphers of ,count ,zinzendorff's family4 ,upon a side-table1 was a little altar covered with shells1 and on each side of the altar was a bloody heart1 out of1 or near which proceeded flames4 ,the room was illuminated with wax tapers1 and musicians placed in an adjacent apartment1 while the company performed their devotions1 and regaled themselves with sweet-meats1 coffee1 tea1 and wine4 ,after this the labourers departed1 and the single brethren were admitted in4 ,i am told1 that most1 if not all of these leading persons were present also at the celebration of ,mrs4 ,hannah ,nitschman's birth-day4 ,but this is not all3 ,i have another question to propose to your ,lordship4 ,pray1 my ,lord1 did any of the ,apostles or leaders of the primitive churches1 ever usurp an authority1 not only over people's consciences1 but their properties also8 ,or draw in the members of their respective congregations to dispose of whole patrimonies at once1 or to be bound for thousands of pounds more than they well knew they were worth8 ,and yet your ,lordship knows this has been done again and again1 in order to serve the purposes of the brethren for several years last past2 and that too1 at1 or very near the time1 when1 in order to procure an act in their favour to go abroad1 7which now appears to be rather a scheme to settle at home7 they boasted to an ,english parliament1 how immensely rich they were4 ,m4 ,rimius1 aulic counsellor to the late ,king of ,prussia1 in a treatise he lately published1 ,i think makes it plainly appear1 that the agents for the ,moravian affairs1 have misinformed the parliament in several respects1 and upon the whole1 treated that august body little better than the ,gibeonitish ambassadors once treated ,joshua1 the captain of the ,,lord's host4 ,to this ,i refer the reader4 ,it is written with great candour1 and contains such incontestable proofs of the many dangerous principles and practices of the leading brethren1 that must1 ,i think1 constrain all that read it to say1 8,my soul1 come not thou into their secret1 and to their assembly1 mine honour be not thou united40 ,i suppose it was a consciousness of this1 that induced ,mr4 ,cossart1 one of the ,count's chief agents1 to suggest to ,mr4 ,linde some time before its publication1 that it would be as good as three hundred pounds in his way1 if ,mr4 ,rimius's book could be suppressed4 ,this looks bad2 but ,i think it was still worse in another of the brethren roundly to affirm1 in order to quiet some who were dissatisfied by reading this book1 8that the author of the above-mentioned treatise1 was one that personated ,mr4 ,rimius1 and that the whole was lies40 ,now they cannot but know1 that this gentleman resides in ,oxenden-street1 and addressed his book to his ,grace the ,lord ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 by permission1 and that he proves almost every word he says1 from the brethren's own writings4 ,the above-mentioned brother was pleased to add1 8that the real ,m4 ,rimius was a friend1 and therefore would not write against them40 ,i answer1 that ,i verily believe he therefore wrote1 as ,,god knows ,i do1 because he is a friend2 or to use his own words1 8from a strict regard to truth1 justice1 and the public good40 ,and ,i think1 if instead of adding sin to sin1 by continuing still to misguide1 enslave1 and put out the eyes of many of ,,god's dear children1 who1 ,i am persuaded1 know no more of their secret mysteries and intended purposes1 than those who never heard of them at all1 it would shew a much better spirit in the leading brethren1 either publicly to refute1 or ingenuously confess1 and amend the things laid to their charge4 ,this is what ,,god and the world may justly require at their hands1 and without this1 ,i cannot see how they can expect any future blessing from above2 since the wisest of men hath told us1 8,he that covereth his sins shall not prosper1 but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy40 ,grant us all this mercy1 heavenly ,father1 for thy dear ,son's sake6 ,as ,i am not personally acquainted with ,mr4 ,rimius1 ,i take this opportunity of informing him1 that it is the desire of many1 the ,latin appendices may be translated into ,english1 and the whole printed in a small edition1 in order to make it more extensively useful4 ,your ,lordship cannot but be sensible1 that at this present time you stand indebted to sundry persons to the value of forty thousand pounds sterling2 and unless some of your brethren had agreed to stay six years for about twenty thousand pounds1 due to them2 7though after the expiration of that term1 as they have no security1 in all probability they will be just where they are now7 and if the other creditors also1 upon consideration of some bonds given1 and mortgages made for principal and interest1 had not agreed to stay four years1 for twenty one thousand pounds more1 many of the ,english brethren1 who1 out of ,i know not what kind of infatuation1 have not only given their all1 but have been bound for thousands more than they are able to pay1 must either have immediately become bankrupts1 and thereby the creditors perhaps1 not have had a shilling in the pound1 or have been obliged to shut up their shops1 go to prison1 or be turned out into the wide world1 to the utter ruin of themselves and families4 ,the buildings in ,yorkshire1 ,bedfordshire1 c4 ,besides this1 there are some thousands due to others upon bond1 and many thousands to a particular gentleman1 for which the ,count has mortgaged one of the ,german settlements2 ,i think it is ,marienburg4 ,the distress and anguish of mind that hundreds have been involved in upon this very account1 is1 ,i believe1 unspeakable4 ,and the bare reflection upon it1 whilst ,i am writing1 makes my heart almost to bleed within me4 ,who1 who1 but themselves1 my ,lord1 can tell the late perplexity of their minds1 who have been already arrested1 or obliged to break off their respective partnerships8 ,or what words can express the great concern1 which ,mr4 ,freeman and ,mr4 ,thomas ,grace must have been necessarily under1 when they found that bills had been drawn in their name1 unknown to them1 to the value of forty-eight thousand pounds8 ,and how pitiable1 my ,lord1 must the present circumstances of young ,mr4 ,rhodes be1 who1 to stop a little of the above-mentioned gap1 was prevailed on1 7your ,lordship knows by whom17 about eighteen months ago1 to sell his estate of above four hundred pounds a year1 and went or was sent off very lately1 as ,i am assured1 to ,france1 7leaving a destitute mother behind him7 and only with twenty-five pounds1 for the payment of which he left his watch1 bureau1 horse and saddle8 ,since my writing this1 ,i have been told of a very singular expedient made use of by ,mr4 ,peter ,boehler1 one of the brethren's bishops1 in order to strengthen the faith1 and to raise the drooping spirits of ,mr4 ,william ,bell1 who hath been unhappily drawn in 7with several others7 to be one of their agents4 ,it was this3 ,it being ,mr4 ,bell's birth-day1 he was sent for from his house in ,nevil's-alley1 ,fetter-lane2 but for a while1 having had some words with ,mr4 ,boehler1 he refused to come2 at length he complied1 and was introduced into a hall1 in the same alley1 where was placed an artificial mountain1 which1 upon singing a particular verse1 was made to fall down1 and then behind it was discovered an illumination1 representing ,,jesus ,,christ and ,mr4 ,bell1 sitting very near1 or embracing each other2 and out of the clouds was also represented plenty of money falling round ,mr4 ,bell and the ,saviour4 ,this story appeared to me so incredible at the first hearing1 that1 though ,i could not doubt the veracity of the relator1 yet hearing he might be misinformed1 ,i sent for him again1 and he assured me1 that ,mr4 ,bell told this story himself some time ago in company1 and a person of good reputation of that company related it to an acquaintance of mine4 ,may ,,god grant him and all others who have been undesignedly concerned1 a more sure and stable prop for their faith1 even his own word1 in which he causes his people to trust6 then1 and not till then1 even upon the greatest emergency1 they may without any fanciful representations1 boldly say1 8,who art thou1 ,o great mountain8 before the ,,lord ,,jesus1 our all conquering ,zerubbabel1 thou shalt become a plain40 ,this ,mr4 ,grace told me himself in public company2 he and ,mr4 ,freeman do live in ,throgmorton-street4 ,the case of this ,mr4 ,rhodes is very singular4 ,he was of mean birth and occupation1 but upon the unexpected falling of many lives1 became suddenly possessed of an estate of above four hundred pounds a year2 and to serve the brethren1 after many importunities1 he was induced to dispose of it4 ,mr4 ,lee the banker purchased it1 and ,messrs4 ,freeman and ,grace received six thousand pounds of the money towards what was due to them3 besides this1 ,mr4 ,rhodes was bound for many thousands more4 ,this made him very uneasy1 and fearing the consequence1 he one afternoon1 about ten weeks ago1 stole an interview with two single brethren1 and beseeched them1 for ,,christ's sake1 to let him have twenty-five pounds1 for the payment of which he left them his watch1 bureau1 horse and saddle4 ,he then took his leave1 saying1 in all probability he should never see them any more1 and having nothing to spare to leave behind for his poor mother1 7who ,i hear is since dead7 was content to send her a few parting lines3 since he has been gone1 the horse1 watch1 bureau and saddle were sold for twenty-seven pounds three shillings2 so that the young man has the balance in bank4 ,,god grant1 that this may prove the last person that may be imposed on in this way6 ,these are but a few instances1 my ,lord1 amongst many2 indeed too too many1 that might be given4 ,the brethren's agents1 and those concerned with them1 can best tell what horrid equivocations1 untruths and low artifices have been used1 to procure money1 at high interest1 wherever it was to be had1 in order to keep up the brethren's credit2 and in that poor lame manner1 it hath been kept up for a considerable time4 ,was the whole scene to be opened1 ,i believe every one would be of opinion1 that such an ecclesiastical project1 never was heard of before1 in any part of his ,majesty's dominions4 ,of this1 my ,lord1 the ,royal-,exchange hath long since rung2 and if the same part hath been acted abroad1 how many families must have been ruined there1 and how many more may be yet ruined1 in order to fill up the present ,english chasm2 and consequently1 what loads of guilt must needs lie at the door of somebody8 ,surely1 the ,,lord of all ,lords1 whose eyes are like a flame of fire1 and who requires truth in the inward parts1 will one day or other visit for these things1 by bringing to light the hidden things of darkness1 and thereby making manifest the counsels of the heart4 ,it appears too plain from ,mr4 ,rimius that this hath been the case4 ,and no wonder1 since he quotes this assertion of the ,count's from his own writings1 8,the conomists of the society may say to a young rich man1 either give us all thou hast1 or get thee gone40 ,i need not inform your ,lordship1 that ,babels are generally suffered to be built pretty high1 before ,,god comes down to confound the language of the builders4 ,if knaves are employed 7as commonly they are7 ,,god's honour is concerned to discover them4 ,and if any of his own children are undesignedly drawn in1 7which is frequently the case7 he1 who hath promised not to suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear1 will in mercy1 some way or other1 rebuke the tempter1 and make a way for them to escape4 ,it is true1 this1 in public concerns1 may sometimes expose them to a little worldly contempt1 and for a while they may seemingly be crushed under the rubbish of the fallen fabric1 but even this shall work together for their good2 and happy will it be for them1 if after all1 they at length learn this important lesson1 8,that it is dangerous1 upon any pretence whatsoever1 to go from the written word1 or give up their consciences to the guidance of any man1 or body of men under heaven40 ,this1 your ,lordship well knows1 is what weak and unstable souls are too apt to do2 and artful and designing men1 who are fond of power1 especially if naturally they are of an ambitious turn of mind1 easily catch at the pleasing bait4 ,but honesty1 my ,lord1 will be found to be the best policy after all2 and therefore1 ,,god forbid that any who call themselves the followers of the ,lamb1 should glory in any thing save the cross of ,,christ4 ,at present1 ,i shall add no more1 but earnestly say amen1 to that part of the brethren's litany1 however exceptionable in other respects1 8,from untimely projects1 and from unhappily becoming great1 keep us our good ,,lord and ,,god60 ,and ,i as heartily pray1 that the glorious ,,jesus may prosper all that is right1 and give grace to correct and amend all that is wrong1 among all his people of all denominations4 ,i subscribe myself1 my ,lord1 ,your ,lordship's most obedient humble servant1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,a ,,short ,,address ,,to ,persons of all ,denominations1 ,,occasioned ,,by ,,the ,alarm of an ,intended ,,invasion1 in the ,year #agef4 ,i also will shew my ,opinion4 ,job xxxii4 #aj4 ,a ,,short ,,address1 c4 ,men1 ,brethren1 and ,fathers1 ,,though so many alarming warnings1 pathetic exhortations1 and suitable directions1 have already been given both from the press and pulpit1 by way of preparatives to our late public day of humiliation2 yet should one1 who is less than the least of all his brethren1 now that solemnity is over1 presume to trouble his dear countrymen with a short address1 by way of supplement to what hath already been offered2 it is to be hoped1 none will be so unkind as to look upon it as altogether superfluous and needless1 much less1 be so ungenerous as to censure it as proceeding from the pride and naughtiness of his heart4 ,but should this be the case1 ,i shall make no other apology 7as ,i think there needs no other7 than that which ,david the youngest of the sons of ,jesse made long ago upon a like occasion1 8,is there not a cause80 ,an insulting1 enraged1 and perfidious enemy is now advancing nearer and nearer to the ,british borders4 ,not content with invading and ravaging our rightful ,sovereign ,king ,george's dominions in ,america1 our popish adversaries have now the ambition to attempt1 at least to threaten1 an invasion of ,england itself2 hoping1 no doubt1 thereby1 not only to throw us into confusion at home1 but also to divert us from more effectually defeating their malicious designs abroad4 ,that such a design 7however chimerical it may seem7 is now actually on foot1 the royal proclamation lately issued forth1 renders indisputable4 ,which proclamation1 as it plainly bespeaks his ,majesty's paternal care1 doth at the same time loudly call upon all his faithful and loving subjects1 not only to stand upon their guard1 but also to exert their utmost efforts1 in dependance on divine protection1 to prevent and render abortive such an unjust and daring enterprize4 ,blessed be ,,god6 as a professing1 though sinful people1 we have lately taken one effectual step towards bringing about such a salutary end4 ,in obedience to a call from the throne1 we have been humbling ourselves in the most public and solemn manner before the most high ,,god4 ,and it is to be hoped1 that the many tears which were that day shed1 and the thousands and thousands of prayers that were then offered up1 have long since been regarded by1 and entered into the ears of the ,,lord of ,sabaoth4 ,infidels may perhaps laugh1 and make themselves merry with such an insinuation2 but serious people 7and to such in a more peculiar manner is this address directed7 will account it no ways enthusiastic to affirm1 that solemn humiliations1 whether performed by public communities in general1 or individuals in particular1 have always met with such a divine acceptance1 as to obtain at least a reprieve from1 if not a total removal of1 the threatened evil4 ,the deferring of an impending judgment1 only upon the hypocritical1 but public humiliation of a wicked ,ahab2 ,the mature and providential deliverance of the ,jewish people from the cruel plot of an ambitious ,haman1 for which queen ,esther1 ,mordecai1 and the other distressed ,jews sought so earnestly by public fasting and prayer3 ,and what is yet more1 the total and entire suspension of the destruction of ,nineveh1 that exceeding great city1 7though so peremptorily denounced7 upon the fasting1 praying1 and repenting of the king1 nobles and commons1 at the preaching of ,jonah4 ,these1 not to mention many more that might be adduced from sacred story1 are most pregnant1 and1 at the same time1 very encouraging proofs1 that they that humble themselves1 shall in ,,god's due time be exalted2 and therefore1 as a nation1 we may boldly infer1 that the righteous ,,lord1 who delights to shew himself strong in behalf of those who are of an upright heart1 will favour1 plead1 and vindicate our righteous cause4 8,sabbaoth0 replaced with 8,sabaoth0 ,i am very sensible1 that artful insinuations have been industriously published1 in order to lay all the blame of this war upon us4 ,but bold assertions and solid proofs are two different things2 for it is plain1 beyond all contradiction1 that the ,french1 fond of rivalling us both at home and abroad1 have most unjustly invaded his ,majesty's dominions in ,america2 and have also1 by the most vile artifices and lies1 been endeavouring to draw the six nations of ,indians from our interest2 in short1 almost all their proceedings ever since the late treaty of ,aix la ,chapelle1 have been little else than preparations for1 or a tacit declaration of war4 ,but he that sitteth in heaven1 as we may humbly hope1 laughs them to scorn2 and1 as he once defeated the counsel of ,achitophel1 and came down to confound the language of those aspiring projectors who would fain have built a tower1 the top of which should reach even to heaven2 so we trust 7whatever dark providences may intervene7 that he will in the end frustrate the devices of our adversary's most subtle politicians1 and speak confusion to all their projects2 who1 by aiming at universal monarchy1 are more than attempting to erect a second ,babel4 ,i have heard1 or read somewhere of a ,turkish ,general1 who1 being called to engage with a christian army that had broken through the most solemn ties1 stood up at the head of his troops1 and then drawing the treaty which they had broken1 out of his bosom1 and holding it up in the air1 thus addressed the throne of heaven3 8,o almighty ,being1 if thou art1 as they say1 thou art1 these christians ,,god1 thou lovest what is right1 and hateth perfidy2 look down therefore and behold this treaty which they have broken2 and1 as thou canst not favour what is wrong1 render their arms1 ,o ,,god1 successless1 and make mine victorious40 ,he ended2 immediately the sword was drawn4 ,the two parties vigorously engaged1 and the perfidious christians were beaten off the field4 ,thus may our protestant ,generals1 or at least their ,chaplains1 deal with our enemy's forces1 in respect to the treaty of ,aix la ,chapelle4 ,they1 not we1 have broken it4 ,they1 not we1 have been the aggressors3 and therefore1 notwithstanding we are looked upon as heretics1 and they fight under the banner of one who stiles himself ,his most ,christian ,majesty2 a righteous ,,god1 we trust1 in answer to prayer1 will humble ,france1 and make the ,british arms both by sea and land1 more than conquerors through his love4 ,it is true 7and ,,god knows with grief of heart ,i speak it7 praying is become too unfashionable amongst our people in general1 and among our military men in particular2 but wherein the piety1 and consequently the true policy1 of such a procedure consists1 ,i believe will be very difficult to determine4 ,if we have recourse to ,rollin's ancient history1 ,i believe we shall find1 that neither ,darius1 ,cyrus1 ,alexander1 nor indeed scarce any of the ,egyptian1 ,grecian1 ,persian1 or ,roman ,generals1 ever undertook any hazardous enterprize1 without making some public acknowledgment of a deity4 ,and if we consult that history of histories1 that too much neglected book 7as ,sir ,richard ,steel expresses himself7 emphatically called the ,,scriptures1 we may always remark1 that those heroic worthies1 who by faith subdued kingdoms1 and put to flight the armies of the aliens1 were men of prayer as well as men of valour4 ,and if our researches descend down to our own annals1 we shall soon be satisfied1 that the ,british arms were never more formidable1 than when our soldiers went forth in the strength of the ,,lord2 and with a bible in one hand1 and a sword in the other1 chearfully fought under his banner who hath condescended to stile himself 8a man of war40 8proceedure0 replaced with 8procedure0 ,such an appellation as this1 methinks1 may sufficiently justify the lawfulness of bearing arms1 and drawing the sword in defence of our civil and religious liberties4 ,for if ,,god himself is pleased to stile himself a man of war1 surely in a just and righteous cause 7such as the ,british war at present is7 we may as lawfully draw our swords1 in order to defend ourselves against our common and public enemy1 as a civil magistrate may sit on a bench1 and condemn a public robber to death4 ,our excellent reformers1 sensible of this1 in the thirty-second article of our church1 after having declared 8that the laws of the realm may punish christian men with death for heinous offences20 immediately subjoins1 8that it is lawful for christian men1 at the commandment of the magistrate1 to wear weapons and serve in the wars40 ,and therefore1 what ,bishop ,sanderson says of study1 may be likewise said of fighting3 8fighting without prayer is atheism1 and prayer without fighting is presumption40 ,and ,i would be the more particular on this point1 because through a fatal scrupulosity against bearing arms1 even in a defensive war1 his ,majesty hath been1 and is not yet out of danger of losing that large1 extensive1 and but lately most flourishing province of ,pensylvania1 the very centre and garden of all ,north ,america4 ,but whilst ,i see such very scrupulous persons grasping at every degree of worldly power1 and by all the arts of worldly policy labouring to monopolize1 and retain in their own hands all parts both of the legislative and executive branches of civil government2 to speak in the mildest terms1 we may honestly affirm1 that they certainly act a most inconsistent1 and if not prevented here at home1 to thousands of their neighbours1 ,i fear a very fatal part4 ,for1 say what we will to the contrary1 if we search to the bottom of things1 we may soon be convinced1 that civil magistracy and defensive war must stand or fall together4 ,both are built upon the same basis2 and there cannot be so much as one single argument urged to establish the one1 which doth not at the same time corroborate and confirm the other4 8,saunderson0 replaced with 8,sanderson0 ,far be it from me1 who profess myself a disciple and minister of the ,prince of peace1 to sound a trumpet for war3 but when the trumpet is already sounded by a perfidious enemy1 and our king1 our country1 our civil and religious liberties1 are all1 as it were1 lying at stake1 did we not at such a season lend our purses1 our tongues1 our arms1 as well as our prayers1 in defence of them1 should we not justly incur that curse which an inspired ,deborah1 when under the immediate influence of the ,holy ,spirit1 once uttered1 8,curse ye ,meroz1 curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof1 because they came not to the help of the ,,lord1 to the help of the ,,lord against the mighty80 ,known unto ,,god1 and ,,god alone1 are all our hearts4 ,daily and repeated experience convinceth us1 that the greatest talkers are not always the greatest doers4 ,how therefore any of us may behave when put to the trial1 the trial itself can only prove4 ,but1 for my own part1 whatever my future conduct may be1 7and ,i know it will be downright cowardly1 if left to myself7 yet1 upon the maturest deliberation1 ,i am at present so fully convinced of the justice of the ,british cause1 that supposing it should be said of me1 as it is of ,zwinglius1 8,cecidit in prlio1 ,he fell in battle20 ,i hope1 if whilst the silver cords of life were loosing1 and ,i should be attended by any who may be bewailing mine1 as the friends of ,zwinglius did his misfortune1 ,i should like him cry out1 8,ecquid hoc infortunii8 ,is this a misfortune80 ,and not only so1 but with my expiring breath add1 as he did1 8,o faustum infortunium6 ,o happy misfortune60 ,for1 surely1 it is far more preferable to die1 though by a popish sword1 and be carried from the din and noise of war by angels into ,abraham's bosom1 than to be suffered to survive1 only to drag on a wearisome life1 and to be a mournful spectator1 and daily bewailer of one's country's ruin4 ,awful and tremendous are the judgments that have lately been abroad4 ,twice hath the earth on which this great metropolis stands1 unable1 as it were1 any longer to sustain the weight of its inhabitants sins1 been made to tremble and totter under us4 ,since that1 how amazingly hath the shock been extended6 ,africa1 7nor hath ,america itself been exempted7 hath in a most destructive manner felt its dire effects4 ,and what a dreadful consumption it hath made in various parts of ,spain1 and1 in a more especial manner1 at ,lisbon1 the metropolis of ,portugal1 is beyond conception1 and beyond the power of the most masterly pen to describe4 ,it is to be questioned1 whether the like hath ever been heard of since the deluge4 ,surely nothing was wanting to figure out1 and realize to that distressed people the horror of the last day1 but the sound of the trump1 and the actual appearance of the great ,judge of quick and dead4 ,but awful and tremendous as such phnomenas of nature may be2 yet1 if we consider the consequences of things1 was even the like judgment to befal us1 7which may ,,god avert67 it would be but a small one1 in comparison of our hearing that a ,french army1 accompanied with a popish ,pretender1 and thousands of ,romish priests1 was suffered to invade1 subdue1 and destroy the bodies and substance1 and1 as the necessary consequences of both these1 to blind1 deceive1 and tyrannize over the souls and consciences of the people belonging to this happy isle4 ,,god forbid1 that ,i should give flattering titles to any2 for in so doing1 ,i should provoke him to take away my soul4 ,but surely we must have eyes that see not1 and ears that hear not1 as well as hearts that do not understand1 if we do not know1 and see1 and feel1 that in respect to our civil and religious liberties1 we are undoubtedly the freest people under heaven4 ,and ,i dare appeal to the most ungrateful and malicious malecontent1 to produce any ra in the ,british annals1 wherein we have enjoyed such a continued series of civil and religious liberty1 as we have been favoured with for these twenty-eight years last past1 under the mild and gentle administration of our dread and rightful ,sovereign ,king ,george4 ,surely he hath been a nursing father to people of all denominations2 and however he may be denied it1 yet he may1 without a compliment1 justly claim from the present1 as well as future ages1 the deserved title of ,,george ,,the ,,great4 ,but notwithstanding this1 such is the degeneracy of human nature1 it must necessarily be expected1 that1 in a nation grown wanton with liberty like ours1 there are a great multitude of unhappy persons1 who being men of lax principles1 loose lives1 and broken fortunes1 will be so abandoned1 as to break through all restraints of gratitude1 loyalty and religion2 and1 like ,cataline and his wicked confederates1 be fond of joining in any change of government1 whereby they may entertain the most distant prospect of bettering their fortunes1 and gratifying their ambition1 though it be at the expence of their country's blood4 ,this hath been1 and no doubt still continues to be1 the fate of all civil governments in the world1 and consequently is no more than what we may expect1 in times of tumult and danger1 will be acted over again in our own land by men of such corrupt minds4 ,but how any serious and judicious1 much less religious and devout person1 can be so stupid to all principles of self-interest1 and so dead even to all maxims of common sense1 as to prefer a ,french to an ,english government2 or a popish ,pretender1 born1 nursed1 and bred up in all the arbitrary and destructive principles of the court and church of ,rome1 to the present protestant succession settled in the illustrious line of ,hanover1 must be imputed to nothing else but an awful infatuation4 ,hear ye1 7if there be any into whose hands this address may fall1 that are desirous of such a change7 not to dwell entirely upon the many innumerable civil or temporal losses we should sustain3 hear ye1 ,i say1 the mild and gentle language of one or his ,most ,christian ,majesty's late declarations concerning religion4 8,being informed1 that there have sprung up1 and still are springing up1 daily in our realm1 a great number of preachers1 whose sole business is to stir up the people to rebellion1 and to dissuade them from the practice of the ,roman catholic and apostolic religion2 we do command that all preachers1 who shall call assemblies1 preach in them1 or discharge any other function1 be put to death2 the punishment appointed by the declaration in ,july #afhf1 for the minister of the pretended reformed religion1 which we would not1 for the future1 have any one esteem a mere threatening1 which will not be put in execution4 ,we do likewise forbid our subjects to receive the said ministers or preachers1 to conceal1 aid1 or assist them1 or have1 directly or indirectly1 any intercourse or correspondence with them4 ,we farther enjoin all those1 who shall know any of the said preachers1 to inform against them to the officers of the respective places2 the whole under pain1 in case of trespass1 of being condemned to the gallies for life1 if men2 and1 if women1 of being shorn1 and shut up the remainder of their days in such places as our judges shall think expedient2 and whether they be men or women1 under pain of confiscation40 ,after perusing this1 read1 read also1 ,i beseech you1 the shocking accounts of the horrid butcheries1 and cruel murders committed on the bodies of many of our fellow-subjects in ,america1 by the hands of savage ,indians1 instigated thereto by more than savage popish priests4 ,and if this be the beginning1 what may we suppose the end will be1 should a ,french power1 or popish ,pretender1 be permitted to subdue either us or them8 ,speak1 ,smithfield1 speak1 and by thy dumb1 but very persuasive oratory1 declare to all that pass by and over thee1 how many ,english protestant martyrs thou hast seen burnt to death in the reign of a cruel popish ,queen1 to whom the present ,pretender to the ,british throne at least claims a kind of a distant kindred8 ,speak ,ireland1 speak1 and tell if thou canst1 how many thousands1 and tens of thousands of innocent unprovoking protestants were massacred in cold blood by the hands of cruel papists within thy borders1 about a century ago8 ,nay1 speak ,paris1 speak1 7for though popish1 on this occasion we will admit thy evidence7 and say1 how many thousands of protestants were once slaughtered1 on purpose1 as it were1 to serve up as a bloody dessert1 to grace the solemnity of a marriage-feast4 ,but why go we back to such distant ras8 ,speak1 ,languedoc1 speak1 and tell if thou canst1 how many protestant ministers have been lately executed2 how many more of their hearers have been dragooned and sent to the gallies2 and how many hundreds are now1 in consequence of the above-mentioned edict1 lying in prisons1 and fast bound in misery and iron1 for no other crime than that unpardonable one in the ,romish church1 8hearing and preaching the pure gospel of the meek and lowly ,,jesus40 ,see a pamphlet1 intitled1 ,a brief ,view of the ,conduct of ,pensylvania1 for the ,year #agee4 ,and think you1 my dear countrymen1 that ,rome1 glutted as it were with protestant blood1 will now rest satisfied1 and say1 8,i have enough60 ,no1 on the contrary1 having1 through the good hand of ,,god upon us1 been kept so long fasting1 we may reasonably suppose1 that the popish priests are only grown more voracious1 and 7like so many hungry and ravenous wolves pursuing the harmless and innocent flocks of sheep7 will with double eagerness pursue after1 seize upon1 and devour their wished-for protestant prey2 and1 attended with their bloody red-coats1 those gallic instruments of reformation1 who know they must either fight or die1 will necessarily breathe out nothing but threatening and slaughter1 and carry along with them desolation and destruction in all its various shapes and tortures1 go where they will4 ,but ,i humbly hope1 vile as we are1 a gracious1 long-suffering and merciful ,,god1 will not suffer us to fall into their blood-thirsty and cruel hands4 ,he hath formerly most remarkably interposed in ,england's favour2 and why should we in the least doubt1 but that he will again reveal his omnipotent arm1 and make our extremity to be his opportunity1 to help and defend us1 against such threatening and unjust invaders8 ,invincible as the ,spanish armada was supposed to be1 and all-powerful as the ,pope1 under whose broad seal they acted1 might boast he was in heaven or hell1 it is plain he had no power over the water4 8,for thou didst blow1 ,o ,,lord1 with thy wind1 and the enemy was scattered40 ,and is not this ,,god the same now as he was yesterday8 ,and will he not continue the same for ever8 ,of whom then should the inhabitants of ,great ,britain be afraid8 ,blessed be ,,god1 if we look to second causes1 we have a glorious fleet1 brave admirals1 a well-disciplined army1 experienced officers1 and1 if occasion should require1 thousands and thousands of hearty voluntiers1 with a ,royal ,hero1 who hath once been made happily instrumental to save his country from impending ruin1 if not ,majesty itself prepared to head them4 ,and if by fasting from as well as for sin1 and by flying1 through a living faith1 to the merits of a dying1 risen1 ascended and interceding ,mediator1 we can but make ,,god our friend1 we need not fear what ,france and ,rome1 and ,hell1 with all their united force1 can do unto1 or plot against us4 ,the way of duty is the way of safety1 ,and if we are but found in the due use of proper means1 we may confidently leave the issue and event of things with ,,god4 ,be that event what it will 7and ,i trust it will be a prosperous one7 we have a divine authority to say unto the righteous1 it shall be well with them4 ,,god's own people1 amidst all the wars and rumours of wars1 may rest secure2 for they not only dwell under the shadow of the most ,high1 but have his own royal word for it1 that all things shall work together for their good4 ,and not only so1 but they may be fully assured1 that all the malicious efforts and designs of men and devils shall be so far from obstructing1 that1 on the contrary1 through the sure1 though secret hand of an ever-watchful1 over-ruling1 and omnipotent providence1 they shall at present1 7howbeit they think not so7 be made not only to subserve the present further enlargement of his interests1 who1 in spight of all the strivings of the potsherds of the earth1 will hold the balance of ,,universal ,,monarchy in his own hands2 but at last shall terminate in the full and compleat establishment and perfection of that blessed kingdom1 whose law is truth1 whose king is love1 and whose duration is eternity4 ,fiat6 ,fiat6 ,amen and ,amen4 ,a ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,serious ,,reader1 ,on ,behalf of ,the ,rev4 ,,samuel ,,clarke's ,edition of the ,,bible4 ,a ,,preface1 c4 ,,when ,philip the ,evangelist was commanded by the ,holy ,spirit1 to go near and join himself to the chariot of a man of ,ethiopia1 and found him reading ,esaias the prophet1 we are told1 ,acts viii4 verse #cj4 that he introduced himself with this question1 8,understandest thou what thou readest80 ,the ,ethiopian1 though an eunuch1 a person of great authority under ,queen ,candace1 instead of being offended at this seeming impertinence1 mildly answered1 verse #ca4 8,how can ,i1 except some man guide me80 ,and as a proof of his willingness to be guided1 he desires ,philip that he would come up and sit with him4 ,upon which1 as we are further informed1 verse #ce4 8,philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture10 which the eunuch was then providentially reading1 8and preached unto him ,,jesus40 ,an instructive passage this6 ,not merely as it shews us1 that the greatest personages ought not to think themselves above perusing ,,god's lively oracles2 but also as it points out to us that teachable and child-like disposition1 with which all ought to come to the reading of them2 as well as the care which the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god takes1 to furnish such as have a mind to do his will1 with proper instructors1 that they may know it4 8,the meek will he guide in his way40 ,now what the ,evangelist ,philip was then to this devout ,ethiopian1 that1 spiritual and gospel commentators are to us now4 ,for though the grand lines of our christian faith and practice1 are written in such plain and legible characters1 8that he who runs may read20 yet if we duly search the scriptures1 we shall find many things both in the ,old and ,new ,testament1 into the due knowledge of which1 we have need of some men1 or of some good men's works1 to guide us4 ,various and abundant are the helps of this kind1 with which the present age and people of this land are favoured2 but amongst them all1 in my poor opinion1 next to holy ,mr4 ,mathew ,henry's incomparable comment upon the ,bible2 the ,reverend ,samuel ,clarke's ,old and ,new ,testament with annotations1 seem to be the best calculated for universal edification4 ,for they contain1 though a short1 yet 7generally speaking7 a full and spiritual interpretation of the most difficult words and phrases4 ,a great many parallel scriptures1 both as to matter and words1 are most judiciously inserted4 ,to this is added1 an analysis1 or the contents not only of near every book and chapter1 but of almost every verse of every chapter in the whole ,bible3 and yet the notes and references are so disposed in the manner of printing1 that the reader1 if he hath no time for a further enquiry1 may read the bare text without any interruption1 or if but little time1 he may almost with a single glance1 see the meaning of any particular word1 phrase1 or passage1 as he goes along4 ,it must be confessed1 indeed1 that in the former editions1 a few expressions in the explanatory notes seemed not so unexceptionable2 but then it must be observed1 that they were but few1 and those in this edition1 as ,i am informed1 are for the most part corrected4 ,it may be1 that the curious and very critical reader may meet with some few that may have escaped present notice4 ,but alas6 if we forbear reading any book or comment1 'till we meet with one that will suit every taste and is liable to no exception1 ,i fear we must never read at all4 ,the best of mens books1 as well as the best of men1 are but men and the books of men1 at the best3 it is the peculiar property of thy life1 and of thy book1 ,o blessed ,,jesus6 to be exempt from all real imperfections4 ,happy they who both in their writings and conduct come nearest to thy divine copy1 and most blessed example6 ,if it should now be enquired who this ,reverend ,samuel ,clarke might be8 ,must ,i tell thee8 ,he was one of the many worthies who were ejected by the black ,bartholomew act4 ,but let not this startle thee1 courteous reader2 for thou wilt here find no disputes about church government1 no controversy about rites or ceremonies2 but 7as far as ,i am capable of judging7 the mind of the ever-blessed ,,god1 opened and explained in a manner equally necessary and useful for all serious christians of all denominations4 ,as such1 ,i have spoken of it1 both from the pulpit1 and in private conversation1 many years ago2 and if any thing ,i have said1 hath been1 or shall be1 in the least instrumental in promoting its present publication1 or future usefulness1 whatever exceptions may be made by persons of different sentiments1 ,i shall look upon it as an honour conferred upon me1 by our great and common ,,lord4 ,at the same time1 ,i must confess1 it gave me pleasure about a year ago1 to find this very book recommended in the strongest manner1 in the second volume of ,dr4 ,calamy's lives4 ,his words are these1 8,i cannot forbear here adding a particular account of the ,bible which he published4 ,he first formed the design in his younger years1 in the university2 and made it the work of his most retired leisure1 and solemn thoughts4 ,it ripened with years and experience1 and was the result of great reading and consideration1 both of the best practical writers and the most celebrated criticks4 ,it is a work of great exactness and judgment2 commonly fixes on the true sense of the place2 diligently observes the connection of things2 freely represents the principal matters that occur2 and contains the fullest account of parallel places1 of any other extant40 ,he was so happy in this performance1 as to obtain the concurring testimony of two great and excellent men1 who were thought to have different sentiments of some points of religion2 viz4 ,dr4 ,owen and ,mr4 ,baxter in their respective epistles before the quarto edition of the ,new ,testament4 ,the words of the former are remarkable4 8,but this ,i must say1 that to the best of my understanding1 he has made his choice of the especial sense which he gives of the word1 in all places1 with great diligence and judgment4 ,and it is evident1 that in the whole1 he has so carefully and constantly attended to the analogy of faith1 that the reader may safely trust to him1 without fear of being led into the snare of any error1 or unsound opinion40 ,the words of the latter are3 8,and ,i especially commend it as orthodox1 in explaining those texts which meddle with justification1 remission of sin1 with faith and works1 and such great and practical points of doctrine2 so that the reader need not fear the corrupting his understanding1 by any secret insinuation of errors1 or dangerous mixture of private1 and unsound opinions40 ,since both of them1 herein freely expressed their proper sentiments1 it is scarce conceivable how there could be any very important difference remaining between them4 ,but be it as it will as to that2 this was in a manner the work of ,mr4 ,clarke's life1 and bears the lively signatures of his exact learning1 singular piety1 and indefatigable industry2 and has been valued by good judges of different sentiments and persuasions1 considering the brevity of the parts1 and intireness of the whole1 as the best single book upon the ,bible in the world4 8occcur0 replaced with 8occur0 ,to these may be added the joint opinions of ,dr4 ,bates and ,mr4 ,how1 who thus expressed themselves4 8,having seriously perused this laborious work1 we cannot but judge1 the usefulness will answer the author's great industry2 whose excellent skill hath with that conciseness1 and yet clearness1 given the mind of ,,god in the sacred oracles of the ,new ,testament1 that we cannot doubt1 but ,,god will render it serviceable1 to the edifying of conscientious and humble readers1 in knowledge1 faith and obedience40 ,if it should be objected that these were ,dissenters1 ,dr4 ,calamy adds1 to our author's honour1 8that his annotations on the ,bible were so highly valued by some of the most eminent of the clergy of the ,church of ,england1 that one of the learned body declared them to be so useful 7especially that part that contained parallel scriptures7 that he could not compose his sermons without them4 ,another said1 that if they could not be had under fifty pounds1 he would give that sum rather than not have them4 ,and one of the highest rank thought fit to recommend them to young divines1 at their ordination40 ,in respect to ,mr4 ,clarke's personal character1 ,dr4 ,calamy further informs us that1 8,he was a man of very considerable learning2 a good critic2 especially in the scriptures2 a great textuary1 an excellent preacher2 a great enemy of superstition and bigotry3 yet zealous for unaffected piety4 ,he was one of great moderation1 both in his principles and temper1 lived usefully1 and in much esteem2 and in his last hours had great peace and serenity40 ,after such encomiums from such tall cedars in our ,lebanon1 any further recommendation from one of so small a growth1 or such a shrub as ,i am1 can be but of little weight4 ,i shall therefore detain the intelligent and religious reader no longer1 than whilst ,i subjoin my hearty prayers1 that whether he or ,i1 or any other christian of any denomination1 read this or any other comment1 or the pure scriptures1 without any comment1 that we may in such wise read1 mark1 learn1 and inwardly digest them2 that by patience and comfort of ,,god's holy word1 we may embrace1 and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life1 which he hath given us in our ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,christian reader1 ,thine in our common ,,lord1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,london1 ,october #a1 #agei4 ,,observations ,,on ,,some ,,fatal ,,mistakes1 ,in a ,book lately published1 and intitled1 8,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,grace2 or1 ,the ,,office and ,,operations of the ,,holy ,,spirit vindicated from the ,insults of ,infidelity1 and the ,abuses of ,fanaticism4 ,by ,william ,lord ,bishop of ,gloucester40 ,in a ,,letter to a ,,friend4 ,truth is never more grosly abused1 nor its ,advocates more dishonoured1 than when they employ the foolish ,arts of ,sophistry1 ,buffoonery1 and ,scurrility in its ,defence4 ,bishop of ,gloucester's ,preface4 ,,observations1 c4 ,my dear ,friend1 ,,when the great ,st4 ,paul1 in his epistle to the ,romans1 had a mind to lay a solid foundation for the grand distinguishing doctrines of the gospel1 ,i need not inform you1 that1 like a wise master-builder1 he took care to dig deep into the corruption of human nature3 and after having given us a lively portraiture of the universal depravity of the ,gentile world1 he proceeded1 in a most masterly manner1 to bring down the proud thoughts and high imaginations of the self-righteous and formal ,pharisees2 by proving1 to a demonstration1 that the ,jewish professors1 notwithstanding all their peculiar advantages of external revelation1 circumcision1 near affinity to ,abraham1 and such-like1 were all equally included under sin1 were all equally guilty before ,,god1 had all equally fallen short of his glory1 consequently were all upon an equal level with the rest of mankind1 and stood as much in need of the free grace of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and the sanctifying operations of his ,holy ,spirit1 as the most savage barbarian1 or disputing ,greek4 ,this was acting like as did the forerunner or harbinger of our blessed ,,lord2 for1 when he saw many of the ,sadducees and ,pharisees 7the infidels and professors of that age7 coming to his baptism1 disregarding as it were the former1 in a very pungent1 and what some would term1 a very unpolite manner1 he thus addresseth himself to the latter3 8,o generation of vipers1 who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come8 ,and think not to say within yourselves1 ,we have ,abraham for our father2 for ,i say unto you1 ,,god is able of these stones to raise up children unto ,abraham40 ,but why speak ,i of acting like the forerunner8 ,i should rather have said1 this was imitating our common ,,lord himself1 who1 in his glorious and divine sermon1 7when1 to use the words of the seraphic ,hervey1 8a mount was his pulpit1 and the heavens were his sounding-board07 employs himself chiefly in detecting the false glosses and corrupt interpretations of the then masters of ,israel2 withal adding this cutting assertion1 8,unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees1 ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,what a pity is it1 my dear friend1 that our modern defenders of christianity1 in their elaborate and undoubtedly well-meant treatises1 have not been more studious to copy after such bright and unerring examples6 ,many of these tracts ,i know you have read2 and am persuaded1 out of your usual candour1 you will do them so much justice as to acknowledge1 that1 in respect to the outworks of religion1 such as clearing up the prophecies of the ,old1 and vindicating the miracles of the ,new ,testament1 against the attacks of infidels and free-thinkers1 they have shewn themselves1 as far as bare human learning1 added to external revelation1 can carry them1 to be masters of strong reasoning1 nervous language1 and conclusive arguments4 ,but then1 as ,i have often heard you lament1 one thing they seem to lack1 a deeper and more experimental knowledge of themselves1 and of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,hence it is1 that when they come to touch upon the internals and vitals of christianity1 they are quite grappled1 and write so unguardedly of the all-powerful influences of the ,holy ,ghost1 as to sink us into a state of downright formality2 which1 if the ,apostle ,paul may be our judge1 we have need as much to be cautioned against1 as of fanaticism1 superstition1 or infidelity itself3 for in his second epistle to ,timothy1 after giving us a dreadful account of the abounding of wicked men in the last perilous times1 such as 8lovers of their own selves1 coveteous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false-accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,,god20 he brings up the rear in this awful manner1 8,having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof1 from such1 turn away20 and to use the words of our ,,lord1 8,publicans and harlots enter into the kingdom of ,,god before them40 8covetous0 replaced with 8coveteous0 ,sorry am ,i to send you word1 that a writer of this unhappy stamp now lies upon my table3 a writer1 who1 although he entitles his book1 8,the ,offices and ,operations of the ,holy ,ghost vindicated from the ,insults of ,infidelity and ,abuses of ,fanaticism10 yet1 in his great zeal against the latter1 and to the no small encouragement of the former1 as far as perverted reason and disguised sophistry could carry him1 hath1 in effect1 robbed the church of ,,christ of its promised ,comforter2 and thereby left us1 upon whom the ends of the world are come1 without any supernatural influence or divine operations whatsoever4 ,often have ,i heard you observe1 that there never was an age in which the stewards of the mysteries of ,,christ were more loudly called upon to vindicate the offices and operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 than this wherein we live4 ,and1 for my own part1 ,i cannot help thinking1 that the most accomplished and duly qualified person in the universe1 could he write or speak so extensively1 that the whole world might hear or read him1 could not possibly express his love to mankind in general1 and to the church of ,,god1 purchased with his own blood1 in particular1 in a more necessary1 commendable1 and useful way1 than by declaring1 upon the house-top1 that the ,holy ,ghost1 like its almighty ,purchaser1 is the same to-day as he was yesterday2 that he is now1 as well as formerly1 in the use of all instituted means1 appointed to convince the world of sin1 of righteousness1 and judgment2 to lead them into all truth1 by spiritually opening their understandings1 that they may understand the scriptures2 and to renew a clean heart and right spirit within them here1 in order that they may be thereby prepared for the full enjoyment of a triune1 and ever-blessed ,,god hereafter4 ,this you will judge1 my dear friend1 is what any one might have reasonably expected to have met with1 in a book bearing such a promising title4 ,but alas1 how was ,i disappointed6 ,and how will you be equally surprised1 when ,i tell you1 that upon perusing the book itself1 ,i found that the author1 instead of vindicating or asserting1 rather denies and ridicules the standing and unalterable operations of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for1 having ingeniously taken a great deal of learned pains against the insinuations of ,doctor ,middleton1 to prove that there once was a ,holy ,ghost2 and that he did once actually descend upon the ,apostles1 on the day of ,pentecost2 and further1 that he did once inspire the sacred writers to settle the canon of scripture2 he then1 in order to tear up superstition1 and what he calls fanaticism1 by the roots1 takes infinitely greater pains 7as well he might1 being a most arduous task indeed7 to shew1 that what true believers1 in all ages1 have always looked upon to be the standing and ordinary operations of the ,spirit1 8,such as manifest themselves in grace and knowledge1 and which administer aid in spiritual distresses1 are to be accounted and called miraculous1 as much as those which extended outwards1 in the gift of healing1 and the relief of other corporeal infirmities40 ,and these 8miraculous powers 7he adds7 being now1 upon the perfect establishment of christianity1 totally withdrawn1 it consequently must be superstitious and fanatical to look for1 or pretend to be possessed of1 any of those operations which manifest themselves in grace and knowledge1 and which administer aid in spiritual distresses40 ,pages #ge1 #hb1 #hc1 octavo edition4 ,strange assertions these1 you will say1 for a vindicator of the offices and operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 against the insults of infidelity1 and the abuses of fanaticism6 ,alas6 what could a ,middleton say more8 ,nay1 ,i could almost add1 where hath he expressly said so much8 ,but if it be superstition to look for1 if it be fanaticism to seek after1 and not rest till we are actually and experimentally possessed of1 the supernatural influences of the ,blessed ,spirit1 manifesting themselves in grace and divine knowledge1 and affording aid in spiritual distresses1 then may you and ,i1 my dear friend1 become more and more superstitious and fanatical every day6 ,for ,i am persuaded1 that without such divine manifestations as exceed the powers of humanity1 were we to be signed with the sign of the cross in baptism1 a thousand times over1 we could never successfully fight under ,,christ's banner against sin1 the world1 and the devil1 and consequently not so much as truly commence1 much less continue to be1 his faithful servants and soldiers even to the end of our lives4 ,surely1 was the ,apostle ,paul to rise from the dead1 and read over1 or hear of such strange positions1 his spirit1 as once at ,athens1 would again be stirred in him2 to see a writer thus attempting to erect an altar for the public worship of an unknown ,,god3 ,i say1 an unknown ,,god4 ,for how is it possible1 in the very nature of the thing1 for us1 who are by nature carnal and sold under sin1 ever to worship ,,god1 who is a spirit1 in spirit and in truth1 without some inward manifestations of grace and spiritual knowledge1 superadded to the light of external revelation1 to enable us so to do8 ,for1 to apply what this ,apostle observes upon a like occasion1 8he is not a real christian1 who is only one outwardly2 but he alone is a true christian1 who is one inwardly1 whose baptism is that of the heart1 in the spirit1 and not merely of the water1 whose praise is not of man1 but of ,,god40 ,and yet 7would you think it87 this writer is so unwary as to attempt to press this very ,apostle1 that true assertor of the doctrine of grace1 that genuine1 irrefragable vindicator of the offices and operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 into his mistaken service4 ,never1 ,i believe1 were the saint and the scholar1 the gentleman and the christian1 more sweetly blended together1 than in the character and writings of this favourite of heaven4 ,how often1 my dear friend1 in our more retired moments1 when conversing together concerning the lively oracles of ,,god1 have