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copyright by Cornell University
Library 1994.A BRIEF REVIEW
OF THE
Hmeeirtttas of the Annual ffionfmace
OF THB
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
HER DISCIPLINE,
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT:
EMBRACING A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DIFFICULTIES EXISTING
BETWEEN WASHINGTON STREET CHURCH, BROOKLYN,
AND SOME OF THE HIGHER POWERS OF THIS CONNECTION.
BY JAMES M^CHESNEY,
Author of “ An Antidote to Mormonism,” <fce.
u For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wicked-
ness in high places—Eph. vi. 12.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR,
AT THE BOOK STORE OF BURNETT & POLLARD, 169BROADWAY
And at 107 High-st.( first door east of the African Church, Brooklyn.
1839.TO THE PUBLIC.
This chapter is the seventh of a work now in manuscript, which was
commenced about eight years ago, and written at intervals since that time.
The first design of the author, was his own improvement, having then no
higher motive in putting his thoughts on paper, nor has he had, till a very
late date.
He entitled those manuscripts “ Philomath's Researches,” they pur-
porting to be a general report of his discoveries in, and observations on the
various departments of religious, political, and general society, for nearly
twenty years past, while employed by “ The Society of Common Sense”
for this purpose.
It is supposed that the whole work would prove instructive, as well as
amusing to most readers. It uncovers many moral hiding places of the
darkness and folly of the human mind. It exposes to view the sad vio-
lence that is continually committed on the principles of common sense by some
of the highest of those who boast in their refinement, (in every department
of general society.) The author thinks that this blessed principle of our
nature—common sense—if lawfully used, in connection with child like
honesty, simplicity„ and truth, would be sufficient to remove all the cob.
web coverings of earthly ambition; but this point can only be gained by a
renewal of our present corrupt nature.
The preceding chapteis are more allegorical in their style than this one.
The author here becomes one of the principal actors. Not so in the
others. But this plain, pointed plan of argument, without regard to frowns
or favors from sect or party, is carried through the whole, and nothing (of
any importance) is “ passed by on the other side,” if found in the walks of
our friend “ Philomath.”
It has long been a question in the mind of the publisher, whether the
world was prepared to receive simple truths or not—a consideration of the
deej>est importance. Experience teacheth that there have been and still
are various systems and institutions which possess impurity enough to
destroy a region, which have and may answer several good purposes, and it
might prove impolitic at certain periods to weaken them.
Truth, love$ and innocency, the lamb-like nature of the kingdom (or re-
ligion) of Jesus Christ—those pure elements—being “ scattered in the
wilderness,” its weakness consists in the disunion of its forces ; and while
in this feeble state, the above-mentioned systems answer in a degree to
keep down the wild beasts of presumption, infidelity, and madness, that
prowl round in dark seasons, and would devour every trace of virtue, had
they not a contending influence.IT
TO THE PUBLIC.
However, he has concluded to send this chapter forth like “ Noah’s
dove” and if “ a resting place” is found in the minds of men, the balance
will be published as soon as practicable. Meanwhile we invite all our
readers to give this one a thorough and calm investigation to the very end,
before they hastily make up their minds either for or against its intentions.
THE PUBLISHER.A BRIEF REVIEW, &Q,
philomath’s researches*
CHAPTER VII,
After a season of refreshing at my mother’s dwelling,
I was called to witness a session of the Methodist Episco*
pal church, to be held in Sands-street meeting house,
Brooklyn,
You may imagine to yourselves how it was with me,
after so long a journey, witnessing so many scenes of
anguish and distr ess, in doing which I had to pass through
the suburbs of danger and death, where I could not
escape many wounds which would have proved fatal, had
not “ the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of
the nations,” been applied by the ^good Samaritan”
which soon restored me to soundness ; and with the fond
care of an indulgent parent I soon became quite invig-
orated, and more than prepared for further action. And
now I must again face a cold influence that has ever held
dominion over the minds of the children of disobedience.
Such was the nature of the scenes of this conference,
and so near my mother’s dwelling, I resolved to trust no
other person, but to become an actor myself on this stage.
I entered the field, I assure you, with great caution,
counting the cost well, being persuaded that -c nothing
could harm me while I followed that which was good.”
On close examination, I considered myself in the pos-
1*a
philomath’s researches.
session of an active desire to regard with the utmost
fidelity the smallest plant of pure principle, wherever it
might grow. And I think, if you closely examine, you
will see that in all my walks I have put down my feet
(although firmly) with care, least I should tread on the
tender branches*
I trust I shall ever be enabled to cultivate a respect for
the “oil and wine” of sound judgment and common sense*
I think I would much rather suffer my right hand to be
cut off than willingly hurt it, wherever it may be found*
among any people or party, let their customs and fashions
he ever so contrary to my own. But I am sensible from
experience that we are all the offspring of fallen humanity*
Yet, the Lord helping, I will do the best I can.
This conference is composed of about as many men as
Gideon had when he overthrew the hosts of the Midian-
ites with all their allied forces from the east.. I am not
aware that it is unlawful to suppose that a small city
could not contain between two and three hundred men*
the warriors of Israel, (if selected with the same caution
that Gideon’s host was) for two weeks, without leaving
some marks of their apostleship or proofs of their
ministry.
There is, I have no doubt, many noble-souled fellows
among them, and well equipped for the war. But after
all, something seems to hinder.
This body is composed of (and only) such as are
bishops, presiding elders, and itinerant ministers or
preaches—all professedly devoted to the true principles
of “ common sense”—making this their only business on
earth. Then it will not be surprising, under such circum-
stances, if something of consequence should be expected
from them which might be advantageous to our cause.
The middle of May rolled round, and with it came this
annual appointment, which calls for the personal attend-
ance (if possible) of each individual concerned. The
streets of our city soon bespoke the fact by their lively
appearance from the presence of strangers, who, after
another year’s toil, had left their former appointments,
and hurried to this devoted spot for fresh orders or a re-
newal of their stations.philomath’s researches.
7
All things properly adjusted, and each one allotted to a
temporary residence with some kind friend, the confer-
ence met and organized in the usual form.
This ecclesiastical body held their session last year in
the city of New York, at the close of which, I have been
informed, Mr. G~------gave the conference to understand
that on opening this one he would offer a resolution to
have the doors closed, and consequently sit as a secret
body. Accordingly, the question was put and fairly car-
ried. "When I heard this, I gave up all as lost, and ex-
pected to remain in the dark, and have nothing to report to
you on this occasion. But trouble seemed to be near, as
the natural result from such a brazen experiment with en-
lightened minds ; although it had succeeded in obtaining
the majority, yet its foundation was dangerous. The
question was re-considered, I understand, and the doors
again thrown open.
One argument which I have heard advanced in favor
of having their proceedings in the dark, was, that the pub-
lic could have no direct interest in hearing the examina-
tion of the preachers’ characters. But this, I am sure, is
a grand mistake. Every person in the country has more
interest at stake on this subject than at first we might
imagine.
These things threw me into deep reflection on the pre-
sent situation of this connection. I found sorrow arise
in my heart when I thought, O, how God has blessed
them ! and can it be, after all the privileges connected
with such a favored country, so bountifully bestowed on
the church, that folly should find way to the mind of any
of her exalted sons, that anything should appear that was
now or might be hostile to virtue ?
But my mind was filled with the vision of this vast mul-
titude, and the organization of this order. I saw them
number half a million, one hundred and. sixty-eight thou-
sand, five hundred and forty-nine members, many of
them simple, inexperienced people, who knew but little
of the deceitfulness of sin : in addition, there are six
thousand and eight local preachers, two hundred and six-
teen being superannuated from the travelling ranks.