you called upon me to take notice of this truly great man's pertinent and powerful preaching before ,felix the governor1 as well as his inexpressibly polite and persuasive address to ,king ,agrippa8 ,and how have you again and again read over to me1 and made remarks upon1 those striking images1 and those divine characteristics1 which this accomplished master of human and divine rhetoric lays before us1 in the xiiith chapter of his first epistle to the ,corinthians1 of that most excellent grace charity1 or the love of ,,god8 ,a grace so absolutely necessary to the christian life1 that without it1 to use the inimitable language of this inspired writer1 8,though we had a miraculous faith1 so as to remove mountains1 nay though we should give all our goods to feed the poor1 and even our bodies to be burnt1 it would profit us nothing40 ,a grace that never faileth1 but a sacred something of which we shall eternally remain possessed1 and be increasing in1 even when faith shall end in the vision1 and hope in the endless fruition of the ever-blessed ,,god4 ,o my dear friend1 how frequently have our hearts burned within us1 under the glowing warmth of such an animating prospect8 ,and yet1 incredible as it may seem to you1 ,i assure you1 that this very chapter is singled out by our hapless ,author1 to prove1 8,that supernatural manifestations of grace and knowledge1 and spiritual aids in spiritual distresses1 were the miraculous gifts of the primitive church1 and were totally withdrawn on its perfect establishment40 ,surely a more pertinent one could not be selected out of the whole ,new ,testament1 to prove directly the contrary4 ,for let any man impartially examine the glorious inseparable properties and concomitants of this divine grace and gift1 ,,charity1 recorded in this chapter1 can he then make the least doubt1 whether any person living1 can possibly be possessed of this most excellent gift1 without those very supernatural manifestations of grace and knowledge1 and those divine influences of the ,holy ,spirit exceeding the powers of humanity1 which this unhappy writer would fain persuade us are now abated or totally withdrawn4 8,charity 7says our ,apostle7 suffereth long1 and is kind2 charity envieth not2 charity vaunteth not itself1 is not puffed up1 seeketh not her own1 is not easily provoked1 thinketh no evil1 rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the truth1 beareth all things1 hopeth all things1 endureth all things40 ,now can human reason1 with all its heights2 can calm philosophy1 with all its depths2 or moral suasion1 with all its insinuating arts2 so much as pretend to kindle1 much less to maintain and blow up into a settled habitual flame of holy fire1 such a spark as this in the human heart8 ,sooner might one attempt to extinguish the most rapid and devouring flames1 by reading a lecture upon the benefit of cold water2 or reach out one's presumptuous hand to create a new heaven and a new earth2 than to dream of extinguishing those innate1 fiery passions of envy1 selfishness1 or malice1 which this charity or love of ,,god is here said to militate against2 or1 to work or form the soul into any of those divine tempers here spoken of1 as the genuine effects and fruits of the love of ,,god4 ,no1 my dear friend1 these are flowers not to be gathered in nature's garden4 ,they are exotics2 planted originally in heaven1 and in the great work of the new birth1 are transplanted by the ,holy ,ghost1 not only into the hearts of the first ,apostles1 or primitive christians1 but into the hearts of all true believers1 even to the end of the world4 ,for doubtless of all such ,st4 ,paul speaks1 when he says1 8,tribulation worketh patience1 patience experience1 experience hope1 and hope maketh not ashamed1 because the love of ,,god is shed abroad in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost which is given unto us40 ,and hence1 doubtless1 it is1 that we were all in general1 directed in one of the collects of our church1 to 8pray to that ,,lord who hath taught us1 that all our doings without charity1 are nothing worth1 that he would send the ,holy ,ghost1 and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity40 ,so that1 according to our reformers1 supernatural influence and manifestations of grace and knowledge1 are so far from being totally withdrawn1 that1 in the end of this very collect1 they teach us to confess1 that 8without them10 or1 which is the same1 without the love of ,,god poured into the heart by the ,holy ,ghost1 8whosoever liveth1 is counted dead before him40 ,but1 if we will believe our ,author1 charity signifies little more than the outward establishment of the christian church1 and consequently1 that the ,apostle means no more in this chapter than to shew us1 8,that prophecies1 mysteries1 knowledge10 7i4 e4 according to this writer1 all supernatural knowledge7 8were to cease when christianity arrived to a perfect establishment40 ,page #hb4,nay1 scorning to tread in the steps of ,whitby1 ,hammond1 ,burkit1 and every consistent spiritual expositor of holy writ1 our new commentator1 out of his paradoxical genius1 labours to prove1 that when the great ,apostle asserts1 that 8charity never fails10 and therefore hath the preference over faith and hope1 he means nothing less than to assert its eternal duration1 and that consequently his true meaning hath hitherto escaped every unwary reader but himself1 pages #ge1 #f1 #g4 ,conscious1 no doubt1 of this singularity1 and justly aware of its needing some apology1 he very properly adds1 page #hb4 that such an uncommon interpretation 8instructs the unwary reader1 with what caution and application he should come to the study of that profound reasoning with which all ,st4 ,paul's epistles abound40 ,and may ,i not1 at least with as great propriety subjoin1 that this may also instruct every unwary reader1 with what caution he should come to the study of that profound reasoning with which this treatise abounds8 so very profound1 that ,i believe it exceeds the powers of humanity to fathom its depths1 so far as to draw out of it any true1 consistent interpretation of the ,apostle's reasoning on this chapter at all4 ,i might here add1 my dear friend1 some other specimens of our ,author's manner of explaining scripture1 by his fine human reason3 for instance1 #8,keeping ourselves unspotted from the world1 he says1 page #aeg1 signifies only our using the means of grace4' ,and again1 when the ,apostle informs us1 ,ephesians v4 #i4 8that the fruit of the ,spirit is in all goodness1 righteousness1 and truth10 he tells us1 that 8truth refers to christian doctrine1 goodness to christian practice1 and by righteousness is meant1 the conduct of the whole to particulars1 and consists in that equal gentleness of government1 where church-authority is made to coincide with the private rights of conscience2 and this refers to christian discipline20 with several such like instances1 which even the most unwary reader1 without much study or application1 may meet with1 scattered up and down this ,author's performance2 but this would be too great a digression4 ,indeed ,i should not have dwelt so long even upon this extraordinary interpretation of the thirteenth chapter of the first epistle to the ,corinthians1 had not the writer himself called it1 this decisive passage1 and given it as his opinion1 page #gf1 8,that this is the only express declaration recorded in scripture1 to prove1 that all supernatural knowledge or divine influence was to cease1 when christianity was perfectly established1 or the world arrived at a perfect christian state40 ,but every day's experience1 nay this ,author's very book1 proving beyond a doubt1 that christianity is not as yet thus perfectly established2 we may yet1 according to his own principles1 expect divine manifestations of grace and knowledge1 and spiritual aids under spiritual distresses1 without justly incurring the imputation either of superstition or fanaticism4 ,how much more pertinent is ,mr4 ,clark's interpretation8 ,according to him1 8,goodness is an inclination to do good to others1 truth is freedom from hypocrisy and dissimulation1 righteousness is just dealing40 ,ephesians v4 #i4 ,but to proceed4 ,however profound and unintelligible our ,author's comments may be1 yet1 when he comes to shew the reasonableness and fitness of an abatement or total withdrawing of divine influence in these last days1 7but woe to the christian world if he succeeds in his unhallowed attempt67 he speaks intelligibly enough4 8,on the ,spirit's first descent upon the ,apostles1 he found their minds rude and uninformed1 strangers to all celestial knowledge1 prejudiced in favour of a carnal law1 and utterly averse to the dictates of the everlasting gospel4 ,the minds of these he illuminated1 and1 by degrees1 led into all truths necessary for the professors of the faith to know1 or for the propagators of it to teach40,true48,secondly1 the nature and genius of the gospel were so averse to all the religious institutions of the world1 that the whole strength of human prejudices was set in opposition to it4 ,to overcome the obstinacy and violence of those prejudices1 nothing less than the power of the ,holy ,one was sufficient40,good48,and1 thirdly and lastly1 ,there was a time when the powers of this world were combined together for its destruction4 ,at such a period1 nothing but superior aid from above1 could support humanity in sustaining so great a conflict as that which the holy martyrs encountered with joy and rapture1 the horrors of death and torment40,excellent4,but what follows8,according to our ,author1 ,tempora mutantur1 nos et mutamur in illis4 8,,but now10 7a dreadful but it is67 8the profession of christianity is attended with ease and honour20 and we are now1 it seems1 so far from being 8rude and uninformed1 and utterly averse to the dictates of the everlasting gospel1 that whatever there may be of prejudice1 it draws another way4 ,consequently1 a rule of faith being now established1 the conviction which the weight of human testimony1 and the conclusions of human reason afford us of its truth1 are abundantly sufficient to support us in our religious perseverance2 and therefore it must certainly be a great mark of fanaticism1 to expect such divine communications1 as though no such rule of faith was established2 and also as highly presumptuous or fanatical to imagine1 that rule to be so obscure1 as to need the further assistance of the ,holy ,spirit to explain his own meaning40 ,pages #he1 #hf1 #hg1 #hh4 ,this1 you will say1 my dear friend1 is going pretty far2 and indeed1 supposing matters to be as this writer represents them1 ,i do not see what great need we have of any established rule at all1 at least in respect to practice1 since corrupt nature is abundantly sufficient of itself1 to help us to persevere in a religion attended with ease and honour4 ,and ,i verily believe1 that the ,deists throw aside this rule of faith entirely1 not barely on account of a deficiency in argument to support its authenticity1 but because1 they daily see so many who profess to hold this established1 self-denying rule of faith with their lips1 persevering all their lives long in nothing else but an endless and insatiable pursuit after worldly ease and honour4 ,but what a total ignorance of human nature1 and of the true unalterable genius of the everlasting gospel1 doth our ,author's arguing discover8 ,for supposing1 my dear friend1 that this or any other writer should undertake to prove1 that the ancient ,greeks and ,romans were born with sickly1 disordered1 and crazy bodies1 but that we1 in modern days1 being made of a firmer mould1 and being blessed with the established rules of ,galen and ,hippocrates1 need now no further assistance from any present physician1 either to explain or apply those rules to our present ails and corporeal distresses2 though we could not1 without the help of some linguist superior to ourselves1 so much as understand the language in which those authors wrote4 ,supposing1 ,i say1 any one was to take it into his head to write in this manner1 would he not be justly deemed a dreaming enthusiast or real fanatic8 ,and yet this would be just as rational as to insinuate1 with our ,author1 that we who are born in these last days1 have less depravity in our natures1 less enmity to1 and less prejudice against the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and less need of the divine teachings of the ,blessed ,spirit to help us to understand the true spiritual meaning of the holy scriptures1 than those who were born in the first ages of the gospel4 ,for as it was formerly1 so it is now1 the natural man discerneth not the things of the ,spirit3 and why8 8,because they can only be spiritually discerned40 ,but when is it that we must believe this ,author8 ,for1 page #gc4 he talks of 8some of the first christians1 who were in the happy circumstance of being found innocent1 when they were led into the practice of all virtue by the ,holy ,spirit40 ,and what occasion for that1 if found innocent8 ,but how innocent did the ,holy ,spirit find them8 ,doubtless1 just as innocent as it finds us1 8,conceived and born in sin40 ,having in our flesh1 our depraved nature1 no good thing2 bringing into the world with us a corruption1 which renders us liable to ,,god's wrath and eternal damnation2 with a carnal mind1 which is enmity against ,,god1 and a heart1 the thoughts and imaginations of which1 are declared to be only evil1 and that continually2 and whose native and habitual language1 though born and educated under a christian dispensation1 is identically the same as that of the ,jews1 8,we will not have the ,,lord ,,jesus to reign over us40 ,this1 and this alone1 my dear friend1 is all the innocence that every man1 naturally the offspring of ,adam1 whether born in the antideluvian1 patriarchal1 mosaic1 apostolic1 or present age1 can boast of4 ,and if this be matter of fact1 7and who that knows himself can deny it87 it is so far from being superstitious or fanatical to assert the absolute necessity of a divine influence1 or a power superior to that of humanity2 that it is a most irrefragable argument for its continuance without the least abatement1 or withdrawing whatsoever4 ,daily experience proves1 that without such a power1 our understandings cannot be enlightened1 our wills subdued1 our prejudices and enmity overcome1 our affections turned into a proper channel1 or1 in short1 any one individual of the apostate fallen race of ,adam be saved4 ,and if so1 what becomes of our ,author's arguments1 to shew the fitness of an abatement or total withdrawing of divine influence in these gospel days8 ,might he not with as great consistency1 have undertaken to shew1 the fitness of an abatement or total withdrawing of the irradiating light and genial warmth of the natural sun8 ,for1 as the earth on which we tread1 stands as much in need now of the abiding influence of the genial rays of that great luminary1 in order to produce1 keep up1 and complete the vegetative life in grass1 fruits1 plants1 and flowers1 as it did in any preceding age of the world2 so our earthly hearts do now1 and always will stand in as much need of the quickening1 enlivening1 transforming influences of the ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that glorious sun of righteousness1 as the hearts of the first apostles3 if not to make us preachers1 yet to make us christians1 by beginning1 carrying on1 and compleating that holiness in the heart and life of every believer in every age1 without which no man living shall see the ,,lord4 ,and the scriptures are so far from encouraging us to plead for a diminution of divine influence in these last days of the gospel1 because an external rule of faith is thereby established1 that on the contrary1 we are encouraged by this very established rule to expect1 hope1 long1 and pray for larger and more extensive showers of divine influence than any former age hath ever yet experienced4 ,for1 are we not therein taught to pray1 8,that we may be filled with all the fulness of ,,god10 and to wait for a glorious epocha1 8,when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the ,,lord1 as the waters cover the seas80 ,do not all the saints on earth1 and all the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven2 nay1 all the angels and archangels about the throne of the ,most ,high ,,god1 night and day1 join in this united cry1 ,,lord ,,jesus1 thus let thy kingdom come6 ,but1 by this time1 my dear friend1 ,i imagine you would be glad to know against whom these bruta fulmina1 this unscriptural artillery is levelled4 ,our ,author shall inform you3 8,all modern pretenders to divine influence in general20 and you may be assured 8the poor ,methodists 7those scourges and eye-sores of formal1 self-righteous1 letter-learned professors7 in particular40 ,to expose1 and set these off in a ridiculous light1 7a method that ,julian1 after all his various tortures1 found most effectual7 this writer runs from ,dan to ,beersheba2 gives us quotation upon quotation out of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley's ,journals2 and to use his own simile upon another occasion1 by a kind of ,egyptian husbandry1 draws together whole droves of obscene animals1 of his own formation1 who rush in furiously1 and then trample the ,journals1 and this sect1 already every-where spoken against1 under their feet4 ,in reading this part of his work1 ,i could not help thinking of the ,papists dressing ,john ,huss in a cap of painted devils1 before they delivered him up to the secular arm4 ,for our ,author calls the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 8,paltry mimick1 spiritual empiric1 spiritual martialist1 meek apostle1 new adventurer40 ,the ,methodists1 according to him1 are 8modern apostles1 the saints1 new missionaries1 illuminated doctors1 this sect of fanatics4 ,methodism itself is modern saintship4 ,mr4 ,law begat it1 and ,count ,zinzendorff rocked the cradle2 and the devil himself is man-midwife to their new birth40 ,and yet this is the man1 my dear friend1 who in his preface to this very book1 lays it down1 as an invariable maxim1 8,that truth is never so grossly injured1 or its advocates so dishonoured1 as when they employ the foolish arts of sophistry1 buffoonery1 and personal abuse in its defence40 ,by thy own pen thou shalt be tried1 thou hapless1 mistaken advocate of the christian cause4 ,nay1 not content with dressing up this meek apostle1 this spiritual empiric1 these new missionaries1 in bear-skins1 in order to throw them out to be bated by an ill-natured world1 he proceeds to rake up the very ashes of the dead2 and1 like the ,witch of ,endor1 as far as in him lies1 attempts to bring up and disquiet the ghosts of one of the most venerable sets of men that ever lived upon the earth2 ,i mean the good old ,puritans3 8,for these1 7says our ,author7 who now go under the name of ,methodists1 in the days of our fore-fathers1 under the firm reign of ,queen ,elizabeth1 were called ,precisians2 but then1 as a precious metal which had undergone its trial in the fire1 and left all its dross1 the sect1 with great propriety1 changed its name10 7a very likely thing1 to give themselves a nick-name1 indeed7 from ,precisian to ,puritan4 ,then1 in the weak and distracted times of ,charles the ,first1 it ventured to throw off the mask1 and under the new name of ,independant1 became the chief agent of all the dreadful disorders which terminated that unhappy reign40 ,so that according to this ,author's heraldic1 genealogical fiction1 8,methodism is the younger daughter to ,independancy1 and now a ,methodist is an apostolic ,independant20 7,,god grant he may always deserve such a glorious appellation7 8,but an ,independant was then a ,mahometan ,methodist40 ,pages #adb1 #adc1 #add4 ,what6 an ,independant a ,mahometan ,methodist8 ,what6 the learned ,dr4 ,owen1 the great ,dr4 ,goodwin1 the amiable ,mr4 ,howe1 and those glorious worthies who first planted the ,new-,england churches1 ,mahometan ,methodists6 ,would to ,,god1 that not only this writer1 but all who now profess to preach ,,christ in this land1 were not only almost1 but altogether such ,mahometan ,methodists1 in respect to the doctrine of divine influence1 as they were6 ,for ,i will venture to affirm1 that if it had not been for such ,mahometan ,methodists1 and their successors1 the free-grace dissenters1 we should some years ago1 have been in danger of sinking into ,mahometan ,methodism indeed2 ,i mean1 into a christianity destitute of any divine influence manifesting itself in grace and knowledge1 and void of any spiritual aid in spiritual distresses4 ,but from such a christianity1 good ,,lord deliver this happy land6 ,the design our author had in view in drawing such a parallel1 is easily seen through4 ,doubtless1 to expose the present ,methodists to the jealousy of the civil government4 ,for1 says he1 page #adb1 8,we see methodism at present under a well established government1 where it is obliged to wear a less audacious look4 ,to know its true character1 we should see it in all its fortunes40 ,and doth this writer then1 in order to gratify a sinful curiosity of seeing methodism in all its fortunes1 desire to have the pleasure of seeing the weak and distracted times of ,charles the first brought back again6 ,or dares he insinuate1 that because1 as he immediately adds1 our country hath been productive of every strange thing1 8that we are in the least danger now of any such distracting turn1 since we have a ,king upon the throne1 who in his first most gracious speech to both houses of parliament1 declared1 he would preserve the act of toleration inviolable8 ,and that being the case1 blessed be ,,god1 we are in no danger of any return of such weak and distracted times1 either from the apostolic independants1 ,mahometan ,methodists1 or any religious sect or party whatsoever40 ,my dear friend1 8if this is not gibetting up names with unregenerate malice1 to everlasting infamy10 ,i know not what is4 ,but it happens in this1 as in similar cases1 whilst men are thus busy in gibbeting up the names of others1 they unwittingly1 like ,haman1 when preparing a gallows for that apostolic ,independent1 that ,mahometan ,methodist1 ,mordecai1 all the while are only erecting a gibbet for their own4 8nick-game0 replaced with 8nick-name0 ,but1 methinks1 ,i see you now begin to be impatient to know1 7and indeed ,i have neither inclination nor leisure at present to pursue our author any further7 who this can be that takes such gigantic strides8 ,i assure you1 he is a perfect ,goliah in the retinue of human learning4,will you guess8,perhaps ,dr4 ,tr of ,norwich2nohe is dead4 ,certainly not a churchman8 ,yes2 a member1 a minister1 a dignitary1 a bishop of the church of ,england2and1 to keep you no longer in suspence1 it is no less a man than ,dr4 ,warburton1 the author of 8,the ,divine ,legation of ,moses10 and now ,william ,lord ,bishop of ,gloucester4 ,i know you are ready to say1 8,tell it not in ,gath1 publish it not in the streets of ,ascalon40 ,but1 my dear friend1 what can be done8 ,his ,lordship hath published it himself3 nay1 his book hath just gone through a second impression2 and that you may see and judge for yourself1 whether ,i have wronged his ,lordship or not1 7as it is not very weighty7 ,i have sent you the book itself4 ,upon the perusal1 ,i am persuaded you will at least be thus far of my opinion1 that however decus et tutamen is always the motto engraven upon a bishop's mitre1 it is not always most certain1 though his ,lordship says it is1 page #bjb1 that they are written in every prelate's breast8 ,and how can this prelate in particular1 be said to be the ornament and safeguard of the ,church of ,england8 when his principles are as directly contrary to the offices of that church1 over which he is by divine permission made overseer1 as light is contrary to darkness4 ,you know1 my dear friend1 what our ministers are taught to say when they baptize3 8,i beseech you to call upon ,,god the ,father1 through our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 that of his bounteous goodness he will grant to this child that thing which by nature he cannot have40 ,but what says his ,lordship8 8,all influence exceeding the power of humility1 is miraculous1 and therefore to abate or be totally withdrawn1 now the church is perfectly established40 ,what say they when they catechise8 8,my good child1 know this1 that thou art not able to do these things of thyself1 nor to walk in the commands of ,,god1 and to serve him without his special grace40 ,but what says his ,lordship8 8,a rule of faith being now established1 the conviction which the weight of human testimony1 and the conclusions of human reason afford1 are abundantly sufficient to support us in our religious perseverance40 ,what says his ,lordship himself1 when he confirms children thus catechised8 8,strengthen them1 we beseech thee1 ,o ,,lord1 with the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,comforter1 and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace1 the spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength40 ,but what says his ,lordship1 when he speaks his own sentiments8 8,all aids in spiritual distresses1 as well as those which administered help in corporeal diseases1 are now abated or totally withdrawn40 ,what says his ,lordship when he ordains8 8,dost thou trust that thou art inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost8 then1 receive thou the ,holy ,ghost40 ,come1 ,holy ,ghost1 our souls inspire1 ,and lighten with celestial fire3 ,thou the anointing ,spirit art1 ,who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart4 ,thy blessed unction from above1 ,is comfort1 life1 and power of love2 ,enable with perpetual light1 ,the dulness of our blinded sight4 ,what says his ,lordship when pronouncing the blessing8 8,the peace of ,,god1 which passeth all understanding1 keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of ,,god40 ,but what says his ,lordship when retired to his study8 8,all supernatural influence1 manifesting itself in grace and knowledge1 is miraculous1 and therefore to cease under a perfect establishment40,what says8,but ,i check myself2 for the time would fail me1 was ,i to urge all those quotations that might be produced out of the articles1 homilies1 and public offices1 to confront and invalidate the whole tenor and foundation of his ,lordship's performance4 ,but how it is consistent with that wisdom which is from above1 7and by which his ,lordship attempts to arraign1 try1 and condemn the ,reverend ,mr4 ,john ,wesley7 to subscribe to1 and make use of public offices1 in the church1 and then as publicly deny and contradict them in the press1 ,i leave to his ,lordship's more calm and deliberate consideration4 ,sure ,i am1 if weighed in the same balance1 his ,lordship would be found equally wanting1 at least4 ,indeed1 during the whole trial1 ,i could scarcely refrain breaking out into the language of the eunuch of ,queen ,candace1 to ,philip the evangelist1 8,speaketh the prophet this of himself1 or of some other man80 ,i hope1 my dear friend1 you know me better than to suspect ,i thus retort upon his ,lordship1 in order to throw dust in your eyes to prevent your seeing what his ,lordship may justly except against1 in the conduct of the ,methodists in general1 or in the journals of the ,reverend ,mr4 ,john ,wesley in particular4 ,whatever that indefatigable labourer may think of his1 you know ,i have long since publicly acknowledged1 that there were1 and doubtless1 though now sent forth in a more correct attire1 there are yet1 many exceptionable passages in my journals4 ,and ,i hope it will be one of the constant employments of my declining years1 to humble myself daily before the ,most ,high ,,god1 for the innumerable mixtures of corruption which have blended themselves with my feeble1 but1 ,i trust1 sincere endeavours1 whether from the press or pulpit1 to promote the ,redeemer's glory1 and the eternal welfare of precious and immortal souls4 ,and1 ,i assure you1 that if his ,lordship had contented himself with pointing out1 or even ridiculing any such blemishes or imprudencies1 or yet still more important mistakes1 in my own1 or any of the ,methodists conduct or performances1 ,i should have stood intirely silent4 ,but when ,i observed his ,lordship1 through almost his whole book1 not only wantonly throwing about the arrows and firebrands of scurrility1 buffoonery1 and personal abuse1 but1 at the same time1 on account of some unguarded expressions and indiscretions of a particular set of honest1 though fallible1 men1 taking occasion to wound1 vilify1 and totally deny the all-powerful1 standing operations of the ,blessed ,spirit1 by which alone1 his ,lordship or any other man living can be sanctified and sealed to the day of eternal redemption1 ,i must own that ,i was constrained to vent myself to you1 as a dear1 and intimate friend1 in the manner ,i have done4 ,make what use of it you please2 perhaps hereafter ,i may trouble you with some further remarks4 ,at present1 you know ,i am on the road to ,scotland1 in order to embark for ,america4 ,and therefore ,i would now only observe to you further1 that the unguarded unwary method made use of by his ,lordship to stop1 will rather serve to increase and establish1 what he is pleased to term a sect of fanatics4 ,the more judicious ,bishop ,burnet1 7as ,i heard an acute advocate once observe17 in the general assembly of the ,church of ,scotland1 prescribed a much better 7and indeed the only effectual and truly apostolic7 way to stop the progress of the puritan ministers1 when complained against by some of the clergy1 for breaking into and preaching in their parochial charges2 8,out-live1 out-labour1 out-preach them10 said his ,lordship4 ,and that the ,reverend ,mr4 ,john ,wesley himself 7that famed leader of the ,methodists7 and every ,methodist preacher in ,england may be thus outed and intirely annihilated1 is1 and shall be1 the hearty prayer of one1 who1 though less than the least of them all1 begs leave to subscribe himself1 in great haste1 but greater love and esteem1 ,yours most affectionately1 ,in a never-failing ,emmanuel1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,a ,,recommendatory ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,works ,,of ,mr4 ,,john ,,bunyan4 ,a ,,recommendatory ,,preface to the ,works of ,mr4 ,,john ,,bunyan4 ,christian ,reader1 ,,if such thou art in reality1 or if only a bare outward professor1 thou needest not be informed1 that the all-gracious ,emmanuel1 in the days of his flesh1 after he had given us a glorious display of the divine sovereignty in dispensing the everlasting gospel1 broke forth into these emphatic words1 8,i thank thee1 ,holy ,father1 ,,lord of heaven and earth1 that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and hast revealed them unto babes4 ,even so1 ,father1 for so it seemed good in thy sight40 ,agreeable to this1 says the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles1 8,,god hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise3 and ,,god hath chosen the weak things of the world1 to confound the things which are mighty2 and base things of the world1 and things which are despised hath ,,god chosen1 yea1 and things that are not1 to bring to nought things that are40 ,and why8 ,that no flesh should glory in his presence4 ,perhaps1 next to the first publishers of the gospel of the blessed ,,god1 these sayings were never more strongly exemplified in any single individual 7at least in this1 or the last century7 than in the conversion1 ministry and writings of that eminent servant of ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,mr4 ,john ,bunyan1 who was of the meanest occupation1 and a notorious sabbath-breaker1 drunkard1 swearer1 blasphemer1 c4 by habitual practice3 ,and yet1 through rich1 free1 sovereign1 distinguishing grace1 he was chosen1 called1 and afterwards formed1 by the all-powerful operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 to be a scribe ready instructed to the kingdom of ,,god4 ,the two volumes of his works formerly published2 with the great success that attended them in pulling down ,satan's strong-holds in sinners hearts1 when sent forth in small detached parties1 are pregnant proofs of this4 ,some of them have gone through a great variety of editions4 ,his ,pilgrims ,progress in particular1 hath been translated into various languages1 and to this day is read with the greatest pleasure1 not only by the truly serious1 of divers religious persuasions1 but likewise by those1 to whom pleasure is the end of reading4 ,surely it is an original1 and we may say of it1 to use the words of the great ,doctor ,goodwin in his preface to the epistle to the ,ephesians1 that it smells of the prison4 ,it was written when the author was confined in ,bedford-goal4 ,and ministers never write or preach so well as when under the cross3 the spirit of ,,christ and of glory then rests upon them4 ,it was this1 no doubt1 that made the ,puritans of the last century such burning and shining lights4 ,when cast out by the black ,bartholomew-act1 and driven from their respective charges to preach in barns and fields1 in the highways and hedges1 they in an especial manner wrote and preached as men having authority4 ,though dead1 by their writings they yet speak3 a peculiar unction attends them to this very hour2 and for these thirty years past ,i have remarked1 that the more1 true and vital religion hath revived either at home or abroad1 the more the good old puritanical writings1 or the authors of a like stamp who lived and died in communion of the church of ,england1 have been called for4 ,among these may be justly reckoned those great luminaries1 ,bishop ,jewel1 ,usher1 ,andrews1 ,hall1 ,reynolds1 ,hopkins1 ,wilkins1 ,edwards1 who1 notwithstanding a difference of judgment in respect to outward church-government1 all agreed 7as their printed works manifestly evince7 in asserting and defending the grand essential truths for which the ,puritans1 though matters of an inferior nature were urged as a pretext1 chiefly suffered1 and were ejected4 ,the impartial ,doctor ,hodges therefore 7late provost of ,oriel ,college in ,oxford7 in his elaborate treatise intitled ,elihu1 hath done himself honour in saying1 that 8the old ,puritans and ,presbyterians in general1 till a division happened lately among them1 deserve praise for their steady and firm adherence to the principal and fundamental doctrines of christianity40 ,their works still praise them in the gates2 and without pretending to a spirit of prophecy1 we may venture to affirm1 that they will live and flourish1 when more modern performances1 of a contrary cast1 notwithstanding their gaudy and tinselled trappings1 will languish and die in the esteem of those1 whose understandings are opened to discern what comes nearest to the scripture standard4 ,this consideration1 hath induced me to preface the present large and elegant edition of the ,reverend ,mr4 ,john ,bunyan's works2 which1 with the unparalleled commentary of the good ,mr4 ,matthew ,henry1 the pious and practical writings of the excellent ,mr4 ,flavel1 and the critical and judicious commentaries and tracts of the accurate ,doctor ,owen1 ,i hear are enquired after1 and bought up1 more and more every day4 ,the last forementioned worthy1 though himself so great a scholar2 and for some time chancellor of one of our most famous universities1 as ,i have been credibly informed1 attended on the sermons1 and countenanced the ministerial labours of our ,reverend author2 when1 by reason of his being unskilled in the learned languages1 and a few differences in lesser matters 7as will always be the case in this mixed state of things7 he was lightly esteemed by some of less enlarged sentiments4 ,but this1 ,i must own1 more particularly endears ,mr4 ,bunyan to my heart2 he was of a catholic spirit1 the want of water adult baptism with this man of ,,god1 was no bar to outward christian communion4 ,and ,i am persuaded1 that if1 like him1 we were more deeply and experimentally baptized into the benign and gracious influences of the blessed ,spirit1 we should be less baptized into the waters of strife1 about circumstantials and non-essentials4 ,for being thereby rooted and grounded in the love of ,,god1 we should necessarily be constrained to think1 and let think1 bear with and forbear one another in love2 and without saying 8,i am of ,paul1 ,apollos1 or ,cephas10 have but one grand1 laudable1 disinterested strife1 namely1 who should live1 preach and exalt the ever-loving1 altogether lovely ,,jesus most4 ,that these volumes may be blest to beget1 promote and increase such divine fruits of real and undefiled religion in the hearts1 lips and lives of readers1 of all ranks and denominations1 is the earnest prayer of1 ,christian reader1 ,thy soul's well-wisher in our common ,,lord1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,london1 ,january #c1 #agfg4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,reverend ,dr4 ,,durell1 ,,vice-,,chancellor of the ,university of ,,oxford4 ,,occasioned ,,by ,a late ,,expulsion of ,,six ,,students from ,,edmund-,,hall4 ,yea1 and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right8 ,luke xii4 #eg4 ,judge righteous judgment4 ,john vii4 #bd4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,reverend ,dr4 ,,durell4 ,london1 ,april #ab1 #agfh4 ,reverend ,sir1 ,,you being a ,master of ,israel1 and placed at the head of one of the most renowned seats of learning in the world1 need not be informed1 that the mission of the ,holy ,ghost is the one grand promise of the new1 as the coming of ,,jesus ,,christ was the great promise of the ,old ,testament dispensation4 8,i will pray the ,father1 7says our blessed ,,lord to his almost disconsolate ,disciples7 and he shall give you another ,comforter40 ,and again1 8,it is expedient for you1 that ,i go away2 for if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i depart 7it being the purchase of his all-atoning blood1 and designed to be the immediate fruit and proof of the reality of his resurrection1 and subsequent ascension into heaven7 ,i will send him unto you40 ,and that they might know1 that this ,comforter was not to be confined to1 or monopolized by them1 but was to be of standing general use1 he immediately gives them intimations of the design and nature of his office2 and therefore adds1 8and when he is come1 he will convince the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment40 ,a strange1 and till then unheard of1 promise1 this6 ,such as a ,confucius1 ,zoroaster1 or any other fictitious uninspired prophet or lawgiver never dreamt of4 ,a promise1 which none but one1 who was ,,god over all1 could dare to make2 a promise1 which none but one1 who was ,,god over all1 could possibly fulfil4 ,agreeable to this promise1 he having ascended up on high1 led captivity captive1 and received this gift for men1 the divine ,paraclete1 this ,holy ,ghost1 8on the day of ,pentecost1 came down from heaven like a rushing mighty wind2 and there appeared cloven tongues1 like as of fire1 and sat upon each of the ,apostles40 ,the effects were immediate and visible2 poor1 illiterate fishermen1 instantaneously commenced scholars1 preachers1 orators4 ,and well they might2 for1 being filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 as the ,spirit gave them utterance1 they began to speak with other tongues the wonderful things of ,,god4 ,but what was all this divine apparatus1 this divine preaching1 this divine oratory intended for8 ,the following verses inform us3 the hearers of those wonderful things1 the spectators of this transcendently amazing scene1 8were pricked to the heart1 and were made to cry out1 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do8 ,and the same day were added to this infant church about three thousand souls40 ,here were proofs1 substantial1 incontestable proofs1 of the reality of the resurrection and ascension1 and likewise of the efficacy of the all-powerful intercession of their once crucified1 but now exalted ,,lord2 not only substantial and incontestable1 but at the same time entirely suitable to the nature of his mission1 who in the days of his flesh1 by his doctrines and miracles declared1 that his only design in coming into our world1 was to save sinners4 ,upon this rock1 namely1 8an experimental manifestation and application of his divinity to the renewed heart10 7which flesh and blood1 human reason1 vain philosophy1 moral suasion1 or any1 or all barely external evidence whatsoever1 cannot reveal7 hath he built1 doth he now build1 and will continue to build his church2 and therefore it is1 that the gates1 neither the power nor policy of hell1 shall ever be able to prevail against it4 ,by the influence of this almighty ,agent1 hath he promised to be with his ministers and people1 even to the end of the world4 ,and agreeable to this1 hath taught us daily to pray1 that his kingdom may come2 which being to be begun1 carried on and completed1 by one continued emanation of divine influence communicated to believers in the use of all appointed means1 can alone enable us to do ,,god's will on earth1 with any degree of that unanimity1 chearfulness1 universality and perseverance1 as it is done by the holy ,angels above4 ,and as this is the daily united prayer of the whole catholic church1 however distressed or dispersed1 and however varying as to circumstantials and non-essentials1 over the whole earth2 it followeth1 that every addition of any individual monument of divine mercy1 out of every nation1 language1 or tongue1 must be looked upon in part1 as an answer to the daily prayer of every individual believer under heaven4 ,hence1 no doubt1 it is1 that as the angels are sent forth to be ministring spirits1 to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation1 that there is said to be 8joy in heaven over every sinner that repenteth40 ,and as there is joy in heaven1 so in proportion as men rise into the nature of angels1 will there be joy also upon the same account amongst good men on earth4 ,accordingly1 the lively oracles inform us1 that 8when the ,apostles and ,brethren which were in ,judea heard that the ,gentiles also had received the word of ,,god1 they glorified him1 saying1 then hath ,,god also to the ,gentiles granted repentance unto life40 ,and conformably to this1 we are told1 that 8when ,barnabas came to ,antioch1 and saw the grace of ,,god1 he was glad40 ,and why8 ,because he was a good man1 and full of the ,holy ,ghost and of faith4 ,and as the same cause will always be productive of the same effect1 persons endued with the same benign and godlike disposition with this good man1 will always be glad when they see or hear of any scriptural marks1 or practical evidences of true and undefiled religion1 wrought in1 or appearing upon any subject of divine grace whatsoever4 ,and this joy must necessarily rise1 in proportion as such subjects1 either by their abilities1 or circumstances1 and situation in life1 promise more important and extensive usefulness in the world and church of ,,god4 ,no wonder therefore1 reverend ,sir1 that it hath gladdened the hearts of many1 and afforded matter of uncommon joy and thanksgiving to the ,father of mercies and ,,god of all consolation1 to hear1 that for some time past there hath been a more than common religious concern and zeal for promoting their own and others salvation1 among some of the sons of the ,prophets4 ,what a pleasing prospect hath hereby been opened of a future blessing to the rising generation6 ,a blessing1 which we well hoped1 would be not less salutary and beneficial to the moral1 than the new cruse of salt was to part of the natural world1 which the ,prophet ,elisha1 when complaint was made that the water was naught and the ground barren1 cast into the spring of waters1 with a 8thus saith the ,,lord1 there shall not be from thence1 any more dearth or barren land3 so the waters were healed unto this day40 ,but alas6 how is this general joy damped1 and the pleasing prospect almost totally eclipsed1 by a late melancholy scene exhibited in that very place1 from whence1 as from a fountain1 many of their preachers frequently and expresly pray1 that pure streams may for ever flow1 to water the city of the living ,,god8 ,you need not be told1 reverend ,sir1 what place ,i mean3 it was the famous university of ,oxford4 ,nor need ,i mention the scene exhibited2 it was a tribunal1 a visitatorial tribunal1 erected in ,edmund-,hall2 six pious students1 who promised to be the salt of the earth1 and lights of the world1 entire friends to the doctrines and liturgy of our church1 by a citation previously fixed upon the college door1 were summoned to appear before this tribunal4 ,they did appear2 and1 as some were pleased to term it1 were tried1 convicted1 and to close the scene1 in the chapel of the same hall1 consecrated and set apart for nobler purposes1 had the sentence of expulsion publicly read and pronounced against them4 ,so severe a sentence1 in an age when almost every kind of proper discipline is held with so lax a rein1 hath naturally excited a curiosity in all that have heard of it1 to inquire1 of what notable crime these delinquents may have been guilty1 to deserve such uncommonly rigorous treatment4 ,but how will their curiosity be turned into indignation1 when they are told1 that they were thus rigorously handled for doing no evil at all1 and that 8no fault could be found in them1 save in the law of their ,,god80 ,it is true indeed1 one article of impeachment was1 8that some of them were of trades before they entered into the university40 ,but what evil or crime worthy of expulsion can there be in that8 ,to be called from any1 though the meanest mechanic employ1 to the study of the liberal arts1 where a natural genius hath been given1 was never yet looked upon as a reproach to1 or diminution of1 any great and public character whatsoever4 ,profane history affords us a variety of examples of the greatest heroes1 who have been fetched even from the plough1 to command armies1 and who performed the greatest exploits for their country's good4 ,and if we examine sacred history1 we shall find1 that even ,david1 after he was anointed king1 looked back with sweet complacence to the rock from whence he was hewn1 and is not ashamed to leave it upon record1 that 8,,god took him away from the sheep-folds1 as he was following the ewes great with young ones20 and as though he loved to repeat it1 8he took him1 7says he7 that he might feed ,jacob his people1 and ,israel his inheritance40 ,but why speak ,i of ,david8 ,when ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,david's ,,lord1 and ,david's ,king1 had for his reputed father a carpenter1 and in all probability1 as it was a common proverb among the ,jews1 that 8he who did not teach his son a trade1 taught him to be a thief20 he worked at the trade of a carpenter himself8 ,for this1 indeed1 he was reproached and maligned2 8,is not this1 said they1 the carpenter's son8 ,nay1 is not this the carpenter80 ,but who were those maligners8 ,the greatest enemies to the power of godliness which the world ever saw1 the ,scribes and ,pharisees2 that 8generation of vipers10 as ,john the ,baptist calls them1 who upon every occasion were spitting out their venom1 and shooting forth their arrows1 even bitter words1 against that ,son of man1 even that ,son of ,,god1 who1 to display his sovereignty1 and confound the wisdom of the worldly wise1 chose poor fishermen to be his ,apostles2 and whose chief of the ,apostles1 though bred up at the feet of ,gamaliel1 both before and after his call to the apostleship1 laboured with his own hands1 and worked at the trade of a tent-maker4 ,if from such exalted and more distant1 we descend to more modern and inferior characters1 we shall find1 that very late1 not to say our present times1 furnish us with instances of some1 even of our dignitaries1 who have been called from trades that tended to help and feed the body1 not only to higher employs of a spiritual nature1 but even to preside over those that are entrusted with the cure of souls4 ,and who knows but some of these young students1 though originally mechanics1 if they had been suffered to have pursued their studies1 might have either climbed after them to some preferment in the church1 or been advanced to some office in that university from which they are now expelled8 ,one of the present reverend and worthy ,proctors1 we are told1 was formerly a ,lieutenant in the army2 and as such a military employ was no impediment to his being a minister or ,proctor1 it may be presumed1 that being formerly of trades could have been no just impediment to these young men becoming1 in process of time1 true gospel ministers and good soldiers of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,their being accustomed to prayer1 whether with or without a form1 ,i humbly apprehend1 would by no means disqualify them for the private or public discharge of any part of their ministerial function4 8,in that day1 that gospel-day1 7these last days wherein we live7 saith the great ,,god1 ,i will pour out a ,spirit of grace and a ,spirit of supplication upon the house of ,david1 and upon the inhabitants of ,jerusalem40 ,and the ,apostle ,paul speaks of it as the common privilege of all believers1 that 8the ,holy ,spirit helps their infirmities1 and maketh intercession for them with groanings which cannot be uttered40 ,forms of prayer1 certainly1 have their use2 and take it altogether1 our ,english liturgy is1 without doubt1 one of the most excellent established forms of public prayer in the world3 but then1 as no form1 in the very nature of the thing1 can possibly suit every particular case1 it is to be feared that many must never pray1 at least for the particular things they most stand in need of1 if they are so to be tied up to their forms1 that they cannot vary from them1 or use free prayer at all4 ,the great ,bishop ,wilkins therefore wisely wrote an excellent treatise on the benefit and importance of this kind of prayer3 and could our university-youth be trained up to use proper extempore prayer1 both before and after sermon2 in the opinion of all good judges1 it would be as commendable1 as that strange custom of putting off our auditories with what is called the bidding prayer2 in which there is not one petition for a blessing upon the following sermon1 and scarce any thing mentioned1 but what hath been prayed for over and over again1 in the preceding common service of our church4 ,but supposing such liberty should be denied in public1 as1 blessed be ,,god it is not1 surely we may be allowed1 at least it cannot be deemed sinful1 to use free prayer in our secret1 or private social exercises of devotion4 ,if so1 what sinners1 what great sinners must they have been1 who prayed1 and that too out of necessity1 in an extempore way1 before any forms of prayer were or could be printed or heard of8 ,the prayers we read of in scripture1 the prayers which opened and shut heaven1 the effectual1 fervent1 energetic prayers of those righteous and holy men of old1 which availed so much with ,,god1 were all of an extempore nature4 ,and ,i am apt to believe1 if not only our students and ministers1 but private christians1 were born from above1 and taught of ,,god1 as those wrestlers with ,,god were1 they would not want forms of prayer1 though we have such a variety of them1 any more than they did4 ,the sick1 the lame1 the blind1 the lepers that came to our ,,lord for healing1 wanted no book to teach them how to express their wants4 ,though some were only poor beggars1 and others1 as the self-righteous ,scribes and ,pharisees superciliously chose to term them1 8,gentile dogs10 yet1 conscious of their wants1 and having a heart-felt sense of their distress1 8out of the abundance of their hearts their mouths spake20 and the compassionate ,emmanuel1 who came to heal our sicknesses and bear our infirmities1 sent them away with a 8,go in peace1 thy faith hath made thee whole3 be it unto thee even as thou wilt40 ,how unlike1 yea how very unlike such a blessed dismission1 is the treatment these young students have lately met with at ,edmund-,hall8 who1 amongst other crimes of a like nature1 were expelled for using extempore prayer4 ,a crime not so much as mentioned in any of our law-books2 a crime1 for which1 in this last century at least1 no one hath ever been called to the bar of any public court of judicature2 and a crime1 for which1 it is to be hoped1 no student will ever hereafter be summoned to appear and hear himself expelled1 at the bar of any of the reverend ,doctors of divinity1 or heads of houses in the university of ,oxford4 ,but should any be so infatuated as to determine1 ,jehu-like1 to drive on thus furiously2 as judgment hath unhappily begun1 as it were1 at the very house of ,,god1 it is to be hoped1 that as some have been expelled for extempore praying1 we shall hear of some few others of a contrary stamp1 being expelled for extempore swearing1 which by all impartial judges must undoubtedly be acknowledged to be the greater crime of the two4 ,singing1 composing1 or reading hymns composed by others1 and doing this in company1 seems to be as little criminal1 as praying extempore4 ,when the last words of ,david are about to be recorded1 he is not only stiled1 8the son of ,jesse1 the man who was raised up on high1 the anointed of the ,,god of ,jacob10 but the grand title of being 8the sweet ,psalmist of ,israel10 brings up the rear4 ,and 8to teach and admonish one another in psalms1 and hymns1 and spiritual songs10 is as truly a scriptural command1 as 8thou shalt love the ,,lord thy ,,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy strength1 and thy neighbour as thyself40 ,when ,elisha the ,prophet was about to prophesy before two kings1 he called for a minstrel1 on which he played1 to sooth his ruffled passions1 and prepare his heart the better for the reception of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,and were the sons of the ,prophets more frequently to entertain themselves thus1 ,i believe it would be as suitable to the ministerial character1 and recommend them as much1 perhaps more1 to all serious christians1 than their tripping up their heels1 skipping and dancing at the music of a ball-room1 or playing even a first fiddle at a concert4 ,and was the voice of spiritual melody more frequently heard by those who come occasionally to visit our colleges1 it might be as much to the honour of the university1 as the more common and too1 too frequent noise of box and dice1 at the unlawful games of hazard and back-gammon4 ,popish countries1 popish seminaries1 think it no shame1 no disgrace to be heard singing the high praises of their ,,god in their convents1 their houses1 or even in their streets2 and why protestants in general1 and protestant students in particular1 should be any more ashamed of1 or restrained from the free exercise of such acts of devotion1 either alone1 or in private societies1 no good reason can be given2 unless it be proved to be good reasoning to assert1 that 8,protestants ought to be less devout than ,papists40 ,we must confess1 that ,papists1 though they take this liberty of singing and chanting privately and publicly themselves1 yet deny this liberty of conscience to our protestant assemblies2 those attending divine worship at our ambassadors chapels not excepted4 ,but for ,protestants to disuse it themselves1 and at the same time lay as it were a spiritual embargo upon their fellow ,protestants1 nay punish and expel them for so doing1 is very unaccountable4 ,what spirit then must those be of1 ,reverend ,sir1 who have lately joined in pronouncing the sentence of expulsion against six religious students1 not only for having been of trades1 and praying extempore1 but for reading and singing hymns also8 ,his ,royal ,highness the late ,duke of ,cumberland1 was of a very different disposition1 for when abroad in ,germany1 in one of our late wars1 7as ,i was informed by a person then on guard7 hearing one evening1 as he was passing by1 a company of soldiers singing at some little distance in a cave1 he asked the centinel what noise that was2 and being answered1 that some devout soldiers were singing hymns2 instead of citing them to appear before their officers1 ordering them to the whipping post1 or commanding them to be drummed out of the regiment2 acting like himself1 he only pleasingly replied1 8,are they so8 ,let them go on then1 and be as merry as they can40 ,in this he acted wisely2 for he knew1 and found by repeated experience1 as did other commanding officers1 that singing1 nay1 and praying extempore too1 in these private societies1 did not hinder1 but rather fitted and animated these devout soldiers to engage1 and to fight their country's battles in the field4 ,and it may be presumed1 that if these students had not been expelled for singing hymns1 and praying extempore1 they certainly would not have been less1 but in all probability much better prepared for handling the sword of the ,spirit1 the word of ,,god1 and fighting therewith1 either from the press or the pulpit1 the battles of the ,,lord of hosts4 removed duplicate word 8as0 ,to see or hear such divine exercises treated with reproach1 and spoken of with contempt by common and open blasphemers1 is bad2 but that any who came on purpose to be trained up for the sacred work of the ministry1 should be looked on as criminal1 and expelled at university for being sometimes employed in them1 is too sad a proof1 not only that 8our gold is become dim1 and our fine gold changed1 but that our very foundations are out of course40 ,what then must the righteous do8 8an0 replaced with 8at0 ,what indeed1 but weep and lament6 ,and weep and lament indeed they must1 especially when they hear further1 that meeting in a religious society1 giving a word of exhortation1 or expounding and commenting a little now and then upon some portion of scripture1 are not the least of the accusations for which some of these young worthies had the sentence of expulsion pronounced against them4 ,it is recorded in the ,old ,testament1 that in a degenerate age1 8those that feared the ,,lord spake often one to another2 that the ,,lord hearkened and heard1 and that a book of remembrance was written before him for those that feared the ,,lord1 and thought on his name3 and they shall be mine in that day1 saith the ,,lord1 when ,i make up my jewels2 and ,i will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him40 ,thus it was in the ,old ,testament times4 ,nor are such meetings mentioned with less approbation in the new3 for therein1 in order that we may hold the profession of our faith without wavering1 we are commanded to 8consider one another1 to provoke unto love and to good works2 not forsaking the assembling ourselves together1 but exhorting one another1 and so much the more1 as we see the day approaching40 ,nay1 one immediate consequence of that grand effusion of the ,holy ,ghost on the day of ,pentecost1 we are told1 was this1 that 8they who gladly received the word1 and were baptized1 continued stedfast in the ,apostles doctrine1 in fellowship1 in breaking of bread1 and in prayer40 ,this is a short1 but withal a full and blessed account of the first truly apostolic primitive church2 and we may venture to affirm1 that as we are more or less partakers of a true apostolic primitive spirit1 such kind of religious1 fellowship-meetings1 will in proportion increase or decrease among us4 ,to talk therefore1 or write1 or preach against1 or by private persuasion or open violence to oppose1 or endeavour to suppress1 and discountenance such kind of religious societies1 is flying1 as it were1 in the very face of the scriptures of truth1 and of the ,holy ,ghost himself4 ,in all charters granted by the crown1 wherein authority is given to bodies corporate to enact laws1 it is always with this limitation1 8that no laws shall be enacted by such bodies corporate1 contrary to the laws of the realm40 ,and as the scriptures are our grand ,codex ,legum and ,magna ,charta1 in respect to our religious principles and practices2 what affront must we put upon our country in general1 and the church of ,england in particular1 even by barely imagining1 that any law now exists which prohibits her members from frequenting such societies as have the divine authority and superscription1 so apparently stamped upon them8 ,the private meetings that are in any wise deemed and denounced illegal1 are such1 and such only1 as are seditious1 and composed of seditious persons2 who associate1 indeed under a pretence of religion1 but in reality to plot against the state4 ,the sooner any that can be convicted of this1 are made to forsake the assembling themselves together1 the better2 and though composed of a threefold1 three hundred fold1 nay a three thousand fold cord1 no matter if1 like the cords wherewith the ,philistines bound ,sampson1 they were immediately broken4 ,but as nothing of this nature can with the least shadow of truth be objected against the meetings and societies frequented by these students1 but quite the contrary urged in their favour2 if scripture and the practice of the primitive christians are to be our guides1 they ought not only to be permitted1 but be countenanced and encouraged by every true lover of our church and nation4 ,and supposing1 that in any such religious society one of them should venture now and then to drop a word of exhortation1 or even attempt in a small degree to open1 expound1 or enlarge upon some practical text of scripture1 how can even this be looked upon as illegal1 much less sinful1 or worthy of expulsion8 when1 ,i could almost say1 it is a necessary preparation for the future service of the sanctuary4 ,to be 8apt to teach10 is one indispensable qualification required by scripture in a ,bishop and ,presbyter4 ,but how can this aptness or an habit of teaching be acquired1 without the exercise of previous acts8 ,or what business is there in the world1 even from the lowest mechanic1 to the highest profession amongst us1 7except that of divinity7 wherein pupils1 clerks1 nay common apprentices1 are not by previous exercises trained up for a complete proficiency in their respective callings and occupations8 ,our all-wise ,master1 we know1 sent his ,disciples on short excursions1 before he gave them the more extensive commission to go into all the world3 and were our students in general1 under proper limitations1 to be thus exercised and employed1 while they are keeping terms at the university1 or among their poor neighbours in the country1 when they return home in time of vacation1 they would not turn out such meer novices1 or make such awkward figures1 as too many raw creatures do1 when they make their first appearance in the pulpit4 ,i remember1 above thirty years ago1 after some young students had been visiting the sick and imprisoned1 and had been giving a word of exhortation in a private house1 that upon meeting the ordinary and minister of the parish in their return to college1 they frankly told him what they had been doing2 upon which1 he turned to them1 and said1 8,,god bless you2 ,i wish we had more such young curates40 ,a milder1 and therefore a more christian sentence this1 than that of a late expulsion for the very same supposed crimes and misdemeanors4 ,as for the reports of these young students being accused or condemned1 for barely being acquainted with1 or the occasional visitors of some of the most laborious1 pains-taking1 worthy parish-ministers in ,england1 it is almost altogether incredible4 ,and yet the standers-by1 as well as the supposed culprits themselves1 we are informed1 aver this to be real matter of fact3 attended with this melancholy aggravation1 that they were hissed at1 pushed about1 and treated in a manner that the vilest criminal is not allowed to be treated1 either at the ,old-,baily1 or any court of justice in the kingdom4 ,we are likewise told1 that a copy of their indictment was asked for1 but denied them2 and not only so1 but that one1 from whose polite behaviour in the worldly walk1 better things might have been expected1 was heard to say1 as he came out of chapel1 to their grand accuser1 after sentence of expulsion was pronounced1 that 8he would have the thanks of the whole university for that day's work40 ,pudet hc opprobria nobis ,et dici potuisse1 et non potuisse refelli4 ,what thanks1 reverend ,sir1 he may meet with from the whole university1 ,i know not2 but one thing ,i know1 that he will receive no thanks for that day's work from the innumerable company of angels1 the general assembly of the first-born1 which are written in heaven1 or from ,,god the judge of all1 in that day when ,,jesus1 the ,mediator of the new covenant shall come in his own glory1 in the glory of the ,father1 and his holy angels1 and gather in his elect from all the four corners of the world4 ,but1 reverend ,sir1 may we not presume to hope1 that this voluntary speaker for the whole university1 whoever he be1 it maketh no matter to me1 was somewhat out1 and mistaken in his calculation4 ,for it seems1 not above three or four doctors1 if so many1 were present1 at least sat as judges at this extraordinary tribunal4 ,the worthy ,provost of ,queen's 7and undoubtedly many other worthy heads of houses were and are like-minded7 was for prescribing more lenient methods2 and all are glad to hear1 that these young students worthy principal1 who must necessarily be supposed to be the best judge of their principles1 practices1 and qualifications1 boldly stood up in their defence1 asserted their innocence1 confronted their accusers1 and brought in books to vindicate both their principles and conduct4 ,but how this worthy principal1 as well as the pupils1 were treated1 is best known to those who had an active hand in all4 ,however1 as the ,holy ,ghost hath left it upon record1 to the honour of ,nicodemus1 that he stood up in defence of our ,,lord before the whole ,jewish sanhedrim1 and was not consenting to his death2 so wherever this act of expulsion is recorded 7and recorded it will be1 even to latest posterity7 it will be mentioned to the honour of ,doctor ,,dixon1 7and for acting thus he will have the thanks of all moderate1 serious1 sober-minded christians in the three kingdoms7 that he had no hand in1 but did all he possibly could to prevent these young mens expulsion4 ,an expulsion for articles of impeachment to which indeed the accused pleaded guilty2 but for articles which 7wherever hereafter they may be called to minister in holy things7 will be their best testimonial2 and their expulsion for holding and confessing those articles1 the strongest letters of recommendation4 ,how these young worthies are now to be disposed of1 or how they will dispose of themselves1 as it was not so much as hinted that they had the least connection with me1 is not my business to inquire4 ,but surely such an expulsion as this1 cannot deter them from pursuing their preparations for their ministerial calling3 friends they cannot want1 because 8he is faithful who hath promised1 that whosoever forsaketh father or mother1 houses or lands1 for his sake or the gospel's1 he shall have an hundred fold in this life1 with persecution1 and in the world to come life everlasting40 ,but if any act so dastardly1 as to make unscriptural concessions1 or be terrified by unscriptural1 and therefore mere bruta fulmina1 if they were of trades before1 the sooner they return again to their trades the better3 for it is to be feared1 such cowards would only make a trade of the ministry if they were admitted into the church1 and the fewer of such kind of tradesmen our church is troubled with1 the safer she will be4 ,but what a mercy is it1 reverend ,sir1 that we live under a free government1 under a ,king whose royal grandfather repeatedly declared 7and he was as good as his word through a long and glorious reign7 that there should be no persecution in his time2 under a ,king who in his first most gracious and never to be forgotten speech from the throne1 gave his people the strongest assurances 8that it was his fixt purpose1 as the best means to draw down the divine favour on his reign1 to countenance and encourage the practice of true religion and virtue1 and maintain the toleration inviolable40 ,that both students and common people will be in danger of being tempted by such violent proceedings1 to put themselves under the act of toleration1 may easily be foreseen3 and it may as easily be guessed1 how such treatment will necessarily discourage serious people from sending their sons to the university1 at least to the university of ,oxford2 and at the same time will furnish them with a new argument for entering their youth in some of our dissenting academies1 where they will be in no danger1 it is presumed1 of being expelled for singing hymns1 speaking a little now and then in a religious society1 or using extempore prayer4 ,alas6 alas6 in what a disadvantageous point of light1 must all concerned in such an extraordinary stretch of university-discipline stand1 among all foreign universities whatsoever8 ,in what point of light it will be viewed by our ecclesiastical superiors at home1 a very little time will discover4 ,nay1 it is to be feared1 the discovery is made already3 for by a letter dated so lately as ,march #bi1 it appears that a certain venerable society 8on account of some circumstances that have lately happened 7probably the circumstances of a late expulsion7 are under a necessity of coming to a resolution1 to accept of no recommendation for persons to go abroad as missionaries1 but such as have had a literary education1 and have been bred up with a design to dedicate themselves to the ministry40 ,this resolution seems to be taken1 in order the better to prevent any of these cast-outs1 or any other laymen1 however otherwise well qualified and recommended1 from applying to the society for holy orders1 that they may be employed and sent abroad as missionaries4 ,but to what a sad dilemma will many serious persons be hereby reduced8 ,they must not1 by such resolutions it seems1 be allowed to be lay-preachers1 and yet if sent by their friends to the university to pursue their studies1 in order that they may be regularly and episcopally ordained1 if they sing hymns1 pray extempore1 or give a word of exhortation in a religious society1 though entirely made up of the members of the established church1 they must be ipso facto expelled for so doing4 ,o tempora6 ,o mores6 ,if matters proceed in this channel1 of what stamp1 ,reverend ,sir1 may we not suppose1 our future missionaries to the islands and continent will be8 ,to my certain knowledge1 all of them are not looked upon as very burning and shining lights already4 ,but if what little light of true religion some may have1 is to be thus damped by acts of expulsion before they leave the university1 and even this little light1 as far as lies in the power of man1 is to be thus turned into total darkness1 how great must that darkness be6 ,surely it must be worse than ,egyptian darkness2 a darkness that will be most deplorably felt by all true lovers of our common salvation both at home and abroad4 ,you need not be apprized1 ,reverend ,sir1 that a design for the establishment of episcopacy in our islands and plantations1 hath been long upon the tapis2 and that it hath been1 in part at least1 the subject of annual sermons for several years last past4 ,no longer ago than in the year #agff1 the present ,bishop of ,landaff insisted upon the necessity and expediency of it in the most explicit manner2 nay1 his ,lordship carries the matter so far1 as to assure us that this point1 the establishment of episcopacy1 being obtained1 8the ,american church will go out of its infant state2 be able to stand upon its own legs1 and without foreign help support and spread itself3 and then this society will have been brought to the happy issue intended40 ,whether these assertions of his ,lordship1 when weighed in a proper balance1 will not in some degree be found wanting1 is not for me to determine4 ,but supposing the reasoning to be just1 and his ,lordship's assertions true1 then ,i fear it will follow1 that a society1 which since its first institution hath been looked upon as a society for propagating the ,gospel1 hath been all the while rather a society for propagating ,episcopacy in foreign parts3 and if so1 and if it ever should appear1 that our ,right ,reverend ,archbishops and ,bishops do in the least countenance and encourage the unscriptural proceedings at ,edmund-,hall1 how must it increase the prejudices of our colonists1 both in the islands and on the continent1 against the establishment of episcopacy6 ,that persons of all ranks1 from ,quebec down to the two ,floridas1 are at this time prejudiced1 and more than prejudiced against it1 is very notorious2 but how will the very thought of the introduction of ,lords ,bishops even make them shudder8 if their ,lordships should think proper to countenance the expulsion of such worthy and truly religious students1 whilst those who have no religion at all perhaps1 may not only meet with countenance1 but approbation and applause4 ,besides1 if such proceedings should be continued1 7which ,,god forbid67 what little credit may we suppose will hereafter be given to future university-testimonials1 that the bearers of them have behaved studiously1 soberly1 and piously2 and how must we in time be put under a disagreeable necessity of having a new1 or at least of altering some part of our present most excellent ordination-office8 ,as it now stands1 one of the questions proposed to every candidate for holy orders runs thus3 8,do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the holy ghost80 ,but if all students are to be expelled that sing hymns1 pray extempore1 attend upon1 or expound a verse now and then1 in a religious church of ,england society1 should it not rather1 ,reverend ,sir1 be worded thus1 namely1 8,do ye trust that ye are ,,not inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost to take upon you the office and administration of the church80 ,you will excuse this freedom1 ,reverend ,sir4 ,agitur de vit et sanguine turni4 ,love to ,,god1 love to mankind in general1 and love to that university1 that alma mater where ,i had the honour of being educated1 and1 what is infinitely more1 where ,i had the happiness of receiving the witness of the ,spirit of ,,god in my heart1 all together constrain me4 ,the news of these young mens expulsion hath made1 and will make the ears of all who have heard1 or shall hear of it1 to tingle3 and therefore if some do not speak1 and use great plainness of speech too1 the very stones would1 as it were1 cry out against us4 ,in respect to myself1 ,reverend ,sir1 ,i hope1 that in taking the freedom of troubling you with this1 ,i do not justly incur the censure of acting as a busy-body in other mens matters4 ,for1 whatever other pretences may be made1 such as disqualification in respect to learning1 age1 the being of trades1 c4 c4 c4 7,nug tricque calend7 it is notorious and obvious to all intelligent persons1 that the grand cause of these young mens expulsion was this1 namely1 that they were either real or reputed ,,methodists4 ,an honour this indeed1 unwittingly put on ,methodists1 whoever or whatever they be2 since scarce any now-a days can pray extempore1 sing hymns1 go to church or meeting1 and abound in other acts of devotion1 but they must be immediately dubbed ,methodists4 ,i say1 dubbed ,methodists2 for it is not a name given to them by themselves1 but was imposed on them by some of their fellow students and contemporaries in the university4 ,i take it for granted1 ,reverend ,sir1 that you need not be apprized that ,i am one of these ,methodists2 and blessed be ,,god ,i have had the honour of being one of them for about thirty-five years4 ,if this is to be vile1 may ,i be more vile6 ,if this be my shame1 upon the most mature and serious reflection ,i really glory in it4 ,but then1 lest any more innocent youths should hereafter suffer barely for the imputation of a nick-name1 give me leave simply and honestly to inform you1 ,reverend ,sir1 and through you the whole university1 what not barely a reputed1 but a real ,methodist is3 8,he is one of those whom ,,god hath chosen in ,,christ out of mankind1 to bring them by ,,christ to everlasting salvation1 as vessels made to honour2 wherefore they1 who be endued with so excellent a benefit of ,,god1 are called according to ,,god's purpose by his spirit working in due season3 they1 through grace1 obey the calling2 they be justified freely2 and made the sons of ,,god by adoption3 they are conformed to the image of his only begotten ,son ,,jesus ,,christ2 they walk religiously in good works2 and at length1 by ,,god's mercy1 they attain everlasting felicity40 ,this is the true portrait of a ,methodist1 drawn at full length1 drawn to the very life1 and that too not by an ignorant modern dauber1 but by those good old skilful scriptural limners1 ,cranmer1 ,latimer1 ,ridley1 in the xviith article of our church2 an article that deserves to be written in letters of gold2 and yet1 for holding of this very article in its literal grammatical sense1 agreeable to his subscription at the time of matriculation1 one of these young students1 as we have been informed1 was expelled4 ,if our information be wrong in this or any other respect1 the nation may soon be set right by an authentic publication of the whole judicial proceedings4 ,if you should desire1 ,reverend ,sir1 a definition of ,methodism itself1 as well as of a ,methodist1 you may easily be gratified4 ,it is no more nor less than 8faith working by love4 ,a holy method of living and dying1 to the glory of ,,god40 ,it is an universal morality1 founded upon the love of ,,god shed abroad in the heart by the ,holy ,ghost3 or1 to keep to the exact terms made use of in the last collect of our excellent liturgy1 it is 8the grace of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 the love of ,,god1 and the fellowship of the ,holy ,ghost20 which we cannot go to church or chapel on ,sundays1 holidays1 or other common days1 without praying1 not that it may be driven from1 but be with us all evermore4 ,if this be enthusiasm1 the true ,methodists confess themselves to be enthusiasts4 ,but then1 they humbly apprehend1 that they cannot with any just propriety of speech be termed modern enthusiasts2 for it is an enthusiasm which our blessed ,,lord earnestly insists upon1 in that prayer which he put up when he was about to take his farewel of his disciples1 and which is a pattern of that all-prevailing intercession which ,he is now making at the right hand of ,,god1 and demands that all his disciples may be possessed of2 8,father1 ,i will that those whom thou hast given me1 may be with me where ,i am2 that they may be one with me1 even as thou1 ,o ,father1 and ,i are one3 ,i in them1 and they in me1 that they all may be made perfect in one40 ,an enthusiasm1 with which ,peter and ,john were fired1 when ,annas the high-priest1 and ,caiaphas1 and ,john1 and ,alexander1 and as many as were of the kindred of the high-priest1 seeing their boldness1 and perceiving that they were unlearned and ignorant men1 marvelled1 and took knowledge of them that they had been with ,,jesus4 ,an enthusiasm1 with which the proto-martyr ,stephen was filled1 when he cried1 8,ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears1 ye do always resist the ,holy ,ghost40 ,an enthusiasm1 which ,ignatius supposed by some to be one of those little children which the ,,lord ,,jesus took up in his arms1 was absorbed in1 when he stiles himself a bearer of ,,god2 and for witnessing of which good confession1 in order to cure him of this enthusiasm1 he was ordered by ,trajan1 the ,roman emperor1 to be thrown to the lions4 ,an enthusiasm1 for which ,cranmer1 ,ridley1 and ,latimer1 those glorious lights of the reformation1 those excellent compilers of our liturgy1 articles1 and homilies1 were burnt alive near ,baliol college4 ,and1 to mention but one more1 too too recent an example1 an enthusiasm1 for being only a little tinctured with which1 six students1 on ,march #aath1 in the year of our ,,lord #agfh1 were publicly expelled in ,edmund-,hall chapel4 ,but think you1 ,reverend ,sir1 that this is the way to stop the progress of this enthusiasm8 ,or rather1 may we not imagine that this very act of expulsion will be a means of furthering and promoting its progress far and near8 ,to speak my own thoughts1 ,i am fully persuaded1 that if such unscriptural methods of stopping this enthusiasm be pursued further1 it will be only like cutting off the ,lyrnean head2 instead of one1 an hundred will spring up4 ,indeed1 if the picture of modern enthusiasts1 drawn up and presented to the public by your ,right ,reverend ,diocesan1 be a just and proper one1 supposing at the same time the ,methodists are thereby referred to1 no matter how soon they are banished out of the university1 and out of the church also3 for his ,lordship is pleased to tell us 8that they act in direct opposition to the perverse pharisees of old2 these ascribed the works of the ,holy ,ghost to ,beelzebub2 and it is no uncommon thing for these modern enthusiasts1 adds his ,lordship1 to ascribe the works of ,beelzebub to the ,holy ,spirit40 ,surely his ,lordship1 by these modern enthusiasts1 cannot mean those who apply for holy orders1 and profess before men and angels1 that 8they are inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 to take upon them the office and administration of the church20 when the searcher of hearts knows that they are moved only by secular views and worldly hopes of preferment4 ,this is ascribing the works of ,beelzebub to the ,spirit of ,,god with a witness3 or1 to use the words of a no less learned1 though less censorious prelate2 ,i mean the moderate ,bishop ,burnet1 8it is a committing the horrid crime of ,ananias and ,sapphira over again2 it is lying1 not only unto man1 but unto ,,god40 ,this is a modern kind of enthusiasm1 ,reverend ,sir1 which the true old ,methodists always did1 and ,i trust always will abjure1 detest and abhor4 ,if worldly church preferments had been their aim1 some of them at least might have had worldly ladders enough let down to them to climb up by3 but having received a kind of apostolical commission at their ordination1 when those who profess themselves lineal successors of the ,apostles1 said unto them1 8,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost now committed unto you by the imposition of our hands30 they would fain keep up and maintain something of the dignity of an apostolic character2 and therefore1 without ever so much as designing to enter into any political cabals1 or civil or church factions whatsoever1 without turning to the right hand or the left1 or troubling the world with so much as one single sermon or pamphlet1 on the bare externals of religion2 they have endeavoured to have but one thing in view1 namely1 to determine to think of nothing1 to know nothing1 and to preach of nothing but ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified2 to spend and be spent for the good of souls1 and to glory in nothing save in the cross of ,,christ1 by whom the world is crucified unto them and they unto the world4 ,it is true1 by thinking and acting thus1 the ,methodists have been1 and it is presumed always will be1 charged and condemned by men of corrupt minds1 as thinking and acting irregularly and disorderly3 but as such a charge1 in the very nature of the thing1 supposes a deviation from some settled standing rule1 they would humbly ask1 wherein the irregularity and disorderliness of this way of acting and thinking doth specifically consist8 ,is it irregular and disorderly to be 8instant in season and out of season80 ,is it irregular and disorderly to do what every ,bishop at the very time of our being ordained priests positively tells us pertaineth to their office1 8to seek after the children of ,,god1 scattered abroad in this naughty world80 ,is it irregular and disorderly after we have established the truth of what we deliver in our sermons by scripture proofs1 further to confirm and illustrate them by repeated and particular quotations1 taken from the liturgy1 articles1 and homilies of our established church8 ,is it irregular and disorderly to fill her pews1 to croud her communion tables1 and to recommend a frequent and constant devout attendance upon her public offices and services8 ,or1 supposing they should1 merely by caprice or prejudice1 be denied the privilege of preaching within the church1 can it be justly termed irregular or disorderly1 at least can it possibly be looked upon as criminal1 to preach the same truths1 to make use of the same kind of illustrations1 to repeat the self-same recommendations without the church walls1 in the fields1 or any other place whatsoever8 ,the late candid ,bishop of ,lincoln1 ,i am positive1 did not think such a way of acting altogether so very criminal3 for in a charge given to his clergy some years before his translation to the see of ,salisbury1 he told them to this effect1 8that they were not to look upon themselves as ministers of a ,plato1 a ,pythagoras1 or any other heathen philosopher1 consequently they were not to entertain their auditories with mere moral harangues2 but that they were to consider themselves as ministers of ,,jesus ,,christ2 and therefore if they would not preach the gospel in the church1 they could not be justly angry if the poor people went out to hear it in a field40 ,a charge this1 truly worthy of a sober-minded1 moderate1 wise ,bishop of the ,church of ,england4 ,for even in acting thus seemingly irregular and disorderly1 these modern enthusiasts only copy after the greatest and brightest examples the world ever saw1 and whose examples it is more than criminal not to follow or copy after4 ,our blessed ,,lord1 when denied the use of the synagogues1 on seeing the multitude1 went up and chose a mountain for his pulpit1 and the heavens for his sounding board4 ,at other times he sat by the sea-side1 nay1 went into a ship and preached1 whilst the whole multitude stood on the shore4 ,when ,peter and ,john1 that this kind of enthusiasm might spread no further among the people1 were straitly threatened and commanded that they should thenceforth speak at all to no man in ,,christ's name1 they calmly yet boldly replied unto their threatners and commanders1 8,whether it be right in the sight of ,,god1 to hearken unto you1 more than unto ,,god1 judge ye3 for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard40 ,a certain woman1 named ,lydia1 a seller of purple1 had her heart opened when the great apostle of the ,gentiles was preaching and praying by a river-side2 and ,dionysius the ,areopagite1 a woman named ,damaris1 and others1 believed1 and clave unto the same ,apostle1 from the time they heard him preach in the midst of ,areopagus1 or ,mars-hill4 ,and we may suppose he was not less successful when he was obliged by the angry ,jews to preach in the school of one ,tyrannus4 ,i believe you will agree1 ,reverend ,sir1 that the venerable ,fox and ,bradford did not appear less venerable for preaching at ,pauls-cross2 neither did ,i ever hear that ,bishop ,latimer was looked upon as degrading his episcopal character1 when he used to preach in ,cotton-,garden ,westminster1 and ,king ,edward the sixth1 that ,josiah of his age1 with some of his court1 looked out at the palace window to hear him4 ,and ,i hereby appeal to the whole university1 whether the ,reverend ,doctors of divinity1 heads of houses1 graduates or under-graduates1 ever looked upon it as criminal1 or beneath the dignity of their place and station1 to sit out in the open air on ,st4 ,john ,baptist's day1 to hear a master of arts preach from the stone pulpit in ,maudling-,college yard2 though1 for fear it may be they should give further sanction to field-preaching1 they have lately thought proper to adjourn into the chapel8 ,you know1 ,reverend ,sir1 who it was1 that when those who were bidden in a regular way refused to come to the wedding-supper1 without asking any one's leave for so doing1 sent forth some irregulars into the lanes and streets of the city1 into the highways and hedges1 with that glorious encouraging commission1 not by fines and imprisonments1 not by threats and expulsions1 not by killing the body for the good of the soul1 but by filling their mouths with gospel arguments1 backed with the all-powerful energy of the ,holy ,ghost1 to compel poor1 wandering1 weary1 heavy laden sinners to come in4 ,armed with this panoply divine1 and1 as they think1 authorised by the same ,,lord1 some few of us continue to this day1 amongst small and great1 high and low1 rich and poor1 in church or chapel1 in commons1 streets1 fields1 whensoever or wheresoever divine providence opens a door1 8to testify repentance towards ,,god and faith in our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ20 and this not from contempt of1 or in opposition to the godly admonitions of our ecclesiastical superiors1 but because 8the love of ,,christ constraineth us20 and we think that a wo1 a dreadful wo1 awaits us if we preach not the gospel4 ,not that we are enemies to a decent or even episcopal consecration1 or setting apart churches and chapels for divine and holy worship3 but we are more indifferent about the reputed outward sanctity of places1 because our ,,lord1 with great solemnity1 said unto the woman of ,samaria1 8,woman1 believe me1 the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain1 nor yet at ,jerusalem1 worship the ,father3 but the hour cometh1 and now is1 when the true worshippers shall worship the ,father in ,spirit and in truth40 ,hence we infer1 that every place is then1 and only then properly called holy1 when like the ground around the burning bush1 it is made holy by the divine presence of ,him who spake to ,moses out of the bush2 or like mount ,tabor1 which by the ,apostle ,peter is called1 by way of emphasis1 the holy mount1 because himself and ,james and ,john1 not only had upon that mount a visible outward manifestation1 but also a blessed inward heart-felt sense of the ,redeemer's excellent glory4 ,it was undoubtedly this which made ,peter to break out into that exclamation3 8,master1 it is good for us to be here40 ,and it was this that warmed1 and not only warmed1 but constrained the enraptured ,patriarch ,jacob1 when he had only the ground for his bed1 the stones for his pillow1 and the open firmament for his curtains and furniture1 to break forth into that extatic language1 8,how dreadful is this place6 this is no other than the house of ,,god1 this is the gate of heaven40 ,if then1 ,reverend ,sir1 for this and such like things we are accounted irregular and disorderly1 we are truly sorry for it3 sorry1 but not upon our own accounts1 having the testimony of a good conscience that we act with a single eye1 and in direct conformity to the authority of the word of ,,god3 but we are sorry1 barely on account of our impeachers and condemners1 especially for those1 who being set apart for the ministerial office1 and loaded with ecclesiastical preferments1 preach very seldom1 or not at all2 or1 if they do preach now and then1 preach only as though they were barely reading wall-lectures1 and seldom or ever so much as mention or quote the homilies of our church1 though they have subscribed to an article which says1 that 8they contain godly and wholesome doctrine1 and which judges them to be read in churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly1 that they may be understood of the people40 ,it is to be feared1 that it is owing to such irregularity and disorder as this1 that when our people hear of our articles or homilies quoted by some few in the pulpit1 that they are ready to cry out1 8,what new doctrine is this8 ,thou bringest certain strange things to our ears30 ,at least if it is not so at home1 ,i am sure it is abroad4 ,hence it was that about three years ago1 after ,i had been preaching to a very large auditory in one of the most polite places on the continent of ,america1 and in preaching1 as is my usual custom1 had strongly been recommending the book of homilies1 numbers were stirred up to go to the stores to purchase them3 but upon enquiring after the book of homilies1 the storekeeper1 surprized at the novelty of the word homilies1 begged leave to know what muslins they meant1 and whether they were not hummims4 ,what a pity therefore is it1 ,reverend ,sir1 that the book of homilies1 which ought to be in every hand1 and as common as our common prayer books1 should never yet have found a place in the large catalogue of books given away by the truly laudable society for promoting christian knowledge1 though founded soon after the glorious revolution4 ,if this be not remedied some way or another1 we shall very soon become disorderly indeed3 our pulpits will still continue to contradict our reading-desks1 and we shall never have the honour of being stiled regular and orderly1 till1 regardless of subscriptions1 oaths1 rubrics1 and ordination-offices themselves1 our practices give the lie to our professions1 and we seek the fleece not the flock1 and 8preach ourselves1 and not ,,christ ,,jesus the ,,lord40 ,dead formalists1 and proud self-righteous bigots1 may loudly exclaim and cry out1 8the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord are we60 ,they may not only cry out1 but also cast out2 and thinking they thereby do ,,god service1 though most notoriously deficient in their own moral conduct1 may plead conscience1 and say1 8,let the ,,lord be glorified40 ,but to such as these our ,,lord once said1 8,ye are they that justify yourselves before men1 but ,,god knoweth your hearts40 ,like the chief priests1 and the scribes and pharisees of old1 they may plead their law2 for the breach of which1 these irregulars1 as they imagine1 ought to be condemned and suffer2 nay1 a time may come when they may be permitted to enforce their clamorous accusations1 by urging1 as their godly predecessors once did against our ,master1 that 8we found these fellows perverting the nation1 and forbidding to give tribute unto ,csar3 but ,pilate knew that for envy they delivered ,him40 ,and though they could plead their loyalty1 and say1 8,if thou let this man go1 thou art not ,csar's friend1 we have no king but ,csar20 yet both our ,,lord and his ,apostles rendered themselves1 and strictly taught all that heard them1 to 8render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and unto ,,god the things that are ,,god's40 ,fain would the ,methodists copy after such gloriously divine examples3 and blessed be ,,god1 after a trial of near forty years1 upon the most severe scrutiny1 their loyalty cannot be justly so much as once called in question3 for1 as they fear ,,god1 so they dearly love and honour their ,king1 their rightful sovereign ,king ,george2 and have been1 and continue to be1 steady1 invariable friends to the protestant succession in the illustrious house of ,hanover4 ,and if so1 supposing these ,methodists should be convicted of acting somewhat irregular1 since it is only the irregularity of preaching and recommending unfeigned love to ,,god1 and1 for his great name sake1 undissembled1 disinterested loyalty to their ,king2 is it not the interest as well as duty of civil government1 if not to encourage1 yet not to oppose them8 ,for it is certainly a most incontestable truth1 that every additional proselyte to true ,methodism1 is an additional loyal subject to ,king ,george the ,third1 whom1 with his royal most amiable consort1 our gracious ,queen ,charlotte1 the ,methodists with one united voice earnestly pray1 ,,god long to continue to be a nursing father and nursing mother to our church1 and people of every denomination whatsoever4 ,every body is loudly complaining of the badness of our times1 and the degeneracy of our morals4 ,sinners now proclaim their sin like ,sodom1 and the nation hath suffered more than a second deluge by an innundation of every sin1 and every kind of corruption that was ever committed or practised under heaven3 8,the whole head is sick1 the whole heart faint2 from the crown of the head to the sole of our feet1 we are full of wounds and bruises1 and putrifying sores40 ,shall there no man be found then to stand in the gap8 ,none dare to attempt at least to stem the impetuous torrent8 ,none venture to go out with their lives in their hand1 and cry to a profane1 careless1 busy world1 8,ho6 every one that thirsteth1 come ye to the waters40 ,can any considerate1 much more can any real good man be so cruel1 as even to wish that the gospel should be confined either to church or meeting1 when there are so many thousands and tens of thousands1 who as to spiritual things1 know not their right hand from their left1 and who never go either to church or meeting at all8 ,if some are called to be settled ministers 7and may the great ,head of the church fill all our parish-churches and meeting-houses with true evangelical pastors67 may not others be called out to be itinerants8 ,have there not been presbyters at large1 even from the earliest times of christianity8 ,and if some of a more inferior rank and order should be qualified1 and thrust forth by the great ,,lord of the harvest1 when the harvest is so great1 and the labourers so few1 who shall dare to say to ,him1 8,what dost thou80 ,shall our eye be evil because he is good8 ,if ,isaiah was a courtier1 was not the ,prophet ,amos a herdsman8 ,in the days of ,moses1 when the ,israelites were under a more immediate divine theocracy1 news was brought him1 and that too even by a ,joshua1 that ,eldad and ,medad were prophesying in the camp1 without his licence or his ordination2 what doth this meek man of ,,god say8 8,enviest thou for my sake8 ,would to ,,god all the ,,lord's people were prophets40 ,and in the days of our ,,lord himself1 his beloved disciple ,john1 before his heart was more enlarged by divine love1 said unto him2 8,master1 we saw one casting out devils in thy name1 and he followeth not with us1 and we forbad him1 because he followeth not with us40 ,but what said ,,jesus1 that good ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls8 8,forbid him not40 ,such instances1 such striking instances as these1 methinks1 should make good men careful not to give way to a narrow1 selfish1 bigotted spirit2 and caution them against joining with the world in smiting their fellow-servants1 by crying down or speaking slightingly and reproachfully of a method of preaching and acting1 which1 maugre all opposition1 for these thirty years last past hath been blessed and owned of ,,god to the converting of thousands2 not to a bare name1 sect1 or party1 or merely to head or notional knowledge2 but 8from darkness unto light1 from the power of ,satan unto ,,god20 from holding the mere form1 to the true abiding possession and practice of true scriptural godliness1 in heart1 lip1 and life4 ,but if good or bad men now dislike1 and therefore oppose such an irregular way of acting1 they may be told to their comfort1 that their uneasiness on this account1 in all probability1 will not be of long continuance2 for few will choose to bid1 or offer themselves candidates for such airy pluralities3 to go thus without the camp1 bearing all manner of reproach2 to become in this manner2 8,spectacles to ,,god1 to angels1 and to men20 to sacrifice not only our natural1 but spiritual affections and connections1 and to part from those who are as dear to them as their own souls1 in order to pass the ,atlantic1 and bear the colds and heats of foreign climes2 these are such uninviting things to corrupt nature1 that if we will have but a little patience till a few old weary heads are laid in the silent grave1 these uncommon gospel-meteors1 these field-phenomenas1 that seldom appear in the latitude of ,england1 scarce above once in a century1 without the help of any coercive means1 will of themselves soon disappear4 ,they begin to be pretty well in disrepute already3 yet a little while1 and in all human probability they will quite vanish away4 ,but though ,i am neither a prophet1 nor the son of a prophet1 ,i am greatly mistaken1 if in the ,redeemer's own good time and way1 some spiritual phnix will not hereafter arise1 some blessed gospel-instrument be raised1 that shall make the devil and his three-fold army1 8,the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life10 to fly before the sound of the gospel trumpet4 ,i have dwelt the longer upon this particular1 ,reverend ,sir1 because the present learned ,bishop of ,gloucester1 in his late volume1 intitled1 8,the ,doctrine of ,grace10 is pleased to observe more than once1 that he finds fault not so much with the matter1 as the manner of the ,methodists preaching4 ,but if by the manner1 his ,lordship would have us to understand1 not their manner of preaching in the field1 but the manner of their delivery1 whether in the church or field1 ,i would humbly ask his ,lordship1 if he ever heard any of them preach8 ,if not1 doth our law condemn any man1 or any set of men1 unheard8 ,and ,i would humbly enquire further of his ,lordship1 and all others whom it may concern1 how they would have them or any others to preach8 ,i remember the great ,doctor ,delany1 when ,i had the honour of being with him1 many years ago1 at the ,right ,reverend ,dr4 ,boulter's1 then ,lord ,primate of ,ireland1 among other hints proper for a young preacher1 gave me to understand1 that whenever he went up into a pulpit1 he desired to look upon it as the last time he should ever preach1 or the last time that the people should ever hear him4 ,o that all preachers1 whether within or without doors1 however dignified or distinguished1 went always up into their respective pulpits thus impressed6 ,they would then preach1 as ,apelles once said he painted1 for ,eternity4 ,they would then act the part of true gospel christian orators1 and not only calmly and coolly inform the understanding1 but by persuasive pathetic address1 endeavour to move the affections1 and warm the heart4 ,to act otherwise1 bespeaks a sad ignorance of human nature1 and such an inexcuseable indolence and indifference in the preacher1 as must constrain the hearers1 whether they will or not1 to suspect1 that the preacher1 let him be who he will1 only deals in the false commerce of unfelt truths4 8cooly0 replaced with 8coolly0 ,were our lawyers1 our counsellors1 or our players to act thus1 both the bar and the stage would soon be deserted2 and therefore the answer of ,mr4 ,betterton1 to a worthy prelate1 when he asked him1 8,how it came to pass that the clergy1 who spoke of things real1 affected the people so little1 and the players1 who spoke of things barely imaginary1 affected them so much10 is worthy of lasting regard4 8,my ,lord1 says ,mr4 ,betterton1 ,i can assign but one reason1 which is1 we players speak of things imaginary as though they were real1 and too many of the clergy speak of things real as though they were imaginary40 ,thus it was in his1 and all know it is too much the case in our time3 hence it is1 that even on our most important occasions1 the worthy gentlemen concerned in our public charities1 generally find themselves more obliged to the musicians than the preachers1 for the largeness of their collections3 and hence1 no doubt it is1 that upon our most solemn anniversaries1 after long previous notice hath been given1 when some even of our ,lords ,spiritual do preach1 perhaps not two ,lords temporal come to hear them4 ,sorry am ,i1 ,reverend ,sir1 to find so true1 what a celebrated orator1 in one of his lectures delivered1 7if ,i am not mistaken1 in the ,university of ,oxford7 takes the liberty of saying1 8,that it is to be feared this is too much the state of the pulpit-elocution in general1 in the ,church of ,england3 on which account1 there never was perhaps a religious sect upon earth1 whose hearts were so little engaged in the act of public worship1 as the members of that church4 ,to be pleased1 we must feel1 and we are pleased with feeling4 ,the ,presbyterians are moved2 the ,methodists are moved2 they go to their meetings and tabernacles with delight2 the very ,quakers are moved2 fantastical and extravagant as the language of their emotions is1 yet still they are moved by it1 and they love their form of worship for that reason3 whilst much the greater part of the members of the ,church of ,england1 are either banished from it through disgust1 or reluctantly attend the service as a disagreeable duty40 ,thus far ,mr4 ,sheridan4 ,but why go ,i to the bar or stage to fetch vouchers in defence of earnestness in heart and action1 when speaking for the most ,high ,,god1 and offering salvation to precious and immortal souls1 for whom the ever-adorable ,mediator shed his precious blood4 ,you know1 ,reverend ,sir1 the character given of ,bucolspherus1 one of the ,reformers1 ,vividus vultus1 vividi oculi1 vivid manus1 denique omnia vivida4 ,you have also heard of a ,prophet who was commanded by the ,,lord ,,god himself1 to smite with his hand1 and stamp with his foot2 and gospel-ministers in general are commanded to 8cry aloud1 and spare not1 and to lift up their voices like trumpets40 ,but why refer ,i even to ,reformers or ,prophets8 ,rather let me mention the ,,god and ,saviour of all1 even our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 on whose manner of preaching1 the multitudes that followed him1 when he came down from the mount1 made this just observation1 that 8,he spake as one having authority1 and not as the scribes40 ,and after his resurrection1 when beginning at ,moses and all the ,prophets1 he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself1 the two disciples at ,emmaus said one to another1 8,did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way1 and while he opened to us the scriptures80 ,and ,i believe we may venture to affirm1 that if preachers in general spake and opened the scriptures more under the influence and energy of his blessed ,spirit1 whether in consecrated or unconsecrated ground1 within or without doors1 they would find their hearers hearts in a degree would burn within them too4 ,but ,i have done4,you will be so good1 ,reverend ,sir1 as to pardon not only the freedom but prolixity of this4 ,i have already mentioned my motives for writing2 and therefore shall now close with the advice given upon a similar occasion to an ecclesiastical council by ,gamaliel1 a doctor of law1 and had in reputation among all the people3 8,and now ,i say unto you1 refrain from these men1 and let them alone3 for if this counsel or work be of men1 it will come to nought2 but if it be of ,,god1 ye cannot overthrow it3 lest haply ye be found to fight against ,,god40 ,to this ,,god1 and the word of his grace1 ,i most humbly recommend you and the whole ,university2 and earnestly praying1 that all at all times may have a right judgment given them in all things1 ,i beg leave to subscribe myself1 ,reverend ,sir1 ,your willing servant for ,,christ's sake1 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,,observations ,,on ,select ,,passages of ,,scripture4 ,,turned ,,into ,,catechetical ,,questions4 ,begun1 ,march #ab1 #agch4 ,,observations on ,select ,,passages of ,,scripture4 ,,luke1 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,ver4 #h4 ,q4 ,,why would not ,,jesus ,,christ shew ,herod a miracle8 ,a4 ,because in all probability1 it was only to satisfy his curiosity that he desired to see one4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,herod's never having seen ,,christ before8 ,a4 ,that ,,christ was no friend to courts2 that pomp and greatness keep thousands from ,,jesus ,,christ2 and that we ought therefore rather to thank ,,god for our being in a lower estate4 #ab4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the friendship made between ,pilate and ,herod1 by the death of ,,christ8 ,a4 ,that ,jew and ,gentile1 by ,,christ's death1 were to be united together in one body3 ,herod being a ,jew1 and ,pontius ,pilate a ,gentile4 #ah4 ,q4 ,when do we as these ,jews did8 ,a4 ,when we prefer our sins1 7which are robbers1 because they rob us of ,,god's favour7 to our ,saviour's service4 #bf4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,simon the ,cyrenian's bearing the cross8 ,a4 ,that they who would follow ,,christ1 must follow him by the way of the cross4 #ca4 ,q4 ,what is the meaning of this verse8 ,a4 ,a good man in scripture is compared to a green fruitful tree1 7,see ,psalm #ast47 and wicked men to chaff1 and are represented also by a barren fig-tree3 the meaning of the verse therefore seems to be this3 ,if they do this to me1 who am a good man1 how will ,,god deal with that wicked people the ,jews8 #cb4 ,q4 ,why was ,,christ crucified with the thieves8 ,a4 ,to fulfill this saying1 8,and he was numbered with the transgressors40 ,isaiah liii4 #ab4 ,q4 ,why between them8 ,a4 ,as though he was the unworthiest and basest of the three4 #cd4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from hence8 ,a4 ,to pray for our most bitter enemies4 #ch4 ,q4 ,why was the superscription written in ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,latin8 ,a4 ,to shew that ,,jesus ,,christ was to be the ,saviour of all nations1 tribes1 and languages4 #ci4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the behaviour of the impenitent thief8 ,a4 ,that for the generality1 those who live all their lives in sin1 die hardened4 #dj4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the behaviour of the penitent thief1 and ,,christ's behaviour towards him8 ,a4 ,that there is mercy for the worst of sinners1 through ,,christ the ,saviour4 ,q4 ,may wicked men draw any reasons from hence1 to defer their repentance till a death-bed8 ,a4 ,no1 by no means4 ,q4 ,why8 ,a4 ,because probably this thief had never heard of ,,christ before4 #b;dly1 ,he might not have been so notorious a sinner as is imagined1 though drawn in by surprize or temptation to commit the crime for which he suffered4 #c;dly1 ,,god converted him1 to honour his ,son's death1 that he might in the very agonies thereof triumph over the devil4 #dthly1 ,because he gave uncommon instances of his faith3 he calls ,,christ1 8,lord10 when his own disciples had forsook him1 when the ,high-priest1 scribes1 and rulers were deriding him1 and his own divinity under an eclipse3 none of which circumstances are applicable to a wilfully wicked man1 that defers repentance till he comes to die4 #dd4 ,q4 ,what is the sixth hour8 ,a4 ,twelve at noon4 ,q4 ,what the #ith8 ,a4 ,three in the afternoon4 #de4 ,q4 ,what was the vail of the temple8 ,a4 ,a curtain that parted the two places1 where the ,jews and ,gentiles worshipped4 ,q4 ,why was it rent in twain8 ,a4 ,because by the death of ,,christ1 the partition wall between ,jew and ,gentile was to be broken down4 #df4 ,q4 ,why did ,,christ cry with a loud voice8 ,a4 ,to shew that he died full of vigour4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from his calling ,,god1 ,father8 ,a4 ,that we are to acknowledge ,,god to be our father1 though under the severest dispensations of his providence4 #ea4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that we must not follow a multitude to do evil4 #ec4 ,q4 ,why was it remarked1 that ,,christ's grave was hewn out of a rock8 ,a4 ,because then it could not be said1 that his disciples digged under1 and stole it away4 ,q4 ,why that he was laid in a grave1 where never man before was laid8 ,a4 ,because then if any one's body did rise1 it must be that of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 #ef4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the last part of this verse8 ,a4 ,that even the most civil offices due to our nearest friends1 ought not to hinder us1 if possible1 from keeping the sabbath-day holy4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 #a4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from this first verse8 ,a4 ,that we should rise early in the morning on the ,lord's-day1 and offer him the spices and odours of praise and thanksgiving4 #d4 ,q4 ,what is meant by the two men8 ,a4 ,two angels in the shape of men4 #g4 ,q4 ,why must the ,son of ,man be crucified8 ,a4 ,because we had deserved to be accursed by ,,god2 and crucifixion being an accursed death1 7for it is written1 8cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree07 he became a curse for us4 #aa4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the disciples not believing the women's report8 ,a4 ,that we ought more firmly to believe the truth of our blessed ,,lord's resurrection1 since his own disciples were the last who gave credit to it4 #ad4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from hence8 ,a4 ,that christians ought