Over this vast body stand [with all the power and domin-8
philomath’s RESEARCHES;
ion, and the rule &nd authority which many of them seem
not only determined to keep, but rather desirous to en-
large) three thousand, one hundred and six itinerant min-
isters, presiding elders and preachers, composing twenty-
eight annual conferences. To crown all, over them six
bishops are appointed during life,whose decision in many
cases is absolute.
Here I found myself enquiring what there was in all
this to hinder the exercise of unholy and impure dominion
when once the spirit of the minds of such combined au-
thority became prepared to exhibit its filthiness. Add to
this the vast quantities of wealth that are accumulating
with rapidity, (mark the centenary year what is done) to
say nothing of books and other publications ; how willingly
those thousands suffer “ their ears to be bored through” to
this state of things, and give and raise money, build
houses for the accommodation of these men, and after all,
by the laws that their worships have seen fit to make, be
unmethodized, if they dare presume to have the title con-
trary to the deed of settlement which gives the sole
control of it to the preachers.
While I thus mused, I found myself as much shocked
as I was with the disclosures of FrancisPatridge and Ma-
ria Monk, and in many points I concluded that it assumed
a similar spirit and character.
1 could not refrain asking myself, what shall be the end
of these things, if nothing is found to oppose ?
This self-same body of men make no apology for claim-
ing entire jurisdiction as fax as they can obtain possession.
And if any one even of their own brethren should disa-
gree in the premises with them, this same dark governing
influence will show its absolute claim to every thing, and
request such “ to leave them and set up for themselves,”
as “ they are not obliged to stay with them without their
own choice.” A more wicked, selfish, and corrupt senti-
ment could not be engendered in a depraved heart; and
I humbly trust the last one has been induced to take their
advice, namely, “ Leave them and set up for themselves.”
But that every honest man will let this presumptuous in-
fluence know that they have a direct, undivided interest
in every part of their Father’s territory, and will not resignphilomath's researches.	d
this claim to any one—no, not of the least spot of their
Redeemer’s dominions.
But I must stop and answer some objections that will
be made to the course I am taking, designed to justify
priestly policy.
It will be said that the preachers are under the very
strictest accountability and rigid discipline. Well this,
so far, is very good, especially if they are bad men, for
whom laws only were ever made.
But to whom are they accountable ? To no one except
one another. They hold, with a death-like grasp, the
power and right of making not only the laws by which
they are themselves to be governed, but in addition, the
exclusive right of administering those self-made laws to
those who never had a voice in their formation, nor one at
any time to represent them. Only think of this again ;
and if we know any thing as children of the light, we can-
not fail to know this—that it takes more than a blind,
selfish mortal, to withstand the temptations which would
naturally arise from such a position, where every circum-
stance promises the desires of an unrenewed heart.
But let us be once satisfied that among those men there
are none but such as are like the one our blessed Savior
set among his disciples, of which he said, “ Of such is
the kingdom of heaven	“ And whosoever shall humble
himself like this little child, shall be greatest in the king-
dom of God”—that fallen nature has ceased its resistance
to the offers of grace, or that darkness (if it were possible)
had joined with light, and this warfare ended, we shall
cease to write, but not till then.
Another objection will be hastily made ; for truth is apt
to give pain in some cases. “ The preaehers were the
first, and made the government by necessity* before the
governed had an existence ; now they have placed them-
selves under it out of choice—and can any one suppose,
that after six months'* probation, they have a right to gain-
say in any point our authority 1”
We can easily discover, in such arguments, the im-
purity of that spirit which holds the reins of this govern-
ment.10
philomath’s researches.
Can they not see that those innocents over whom they
have obtained this dominion, were unable (yea, at the
end of six months, and add to that, another year in many
cases) to make any proper choice for themselves, but
looked to them as a child would to a parent, till they be-
came so far entangled that they could not extract them-
selves withoutloss, as many have done,which the slaugh-
tered all over the land declare. And I think it self-evi-
dent that this argument, of “ being entitled to this domin-
ion because the laws were in existence before its sub-
jects,” is a species of intrigue and dishonesty that is nearly
as cruel as robbery or even murder itself, and must arouse
the mind of any one to a system that may be adapted to
traffic in souls of men.
The notion of receiving people on probation for six.
months, cannot now answer its original design; this is
evident if we but consider the circumstances under which
Wesley and his associates were placed while endeavoring
to separate themselves not from but in a backslidden
church, for the service of their God. There is nothing,
however, terrifying in this simple arrangement, if we do
not pay it improper respect. Wesley never made churches;
his aim was societies, to help each other work out their
salvation— and the surprise this new method had created,
and the confusion of mind which would naturally arise
from such a thing, together with false reports of their in-
tentions, made it necessary to require only of any one who
had the least desire to join them, a sincere wish to be saved
from their sins and flee the wrath to come. . They had
six months to make up their minds ; meanwhile they were
used as candidates for more close communion; but at
any time, when they found things different to their de-
sire, they could leave without ceremony. This proved
a healthy^ arrangement in that day. But the kingdom
of darkness, it would seem, could outrun the best ar-
rangements of men, and encompass, by its unhallowed
influence, useful subjects, and turn them as instruments
in its own black designs.
In times of trouble and darkness, people are likely
to have a moving disposition, if they never had be-
fore ; but f am persuaded that such a period is thephilomath’s RESEARCHES.	ii
time to “ stand still and see the salvation of God.” Only
come out of their spirit and practice, and you shall not
be a partaker with them in their plagues. If you
walk in the night, you may stumble : “ Be calm, and
know that I am God”
But to return more closely to this system of govern-
ment ; and we can scarcely turn ourselves round when
one can be heard to say, “I am ashamed of his lack of
knowledge of this fact, that all our preachers are ac-
countable to conference ” I am well aware of this, but
this proves nothing. “ The fox is sent to watch the
goose” And have we not already shown that this is no
accountability, strictly speaking, further than it concerns
their own conduct one towards another ?	“ But you for-
get General Conference ! This is the great ecclesiasti-
cal court that straightens every thing” No, I have not*
forgotten it, but would ask, who are they that compose
this body ? Are they any others than those preachers
themselves ? And in view of this fact, I would conclude
(when once it becomes a secret conclave, loholly under
the dominion of impure minds) that “ common sense”
cannot point out a plan belter adapted to form a sink, of
spiritual confusion—everyway prepared to oppose the
government of him who was a man of sorrows.
But, as I before stated, the conference doors were
thrown open again, and your humble servant did not fail
to be present whenever he could.
The first thing that attracted my attention, was the case
of the-local preachers, in which could be evidently seen,
to my mind, the existence of an unholy jealousy over
them, and a hostility was manifest by many of the travel-
ling connection against this poor, unprotected, and appa-
rently duped body, and I am led to think that their anni-
hilation—if they cannot be kept in subjection properly—
would be much desired by many.
It cannot fail to be amusing, to any enlightened mind,
to mark the cunning positions a dark influence will take
to maintain its ground—any thing may be resorted to.
In this case, that which astonishes people most must
be brought up. “ Our itinerancy will be destroyed.”
“We are a connection of itinerants.” If we suffer the12	philomath’s researches,
local body to take presents, receivp pay, &c., be they
ever so useful, or their circumstances demand it ever so
much, in will come an order of things, away will go out
itinerancy, and farewell to Methodism !
This affrightens all hands ; any thing would seem to be
submitted to rather than suffer such loss. This is to
many a knock-down argument on any occasion.
It is considered glory enough for any local preacher
to be allowed a license under the travelling preachers, and
as bad as rebellion if they do not let the yoke rest with
what is called humility and patience on their unfortunate
necks, and be ready (and think it an honor too) to perform
their bidding, 'and that only at any time and in any place
that they may direct, bearing in mind always that their
influence and talents must not shine above the travelling
preacher on any account, for fear of throwing itinerancy
into disrepute.