to talk of good things as they walk together4 #ag4 ,q4 ,what from hence8 ,a4 ,that ,,jesus ,,christ takes notice of the conversation1 and more especially of the griefs of his people4 #bf4 ,q4 ,why must ,,christ rise again and enter into glory8 ,a4 ,to assure us ,,god was satisfied for our sins2 that he was no impostor or cheat2 and to assure us of the resurrection of our bodies after death4 ,q4 ,why must he rise the third day8 ,a4 ,because if he had continued longer1 the body must have seen corruption2 and then the prophecy would not have been fulfilled1 which says1 that 8,,god's ,holy ,one was not to see corruption40 ,nor would he have fulfilled the type of ,jonah4 #bh4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's first refusing to go in8 ,a4 ,that in small matters1 though we may at first refuse a thing1 yet we may afterwards1 without forfeiting our words1 comply therewith2 it being supposed1 that we promised on the supposition we had no better reason to the contrary4 #bi4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from hence8 ,a4 ,that we should1 when evening comes on1 constrain ,,christ by our prayers1 to tarry with and watch over us all night4 #cj4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from hence8 ,a4 ,that we should never presume to eat1 without first asking a blessing4 #ca4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's vanishing so soon out of their sight8 ,a4 ,that the spiritual visits of ,,jesus ,,christ in this life1 are but of a short continuance2 which should set us upon preparing for that place1 where we shall see and be with ,him to all eternity1 without interruption4 #cf4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's saying to his disciples1 8,peace be to you10 though they had all so lately forsook him8 ,a4 ,that we ought never to upbraid those who have offended us1 when they give marks of repentance2 and also1 this should encourage sinners to hope for blessings from ,,jesus ,,christ1 though they have sinned against him4 #de4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from hence8 ,a4 ,that it is impossible to understand the scriptures1 without the illumination of the ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ3 8,for the natural man discerneth not the things of the ,spirit40 ,q4 ,ought we therefore to pray before we read the scriptures8 ,a4 ,yes1 by all means4 #di4 ,q4 ,what is meant by the promise of the ,father8 ,a4 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 which was to come upon the ,apostles at the feast of ,pentecost4 #ec4 ,q4 ,what is meant by their being continually in the temple8 ,a4 ,that they were there at all hours of public prayer4 ,q4 ,what should we learn from thence8 ,a4 ,that we ought to go and do likewise4 ,,john1 ,,chapter ,i4 ,q4 ,who was the author of this gospel8 ,a4 ,john1 the disciple whom ,,jesus loved4 ,q4 ,why did he write it8 ,a4 ,to confound the heresy of ,ebion and ,cerinthus1 who denied the divinity of our blessed ,,lord3 and therefore1 through the whole gospel we find he takes all opportunities of proving1 that ,,jesus ,,christ was very ,,god of very ,,god2 another thing he had in view when he wrote it1 was to supply what was wanting in the other ,evangelists2 therefore he chiefly relates to us those particulars which the other ,evangelists had omitted4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,god's permitting some of the ,evangelists to leave out what the others put in1 and again some inserting what others have left out8 ,a4 ,that ,,god would hereby oblige us to read all2 and also to exercise our understanding1 that by comparing spiritual things with spiritual1 we might find out the truth4 #a4 ,q4 ,who is meant by the ,word8 ,a4 ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,q4 ,is there any proof in this verse1 that ,,jesus ,,christ is ,,god8 ,a4 ,yes3 8,and the ,word was ,,god40 ,q4 ,why was it necessary that ,,jesus our ,saviour should be ,,god8 ,a4 ,because it was impossible for any creature to satisfy for our sins4 #c4 ,q4 ,is here any proof of the ,divinity of ,,christ8 ,a4 ,yes3 because the work of creation is ascribed to him4 #d4 ,q4 ,is there any proof of it in this verse8 ,a4 ,yes3 8,in him was life40 ,for whosoever has life in or of himself1 must be ,,god4 #e4 ,q4 ,who is meant by the word 8light40 ,a4 ,,jesus ,,christ1 who came to enlighten us1 by revealing ,,god's will to us4 ,q4 ,what mean you by the word 8darkness80 ,a4 ,the dark minds of men4 #aa4 ,q4 ,what is meant by the word 8own80 ,a4 ,the ,jews1 who were ,,god's peculiar people4 #ac4 ,q4 ,can you paraphrase this verse8 ,a4 ,which were born not of blood1 i4 e4 not by any natural generation2 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 i4 e4 not by human adoption1 but of ,,god1 or by the free grace and power of ,,god only4 #ad4 ,q4 ,what does the ,evangelist allude to here8 ,a4 ,the tabernacle1 with the shekinah1 or glorious appearance that used to be in it2 which were types of ,,jesus ,,christ3 the former representing his humanity1 the latter his divinity residing or abiding in it4 ,it is therefore said in the margin of some bibles1 8,tabernacled amongst us10 plainly alluding to the ,jewish tabernacle in the wilderness4 #af4 ,q4 ,what mean you by these words1 8,grace for grace80 ,a4 ,that ,,christ came to give us grace1 that we might get more of it3 or rather it should be rendered1 8,grace upon grace40 ,for ,,jesus ,,christ came to purchase for us not only a sufficiency1 but an abundance of grace4 #da4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from hence8 ,a4 ,that when we are converted ourselves1 we should endeavour to bring others1 especially our own relations1 to the knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from these words1 8,we have found the ,messiah80 ,a4 ,that young converts are very apt to think they have apprehended ,,christ1 whereas they are rather apprehended by him4 #di4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,nathaniel's behaviour1 and ,,christ's answer8 ,a4 ,that a child-like simplicity1 is the best preparative for the reception of divine truth4 #ea4 ,q4 ,when was this fulfilled8 ,a4 ,acts i4 when his disciples saw him carried up into heaven2 and it will be more fully accomplished1 when ,,jesus ,,christ shall come to judgment in the glory of his ,father1 with his holy angels1 to be admired by his saints4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #b4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's being at the marriage in ,cana8 ,a4 ,that it is an honourable state1 otherwise he would not have been present at it4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from these people's calling ,,christ to the marriage8 ,a4 ,that those who are about to enter on a marriage state1 ought above all things1 by prayer to invite ,,jesus ,,christ1 it being for want of that we have so few happy matches4 #c4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the blessed ,virgin's acquainting ,,christ that they wanted wine8 ,a4 ,that it is good1 when we go to poor people's houses1 to see what they want2 and if we cannot relieve them ourselves1 to apply to others1 especially to ,,jesus ,,christ1 to grant them what they want4 #d4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's answer to his mother8 ,a4 ,that in some measure she was to be blamed1 for making so free with our ,saviour2 that our relations1 even our parents1 ought not to be regarded1 when they would hinder us in religion2 and that it can never be presumed1 that the ,virgin has such power over our ,,lord1 as the ,church of ,rome supposes1 now he is in heaven1 since he said to her upon this occasion1 8,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee10 when he was on earth4 ,q4 ,may it not be supposed that ,,christ had shewn some miracle before he entered on his public ministry8 ,a4 ,there is great reason to think he had1 or otherwise it is hardly to be imagined1 she should so readily apply to him to work a miracle on this occasion1 or bid the servants to take such notice of his orders4 ,q4 ,what is meant by ,,christ's saying1 8,mine hour is not yet come80 ,a4 ,mine hour for working this miracle is not yet come2 the wine being not quite1 though very near out1 as the original word signifies3 our extremity is ,,christ's opportunity4 #e4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from this verse8 ,a4 ,that what the ,virgin said to these servants1 we should think said to ourselves2 and whatsoever ,,christ saith unto us1 we must do4 #f4 ,q4 ,may there any thing be gathered from this verse1 to confirm the truth of our ,saviour's miracle8 ,a4 ,yes3 the watering-pots being made use of by the ,jews1 to purify or wash themselves1 as they came in and out1 as the ,papists now make use of their ridiculous holy-water2 it was plain nothing but water used to be put in them1 and being made of stone1 supposing wine had formerly been put in them1 no tincture of it could remain to colour the water that ,,jesus ,,christ commanded to be put in2 which could not be said1 had they been made of wood4 #g4 ,q4 ,who were they that ,,jesus bid to fill the water pots8 ,a4 ,the servants of the house4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from that8 ,a4 ,it confirms the miracle2 since he did not employ his own disciples1 but the servants of the house1 who were entire strangers1 therefore could not be supposed to join in a cheat4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the servants filling the vessels up to the brim8 ,a4 ,that therefore no wine could possibly be put in to colour the water1 or mix with it4 #h4 ,q4 ,what is meant by the governor of the feast8 ,a4 ,it alludes to a custom among the ,jews1 who at their entertainments used to chuse one particular person in the company1 to preside over the rest for that time1 in order to prevent disorder and excess4 #i4 ,q4 ,why is it remarked1 that the ,governor knew not from whence it was8 ,a4 ,because then he could have no hand in it1 therefore his testimony could be the more relied on4 ,q4 ,what spiritual meaning is under this miracle8 ,a4 ,the wine represents the ,spirit1 which ,,jesus ,,christ pours into the hearts of true believers2 but though the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost1 with which they are filled1 are exceeding rich here1 yet those in heaven will so far surpass them1 that when we come there1 we shall have reason to say with the ,governor of the feast1 8,,jesus ,,christ has kept his good wine until now40 #ac4 ,q4 ,why is it so often remarked1 that ,,jesus went up to ,jerusalem to the passover8 ,a4 ,to teach us how careful he was to submit to every ordinance of ,,god1 and to set us an example to follow his steps4 ,never1 therefore1 if possible1 be absent from the gospel passover1 the sacrament or memorial of his own blessed body and blood4 #ad4 ,q4 ,how came there tradesmen to be in the temple8 ,a4 ,there was a command from ,,god1 that all the males should appear before him at ,jerusalem three times in a year1 7of which the feast of the passover was one7 and that none was to appear before him empty4 ,now it being inconvenient to bring cattle1 c4 so many miles as some of them were distant from the temple1 these persons sat here with oxen1 c4 to sell to those who came up to ,jerusalem to worship and offer sacrifice4 ,q4 ,was not this a plausible pretence8 ,a4 ,yes2 but our blessed ,,lord's resenting it in this manner1 shews us how jealous he is of the honour of his house1 and how he resents the least misbehaviour in the public service of the church4 ,q4 ,was it not a bold thing of ,,jesus ,,christ to venture himself among such a company of persons8 ,a4 ,no doubt of it2 and therefore some have thought1 that this was the greatest miracle ,,christ performed2 and by this our ,,lord would shew those in power1 that if they will be zealous in reforming abuses1 and go out in the name and strength of ,,god1 they know not what great success they may meet with4 #af4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's saying to them that sold doves1 8take these things hence80 ,a4 ,that our zeal ought to be according to knowledge2 that we should pray for that wisdom which dwells with prudence2 and1 more especially1 be very cautious how we act in works of reformation2 as ,,christ here did not loose the doves and let them fly about the temple 7which would have occasioned a confusion7 but ordered those that sold them1 to take them thence4 ,q4 ,when do we make the house of ,,god a house of ,merchandise8 ,a4 ,when we go on purpose to seem religious1 in order to get business2 and when we talk with others1 or let our own thoughts run on worldly things at public worship4 #be4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from the ,evangelists saying1 that ,,jesus knew what was in man8 ,a4 ,that ,,jesus ,,christ therefore was ,,god1 it being impossible for any one but ,,god to know what is in man4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a4 ,q4 ,what may we remark from ,nicodemus's coming to ,,christ8 ,a4 ,that it is a good thing to see rulers come to ,,jesus ,,christ2 and though not many mighty1 not many noble are called1 yet some are4 #b4 ,q4 ,why did ,nicodemus come by night8 ,a4 ,for fear of man4 ,q4 ,what may we learn hence8 ,a4 ,that when religion is out of fashion1 there will be many ,nicodemites4 ,q4 ,is not the fear of man common to all converts8 ,a4 ,yes2 but where the heart is upright towards ,,god1 it wears off daily4 #c4 ,q4 ,what do you learn from ,,christ's answer8 ,a4 ,that it is not sufficient to have an historical faith of ,,christ1 without being born again from above4 ,q4 ,what is it to be born again from above8 ,a4 ,it is to have a principle of new life implanted in our hearts by the holy ,spirit1 which life must be evidenced by a man's bringing forth the fruits of the ,spirit4 ,q4 ,why cannot a man see the kingdom of ,,god unless he be born again8 ,a4 ,if by the kingdom of ,,god1 be understood to mean the kingdom of grace1 then it is plain an unregenerate man cannot see it2 or cannot understand its doctrines1 because they are spiritually discerned4 ,but if by the kingdom of ,,god1 be meant the kingdom of glory2 then1 unless a man be born again he cannot see it1 because we being impure by nature1 except we are renewed1 we cannot dwell with a pure and holy ,,god4 #e4 ,q4 ,does not this verse urge the absolute necessity of water baptism8 ,a4 ,yes1 where it may be had2 but how ,,god will deal with persons unbaptized we cannot tell4 ,what have we to do to judge those that are without8 #aj4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this verse8 ,a4 ,that it is a shame for ministers to pretend to teach others1 who are not taught of ,,god themselves4 #ac4 ,q4 ,what learn you from these words1 8,the ,son of man which is in heaven80 ,a4 ,that ,,jesus ,,christ is ,,god1 since he declares he was then in heaven1 though discoursing at that time with ,nicodemus1 which could not be1 unless he was ,,god4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #d4 ,q4 ,why must ,,christ needs go through ,samaria8 ,a4 ,because there was a woman to be converted there4 ,q4 ,what learn you from thence8 ,a4 ,that where ,,god has got people to be called1 he will find means to bring them to himself4 #f4 ,q4 ,what may you observe from ,,christ's being weary8 ,a4 ,that he was truly man4 #g4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's saying 8,give me to drink80 ,a4 ,that our blessed ,,lord underwent much fatigue in going about to preach to sinners4 ,and that we ought not to be ashamed to beg1 when providence reduces us to an indigent life1 or to pressing circumstances4 #i4 ,q4 ,how can it be said that the ,jews had no dealing with the ,samaritans1 when in the foregoing verse we are told1 the disciples were gone to buy food8 ,a4 ,they might do some few good offices to1 but had no general commerce with each other4 #aj4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's introducing religious talk by asking for a little water8 ,a4 ,that we ought to spiritualize every thing we meet with1 and take all proper opportunities to introduce religious conversation wherever we are4 #ad4 ,q4 ,what does ,,christ mean by 8the water he should give80 ,a4 ,the holy ,spirit4 ,q4 ,why is the holy ,spirit represented by water8 ,a4 ,because1 as water washes away the filth of the body1 so the holy ,spirit cleanses the pollution of the soul2 and as water refreshes the thirsty1 so do the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost refresh the spiritual man4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from these words1 8shall be in him a well1 c480 ,a4 ,that where ,,god has begun a good work1 he will carry it on to the day of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 #ae4 ,q4 ,what may you learn from this verse8 ,a4 ,that we should pray to ,,christ1 as this woman did1 and beg him to give us his holy ,spirit1 that we may not apply to outward things for comfort4 #bj4 ,q4 ,why did the woman mention this to ,,christ8 ,a4 ,because1 there was a dispute between the ,samaritans and ,jews1 which was the proper place of worship1 ,jerusalem or mount ,gerizim4 ,and from hence arose such an enmity between them1 that they would have no dealings with one another4 #bc4 ,q4 ,what is the meaning of this verse8 ,a4 ,that now ,,jesus ,,christ was come1 ,,god's worship could not be confined to any particular place1 but persons might every where lift up holy hands to ,,god4 #bd4 ,q4 ,when may we be said to worship ,,god in spirit and in truth8 ,a4 ,when we are inward with him in our worship1 and not only honour him with our lips1 but with our affections and lives4 #bf4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's revealing himself so freely to the woman8 ,a4 ,that he will as freely and spiritually reveal himself to every believing heart4 #bg4 ,q4 ,what may we learn1 from the disciples wondering that he talked with a woman8 ,a4 ,that men1 especially ministers1 ought not too freely to converse with persons of that sex4 #bh4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the woman leaving her water-pot to go into the city8 ,a4 ,that we should leave our worldly business1 rather than neglect at proper times to attend on the means of grace4 #bi4 ,q4 ,did not the woman tell an untruth here8 ,a4 ,no1 for ,,christ might have told her all4 ,however1 as ,,christ had revealed to her the greatest secret of her life1 she might easily infer that he could tell her every thing else4 #cb4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from this answer8 ,a4 ,that we ought1 after the example of our master1 to forego our ordinary meals sometimes for the sake of doing good4 ,and we may also learn1 that a true christian has meat to eat1 spiritual comforts1 which the world knows not of3 a stranger intermeddleth not with his joys4 #cd4 ,q4 ,what learn we hence8 ,a4 ,that it ought to be our meat and drink1 or as much pleasure and our constant business to do the will of ,,god1 as to supply our bodies with proper food4 #ce4 ,q4 ,what does ,,christ mean when he bids his disciples 8to lift up their eyes80 ,a4 ,in all probability1 he pointed to the ,samaritans whom he saw crowding over the fields1 coming to hear his doctrine4 #ch4 ,q4 ,what does ,,christ mean by this8 ,a4 ,that the prophets had prepared the way for his coming1 by their prophecies1 which made the disciples work far more easy4 #da4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that though there are many external proofs of the divinity of ,,christ's doctrine1 yet his own words or his doctrine best explains itself3 the divine image and superscription being written on every precept and line of it4 #dg4 ,q4 ,what learn we from the ,nobleman's coming to ,,christ about his sick son8 ,a4 ,that parents should apply to ,,christ for their sick children1 and that afflictions should drive us to ,,god4 #dh4 ,q4 ,wherein was this ,nobleman to be blamed8 ,a4 ,in that he confined ,,christ's power to his bodily presence4 ,therefore to convince him of his frailty1 and to strengthen his faith1 ,,christ cured his son at a distance4 #eb4 ,q4 ,what is meant by the seventh hour8 ,a4 ,one in the afternoon4 #ec4 ,q4 ,what learn we from this verse8 ,a4 ,that bodily distempers are all cured by the power of ,,christ1 and that those who are now recovered from sickness1 are raised up as certainly though not so visibly by him1 as was the ,nobleman's son4 ,,chapter ,v4 #f4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's asking this question8 8,wilt thou be made whole80 ,a4 ,that he will know our wants from ourselves4 #h4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's bidding him to take up his bed and walk8 ,a4 ,that though ,,christ is the first mover in recovering us from our natural and spiritual impotency1 yet we must concur in the use of means4 #i4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's doing so many works on the ,sabbath8 ,a4 ,that doing good1 is a proper way of sanctifying the ,sabbath4 #ac4 ,q4 ,what learn you by ,,christ's conveying himself from the multitude8 ,a4 ,that we should do good1 but endeavour at the same time to avoid the praise of man4 #ad4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's finding the man that was healed1 in the temple8 ,a4 ,that it is good to see people1 after they are recovered from their sickness1 going to the temple to return thanks unto ,,god4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the latter part of this verse8 ,a4 ,that sickness is often sent as a punishment for sin4 ,that if we do not mend when ,,god chastises us with whips1 or light afflictions1 we must expect to be chastised with scorpions1 or greater trials4 #ah4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the latter part of this verse8 ,a4 ,that the ,jews thought1 though the ,arians deny it1 that ,,jesus ,,christ believed and made himself to be very ,,god4 #ce4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that people generally like a good minister for a little while1 but afterwards familiarity breeds contempt4 #da4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence1 and in the #ddth verse8 ,a4 ,that we should seek that honour only which cometh from ,,god1 as also that it is impossible to be a christian1 if we seek to please the world4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #b4 ,q4 ,what do you learn from hence8 ,a4 ,that it is too common1 for people to follow a minister through curiosity1 more than to be edified by his doctrine4 #e4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ being solicitous for the feeding of his hearers bodies8 ,a4 ,that the body is to be taken care of1 and that ,,christ is as careful for us now he is in heaven1 as he was for the multitude when on earth4 ,that ministers after his example1 should do all the good they can to the bodies of men1 to convince them they have a love for1 and to open a way for giving good advice to1 their souls4 #f4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this verse8 ,a4 ,that the reason why ,,christ brings us into straits1 is to prove us1 whether we will trust in him or not4 #i4 ,q4 ,what gather you from the words of ,philip1 8,what are these among so many80 ,a4 ,that when we look only upon outward means1 no wonder that our faith fail us4 #ab4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ bidding them 8,gather up the fragments that remained80 ,a4 ,that we ought to be frugal1 though not coveteous2 and that they will certainly have much to answer for1 who waste their whole estates in gaming4 #ad4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the latter part of this verse8 ,a4 ,that the certainty and greatness of our ,saviour's miracles1 is an undoubted proof that he was the true ,messiah1 since ,,god would never so visibly set his seal to an impostor4 #ae4 ,q4 ,why did ,,christ depart to a mountain8 ,a4 ,to teach christians1 and particularly ministers1 to fly worldly honours2 and also to set us an example1 that when we are beset with temptations of that kind1 it is best to retire alone1 to pray to ,,god to be delivered from the evil of it4 #bf4 ,q4 ,what learn you from what ,,christ here said to the people8 ,a4 ,that he knows from what principles and motives we come to hear the word of ,,god2 therefore we ought to take heed how we hear4 #ec4 ,q4 ,have the papists any grounds from hence for their doctrine of transubstantiation8 ,a4 ,no2 for ,,christ tells us in the #fc;d verse1 that the flesh profiteth nothing1 and that his words are spirit and life2 i4 e4 they are not to be understood in a carnal but spiritual sense2 and frequently by interpreting them literally1 men do greatly err4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #a4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's walking no more in ,judea when the ,jews sought to kill him8 ,a4 ,that it is our duty1 not to expose ourselves to needless dangers2 and when we are persecuted at one place1 to flee to another1 when the glory of ,,god and the good of the church do not require our staying4 #g4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that ministers must expect to be accounted the enemies of mankind1 if they are faithful to reprove them1 and tell them the truth4 #ab4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the different opinions men had of ,,christ8 ,a4 ,that every christian1 especially every minister1 must expect to be variously thought of1 and sometimes to be accounted deceivers of the people4 #cg4 ,q4 ,why did ,,christ cry out thus on the last day of the feast8 ,a4 ,because on that day1 they used to go and draw water and bring it up to the temple1 saying these words of ,isaiah4 8,and they shall draw water out of the wells of salvation40 ,,jesus ,,christ seeing them therefore do this1 took occasion to discourse of the holy ,spirit under the similitude of water4 #ci4 ,q4 ,why was not the ,holy ,ghost given1 till ,,jesus ,,christ was glorified8 ,a4 ,because till then he was himself on earth1 and had not taken on him the kingly office1 nor pleaded the merits of his death before his heavenly ,father1 by which he purchased that invaluable blessing for us4 #ej4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the boldness of ,nicodemus1 in owning ,,christ before the ,jewish ,sanhedrim1 though at first he came to him by night8 ,a4 ,that where there is true grace1 the fear of man will wear off daily4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #aa4 ,q4 ,why would not ,,christ condemn the woman caught in adultery8 ,a4 ,not because he approved of her sin1 but because it did not belong to him as a prophet1 to be the judge of such matters4 #i4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the persons being convicted from their own consciences1 and going out one by one8 ,a4 ,that wicked men need no other accuser but their own consciences2 and that it is absurd to condemn and be inveterate against another1 for a crime we have been1 or are guilty of ourselves4 ,q4 ,is it to be supposed that all this woman's accusers had been guilty of adultery8 ,a4 ,perhaps not in the very act1 but guilty of heart-adultery1 as our ,saviour explained it in the #eth of ,matthew4 #f4 ,q4 ,how did the ,jews intend to ensnare our blessed ,,lord1 by bringing this woman before him8 ,a4 ,they wanted to impeach him1 either as severe if he ordered her to be stoned1 or as one that gave license to sin1 if he forgave her4 ,q4 ,what may we suppose ,,christ wrote when he stooped down8 ,a4 ,it is presumption to give the least guess1 since ,,god has not thought proper to reveal it to us4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's stooping down1 as though he heard them not8 ,a4 ,that we ought to be unwilling to hear1 and not take pleasure in hearing of our neighbour's faults4 #ab4 ,q4 ,how can it be said1 that ,,jesus then spake again unto them1 when it is said before1 that they went out one by one8 ,a4 ,some have supposed1 that the discourse which follows at this verse1 was at another time2 but if the word then should confine it to the present time1 it may be reconciled thus4 ,we may suppose where ,,christ was sitting1 there was a vacant place to which the scribes and pharisees brought the woman1 and in which ,,christ might stand alone with her4 ,now these being convicted one by one1 7for it seems plain that ,,christ spoke only to them verse #gth7 they might go out2 while such as were there before the scribes and pharisees came might remain2 and to them ,,christ proceeded with his discourse1 and spake again on the point which he did1 before he was interrupted4 8ime0 replaced with 8time0 #ca4 ,q4 ,what learn you from our ,saviour's discourse with the ,jews who believed on him8 ,a4 ,that young converts ought to be exhorted to continue in well doing2 and that perseverance only can denominate us true disciples4 #ci4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that this is the language of all mere professors3 they say1 we have ,,christ for our ,saviour2 but if they were ,,christ's disciples they would do the works of ,,christ2 for in vain we call him 8,,lord1 ,,lord10 if we do not the things that he says4 #dh4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that if ,,christ who was innocence itself was called a devil1 much more will the members of his houshold4 #ef4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that if ,abraham rejoiced at a distance to see ,,christ's day1 much more ought we to rejoice and give thanks1 who enjoy it as present4 #eg4 ,q4 ,does it appear from hence that ,,christ was fifty years old8 ,a4 ,no1 for it is plain he was not above thirty-four when he was crucified2 but we must consider that people in such cases generally speak within compass2 and besides1 our ,,lord being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief1 he might look older by far than he really was4 #eh4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that ,,jesus ,,christ is ,,god1 since he takes that title to himself1 which ,,god himself made use of when ,he sent ,moses to ,pharaoh1 ,exodus iii4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #b4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this question1 put by our blessed ,,lord's ,disciples to him8 ,a4 ,that they believed either the transmigration1 or pre-existence of souls2 for otherwise how could a man sin before he was born8 #c4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's answer8 ,a4 ,that all our infirmities and bodily afflictions1 though we may not think so1 are ordained by ,,god for our good1 and his glory4 #e4 ,q4 ,should every christian be able to say thus for himself8 ,a4 ,yes1 for we are commanded to let our light shine before men4 #f4 ,q4 ,why did ,,christ put clay on the man's eyes8 ,a4 ,to shew the vanity of a tradition of the ,jewish church1 that it was unlawful to make clay on the ,sabbath-day2 as also to shew1 that ,,god sometimes works by the most unlikely means2 and to represent the case of young converts1 who before they come to feel the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost1 by spiritual desertion and temptations have as it were their eyes put out4 #g4 ,q4 ,why did ,,christ send the man to wash himself8 ,a4 ,to make trial of his obedience2 and farther to teach us1 that if we will recover our spiritual sight1 we must be workers together with ,,god1 in the appointed means4 #i4 ,q4 ,what learn we from the man's saying1 8,i am he80 ,a4 ,that we should not be ashamed to confess that we have been healed by ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's being kind to beggars8 ,a4 ,that we also ought to be kind to them4 #af4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this first answer of the ,pharisees8 ,a4 ,that ill-will speaks well of no man4 #ag4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the beggar's answer8 ,a4 ,that we should not fear man1 when called to testify of ,,jesus ,,christ4 #ah4 ,q4 ,what learn you from the ,pharisees being willing to have so many evidences of this fact8 ,a4 ,that they were unwilling it should be true2 but there being so many evidences of it1 was a great proof of the truth of the miracle4 #bb4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this verse8 ,a4 ,that too many men dare not speak and practice what they know of ,,jesus ,,christ and his ways1 for fear of losing their reputation1 or some other temporal advantage4 #bd4 ,q4 ,what learn you from these words1 8give ,,god the praise80 ,a4 ,that ,,god should have all the glory of any mercies we receive2 but here it was spoken hypocritically4 #ca4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,a good lesson1 and that we cannot expect to have our prayer answered whilst we continue in sin2 but if we serve ,,god to the best of our power1 we may be sure we shall be regarded by him3 for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much4 #cd4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that proud men cannot bear to be taught by any of their inferiors4 #ce4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's seeking and finding this beggar when he was cast out8 ,a4 ,that when our father1 mother1 and the world forsaketh us1 the ,,lord will take us up4 ,and that the chief time for ,,christ to reveal himself to us1 is1 when we are cast out by men4 #cg4 ,q4 ,what learn we from ,,christ's making this open discovery of himself8 ,a4 ,that he will most freely communicate himself to all those who are willing to receive him4 #ch4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that ,,jesus ,,christ is ,,god2 for otherwise it is not to be imagined he would have suffered the man to worship him4 #da4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that wilful ignorance is a damning sin4 ,,chapter ,x4 #bj4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this verse8 ,a4 ,that if they called the ,master of the house ,beelzebub1 much more will they those of his houshold4 ,,christ's children were always the world's fools4 #bb4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that as ,,jesus was present at the feast of dedication1 which was purely of human institution1 #a ,maccabees1 #dth and #ith1 therefore we may conform to things indifferent in themselves1 though only of human appointment4 #cj4 ,q4 ,does not this verse prove ,,christ to be ,,god8 ,a4 ,the ,jews thought so1 by their immediately taking up stones to stone him4 #cd4 ,q4 ,how does our ,saviour argue in this and the following verses8 ,a4 ,it is what logicians call an argument ad hominem1 when you confute or confound a person from something which he himself says or grants4 ,it is also an argument a minori ad majus1 when you prove a greater thing from the less4 ,the process of the argument runs thus3 ,if you call magistrates1 gods1 to whom the word of ,,god only came1 how much more ought you to own me to be ,,god1 and not to be angry with me for calling myself so1 or the ,son of ,,god1 who shew by my works1 that ,i dwell in my ,father and my ,father in me8 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #c4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that it is not our piety will exempt us from sickness and other calamities of life1 since he whom ,,christ loved1 was sick3 ,that when any of our relations are sick1 we should apply1 as these sisters did1 to ,,jesus ,,christ to heal them3 ,that it is a peculiar encouragement to pray1 when we know those for whom we pray1 are beloved of ,,christ3 ,and that in all our addresses to ,,god1 both for ourselves and others1 we ought to mention rather his love to us1 than ours to him1 for we love ,,god because he first loved us2 and our love is so little1 that it is not worth speaking of4 #f4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that ,,god's continuing his rod upon us1 is no certain sign of his displeasure2 nay that it is rather a token of his love1 since ,,christ knew that ,lazarus was sick1 and yet abode two days before he went to his deliverance4 #g4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's going to ,judea again8 ,a4 ,that though we have met with persecution in a place1 yet when ,,god calls us thither again1 we must answer1 8,lo1 we come20 for the way of duty is the way of safety4 #h4 ,q4 ,did not this argue a fear in the ,disciples8 ,a4 ,yes2 and from hence we may learn that we ought to beware of our carnal relations1 who will dissuade us from doing our duty1 if difficulties attend it1 as these ,disciples did ,,christ4 #i1 #aj4 ,q4 ,what is the meaning of these verses8 ,a4 ,the meaning of them seems to be this3 ,there is a certain time appointed by my ,father for me to do my work in1 and in that time ,i shall be as safe from danger1 as a man that walketh by day is from falling2 but when that time is over1 ,i shall be taken by them1 as a man falls when he walks in the dark4 #aa4 ,q4 ,was not ,lazarus actually dead8 why then does ,,christ say1 8he sleepeth80 ,a4 ,because death is but as a sleep to a good man2 for1 as sleep frees us from the labour of the day1 so does death free good men from the troubles of life4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's calling ,lazarus his friend8 ,a4 ,that he loves us as dear as himself2 for a friend is said to be as dear to a man as his own soul3 8,and thy friend which is as thy own soul40 #af4 ,q4 ,what learn you from this saying of ,thomas8 ,a4 ,that in times of difficulty1 it is the christians duty to encourage1 exhort1 and provoke one another to keep close to ,,christ4 #ah4 ,q4 ,how much are #ae furlongs8 ,a4 ,two miles4 #ai4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that it is the duty of christians to visit their friends2 particularly at the death of their relations1 and to comfort them with the hopes of seeing them again raised in glory4 #bj4 ,q4 ,why did ,mary sit still8 ,a4 ,probably out of humility1 thinking herself unworthy to go1 till ,,christ called her4 #ba4 ,q4 ,did ,martha shew faith in saying thus8 ,a4 ,yes2 but she expressed a weakness in it1 since she confined ,,christ's power to his bodily presence4 #bb4 ,q4 ,does not this verse likewise prove the weakness of her faith8 ,a4 ,yes2 for she seems to look upon ,,christ not as ,,god1 but as a ,prophet only acting under him4 #bd4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that the ,jews believed the doctrine of the resurrection1 though that as well as other doctrines is brought to a fuller light by the gospel4 #be1 #bf4 ,q4 ,what is the meaning of these two verses8 ,a4 ,they may be understood two ways3 that though a person be dead in sin1 yet he shall live a spiritual life1 if he believes in ,,christ2 and #b;dly1 that a true believer1 though worms destroy his body1 shall yet in his flesh see ,,god4 ,q4 ,what may we learn from ,,christ's asking ,martha the question at the latter end of the #bfth verse8 ,a4 ,that it is good when we are reading the scripture doctrines1 particularly the doctrines of the resurrection1 and the new birth1 to ask ourselves1 whether we believe them or not4 #bh4 ,q4 ,did ,,christ call ,mary8 ,a4 ,not as we hear of1 though he might and did probably2 charity will incline us to think1 she did not tell an untruth4 #bi4 ,q4 ,what learn you from hence8 ,a4 ,that this shews ,mary sat still1 only because ,,christ did not call her2 and also1 that we should imitate her behaviour2 when ,,christ calls us to repentance1 we should arise quickly1 and come unto him4 #cb4 ,q4 ,was not here the like weakness in ,mary's faith as in her sister's8 ,a4 ,yes1 they both confined his power to his bodily presence4 #cd4 ,q4 ,was it consistent with ,,christ's innocent resignation to be troubled8 ,a4 ,yes1 as he was troubled2 for it was a trouble that did not discompose him3 some therefore have represented it by a glass of pure crystal water1 which1 though shaken1 is not muddy4 ,and in the margin it is said1 8,,christ troubled himself40 #ce4 ,q4 ,why did ,,jesus weep8 ,a4 ,probably1 on seeing and considering what havoc sin had made1 to show sympathy for the afflicted relations2 but more particularly for the hardness of the people's hearts1 who he knew would not be converted1 though he was about to shew them so great a miracle4 #cf4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that if the ,jews said1 8,behold how he loved him10 when he shed only a few tears1 well may we say1 8,behold how he loved us10 when he shed his precious blood for us4 #cg4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that ill-will speaks well of nothing4 #ci4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,martha's saying1 8,,lord1 by this time he stinketh80 ,a4 ,that looking upon human improbabilities1 is a great weakener of our faith2 when ,peter began to fear1 he began to sink4 #da4 ,q4 ,do we hear that ,,christ prayed audibly at this time8 ,a4 ,no2 but he did it secretly1 to teach us1 that it is possible to pray though we do not speak4 ,for the ,spirit maketh intercession for us1 with groanings that cannot be uttered4 #df4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,the folly of our modern unbelievers1 who would desire a repetition of miracles1 to convince them of the truth of the christian religion2 whereas it is to be doubted1 whether they would be convinced by them or not1 since here were some who saw this great miracle of the resurrection of ,lazarus1 and would not believe4 8,if ye believe not ,moses and the ,prophets1 neither will ye believe though one rose from the dead40 #ee4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that before the christian passover1 the ,,lord's supper1 christians ought to study to prepare themselves by prayer and examination4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 #b4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,martha's serving1 though ,,christ before this had condemned her too great solicitude8 ,a4 ,that religion does not call us from our common business1 but teaches us to follow it1 with a proper principle1 obedience to ,,god2 and that too not at the expence of the one thing needful4 #e4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that all who speak well1 are not saints1 though it is best to judge charitably of all4 #h4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that if ,,christ was not to be with us always1 then he is not bodily present at the mass1 as the ,romish church supposes4 #ci4 ,q4 ,did the ,prophets foretelling their hardness of heart1 lay the ,jews under a necessity of not believing8 ,a4 ,no more than our knowing the sun will rise to-morrow1 obliges the sun to rise4 ,the ,prophet foreknew by the ,spirit of ,,god that it would be so1 therefore foretold it4 #dj4 ,q4 ,does ,,god harden any one's heart8 ,a4 ,not till they have hardened their own hearts3 thus ,pharaoh first hardened his own heart1 and then it is said ,,god hardened it4 #db1 #dc4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that a fear of contempt1 c4 c4 keeps many well-disposed people from confessing ,,christ before men2 and that we can never be christians1 till we are content only with that honour and praise which cometh from ,,god4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #aj4 ,q4 ,what is the meaning of this verse8 ,a4 ,it seems to be this4 ,he that is once really converted1 needs not that justification and sanctification1 which other sinners want2 but yet should mourn over his daily sins1 and daily seek to have them washed away by the blood of ,,christ4 #ad4 ,q4 ,ought we to make a rite of1 and really wash one another's feet8 ,a4 ,some have thought so2 but if we do what is meant by this condescension of our blessed ,,lord1 submit to the lowest offices for the benefit of one another1 it seems to be sufficient4 #bf4 ,q4 ,what learn you from ,,christ's giving ,judas a sop8 ,a4 ,that those are not always the greatest favourites of heaven1 to whom ,,god gives outward blessings4 ,and also1 that after our ,saviour's sop1 if we are not better we shall be the worse2 if we do not improve our advantages and serve our ,master1 we shall betray him4 #bg4 ,q4 ,did ,,christ's saying unto ,judas1 8,what thou doest do quickly10 lay him under an obligation to do it8 ,a4 ,by no means2 the meaning of it is this1 ,if thou art resolved to betray me1 the sooner the better4 #cd4 ,q4 ,why is the loving one another1 a new commandment8 ,a4 ,because it is to proceed from a new motive1 and measure2 even ,,christ's love towards us4 #ch4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that when we make any resolutions1 they ought to be made in the name and strength of ,,god2 otherwise he must in pity let us fall1 to convince us of our weakness4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 #bf4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that it is one of the peculiar offices of the ,holy ,ghost1 to bring to our remembrance what ,,christ has told us4 ,and this every sincere christian knows by experience4 #cj4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that the less corruption we have in our hearts1 the less power will the devil have over us4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 #b4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that every unprofitable servant1 and all mere professing christians1 will perish2 and that those who are true christians must expect afflictions and trials to prepare them for greater services4 #i4 ,q4 ,what learn you hence8 ,a4 ,that the world hates christians on account of their conformity to ,,christ2 therefore if christians will be conformed to ,,christ1 it is impossible for them to avoid contempt4 #bb4 ,q4 ,what is meant by that expression1 8they had not had sin08 ,a4 ,they would not have had so great sin2 or no sin at all in comparison of what they will have now4 ,,law ,,gospelized2 ,,or1 ,,an ,,address ,,to ,,all ,,christians ,,concerning ,,holiness of ,,heart and ,,life3 ,,being ,an ,attempt to render ,mr4 ,,law's ,serious ,call more useful to the ,children of ,,god1 by excluding whatever is not truly ,evangelical1 and illustrating the subject more fully from the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,he hath chosen us in ,him before the foundation of the world1 that we should be holy and without blame before ,him in love4 ,ephesians i4 #d4 ,,law ,,gospelized2 ,,or1 ,,an ,,address to all ,,christians ,,concerning ,,holiness of ,,heart and ,,life4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,nature and ,extent of ,christian ,devotion4 ,by ,letter #fdj1 ,volume ,,ii4 page #add4 it appears that this tract was written about ,june #agdh4 ,,christian devotion1 signifies a life given or devoted to ,,god2 he consequently1 and he alone1 is the devout man1 who lives no longer to his own will1 or after the way and spirit of the world1 but to the sole will of ,,god2 who considers ,,god in every thing2 who makes all the parts of his common life1 as well as his more immediate religious exercises1 parts of piety1 by doing every thing in the name of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and under such rules as are conducive to promote ,,god's glory4 ,reason and scripture plainly evince the truth of this4 ,for as there is but 8one ,,god and ,father of us all10 whose glory gives light and life to every thing that lives2 whose presence fills all places1 whose power supports all beings1 whose providence ruleth all events2 so every thing that lives1 whether in heaven or earth1 whether they be thrones or principalities1 men or angels1 they are all bound1 by the laws of their creation1 to live wholly to the praise and glory of this one ,god and ,father of them all4 ,we readily acknowledge1 that ,,god alone is to be the rule and measure of our prayers2 that in them we are to look wholly unto him1 and act wholly for him2 that we are only to pray in such a manner1 and for such things1 and with such ends as are suitable to his glory4 ,now let any one but find out the reason why he is to be thus strictly pious in his prayers1 and he will find the same1 as strong a reason1 why he is to be as strictly pious in all the other parts of his life3 for were it not our strict duty to live by reason1 and to devote all the actions of our lives to ,,god2 were it not absolutely necessary1 and our highest privilege to walk before him in wisdom and holiness1 and all heavenly conversation1 doing every thing in his name1 and for his glory1 there would be no excellency and wisdom in the most heavenly prayers4 ,nay1 such prayers would be absurdities1 they would be like praying for wings1 when it was no part of our duty to fly4 ,again1 we readily acknowledge1 that ,clergymen must live wholly unto ,,god in one particular way1 in the exercise of holy offices2 in the ministration of prayers and sacraments1 and a zealous distribution of spiritual things3 but men of other employments1 are in their particular ways as much obliged to act as the servants of ,,god1 and to live wholly unto him in their several callings4 ,for as all christians are by their baptism devoted to ,,god1 and made professors of holiness2 so are they all in their several callings1 to live as holy and heavenly persons2 doing every thing in common life1 only in such a manner as it may be received by ,,god1 as a service done to him4 ,further1 it will be readily acknowledged on all sides1 that angels1 whether they are principalities or powers1 must all with one spirit1 live wholly to the praise and glory of the one ,,god and ,father of them all2 and that it is not allowable for1 or becoming them1 to act below the dignity of their proper state4 ,and is not a devout life1 and a wise use of our proper condition1 as much the duty of all christians1 as it is the duty of angels and celestial beings8 ,our blessed ,saviour has cleared up this point1 by making this petition a constant part of all our prayers1 8,thy will be done on earth1 as it is in heaven40 ,a plain proof1 that the obedience of christians1 is to imitate at least the obedience of angels2 and that rational beings on earth1 are to be wholly devoted unto ,,god1 in like manner as rational beings in heaven are devoted to him4 ,these are not speculative flights1 or imaginary notions1 but are plain and undeniable truths1 founded in the very nature of rational beings1 and upon the infallible testimony of the lively oracles of ,,god4 ,it is but barely complying with that apostolical precept1 8,whether ye eat or drink1 or whatsoever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,,god40 ,for no one can come near the doctrine of this passage1 but he that proposes to himself to do every thing in this life1 as a servant of ,,god2 to live by reason in every thing that he does2 and to make the wisdom and holiness of the gospel1 and the glory of ,,god1 the rule and measure of his desiring and using every gift of ,,god4 ,eating is one of the lowest actions of our lives2 it is common to us with mere animals3 yet we see1 that this text1 as well as by the practice of christians in all ages1 has turned this ordinary action of an animal life1 into an act of piety to ,,god1 by making every meal to begin and end with devotion4 ,some remains of this custom are yet to be seen in most christian families2 but indeed it is now generally so performed1 as to look more like a mockery upon devotion1 than any solemn application of the mind unto ,,god4 ,however1 these very remains1 such as they are1 are proofs1 that religion has formerly belonged to this1 and consequently to every other part of common life4 ,but to return4 ,the same ,apostle1 in his epistle to the ,ephesians1 commands servants 8to be obedient to their masters in singleness of heart1 as unto ,,christ2 not with eye service1 as men-pleasers1 but as the servants of ,,christ1 doing the will of ,,god from the heart3 with good-will doing service as unto the ,,lord1 and not unto men40 ,this passage sufficiently shews1 that all christians are to live wholly unto ,,god1 in every state and condition of life1 doing the work of their common calling in such a manner1 and for such ends1 as to make it a part of their devotion or service to ,,god4 ,for if poor slaves are not to comply with their business as men-pleasers2 if they are to look wholly unto ,,god in all their actions1 and serve in singleness of heart1 as unto the ,,lord2 surely men of other employments and conditions1 must be as much obliged to go through their business with the same singleness of heart1 not as pleasing the vanity of their own minds1 nor as gratifying their own selfish1 worldly passions1 but as the servants of ,,god in all that they have to do4 ,to deny this1 would be as absurd1 as to make it necessary for one man to be more just or faithful than another4 ,to close these arguments founded on reason and scripture4 ,our being indispensably obliged to devote our lives to ,,god1 is very evident from that glorious passage of the ,apostle1 wherein he declares that 8,,christ died and rose again1 that we should henceforth not live unto ourselves1 but unto him that died for us2 that we are not our own1 but bought with a price10 emphatically so called1 and that we should 8therefore glorify ,,god in our souls and bodies which are his40 ,if then we desire to live as rational creatures1 if we would not add heathen lives to christian prayers1 if we would perform our baptismal vow1 and do ,,god's will on earth as it is done in heaven2 if we would comply with the whole will of ,,god1 and answer the end of our blessed ,,lord's birth1 death1 resurrection1 and ascension1 we must live wholly to ,,god1 and make his glory the sole rule and measure of our acting in every employment of life4 ,for want of knowing1 or at least of considering this1 we see such a mixture of ridicule in the lives of many people4 ,you see them strict as to some times and places of devotion2 but when the service of the church is over1 they are like those who seldom or never come there4 ,in their way of life1 their manner of spending both time and money1 in their cares and fears1 in their pleasures and indulgences1 in their labours and diversions1 they are like the rest of the world4 ,this makes the loose part of the world generally make a jest of those that are thus seemingly devout2 not altogether it may be because they are really devoted to ,,god1 but because they appear to have no other devotion1 but that of occasional prayers4 ,julius is very fearful of missing prayers2 all the parish suppose ,julius to be sick1 if he is not at church4 ,but if you ask him1 why he spends the rest of his time by humour or chance8 ,why he is busy at all balls and assemblies8 ,why he gives himself up to an idle gossipping conversation8 ,if you ask him1 why he never puts his conversation1 his time1 and fortune1 under the rules of religion8 ,julius has no more to say for himself1 than the most disorderly person4 ,for he that lives in such a course of idleness and folly1 lives no more according to the religion of ,,jesus ,,christ1 than he who lives in gluttony and intemperance4 ,our blessed ,saviour and his ,apostles did not spend their whole ministry in recommending the duties of public and private prayers2 though by their example and precepts they recommended and enforced both2 but it is worthy our observation1 that after they had laid down a lively faith in ,,god's mercy through ,,jesus ,,christ1 as the foundation1 they were chiefly taken up in delivering doctrines which relate to common life4 ,for they call upon us 8to renounce the world1 so as not to be conformed to it3 ,to fear none of its evils1 to reject its joys1 and have no value for its happiness3 ,to be as new-born babes1 that are born into a new state of things2 to live as pilgrims1 in spiritual watching1 in holy fear1 and heavenly aspirations after another life3 ,to take up our daily cross1 to deny ourselves1 to profess the blessedness of holy mourning1 and poverty of spirit3 ,to reject the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life1 so as not to follow or be led by them3 ,to take no anxious thought for the morrow2 to live in the profoundest state of humility2 to rejoice in worldly sufferings and injuries1 when it pleases ,,god to bring them upon us2 to forgive and bless our enemies1 and to love mankind in the same manner1 though not degree1 as ,,god loves them4 ,in short1 to give up our whole hearts and affections to ,,god1 even a ,,god in ,,christ1 and to strive to enter through the strait gate of a sound conversion into a life of eternal glory40 ,this is the common devotion1 which our blessed ,saviour and his ,apostles taught1 in order to make it the common life of all christians4 ,but yet1 though it is thus plain1 that this1 and this alone1 is true christianity1 yet it is as plain1 that there is little or nothing of this to be found1 not only among professed rakes1 but even among the better and more sober sort of people4 ,you may see them often at public worship1 and the ,,lord's table1 and hear them talking of grace and religion1 and find them pleased with orthodox preachers2 but look into their lives1 and you see them just the same sort of people as others are1 who make no pretences to devotion at all4 ,so that the difference that you find between them1 seems to be only the difference of natural tempers1 or the effect of a polite and civilized education4 ,leo has a great deal of good nature1 has kept what they call good company1 hates every thing that is false and base1 is very generous and brave to his friends1 but has concerned himself so little with religion1 that he hardly knows the difference between a ,jew and a christian4 ,eusebius1 on the other hand1 has had early impressions of religion1 sometimes prays extempore1 and buys books of devotion1 and receives the blessed sacrament once a month4 ,he can talk of all the doctrines of grace1 is acquainted with the true state of the controversy between the ,calvinists and ,arminians1 knows all the feasts and fasts of the church1 and the names of most men that have been eminent for piety4 ,you never hear him swear1 or make a loose jest1 and when he talks of religion1 he talks of it1 as a matter of the last concern4 ,here you see1 that one person has religion enough1 according to the way of the world1 to be reckoned a pious christian2 and the other is so far from all appearance of religion1 that he may fairly be reckoned an heathen2 and yet if you look into their common life1 you will find ,eusebius and ,leo exactly alike2 seeking1 using1 and enjoying1 all that can be gotten in this world1 in the same manner1 and for the same ends1 even to please themselves1 without any prevailing habitual regard to the glory of ,,god4 ,you will find that riches1 prosperity1 pleasures1 indulgences1 state1 equipage1 and honour1 are just as much the happiness of ,eusebius1 as they are of ,leo4 ,and must not all who are capable of any reflection1 readily acknowledge1 that this is generally the state even of what we commonly term devout people1 whether men or women8 ,you may see them different from some others1 as to times and places of worship1 receiving the sacrament1 and with a doctrinal knowledge of the form of sound words2 but usually like the rest of the world in all the other parts of their lives4 ,is it not notorious1 that christians are now not only like other men in their frailties and infirmities1 7this might be in some degree excusable1 since the scriptures inform us1 that ,elijah was a man of like passions with others7 but are they not like heathens1 in all the main and chief articles of their lives8 ,do they not enjoy the world1 and live every day with the same indulgence as they did who knew not ,,god1 nor of any happiness in another life8 ,and yet1 if christianity has not changed a man's mind and temper1 with relation to these things1 what can we say that it has done for him8 ,for if the doctrines of christianity were universally practised1 they would make a man as different from other people1 as to all worldly tempers1 sensual pleasures1 and the pride of life1 as a wise man is different from an ideot2 and it would be almost as easy a thing to know a true professor of christianity1 by his outward course of life1 as it is now difficult to find any body that lives it4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,persons free from the necessities of labour and employments1 are to consider themselves as devoted to ,,god in a higher degree4 ,,as it has been proved in the foregoing chapter1 that all professors of christianity1 do lie under manifold obligations to live a life wholly devoted unto ,,god2 so those who have no particular employment1 but have their time and fortune at their own disposal1 are under still greater obligations of living wholly unto ,,god in all their actions4 ,they are those1 of whom 8much will be required1 because much is given unto them40 ,a slave can only live unto ,,god in one particular way2 that is1 by religious patience and submission in his state of slavery2 but all ways of holy living1 all instances1 and all kinds of virtue lie open to those1 who are masters of themselves1 of their time1 and their fortune4 ,you are no labourer or tradesman2 you are neither merchant nor soldier2 should you not therefore consider yourself1 as placed in a state1 in some degree like that of good angels1 who are sent into the world as ministring spirits1 for the general good of mankind1 to assist1 protect1 and minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation8 ,had you1 ,serena1 been obliged by the necessities of life1 to wash cloaths for your maintenance1 or to wait upon some mistress1 that demanded all your labour1 it would then be your duty to serve and glorify ,,god1 by such humility1 obedience1 and faithfulness1 as might adorn that state1 and improve that one talent to its greatest height3 but as ,,god hath given you five talents2 as he hath placed you above the necessities of life2 as he hath left you in the hands of yourself1 in the happy liberty of chusing the most exalted ways of religion2 so it is now your duty and privilege to turn your five talents into five more2 to set no bounds to your love and gratitude to the bountiful ,author of so many blessings2 and to consider how your time1 leisure1 health1 and fortune1 may be made so many happy means of improving your fellow-creatures in the ways of ,,god1 and of advancing yourself1 through grace1 at last to the greatest heights of eternal glory4 ,this1 ,serena1 is indeed your profession3 and the reason of this will appear very plain1 if you would only consider1 that your estate is as much the gift of ,,god1 as your eyes or hands2 and is therefore no more to be buried or thrown away at pleasure1 than you are to put out your eyes1 or throw away your limbs as you please4 ,but besides these considerations1 there are several other great and important reasons1 why all christians in general1 and such as ,i am now speaking of in particular1 should be religiously exact in the use of their fortunes for the glory of ,,god4 ,for the manner of using our money1 and spending our estate1 enters so far into the business of every day1 that our common life must necessarily be much of the same nature as our common way of spending our estate4 ,if we waste it1 we do not waste a trifle1 that signifies little2 but we waste that which might be made as eyes to the blind1 as a husband to the widow1 as a father to the orphan2 and which1 if given in faith1 and out of love to ,,jesus ,,christ1 would greatly increase our reward in a future state4 8,make to yourselves friends 7says our ,saviour7 of the mammon of unrighteousness1 that when you fail1 they may receive you into everlasting habitations40 ,what still adds weight to these arguments1 is this1 if we waste our money1 and do not improve our fortunes for the glory of ,,god1 and the good of our fellow-creatures1 we are not only guilty of wasting a talent which ,,god has given us1 and making that useless which might be so powerful a means of doing good1 but we turn this useful talent into a powerful means of corrupting ourselves4 ,for so far as it is spent wrong1 so far it is spent in the support of some wrong temper1 in gratifying some vain and unreasonable desires1 in conforming to those fashions1 and that pride of the world1 which as reasonable men and christians we are obliged to renounce4 ,if therefore1 you do not spend your money in doing good to others1 you must spend it to the hurt of yourself4 ,and you will act like a man that refuses to give that as a cordial to a sick friend1 though he could not drink it himself1 without not only inflaming1 but corrupting his whole mass of blood4 ,it may be worth our while to pursue this thought a little further4 ,for as we are now discoursing about people in the polite world1 and of good fortunes1 who we may suppose do not live in gross sins1 but only in the indiscreet and dangerous use of things innocent and lawful in themselves1 so it is more difficult to make such people at all sensible of the danger of such a life4 ,a gentleman that spends great part of his estate in sports1 and a woman that lays out all her fortune upon herself1 can hardly be persuaded1 that the spirit of religion cannot subsist in such a way of life4 ,much less will they be easily convinced1 that such a turn of mind1 however they may live free from debaucheries1 and be friends of religion1 so far as to praise1 speak well of1 and admire it in their imaginations1 will give a bad turn to their whole way of life4 ,but it is certainly so4 ,a woman1 for instance1 that loves dress1 who thinks no expence too great to bestow upon the adorning of her person1 cannot stop there4 ,for that single temper draws a thousand other follies along with it2 and will render the whole course of her life1 her business1 her conversation1 her hopes1 her fears1 her taste1 her pleasures1 and diversions1 all suitable to it4 ,on the contrary1 a lady who is habitually dead to the things of the world1 and has devoted her time and fortune to ,,god2 such a one will let her whole life be a continued series of good actions1 as may benefit her own and others souls1 and consequently adorn the gospel of her ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,flavia1 and ,miranda1 are two maiden sisters1 that have each of them two hundred pounds a year4 ,they buried their father twenty years ago1 and have since that time spent their estate as they pleased4 ,flavia has been the wonder of all her friends1 for her excellent management1 in making so surprizing a figure with so moderate a fortune4 ,several ladies that have twice her fortune1 are not able to be always so genteel1 and so constant at all places of what she calls innocent pleasure and expence4 ,she has every thing in the fashion1 and is in every place where there is any diversion4 ,flavia is very orthodox2 she talks warmly against heretics and schismatics1 is generally at church1 and often at the sacrament4 ,she once commended a sermon that was against the pride and vanity of dress1 and thought it was very just against ,lucinda1 whom she takes to be a great deal finer than she need to be4 ,should any one ask ,flavia to do something in charity2 if she likes the person who makes the proposal1 or happens to be in a right temper1 she will toss him half a crown or a crown1 and tell him1 that if he knew what a long millener's bill she had just received1 he would think it a great deal for her to give4 ,a quarter of a year after this1 she hears a sermon upon the necessity of charity2 she thinks the man preaches well1 that it is a very proper subject1 and that people want much to be put in mind of it2 but she applies nothing to herself1 because she remembers that she gave a crown some time ago1 when she could so ill spare it4 ,as for poor people1 she will admit of no complaints from them2 she is very positive they are all cheats and liars1 and will say any thing to get relief1 and therefore it must be a sin to encourage them in their evil ways4 ,you would think that ,flavia had the tenderest conscience in the world1 if you was to see how scrupulous and apprehensive she is of the guilt and danger of giving amiss4 ,she buys all books of wit and humour1 and has made an expensive collection of all our ,english ,poets2 for she says1 one cannot have a true taste of any of them1 without being very conversant with all4 ,she will sometimes read a book of piety1 if it is a short one1 and if it is much commended for stile and language1 and she can tell where to borrow it4 ,flavia is very idle1 and yet very fond of fine work3 this makes her very often sit working in bed until noon1 and will be told many a long story before she is up2 so that ,i need not tell you1 that her morning devotions are not always rightly performed4 ,flavia would be a miracle of piety1 if she was but half so careful of her soul1 as she is of her body4 ,the rising of a pimple in her face1 or the sting of a gnat1 will make her keep her room two or three days2 and she thinks they are very rash people1 that do not take care of things in time4 ,this makes her so over careful of her health1 that she never thinks she is well enough2 and so over indulgent1 that she never can be really well4 ,so that it costs her a great deal in sleeping draughts1 and waking draughts1 in spirits for the head1 in drops for the nerves1 in cordials for the stomach1 and in saffron for her tea4 ,if you visit ,flavia on the ,,lord's day1 you will always meet good company2 you will know what is doing in the world1 and who is meant by every name that is in it4 ,you will hear what plays were acted that week1 and which is the finest song in the opera2 who was intolerable at the last assembly1 and what games are most in fashion4 ,flavia thinks they are ,atheists who play at cards on the ,sunday2 but she will tell you the nicety of all the games1 what cards she held1 how she played them1 and the history of all that happened at play1 as soon as she comes from church4 ,if you would know who is rude and ill-natured1 who is vain and foppish1 who lives too high1 and who is in debt2 if you would know what is the quarrel at a certain house1 or who and who are in love2 if you would know how late ,belinda comes home at night1 what cloaths she has bought1 how she loves compliments1 and what a long story she told at such a place2 if you would know how cross ,lucius is to his wife1 and what ill-natured things he says to her1 when no body hears him2 if you would know how they hate one another in their hearts1 though they appear so kind in public2 you must visit ,flavia on the ,sunday4 ,but still1 she has so great a regard for the holiness of the ,sunday1 that she has turned a poor old widow out of her house1 as a prophane wretch1 for having been found once mending her cloaths on the ,sunday night4 ,thus lives ,flavia2 and if she lives ten years longer1 she will have spent about fifteen hundred and sixty ,sundays after this manner2 and she will have worn about two hundred different suits of cloaths4 ,out of these thirty years of her life1 fifteen of them will have been disposed of in bed2 and of the remaining fifteen1 about fourteen of them will have been consumed in eating1 drinking1 dressing1 visiting1 conversation1 reading and hearing plays and romances1 and attending at operas1 assemblies1 balls and diversions4 ,for you may reckon all the time she is up1 to be thus spent1 except about an hour and a half1 that is disposed of at church1 most ,sundays in the year4 ,with great management1 and under mighty rules of conomy1 she will have spent six thousand pounds upon herself1 except some few shillings1 crowns or half crowns1 that have gone from her in accidental charities4 ,i shall not take upon me to say1 that it is impossible for ,flavia ever to be saved2 but thus much must be said1 that she has no grounds from scripture to think she is at present in the way of salvation4 ,for her whole life is in direct opposition to all those tempers and practices1 which the gospel has made necessary to salvation4 ,if you was to hear her say1 that she had lived all her life like ,anna the prophetess1 8who departed not from the temple1 but served ,,god with fastings and prayers night and day10 you would look upon her as very extravagant2 and yet this would be no greater an extravagance1 than for her to say1 that she had been 8striving to enter in at the strait gate10 or making any one doctrine or precept of the gospel1 a rule of her life4 ,she may as well say1 that she lived with our ,saviour when he was upon earth1 as that she has lived in imitation of him1 or made it any part of her care to live in such tempers1 as he required of all those that would be his disciples4 ,she may as truly say1 that she has every day washed the ,saints feet1 as that she has lived in christian humility and poverty of spirit2 and as reasonably think1 that she has taught a charity school1 as that she has lived in works of charity4 ,she hath as much reason to think1 that she has been a centinel in an army1 as that she has lived in watching and self-denial4 ,and it may as fairly be said1 that she had lived by the labour of her hands1 as that she had given all diligence to make her calling and election sure4 ,now though the irregular trifling spirit of this character1 belongs ,i hope but to few people1 yet many may here learn some instruction from it1 and perhaps see something of their own spirit in it4 ,but not so ,miranda 7the sister of ,flavia72 she is a sober reasonable christian4 ,as soon as she was mistress of her time and fortune1 it was her first thought1 how she might best fulfil every thing that ,,god required of her in the use of them1 and how she might make the best and happiest use of this short life4 ,she depends upon the truth of what our blessed ,,lord hath said1 8that there is but one thing needful10 and therefore makes her whole life but one continual labour after it4 ,she has but one reason for doing or not doing1 for liking or not liking any thing1 and that is the will of ,,god4 ,she is not so weak1 as to pretend to add1 what is frequently falsely called the fine lady1 to the true christian2 ,miranda thinks too well1 to be taken with the sound of such silly words2 she has renounced the world1 to follow ,,christ in the exercise of humility1 charity1 devotion1 abstinence1 and heavenly affections2 and that is ,miranda's fine breeding4 ,whilst she was under her mother1 she was forced to live in ceremony1 to sit up late at night1 to be in the folly of every fashion1 and always visiting on ,sundays2 to go patched1 and loaded with a burden of finery1 to the holy sacrament2 to be in every polite conversation2 to hear prophaneness at the play-house1 and wanton songs and love intrigues at the opera2 to dance at public places1 that fops and rakes might admire the fineness of her shape1 and the beauty of her motions4 ,the remembrance of this way of life is very grievous to her1 and makes her exceeding careful to give evidences of her unfeigned repentance1 by a contrary behaviour4 ,miranda does not divide her duty between ,,god1 her neighbour1 and herself2 but she considers all as due to ,,god1 and so does every thing in his name and for his sake4 ,this makes her consider her fortune as the gift of ,,god1 that is to be used as is every thing that belongs to ,,god1 for the wise and reasonable ends of a christian and holy life3 her fortune therefore is divided between herself and the poor1 and she has only her reasonable part of relief from it4 ,for she thinks it the same folly to indulge herself in needless1 vain expences1 as to give to other people to spend in the same way4 ,this is the spirit of ,miranda1 and thus she uses the gifts of ,,god4 ,if you was to see her1 you would wonder who it was that was so surprizing and unaffectedly neat and clean2 for every thing about her resembles the purity of her soul1 and she is always clean without1 because she always studies to be pure within4 ,every morning sees her early at her prayers2 she rejoices in the beginning of every day1 because it begins all her pious rules of holy living1 and brings the fresh pleasure of repeating them4 ,she seems to be as a guardian angel to those that dwell about her1 with her watchings and prayers blessing the place where she dwells1 and making intercession with ,,god for those that are asleep4 ,her devotions have had some intervals1 and she has had reason to think that ,,god hath answered several of her private prayers1 before the light hath entered into her sister's room4 ,miranda does not know what it is to have a dull half-day2 the returns of her hours of prayer1 and her religious exercises1 come too often to let any considerable part of time lie heavy upon her hands4 ,when you see her at work1 you see the same wisdom that governs all her other actions2 she is either doing something that is necessary for herself1 or necessary for others1 who want to be assisted4 ,her wise and pious mind neither wants the amusement1 nor can bear with the folly of idle and impertinent work2 she can admit of no such folly as this in the day1 because she is to call herself to an account for all her actions in her secret retirement at night4 ,at her table she lives strictly by this rule of holy scripture1 8whether ye eat or drink1 or whatsoever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,,god40 ,this makes her begin and end every meal1 as she begins and ends every day1 with acts of devotion3 she does not indeed weigh her meat in a pair of scales1 but she weighs it in a much better balance2 so much as gives a proper strength to her body1 and renders it able and willing to obey the soul1 is ,miranda's meal4 ,the holy scriptures1 especially of the ,new ,testament1 are her daily study4 ,when she has this in her hand1 she supposes herself at the feet of our ,saviour and his apostles1 and receives their sacred words with as much attention and reverence1 as if she saw their persons1 and knew that they were just come from heaven1 on purpose to teach her the way that leads to it4 ,nor does she content herself barely with reading the scriptures2 but in reading1 constantly casts her eye upon herself1 and tries herself by every doctrine that is there1 because she thinks this is the only possible way to be ready for her trial at the last day4 ,books also of devotion1 and especially such as enter into the heart of religion1 and describe the inward holiness of the christian life1 have such a large place in her closet1 that she is sometimes afraid that she lays out too much money in them1 because she cannot forbear buying all the practical books of any note4 ,but of all human writings1 the lives of pious persons1 and eminent saints1 are her greatest delight4 ,in these she searches as for hidden treasure1 hoping to find some secret of holy living1 some uncommon degree of piety1 which she may make her own4 ,by this means1 ,miranda has her head and heart stored with all the principles of wisdom and holiness1 and if you are in her company1 when she thinks proper to talk1 you must be made wiser and better1 whether you will or not4 ,to relate her charity1 would be to relate the history of every day for twenty years past4 ,she has set up near twenty poor tradesmen who had failed in their business1 and saved as many from failing4 ,she has educated several poor children1 that were picked up in the streets1 and put them in a way of honest employment4 ,as soon as any labourer is confined at home with sickness1 she sends to him1 till he recovers1 twice the value of his wages1 that he may have one part to give to his family as usual1 and the other to provide things convenient for his sickness4 ,if a family seems too large to be supported by the labour of those in it that can work1 she pays their rent1 and gives them something yearly towards their cloathing4 ,by this means there are many poor families which live in a comfortable manner1 and are from year to year blessing her in their prayers4 ,if there is any poor man or woman1 that is more than ordinarily wicked and reprobate1 ,miranda has her eye upon them1 and if she can discover that they are in any great streights or affliction1 she gives them speedy relief4 ,she has this care for this sort of people1 not only because she once saved a very profligate person from being carried to prison1 who immediately became a true penitent1 but because she believes that a tenderness of affection towards the most abandoned sinners1 is every where represented in the gospel as the highest instance of a divine and godlike soul4 ,miranda once passed by a house1 where the man and his wife were cursing and swearing at one another in a most dreadful manner1 and three children crying about them2 this sight so much affected her compassionate mind1 that she went the next day1 and even bought the three children1 that they might not be ruined by living with such wicked parents4 ,they now live with ,miranda1 are blessed with her care and prayers1 and all the good works that she can do for them4 ,they hear her talk1 they see her live1 and join with her in psalms and prayers4 ,the eldest of them has already been an instrument of converting his parents from their wicked life1 and shews a turn of mind so remarkably pious1 that ,miranda intends him for holy orders2 that being thus saved himself1 he may be zealous in the salvation of souls1 and do to other miserable objects1 as she has done to him4 ,miranda is a constant relief to poor people in their misfortunes and accidents2 for there are sometimes little misfortunes that happen to them1 which of themselves they could never be able to overcome3 the death of a cow1 or a horse1 or some little robbery1 would keep them in distress all their lives4 ,she does not suffer them to lie grieving under such accidents as these4 ,she immediately gives them the full value of their loss1 and makes use of it as a means of raising their minds towards ,,god4 ,she has a great tenderness for old people that are grown past their labour4 ,the parish allowance 7,miranda says7 to such people1 is very seldom a comfortable maintenance4 ,for this reason1 they are the constant objects of her care2 she adds so much to their allowance1 as somewhat exceeds the wages they got when they were young4 ,this she does to comfort them under the infirmities of their age1 that being free from trouble and distress they may serve ,,god in peace and tranquillity of mind4 ,she has generally a large number of this kind1 who by her charities1 and exhortations to holiness1 spend their last days in great piety and devotion4 ,miranda never wants compassion even to common beggars2 especially those that are old or sick1 or full of sores1 and that want eyes or limbs4 ,miranda considers that ,lazarus was a common beggar1 that notwithstanding he was the care of angels1 and carried into ,abraham's bosom4 ,she considers that our blessed ,saviour and his apostles1 were kind to beggars2 that they spoke comfortably to them1 healed their diseases1 and restored eyes and limbs to the lame and blind4 ,she therefore hears their complaints with tenderness1 and never bids them go to the place from whence they came1 or tells them that she cannot relieve them because they may be cheats1 or that they are strangers2 but she relieves them for that very reason because they are strangers2 and though she cannot1 like our ,saviour and his ,apostles1 work miracles for their relief1 yet she remembers the words of our ,,lord1 8,i was a stranger and ye took me in10 and can say with ,st4 ,peter1 8such as ,i have1 give ,i unto you1 in the name of ,,jesus of ,nazareth40 ,it may be1 says ,miranda1 that ,i may sometimes give to those who do not deserve it4 ,but where1 says she1 has the scripture made merit to be the rule or measure of my charity8 ,on the contrary1 does not the scripture speak on this wise1 8if thine enemy hunger1 feed him2 if he thirst1 give him drink40 ,and if ,i am to love and do good to my worst enemies1 surely ,i am not to deny alms to poor beggars1 whom ,i neither know to be bad people1 nor any way my enemies8 ,does not ,,god make his sun to rise on the evil and on the good8 ,is not this the very goodness that is recommended to us in scripture8 that by imitating it1 8we may be children of our father who is in heaven1 who sendeth rain on the just and the unjust40 ,perhaps you will reply1 8,by this means ,i encourage people to be beggars40 ,but may not the same objection be made against all kinds of charities1 for they may encourage people to depend upon them8 ,may not the same be said against forgiving our enemies1 cloathing the naked1 or giving medicines to the sick8 for in so doing we may encourage people to do us hurt or neglect themselves1 and be careless of their health4 ,such thoughtless objections1 says ,miranda1 ,i once urged myself1 when in a state of unregeneracy3 but since the love of ,,god has dwelt in me1 and enlarged my heart1 ,i have been filled with bowels of compassion2 and as ,i daily pray for all1 so far as ,i can1 ,i give to all4 ,and ,i cannot refuse an alms to those1 whom ,i pray ,,god to bless1 and whom ,i wish to be partakers of eternal glory4 ,i look on those who come to ask my alms1 as so many friends and benefactors1 that come to do me a greater good than they can receive from me2 that come to exalt my graces1 and be witnesses of my charity2 to be monuments of my love1 and put it in my power of proving the truth of that glorious declaration 8,it is more blessed to give than to receive40 ,this is the spirit1 and this is the life of the devout ,miranda2 and if she lives ten years longer1 she will have spent six-thousand pounds in charity2 for that which she allows herself1 may fairly be reckoned amongst her alms4 ,when she dies1 she must shine amongst ,apostles1 saints and martyrs1 she must stand amongst the first servants of ,,god1 and be glorious amongst those that have fought the good fight1 and finished their course with joy4 8,he that hath ears to hear let him hear40 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,an enquiry into the first and chief reason1 why the generality of christians fall so far short of the holiness and devotion of christianity4 ,,since christian devotion is nothing less than a life wholly devoted unto ,,god1 and persons who are free from the necessities of labour and employments1 are to consider themselves as devoted to ,,god in a higher degree2 it may now reasonably be enquired1 how it comes to pass1 that the lives even of the moral and better sort of people1 are in general so directly contrary to the principles of christianity8 ,i answer1 because the generality of those that call themselves christians1 are destitute of a true living faith in ,,jesus ,,christ2 for want of which they never effectually intended to please ,,god in all the actions of life1 as the happiest and best thing in the world4 ,to be partaker of such a faith1 is every where represented in scripture1 as a fundamental and necessary part of true piety4 ,for without a living faith in the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 our persons cannot be justified1 and consequently none of our performances acceptable in the sight of ,,god4 ,it is this faith that enables us to overcome the world1 and to devote ourselves without reserve to promote the glory of ,him1 who has loved and given himself for us4 ,and therefore it is purely for want of such a faith1 that you see such a mixture of sin and folly in the lives even of the better sort of people3 ,it is for want of this faith1 that you see clergymen given to pride1 and covetousness1 and worldly enjoyments3 ,it is for want of such a faith that you see women who profess devotion1 yet living in all the folly and vanity of dress1 wasting their time in idleness and pleasures1 and in all such instances of state and equipage as their estate will reach4 ,let but a woman feel her heart full of this faith1 and she will no more desire to shine at balls and assemblies1 or to make a figure among those that are most finely dressed1 than she will desire to dance upon a rope to please spectators4 ,for she will then know that the one is as far from the true nature1 wisdom1 and excellency of the christian spirit1 as is the other4 ,let a clergyman be but thus pious1 and he will converse as if he had been brought up by an ,apostle2 he will no more think and talk of noble preferment1 than of noble eating1 or a glorious chariot4 ,he will no more complain of the frowns of the world1 or a small cure1 or the want of a patron1 than he will complain of the want of a laced coat1 or of a running horse4 ,let him but have such a faith in love for ,,god1 as will constrain him to make it his business to study to please ,,god in all his actions1 as the happiest and best thing in the world1 and then he will know1 that there is nothing noble in a clergyman1 but burning zeal for the salvation of souls2 nor any thing poor in his profession but idleness and a worldly spirit4 ,further1 let a tradesman but have such a faith1 and it will make him a saint in his shop2 his every day business will be a course of wise and reasonable actions1 made holy to ,,god1 by flowing from faith1 proceeding from love1 and by being done in obedience to his will and pleasure4 ,he will therefore not chiefly consider1 what arts or methods or application will soonest make him greater and richer than his brethren1 that he may remove from a shop1 to a life of state and pleasure2 but he will chiefly consider1 what arts1 what methods1 and what application can make worldly business most conducive to ,,god's glory1 and his neighbour's good2 and consequently make a life of trade1 to be a life of holiness1 devotion1 and undissembled piety4 ,it was this faith that made the primitive christians such eminent instances of religion2 and that made the goodly fellowship of the saints in all ages1 and all the glorious army of confessors and martyrs4 ,and if we will stop and ask ourselves1 why we are not as pious as the primitive christians1 and saints of old were8 our own hearts must tell us1 that it is because we never yet perhaps earnestly sought after1 and consequently were never really made partakers of1 that precious faith1 whereby they were constrained to intend to please ,,god in all their actions1 as the best and happiest thing in the world4 ,here then let us judge ourselves sincerely2 let us not vainly content ourselves with the common disorders of our lives1 the vanity of our expences1 the folly of our diversions1 the pride of our habits1 the idleness of our lives1 and the wasting of our time2 fancying that these are only such imperfections as we necessarily fall into1 through the unavoidable weakness and frailty of our nature2 but let us be assured that these habitual disorders of our common life1 are so many demonstrable proofs1 that we never yet truly accepted of the ,,lord ,,jesus and his righteousness by a living faith1 and never really intended1 as a proof and evidence of such a faith1 to please ,,god in all the actions of our life1 as the best thing in the world4 ,though this be a matter that we can easily pass over at present1 whilst the health of our bodies1 the passions of our minds1 the noise1 and hurry1 and pleasures1 and business of the world1 lead us on with 8eyes that see not1 and ears that hear not30 yet at death1 it will set itself before us in a dreadful magnitude2 it will haunt us like a dismal ghost1 and our consciences will never let us take our eyes from it1 unless they are seared as with a red hot iron1 and ,,god shall have given us over to a reprobate mind4 ,penitens was a busy notable tradesman1 and very prosperous in his dealings2 but died in the thirty-fifth year of his age4 ,a little before his death1 when the doctors had given him over1 some of his neighbours came one evening to see him2 at which time he spake thus to them4 ,i see1 7says he7 my friends1 the tender concern you have for me1 by the grief that appears in your countenances1 and ,i know the thoughts that you now have of me4 ,you think how melancholy a case it is1 to see so young a man1 and in such flourishing business1 delivered up to death4 ,and perhaps1 had ,i visited any of you in my condition1 ,i should have had the same thoughts of you4 ,but now1 my friends1 my thoughts are no more like your thoughts1 than my condition is like yours4 ,it is no trouble to me now to think that ,i am to die young1 or before ,i have raised an estate4 ,these things are sunk into such mere nothings1 that ,i have no name little enough to call them by4 ,for if in a few days1 or hours1 ,i am to leave this carcase to be buried in the earth1 and to find myself either for ever happy in the favour of ,,god1 or eternally separated from all light and peace2 can any words sufficiently express the littleness of every thing else8 ,is there any dream1 like the dream of life1 which amuses us with the neglect and disregard of these things8 ,is there any folly like the folly of our manly state1 which is too wise and busy to be at leisure for these reflections8 ,when we consider death as a misery1 we generally think of it as a miserable separation from the enjoyments of this life4 ,we seldom mourn over an old man that dies rich1 but we lament the young1 that are taken away in the progress of their fortunes4 ,you yourselves look upon me with pity1 not that you think ,i am going unprepared to meet the ,judge of quick and dead1 but that ,i am to leave a prosperous trade in the flower of my life4 ,this is the wisdom of our manly thoughts4 ,and yet what folly of the silliest children1 is so great as this8 ,for what is there miserable or dreadful in death1 but the consequences of it8 ,when a man is dead1 what does any thing signify to him1 but the state he is then in8 ,our poor friend ,lepidus1 you know died as he was dressing himself for a feast2 do you think it is now part of his trouble1 that he did not live till that entertainment was over8 ,feasts1 and business1 and pleasures and enjoyments1 seem great things to us1 whilst we think of nothing else2 but as soon as we add death to them1 they all sink into littleness not to be expressed2 and the soul that is separated from the body1 no more laments the loss of business1 than the losing of a feast4 ,if ,i am now going to the joys of ,,god1 could there be any reason to grieve1 that this happened to me before ,i was forty years of age4 ,can it be a sad thing to go to heaven1 before ,i have made a few more bargains1 or stood a little longer behind a counter8 ,and if ,i am to go amongst lost spirits1 could there be any reason to be content1 that this did not happen to me till ,i was old and full of riches4 ,if good angels were ready to receive my soul1 could it be any grief to me that ,i was dying on a poor bed in a garret8 ,and if ,,god has delivered me up to evil spirits1 to be dragged by them to places of torment1 could it be any comfort to me1 that they found me upon a bed of state8 ,when you are as near death as ,i am1 you will know1 that all the different states of life1 whether of youth or age1 riches or poverty1 greatness or meanness1 signify no more to you1 than whether you die in a poor or stately apartment4 ,the greatness of the things which follow death1 makes all that goes before it sink into nothing4 ,now1 that judgment is the next thing which ,i look for1 and everlasting happiness or misery is come so near to me1 all the enjoyments and prosperities of life seem as vain and insignificant1 and to have no more to do with my happiness1 than the cloaths that ,i wore when ,i was a little child4 ,what a strange thing6 that a little health1 or the poor business of a shop1 should keep us so senseless of these great things that are coming so fast upon us6 ,just as you came into my chamber1 ,i was thinking with myself1 what numbers of souls there are in the world1 in my condition at this very time1 surprized with a summons to the other world3 some taken from their shops and farms1 others from their sports and pleasures2 these at suits at law1 those at gaming-tables2 some on the road1 others at their own fire-sides2 and all seized at an hour when they thought nothing of it2 frighted at the approach of death2 confounded at the vanity of all their labours1 designs1 and projects2 astonished at the folly of their past lives1 and not knowing which way to turn their thoughts1 to find any comfort4 ,their consciences flying in their faces1 bringing all their sins to remembrance1 tormenting them with the deepest convictions of their own folly1 presenting them with the sight of the angry ,judge1 and the worm that never dies1 the fire that is never quenched1 the gates of hell1 the powers of darkness1 and the bitter pains of eternal death4 ,o my friends6 bless ,,god that you are not of this number2 and take this along with you1 that there is nothing but a real faith in the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and a life of true piety1 or a death of great stupidity1 that can keep off these apprehensions4 ,had ,i now a thousand worlds1 ,i would give them all for one moment's scriptural assurance that ,i had really received the ,,lord ,,jesus by a living faith into my heart1 and for one year's more continuance in life1 that ,i might evidence the sincerity of that faith1 by presenting unto ,,god1 one year of such devotion and good works1 as ,i am persuaded ,i have hitherto never done4 ,perhaps1 when you consider that ,i have lived free from scandal and debauchery1 and in the communion of the church1 you wonder to see me so full of remorse and self-condemnation at the approach of death4 ,but alas6 what a poor thing is it1 to have lived only free from murder1 theft1 and adultery1 which is all that ,i can say of myself4 ,was not the slothful servant1 that is condemned in the gospel1 thus negatively good8 ,and did not the ,saviour of mankind tell the young man who led a more blameless and moral life than ,i have done1 that yet one thing he lacked4 ,but the thing that now surprizes me above all wonders1 is this1 that till of late ,i never was convinced of that reigning soul-destroying sin of unbelief2 and that ,i was out of a state of salvation1 notwithstanding my negative goodness1 my seemingly strict morality1 and attendance on public worship and the holy sacrament4 ,it never entered into my head or heart1 that the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ alone1 could recommend me to the favour of a sin avenging ,,god1 and that ,i must be born again of ,,god1 and have ,,christ formed in my heart1 before ,i could have any well-grounded assurance that ,i was a christian indeed1 or have any solid foundation whereon ,i might build the superstructure of a truly holy and pious life4 ,alas6 ,i thought ,i had faith in ,,christ1 because ,i was born in a christian country1 and said in my creed1 that 8,i believed on ,,jesus ,,christ his only ,son our ,,lord40 ,i thought ,i was certainly regenerate and born again1 and was a real christian1 because ,i was baptized when ,i was young1 and received the holy sacrament in my adult age4 ,but alas6 little did ,i consider that faith is something more than the world generally thinks of2 a work of the heart1 and not merely of the head1 and that ,i must know and feel that there is no other name given under heaven whereby ,i can be saved1 but that of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,it is true indeed1 you have frequently seen me at church and the sacrament2 but alas1 you little think what remorse of conscience ,i now feel for so frequently saying1 8the remembrance of our sins is grievous unto us1 and the burden of them is intolerable10 when ,i never experienced the meaning of them in all my life4 ,you have also seen me join with the minister when he said1 8we do not approach thy table trusting on our own righteousness20 but all this while ,i was utterly ignorant of ,,god's righteousness1 which is by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and was going about to establish a righteousness of my own4 ,it is true indeed1 ,i have kept the fasts and feasts of the church1 and have called ,,christ1 ,lord1 ,lord2 but little did ,i think1 that no one could call ,,christ truly ,lord1 but by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,i have attended upon ordinations1 and heard the ,bishop ask the candidates1 8whether they were called by the ,holy ,ghost20 ,i have seriously attended to the minister1 when he exhorted us to pray for true repentance and ,,god's holy ,spirit2 but alas1 ,i never enquired whether ,i myself had received the ,holy ,ghost to sanctify and purify my heart1 and worked a true evangelical repentance in my soul4 ,i have prayed in the litany that ,i might bring forth the fruits of the ,spirit1 but alas1 my whole life has been nothing but a dead life1 a round of duties1 and model of performances1 without any living faith for their foundation4 ,i have professed myself a member of the church of ,england2 ,i have cried out1 8,the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord10 and in my zeal have exclaimed against ,dissenters2 but little did ,i think1 that ,i was ignorant all this while of most of her essential articles1 and that my practice1 as well as the want of a real experience of a work of regeneration and true conversion1 when ,i was using her offices1 and reading her homilies1 gave my conscience the lie4 ,o my friends6 a form of godliness without the power1 and dead morality not founded on a living faith in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 is such a dreadful delusion1 so contrary to the lively oracles of ,,god1 that did not ,i know 7though alas how late67 that the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ was revealed in them1 and that there was mercy to be found with ,,god1 if we venture by a real faith on that righteousness1 though at the eleventh hour1 ,i must now sink into total despair4 ,penitens was here going on1 but had his mouth stopped by a convulsion1 which never suffered him to speak any more4 ,he lay convulsed about twelve hours1 and then gave up the ghost4 ,now if every reader would imagine this ,penitens to have been some particular acquaintance or relation of his1 and fancy that he saw and heard all which is here described2 that he stood by his bed-side when his poor friend lay in such distress and agony1 lamenting the want of a living faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 as the cause of a dead1 lifeless1 indevout life3 if besides this1 he should consider1 how often he himself might have been surprized in the same formal dead state1 and made an example to the rest of the world2 this double reflection1 both upon the distress of his friend1 and the goodness of that ,,god1 which ought to have led him to repentance1 would in all likelihood set him upon seeking and earnestly praying for such a faith1 of which ,penitens felt himself void1 and constrain him to let the ,,lord have no rest1 till he should be pleased to apply the righteousness of his dear ,son to his sin-sick soul1 and enable him henceforward to study1 out of love1 to glorify him in all the actions of his future life1 as the best and happiest thing in the world4 ,this therefore being so useful a meditation1 ,i shall here leave the reader1 ,i hope1 seriously engaged in it4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,shewing1 how the fear of being singular1 and making the world their rule of action1 is a second great cause1 why so few devote themselves to ,,god4 ,,another cause why so few devote themselves to ,,god1 is a fear of contempt from the world1 and their making its modes and customs the general rule of all their actions4 ,the history of the gospel is chiefly the history of ,,christ's conquest over the world4 ,and the number of true christians1 is only the number of those who following the ,spirit of ,,christ1 have lived1 and do live1 contrary to this spirit of the world4 8,whosoever is born of ,,god1 7says the apostle7 overcometh the world4 ,set your affections on things above1 and not on things on the earth2 for ye are dead1 and your life is hid with ,,christ in ,,god40 ,this is the language of the whole ,new ,testament2 this is the mark of real christianity4 ,we are to be dead to the spirit and temper of the world1 and live a new life in the ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,it was this1 that made ,saint ,paul so passionately express himself1 8,,god forbid1 that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,but why does he glory8 because his christian profession had called him to the honour of suffering for ,,christ1 and of dying to the world1 under reproach and contempt1 as the ,,lord ,,jesus had died upon the cross4 ,hence he immediately adds1 8by whom the world is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the world40 ,thus was the cross of ,,christ1 in ,saint ,paul's time1 the glory of christians4 ,for he elsewhere asserts1 speaking of christians in general1 that they are 8to suffer1 to be crucified1 to die1 and to rise with ,,christ20 or else his crucifixion1 and death1 and resurrection1 will profit them nothing4 ,as to his sufferings1 says he1 8if we suffer with him1 we shall also reign with him40 ,as to his crucifixion and death1 8,knowing that our old man is crucified with him4 ,if we are dead with ,,christ1 we believe that we shall also live with him40 ,and then as to the resurrection of ,,christ1 says he1 8,if ye be risen with ,,christ1 seek those things which are above40 ,from all which texts it plainly appears1 that our blessed ,,lord not only died and rose again in our stead1 and as our federal head and representative1 but that also if we are christians indeed1 we are to be conformed to all he did and suffered for us4 ,it was for this reason1 that the holy ,,jesus said of his ,disciples1 and of all true believers1 8they are not of this world1 as ,i am not of this world40 ,because1 all true believers conforming to the sufferings1 crucifixion1 death1 and resurrection of ,,christ1 live no longer after the spirit and temper of this world1 but 8their life is hid with ,,christ in ,,god40 ,how high this life is placed above the ways of the world1 is wonderfully described by ,saint ,paul1 in these words3 8,wherefore1 henceforth know we no man after the flesh2 yea1 though we have known ,,christ after the flesh2 yet henceforth know we him no more4 ,therefore if any man be in ,,christ1 he is a new creature2 old things are passed away2 behold1 all things are become new40 ,he that feels the force and spirit of these words1 can hardly bear any human interpretation of them4 8,henceforth1 c40 that is1 since the death and resurrection of ,,christ1 the state of christianity is become so glorious a state1 that we do not even consider ,,christ himself as in the flesh upon earth1 but as a ,,god of glory in heaven2 we know and consider ourselves not barely as men in the flesh1 but as fellow members of a new society1 that are to have all our hearts1 our tempers and conversation in heaven4 ,saint ,john plainly declares thus much3 8,they are of the world1 therefore speak they of the world1 and the world heareth them2 we are of ,,god40 ,this is his description of the followers of ,,christ2 and it is proof enough1 that no people are to be reckoned christians in reality1 who in their hearts and tempers belong to this world4 ,saint ,paul takes it for a certainty so well known to christians1 that they are no longer to be considered as living in this world1 that he thus argues from it1 as from an undeniable principle1 concerning the abolishing the rites of the ,jewish law3 8,wherefore1 if ye be dead with ,,christ from the rudiments of the world1 why as though living in the world1 are ye subject to ordinances80 ,here could be no argument in this1 but in the ,apostle's taking it for undeniable1 that christians knew1 their profession required them to have done with all the tempers and passions of this world1 and to live as citizens of the ,new ,jerusalem1 and to have their conversation in heaven4 ,our blessed ,,lord himself has fully determined this point1 in these words1 8,they are not of this world1 as ,i am not of this world40 ,this is the state of christianity with regard to this world4 ,if you are not thus out of and contrary to the world1 you want the distinguishing mark of christianity3 ,you do not belong to ,,christ1 but by being out of the world as he was out of it4 ,we may deceive ourselves1 if we please1 with vain and softening comments upon these words2 but they are and will be understood in their first simplicity and plainness1 by every one who reads them in the same spirit that our blessed ,,lord spoke them4 ,and to understand them in any lower and less significant meaning1 is to let carnal wisdom explain away that doctrine1 by which itself was to be destroyed4 ,but notwithstanding the clearness and plainness of these doctrines1 which teach us thus to renounce the world1 yet what a great part of christians do live and die slaves to the customs and temper of the world4 ,how many people swell with pride and vanity for such things as they would not know how to value at all8 but that they are admired in the world4 ,would a man take ten years more drudgery in business to add two horses more to his coach1 but that he knows1 the world most of all admires a coach and six8 ,to abound in wealth1 to have fine houses and rich cloaths1 to be attended with splendor and equipage1 to be beautiful in our persons1 to have titles of dignity1 to be above our fellow-creatures1 to command the bows and obeisance of other people1 to be looked on with admiration1 to pursue our enemies with revenge1 to subdue all that oppose us1 to set ourselves in as much splendor as we can1 to live highly and magnificently1 to eat and drink1 and delight ourselves in the most costly manner2 these are the great1 the honourable1 the desirable things1 to which the spirit of the world turns the eyes of all people2 and many a one is afraid of standing still1 and not engaging in the pursuit of these things1 lest the same world should take him for a fool4 ,many a man would often drop a resentment1 and forgive an affront1 but that he is afraid the world would not forgive him4 ,how many would practice christian temperance and sobriety in its utmost extent1 were it not for the censure which the world passes upon such a life8 ,thus do the impressions which we have received from living in the world enslave our minds1 so that we dare not attempt to be eminent in the sight of ,,god1 and holy angels1 for fear of being little in the eyes of the world4 ,you will perhaps say1 that the world is now become christian1 at least that part of it where we live2 and therefore the world is not now to be considered in that state of opposition to christianity1 as when it was heathen4 ,it is granted1 the world now professeth christianity4 ,but will any one say1 that this christian world is of the spirit of ,,christ8 are its general tempers the tempers of ,,christ8 are the passions of sensuality1 self-love1 pride1 covetousness1 ambition1 and vain-glory1 less contrary to the spirit of the gospel1 now they are amongst christians1 than when they were among heathens8 ,or will you say1 that the tempers and passions of the heathen world are lost and gone8 ,the world is fully described to our hands by ,saint ,john4 8,all that is in the world1 the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eyes1 and the pride of life10 c4 ,now will you say1 that this world is become christian8 ,but if all this still subsists1 then the same world is now in being1 and the same enemy to christianity that was in ,saint ,john's days4 ,had you lived with our ,saviour1 as his true disciple1 you had then been hated as he was2 and if you now live in his spirit1 the world will be the same enemy to you now1 that it was to him then4 8,if ye were of the world1 7saith our blessed ,,lord7 the world would love its own2 but because ye are not of the world1 but ,i have chosen you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you40 ,we are apt to lose the true meaning of these words1 by considering them only as an historical description of something that was the state of our ,saviour and his disciples at that time4 ,but this is reading the scripture as a dead letter3 for they as exactly describe the state of true christians in this1 and all other times1 to the end of the world4 ,for as true christianity is nothing else but the spirit of ,,christ1 so whether that spirit appear in the person of ,,christ himself1 or in his apostles1 or followers in any age1 it is the same thing3 whoever hath his spirit1 will be hated1 despised1 and condemned by the world1 as he was4 ,for the world will always love its own1 and none but its own3 this is as certain and unchangeable1 as the contrariety between light and darkness4 ,when the holy ,,jesus saith1 8,if the world hate you10 he does not add by way of consolation1 that it may some time or other cease its hatred1 or that it will not always hate them2 but he only gives this as a reason for their bearing it1 8,you know that it hated me1 before it hated you30 signifying1 that it was he1 or his spirit1 that by reason of its contrariety to the world1 was then1 and always would be hated by it4 ,whether1 therefore1 the world outwardly professeth1 or openly persecuteth christianity1 it is still in the same state of contrariety