The local body of preachers, degraded as they are, no
doubt, will be found superior in piety, talents, and num-
ber, and their unfeigned labors in many instances, fairly
considered, establish their usefulness in advancing the
principles of “ common sense.” But as it respects what
they might be, in view of the bondage under which they
exist, and the yoke they have to bear, it may be said of
them, they are mere slaves to they know not what—tools
only to do such masters’ bidding—neither one thing nor
another—fearing to do their duty as they ought—nor dare
they let it alone, or suffer another to do it for them,—the
most unhappy situation an honest man can be placed in.
I observed that various subjects were brought up be-
fore the conference at different periods, which we will
have to omit at this time, that seemed to keep aboli-
tionism in sight— and reckoning time by the number of
men thus engaged, some of those questions took four
or five hundred days or nearly a year and a half to
investigate; any of them, I believe, in the church, of
common sense, would have been decided by the very
weakest member in five minutes.
But abolitionism seems to be a troublesome subject
to many who compose this body of divines. As it re-
spects my own views on this subject, they are at pre-philomath’s researches.
18
sent best known to myself. Yet, if any one will allow
himself to follow the feelings as manifested (on this sub-
ject critically) by conference, he can, I think, easily see a
greater anxiety to maintain the union of this mammoth
dominion than to call into .question whether men shall be
held in slavery or not.
It is conclusive to my mind, that the manifest disposi-
tion to accommodate the wish of the slaveholder, arises
from an unwillingness to lose in them such a strong
fortress for defending and maintaining an impure state of
things. And in examining this subject further, the wil-
lingness to stoop to any thing for the sake of gaining this
point—-in discovering it—we find an opening where we
can see a dark, grovelling, earthly arrangement, that
would at no distant period, no doubt, be pleased to find
herself holding absolute control—both civil and, religious
—in this favored country ; and, after once obtaining this
sway, would be better qualified for cruelty than probably
the world ever knew at any time.
I observed that the discipline was not a small subject
of their boast; and in every case where they had to speak
of it, in connection with the Holy Scriptures, they always
put it first—“Our Discipline, and the Holy Scriptures.”
True, this discipline,-every person must allow, on the
most critical examination, displays talent and wisdom,
and many parts of it, I think, could not be far outdone by
the most shrewd lawyer—there would be no cause for it
to blush alongside of the most crafty arrangement of a
board of brokers or a gang of speculating city builders.
But what folly for beings who profess that this world
is not their home, to blind themselves with such a vain
boast! Only let one ray of divine light pass through the
mind, and exhibit to the understanding the purity and sim-
plicity of that controlling influence of the kingdom of
God’s dear Son, namely, disinterested, heaven-born love,
such as constitutes the nature of Deity—this, begotten
again in the, heart by the Holy Spirit, forming the soul
anew into its heavenly image—and then let every man
blush at his own madness. But how often is this made
void for the sake of those crafty arrangements of men !
214
[Philomath's researches.
Let us now dissect this discipline ; we will remove that
part which is called “ Wesley’s general rules.” Nothing
found written, unless directly inspired, I think, is nearer
the spirit of the scriptures than these.- But what have w;e
after these are gone? Why, the whole mystery is un-
folded; a system that can suffer worldly cunning to con-
trol it, from which, if the curtain was perfectly removed,
it would make all concerned tremble, and every honest
man in any department of life point the finger of scorn at
not only the religious error, but the .rising of a political
evil presented by the lurking places that darkness finds in
its bosom, and the spirit in which it is found at times to be
administered.
We will now suppose for a moment that in this exalted
country, things should go on in the same general course
and order as heretofore, for one hundred years more, and
that selfish and corrupt men should be daily creeping in,
and gaining stations of control in this church, as they have
heretofore done in others. [Let us never be blinded
with the idea that all things that shine are gold, or that
gifts are the true principles of divine grace in the heart,
the only thing that can constitute a religious man.] Then
we would have at once a powerful corrupt body of self-'
constituted and self-organized men, accountable to no one,
swimming in wealth, possessing absolute dominion, sway-
ing the destinies of a people, like the stars of the sky in
multitude—every thing increasing—power, influence,
riches, honors, even at their own dictation. And what
might .we expect even in a few more generations? Is
this not a desirable place for impure, aspiring men? And
in no distant day, with that ambitious spirit that now per-
vades the earth, (if Ggd does not in mercy alter this cur-
rent) we might most assuredly anticipate finding, as in the
days of Wesley, in some cases, in our mother church,
this ministry composed of blinded mortals as bad as gam-
blers or horse racers,—and even allowing an increase
half equal in proportion to what has taken place the last
century only, would more than accomplish this point, and
a tyrannical state of things would naturally arise, that
even Rome in all her filthiness would not be more than a
match. The fatal weapons which would be used in thisphilomath’s researches.
15
warfare can even now be seen ; they aim their wounds at
the souls of its victims, and not at their bodies. All depend-
ence may be placed on them; they have often done
execution. They are slander, oily slander, and unseen
envy, by which a traffic in souls can be carried on to
a large extent.
The mother of harlots has heretofore called for hu-
man sacrifice by thousands on thousands; but this, her
daughter—the influence that controls this government—
would traffic in souls more particularly than bodies.
■x Thus closely examining this system as we find it
controlled by a foreign influence, and raising in ma-
jesty its deformed head, we see a huge multitude of
honesty willing people, completely blinded to their own
best good, and restrained from urging on the battles
of their Godc by a false persuasion that such an or-
der of things is the true arrangement of the spirit of
Wesley and his companions in that warfare, and the
one exclusively instituted and directly adopted by him.
But, O spirit of Wesley, awake to such slaughter of thy
children ! O how deceived ! Contrary to this, under pre-
sent management, by further examination,we shall see the.
rising of a plan bearing on its forehead the features of any
Jesuit system or Spanish inquisition we can conceive of;
and we may safely conclude, that if a Wesley was here in
that noble, generous spirit 'that pervaded his bosom,
he would be the first man. to oppose such an assuming
“influence.”
And now let us begin again at General Conference,
the infallibility and supremacy of which, I thought,
were fully advocated by a noble presiding elder on the
floor of this annual conference. He there asserted
that “that body had no right to gainsay any acts of
this holy, pious body of men,” (General Conference)
“ the highest judicature of the church; their acts must he
received as disciplineand it is considered generally the
highest offence that can be committed to gainsay in any
shape the discipline of this church. Now, if annual con-
ference, in her capacity, must not call into question the
proceedings of this higher conference, I ask, what depart-10
philomath’s researches.
ment in, or individual of this church, dare allow them-
selves to think contrary to any thing she may say or do?
Thus we have a fair view of the head of this great com-
bination ; while the annual conferences only constitute so
many inquisitors for this body. From these departments
a communication is held through all the quarterly con-
ferences, where a knowledge is obtained of all the. secrets
of the local preachers, exhorters, stewards, class leaders,
trustees, &c., with every circumstance connected with
them by one of those presiding elders. We have ob-
served, that things are so well organized that one man is
made to watch over and report against another.
Now, there is another branch, where every member
and probationer, so called, is also kept under close obser-
vation, namely, leaders’ meeting, which convenes once
each month; each member of this meetingJhas a certain
number under his care, [the whole church is thus divided}
which meets once every week, and the regular attendance
of each member.. to this class meeting is carried so far
that it constitutes one of the very greatest conditions, ac-
cording to discipline, of retaining membershp in this
church.	'
So we may see, that “when the Philistines shall truly
get possession of the ark of God,” they will have it in
their power to keep all the channels of alarm open clear
to head quarters. True, if the spirit of the administra-
tion of such regulations could only he kept pure, no doubt
Christianity in her weak state, as she might be circum-
stanced at certain periods, could be much aided by such
an order of things. But the all-important point is the
spirit of her rulers. “If they have not the spirit of
Christ, they are none of his” So we also see that
this opposing influence, when it gains this dominion,
has the same chance, and more, to carry on its black
designs.
But let us mark a little further this organization. The
preacher in charge is chairman of the leaders’ meet-
ing, while every member is an officer of his own creating,
and only lives as such at the will of the preacher; for,
at any time ht pleases, he can remove him and appoint
another, as Jackson did the secretary of the treasury.philomath’s researches.
17
The presiding elder, who is. in himself a small soft of abso-
lute bishop over a certain district, is the chairman of the quar-
terly conference. I noticed in a newspaper, the other day,
that in one instance in one of those conferences, in answer to an
appeal to the body of this conference by one who was-present,
the presiding elder (then chairman) assumed this unlimited au-
thority, and actually said that “he was the conference himself,”
allowing no answer further than his own in this case. Now,
every member of this body, except such as leaders, whom the
preacher in charge brings into existence, are dependent for
their life on this presiding elder. Thus you see they can have
.the whole conference, if they wish, after their own heart; and
if they do not, it is their own fault, for they only have the ex-
clusive power.
This conference is composed of every member belonging to
a particular circuit or station who fill any official place in the
church, travelling and local preachers, efxhorters, leaders, &c.
In this body every particle of material that is to compose the
annual conference must be prepared, arid even after this they
are only received as probationers for some two or three years
before they can have a word to say as members of this annual
conference.
Now the slightest suspicion of any thing like heresy, or some-
thing else contrary to this general aim, can be enough to close
the doors forever against such an one ; [and the fact stowed
away in the archives of every noble mini, so that if, at any future
day, such an one should call for further favors, all that has to be
done is to bring out the old report] and it is generally sufficient
to point out a dangerous character ; if “ they do not love our
discipline”—an inquiry that seldom fails to be made in quar-
terly conference.
The annual conference is composed of those, and those only
who are styled presiding elders, and itinerant ministers or
preachers, with one or more of the bishops presiding. From
each of those conference a certain number is selected suitable
persons, if possible, who assemble every four years and com-
pose the General Conference.
Thus we have a fair view of this system from top to bottom,
and it is truly astonishing to see with what rapidity the smallest
circumstance connected wiih any one over whom hangs suspi-
cion can be conveyed to any department of the church, and
remodel every mind in its way into the same image on this sub-
ject; and it is as apt to be by unfair reports or the impure breath
of slander as any other way ; and thus a man’s character is
2*18	PHILOMATH’S RESEAficMg*
slaughtered in everyplace before he himself can have any know-
ledge of it, or any chance for self-defence. But when we thus
speak of this system, it is in view of it in the hands of uncircum-
cised minds. We are perfectly safe with an honest man, place
him where you please, even among mountains of treasures—all
will come right, I can assure you. But with a rogue you can
never be safe—lock, bolt, and bar the doors, or watch him as
close as you please—let his lips be ever so oily and his manners
smooth, the nature, the principle is wanting—you may find that
his spirit is not the spirit of Christ. Examine him by the stand-
ard, the welhheloved Son of the Father—Jesus made himself of
no reputation, but this man or men would be lords over God’s
heritage, with broad titles on their escutcheon—“ He sought
not his own will,” but this parson or parsons would make the
throne of God bow to their dictation—“Jesus, although glorious
altogether and rich beyond thought, chose the humble path of
povertybut these men aim with all their might to enrich
themselves, either as individuals or a combination, with the fat
and fleece of the flock, at the expense of every thing else. In
this way of examination, you may depend you will never miss
the right mark. “ You shall know them by theirfruits.”
Nor do I thus speak because my good opinion has in the
ldast diminished of my brethren generally. No, I hail them in
a body as a very important part of the great army of Israel,
who if once were freed from base entanglement and earthly
burthens, are well able, through the great Captain of their sal-
vation, themselves to sweep, as with the besom of destruction,
the whole continent in a very short time of all the foul fiends of
darkness, and every enemy that mars the peace and quiet of
virtue*
We must all admit that the most wise systems—except that
spiritual one of the kingdom of God’s dear Son,which smiles at
every attempt from the kingdom of darkness to pollute it—
may be degraded by blind, impure minds; yet, it cannot be
denied that this one, in the hands of corrupt men, might, when
properly, matured, rule a world, stop the wheels of spiritual re-
form, and drive back to barbarism the enlightened sons of an
improved naiion, in advance or equal to any system we have in
our mind at this moment; and when we call to mind in addi-
tion, that (as I verily believe) foo.ish and illegal “ deed of set*
tlement,” as found in this discipline and adopted by this combi-
nation, I think it is enough to make truth blush 5 and even if it
do*es no more, it plainly declares the existence of corruption, by
enjoining every church or congregation to maintain such a ti-philomath's researches.	19
tie to their property, or they cannot be acknowledged as parts
of this connection.
Although thus engaged at this point in the vineyard, we have
*not forgotten the other parts of it, nor taken our eye off that
corrupt, selfish spirit that glories in what the good man would
be ashamed of. It may yet save much labor, and in addition,
mortification of mind, if those remaiks are used as a mirror by
other sects and parties to obtain a knowledge of their own
state. This is not the only field our friend Philomath has ex-
plored in his travels. Ours may be the next one called into
notice ; then it is wisdom to look well at home, and if we are
builders on the walls of spiritual Jerusalem, let us be sure to
work on that part which is “ over against our own houses.”
The great architect is standing, remember, “ with judgment to
the line and righteousness to the plummet,” and it matters not
who we are, how old we may be, or how much we have done,
His voice is still echoing, “ The righteousness of the righteous
shall not save him in the day that he committeth iniquity.”
There is but one way for every one, and that is straight for-
ward to the end.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
Difficulties connected with Washington-st. Church, Brooklyn.
Having no disposition to burthen your minds at this time
with too long a tale, I will omit various important things con-
nected with this conference, and confine myself to the stationing
of the preachers, and that only so far as Washington-street
church is concerned.
It is thought by many, that this difficulty has had its rise in the
privilege that is given or taken by some of the churches, of pe-
titioning for certain preachers. And it is said that this is wrong,
“ not Methodism,” “ the people should have no voice in this
thing,” “they have the privilege of praying God to send them
one,” “ and here one comes, authorised and sent by the bishop,
and* it looks like hypocrisy to pray and then not receive him.”
Only think of this station in which the bishop is at once put.20
philomath’s researches?
But where does this place poor Methodism ? They must
not flee from a “ wolf if he is but in sheep’s clothing,” if the
bishop says so. They must not try to “ know any man by his
fruit” for themselves, but swallow down the potion of food al-^
lotted to them, whether it is poison or not. What a pitiful situ-
ation this must be for any people of mind to be placed in.
But whether this petitioning business is according to any rule
of discipline or not, I am unable, to say—yet it has been cus-
tomary, and Washington-street, as well as others of her sister
churches, petitioned for one out of five names, which she by her
committee handed to the bishop, with a request that if neither
of those men could be granted, that they might be informed of it
before any other appointment which might be made should be-
come so positive that it could^not be altered. This office of a
bishop, under these circumstances, might in time be turned to a
very lucrative station, when it would require a handsome pre-
sent to arouse the mind that had become hardened to fine feel-
ings, and a fifty dollar bill or a suite of clothes—a small thing
for a rich church—be a mighty argument in favor of their re-
quest. However, 1 believe there was nothing of this kind here,
nor do I think it has come to it yet. But there was absolutely
something which those in authority saw in the bushes connected
with this church that must be dealt with according to its de-
merit. Reports had flown, jealousies were aroused, and to re-
store her to a suitable point of humility was now a work of the
greatest importance, and seemed to call for both legislation, wis-
dom, and authority.