to the true spirit and holiness of the gospel4 ,and indeed the world1 by professing christianity1 is so far from being a less dangerous enemy than it was before1 that it has by its favour destroyed more christians1 than ever it did by the most violent persecution4 ,it is a greater and more dangerous enemy1 because it has greater power over christians by its favours1 riches1 honours1 rewards1 and protections1 than it had by the fire and fury of its persecutions4 ,it is a more dangerous enemy1 by having lost its appearance of enmity4 ,and the change that the world has undergone1 has only altered its methods1 but not lessened its power of destroying religion4 ,christians had nothing to fear from the heathen world1 but the loss of their lives2 but the world become a friend1 makes it difficult for them to save their religion4 ,how many consciences are kept at quiet1 upon no other foundation1 but because they sin under the authority of the christian world8 ,how many directions of the gospel lie by unregarded1 and how unconcernedly do particular persons read them8 for no other reason1 but because they seem unregarded by the christian world4 ,so that there is hardly any possibility of saving yourself from the present world1 but by considering it as the same wicked enemy to all true holiness1 as it is represented in the scriptures2 and by assuring yourself1 that it is as dangerous to conform to its tempers and passions1 now it is christian1 as when it was heathen4 ,from this quarter1 therefore1 arises a great obstruction to a really devout life1 because it cannot subsist in any person1 but so far as he is dead to the world4 ,and though human prudence seems to talk mighty wisely about the necessity of avoiding particularities1 yet he that dares not be so weak as to be particular1 will be often obliged to avoid the most substantial duties of christian piety4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,shewing that the education which men generally receive in their youth1 makes a devout life difficult to be practised2 and the spirit of a better education represented in the character of ,paternus4 ,,another obstruction to a devout life1 arises from our education4 ,we are all of us1 for the most part1 corruptly educated1 and then sent to take our course in a corrupt world3 so that it is no wonder1 if examples of true piety are so seldom seen4 ,numbers are undone by being born and bred in families that have no religion2 where they are made vicious and irregular1 becoming like those with whom they first lived4 ,but this is not the thing ,i now mean2 the education that ,i here intend1 is such as children generally receive from virtuous and sober parents1 and learned tutors and governors4 ,the first temper that we try to awaken in them is pride3 as dangerous a passion as that of lust4 ,we stir them up to vain thoughts of themselves1 and do every thing we can to puff up their minds with a sense of their own abilities4 ,whatever way of life we intend them for1 we apply to the fire and vanity of their minds2 and exhort them to every thing from corrupt motives4 ,we stir them up to action from principles of strife and ambition2 from glory1 envy1 and a desire of distinction1 that they may overtop all others1 and shine above their neighbours in the world4 ,nay1 we repeat and inculcate these motives upon them1 till they think it a part of their duty to be proud1 envious1 and vain-glorious of their own accomplishments4 ,if children are intended for holy orders1 we set before them some eminent orator1 whose fine preaching has made him the admiration of the age1 and carried him through all the dignities and preferments of the church4 ,we encourage them to have these honours in their eye1 and to expect the reward of their studies from them4 ,if the youth is intended for a trade1 we bid him look at all the rich men of the same trade1 and to consider how many are carried about in their stately coaches1 who began in the same low degree as he now does4 ,we awaken his ambition1 and endeavour to give his mind a right turn1 by often telling him how very rich such and such a tradesman died4 ,if he is to be a lawyer1 then we set great counsellors1 lords1 judges1 and chancellors1 before his eyes4 ,we tell him what great fees1 and great applause1 attend fine pleading2 we exhort him to take fire at these things1 and to be content with nothing less than the highest honours of the long robe4 ,that this is the nature of our best education1 is too plain to need any proof2 and yet after all this1 we complain of the effects of pride2 we wonder to see grown men acted and governed by ambition1 envy1 scorn1 and a desire of glory2 not considering1 that they were all the time of their youth1 called upon to all their action and industry upon the same principles4 ,how dry and poor must the doctrines of self-denial1 and deadness to the world1 sound to a youth1 that has been spurred up to all his industry1 by ambition1 envy1 and a desire of glory and distinction8 ,and if he is not to act by these principles when he is a man1 why do we call him to act by them in his youth8 ,i know it is said in defence of this method of education2 that ambition1 and a desire of glory1 are necessary to excite young people to industry2 and that if we were to press upon them the doctrines of self-denial1 and renunciation of the world1 we should deject their minds1 and sink them into dulness and idleness4 ,but such objectors do not consider1 that this reason1 if it has any strength1 is full as strong against pressing the like doctrines upon grown men1 lest we should deject their minds1 and sink them into dulness and idleness4 ,for who does not see1 that middle-aged men want as much the assistance of pride1 ambition1 and vain-glory1 to spur them up to action and industry1 as do children8 ,and it is very certain1 that the precepts of humility are more contrary to the designs of such men1 and more grievous to their minds1 when they are pressed upon them1 than they are to the minds of young persons4 ,but further3 could such objectors think1 that if any children had been educated by our blessed ,,lord1 or his ,apostles1 that their minds would have been sunk into dulness and idleness8 ,or could they think1 that such children would not have been trained up in the profoundest principles of self-denial and true devotion8 ,can they say1 that our blessed ,,lord1 who1 considering him in his human nature1 was the most devout1 self-denying man that ever was on earth1 was hindered by his devotion from doing the greatest example of worthy and glorious actions that ever were done by man8 ,can they say1 that his ,apostles1 who lived in the same spirit of their ,master1 did therefore cease to be laborious and active instruments of doing good to all the world8 ,a few such reflections as these1 are sufficient to expose all the poor pretences for an education in pride and ambition4 ,,paternus lived about two hundred years ago2 he had but one son1 whom he educated himself1 in his own house4 ,as they were sitting together in the garden1 when the child was ten years old1 ,paternus thus addressed him4 8,the little time that you have been in the world1 my child1 you have spent wholly with me2 and my love and tenderness to you1 has made you look upon me as your only friend and benefactor1 and the cause of all the comfort and pleasure that you enjoy4 ,your heart1 ,i know1 would be ready to break with grief1 if you thought this was the last day that ,i should live with you4 ,but1 my child1 though you now think yourself mighty happy1 because you have hold of my hand1 you are now in the hands1 and under the tender care of a much greater father and friend than ,i am1 whose love to you is far greater than mine1 and from whom you receive such blessings as no mortal can give4 ,that ,,god1 whom you have seen me daily to worship2 whom ,i daily call upon to bless both you and me1 and all mankind2 whose wondrous acts are recorded in those scriptures which you constantly read2 that ,,god1 who created the heavens and the earth2 who brought a flood upon the old world2 who saved ,noah in the ark2 who was the ,,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob2 whom ,job blessed and praised in the greatest afflictions2 who delivered the ,israelites out of the hands of the ,egyptians2 who was the protector of righteous ,joseph1 ,moses1 ,joshua1 and holy ,daniel2 who sent so many prophets into the world2 and who sent his ,son ,,jesus ,,christ to redeem mankind3 this ,,god1 who has done all these great things2 who has created the many millions of men1 that lived and died before you was born2 with whom the spirits of good men that are departed this life1 now live2 whom infinite numbers of angels now worship in heaven2 this great ,,god1 who is the creator of worlds1 of angels1 and men1 is your loving father and friend1 your good creator and nourisher2 from whom1 and not from me1 you received your being ten years ago1 at the time that ,i planted that little elm which you there see4 ,i myself am not half the age of this shady oak under which we sit2 many of our fathers have sat under its boughs2 we have all of us called it ours in our turn2 it stands1 and drops its masters1 as it drops its leaves4 ,you see1 my son1 this wide and large firmament over our heads1 where the sun and moon1 and all the stars1 appear in their turn3 if you was to be carried up to any of these bodies1 you would discover others as much above you1 as the stars are above this earth4 ,were you to go up or down1 east or west1 north or south1 you would find the same height without any top1 and the same depth without any bottom4 ,and yet1 my child1 so great is ,,god1 that all these bodies added together1 are but as a grain of sand in his sight4 ,nevertheless1 you are as much the care of this great ,,god and ,father of all worlds1 and of all spirits1 as if there were no creature for him to love and protect but you alone4 ,he numbers the hairs of your head1 watches over you sleeping and waking1 and has preserved you from a thousand dangers1 of which neither you nor ,i know any thing4 ,how poor my power is1 and how little ,i am able to do for you1 you have often seen4 ,your late sickness has shewn you how little ,i could do for you in that state2 and the frequent pains of your head are plain proofs1 that ,i have no power to remove them4 ,i can bring you food and medicines1 but have no power to turn them into your relief and nourishment3 it is ,,god alone that can do this for you4 ,therefore1 my child1 fear1 and worship1 and love ,,god4 ,secure an interest in his favour1 by seeking after a living faith in ,,jesus ,,christ his dearly beloved ,son2 and then ,he1 who blessed my father before ,i was born1 will bless you when ,i am dead4 ,i shall in a short time die1 and leave you to ,,god and yourself2 and as ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 and trust that ,,god has forgiven me my sins1 ,i shall go to my dear ,saviour ,,christ ,,jesus1 and live amongst patriarchs and prophets1 saints and martyrs1 and wait for your safe arrival at the same place4 ,therefore1 my child1 meditate on these great things1 and your soul1 through the influences of ,,god's blessed ,spirit1 will soon grow great and noble1 by so meditating upon them4 ,let your thoughts often leave these gardens1 these fields1 and farms1 to contemplate upon ,,god1 and ,,christ1 and heaven1 to meditate upon angels and the spirits of good men living in light and glory4 ,as you have been used to look to me in all your actions1 and have been afraid to do any thing unless you first knew my will2 so let it now be a rule of your life1 to look up to ,,god1 even a ,,god in ,,christ1 in all your actions2 to do every thing in his fear1 and to abstain from every thing that is not according to his will4 ,,god keepeth a book of life1 wherein all the actions of all men are written2 and when you die1 my child1 this book will be laid open before men and angels2 and according as your actions are there found to have been done in1 and proceeded from a living faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 you will either be received into the happiness of those holy men who have died in faith1 or be turned away among those wicked spirits1 those hypocrites and unbelievers1 that are never to see ,,god any more4 ,never forget this book1 my son1 for it must be opened1 you must see it1 and you must be tried by it according to the deeds done in the body1 whether they have been good1 or whether they have been evil4 ,but above all1 my child1 learn of ,,jesus ,,christ to be meek and lowly in heart1 and never do any thing through strife or vain-glory4 ,resist1 therefore1 and look up to ,,christ for a conquest over every thought of self-pride and self-distinction2 and accustom yourself to rejoice in all the excellencies and perfections of your fellow-creatures1 and pray and study that you may be as glad to see any of their good actions1 as your own4 ,for as ,,god is as well pleased with their well-doings1 as with yours2 so you ought to desire1 that every thing that is wise1 and holy1 and good1 may be performed in as high a manner by other people1 as by yourself4 ,when ,i am dead1 my son1 you will be master of all my estate1 which will be a great deal more than the necessities of one family require4 ,as you are1 therefore1 to be charitable to the souls of men1 and wish them the same happiness with yourself1 in heaven1 so be charitable to their bodies1 and endeavour to make them as happy as you can upon earth4 ,study to have your heart filled with the love of ,,god1 and the love of your neighbour1 and then be contented to be no deeper a scholar1 no finer a gentleman1 than these tempers will make you4 ,i am teaching you ,latin and ,greek1 not that you should desire to be a great critic1 a fine poet1 or an eloquent orator2 but1 that you may at proper times look into the history of past ages1 and learn the methods of ,,god's providence over the world2 and that by reading the writings of the ancient sages1 you may see how wisdom and virtue have been the praise of great men of all ages1 and fortify your mind by their wise sayings4 ,avoid all superfluous shews of finery and equipage1 and let your house be furnished with moderate conveniencies4 ,do not consider what your estate can afford1 but what right reason and religion require4 ,let your dress be decent1 clean1 and modest2 and as to your meat and drink1 in them observe the highest rules of christian temperance and sobriety2 consider your body only as the servant and minister of your soul2 and only so nourish it1 as it may best perform an humble and obedient service to it4 ,but1 my son1 observe as a principal thing1 and which ,i shall remind you of as long as ,i live with you1 ,hate and despise all human glory2 it is nothing else but human folly4 ,love humility in all its instances1 practise it in all its parts2 condescend to all the weakness and infirmities of your fellow-creatures1 cover their frailties1 love their excellencies1 encourage their virtues1 relieve their wants1 rejoice in their prosperities1 compassionate their distress1 receive their friendship1 overlook their unkindness1 forgive their malice1 be a servant of servants1 and condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind4 ,aspire after nothing but an interest in the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ2 and as a consequence of that1 your own purity and perfection4 ,remember1 my dear child1 remember1 that there is but one man in the world1 with whom you are to have perpetual contention1 and whom you should be always striving to exceed1 and that is yourself4 ,the time of practising these precepts1 my son1 will soon be over with you2 the world will soon slip through your hands1 or rather you will soon slip through it4 ,it seems but the other day1 since ,i received the same instructions from my dear father1 that ,i am now leaving with you4 ,and the ,,god that gave me ears to hear1 and a heart to receive what my father said unto me1 will1 ,i hope1 give you grace to love and follow the same instructions40 ,thus did ,paternus educate his son4 ,can any one think1 that such an education as this would weaken and deject the minds of young people1 and deprive the world of any worthy and reasonable labours8 ,so far therefrom1 that there is nothing so likely to enoble and exalt the mind1 and prepare it for the most heroical exercise of all virtues4 ,and fatal experience every day evinces1 that a contrary way of educating youth1 is no small hindrance to their devoting themselves entirely to ,,god1 and living up to the strictest rules of the blessed and everlasting gospel4 ,an education which is not wholly intent upon this1 is as much beside the point1 as an art of physic that had little or no regard to the restoration of health3 or rather1 it is like administering poison instead of physic4 ,for as the only end of the physician1 is to restore nature to its own state2 so the only end of education is1 to restore our rational nature to its proper state4 ,and as physic may justly be called the art of restoring health1 so education should be considered in no other light1 than as the art of recovering man to the use of reason and religion4 ,the youths that attended upon ,pythagoras1 ,socrates1 ,plato1 and ,epictetus1 were thus educated4 ,and since christianity hath1 as it were1 new created the moral and religious world1 and set every thing that is reasonable1 wise1 holy1 and desirable1 in its true point of light2 one may reasonably expect1 that the education of youth should be as much bettered by christianity1 as the faith and doctrines of religion are amended by it4 ,but since our modern education is not of this kind1 a deficiency in such an essential point1 may be justly assigned as one great reason why many men find it so exceedingly difficult to devote themselves wholly unto ,,god4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,shewing how the method of educating daughters1 makes it difficult for them to enter into the spirit of christianity2 how miserably they are injured and abused by such an education2 and the spirit of a better education represented in the character of ,eusebia4 ,,that turn of mind which is taught and encouraged in the education of daughters1 makes it exceeding difficult for them to enter into such a sense and practice of true devotion1 as the spirit of christianity requires4 ,for if it were a virtue in a woman1 to be proud and vain in herself1 and fond of the world2 we could hardly use better means to raise these passions1 than those that are now used in their education4 ,matilda is a fine woman1 of good breeding1 great sense1 and has a great deal of regard for religion3 she has three daughters1 educated by herself2 she will trust them to no one else1 nor at any school1 for fear they should learn any thing ill4 ,she stays with the dancing-master all the time he is with them1 because she will hear every thing that is said to them4 ,she has heard them read the scriptures so often1 that they can repeat great part of them without book2 and there is scarce a good book of devotion1 but you may find it in their closets4 ,her daughters see her great zeal for religion1 but then they see an equal earnestness for all sorts of finery4 ,they are afraid to meet her1 if they have missed the church2 but then they are more afraid to see her1 if they are not laced as strait as they can possibly be4 ,matilda is so intent upon all the arts of improving their dress1 that she has some new fancy almost every day1 and leaves no ornament untryed1 from the richest jewel to the poorest flower4 ,she is so nice and critical in her judgment1 and so sensible of the smallest error1 that her maid is often forced to dress and undress her daughters three or four times a day1 before she can be satisfied with it4 ,as to the patching1 she reserves that to herself2 for she says1 if they are not stuck on with judgment1 they are rather a prejudice1 than an advantage to the face4 ,the children see so plainly the temper of their mother1 that they even affect to be more pleased with dress1 than they really are1 merely to gain her favour4 ,they saw the eldest sister once brought to her tears1 and her perverseness severely reprimanded1 for presuming to say1 that she thought it was better to cover the neck1 than to go so far naked as the modern dress requires4 ,she stints them in their meals1 and is very scrupulous of what they eat and drink2 and tells them how many fine shapes she has seen spoiled in her time1 for want of such care4 ,if a pimple rises in their faces1 she is in a great fright1 and they themselves are as afraid to see her with it1 as if they had committed some great sin4 ,whenever they begin to look sanguine and healthy1 she calls in the assistance of the doctor2 and if physic and issues will keep the complexion from inclining to coarse or ruddy1 she thinks them well employed4 ,by this means they are pale1 sickly1 infirm creatures1 vapoured through want of spirits1 crying at the smallest accidents1 swooning away at any thing that frightens them1 and hardly able to bear the weight of their best cloaths4 ,the eldest daughter lived as long as she could under this discipline1 and died in the twentieth year of her age4 ,when she was opened1 it appeared1 that her ribs had grown into her liver1 and that her other entrails were much hurt1 by being crushed together with her stays1 which her mother had ordered to be twitched so strait1 that it often brought tears into her eyes1 whilst the maid was dressing her4 ,her youngest daughter is run away with a gamester1 a man of great beauty1 and who1 in dressing and dancing1 has no superior4 ,matilda says1 she should die with grief at this accident1 but that her conscience tells her1 she has contributed nothing to it herself4 ,she appeals to their closets and their books of devotion1 to testify what care she has taken to establish her children in a life of solid piety and devotion4 ,now1 though ,i do not intend to say1 that no daughters are brought up in a better way than this 7for ,i hope many are7 yet thus much1 ,i believe1 may be said1 that the much greater part of them are not brought up so well1 or accustomed to so much religion1 as in the present instance4 ,their minds are turned as much to the care of beauty and dress1 and the indulgence of vain desires1 as in the present case1 without having such rules of devotion to stand against it4 ,so that if solid piety is much wanted in that sex1 it is the plain and natural consequence of a vain and corrupt education4 ,if they are often too ready to receive the first fops1 beaux1 and fine dancers for their husbands2 it is no wonder they should like that in men1 which they have been taught to admire in themselves4 ,and if they are often seen to lose that little regard to religion1 that they were taught in their youth1 it is no more to be wondered at1 than to see a little flower choaked and killed amongst rank weeds4 ,personal pride1 affectation1 a delight in beauty1 and fondness of finery1 are tempers that must kill all religion in the soul1 or be killed by it2 they can no more thrive together than health and sickness4 ,but how possible it is to bring up daughters in a more excellent way1 let the following character declare4 ,eusebia is a pious widow1 well born1 and well bred1 and has a good estate for five daughters1 whom she loves not only as her natural1 but also as her spiritual children2 and they reverence her as their spiritual mother1 with an affection equal to that of the fondest friends4 8,my children1 7says she7 your dear father was an humble1 watchful1 truly devout man4 ,whilst his sickness would suffer him to talk with me1 his discourse was chiefly about your education4 ,he knew the ruins that a wrong education made in our sex2 and therefore conjured me with the tenderest expressions1 to renounce the fashionable ways of educating daughters1 and to bring you all up in the most unaffected instances of a truly christian and devout life4 ,when your father died1 ,i was much pitied by my friends1 as having all the care of a family1 and the management of an estate fallen upon me4 ,but my own grief was founded on another principle2 ,i was grieved to see myself deprived of so faithful a friend1 and that such an eminent example of real devotion1 should be taken from the eyes of his children1 before they were of an age to love and follow it4 ,but as to worldly cares1 which my friends thought lay so heavy upon me1 they are most of them of our own making1 and fall away as soon as we begin to know ourselves4 ,for this reason1 all my discourse with you1 has been to acquaint you with yourselves1 and to accustom you to such books of devotion1 as may best instruct you in this greatest of all knowledge4 ,you would think it hard1 not to know the family into which you was born1 what ancestors you were descended from1 and what estate was to come to you4 ,but1 my children1 you may know all this with exactness1 and yet be as ignorant of yourselves1 as a man that should take himself to be wax1 and therefore dared not to let the sun shine upon him4 ,in order to know yourselves aright1 you must consider yourselves as so many fallen embodied spirits1 conceived and born in sin1 and that your lives began in a state of corruption and disorder1 full of tempers and passions1 that blind and darken the reason of your minds1 and incline you to that which is hurtful4 ,your bodies are not only poor and perishing like your cloaths1 but they are as infected cloaths1 that fill you with ill distempers1 which oppress the soul with sickly appetites1 and vain envyings4 ,hence all of us are like two beings1 that have as it were two hearts within us3 with the one1 we see1 taste1 and admire reason1 purity1 and holiness2 with the other we incline to pride1 vanity1 and sensual delights4 ,this internal war we always feel within us more or less2 and if you would know the one thing necessary to you and all the world1 it is this1 to preserve1 strengthen1 and perfect all that is rational1 holy1 and divine in our nature1 and by the assistance of the blessed ,spirit of ,,god1 to mortify and subdue all that vanity1 pride1 and sensuality1 which springs from the corruption of our state4 ,whilst you live thus1 you live like yourselves1 and what is more1 like christians2 but whenever you are more intent upon adorning your persons1 than upon perfecting your souls1 you are much more beside yourselves1 than he1 that had rather have a laced coat1 than an healthful body4 ,never consider yourselves1 therefore1 as persons that are to be seen1 admired1 and courted by men2 but as poor sinners1 that are to be washed in the blood of the ,lamb of ,,god1 and accepted through his all-sufficient righteousness1 received by faith1 and to be saved from the follies of a miserable world1 and made meet for heaven by the powerful operations of his blessed ,spirit4 ,these considerations have made me think it my duty to teach you nothing that was dangerous for you to learn4 ,i have kept you from every thing that might betray you into weakness and folly1 or make you think any thing fine1 but a fine mind2 any thing happy1 but an interest in the favour of ,,god1 through ,,jesus ,,christ2 or any thing desirable1 but his love shed abroad in the heart1 and to do all the good you possibly can to your fellow-creatures4 ,instead of the vain1 immodest entertainment of plays and operas1 ,i have taught you to delight in pious reading and religious conversation4 ,what music1 dancing1 and diversions are to the people of the world1 that holy meditation1 fervent prayers1 and other acts of devotion1 have been to you4 ,instead of forced shapes1 patched faces1 and affected motions1 ,i have taught you to conceal your bodies with modest garments1 and to let the world have nothing to view of you1 but the plainness and sincerity1 the humility and unaffectedness of all your behaviour4 ,you know1 my children1 that a single state frees from worldly cares and troubles1 and gives a woman an opportunity of caring only how she may please the ,,lord2 but as ,i look upon you all to be so many great blessings of a married state2 so ,i leave it to your choice1 either to do as ,i have done1 or to continue in a virgin state4 ,only let me remind you1 if you intend to marry1 let the time never come till you find a man that has those graces1 which you are aspiring after yourselves2 who is likely to be a friend to all your virtues1 and with whom it is better to live1 than to want the benefit of his example4 ,avoid therefore the conversation of what the world calls fine-bred fops1 and beaux2 for they are the shame of their own sex1 and ought to be the abhorrence of yours4 ,if evil speaking1 scandal1 or backbiting1 be the conversation where you happen to be1 keep your hearts to yourselves2 and if you have no opportunity to reprove or turn the stream of such conversation into a proper channel1 retire as soon as you can4 ,love and reverence poor people2 as for many reasons1 so particularly for this1 because our blessed ,saviour was one of the number4 ,visit and converse with them frequently3 you will often find simplicity1 innocence1 patience1 fortitude1 and great piety amongst them2 and where they are not so1 your good example may amend them4 ,for this cause1 you know ,i have divided part of my estate already amongst you1 that you each may be charitable out of your own stock1 and take it in your turns to provide for the poor and sick of the parish4 ,whether married or unmarried1 consider yourselves as mothers and sisters1 as friends and relations to all that want your assistance2 and never allow yourselves to be idle1 whilst others want any thing that your hands can make for them4 ,i have brought you up to all kinds of labour1 that are proper for women1 as sowing1 knitting1 spinning1 and all other parts of housewifery2 not merely for your amusement1 and that you may know how to direct your servants2 but that you may be serviceable to yourselves and others1 and be saved from those temptations which attend an idle life4 ,i must therefore repeat to you1 my daughters1 what ,i have often reminded you of before1 that ,i had rather see you reduced to the necessity of maintaining yourselves by your own hands1 than to have riches to excuse yourselves from labour4 ,never therefore consider your labour merely as an amusement to get rid of your time1 and so may be as trifling as you please2 but consider it as something that is to be serviceable to yourselves and others1 that is to serve some sober ends of life1 to save and redeem your time1 and make it turn to your account1 when the works of all people shall be tried by fire4 ,what would you think of the wisdom of him1 that should employ his time in distilling of waters1 and making liquors which no body could use1 merely to amuse himself with the variety of their colour and clearness2 when with less labour and expence1 he might satisfy the wants of those who have nothing to drink8 ,and yet he would be as wisely employed1 as those that are amusing themselves with such tedious works as they neither need1 nor hardly know how to use when they are finished2 when with less labour and expence they might be doing as much good1 as he that is cloathing the naked1 or visiting the sick4 ,be glad therefore to know the wants of the poorest people1 and think it not beneath you1 to let your hands be employed in making such mean and ordinary things for them1 as their necessities require4 ,thus ,dorcas was employed1 who is mentioned with so much honour in holy writ2 and by so doing1 you will behave like true disciples of that ,lord and ,master1 #8who came into the world not to be ministered unto1 but to minister4' ,in short1 my dear children1 strive to do every thing that is praise-worthy1 but do nothing in order to be praised2 nor think of any reward of all your works of faith and labours of love1 till ,,jesus ,,christ cometh with all his holy angels4 ,think1 my children1 that the soul of your good father1 now with ,,god1 speaks to you through my mouth2 and let the double desire of your father who is gone1 and of me who am with you1 above all1 let the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 prevail upon you to love ,,god with all your souls1 to study your own perfection1 to practise humility1 and to do all the good you can to all your fellow-creatures1 especially to those who are of the houshold of faith1 till it shall please ,,god to call you to another life40 ,thus did the pious widow educate her daughters4 ,the spirit of this education speaks so plainly for itself1 that1 ,i hope1 ,i need say nothing in its justification4 ,if we could see it in life1 as well as read of it in books1 the world would soon find the happy effects4 ,there is nothing more desirable for the common good of all the world1 than that we might see it4 ,for though women do not carry on the trade and business of the world1 yet as they are mothers and mistresses of families1 they have for some time the care of the education of their children of both sorts1 and are entrusted with that which is of the greatest consequence to human life4 ,for as the health and strength1 or weakness of our bodies1 is very much owing to their methods of treating us when we are young2 so the soundness or folly of our minds1 are not less owing to those first tempers and ways of thinking1 which we eagerly received from the love1 tenderness1 authority and constant conversation of our mothers4 ,is it not then much to be lamented1 that this sex1 on whom so much depends1 who have the first forming of our bodies and our minds1 are not only educated in pride1 but in the silliest and most contemptible part of it8 ,they are not suffered to dispute with us the proud prizes of arts and sciences1 of learning and eloquence1 in which ,i have much suspicion they would often prove our superiors2 but we turn them over to the study of beauty and dress1 and the whole world conspire to make them to think of nothing else4 ,fathers and mothers1 friends and relations1 seem to have no other wish towards the little girl1 but that she may have a fair skin1 a fine shape1 dress well1 and dance to admiration4 8eloqence0 replaced with 8eloquence0 ,and what makes this matter the more to be lamented1 is this4 ,that women are not only spoiled by this education1 but we spoil that part of the world1 which would otherwise furnish the most instances of an eminent and exalted piety4 ,the ,church has formerly had eminent saints in that sex2 and it may reasonably be thought1 that it is purely owing to their poor and vain education1 that this honour of their sex is for the most part confined to former ages4 ,the corruption of the world indulges them in great vanity1 and mankind seem to consider them in no other view1 than as so many painted idols1 that are to allure and gratify their passions2 so that if many women are vain1 light1 gew-gaw creatures1 they have this to say in excuse of themselves1 that they are not only such as their education has made them1 but such as the generality of the world allow them to be4 ,some indeed are pleased to say1 that women are naturally of little and vain minds1 and consequently their trifling vain behaviour is owing solely to that2 but this ,i look upon to be as false and unreasonable1 as to say1 that butchers are naturally cruel3 for as their cruelty is not owing to their natures1 but to their way of life1 which has changed their natures2 so whatever littleness and vanity is to be observed in the minds of women1 it is like the cruelty of butchers1 a temper that is wrought into them by that life which they are taught and accustomed to lead4 ,at least thus much must be said1 that we cannot justly charge any thing upon their nature1 till we take care that it is not perverted by their education4 ,but supposing it were true1 that they were thus naturally vain and light1 then how much more blameable is that education1 which seems contrived to strengthen and increase the folly and weakness of their minds8 ,for if it were a virtue in women to be proud1 and vain1 and indevout1 we could hardly take better means to raise these bad things in them1 than those which are now used in their education4 ,some people that judge hastily1 will perhaps say1 ,i have been exercising too great a severity against the sex4 ,but more reasonable persons will easily observe1 that ,i entirely spare the sex1 and only arraign their education2 that1 ,i profess1 ,i cannot spare2 but the only reason is1 because it is their greatest enemy1 because it deprives the world of so many blessings1 and the church of so many saints as might reasonably be expected from persons1 formed by their natural temper to all goodness and tenderness1 and fitted1 by the clearness and brightness of their minds1 to contemplate1 love and admire every thing that is holy1 virtuous1 and divine4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,shewing1 how true devotion fills our lives the greatest peace and happiness that can be enjoyed in this world4 ,,some people perhaps may object1 that by thus living wholly unto ,,god1 and introducing a regard to his glory in all that we do1 too great a restraint will be put upon human nature2 and that by thus depriving ourselves of so many seemingly innocent pleasures1 as such a way of life would hinder us from pursuing1 we shall render our lives dull1 uneasy1 and melancholy4 ,but this objection is entirely groundless4 ,for christian devotion requires us to renounce no ways of life1 wherein we can act reasonably1 and offer what we do to the glory of ,,god4 ,all ways of life1 all satisfactions and enjoyments that are within these bounds1 are no ways denied by the strictest rules of real devotion4 ,and will you think that your life must be uncomfortable1 unless you may displease ,,god1 be fools and mad1 and act contrary to that reason and wisdom which ,he has implanted in you8 ,as for those satisfactions which we dare not offer to a holy ,,god1 which are only invented by the folly and corruption of the world1 which inflame our passions1 and sink our souls into grossness and sensuality1 and thereby render us unmeet for communion with ,,god here1 and the eternal enjoyment of ,him hereafter1 surely it can be no uncomfortable state of life1 to be rescued by religion from such murderers both of our souls and bodies4 ,let us suppose a person destitute of that knowledge which we have from our senses1 placed somewhere alone by himself1 in the midst of a variety of things which he did not know how to use2 that he has by him bread1 wine1 gold-dust1 iron chains1 gravel1 garments1 and fire4 ,let it be supposed1 that he had no knowledge of the right use of these things1 nor any direction from his senses how to quench his thirst1 or satisfy his hunger1 or make any use of the things about him4 ,let it be supposed1 that in his drought he puts gold dust into his eyes2 when his eyes smart1 he puts wine into his ears2 that in his hunger1 he puts gravel in his mouth3 that in pain1 he loads himself with the iron chains2 that feeling cold1 he puts his feet in the water2 that being frighted at the fire1 he runs away from it2 and that being weary1 he makes a seat of his bread4 ,let it be supposed1 that through his ignorance of the right use of the things that are about him1 he will vainly torment himself whilst he lives2 and at last die1 blinded with dust1 choaked with gravel1 and loaded with irons4 ,let it be supposed1 that some good being came to him1 and shewed him the nature and use of all the things that were about him1 and gave him such strict rules of using them1 as would certainly1 if observed1 make him the happier for all that he had1 and deliver him from the pains of hunger1 and thirst1 and cold2 could you with any reason affirm1 that those strict rules of using the things that were about him1 had rendered that poor man's life dull and uncomfortable8 ,now this is1 in some measure1 a representation of the strict rules of religion2 they relieve our ignorance1 save us from tormenting ourselves1 and teach us to use every thing about us1 not only to the glory of ,,god1 but to our own proper advantage4 ,if religion commands us to live wholly unto ,,god1 and to do all to his glory1 it is because every other way of life is living wholly against ourselves1 and will end in our own shame and confusion4 ,would you see how happy they are1 who live according to their own wills1 and who cannot submit to the dull and melancholy business of a life devoted unto ,,god1 look at ,flatus2 ,flatus is rich and in health1 yet always uneasy1 and always searching after happiness4 ,at his first setting out in life1 fine cloaths was his delight2 his enquiry was only after the best taylors and peruke-makers1 and he had no thoughts of excelling in any thing but dress4 ,he spared no expence1 but carried every nicety to its greatest height4 ,but this happiness not answering his expectation1 he left off his brocades1 put on a plain coat1 railed at fops and beaux1 and gave himself up to gaming with great eagerness4 8beaus0 replaced with 8beaux0 ,this new pleasure satisfied him for some time3 he envied no other way of life4 ,but being by the fate of play drawn into a duel1 where he narrowly escaped his death1 he left off the dice1 and sought for happiness no longer amongst the gamesters4 ,the next thing that seized his wandering imagination1 was the diversions of the town2 and for more than a twelvemonth1 you heard him talk of nothing but ladies1 drawing-rooms1 birth-nights1 plays1 balls1 and assemblies4 ,but growing sick of these1 he had recourse to hard drinking4 ,here he had many a merry night1 and met with stronger joys than any he had felt before4 ,here he had thoughts of setting up his staff1 and looking out no farther2 but unluckily falling into a fever1 he grew angry at all strong liquors1 and took his leave of the happiness of being drunk4 ,the next attempt after happiness1 carried him into the field4 ,for two or three years nothing made him so happy as hunting2 he entered upon it with all his soul1 and leaped more hedges and ditches than had ever been known in so short a time4 ,you never saw him but in a green coat2 he was the envy of all that blew the horn1 and always spoke to his dogs in great propriety of language4 ,if you met him at home in a bad day1 you would hear him blow his horn1 and be entertained with the surprizing accidents of the last noble chace4 ,no sooner had ,flatus outdone all the world in the breed and education of his dogs1 built new kennels1 new stables1 and bought a new hunting-seat1 but he immediately got sight of another happiness1 hated the senseless noise and hurry of hunting1 gave away his dogs1 and was for some time after deep in the pleasures of building4 ,now he invents new kinds of dove-cotes1 and has such contrivances in his barns and stables1 as were never seen before3 he wonders at the dulness of the old builders1 is wholly bent upon the improvement of architecture1 and will hardly hang a door in the ordinary way4 ,he tells his friends1 that he never was so delighted in any thing in his life2 that he has more happiness amongst his brick and mortar1 than ever he had at court2 and that he is contriving how to have some little matter to do that way as long as he lives4 ,the next year he leaves his house unfinished1 complains to every body of masons and carpenters1 and devotes himself wholly to the happiness of riding about4 ,after this1 you can never see him but on horseback1 and so highly delighted with this new way of life1 that he would tell you1 give him but his horse and a clean country to ride in1 and you might take all the rest to yourself4 ,a variety of new saddles and bridles1 and a great change of horses1 added much to the pleasure of this new way of life4 ,but however1 after some time having tired both himself and his horses1 the happiest thing he could think of next1 was to go abroad and visit foreign countries2 and there1 indeed1 the happiness exceeded his imagination1 and he was only uneasy that he had begun so fine a life no sooner4 ,the next month he returned home1 unable to bear any longer the impertinence of foreigners4 ,alter this1 he was a great student for one whole year2 he was up early and late at his ,italian grammar1 that he might have the happiness of understanding the opera1 whenever he should hear one1 and not be like those unreasonable people1 that are pleased with they don't know what4 ,,flatus is now at a full stand1 and is doing what he never did in his life before1 he is reasoning and reflecting with himself4 ,he loses several days1 in considering which of his cast-off ways of life he should try again4 ,but here a new project comes in to his relief4 ,he is now living upon herbs1 and running about the country1 to get himself into as good wind as any running footman in the kingdom4 ,i have been thus circumstantial in so many foolish particulars of this kind of life1 because ,i hope1 that every particular folly that you here see and read of1 will naturally turn itself into an argument for the wisdom and happiness of a religious life4 ,but you will perhaps say1 that the ridiculous1 restless life of ,flatus1 is not the common state of those1 who resign themselves up to live by their own humour1 and neglect the strict rules of religion2 and that therefore it is not so great an argument of the happiness of a religious life1 as ,i would make it4 ,i answer1 that ,i am afraid it is one of the most general characters in life2 and that few people can read it1 without seeing something in it which belongs to them4 ,but let it be granted1 that the generality of people are not of such restless1 fickle tempers as ,flatus2 the difference is only this1 ,flatus is continually changing and trying something new1 but others are content with some one state2 they do not leave gaming1 and then fall to hunting2 but they have so much steadiness in their tempers1 that some seek after no other happiness1 but that of heaping up riches2 others grow old in the sports of the field2 and others are content to drink themselves to death1 without the least enquiry after any other happiness4 ,now is there any thing more happy or reasonable in such a life as this1 than in the life of ,flatus8 ,is it not as great and desirable1 as wise and happy1 to be constantly changing from one thing to another1 as to be nothing else but a gatherer of money1 a hunter1 a gamester1 or a drunkard all your life8 ,shall religion be looked upon as a burden1 or as a dull and melancholy state1 for calling men from such a happiness as this8 ,but turn your eyes now another way1 and let the glorious joys1 the exquisite happiness of ,feliciana1 teach you how miserable1 and how dull they must needs be1 and what a delusion they are in1 whole hearts are not wholly devoted unto ,,god4 ,if you was to live with ,feliciana but one half year1 you would see all the happiness that she is to have as long as she lives4 ,she has no more to come1 but the poor repetition of that which could never have pleased once1 but through a wrong turn of mind1 and want of thought4 ,she is to be again dressed fine1 and keep her visiting days4 ,she is again to change the colours of her cloaths1 again to have a new head1 and again put patches on her face4 ,she is again to see who acts best at the play-house1 and who sings finest at the opera4 ,she is again to make ten visits in a day1 and be ten times in a day trying to talk artfully1 easily1 and politely about nothing4 ,she is to be again delighted with some new fashion2 and again angry at the change of some old one4 ,she is to be again at cards and gaming at midnight1 and again in bed at noon4 ,she is to be again pleased with hypocritical compliments1 and again disturbed with imaginary affronts4 ,she is to be again pleased with her good luck at gaming1 and again tormented with the loss of her money4 ,she is again to prepare herself for a birth night1 and again see the town full of good company4 ,she is again to hear the cabals and intrigues of the town1 again to have secret intelligence of private amours1 and early notice of marriages1 quarrels1 and partings4 ,if you see her come out of her chariot more briskly than usual1 converse with more spirit1 and seem fuller of joy than she was last week1 it is because there is some surprizing new dress1 or new diversion just come to town4 ,these are all the substantial and regular parts of ,feliciana's happiness2 and she never knew a pleasant day in her life1 but it was owing to some one or more of these things4 ,it is for this happiness1 that she has been always deaf to the reasonings of religion2 and if you look into the world1 and observe the lives of those women1 whom no arguments can prevail on to live wholly unto ,,god2 you will find most of them to be such1 as lose all the comforts of religion1 without gaining the tenth part of ,feliciana's happiness4 ,they are such as spend their time and fortunes only in mimicking the pleasures of richer people2 and rather look and long after1 than enjoy those delusions1 which are only to be purchased by considerable fortunes4 ,nor does a life only of such vanity and sensuality as that of ,flatus or ,feliciana's1 but even the most regular kind of life1 that is not governed by great devotion1 sufficiently shews how dull and uncomfortable their lives must needs be1 who are not wholly devoted unto ,,god4 ,octavius is a learned1 ingenious man1 well versed in most parts of literature1 and no stranger to any kingdom in ,europe4 ,the other day1 being just recovered from a lingering fever1 he thus addressed his friends4 8,my glass1 says he1 is almost run out2 and your eyes see how many marks of age and death ,i bear about me3 ,but ,i plainly feel myself sinking away faster than any standers by do imagine4 ,i fully believe1 that one year more will conclude my reckoning40 ,the attention of his friends was much raised by such a declaration1 expecting to hear something truly excellent from so learned a man1 who had but a year longer to live2 when ,octavius proceeded in this manner3 8,for these reasons1 my friends1 ,i have left off all taverns1 the wine of those places is not good enough for me in this decay of nature4 ,i must now be nice in what ,i drink2 ,i cannot pretend to do as ,i have done2 and therefore am resolved to furnish my own cellar with a little of the very best1 though it cost me ever so much4 ,i must also tell you1 my friends1 that age forces a man to be wise in many other respects1 and makes us change many of our opinions and practices4 ,you know how much ,i have liked a large acquaintance2 ,i now condemn it as an error4 ,three or four chearful1 diverting companions1 is all that ,i now desire2 because ,i find1 that in my present infirmities1 if ,i am left alone1 or to grave company1 ,i am not so easy to myself40 ,a few days after ,octavius had made this declaration to his friends1 he relapsed into his former illness1 and was committed to a nurse1 who closed his eyes before his fresh parcel of wine came in4 ,young ,eugenius1 who was present at this discourse1 went home a new man1 with full resolutions of devoting himself to ,,god4 8,i never1 says ,eugenius1 was so deeply affected with the wisdom and importance of religion1 as when ,i saw how poorly and meanly the learned ,octavius was to leave the world1 through the want of it4 ,how often had ,i envied his great learning1 his skill in languages1 his knowledge of antiquity1 his address1 and fine manner of expressing himself upon all subjects6 ,but when ,i saw how poorly it all ended1 what was to be the last year of such a life1 and how foolishly the master of all these accomplishments was then forced to talk1 ,i was then convinced that there must be nothing so happy and comfortable as a life of true devotion2 nor any thing so poor and comfortless1 as death without it40 ,look now at that condition of life1 which draws the envy of all eyes4 ,negotius is a temperate honest man3 he served his time under a master of great trade1 but has by his own management made it a more considerable business than ever it was before4 ,for thirty years past1 he has written fifty or sixty letters in a week1 and is busy in corresponding with all parts of ,europe4 ,the general good of trade seems to ,negotius to be the general good of life2 whomsoever he admires1 whatever he commends1 or condemns1 either in church or state1 is admired1 commended1 or condemned1 with some regard to trade4 ,as money is continually pouring in upon him1 so he often lets it go in various kinds of expence and generosity1 and sometimes in ways of charity4 ,negotius is always ready to join in any public contribution3 ,if a purse is making at any place where he happens to be1 whether it be to buy a plate for a horse-race1 or to redeem a prisoner out of jail1 you are always sure of having something from him4 ,he has given a fine ring of bells to a church in the country2 and there is much expectation1 that he will some time or other make a more beautiful front to the market-house1 than has yet been seen in any place4 ,for it is the generous spirit of ,negotius to do nothing in a mean way4 ,the generality of people1 when they think of happiness1 think upon ,negotius1 in whose life every instance of happiness is supposed to meet2 sober1 prudent1 rich1 prosperous1 generous1 and as the world thinks1 charitable4 ,let us now then look at this condition in another1 but truer light4 ,let it be supposed1 that this same ,negotius was a painful1 laborious man1 every day deep in a variety of affairs2 that he neither drank1 nor was debauched2 but was sober and regular in his business4 ,let it be supposed that he grew old in this course of trading2 and that the end and design of all this labour1 care1 and application to business1 was only that he might die possessed of more than a hundred thousand pair of boots and spurs1 and as many great-coats4 ,now if this was really the case1 ,i believe it would be readily granted1 that a life of such business was as poor and ridiculous1 as any that can be invented4 ,but it would puzzle any one to shew1 that a man that has spent all his time and thoughts in business and hurry1 that he might die1 as it is said1 worth a hundred thousand pounds1 is any whit wiser than he1 who has taken the same pains to have as many pair of boots and spurs when he leaves the world4 ,for if when he has gotten his hundred thousand pounds1 or all his boots1 his soul is to go to his own place1 as every soul needs must that has not closed with ,,jesus ,,christ1 and is not born again of ,,god2 how can we say1 that he who has worn out his life in raising an hundred thousand pounds1 has acted a wiser part for himself1 however his money may profit others1 than he who has had the same care to provide a hundred thousand pair of boots and spurs1 and as many great-coats8 ,it would be endless to multiply examples of this kind1 to shew how little is lost1 and how greatly they are mistaken1 who imagine they should render themselves dull and comfortless by introducing a strict piety into every condition of human life4 ,examples of great piety are not now common in the world2 but the misery and folly of worldly men1 and vain and trifling women1 is what meets your eyes in every place2 and you need not look far to see1 how poorly1 how vainly men dream away their lives for want of real devotion4 ,this is the reason that ,i have laid before you so many characters of the vanity of a worldly life1 to teach you to make some benefit of the corruption of the age1 and that you may be made wise1 though not by the sight of what piety is1 yet by seeing what misery and folly reign where piety is not4 ,to meditate upon the perfection of the divine attributes1 to contemplate the love of ,,god in ,,christ1 the glories of heaven1 the joys of saints and angels1 living for ever in the brightness and glory of the divine presence2 these are the meditations of souls advanced in piety1 and not so suited to every capacity4 ,but to see and consider the emptiness and error of all worldly happiness2 to see the grossness of sensuality1 the poorness of pride1 the stupidity of covetousness1 the vanity of dress1 the delusion of honour1 the blindness of our passions1 the uncertainty of our lives1 and the shortness of all worldly projects2 these are meditations which are suited to all capacities1 and fitted to strike all minds3 ,this is that 8wisdom that crieth1 and putteth forth her voice in the streets10 that standeth at all our doors1 that appealeth to all our senses1 teaching us in every thing1 and every where1 by all that we see1 and all that we hear1 by births and burials1 by sickness and health1 by life and death1 by pains and poverty1 by misery and vanity1 and by all the changes and chances of life2 that there is nothing else for man to look after1 no other end in nature for him to drive at1 but a happiness1 which is only to be found in a life devoted to ,,god4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,shewing the excellency and greatness of a devout spirit1 and proving that a contrary spirit1 is an indication of great ignorance and stupidity4 ,i ,,have now finished what was intended2 ,i have explained the nature of christian devotion1 and shewn that it belongs to all orders1 and more especially to those whose fortunes set them above the common level of mankind4 ,i have endeavoured to point out to you1 the chief causes of the general indevotion of the professing christian world2 and have shewn in various characters1 how poor1 how miserable they live1 who are strangers to a life wholly devoted to ,,god4 ,i shall only add a word or two by way of conclusion1 to prove that fervent devotion is the noblest temper of the greatest and noblest souls2 and that a want of devotion1 wherever it is1 either amongst the learned or unlearned1 is founded in gross ignorance1 and in the greatest blindness and insensibility that can happen to a rational creature4 ,and here1 ,i suppose it will be granted on all hands1 that it is a sign of a great and noble mind for a man to be full of reverence and duty to his parents1 to have the truest love and honour for his friend1 and to excel in the highest instances of gratitude to his benefactor4 ,are not these tempers1 in the highest degree1 signs of the most exalted and perfect minds8 ,and yet what is devotion1 but the highest exercise of these tempers1 of duty1 reverence1 love1 honour1 and gratitude1 to the amiable1 glorious parent1 friend and benefactor of all mankind8 ,so long1 therefore1 as duty to parents1 love to friends1 and gratitude to benefactors1 are thought great and honourable tempers2 devotion1 which is nothing else but duty1 love1 and gratitude to ,,god1 must have the chief place amongst our highest virtues4 ,again2 we know how our blessed ,,lord acted in a human body2 it was 8his meat and drink to do the will of his ,father which is in heaven40 ,and if any number of heavenly spirits were to leave their habitations in the light of ,,god1 and be for a while united to human bodies1 they would certainly tend towards ,,god in all their actions1 and be as heavenly as they could1 in a state of flesh and blood4 ,they would act in this manner1 because they know that ,,god is the only good of all spirits2 and that whether they were in the body or out of the body1 in heaven or on earth1 they must have every degree of their greatness and happiness from ,,god alone4 ,all human spirits therefore1 the more exalted they are1 and the more they know their divine original1 and the nearer they come to heavenly spirits1 by so much the more will they live to ,,god in all their actions1 and make their whole life a state of devotion4 ,a devout man makes a true use of his reason2 he sees through the vanity of the world1 discovers the corruption of his nature1 and the blindness of his passions4 ,he lives by a law which is not visible to vulgar eyes2 he enters into the world of spirits1 he compares the greatest things1 sets eternity against time2 and chuses rather to be forever great in the presence of ,,god when he dies1 than to have the greatest share of worldly pleasures whilst he lives4 ,there is nothing1 therefore1 that shews so great a genius1 nothing that so raises us above vulgar spirits1 nothing that so plainly declares an heroic greatness of mind1 as great and fervent devotion4 ,when you suppose a man to be a saint1 or all devotion1 you have raised him as much above all other conditions of life1 as a philosopher is above an animal4 ,the greatest spirits of the heathen world1 such as1 ,pythagoras1 ,socrates1 ,plato1 ,epictetus1 and ,marcus ,antoninus1 owed all their greatness to something they possessed1 that resembled devotion4 ,their wisdom and deep contemplations1 tended only to deliver men from the vanity of the world1 and the slavery of bodily passions2 and had they been endowed with the revelation of ,,jesus ,,christ1 they might have justly been stiled great and devout men4 ,for their main end of living1 seemed to be1 that they might act as spirits that came from ,,god1 and were soon to return to him4 ,but to proceed3 ,courage and bravery are words of a great sound1 and seem to signify an heroic spirit2 but yet humility1 which seems to be the lowest1 meanest part of devotion1 is a more certain argument of a noble and courageous mind4 ,a man that dares be poor and contemptible in the eyes of the world1 to approve himself to ,,jesus ,,christ2 that resists and rejects all human glory1 that opposes the clamour of his passions1 that meekly puts up all injuries and wrongs1 and dares stay for his reward1 till the invisible hand of ,,god gives to every one their proper places1 endures a much greater trial1 and exerts a nobler fortitude1 than he that is bold and daring in the fire of battle4 ,for the boldness of a soldier1 if he is a stranger to devotion1 is rather weakness than fortitude2 it is at best but mad passion1 and heated spirits1 and has no more true valour in it1 than the fury of a tyger4 ,for as we cannot lift up a hand1 or stir a foot1 but by a power that is lent us from ,,god2 so bold actions that are not directed by the laws of ,,god1 and done with a regard to his glory1 are no more true bravery1 than sedate malice is christian patience4 ,farther2 ,that part of devotion which expresses itself in sorrowful confessions1 and penitential tears of a broken and contrite heart1 which with some seems likewise another of the poorest and meanest things2 is notwithstanding an indication of the most great and noble mind4 ,for who does not acknowledge it an instance of an ingenuous1 generous and brave mind1 to acknowledge a fault1 and ask pardon for any offence8 ,are not the finest and most improved minds the most remarkable for this excellent temper8 ,is it not also allowed1 that the ingenuity and excellency of a man's spirit is much shewn1 when his sorrow and indignation at himself1 rises in proportion to the folly of his crime1 and the goodness and greatness of the person he has offended8 ,now if these things are so1 then the greater any man's mind is1 the more he will be disposed to prostrate himself1 and confess his faults before ,,god1 in all the humblest acts and expressions of repentance4 ,and the greater the ingenuity1 the generosity1 judgment1 and penetration of his mind is1 the more will he exercise and indulge a passionate1 tender sense of ,,god's just displeasure2 and the more he knows of the greatness1 the goodness1 and perfection of the divine nature1 the fuller of shame and confusion he will be at his own sins and ingratitude4 ,from all which considerations1 it plainly appears1 that devotion is a true elevation of the soul1 and that a lively sense of honour1 and great knowledge of ourselves1 are the best natural helps that devotion hath4 ,and if this does not prove1 that great devotion is the noblest temper of the greatest and noblest souls1 we have not an argument to prove1 that there is any such thing as a wise man or a fool4 ,on the other hand1 it will as evidently appear that a want of devotion1 wherever it is1 among the learned or unlearned1 is founded on gross ignorance1 and the greatest blindness and insensibility that can happen to a rational creature4 ,people indeed of fine parts and learning1 or of great knowledge in worldly matters1 may perhaps think it hard to have their want of devotion charged upon their ignorance2 but if they will be content to be tried by reason and scripture1 it may soon be made appear4 ,for were not our ,,lord and his apostles1 eminent instances of great and exalted devotion8 ,and if we will grant1 7as all professed christians must grant7 that their devotion was founded on a true knowledge of the nature of devotion1 the nature of ,,god1 and the nature of man2 then it is plain1 that all those who are insensible of devotion1 neither know ,,god1 themselves1 nor devotion4 ,pray how comes it to pass1 that most people have recourse to devotion1 when they are under sickness1 distress1 or in fear of death8 ,is it not1 because this state shews them more the want of ,,god1 and their own weakness1 than they perceive at other times8 ,and if devotion at these seasons1 is the effect of a better knowledge of ,,god1 and ourselves1 then the neglect and want of it at other times must be always owing to ignorance4 ,ignorance did ,i say8 ,yes1 undoubtedly1 and that the most shameful ignorance3 for it is an ignorance of those things1 which are most essential to us as rational creatures2 ,i mean our relation to ,,god1 and the obligations we lie under to live wholly to his glory4 ,if a ,judge had fine skill in painting1 architecture1 and music1 but at the same time had gross and confused notions of equity1 and a poor1 dull apprehension of the value of justice1 who would scruple to reckon him a poor ignorant ,judge8 ,if a ,bishop should be a man of great address and skill in the art of preferment1 and of a quick understanding how to raise and enrich his family in the world1 but should have no taste or sense of the maxims and principles of the saints and fathers of the church2 if he did not conceive the holy nature1 and great obligations of his calling1 and judge it better to be crucified to the world1 than to live idly in pomp and splendor2 who would scruple to charge such a ,bishop with want of understanding8 ,but now1 if a ,judge is to be reckoned ignorant1 nay shamefully so1 if he does not feel and perceive the value and worth of justice2 if a ,bishop is to be looked upon as void of understanding1 if he is more experienced in other things1 than in the exalted virtues of his apostolical calling2 then all common christians are to be looked upon as more or less shamefully ignorant1 as they are more or less ignorant of those great things1 which are the common1 and ought to be the greatest concern of all christians4 ,if a man had eyes that could see beyond the stars1 or pierce into the heart of the earth1 but could not see the things that were before him1 or discern any thing that was serviceable to him1 we should reckon that he had but a very bad sight4 ,and if another had ears that received sounds from the world in the moon1 but could hear nothing that was said or done upon earth1 we should look upon him to be as bad as deaf4 ,in like manner1 if a man has a memory that can retain a great many things2 if he has a wit that is sharp and acute in arts and sciences1 or an imagination that can wander agreeably in fictions2 but has a dull1 poor apprehension of his duty and relation to ,,god1 of the value of piety1 or the worth of an interest in the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 he may very justly be reckoned to have a very bad understanding4 ,he is but like the man that can only see or hear such things as are of no benefit to him4 ,if an human spirit should imagine some mighty ,prince to be greater than ,,god1 we should take it for a poor1 ignorant creature2 all people would acknowledge such an imagination to be the height of stupidity3 ,but if this same human spirit should think it better to be devoted to some mighty ,prince1 than to be devoted to ,,god1 would not this be a greater proof of a poor1 ignorant1 and blinded nature8 ,yet this is what all people do1 who think any thing greater1 better1 or wiser1 than a devout life4 ,so that which way soever we consider this matter1 it plainly appears1 that devotion is an instance of great judgment1 and of an elevated nature2 and the want of devotion is a certain proof of the most shameful ignorance1 and want of understanding4 ,would you therefore not incur the imputation of the highest folly1 and most shameful ignorance2 would you be possessed of the noblest and most exalted judgment2 would you avoid the senseless and vexatious miseries that attend a vain1 sensual1 and indevout life2 would you act like a rational and redeemed creature2 would you enjoy solid peace and happiness here1 and have a well grounded hope and assurance of being invested with eternal joy and comfort in the blissful fruition of the glorious and ever-blessed ,,god hereafter2 let it be your highest concern henceforward1 to ask1 seek1 and knock at the door of divine grace1 till you obtain a true living faith in the righteousness of the once humbled but now exalted ,redeemer1 and as a proof of that1 to devote yourself entirely1 without reserve1 to his honour1 and do all the good you possibly can to all your fellow-creatures1 for his great name's sake4 ,,preface ,to a ,,new ,,edition of the ,,homilies2 ,as intended to have been published by ,mr4 ,,whitefield4 ,,preface ,to a ,,new ,,edition of the ,,homilies1 ,as intended to have been published by ,mr4 ,,whitefield4 ,,the word ,homily signifies a sermon4 ,consequently the book of homilies1 implies a book of sermons4 ,particularly that book1 which was composed by those great reformers1 ,cranmer1 ,ridley1 ,latimer1 ,hooper1 and others1 in the beginning of the reign of that ,josiah of his age1 ,edward the sixth4 ,it was again republished1 after the short interval of bloody ,mary's government1 in the reign of ,queen ,elizabeth1 and continued interwoven with our ecclesiastical constitution1 under her immediate successor ,king ,james the first4 ,even to this very day1 the thirty-ninth article of our church runs thus3 8,the second book of ,homilies1 the several titles whereof we have joined under this article1 doth contain a godly and wholesome doctrine1 and necessary for these times2 as doth the former book of ,homilies1 which were set forth in the time of ,edward the sixth2 and therefore we judge them to be read in churches by the ministers1 diligently and distinctly1 that they may be understanded of by the people40 ,such are the express words of our #cith article2 and yet1 though we subscribe this article1 which enjoins these ,homilies to be read in our churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly1 this is so far from being our practice1 that almost for time immemorial1 at least in our days1 they are seldom if ever read at all4 ,what reason can be assigned for such neglect1 ,i will not take upon me to determine3 surely it cannot be1 that our clergy look upon this book1 as containing ungodly or unwholsome doctrine2 for why then do they subscribe to the diligent and frequent reading of it8 ,neither can it be supposed that they so much as imagine1 that this godly and wholesome doctrine is less necessary for the present age1 than for that in which it was first published4 ,but however it is1 if we act consistently1 the subscribers to our articles seem not to be left at their liberty to use or disuse them2 they being judged to be read1 as much now as formerly1 in churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly4 ,for if ,i may be suffered to give my opinion1 the dreadful ignorance1 as to the fundamentals of our holy religion1 that almost every where abounds amongst the members of our established church1 is chiefly owing to our neglect of preaching and putting into their hands the grand doctrines of the ,reformation1 contained in these ,homilies and our other doctrinal articles4 ,and hence undoubtedly it is1 that they become such an easy prey to popish emissaries1 who lie in wait to deceive4 ,for these reasons1 in order to contribute my poor mite towards putting a stop to the growth of this common and almost epidemical evil1 ,i have selected a few of the most essential ,homilies1 with a suitable collect and a hymn to each1 at a very small price1 on purpose for the instruction and edification of the poorer sort1 who are generally chiefly attacked by the partizans of the ,romish communion4 ,the church of ,scotland1 called our sister church1 hath herein set us an example2 and ,i could wish1 that in this particular we would endeavour to copy after it4 ,her confessions of faith1 and directory1 are printed so frequently and so cheap1 that they are almost in every hand2 and so constantly explained and insisted upon in the ministers stated parochial visitations1 that perhaps 7tho' no doubt even there1 there is an awful degeneracy7 their commonalty1 in respect to doctrinal points1 are some of the most knowing in the world4 ,would to ,,god the same could be said of the ,church of ,england professors1 either at home or abroad6 ,the darkness1 the gross and thick darkness of those at home1 is so notorious1 that it is every where seen1 felt1 and complained of1 by those that have eyes to see and ears to hear4 ,what a pity is it therefore1 that this book of ,homilies is not judged proper1 and insisted on to be read in churches1 by ministers diligently and distinctly1 that they may be understood by the people now1 as well as at the first dawnings of the ,reformation4 ,and what a further pity is it1 that among the various books recommended and given away by the worthy societies for promoting christian knowledge1 and propagating the gospel in foreign parts1 the book of ,homilies1 containing such godly and wholesome doctrine diligently and distinctly to be read1 should never find a place in their catalogue2 though both these societies have been established so long as soon after the glorious and happy revolution4 8ear0 replaced with 8hear0 ,if our societies at home1 or missionaries abroad1 should urge in excuse for their not reading or dispersing this book of ,homilies1 that its language and diction is too antique and obsolete2 ,i humbly apprehend1 they might with equal propriety make the same objection against the use of1 and dispersing the book of ,common ,prayer4 ,for both were compiled by the same great luminaries of our ,church1 and that too at the very self same important ra of the ,reformation4 ,both contain the same godly and wholesome doctrine1 and both are equally adapted to instruct the ignorant1 and at the same time to raise and elevate the devout and simple heart4 ,and therefore since the one is constantly to be read in the desk1 why should not the other be diligently and distinctly read and enforced from the pulpit8 ,would to ,,god that this was our universal practice3 for then our daily or weekly worshippers and hearers1 would not only be taught the first principles and doctrines of ,,christ1 in a language suitable to their capacities2 but1 which alas6 alas6 hath been too too long the case of the desk and pulpit1 these would not so frequently and so wretchedly oppose and contradict each other4 ,heterodoxy and mere heathen morality would then be no longer our famous declamatory topics1 or those be deemed and cast out as enthusiasts1 madmen1 troublers of ,israel1 setters forth of strange doctrines1 and turners of the world and church upside down1 who after the strictest and most impartial examination1 must be confessed to adhere most steadily to the ,homilies1 ,articles1 and ,liturgy of the ,church of ,england2 and who at the same time endeavour to adorn her godly and wholesome doctrines therein contained1 7as being in their judgments the doctrines of their ,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ7 with a suitable life and conversation4 ,if this is to be vile1 ,,god grant they may be more vile6 ,if this be enthusiasm1 ,,god grant it an universal flow6 ,for the consequence ,i know will be1 that not only our own1 but every protestant reformed church1 would then not only be a common barrier against popery and prophaneness1 but would shine as bright as the sun1 be as fair as the moon1 and terrible like an army with banners4 ,that this may be our happy case1 is the hearty prayer of1 ,christian reader1 ,thy1 c4 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,i4 ,,blessed ,,lord1 who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning2 grant that we may in such wise hear them1 read1 mark1 learn1 and inwardly digest them1 that by patience and comfort of thy holy word1 we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life1 which thou hast given us in our ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily on the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,a separate edition1 with the ,homilies here selected1 is intended to be published4 ,come1 ,holy ,ghost1 our hearts inspire1 ,let us thy influence prove2 ,source of the old prophetic fire1 ,fountain of life and love4 ,come1 ,holy ,ghost 7for mov'd by ,thee1 ,thy holy prophets spoke7 ,unlock the truth1 thyself the key1 ,unseal the sacred book4 ,expand thy wings1 prolific dove1 ,brood o'er our nature's night2 ,on our disorder'd spirits move1 ,and let there now be light4 ,,god through ,himself we then shall know1 ,if thou within us shine2 ,and sound with all thy saints below1 ,the depths of love divine4 ,,ii4 ,,almighty and everlasting ,,god1 who hatest nothing that thou hast made1 and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent2 create and make in us new and contrite hearts1 that we worthily lamenting our sins1 and acknowledging our wretchedness1 may obtain of thee the ,,god of all mercy1 perfect remission and forgiveness1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen6 99 99 99 99 99 ,,turn thou us1 ,o good ,,lord1 and so shall we be turned4 ,be favourable1 ,o ,,lord1 be favourable to thy people1 who turn to thee in weeping1 fasting and praying2 for thou art a merciful ,,god1 full of compassion1 long-suffering1 and of great pity4 ,thou sparest1 when we deserve punishment1 and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy4 ,spare thy people1 good ,,lord1 spare them1 and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion4 ,hear us1 ,o ,,lord1 for thy mercy is great1 and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us1 through the merits and mediation of thy blessed ,son ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily on the ,misery of ,mankind4 ,,lord1 we are vile1 conceiv'd in sin1 ,and born unholy and unclean2 ,sprung from the man1 whose guilty fall ,corrupts the race1 and taints us all4 ,soon as we draw our infant breath1 ,the seeds of sin grow up for death2 ,thy law demands a perfect heart1 ,but we're defil'd in ev'ry part4 ,behold1 we fall before thy face1 ,our only refuge is thy grace2 ,no outward forms can make us clean1 ,the leprosy lies deep within4 ,,jesus1 our ,,god1 thy blood alone ,hath power sufficient to atone2 ,,lord1 let us hear thy pard'ning voice1 ,and make our downcast hearts rejoice4 ,,iii4 ,,almighty ,,god1 ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 maker of all things1 judge of all men2 we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness1 which we from time to time most grievously have committed1 by thought1 word and deed1 against thy divine ,majesty1 provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us4 ,we do earnestly repent1 and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings2 the remembrance of them is grievous unto us2 the burden of them is intolerable4 ,have mercy upon us1 have mercy upon us1 most merciful ,father2 for thy ,son our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ's sake1 forgive us all that is past1 and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life1 to the honour and glory of thy name1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily on the ,salvation of ,mankind4 ,bury'd in shadows of the night1 ,we lie1 'till ,,christ restores the light2 ,wisdom descends to heal the blind1 ,and chace the darkness of the mind4 ,lost guilty souls are drown'd in tears1 ',till the atoning blood appears2 ,then they awake from deep distress1 ,and sing the ,,lord our righteousness4 ,,jesus beholds where ,satan reigns1 ,binding his slaves in heavy chains2 ,he sets the pris'ner free1 and breaks ,the iron bondage from our necks4 ,poor helpless worms in ,thee possess ,grace1 wisdom1 power and righteousness3 ,thou art our mighty ,all2 may we ,give our whole selves1 ,o ,,lord1 to ,thee6 ,,iv4 ,,almighty and everlasting ,,god1 who hast given unto us thy servants1 grace1 by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal ,trinity1 and in the power of the divine ,majesty to worship the ,unity2 we beseech thee1 that thou wouldst keep us stedfast in this faith1 and evermore defend us from all adversities1 who livest and reignest one ,,god1 world without end4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily on ,faith4 ,not all the blood of beasts1 ,on ,jewish altars slain1 ,could give the guilty conscience peace1 ,or wash away the stain4 ,but ,,christ1 the heav'nly ,lamb1 ,takes all our sins away2 ,a sacrifice of nobler name1 ,and richer blood than they4 ,my faith would lay her hand ,on that dear head of thine1 ,while like a penitent ,i stand1 ,and there confess my sin4 ,my soul looks back to see ,the burdens thou didst bear1 ,when hanging on the cursed tree1 ,and hopes her guilt was there4 ,believing1 we rejoice ,to see the curse remove2 ,we bless the ,lamb with cheerful voice1 ,and sing his bleeding love4 ,v4 ,,lord1 we pray thee1 that thy grace may always prevent and follow us2 and make us continually to be given to all good works1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen6 ,,grant1 we beseech thee1 ,almighty ,,god1 that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears1 may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts1 that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living1 to the honour and praise of thy name1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily on ,good ,works4 ,zion's a garden wall'd around1 ,chosen1 and made peculiar ground2 ,a little spot enclos'd by grace1 ,out of the world's wide wilderness4 ,like spicy trees1 believers stand ,planted by an ,almighty hand2 ,and all the springs in ,zion flow1 ,to make the rich plantation grow4 ,awake1 ,o heav'nly wind1 and come1 ,blow on thy garden of perfume2 ,spirit divine1 descend1 and breathe ,a gracious gale on plants beneath4 ,make thou our spices flow abroad1 ,a grateful incense to our ,,god2 ,let faith and love and joy appear2 ,and every grace be active here4 ,,vi4 ,,almighty ,,god1 unto whom all hearts are open1 all desires known1 and from whom no secrets are hid2 cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy ,holy ,spirit1 that we may perfectly love thee1 and worthily magnify thy holy ,name1 through ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen6 ,o ,,lord1 who hast taught us1 that all our doings without charity are nothing worth2 send thy ,holy ,ghost1 and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity1 the very bond of peace and of all virtues1 without which1 whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee4 ,grant this1 for thy only ,son ,,jesus ,,christ's sake4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily on ,charity4 ,come1 dearest ,,lord1 descend and dwell ,by faith and love1 in ev'ry breast2 ,then shall we know1 and taste1 and feel1 ,the joys that cannot be express'd4 ,come1 fill our hearts with inward strength1 ,make our enlarged souls possess ,and learn the height1 and breadth and length ,of thine unmeasurable grace4 ,now to the ,,god whose power can do ,more than our thoughts or wishes know1 ,be everlasting honours done1 ,by all the church1 through ,,christ his ,son6 ,,vii4 ,,almighty ,,god1 who hast given us thy only begotten ,son to take our nature upon ,him1 and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin2 grant that we being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace1 may daily be renewed by thy ,holy ,spirit1 through our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same ,spirit1 ever one ,,god1 world without end4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily for the ,nativity1 c4 ,father1 our hearts we lift ,up to thy gracious throne1 ,and bless thee for the precious gift ,of thine incarnate ,son4 ,the gift unspeakable ,we thankfully receive1 ,and to the world thy goodness tell3 ,oh may we to thee live6 ,,jesus1 the ,holy ,child1 ,doth by his birth declare1 ,that ,,god and man are reconcil'd1 ,and one in ,him we are4 ,salvation1 through his name1 ,to lost mankind is giv'n1 ,and loud his infant cries proclaim1 ,a peace 'twixt earth and heav'n4 ,a peace on earth he brings1 ,which never more shall end2 ,the ,,lord of hosts1 the ,king of kings1 ,declares himself our friend2 ,assumes our flesh and blood1 ,angels the wonder scan1 ,the everlasting ,son of ,,god1 ,the mortal ,son of man4 ,o may we all receive ,the new-born ,prince of ,peace1 ,and meekly in his ,spirit live1 ,and in his love increase6 ,till ,he convey us home1 ,cry ev'ry soul aloud1 ,come1 thou desire of nations1 come1 ,and take us all to ,,god4 ,,viii4 ,,we are chiefly bound to praise thee for thy ,son ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord3 for he is the very ,paschal ,lamb1 which was offered for us1 and hath taken away the sin of the world2 who by his death hath destroyed death1 and by his rising to life again1 hath restored to us everlasting life4 ,therefore with angels and archangels1 and with all the company of heaven1 we laud and magnify thy glorious name1 evermore praising thee and saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,,lord ,,god of ,hosts1 heaven and earth are full of thy glory4 ,glory be to thee1 ,o ,,lord most high4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily for ,good ,friday4 ,ye that pass by1 behold the ,man1 ,the man of griefs condemn'd for you2 ,the ,lamb of ,,god for sinners slain1 ,weeping to ,calvary pursue4 ,his sacred ,limbs they stretch1 they tear2 ,with nails they fasten to the wood ,his sacred ,limbs1 expos'd and bare1 ,or only cover'd with his blood4 ,see there6 his temples crown'd with thorns1 ,his bleeding hands extended wide1 ,his streaming feet transfixt and torn1 ,the fountain gushing from his side4 ,oh thou dear suffering ,son of ,,god1 ,how doth thy heart to sinners move6 ,help us to catch thy precious blood1 ,help us to taste thy dying love4 ,the earth could to her centre quake1 ,convuls'd whilst her creator dy'd2 ,o may our inmost nature shake1 ,and bow1 with ,,jesus crucify'd6 ,at thy last gasp1 the graves display'd ,their horrors to the upper skies2 ,o that our souls might burst the shade1 ,and1 quicken'd by thy death1 arise6 ,the rocks could feel thy pow'rful death1 ,and tremble1 and asunder part2 ,o rend with thy expiring breath ,the harder marble of our heart6 ,,ix4 ,,almighty ,,god1 who through thine only begotten ,son ,,jesus ,,christ1 hath overcome death1 and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life2 we humbly beseech thee1 that as by thy special grace preventing us1 thou dost put into our minds good desires2 so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord1 who liveth and reigneth with thee and the ,holy ,ghost1 ever one ,,god1 world without end4 ,amen6 ,the ,homily for the ,resurrection4 ,bless'd morning1 whose first dawning rays ,beheld our rising ,,god2 ,that saw him triumph o'er the dust1 ,and leave his last abode6 ,in the cold prison of a tomb1 ,the dead ,redeemer lay2 ',till the revolving skies had brought ,the third1 th' appointed day4 ,hell and the grave unite their force ,to hold our ,,god in vain2 ,the sleeping conqueror arose1 ,and burst their feeble chain4 ,to thy great name1 ,almighty ,,lord1 ,these sacred hours we pay2 ,and loud ,hosannas shall proclaim1 ,the triumph of the day4 ,salvation and immortal praise ,to our victorious ,king2 ,let heav'n1 and earth1 and rocks1 and seas1 ,with glad ,hosannas ring4 ,x4 ,,god1 who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people1 by sending to them the light of thy ,holy ,spirit2 grant us by the same ,spirit to have a right judgment in all things1 and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort1 through the merits of ,,christ ,,jesus our ,saviour1 who liveth and reigneth with thee1 in the unity of the same ,spirit1 one ,,god1 world without end4 ,amen6 ,homily on ,whitsunday4 ,,it is very meet1 right1 and our bounden duty1 that we should at all times1 and in all places1 give thanks unto thee1 ,o ,,lord1 ,holy ,father1 ,almighty1 everlasting ,,god1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord1 according to whose most true promise1 the ,holy ,ghost came down as at this time from heaven with a sudden great sound1 as it had been a mighty wind1 in the likeness of fiery tongues1 lighting upon the ,apostles1 to teach them1 and to lead them into all truth1 giving them both the gift of divers languages1 and also boldness with fervent zeal1 constantly to preach the gospel to all nations1 whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee1 and of thy ,son ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,therefore with angels and archangels1 and with all the company of heaven1 we laud and magnify thy glorious name1 evermore praising thee and saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,,lord ,,god of ,hosts1 heaven and earth are full of thy glory4 ,glory be to thee1 ,o ,,lord most high4 ,amen6 ,creator ,spirit1 by whose aid1 ,the world's foundations first were laid2 ,come1 visit ev'ry waiting mind1 ,come pour thy joys on human-kind2 ,from sin and sorrow set us free1 ,and make us temples worthy thee4 ,o source of uncreated heat1 ,the ,father's promis'd paraclete6 ,thrice holy fount1 immortal fire1 ,our hearts with heavenly love inspire2 ,come and thy sacred unction bring1 ,to sanctify us1 while we sing4 ,create all new1 our wills controul1 ,subdue the rebel in our soul2 ,chase from our minds th' infernal foe1 ,and peace1 the fruit of faith1 bestow2 ,and lest again we go astray1 ,protect and guide us in thy way4 ,immortal honours1 endless fame1 ,attend th' ,almighty ,father's name2 ,the ,saviour ,son be glorified1 ,who for lost ,man's redemption dy'd2 ,and equal adoration be1 ,eternal ,comforter1 to thee6 ,,prayers ,,on ,,several ,,occasions4 ,,prayers4 ,a ,prayer for one desiring and seeking after the ,new-,birth4 ,,blessed ,,jesus1 thou hast told us in thy gospel1 that unless a man be born again of the ,spirit1 and his righteousness exceed the outward righteousness of the scribes and pharisees1 he cannot in anywise enter into the kingdom of ,,god4 ,grant me therefore1 ,i beseech thee1 this true circumcision of the heart2 and send down thy blessed ,spirit to work in me that inward holiness1 which alone can make me meet to partake of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light4 ,create in me1 ,i beseech thee1 a new heart1 and renew a right spirit within me4 ,for of whom shall ,i seek for succour but of thee1 ,o ,,lord1 with whom alone this is possible8 ,,lord1 if thou wilt1 thou canst make me whole6 ,o say unto my soul1 as thou didst once unto the poor leper1 ,i will1 be thou renewed4 ,have compassion on me1 ,o ,,lord1 as thou once hadst on blind ,bartimeus1 who sat by the way-side begging4 ,,lord1 thou knowest all things1 thou knowest what ,i would have thee to do4 ,grant1 ,,lord1 that ,i may receive my sight2 for ,i am conceived and born in ,sin2 my whole head is sick1 my whole heart is faint2 from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet1 ,i am full of wounds and bruises1 and putrifying sores2 and yet ,i see it not4 ,o awaken me1 though it be with thunder1 to a sensible feeling of the corruptions of my fallen nature2 and for thy mercies sake1 suffer me no longer to sit in darkness1 and the shadow of death4 ,o prick me1 prick me to the heart6 ,dart down a ray of that all-quickening light1 which struck thy servant ,saul to the ground2 and make me cry out with the trembling jailor1 8,what shall ,i do to be saved80 ,,lord1 behold ,i pray1 and blush1 and am confounded that ,i never prayed on this wise before4 ,but ,i have looked upon myself as rich1 not considering that ,i was poor1 and blind1 and naked4 ,i have trusted to my own righteousness4 ,i flattered myself ,i was whole1 and therefore blindly thought ,i had no need of thee1 ,o great physician of souls1 to heal my sickness4 ,but being now convinced by thy free mercy1 that my own righteousness is as filthy rags2 and that he is only a true christian who is one inwardly2 behold with strong cryings and tears1 and groanings that cannot be uttered1 ,i beseech thee to visit me with thy free ,spirit1 and say unto these dry bones1 ,live4 ,i confess1 ,o ,,lord1 that thy grace is thy own1 and that thy ,spirit bloweth where he listeth4 ,and wast thou to deal with me after my deserts1 and reward me according to my wickednesses1 ,i had long since been given over to a reprobate mind1 and bad my conscience seared as with a red-hot iron4 ,but1 ,o ,,lord1 since1 by sparing me so long1 thou hast shewn that thou wouldst not the death of a sinner2 and since thou hast promised1 that thou wilt give thy holy ,spirit to those that ask1 ,i hope thy goodness and long-suffering is intended to lead me to repentance1 and that thou wilt not turn away thy face from me4 ,thou seest1 ,o ,,lord1 thou seest1 that with the utmost earnestness and humility of soul1 ,i ask thy holy ,spirit of thee1 and am resolved in confidence of thy promise1 who canst not lye1 to seek and knock1 till ,i find a door of mercy opened unto me4 ,,lord1 save me1 or ,i perish2 visit1 ,o visit me with thy salvation4 ,lighten mine eyes that ,i sleep not in death4 ,o let me no longer continue a stranger to myself1 but quicken me1 quicken me with thy free ,spirit1 that ,i may know myself1 even as ,i am known4 ,behold1 here ,i am4 ,let me do or suffer what seemeth good in thy sight1 only renew me by thy ,spirit in my mind1 and make me a partaker of the divine nature4 ,so shall ,i praise thee all the days of my life1 and give thee thanks for ever in the glories of thy kingdom1 ,o most adorable ,redeemer2 to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 be ascribed all honour and praise1 now and for evermore4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for one newly awakened to a ,sense of the ,divine ,life4 ,o ,,almighty and everlasting ,father1 who in the beginning spake and it was done1 saying1 8,let there be light1 and there was light20 ,o most adorable ,redeemer1 who1 when ,adam had eaten the forbidden fruit1 wast revealed as the seed of the woman1 and didst in the fulness of time die an accursed death to save us from the guilt and power of our sins1 and thereby break the serpent's head2 ,o blessed and eternal ,spirit1 who didst once move upon the face of the great deep1 who didst overshadow the blessed virgin1 who didst descend on the ,son of ,,god at his baptism1 and didst come down after his ascension in fiery tongues upon the heads of each of his apostles2 ,o holy1 blessed1 and glorious ,trinity1 three persons and one ,,god1 by whose joint consultation we were first made1 and into whose name we have been again baptized2 ,accept my humble and hearty sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving1 for calling me out of darkness into thy marvelous light2 for quickening me when dead in trespasses and sins1 and moving on the face of my polluted and disordered soul4 ,thou hast promised1 ,o ,,lord1 that thou wilt not quench the smoaking flax1 or break the bruised reed4 ,and thou hast told us1 that thy ,holy ,spirit should be in us as a well of water springing up unto eternal life4 ,finish therefore1 ,i beseech thee1 the good work begun in my soul1 and now thou hast called me1 never let me lie down again in sin4 ,thou seest1 ,o ,,lord1 the good seed sown in my heart1 is but as yet as a very small grain of mustard-seed4 ,o continue to water1 with the dew of thy heavenly blessing1 what thy own right-hand hath planted1 and it shall become a great tree4 ,thou hast touched the eye of my mind by thy divine power1 and ,i see men as trees walking4 ,let thy holy ,spirit1 by his blessed influences1 more and more remove the remaining scales1 'till ,i at length see all things clearly4 ,with shame and confusion of face1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i confess1 ,i am unworthy of this and all other thy mercies4 ,for ,i have long since done despite to the ,spirit of grace1 crucified the ,son of ,,god afresh1 and put him to open shame4 ,but do thou1 who art rich in mercy to all that call upon thee1 in faithfulness forgive me what is past1 and grant ,i may from henceforward work out my salvation with fear and trembling1 since thou hast so graciously wrought in me both to will and to do1 after thy good pleasure4 ,i know1 ,o ,,lord1 that now thou hast begun to deliver me out of my natural1 and worse than ,egyptian bondage1 ,i must expect to pass through a barren and dry wilderness1 that there are lions in the way1 that the sons of ,anak are to be grappled with1 before ,i attain to the true sabbath of the soul4 ,but thou1 angel of the everlasting covenant1 who didst send thy ministring spirits to rescue righteous ,lot1 who leddest thy sheep by the hands of ,moses and ,aaron1 and didst appear in a vision to ,ananias1 commanding him to go and lay his hands upon thy servant ,saul2 send me always a faithful and experienced pastor1 who may lead me by the hand1 and keep me from lingring in my spiritual ,sodom1 by his prudent directions under thee2 and preserve me from the snares and fury of my spiritual adversaries1 which otherwise may overtake and destroy my soul4 8ledest0 replaced with 8leddest0 ,o make me teachable like a little child4 ,convert my soul and bring it low4 ,grant ,i may be willing to learn what things ,i ought to do1 and also may have power faithfully to fulfil the same4 ,strengthen me1 ,i beseech thee1 by the holy ,spirit1 to cut off a right-hand1 to pluck out a right-eye1 to lay aside every weight1 especially the sin that doth most easily beset me2 to forsake father and mother1 brethren and sisters1 yea1 and my own life also1 rather than not be thy disciple4 ,o suffer me not to deceive my own soul by a partial reformation4 ,search me and try me1 and examine my heart1 and let no secret unmortified lust or passion ever keep me from life everlasting4 ,,lord1 ,i am not my own3 ,thou hast bought me with the price of thy ,son's most precious blood4 ,thou hast often required1 and lo6 ,i now give thee my heart1 to the best of my knowledge1 without secretly keeping back the least part4 ,for whom have ,i in heaven but thee1 and what is there on earth that ,i can desire in comparison of thee6 ,o mould me into thy own most blessed image1 my ,,lord and my ,,god4 ,fill me with thy grace here1 fit me for thy glory hereafter4 ,even so1 ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for one under ,spiritual ,desertion4 ,o ,,ever blessed and most compassionate ,redeemer1 who wast in all things tempted like as we are1 sin only excepted4 ,o thou lover of souls1 who in the days of thy flesh didst offer up strong cries and tears1 and wast heard in that thou fearedst4 ,o thou restorer of mankind1 who wast in such an agony in the garden1 that thou didst sweat great drops of blood1 falling to the ground4 ,o thou ,almighty ,high-,priest1 who1 when through the eternal ,spirit thou wast about to make thy soul an offering for sin1 wast deserted of thy ,father1 and didst cry out1 in the bitterness of thy soul1 8,my ,,god1 my ,,god1 why hast thou forsaken me40 ,o thou1 who now sittest at the right-hand of the ,father1 continually to make intercession for us1 look down1 ,i beseech thee1 upon me1 thy unworthy servant2 for thou hast turned away thy face1 and lo6 ,i am troubled2 thou hast taken off my chariot-wheels1 and ,i drive heavily2 thou hast permitted a cloud to overshadow me1 and an horrible darkness1 fearfulness1 and dread to overwhelm me1 so that my spirit would utterly sink within me1 did ,i not believe thou wouldst yet turn again and visit me4 ,father1 if it be possible1 remove this horrible darkness2 but if my soul cannot be made perfect without it1 thy holy1 thy blessed will be done4 ,lo here ,i am6 ,deal with me as it seemeth good in thy sight4 ,only let thy grace be sufficient for me2 and in the midst of my agonies send down1 ,i beseech thee1 an angel from heaven to strengthen me4 ,,lord1 thou knowest that ,satan hath desired to have me1 that he may sift me as wheat3 ,o grant that my faith fail not4 ,suffer1 ,o suffer him not to get an advantage over me1 for thou art not ignorant of his devices4 ,o let him not so prevail against me1 as to make me entertain hard thoughts of thee1 my most loving ,master2 and compassionate ,redeemer4 ,for ,i know1 thou of very faithfulness hast caused me thus to be troubled1 and dost afflict me for no other reason1 but to make me partaker of thy holiness4 ,give me1 ,o give me the shield of faith1 and enable me to repel all the fiery blasphemous thoughts1 which that wicked one shall1 at any time1 dart into my mind4 ,let me drive them off1 as carefully as ,abraham did the birds that came to devour his sacrifice4 ,and oh6 let him never tempt me to think1 thou wilt impute them to me for sin4 ,,lord1 thou only knowest the present dryness and barrenness of my soul1 and how liable ,i am to be tempted to fret against thee1 and to seek pleasure in the creature when ,i can find no sensible satisfaction in thee1 my great ,redeemer1 who art ,,god1 blessed for ever4 ,but1 ,i beseech thee1 keep my soul quiet and composed1 and for thy mercy's sake1 enable me only to take pleasure in thee1 and to sit down solitary in the bitterness of my soul1 and patiently wait till ,i can draw comfort from thee1 the fountain of living waters1 rather than hew out to myself broken cisterns1 that will hold no water4 ,never1 never let me fall out with any of thy ordinances2 or think ,i do not please thee in my holy duties1 because ,i have no inward sensible pleasure in them myself4 ,enable me to walk by faith1 and not by sight1 and to seek thee in the use of all appointed means1 though it be sorrowing2 being assured1 that after three days ,i shall find thee in the temple2 or that thou wilt make thyself known unto me1 by breaking of bread1 or in some other way4 ,,lord1 ,i believe 7help thou my unbelief7 that ,i am now talking with thee1 as certainly as ,mary was1 when thou didst converse with her at the sepulchre2 though she knew it not4 ,in thy due time reveal thyself again to me1 as thou didst to her1 and let me hear the voice of my beloved4 ,thou hast promised1 thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear1 but wilt1 with the temptation1 make a way for us to escape1 that we may be able to bear it4 ,fulfil1 ,o ,,lord1 this thy promise6 ,and after ,i have suffered a while1 strengthen1 establish1 settle1 and visit me1 as thou didst thy servant ,abraham1 when he returned from the slaughter of the five ,kings4 ,,lord1 lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me2 restore to me the joy of thy salvation2 and when my heart is duly prepared1 and humbled by these inward trials1 grant me a feeling possession of thee1 my ,,god1 for the sake of thy dear ,son ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen1 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for one under the ,displeasure of ,relations1 for being ,religious4 ,,blessed ,,lord1 who hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble1 and thou wilt deliver us2 and hast always shewn thyself to be a ,,god hearing prayer1 mighty and willing to save2 hear me now1 ,i pray thee1 when ,i call upon thee1 for trouble is at hand4 ,thou seest1 ,o ,,lord1 how many of my brethren1 according to the flesh1 persecute me for thy name's sake2 so that ,i must renounce them1 or decline openly professing thee before men4 ,but ,,god forbid ,i should love father or mother1 brethren or sisters1 more than thee1 and thereby prove myself not worthy of thee4 ,no6 ,i have long since given thee my soul and my body2 so1 lo6 ,i now freely give thee my friends also4 ,i now find by experience1 that as it was formerly1 so it is now4 ,they that are born after the flesh1 do persecute those that are born after the spirit4 ,thou camest not to send peace on earth1 but a sword4 ,and unless a man forsake all that he hath1 he cannot be thy disciple4 ,lo6 ,i come to perform this part of thy will1 ,o my ,,god2 being assured1 that whosoever forsaketh father or mother1 brethren or sisters1 houses or lands1 for thy sake1 or the gospel1 shall receive a hundred-fold in this present life1 with persecution1 and in the world to come life everlasting4 ,i trust1 ,o ,,lord1 it is for thy sake alone1 that ,i now make an offering of the favour of my friends to thee2 for thou knowest1 ,o ,,lord1 how continually they cry out against me1 though ,i am doing no more than thy holy word strictly requires me to do4 ,but do thou1 ,o blessed ,saviour1 who saidst unto ,peter1 8,get thee behind me ,satan10 enable me to stop my ears to their false insinuations1 charm they never so sweetly2 for they favour not the things that be of ,,god1 but the things that be of men4 ,and unless1 ,o ,,lord1 thou dost help1 they will be an offence unto me1 and cause me to deny the ,,lord that bought me4 ,far be it from me1 ,o ,,lord1 to be surprized1 because of those offences2 for thou hast long since denounced woe against the world because of offences2 and ,i find it is needful for my soul1 that such offences should come1 to try what is in my heart2 and to try whether ,i love thee in deed and in truth4 ,blessed1 therefore1 for ever blessed be thy holy name1 that ,i am accounted worthy to suffer for thy name's sake4 ,o let me rejoice1 and be exceeding glad1 that my reward shall be great in heaven4 ,o let me never regard any of their threatnings2 for when my father and mother forsake me1 thou1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i am assured1 wilt take me up4 ,take me1 ,o take me into the arms of thy mercy2 for henceforward know ,i no man after the flesh2 and whosoever doth the will of my heavenly ,father1 the same shall be my brother1 and sister1 and mother4 ,i know1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i know that this will expose me to the derision and persecution of those that are round about me4 ,but do thou1 who didst seek for the poor beggar1 after he was cast out by the ,jewish council1 and didst reveal thyself unto him1 reveal thyself to me also1 when my name is cast out as evil by my friends and the world4 ,though they curse1 yet bless thou me1 ,o ,,lord1 and enable me1 ,i most humbly beseech thee1 to pray for them1 even when they most despitefully use me1 and persecute me4 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do40 ,it is owing1 ,o ,,lord1 to thy free mercy alone1 that ,i have in any measure been enlightened to know thee and the power of thy resurrection4 ,o let the same grace be sufficient for them also1 and make thy almighty power to be known in their conversion4 ,thou didst once1 ,o blessed ,saviour1 magnify thy goodness in turning thy servant ,paul1 from a bitter persecutor1 to be a zealous preacher of thy gospel2 and madest the trembling jailor cry out1 even to those whose feet he had hurt in the stocks1 8,sirs1 what shall ,i do to be saved80 ,look down1 therefore1 ,i beseech thee1 in pity and compassion1 on those of my own houshold2 and after ,i am converted myself1 make me or some other person instrumental to strengthen these my weak brethren2 that though we are now divided amongst ourselves1 two against three1 and three against two1 yet we may at last1 all with one heart and one mouth1 glorify thee1 ,o ,,lord2 that thou mayest come and abide with us1 and love us as thou didst ,lazarus1 ,mary1 and her sister ,martha4 ,grant this1 ,o ,saviour1 for thy infinite merits sake6 ,amen and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for one entrusted with the ,education of ,children4 ,o ,,dearest ,,jesus1 who gatherest thy lambs into thy bosom1 and didst solemnly command thy servant ,peter1 to feed them2 grant ,i may shew that ,i love thee more than all things1 by doing as thou hast commanded him4 ,,lord1 who am ,i1 or what is in me1 that thou should thus put honour upon me1 in making me any way instrumental to the preparing souls for thee8 ,o thou blessed ,saviour1 ,i have sinned against heaven1 and am no more worthy to be called thy son1 much less to be employed in the service of thy children4 ,but since thou hast been pleased in me1 to shew forth all thy mercy1 and hast called me by thy good providence to this blessed work1 grant ,i may always remember1 that the little flock committed to my charge1 are bought with the price of thy own most precious blood4 ,and let it1 therefore1 be my meat and drink1 to feed them with the sincere milk of thy word1 that they may grow thereby4 ,to this end1 ,i beseech thee of thy free grace1 first to convert my own soul1 and cause me to become like a little child1 that from an experimental knowledge of my own corruptions1 ,i may have my spiritual senses exercised1 to discern the first emotions of evil that may at any time arise in their hearts4 ,o give me1 ,i beseech thee1 a discerning spirit1 that ,i may search1 and try1 and examine the different tempers of their sin-sick souls2 and1 like a skilful physician1 apply healing or corrosive medicines1 as their respective maladies may require4 ,gracious ,,jesus1 let punishing be always my strange work2 and1 if it be possible1 grant that they may be all drawn to their duty1 as ,i would be drawn myself1 by the cords of love4 ,and when ,i am obliged to correct them1 grant it may not be to shew my authority1 or gratify a corrupt passion1 but purely out of the same motive from which thou dost correct us1 to make them partakers of thy holiness4 ,o6 keep me1 ,i beseech thee1 from being angry without a cause3 ,permit me not rashly to be provoked by the infirmities and perverseness of their infant years2 but grant ,i may shew all long-suffering towards them3 ,and by exercising such frequent acts of patience and forbearance1 grant ,i myself may learn the meekness and gentleness of ,,christ4 ,o thou1 who didst teach thy disciples how to pray1 pour down1 ,i beseech thee1 the ,spirit of grace and supplication into their hearts1 that at all times1 and in all places1 they may both desire and know how to call upon thee by fervent prayer4 ,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my own and their spirits3 ,look down from heaven1 the habitation of thy holiness1 and bless them from thy holy hill4 ,keep them1 ,o keep them unspotted from the world2 grant they may fly youthful lusts1 and remember thee1 their ,creator1 in the days of their youth4 ,train them up1 ,i beseech thee1 in the way wherein they should go2 and when they are old1 let them not depart from it4 ,o thou1 who didst sanctify ,jeremiah from the womb1 and calledst young ,samuel betimes1 to wear a linnen ephod before thee1 sanctify their whole spirits1 souls and bodies1 and preserve them blameless1 till the second coming of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,o thou1 who didst endue ,solomon with grace1 to chuse wisdom before riches and honour2 incline their hearts to make the same choice of thee1 their only good2 and may they always renounce and triumph over the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,finally1 do thou1 ,o blessed ,,jesus1 who at twelve years old wast found in the temple1 sitting among the ,doctors1 both hearing and asking them questions1 grant1 that these children may love to tread the courts of thy house1 and have their ears opened betimes1 to receive the discipline of wisdom1 that so1 if it be thy good pleasure1 to prolong the time of their pilgrimage1 here on earth1 they may shine as lights in the world2 or1 if thou seest it best1 to bring down their strength in their journey1 and to shorten their days1 they may be early fitted by purity of heart1 to sing eternal ,hallelujah's to thee1 the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 in the kingdom of heaven for ever4 ,grant this1 ,o ,father1 for thy dear ,son's sake1 ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen1 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,person in ,want4 ,o ,,all-,,powerful and gracious ,,god1 who didst bring water out of a rock for the children of ,israel1 and water out of a jaw-bone to sustain a thirsty ,samson2 who hadst compassion upon ,hagar when she was ready to perish1 who sentest ravens to feed ,elijah1 and dost feed the young ravens who daily call upon thee1 behold me1 ,o ,,lord1 who now cry unto thee in great distress4 ,i confess1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i am unworthy of the crumbs which fall from any rich man's table4 ,wast thou to deal with me