It was said of this church, that “ she was rich” and fear3
were apprehended that she was bordering on an independent
state of spirit; in addition, there were other impious charges to
the maintenance of the purity of this order which demanded
looking after. The class-meeting arrangement had been dis-
regarded in some instances ; some had been received into this
church of whom it was known to the official board that they
would not attend to the strictness of class-meeting injunction,
and in some cases there was a conscience concerning it, as the
relics of popery, and an unwillingness was manifest toward
being bound to attend them more than preaching, prayer meet-
ings, or any other means of grace, and there had been one or
more received as members in this church on this very condi-
tion.
But this was enough to alarm all the connection from Maine
to Georgia, and from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains,
wherever selfishness and bigotry bore rule.philomath’s researches. '	21
An enemy was in the camp, and one that presumed to gain-
say those icise and 'prudent arrangements. What sacrifice
could atone for such a crime ? Every mother’s son must now
stand firmly at his post, and never be mooed by any thing, till
this evil should be removed, and a proper atonement made for
such disrespect to this s\Diana” of authority which almost “ the
whole world worships,” and whose walls no power can break
through, and whose army no force can control ; standing solidly
fixed in her own greatness, she smiles at every foe ; abundant
in her resources, she has “ become rich and increased in” [all
kinds of] “ goods, and has need of nothing,”
This is the grand cause of all this trouble, I have no doubt.
All the parties concerned in this overthrow, I am aware,
were well acquainted with this matter. Fhad heard whispers
of this kind more than a year ago from those whom l think had
access to the inquisitorial channels, and who were more or less
partakers of this spirit; and although circumstances may ap-
pear to some as if happening by chance, yet if the curtain were
drawn, it would present a different appearance.
But now things must be brought to the test, let it cost what
it may. This spirit must plough right through by force, like
the Great Western, over every billow that would appear in its
path—no matter who gets hurt, for there is another considera-
tion of greater consequence to us. Here in the very blaze of
day, and in the fhdd of pur own dominions, a dangerous disre-
spect and rebellion is found. Shall we tolerate it? v Forbid it,
ye shades of departed worthies, who have been moved with a
like spirit, and watched heretics with an inquisitorial eye.
A preacher of the right-stamp, a thorough-going one, equal
to the presiding elder or even the bishop himself, and him only
must be sent them, being well acquainted with and capable of
subduing such rebellion, removing those dangers and working
a salvation.
Accordingly one was selected, who I have no doubt was
every way qualified for such an enterprise, on whom an entire
dependence might be placed. But this people could not bo
gratified with any one of those they so much desired, nor be
allowed the privilege even of knowing whom they had ap-
pointed as their pastor.
The appointments were made by the presiding bishop, and
after enjoining secresy on this subject he took his departure,
of which fact the presiding elder, I am told, is the reporter.
The committee which was appointed by the church to attend
to this business seemed to be awake to the subject. They22	philomath’s researches..
burst through all secresy and obtained a knowledge of the very
^an who was appointed for this station. But they heard, or
thought, or understood some other way, that he was arbitrary,
overbearing* and tyrannical in his administration of the govern-
ment ; so they went at this early period, before conference
had closed or the appointments read off, and informed him that
he could not be received by them as their pastor. To which
he gave them to understand that he “ would come” whether
or no.
This alarmed them seriously, and confirnied-all their former
fears; so they set themselves to work, that, if possible, they
might turn the current of this trouble that now threatened the
church.
They made application to the other bishop who now filled
the chair. But he concluded that he had no power to alter it,
without authority from the bishop who made this appointment,
(who, as before stated, was absent,) or by consent oF the ap-
pointed preacher himself.
Means were instantly adopted to gain the consent of this
preacher to exchange appointments with some one else, so that
this subject might die in its infancy before it became the pro-
perty of the public. But every effort proved vain; he ex-
pressed his determination to go, and insisted on his absolute
right to Washington-street appointment.	*
This was in the presence of one of the most prominent mem-
bers of this conference, who, by the special request of other
members, as well as some connected with Washington-street
church, and the bishop present, undertook to persuade him to
desist from such a rash course. This also failed, and even the
manifest sympathy of this aged bishop, who already, by this
subject had been deprived of his regular sleep, and displayed in
various cases the spirit of our Master, even this seemed to have
no language to his feelings, but-with large expressions of what
' he would do, he wished to know if they thought he was afraid.
He was reminded of the danger of running on rocks, but all
availed nothing, come he would, let it cost what it might.
He now obtained possession of the books which contained
the church records—how I know not; their former preacher
can tell better—these he still retains in his hands, I understand.
He now gave out that next Sabbath he was going to take the
charge.
The committee sent him a caution against adopting any
violent measure, assuring him that his services could and
would nt>t be received upon any consideration, and that hephilomath’* researches.
28
had better adopt some measure that might lead him from this
purpose.
The appointed day came on, it being the first sabbath after the
breaking up of conference. Vast crowds attended on this oc-
casion, among whom were many of the friends of this preacher
from New York.
It was feared that actual difficulty would take place on this oc-
casion, but things went off very well, all circumstances consid-
ered. The church had supplied herself with preachers from
other parts, who already occupied the pulpit at an early period.
So this said preacher took his seat through this day in the altar,
in front of the pulpit, and only accosted those other preachers as
they descended from the pulpit with, “ I do not thank you for
occupying my pulpit,” to one and to another, “ You had better
practice peace than preach it”—that he would hold him account-
able to conference for preaching in his pulpit without his con-
sent, <fec.
At this period application was made by the church to the pre-
siding elder, who now in the absence of the bishops arid confer-
ence, had power to regulate his own district, and could have
ended this trouble at once, legally. But the dear old man
was alarmed. Melhodism was going to wreck; the rebels must
not have their way, but be subdued at all hazards. The com-
mittee asked him to give them any other one on his dis-
trict. He answered no. Give us a local preacher, then, and
take this one away. No, I can do nothing for you unless
you receive and acknowledge the one the bishop has sent you
as your preacher; then I will see what can be done.
This is the great point to be maintained by such powers; for
if mankind were allowed to use that independent principle which
God has bestowed on our species, and so highly adorns the hum-
ble Christian, away would fly all such earthly abomination, and
men would feel and see that they were created on equal ground—
all desire for dominion over each other would cease, as the high-
est good that the religion of Jesus promises on earth, is that
which is esteemed and desired least by vain, fallen men. But
presumptuous power can do nothing till it prostrates all the
noble qualities of the mind, and begets a servile, crouching
disposition that unmans its duped victims; and you will find,
on examination, that the greater the delusion the more extensive
is such foul slavery.
But to return. This was the last resource the church had of
obtaining a preacher officially, except the tender mercies of the
bishop should be moved towards them. So they wrote him aet-24	' philomath’s researches*
ter ; but here they failed. This was the man, and the only one,
take him or none.
The presiding elder also, at this time, laid an injunction on
all his preachers, that he would hold them accountable to con-
ference if they officiated in Washington-street churoh.
The presiding elder had a family connection of the same
name, a member and a class leader, belonging to this church.
He had under his care two classes, consisting of about forty or
fifty, the greater part young converts, the fruits of last winter’s
revival. Through him the gate was open into the official board,
otherwise they would have been entirely unanimous in all thei/
proceedings, but he appeared to act right or wrong as he was
instructed, by higher authority, in this warfare.
But here business commenced. And if you were acquainted
with that power which some class leaders obtain over the minds
of their simple classes, I could here draw a picture, but it is
equal to that which many confessors have over those dupes
which are consigned to them for such confesson. Now, to
prepare each mind for this mighty struggle, was a work of im-
portance. Those two classes were almost safe enough; it
would take but a short time to paint the character of their bre-
thren, and especially the official.members, any color.in their
sight which the occasion demanded. But other simple minds,
as far as this influence might extend, must be embittered
against those whom they even then loved. Meantime, this
preacher for several weelis attended the church, sometimes sat
in the altar, and sometimes in the congregation, and I really
thought that there was a desire manifested,to excite blind sym-
pathy.
Threats, it was reported, were made of taking the pulpit by
force. One Sabbath, I understood, the mayor of our city sent
officers to keep the peace. Yet no acts of outward vio-
lence, to my knowledge, have been committed; but a more
violent war of spirit I think I have never witnessed in any
department of the church before.	'	.
About this time, this preacher received a letter from the
bishop, as I have been credibly informed, directing him “ to go
on” at his (the bishop’s) responsibility. Get possession of the
preacher’s house, if not hire one near this church. Get pos-
session of the pulpit, and if he could not, get a place to hold
meetings in, and with as many of the church and congregation
as he could get away, hold his ground ; and, being in posses-
sion of the books belonging to the church, declare themselves
the “Third Methodist Episcopal Church, in Brooklyn,” at the
expense of Washington-street people.philomath’s researches.
25
Thus it was (you may think so if you please) meekly, wisely,
lovingly, and firmly decided that this was the most Christian
course, to drive in among and divide a society of brethren who
only a few days ago were all bound together closely with bands
of Christian affection. The old members, rejoicing in the ap-
parent advancement of the lambs of this flock—who could
blame them for jealousy over him who would be their pastor,
right or wrong, when they had a charge that lay so near their
hearts? . May God have mercy on those who regard not those
fine, heavenly streams of virtue, but what they cannot eat must
muddy with their feet. What will they do “ when He arises to
shake terribly not only the earth; but the heavens also, that
those things that cannot be shaken may remain V’
But now every effort was put forth, and the industry exhib-
ited in rallying the forces of this opposing power was so mani*
fest, one might think the day of. battle was at hand. No time
must be lost at such an important period—visiting, persuading,
and, if these were not enough, then add the dreadful notion that
they were all going to be unmethodised, if the authority of this
preacher was not immediately submitted to, and those rebels in
Washington-street entirely discountenanced.
In my walks I found several terribly alarmed at those things,
who after this dare not again attend the meeting of their breth-
ren, in view of what they thought to be such a tremendous loss,
namely, Methodism. I strove to pacify them, advised them to
return to their brethren, and after calm investigation, if this
Methodism that those men were making such a boast about
should not prove to be Christianity, the sooner they got rid of it
the better.
But I found it next thing to an impossibility to allay the agi-
tation of their minds. Poor babes ! how my soul felt for them !
Scarcely any of them of any extent of experience—ail weak
lambs of the flock, who had little knowledge of Satan’s devices.
The official board of the church were awkwardly situated,
being deprived of their record; they had the names of their
members only in class books, and two of those classes, and con-
sequently the class books, were in the hands of the before-men-
tioned leader, which he refused to give up, or even to let them
know the names or residences of the members of his classes.
But in a way that would not brand any man, deficient of genius,
he removed his class meetings from the church and the room
which was prepared for this purpose, procured private houses,
appointed his meetings in them, where this preacher stood
320
philomath’s RESEARCHES*
ready to receive them, for aught that I know, as trophies of
victory.
But now I began to conclude that this most assuredly was a
complete wreck of “ common sense” and you know what hard
work it would be for me to keep still much longer. 1 could
have remained a silent spectator under any other circum-
stances, but the high opinion I have of “common sense” renders
it painful to me, together with the ties which bound me to these
young converts, brought this battle on my ground, which I was
bound to defend in any region and among every sect.
Those “common sense” people are curious kind of folk.
Some would fain represent* them as being “ impudent, claim-
ing that which they have no right to,” but if you only examine,
you will see that this claim is truly a legal one.
They claim membership in every sect and party, so far as
those sects travel in their road, but no further. They cannot,
according to their principles, travel one inch in any road but
the King’s highway, as i have fully shown in the first chapter
of this work, and when or wherever they meet a man in that
way, they always hail him as their brother—seldom or ever
ask him his name—it is always sufficient for them to find him
in the way. Therefore, as a member (although I might say an
unworthy one) of this sect of “ Common Sense” I spent the
last winter with our Washington-street brethren through a
gracious and powerful revival of religion, where often our souls
were baptized into one spirit, and all drank of the same living
fountain. I was truly at home here with my Father’s children,
while the battle was urged on unitedly, and in many cases to
glorious victory. The work of divine grace appeared to me
to be more clear and powerfully manifest in the conversion of
souls here than at various places with which I had been ac-
quainted. I have heard it acknowledged that the converts
were brighter and stronger (but they have had enough to try
their strength) than in any other society in our city; and from
various reasons I became persuaded that there was a founda*
tion for rational piety in Washington-street that was not so
easily discovered in every place. As it respects their being a
proud people, I will leave this for themselves and others to
examine and judge. But I was much pleased with those liberal
principles which seemed to pervade the whole society. The
absence of bigotry and selfish conceit was easily discovered ;
in a good degree, they appeared friendly and liberal with mem-
jbers of other churches who happened among them, and seldom
boasted of their name; so I concluded if they were building aphilomath’s researches.
2?
babel, it must be of a worldly character, for I could not find
them engaged at a spiritual one, which of all others is the
most destructive and cruel, and Hardest to divert the attention
of its ravenous builders from their vain purposes.
But, as you may judge, after laboring and becoming par-
taker with those young converts in their struggles for life, I
found in me a jealous care over them that few who were not
even spectators could have. Yes, those ties which I found
that bound me to them were stronger than death. I discovered
in my mind a readiness to brave danger for their sake, and if
any foul influence should attempt to scatter them, if the agency
it might exert was like an angel from heaven, I was ready to
throw myself in the front of the battle, and if it should succeed,
it must be over me first.
It never affects me much to see old professors of religion
war with each other. lean rest unmoved, while bishops, el-
ders, deacons, leaders, &c. beat each other as best suits their
own convenience. But when unsuspecting innocency and un-
guarded love and honesty must be devoured to satiate the rav-
enous maw of unrenewed nature, who that has a soul of any
size can stand still and keep silence ?
What deep plans this great opposite of the pure principles of
divine love takes to gain his purposes and stop the progress of
virtue!
Even in this case, mefchinks I can see those young converts
standing like innocent iambs, till their affections are polluted by
slanderous insinuations. It now becomes absolutely necessary
to inspire hatred in their bosoms towards those whom they love,
so that their agency may prove effectual in the designs of folly ;
thus we can see them, as they are made to stray from the holy
influence of that pure spirit which had begotten them again to a
lively hope in Christ Jesus, and on those barren mountains of
envy—there they are exposed to the influence of presumption
and madness—being robbed of their strength, they can be taken
captive by the devil at his will-—their joys will be like “the
crackling of thorns under a pot,” while “ they warm them with
a flame of their own kindling,” happy, no doubt, from the ab-
sence of spiritual knowledge.
I went to one of those private-house Glass meetings as before
mentioned, the first time that this one met away from the church,
and there declared my intentions openly of becoming a party in
this war.