according to my deserts1 ,i should now be lifting up my eyes in torments4 ,but in the midst of judgment1 remember mercy4 ,thou1 ,o ,,lord1 art the preserver of the body4 ,thou hast declared1 that godliness has the promise of the life that now is1 and that if we seek first the kingdom of ,,god and his righteousness1 food and raiment shall be added unto us4 ,fulfil these promises in me thy unworthy servant4 ,i behold the lillies of the field1 they toil not1 neither do they spin2 wilt thou not feed me8 ,,lord1 ,i believe2 ,o help my unbelief6 ,i am ashamed that ,i have so little faith4 ,,lord ,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 ,i believe that thou wilt help me4 ,only give me patience to wait till the hour appointed for helping me1 is fully come4 ,i know1 in thy due time1 thou wilt turn my water into wine1 and richly supply all my wants4 ,patiently let me tarry thy leisure4 ,never let me fret against thee1 my ,,lord4 ,though ,i am poor1 let me not be tempted to steal2 but strengthen me1 ,i beseech thee1 against ,satan's assaults4 ,let me know1 that man doth not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of thee1 my ,,god4 ,though poor as ,lazarus1 yet1 when ,i die1 let me be carried by angels into ,abraham's bosom4 ,and however thou mayest be pleased to deal with my body1 ,,lord1 feed my soul1 ,i beseech thee1 with that bread which cometh down from heaven4 ,though poor in this world1 ,o let me be rich in faith4 ,suffer me not to stagger at thy promises through unbelief4 ,let the poverty of my body be a means of humbling my proud heart4 ,o let me not be ashamed of my low estate1 since thou1 ,o ,,lord1 didst not disdain to let women minister to thee of their substance1 and hadst not where to lay thy head4 ,help me to sanctify thee my ,,lord ,,god in my heart1 and bring me safe at last to thy heavenly kingdom1 through ,,jesus ,,christ1 my only ,advocate and ,redeemer4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer before ,singing of ,psalms4 ,o ,,almighty ,,god who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast perfected praise1 open our mouths1 that our lips may shew forth thy praise4 ,let our souls be filled as with marrow and fatness1 and out of the abundance of our hearts1 let our mouths speak4 ,enable us to sing with the spirit1 as well as with the understanding1 and to make melody in our hearts unto thee1 ,o ,,lord4 ,o let us rejoice in thee evermore1 and help us to shew forth our thankfulness not only with our lips1 but in our lives2 and from praising thee here1 ,,lord grant we may1 at the hour of death1 be translated to join with angels and archangels1 and the spirits of just men made perfect1 to praise thee eternally hereafter4 ,even so1 ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for ,one before he goes to his ,labour4 ,o ,,all-,,gracious1 and ever-blessed ,,lord ,,god2 who1 when thou hadst placed the first man in the garden of ,eden1 didst command him to dress it1 and after he had eaten the forbidden fruit1 didst impose this as a part of the divine curse upon him1 that he should eat his bread by the sweat of his brows3 ,o most adorable ,,jesus1 who thyself didst work at the trade of a carpenter1 and hast by an ,apostle1 commanded all to abide in the vocation wherewith they are called by thee1 ,o prosper thou my handy-work4 ,behold1 in obedience to thy command1 ,i now go forth to labour for the meat which perisheth4 ,o let me do it with a single eye to thy glory1 and suffer me never to forget to secure that meat which endureth to everlasting life4 ,let me not be so cumbered about the many things of this life1 as to neglect the one thing needful4 ,o let me walk with thee all the day long2 and though my body be on earth1 ,,lord let my heart and affections be fixed on thee in heaven1 and preserve me1 ,i most humbly beseech thee1 in my going out and coming in1 from this time forth and for evermore4 ,do thou1 who didst appear to the disciples when they were fishing and mending their nets1 manifest thyself unto me1 when employed in the business of my lawful calling4 ,do thou1 who calledst ,matthew from the receipt of custom1 call me effectually by thy grace4 ,grant1 ,o ,,lord1 that ,i may not stand any of my time idle1 but be continually improving my talent1 that whether ,i live1 ,i may live unto thee1 or whether ,i die1 ,i may die unto thee1 ,o ,,lord2 so that whether living or dying1 ,i may be thine4 ,o never let me be like the unjust steward1 ashamed to dig4 ,suffer me not to be slothful in business1 but grant ,i may be always fervent in spirit1 serving thee1 ,o ,,lord4 ,lift up my hands when they hang down2 strengthen1 ,o strengthen my feeble knees1 let not the sun burn me by day1 nor the moon hurt me by night4 ,provide for me to-day1 and keep me from being solicitously careful for the morrow3 and after the labour of this troublesome world is over1 translate me1 ,o ,,lord1 together with all thy faithful servants1 to that happy place1 where we shall enjoy an everlasting rest1 with thee ,o ,father1 with thee ,o ,son1 and with thee ,o ,holy ,ghost2 to whom1 as three persons1 but one ,,god1 be ascribed1 as is most due1 by angels1 and archangels1 cherubim and seraphim1 by things on heaven1 and things on earth1 all honour1 power1 might1 majesty and dominion1 now and for evermore4 ,amen and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,rich ,man4 ,o ,,sovereign and all-bountiful ,,lord ,,god1 who makest poor1 and makest rich1 and dost govern all things both in heaven and earth1 accept my unfeigned sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving1 for giving me all things richly to enjoy4 ,what am ,i1 ,o ,,lord1 what is in me1 that ,i should have bread enough and to spare1 whilst so many are ready to perish with hunger8 ,not my merit1 ,o ,,lord1 but thy mercy2 not my foresight1 but thy sovereign good-will and pleasure has made me thus to differ from1 and hath exalted me above my brethren4 ,o let not my prosperity destroy me2 but as thou hast made me rich in this world's goods1 for thy infinite mercy's sake1 make me rich towards thee1 rich in faith and good works4 ,suffer me not1 ,o ,,lord1 to say unto gold1 thou art my hope1 or unto the fine gold1 thou art my confidence4 ,let me not trust in uncertain riches1 but in thee1 the ever-living ,,god4 ,let me not lay up for myself treasures on earth1 where moth and rust do corrupt1 and where thieves break through and steal2 but grant ,i may lay up treasures in heaven1 where neither moth and rust do corrupt1 nor thieves break through and steal4 ,i know1 ,o ,,lord1 that this is impossible with man1 and that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye1 than for a rich man to enter into thy kingdom4 ,but1 ,abba1 ,father1 all things are possible with thee6 ,enable me1 therefore1 by the all-sufficiency of thy grace1 to sell all things in affection1 to deny myself1 take up my cross1 and follow thee every day4 ,give me that faith which overcometh the world4 ,grant that ,i may not indulge myself in the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life1 or make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust thereof4 ,,lord1 let me be given to hospitality4 ,when thy disciples are sick1 incline me1 ,o ,,lord1 to go to see them2 when they are in prison1 grant ,i may not be ashamed to visit them2 when they are strangers1 may ,i take them in2 when naked1 may ,i cloath them2 when hungry1 may ,i feed them2 when thirsty1 may ,i give them drink2 may ,i be eyes to the blind1 and feet to the lame1 a father to the fatherless1 and cause the widow's heart to leap for joy4 ,may ,i be a follower of thee1 ,o lowly ,,jesus1 who though thou wast rich1 yet for our sakes didst become poor1 and camest not to be ministered unto1 but to minister4 ,o let me ever remember thy words1 and count it more blessed to give than to receive4 ,and1 as ,i am like a city built upon a hill1 grant that my light may so shine before men1 that they seeing my good works1 may glorify my ,father which is in heaven4 ,let my affections1 ,o ,,lord1 be set on things above1 and not on things of the earth4 ,let my conversation be in heaven1 and grant ,i may use the world1 as though ,i used it not4 ,make me a faithful steward of thy manifold gifts1 ,o ,,god1 and grant ,i may not make friends of the accursed mammon of unrighteousness1 that when my natural life fails1 thy blessed angels may carry me into everlasting habitations1 and ,i may receive that blessed sentence1 8,well done1 thou good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,,lord40 ,or1 if thou pleasest1 ,o ,,lord1 for my trial1 to order that my riches should take themselves wings1 and fly away1 grant ,i may learn how to want1 as well as how to abound1 and say1 with thy servant ,job1 8,the ,,lord hath given1 the ,,lord hath taken away3 blessed be the name of the ,,lord40 ,having nothing1 may ,i learn to possess all things in thee2 and in whatsoever state ,i am1 make me therewith content4 ,may ,i always behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth1 and when my appointed time is come1 may ,i not need1 like the rich fool in the gospel1 to have my soul required of me1 but chearfully give up the ghost1 and be translated to join with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all the other spirits of just men made perfect1 to praise thee for ever and ever4 ,grant this1 ,o ,father1 for thy dear ,son's sake ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,servant4 ,o ,,thou high and lofty one1 who inhabitest eternity1 yet art pleased to dwell with the humble heart3 ,o blessed ,,jesus1 who hast made of one blood1 all nations under heaven1 with whom there is no respect of persons1 and who in the days of thy flesh didst go down to heal a centurion's sick servant2 have mercy1 ,i beseech thee1 on me1 even me1 also a poor servant4 ,stretch forth the right hand of thy power1 to heal all the diseases of my sin-sick soul1 and enable me by thy ,holy ,spirit1 faithfully to discharge the several duties of that vocation1 whereto ,i am called by thee4 ,give me grace1 ,i most humbly beseech thee1 to obey my master1 according to the flesh1 in all things2 not with eye-service1 as a man-pleaser1 but with singleness of heart1 as unto ,,christ2 knowing1 that whatsoever any man doth1 the same he shall receive of the ,,lord1 whether he be bond or free4 ,make my obedience to my master on earth1 like that which the holy angels pay to thee in heaven4 ,when ,i am commanded to go1 may ,i go2 when ,i am required to come1 may ,i come2 whatsoever ,i am bid to do agreeable to thy will1 may ,i do it heartily1 as unto the ,,lord1 and not unto men4 ,but if at any time1 ,o ,,lord1 to try what is in my heart1 thou shouldst permit me to be tempted to do any wickedness1 ,o give me grace1 as thou didst ,joseph1 patiently to submit to a prison1 and to death itself1 rather than sin against thee1 my ,,god2 knowing that it is thank-worthy1 if a man for conscience towards ,,god1 endure grief1 suffering wrongfully4 ,enable me1 ,o ,,lord1 to shew good fidelity in all things committed to my charge4 ,do thou1 who blessedst ,abraham's servant1 when he went to take a wife for his master's son ,isaac1 so bless me in all my master's business1 that he may see1 as ,potiphar did1 that the ,,lord maketh all that ,i do to prosper in my hands4 ,keep1 ,o ,,lord1 also the door of my lips1 that ,i offend at no time with my tongue2 let a false tongue be far from me1 and let me never lie unto my master1 as ,gehazi did4 ,o let no such unfaithfulness cleave unto me2 lest by being a partaker with him in his crime1 ,i partake also in his punishment4 ,bridle also my tongue from ever answering again3 may all sullenness and peevishness of temper be put away from me1 with all passion3 may ,i learn of thee1 ,o holy ,,jesus1 to be meek and lowly in heart2 ,o make me patient of reproof1 willing to be taught1 and subject with all fear and godly reverence1 not only to the good and gentle1 but also to the froward4 ,or if ever1 through the weakness of the flesh1 ,i should offend in this point1 as ,hagar did against ,sarah1 enable me1 ,i beseech thee1 immediately to repent and to return again to my obedience4 ,grant also1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i may behave holily and unblameably to my fellow servants3 let no corrupt communication1 nor foolish talking or jesting1 which is not convenient1 at any time come out of my mouth1 but rather giving of thanks3 may our conversation be always seasoned with the salt of thy holy word1 and such as may tend to the edifying one another4 ,endue us all with that charity1 which hideth a multitude of faults2 and if ever1 ,o ,,lord1 thy glory should call me to bring up an ill report to my master against any of my fellow-servants1 which1 ,i beseech thee1 of thy mercies1 ,i may never have occasion to do2 grant it may be done with gentleness and compassion1 not to insinuate myself into my master's favour1 but to prevent them sinning against thee1 and thereby ruining their own souls4 ,keep us1 we beseech thee1 from striving among ourselves1 as ,abraham's and ,lot's herdsmen did1 about any of the concerns of this life2 but grant we may be always provoking each other to love and to good works4 ,preserve us1 we beseech thee1 from envying one another1 either the favour of our master1 or any blessing whatsoever4 ,let us not seek our own1 but each our brother's welfare1 as members of the same body1 as disciples of the same ,,lord4 ,when one of us suffers1 let all suffer2 when one rejoices1 let all of us rejoice with him4 ,make us pitiful and tender-hearted to each other2 and if at any time we should have a quarrel1 enable us1 ,o ,,lord1 immediately to forgive one another1 even as thou1 ,,god1 for ,,christ's sake1 hast forgiven us4 ,finally1 ,o ,,lord1 endue us with a deep humility1 that we may in brotherly love prefer one another1 and in lowliness of mind each of us esteem his brother better than himself4 ,o hear all our prayers for our master1 and grant that he and his houshold may faithfully serve thee1 our ,,lord4 ,o make him as devout as ,cornelius1 and us1 like the soldiers that waited upon him1 devout also4 ,that thus adorning thy holy gospel in all things1 we may1 at thy second coming to judge the world1 be rewarded according as we have improved the different talents which we have received from thee1 ,o glorious ,redeemer1 who livest and reignest with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 ever one ,,god1 world without end4 ,amen1 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a poor ,negroe4 ,o ,,righteous ,father1 who hast made of one blood all nations under heaven1 and with whom there is no respect of persons1 look down from heaven on me a miserable sinner4 ,and as thou hadst once compassion on the eunuch of the ,queen of ,candace1 a negroe like myself1 ,o ,,lord1 let thy mercy be shewn in like manner upon me4 ,o send some one to teach me the saving knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,behold ,i am foolish2 ,,lord1 make me wise unto salvation4 ,,lord1 ,i am poor1 do thou enrich me by thy ,spirit4 ,,lord1 ,i am miserable in myself1 ,o make me happy in thee4 ,,lord1 ,i am naked1 ,o cloath my poor soul with the righteousness of thy beloved son ,,jesus4 ,blessed be thy name1 for bringing me over into a christian country4 ,o ,,lord1 let me not come in vain4 ,make me willing in the day of thy power1 and for thy mercy's sake1 reveal thy dear ,son in me4 ,shew me what it is to be born again of thy ,spirit1 and let ,,jesus be my wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption4 ,let me know1 ,o ,father of lights1 how ,i have died in ,adam1 and how ,i must be made alive in ,,christ4 ,make me contented with my condition1 knowing1 ,o ,,lord1 that thou hast placed me in it4 ,let me never be tempted to rebel against my master or mistress2 and enable me to be obedient not only to the good and gentle1 but also to the froward4 ,,lord1 keep the door of my lips1 that ,i may not offend with my tongue4 ,keep my hands from picking and stealing1 and suffer me not to behave unseemly on the ,,lord's-day4 ,bless my master and mistress1 and my labours for their sake4 ,bless the ,governor1 and all that bear rule in this province1 and grant that we may live under them in all godliness and honesty4 ,have mercy on my poor countrymen3 ,,lord1 suffer them no longer to sit in darkness1 and in the shadow of death4 ,arise1 thou ,son of ,righteousness1 arise with healing under thy wings4 ,lighten our darkness1 we beseech thee1 ,o ,,lord1 and let us know the truth as it is in ,,jesus4 ,grant ,i may be truly converted myself1 and then1 if it be thy blessed will1 enable me1 ,o ,,lord1 to strengthen my poor brethren4 ,o take us poor negroes for thine inheritance1 and bless all those who endeavour to teach us thy will4 ,prosper1 ,o ,,lord1 the work of their hands upon them1 ,o prosper thou their handy-work4 ,grant they may turn thousands and ten thousands of us to righteousness1 and shine as the stars in the firmament for ever and ever4 ,may we be their joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and join with them for ever and ever in singing praises to thee1 ,o ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 to whom1 as three persons1 but one ,,god1 ,i desire to give all praise1 now and for evermore4 ,even so ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,person before he goes a ,journey4 ,,god of ,abraham1 ,,god of ,isaac1 and ,,god of ,jacob1 who leddest the people through a wilderness by a cloud by day1 and a pillar of fire by night2 and didst guide the wise men1 on their journey to ,jerusalem1 by a star in the east2 give thy angels charge concerning me thy unworthy servant1 that ,i may not so much as hurt my foot against a stone4 ,keep me1 ,o ,,god1 keep me on my journey1 and suffer me not to fall among robbers4 ,,jesus1 thou good ,samaritan1 take care of1 support1 defend1 and provide for me4 ,behold1 ,i go out by the direction of thy providence2 ,,lord1 therefore1 let thy presence go along with me1 and thy ,spirit speak to my soul1 when ,i am journeying alone by the way-side4 ,o let me know that ,i am not alone1 because my heavenly ,father is with me4 ,keep me from evil company1 or1 if it be thy will ,i should meet with any1 give me courage and freedom1 ,o ,,lord1 to discourse of the things concerning the kingdom of ,,god4 ,and ,o that thou wouldst let me meet with some of thy own dear children6 ,o that thou wouldst be with us1 as with the disciples at ,emmaus1 and cause our hearts mutually to burn with love towards thee1 and one another6 ,provide for me proper refreshment1 and wherever ,i lodge1 be thou constrained1 ,o ,,god1 for thy own name's sake1 to lodge with me4 ,teach me1 whether at home or abroad1 to behave as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth4 ,preserve my houshold and friends in my absence1 and grant that ,i may return to them again in peace4 ,enable me patiently to take up every cross that may be put in my way4 ,let me not be weary and faint in my mind4 ,make1 ,o ,,lord1 right paths for my feet1 enable me to hold out to the end of the race set before me1 and1 after the journey of this life1 translate me to that blessed place1 where the wicked one will cease from troubling1 and my weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest with thee1 ,o ,father1 ,son1 and blessed ,spirit2 to whom1 as three persons1 but one ,,god1 be ascribed all possible power1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now and for evermore4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,person at the ,beginning of a ,sickness4 ,o ,,almighty and everlasting ,,god1 with whom alone are the issues of life and death1 who dost wound and dost heal1 who killest and makest alive1 who bringest down to the grave1 and liftest up again1 and hast commanded us to call upon thee in the time of trouble1 and thou wilt deliver us1 stretch forth1 ,i beseech thee1 the right hand of thy majesty on high1 and save me from the power of this present sickness1 which otherwise will destroy my life4 ,have compassion on me1 as thou hadst on ,peter's wife's mother1 when she lay sick of a fever4 ,rebuke my distemper1 and grant it may leave me4 ,speak the word1 ,o ,,lord1 and thy servant shall be whole4 ,it is but for thee to say1 ,go1 and it shall go3 for ,i believe1 ,,lord1 that thou art the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever4 ,,jesus1 thou son of ,david1 have mercy upon me4 ,by thine agony and bloody sweat1 by thy cross and passion1 by thy precious death and burial1 by thy glorious resurrection and ascension1 and by the coming of the ,holy ,ghost1 good ,,lord deliver me from my present approaching illness4 ,behold1 to thee ,i fly for succour4 ,in obedience to thee1 do ,i give place to the physician4 ,but ,i know that ,i may waste all my substance1 and shall not grow better1 but rather the worse1 unless thou1 ,o great ,physician1 who1 in the days of thy flesh1 didst give sight to the blind1 and restore strength to the lame1 and didst cure the woman of the bloody issue1 dost also recover me from my sickness4 ,do thou1 therefore1 who didst bless a bunch of figs to the recovery of ,hezekiah1 sanctify the means that shall be made use of to my recovery4 ,o let me not1 like ,asa1 seek only to the physician1 but depend on thee1 ,o ,,lord1 for a blessing4 ,or1 if the decree be gone forth that ,i must die1 grant1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i may set my house and heart in order1 and though thou killest me1 let me put my trust in thee4 ,into thy hands ,i commend my spirit3 though worms destroy my body1 yet grant1 that in my flesh ,i may see thee my ,,god4 ,if it be thy will1 let this sickness not be unto death1 but spare me yet a little longer1 that ,i may recover my spiritual strength before ,i go hence1 and am no more seen4 ,if thou seest it best1 let this affliction immediately pass from me4 ,nevertheless1 not as ,i will1 but thy will be done4 ,only sweeten it1 ,o ,,lord1 with a sense of thy love1 and strengthen me with thy mighty power in the inner man4 ,let thy grace be sufficient for me4 ,magnify thy strength in my weakness1 and under the shadow of thy almighty wings1 let my soul take refuge till this day of thy visitation be overpast4 ,shew me1 ,o ,,lord1 wherefore thou contended with me4 ,for ,i know of very faithfulness thou hast caused me to be thus troubled4 ,make thou my bed in my sickness1 and let thy rod as well as thy staff1 comfort me4 ,in patience1 grant ,i may possess my soul4 ,and though this affliction at present be not joyous1 but grievous2 yet grant1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i may be so exercised thereby1 that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness4 ,let tribulation1 ,o ,,lord1 work patience1 patience experience1 experience hope1 even that hope which maketh not ashamed1 and whereby thy love1 ,o ,,god1 may be shed abroad in my heart4 ,give me1 ,o ,,lord1 in this1 and in every thing to give thanks1 and enable me to suffer1 as well as to do thy will1 even like the angels in heaven4 ,o6 for thine infinite mercy's sake1 let not ,satan get any advantage over me1 by tempting me to charge thee foolishly4 ,let not such a wretch as ,i am1 ever complain for this punishment of my sin1 knowing that ,i receive the due reward of my crimes4 ,o suffer me not to cry out with wicked ,cain1 8,my punishment is greater than ,i can bear20 but let me sanctify thee the ,,lord ,,god in my heart1 and rejoice in this tribulation1 knowing that whom thou lovest thou chastenest1 and scourgest every son whom thou receivest4 ,blessed be thy name ,o ,,lord1 that thou hast not yet given me over to a reprobate mind4 ,blessed be thy name1 that thou hast not cursed me1 as ,i most justly deserve1 as thou didst the barren fig-tree4 ,blessed be thy name1 that thou still dost condescend to dig and dung round me4 ,o purge1 purge me for thy mercy's sake1 and grant that ,i may henceforward bring forth fruit unto thee4 ,o let me not forget this day of my visitation3 and if it be thy good pleasure1 that ,i shall not die1 but live1 grant that ,i may constantly declare thy works1 ,o ,,lord4 ,whenever ,i am cleansed1 let me immediately return and give thanks4 ,with thy servant ,hezekiah1 may ,i go up into thy house1 ,o ,,lord1 and pay thee my vows1 which ,i now make whilst ,i am in trouble4 ,suffer me to sin no more1 lest a worse evil befal me3 and as thou wast pleased to reveal thyself in the temple to the poor man1 whom thou didst cure in the days of thy flesh1 be pleased1 for thy mercy's sake1 to reveal thyself to me4 ,then shall ,i shew forth my thankfulness1 not only with my lips1 but with my life1 by giving myself up to thy service1 who didst die for our sins1 and rise again for our justification2 to whom with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour and glory1 now and for ever4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,woman lately married to a believing ,husband4 ,,everlasting ,father1 who didst make ,eve out of the rib of ,adam1 and didst give her to him to wife1 accept my thanks for calling me to the marriage-state1 and blessing me with a husband fearing thee4 ,o1 for thy mercy's sake1 make me a help meet for him4 ,grant1 as ,sarah called ,abraham1 so ,i may call and honour him as my lord4 ,let me always remember1 ,i am the weaker vessel1 that man was first made1 and not woman1 and suffer me not at any time to usurp authority over him4 ,o let me always take heed to reverence1 and be in subjection to my husband2 and let not my adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair1 or of wearing of gold1 or of putting on fine apparel1 but let it be the hidden man of the heart1 in that which is not corruptible1 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1 which is in the sight of thee1 my ,,god1 of great price4 ,o let me be grave1 discreet1 chaste1 a keeper at home4 ,suffer me not to be a busy-body1 or to wander about from house to house4 ,keep me from being a tatler1 speaking the things which ,i ought not4 ,and if thou dost bless me with children1 ,,lord1 teach me to guide them in the right way1 and manage my house with such meekness and wisdom1 that ,i may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully4 ,though in the marriage-state1 enable me1 ,o ,,lord1 to serve thee without distraction1 and let me never be so cumbered about the many things of this life1 as to neglect the one thing needful4 ,may ,i with ,mary1 continually sit at thy feet1 and learn of thee1 ,o ,,jesus1 to be meek and lowly in heart4 ,keep me from being a snare to my husband4 ,make me willing to part with him whensoever thou shalt call him from me4 ,into thy hands1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i commend both our spirits1 souls and bodies4 ,o sanctify us throughout1 and let our seed be blessed4 ,o let our marriage-bed be undefiled1 and give us to live together as heirs of the grace of ,,god1 that our prayers be not hindered4 ,help us to love one another1 like thee and thy church4 ,give us freedom to pray with and for each other1 and grant ,i may be the glory of my husband1 as the church is the glory of thee my ,saviour4 ,hear me1 ,o ,,lord1 hear me1 according to the multitude of thy mercies in ,,jesus my ,redeemer2 to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 ,i desire here and hereafter to ascribe all power1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 for ever and ever4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,man1 convinced that it is his ,duty to marry1 for ,direction in the ,choice of a ,wife4 ,o ,,almighty1 ever-living ,,god1 who1 after thou hadst made all things out of nothing1 and man after thy own divine image1 didst say1 8,it is not good that man should be alone1 ,i will make him an help meet for him20 look down1 ,o ,,lord1 on the work of thine own hands1 and hearken to the voice of my humble request4 ,o ,,lord1 chuse a help meet for me4 ,thou ,,lord1 art acquainted with my wants4 ,thou didst once chuse a ,rebecca for ,isaac4 ,thou art the same to-day as thou wast yesterday4 ,bless me1 even me also1 in like manner1 ,o my ,saviour4 ,suffer me not1 ,o ,,lord1 to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever4 ,o let me not be in the number of the sons of ,,god1 who saw the daughters of men1 that they were fair1 and took them wives of all which they chose4 ,,lord1 do thou chuse for me1 and direct me to a child of thine own1 adorned with a meek and quiet spirit4 ,o suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman4 ,for1 ,,lord1 thou knowest ,i desire to take a wife1 not for lust1 but uprightly2 therefore1 mercifully ordain1 that ,i may have one after thy own heart4 ,when ,i marry1 let it be only in and for thee1 ,o ,,lord4 ,let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes2 but1 ,,lord1 give me to watch unto prayer1 and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me4 ,thou didst direct ,abraham's servant2 ,,lord1 for thy mercy's sake1 direct me4 ,behold1 ,i call thee1 ,o blessed ,,jesus1 to my marriage4 ,direct me also1 when ,i consult my friends1 thy disciples4 ,o bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life1 and let all know my marriage is of thee1 my ,,god4 ,all which ,i humbly beg in thy name1 and through thy merits1 ,o blessed ,lamb of ,,god1 thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church1 to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour and glory1 now and for evermore4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,woman1 desiring ,direction of ,,god1 after an ,offer of ,marriage is made to her4 ,,fountain of light and life1 who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy dear ,son's name1 look down on me thy poor handmaid1 and answer my request1 for thy infinite mercy's sake4 ,,lord ,,jesus1 thou knowest all things1 thou knowest that ,i love thee1 and desire only to live unto thee4 ,shew me1 ,o ,,lord1 shew me1 for thy mercy's sake1 what thou wouldest have me to do4 ,i see1 ,o ,,lord1 the advantages of a single life1 and that ,i can now care only for the things of the ,,lord1 and serve thee without distraction4 ,if thou seest this state best for my soul1 ,o give me power over my own will1 and never suffer me to know man4 ,but since thou hast declared that 8,marriage is honourable in all20 if thou seest that state best for me1 ,,lord1 shew me whom thou hast chosen for me4 ,behold1 thy handmaid is now invited to the marriage-state1 and thou alone knowest the heart of him who offers to be my husband4 ,o suffer me not to deceive my own soul2 watch1 ,o ,,lord1 watch over and influence my deceitful heart4 ,o let me see the tokens of thy will1 before ,i give a determinate answer4 ,suffer me not to say1 ,i will go with him1 until ,i plainly see this proposal is of thee1 my ,,god4 ,influence my relations hearts1 as thou didst influence the hearts of ,rebecca's friends2 and if it be thy will ,i should be joined with this thy servant1 ,o let me love him only in thee1 and for thee1 to the glory of thy great name1 and the salvation of both our immortal souls1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,lord4 ,even so1 ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for ,persons in a ,storm at ,sea4 ,,dearest ,,lord1 and all-powerful ,redeemer1 who wast praying on the mountain1 whilst thy disciples were toiling and rowing all night1 and the wind was contrary2 who didst also appear by night to thy servant ,paul in a ship-wreck1 saying1 8,fear not1 ,paul1 for ,,god has given thee all the souls that sail with thee20 mercifully look upon us1 who are now exposed to the same danger4 ,say unto our souls1 8,it is ,i2 be not afraid30 and to the winds1 8,peace1 be still20 and immediately there shall be a great calm4 ,save1 ,,lord1 or we perish2 for the waves rage horribly4 ,thou hast sent forth thy word1 and the waters flow4 ,o let not the deep shut her mouth upon us1 and suffer not the water-floods to swallow us up6 ,we know1 ,o ,,lord1 for what cause this evil is come upon us4 ,we have not feared thee1 the ,,god of heaven1 who madest the sea and dry land1 as we ought4 ,therefore we are exceedingly afraid1 lest thou shouldst not deliver us in this needful time of trouble4 ,but ,o thou who didst once hear ,jonah1 when he cried unto thee out of the belly of the fish1 though he was fleeing from thy presence1 hear us also for thy mercy's sake4 ,for thou hast cast us into the deep1 into the midst of the seas1 the floods are compassing us about1 and thy billows and waves are passing over us4 ,save our lives from destruction1 ,o ,,lord our ,,god1 and let us yet lift up our hands unto thee in thy holy temple4 ,but if the decree be gone forth1 that our bodies must now perish and see corruption1 thy blessed will be done4 ,only grant1 ,o ,,lord1 that our souls may be precious in thy sight1 and that we may be preserved from the storm of thy everlasting anger2 so that when the voice of the archangel shall sound1 and the trump of ,,god command the sea to give up its dead1 we may rise to life immortal1 through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the ,holy ,ghost1 one ,,god1 now and for ever4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,thanksgiving for a safe ,arrival after a ,voyage4 ,,almighty and gracious ,,lord ,,god1 who art good1 and doest good1 who sendest thy rain on the just and on the unjust1 and causest thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good2 we thy unworthy servants humbly beseech thee1 that thou wouldst open our lips1 and enlarge our hearts1 to shew forth thy praise1 for letting us see thy wonders in the deep1 and for leading us through the sea1 as on dry land1 and bringing us to the haven where we would be4 ,o do thou1 who didst inspire ,moses and the children of ,israel to sing a song unto thee1 when thou broughtest them up out of the ,red-sea1 open our lips1 ,o ,,lord1 that our mouths may shew forth thy praise3 for thou art our strength and our song1 and art become our salvation4 ,thy right hand is become glorious in power4 ,who is like unto thee1 ,o ,,god1 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 doing wonders8 ,praise the ,,lord1 ,o our souls1 and may all that is within us praise his holy name4 ,we have seen thy paths in the great waters1 and thy providence and power hath alone preserved us1 otherwise the deep had long since overwhelmed us1 and the waters gone over our souls4 ,it is thy arm1 ,o ,,lord1 alone hath brought us this salvation4 ,o that we may therefore praise thee for thy goodness1 and declare the wonders that thou hast shewn to us1 the unworthiest of the children of men4 ,,lord1 let us never be unmindful of thy manifold mercies1 but enable us to pay thee the vows we made thee when we were in trouble4 ,o keep us1 keep us1 we beseech thee1 unspotted from the world into which thou art sending us4 ,grant we may not turn thy grace into wantonness1 but henceforward walk so holy1 and unblameably in all manner of conversation and godliness1 that after we have passed the waves of this troublesome world1 we may arrive at the haven of eternal rest1 which thou hast prepared for all that love our ,,lord ,,jesus in sincerity4 ,grant this1 ,o ,father1 for thy dear ,son's sake ,,jesus ,,christ our ,saviour4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,prayer for a ,sailor4 ,o ,,thou ,,god of the sea and dry land1 who in thy strength settest fast the mountains1 and art girded about with power1 who claspest the winds in thy fist1 and holdest the waters in the hollow of thy hand1 who deckest thyself with light1 as with a garment1 who spreadest out the heavens like a curtain1 who tellest the number of the stars1 and callest them all by their names1 who hast set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass1 and hast said1 ,hitherto shall ye come and no farther1 and here shall your proud waves be stayed3 ,o thou1 who hast made ,pleiades1 ,orion1 and ,arcturus1 who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters1 who makest the clouds thy chariot1 and walkest on the wings of the wind3 ,o thou almighty ,,jehovah1 who hast called me by thy providence to go down to the sea in ships1 and to occupy my business in the great waters2 grant1 that as ,i daily see1 so ,i may daily admire thy wonders in the deep1 and learn from storms and winds to obey thy word4 ,they go1 ,o ,,lord1 when thou biddest them go2 they come1 when thou commandest them to come4 ,but ,i have broken all thy commands3 thou hast commanded me to go often1 but alas6 ,i go not4 ,thou requirest me to come and draw near unto thee in prayer1 but alas6 ,i come not4 ,or if ,i do pray unto thee at such time as a storm comes upon me1 yet my devotion ceases with the storm1 it is but like a morning cloud1 and as the early dew that passeth away4 ,,lord1 ,i blush and am confounded1 when ,i consider how often thou hast magnified thy power in my preservation1 and yet that ,i could continue so ungrateful4 ,thou hast often heard me when ,i have cried unto thee1 when ,i have been staggering to and fro1 and been at my wit's end1 when the waves went up to the heavens1 and down to the hell beneath1 and my soul hath fainted for very trouble3 but ,i have forgotten to praise thee1 ,o ,,lord1 for thy goodness1 and to thank thee for the wonders thou hast shewn to me1 the unworthiest of the sons of men4 ,thou wast with ,noah in the ark1 and his little family2 ,o do thou vouchsafe to guide and protect me4 ,thou wast with ,jonah1 when he cried unto thee out of the belly of hell2 hear me also1 now ,i cry unto thee out of the great deep4 ,i would not behave more wisely in the things of this life1 than in the things which belong to my everlasting peace4 ,let me not be so careful to shun a shipwreck1 and never fear making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience4 ,let me not be so careful to eye my compass1 and yet seldom eye thy most holy word1 which alone can guide me through this world to the haven of everlasting rest4 ,let me not every day be solicitous to be at my wished-for port1 and never desire to see and enjoy thee4 ,let me not daily improve every wind1 and continually neglect those glorious opportunities1 which ,i enjoy of fitting myself for thee4 ,let me not fear a storm1 and yet never fear that fiery tempest1 which will ere long come upon the wicked1 from thy presence4 ,keep me1 ,o ,,god1 from impatience1 when the winds and seas are contrary4 ,grant me a lively persuasion1 that thy providence ruleth all things2 that thou intendest every thing for my good1 and enable me therefore patiently to tarry thy leisure1 and to give thee thanks for all things that befal me1 since it is thy will in ,,christ ,,jesus concerning me4 ,let me not complain of the weather1 since that is tacitly complaining of thee1 my ,,god4 ,keep1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i beseech thee1 the door of my lips1 that ,i may not offend thee with my tongue4 ,o put away swearing far from me1 and let me no longer1 as ,i have done1 cloath myself with cursing as with raiment1 lest1 as ,i delight in cursing1 it should happen unto me1 and as ,i loved not blessing1 so it may be far from me4 ,o let me no longer deceive my own soul1 by thinking it impossible thus to offend thee with my tongue4 ,all things are possible with thee1 my ,,god6 ,purify1 therefore1 ,i beseech thee1 my heart3 create in me a new heart2 renew a right spirit within me3 for out of the abundant wickedness contained therein1 my mouth hath so often uttered profane things4 ,keep me1 ,o ,,lord1 ,i beseech thee1 unspotted in my conversation1 and let not the evil communications1 to which ,i am daily exposed1 corrupt my good manners4 ,o let me never have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness1 but rather give me courage to reprove them2 and1 as my life is always in thy hand1 ,o let me not forget thy law4 ,grant1 ,o ,,lord1 that the crosses ,i meet with1 may not increase1 but rather break my passions4 ,let me1 in the hours of watching1 watch unto prayer1 and teach me to endure hardness like a good soldier of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,keep me1 ,o ,,lord1 from loving unrighteous gain1 and grant ,i may render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and pay tribute to whom tribute is due3 knowing that money unjustly gotten1 is but laid up to the owner's hurt1 and that hereafter it will pierce me through with many sorrows1 and eat my flesh as doth fire4 ,may my one business be to lay up treasures in heaven1 and to secure an interest in thee1 ,o blessed ,,jesus1 who livest and reignest with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 one ,,god1 blessed for evermore4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,pious ,soul longing for ,heaven4 ,,lord6 how have ,i loved the habitation of thy house1 and the place where thine honour dwelleth4 ,o glorious seat2 the residence and the workmanship of the great1 the mighty ,,god3 let me continue1 let me increase in this love of thee more and more4 ,let this weary pilgrimage be spent in advancing daily toward thee1 and may the breathing of my soul after thee1 sanctify and comfort the labours of each day1 and refresh my waking thoughts by night4 ,let my heart be always where my treasure is already2 and in this dry and desolate wilderness1 may ,i feel no other thirst1 than that of arriving at my heavenly ,canaan1 and partaking in the society and the joys of that happy people1 who have the ,,lord for their ,,god4 ,o may that ,,god who made me1 possess me in his holy temple6 ,not that ,i dare presume to hope for thy beauty and bliss upon the account of any deserts of my own2 but yet1 the humblest sense of my own unworthiness will not sink me into despair of it1 when ,i reflect upon the blood of ,him who died to purchase this mansion for me4 ,let but his merits be applied to me2 let his intercessions assist my want of worth1 and then ,i am safe2 for those merits cannot be overbalanced by my sins1 nor were1 or can those prayers be ever offered up to ,,god in vain4 ,for my own part1 ,i confess with shame and sorrow1 that ,i have gone astray like a sheep that is lost1 drawn out my wandrings and my miseries to a great length1 and am cast out of the sight of my ,,god1 into the blindness and darkness of a spiritual banishment4 ,in this forlorn estate ,i sadly bewail the wretchedness of my captivity1 and sing mournful songs when ,i remember thee1 ,o ,jerusalem4 ,as yet ,i am at an uncomfortable distance1 and at best my feet stand only in the outer courts of ,sion4 ,the beauties of the sanctuary are behind the veil1 and kept hid from my longing eyes2 but ,i am full of hope1 that the builder of this sanctuary1 and the gracious shepherd of souls1 will carry me in upon his shoulders1 that ,i may there rejoice with that gladness unspeakable1 which all those happy saints feel1 who are already admitted into the presence of their ,,god and ,saviour2 the ,saviour who hath opened his royal palace to all believers1 by abolishing the enmity in his flesh1 and reconciling all things in heaven and earth by his own blood4 ,he is our peace1 who hath made both one1 and broken down the middle wall of partition1 promising to give us the same degree of happiness in his own due time1 which is already enjoyed in thee4 ,for thus he hath declared1 that they who are worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead1 shall be equal unto the angels4 ,o ,jerusalem1 the eternal habitation of the eternal ,,god6 may'st thou be the second darling of my soul1 and only he be preferred before thee in my affection1 who shed his blood to make me worthy of thee4 ,be thou the joy and comfort of my languishing mind1 my great support in hardships and distresses2 may the remembrance of thee be ever sweet1 and the mention of thy name a holy means to drive away all sorrow from my soul4 99 99 99 99 99 ,an ,act of ,praise4 ,,bless the ,,lord1 ,o my soul1 and all that is within me bless his holy name4 ,bless the ,,lord1 ,o my soul1 and forget not all his benefits4 ,o praise the ,,lord1 all ye works of his1 in all places of his dominions2 praise the ,,lord1 ,o my soul4 ,let us magnify that great ,,god1 whom angels praise1 whom dominions adore1 whom powers fall down and tremble before2 whose excellent glory cherubim and seraphim proclaim with loud incessant voices3 let us bear a part in this heavenly song1 and together with angels and archangels1 and all the company of heaven1 laud and magnify that glorious name2 let us tune our voices with theirs1 and though we cannot reach their pitch1 yet will we exert the utmost of our skill and power1 in this tribute to the same common ,,lord2 and say with them1 as poor mortals are able1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,,lord ,,god of ,hosts2 heaven and earth are full of thy glory2 glory be to thee1 ,o ,,lord most high4 ,for these are the happy spirits1 who offer a sacrifice of pure praise before the throne of ,,god continually1 who are ever wrapt in the contemplations of his perfections2 and see them1 not like us through a glass darkly1 but near at hand1 and face to face4 ,what tongue can express1 what thought conceive1 the admirable beauty1 the exact order1 the numberless multitude of this heavenly host8 ,the inexhaustible source of joy springing from the beatific vision2 the fervent love which ministers delight without torment2 the ever-growing desire1 which rises with their satisfactions1 and the grateful satisfactions1 which crown that desire2 a desire always eager1 and never uneasy1 always full1 and never cloyed3 the blessedness derived down to them1 by their inseparable union to the fountain of all bliss2 the light communicated to them from the original light2 the happy change into an immutable nature1 by seeing the immutable ,,god as he is1 and being transformed into the likeness of him they see8 ,but1 how1 alas6 should we hope to comprehend the divinity and bliss of angels so far above us1 when we feel ourselves unable to find out the nature and perfection of our very soul within us8 ,what sort of being must this be1 which inspires a lump of dead flesh with life and activity1 and yet1 when most desirous so to do1 cannot confine its thoughts to holy exercises8 ,what a mixture of power and impotence is here8 ,how great1 and yet how poor and little is this principle1 which dives into the secrets of the most high1 searches the deep things of ,,god1 and expands itself to celestial objects1 at the same time that it is forced to employ its talent in the invention of useful arts1 and to serve the necessities of a mortal life8 ,what sort of creature is this1 that knows so much of other things1 and so little of itself2 so ingenious in matters abroad1 so perfectly in the dark to what is done at home8 ,specious but very disputable notions have indeed been advanced concerning the origin of our soul2 but all we know of it1 amounts at last to this2 that it is an intellectual ,spirit1 created by the ,almighty power of its divine maker1 endued with such an immortality as he was pleased to qualify it for2 enlivening and sustaining a body subject to change1 corruption1 and death1 and liable to all the unequal affections of fear and joy1 and every turbulent passion1 that in their turns exalt and depress1 enlarge or contract its power4 ,and what an amazing thing is this now6 ,the more we attend to it1 the more we shall find ourselves lost in wonder4 ,when we read1 or speak1 or write of ,,god1 the great creator of the universe1 we can distinguish ourselves clearly and distinctly1 though at the same time his perfections be too vast1 for our words to express1 or our minds to comprehend2 the subject1 not of an adequate conception1 but of an awful astonishment4 ,but when we descend lower1 and treat of angels and created spirits1 of souls united to bodies1 and beings of the same level with1 or a condition inferior to our own2 we are not able to support our ideas with proofs so incontestable2 and find it impracticable to satisfy ourselves or others in the enquiries concerning them4 ,why then should we1 to so very little purpose1 hover uncertainly about these lower regions1 and spend our time and pains in groping in the dark8 ,no1 let our minds rather enlarge their thoughts1 and take a nobler range2 let them leave all created objects behind1 and run1 and mount1 and fly aloft3 and1 taking faith to the assistance of reason1 fix their eyes1 with the utmost intenseness our nature will bear1 upon the ,creator1 the ,universal ,cause4 ,yes1 ,i will make a ladder1 like that of ,jacob's1 reaching from earth to heaven1 and as by rounds1 go up from my body to my soul1 from my own soul to that eternal ,spirit that made it2 who sustains1 preserves it always with me1 about me1 above me2 thus skipping over all the intermediate stages of beings1 and re-uniting my own soul to ,him from whom it came1 and in whose image it was created4 ,whatever bodily eyes can discern1 whatever leaves impressions upon my imaginative faculty1 shall be resolutely set out of the way1 as a hinderance to that more abstracted contemplation1 which my mind is desirous to indulge4 ,a pure and simple act of the understanding1 is that which must carry me up1 and boldly soar at once to the ,creator of angels1 and souls1 and of all things4 ,and happy is that soul1 which1 refusing to be detained by low and viler objects1 directs its flight to the noblest and most exalted1 and1 like the eagle1 builds its nest in the top of the rocks1 and keeps its eye steady upon the ,sun of righteousness2 for no beauty is so charming1 no pleasure so transporting1 as that with which our eyes and mind are feasted1 when our greedy sight and eager affections are determined to our ,,god and ,saviour1 as to their only proper center2 when1 by a wondrous mystical1 but true and spiritual act of vision1 we see him who is invisible2 behold a light far different from this which chears our senses1 and taste a pleasure infinitely sweeter than any this world and its joys can afford2 for this is a short and insincere pleasure2 this is a dim and feeble light1 confined to a narrow space1 always in motion from us1 and in few hours put out by constant returns of darkness3 these are enjoyments which the great ,creator hath distributed to brutes1 nay1 to the vilest of insects1 in common with mankind2 and therefore let us thirst and aspire after such as are truly divine2 for what even swine and worms share with us1 cannot deserve the name of light and pleasure1 but1 in comparison of those more refined1 are to be esteemed no better than pain and night4 ,now to ,,god the ,father1 c4 ,,index ,,to ,,the ,,tracts4 ,,answer to the ,bishop of ,london's ,last ,pastoral ,letter4 page #e ,a ,letter to the ,religious ,societies of ,england4 page #bc ,a ,letter to the ,inhabitants of ,maryland1 ,virginia1 ,north and ,south-,carolina4 page #cg ,a ,letter to some ,church-,members of the ,presbyterian ,persuasion1 in ,answer to certain ,scruples lately proposed1 in proper ,queries raised on each ,remark4 page #de ,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley3 ,in ,answer to his ,sermon1 entitled1 ,free-,grace4 page #ec ,a ,vindication and ,confirmation of the ,remarkable ,work of ,,god in ,new-,england4 ,being some ,remarks on a late ,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,the ,state of ,religion in ,new-,england1 since the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,george ,whitefield's ,arrival there04 ,in a ,letter to a ,minister of the ,church of ,scotland4 page #gg ,a brief ,account of the ,occasion1 ,process1 and ,issue1 of a late ,trial at the ,assize held at ,gloucester1 ,march #c1 #agdc4 between some of the ,people called ,methodists1 ,plaintiffs1 and certain ,persons of the ,town of ,minchin-,hampton1 in the said ,county1 ,defendants4 page #aja ,an ,answer to the ,first ,part of an ,anonymous ,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,observations upon the ,conduct and ,behaviour of a certain ,sect1 usually distinguished by the ,name of ,methodists40 ,in a ,letter to the ,right ,reverend the ,bishop of ,london1 and the other ,right ,reverend the ,bishops concerned in the ,publication thereof4 page #aac ,a ,letter to the ,reverend ,thomas ,church1 ,m4,a4 ,vicar of ,battersea1 and ,prebendary of ,st4 ,paul's2 in ,answer to his ,serious and ,expostulatory ,letter to the ,rev4 ,george ,whitefield1 on ,occasion of his late ,letter to the ,bishop of ,london1 and other ,bishops4 page #abe ,an ,answer to the ,second ,part of an ,anonymous ,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,observations upon the ,conduct and ,behaviour of a certain ,sect1 usually distinguished by the ,name of ,methodists40 ,in a second ,letter to the ,right ,reverend the ,bishop of ,london1 and the other the ,right ,reverend the ,bishops concerned in the ,publication thereof4 page #adc ,some ,remarks upon a late ,charge against ,enthusiasm1 delivered by the ,right ,reverend ,father in ,,god1 ,richard1 ,lord ,bishop of ,litchfield and ,coventry1 to the ,reverend the ,clergy in the several ,parts of the ,diocese of ,litchfield and ,coventry1 in a ,triennial ,visitation of the same in #agda2 and published at their ,request in the present ,year1 #agdd4 ,in a ,letter to the ,reverend the ,clergy of that ,diocese4 page #agc ,a ,letter to the ,reverend the ,president and ,professors1 ,tutors and ,hebrew-,instructor1 of ,harvard-,college1 in ,cambridge4 ,in ,answer to a ,testimony published by them against the ,reverend ,mr4 ,george ,whitefield1 and his ,conduct4 page #bjc ,remarks on a ,pamphlet1 entitled1 8,the ,enthusiasm of ,methodists and ,papists compared20 wherein several ,mistakes in some ,parts of my past ,writings and ,conduct are acknowledged1 and my present ,sentiments concerning the ,methodists explained4 ,in a ,letter to the ,author4 page #bbi ,an ,expostulatory ,letter1 addressed to ,nicholas ,lewis1 ,count ,zinzendorff1 and ,lord ,advocate of the ,unitas ,fratrum4 page #bec ,a ,short ,address to ,persons of all ,denominations2 occasioned by the ,alarm of an intended ,invasion1 in the ,year #agef4 page #bfe ,a ,preface to the ,serious ,reader1 on ,behalf of the ,rev4 ,samuel ,clarke's ,edition of the ,bible4 page #bgg ,observations on some fatal ,mistakes1 in a ,book lately published and entitled1 8,the ,doctrine of ,grace2 or1 ,the ,office and ,operations of the ,holy ,spirit vindicated from the ,insults of ,infidelity1 and the ,abuses of ,fanaticism40 ,by ,william1 ,lord ,bishop of ,gloucester4 page #bhe ,a ,recommendatory ,preface to the ,works of ,mr4 ,john ,bunyan4 page #cje ,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,durell1 ,vice-,chancellor of the ,university of ,oxford4 ,occasioned by a late ,expulsion of ,six ,students from ,edmund-,hall4 page #caa ,observations on ,select ,passages of ,scripture1 turned into ,catechetical ,questions4 page #cde ,law ,gospelized3 or1 ,an ,address to all ,christians1 concerning ,holiness of ,heart and ,life3 ,being an ,attempt to render ,mr4 ,law's ,serious ,call more useful to the ,children of ,,god1 by excluding whatever is not truly ,evangelical1 and illustrating the ,subject more fully from the holy ,scriptures4 page #cgg ,preface to a ,new ,edition of the ,homilies2 as intended to have been published by ,mr4 ,whitefield4 page #dda ,,prayers1 ,for one desiring and seeking after the ,new-,birth4 page #deg ,for one newly awakened to a ,sense of the ,divine ,life4 page #dei ,for one under ,spiritual ,desertion4 page #dfa ,for one under the ,displeasure of ,relations for being ,religious4 page #dfc ,for one entrusted with the ,education of ,children4 page #dfe ,for a ,person in ,want4 page #dfg ,before ,singing of ,psalms4 page #dfh ,for one before he goes to his ,labour4 page #dfh ,for a ,rich ,man4 page #dgj ,for a ,servant4 page #dga ,for a ,poor ,negroe4 page #dgc ,for a ,person before he goes a ,journey4 page #dge ,for a ,person at the ,beginning of a ,sickness4 page #dgf ,for a ,woman lately married to a believing ,husband4 page #dgh ,for a ,man1 convinced that it is his ,duty to marry1 for ,direction in the ,choice of a ,wife4 page #dgi ,for a ,woman desiring ,direction of ,,god1 after an ,offer of ,marriage is made to her4 page #dhj 8,mar-0 replaced with 8,marriage0 ,for ,persons in a ,storm at ,sea4 page #dha ,a ,thanksgiving for a safe ,arrival after a ,voyage4 page #dhb ,a ,prayer for a ,sailor4 page #dhc ,the ,pious ,soul longing for ,heaven4 page #dhf ,an ,act of ,praise4 page #dhg ,,end of the ,,fourth ,,volume4