This said preacher presided as leader. There were abou$
eighteen or twenty, nearly all young souls of the above descrip*28
philomath’s researches.
tion. I took my seat with the rest. This preacher began by
stating that he “ owed all to the Methodist church. All that he
was, under God, he was indebted for to them.”
After hearing this, I began to examine to whom 1 was in-
debted, and I could see clearly that in experience I had a de-
cided advantage of him, as much so as Paul says a single man
has over him that is married, namely, “ The unmarried careth
only for the things of the Lord, how he may please him ; while
the other careth for the things of the world, how he may please
his wife.” I could not refrain telling him that I did not feel in-
debted to any such, for in my experience I saw clearly that I
owed all to the Lord Jesus Christ, through the word of his grace,
only, and if all the sects in this world were to fall, my founda-
tion stood sure.
The class meeting exercises having ended, and every one
now talking what and with whom he pleased, I entered into con-
versation with the preacher, after which I soon found that near^
ly all had taken their seats again, and general attention was
given to our conversation.
I observed to him, that dividing societies of brethren who
were united in love, was a bad business—that my jealousies
were much aroused on this subject as it stood connected with
him.
He said, “Jealousy is a bad disposition.” I told him I thought
■ it was, unless based on facts, when it then became a virtue, and
that was, I believed, the case with mine. *
“ What facts V9 he asked. Why, I answered, one fact is,
that this class has been removed from the room in the church
where it has always before this evening met, and the Monday
evening class likewise; these are facts beyond contradiction.
But he said, “ I could not be allowed to meet them in the
church, and how could I administer the discipline, &c., unless
they met in a place where I could have the privilege of seeing
them ?” Then you would div ide a society of brethren ?
He said, “I must go where the powers send me.” Well, I
answered, the power that sent you on such an errand must be
impure.
I understand (I said) you purpose to form a society, to be
called the third Methodist Episcopal church in this place, and
to issue your orders for all the members of Washington-
street (you will remember this is called the third) church
to attend class meetings according to your mandates, and those
tha.t refuse you will then expel frorn the church, till they are allphilomath’s eeseakches.	29
destroyed or eaten up, property and all, like Pharaoh’s lean
kine. H© said, “We are the third church now—lam their
pastor
But the church have refused to receive you. “Why have
they done so?” he asked. Because they have understood that
you were arbitrary and overbearing in your manner of adminis-
tration of discipline, and every day you know under such cir-
cumstances makes the impression greater, and all those acts of
your present course are only widening the breach, and every
moment the nail is becoming tighter. Had you been enabled,
when the committee informed you that they could not receive
you as their minister, to exert a perfectly meek disposition, and
give them to understand that you knew that no person’s judg-
ment should be utterly disrespected; for if they had only the
chance to know you as you had yourself, and if they had be-
come so far degenerated as to depend on men solely for assist-
ance, it was no wonder they rejected you—you may depend
this would have broken down every obstacle, and the people
would have pulled out their eyes to serve you.
He then began the old way of tantalizing which I have seen
before when I was a boy, saying, “ You are a great deal wiser
than 1 am,” and u don’t you think you are self-conceited ?”
Here I found myself in a dangerous spot; those arrows are
often highly poisoned. My only refuge was to thank him kindly
for his reproof, promise to examine myself on this point, and
profit if possible by this admonition. Thus, those shafts fell
harmless at my feet.
I told him, if Washington-street were even essentially abridg-
ing his field of labor, or depriving him of the privilege of dis-
charging the trust imposed on him, I most assuredly would be
his friend. But as they virtually say to you, Br. ----, there,
the whole world is for you, but we do not want you, and cannot
have you, I would then shake the dust from my feet, and say
unto them, “ If you think yourselves unworthy of eternal life,
behold I will go to others.” He said, “ I think you would do
great things.”
Again I said unto him : 1 would justify you in the course you
are taking, if there was not another to be found qualified to dis-
pense the bread of eternal life to Washington-street church. I
would then say unto you, go on by all means, over every thing,
rough and smooth, and you would always find me the first on
the list to befriend you.
This is as near the substance of our conversation, and in the
same language, as I can remember ; with some other observa-
3*so
philomath’s researches*
tions, of similar import, this interview came to a close. So we
shook hands and parted, at which time I solemnly pledged my-
self to be honest towards him and all others concerned with
this subject, and I am now beginning to endeavor to take up
that pledge.
And now after some weeks, I have not heard of any new
acts of outbreaking hostility of any serious import. The
bishop, when passing through the city of New York, was mer-
cifully moved towards this people: he removed the injunction
laid on the preachers by the presiding elder, that is, “ holding
them accountable to conference if they should officiate in
Washington-street church.
They can all preach there now, when opportunity offers,
without fear of this dread “accountability,” and I think the
poor church is struggling along as well as she can in such a
wreck of judgment and crush of honesty.
It is self-evident, by taking a fair view of the spirit that
moves this subject, that it has become a question of more viial
importance than was at first taken into consideration.
The idea of being conquered seems to give rage to the bat-
tle, and no doubt there are among both parties those that would
now willingly be out of the scrape. But to maintain the preach-
ers’ dominion over the people, and bring off the bishop in tri-
umph, seems to be a thing of actual necessity for a continuation
of their existence. And what sacrifice is there too much for
such a loss 1 Would one church, or ten, be worth a thought in
comparison to such a defeat with such a large, rich connec-
tion?
But now, let it go as it may, it gives us plainly to see what
poor, corrupt man would do—no matter about the name—if he
had it in his power. And, truly, it is enough to make enlight-
ened people weep day and night to see what want of “ common
sense” there is among our species, being created expressly for
the exercise of it too.
That unholy desire for power one over the other, that has
always, and does now, burthen our world, and slops the wheels
of virtue and truth, displays our fallen attitude more clearly
than any other point we can trace. It is the very rock on
which our first parents shipwrecked. their innocency—“ye
shall be as gods” But if any one shall ever arise to a degree
of eminence, it must be by losing these foul principles of the
mind, and in being restored to the blessed mind that was in Je-
sus, our second Adam. This is religion—satisfy yourself with
nothing else. For no one in his right senses but would runphilomath’s researches.
31
from the reception of any power, and if obliged to bear it, as
“ a good work,” it would be under the deepest sense of his frail-
ties and want of sound judgment.
I have heard it observed, and justly too, “ that there was no
being on earth capable of ruling as an absolute monarch and
it may be said, we know of none in the invisible regions, ex-
cept him who is the author of all beings.
Now, if a man could be found, who possessed pure prin-
ciples of heart sufficient for such a station, he might lack judg-
ment, and if he possessed this, he might be deficient in the
other. Even David, who was called a man after God’s own
heart, was found to err. And Solomon, the wisest man the
world ever knew, brought a reproach on Israel with his idola-
try. But in our gracious Heavenly Father and Redeemer, all
those high perfections meet and have their being that can only
qualify for such a station. And it truly is the highest degree
of madness, and the plainest expression of ignorance and little-
ness of soul in a man, to see him athirst for power, or desiring
to exercise dominion over his brethren. Think for a moment
of the virtues of Washington—this opposite trait in his charac-
ter has for ever, and justly too, immortalized his name.
I have understood that the bishop intends to bring a general
question, connected with all the Brooklyn churches, before the
next general conference, which meets next spring; and if so,
I think, under present circumstances, it may be considered one
of the most important points in the history of this connection
that they have ever arrived at before.
When it once begins, I. cannot see where it may stop. If
they cut off Brooklyn, which they must do, (for the discipline is
now crying for vengeance) their day’s work is only begun; for,
how many, in all other parts of the country, are as deep in the
mud as Brooklyn is in the mire ? If they do not cut them off,
their discipline is dead in a moment; and if they go to work in
the spirit of reformation, I trust it will be according to godliness.
They cannot back out, for every man, woman, and child, de-
mands consistency from them: they are now a large, rich peo-
ple ; we look for something of importance through them, and
the public will insist upon it at their hands.
But we have to -stop here a moment with those things in our
view, and ask ourselves, “ If judgment thus begins at the house
of God, what will be the end of those who obey not the gos-
pel?”
But to return. Brooklyn has been favored from the very
start of Methodism with men of noble qualities of mind; (par*32
philomath’s researches.
don me, I wish to use no flatteries—their privileges are very •
great) their arrangements show a bold, independent disposition
of soul, that is ever in accordance with the child-like nature of
Christianity, being free from that low, crouching disposition so
degrading to virtue.
In building their churches or other houses, or in procuring
property for society purposes,'the conference 41 deed of settle-
ment” was left on the back ground to take care of itself by its
own resources.
All the church property jn this city has been, and still is, held
in trust for the societies and congregations by trustees of their
own appointment. This is as it should be, and as every honest
man, one would suppose, could desire. I sometimes think that
this fact was not known to either the bishop, the presiding el-
der, or this preacher, up to last conference, and this I would
surmise from his (as I have understood) searching the records
at the clerk’s office, and by the stern, determined course they
have laid out for their operations. But it may be the old hea-
then proverb is applicable in this place—“ Whom the gods de-
sign to destroy, they first biind.”
This church property business, then, is the grand subject for
next general conference ; and, as I said before, if it but comes
fairly before them, something must give way, (to say nothing of
other subjects) for as it stands now, hostility in each party is
actually manifest, namely, the preachers, the people, and the
discipline, three parties. The discipline calls for her rights,
the preachers are bound to see to it, and the people will never
endure it.
We here extract a paragraph from this discipline—it is as
follows:—
“3. In future, we will admit no charter, deed, or conveyance, for any
house of worship to be used by us, unless it be provided in such charter,
deed, or conveyance, that the trustees of said house shall at all times per-
mit such ministers and preachers belonging to the Methodist Episcopal
church, as shall from time to time be duly authorised by the General Con-
ference of the ministers of our church, or by the annual conferences, to
preach and'expound God’s holy word, and to execute the discipline of the
church, and to administer the sacraments therein, according to the true
meaning and purport of our deed of settlement.”
By this we can see the importance of this question. Every
church that is in like condemnation with Brooklyn, in any part
of this country, if they should be continued as a branch of this
connection, unless they deed their property to conference,
it is at the expense of this discipline. And what will be the re-philomath’s researches.
33
suit if they have to cut them off? And, surely, they ought to
maintain this discipline, it being their own production, the sa-
credness of which is ever in their mouths.
But some of us have proved heretofore, and to our sorrow
too, that there are plans of fixing discipline to suit the present
case in hand quite genteelly; this, with those inactive parts
which we see lying like a satiated tiger in the bushes, and inat-
tentive at present to disrespect, render it in our opinion any thing
but what a book of laws should be—sometimes an elastic cord
that can suit any case, stretching roun^one hundred; and at
another time, will scarcely reach round one.
Now, in view of those arguments generally, and that un-
bounded determination of many to maintain such an order of
things, it would almost constrain us to think that this is in reality
a --combination under clerical cover, moved by an unseen,
corrupt influence, not known to any of our laws, but, strictly
speaking, repugnant to both the spirit and letter of them ; and
those instituted laws of our country, which are guards to the
liberty of conscience and the protection of religious liberty,
were never designed to support or protect any such combina-
tion.
By examining the laws of this state, there will be found a
complete system to regulate all church property, in which the
legal owners can be plainly discovered—the time when and
how trustees are to be appointed is plainly set forth. True, I
am no lawyer, but it is my full impression that it is a thing im-~
possible for the preachers to obtain and hold the meeing houses
and other property in their hands, according to the plans they
have devised.
I have been informed, that only a few years ago, in Pitts,
burg, Pennsylvania, this point was legally tested by a body of
dissenters, and fully proved the fallacy of those pretensions.
And, from the views I have of our liberal national institutions,
I cannot think that there is a spot under the constitution, in any
part of this Union, where this deed of settlement can be worth
one cent to this body of preachers.
And should this prove a fact, then all the good that is done
by it to any one, is, that it betrays one of the grossest outrages
on the simplicity and unsuspecting nature of the members of the
Methodist Episcopal church that has ever been before tried un-
der such circumstances by any set of men on earth. And if
this, again, is undeniable, then I would say to the advocates of,
and those who maintain, all such systems, without regard to
their present influence on society, if they cannot condescend to34	philomath’s researches.
the control of the principle of 'pure, disinterested love, like God
himself, shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given unto
them, changing their natures, making them little children, and
forsake those dark, earthly plans, which have their origin in the
corruptions of fallen nature, they had better now let shame
consign them to some gloomy region where the foot of civiliza-
tion and humanity has never trod, than to think of standing in
the “brightness of his appearing.” *
It will then be of little use to them to sound their old trumpet
as heretofore among thosewho oppose them, namely, “Remove
your allegiance, and set up for yourselvesthey may find
something else to do when they discover themselves surround-
ed by an army whose only watchword is “ Victory or death,”
who will never leave nor forsake them, but meet them on their
own ground and claim the whole inheritance of their Heavenly
Father’s dominion, and will not divide a vine nor even a clus-
ter of grapes on any vine with any corrupt influence in any
part of this vineyard. No. “They shall run like mighty men ;
they shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march
every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.
Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in
his path, and when they fall upon the sword they shall not be
wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city, they shall run
upon the wall, they shall climb upon the houses, they shall en-
ter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake be-
fore them, the heavens shall tremble, the sun and moon shall be
dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. And the
Lord shall utter his voice before his army, for his camp is very
great, for he is strong that executeth his word, for the day of the
Lord is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?” Joel ii.
7—n.
This will not be. a warfare about creeds and disciplines, doc-
trines and forms, but the nature and spirit in men and the purity
of the principles of the soul; it will be an universal one against
every such unclean enemy of virtue and love, let their name be
what it may; they will claim every pure principle and heavenly
regulation, not only of the fathers of Methodism, but of every
other sect on earth, and no invention nor system shall be able to
separate them from their beloved brethren.
Before I bring this chapter to a close, I will give you an ex-
tract from the “ deed of settlement” as found in the discipline—
it is as follows •£HILOMATH*S RESEARCHES.	’ S5
u And in further trust and confidence, that as often as any one or more
of the trustees herein before mentioned shall die,or cease to be a member of
members of the said church according to the rules and discipline as afore-
said, then and in such case it shall be the duty of the stationed minister or
preacher (authorised as. aforesaid) who shall have the pastoral charge of
the members of the said church, to call a meeting of the remaining trus-
tees as soon as conveniently may be: and when so met the said minister
or preacher shall proceed to nominate one or morepersons to fill the place or
places of him or them whose office or offices has (or have) been vacated
as aforesaid. Provided, the person or persons so nominated, shall have
been one year a member or members of the said church immediately pre-
ceding such nomination, and be at least twenty-one years of age ; and the
said trustees, so assembled, shall proceed to elect, and by a majority of
votes, appoint the person or persons so nominated to fill such vacancy or
vacancies, in order to keep up the number of nine trustees for ever ; and
in case of an equal number of votes for and against the said nomination,
the stationed minister or preacher shall have the casting vote'1
You will observe that “ they cease to be a member or mem-
bers’’ when they are expelled, with this their trusteeship ends.
None but a member can be a trustee for a Methodist meeting
house. And probably you know how easily a preacher or any
official person can expel a member from his church when he
earnestly sets himself about it. I could point to facts of this
kind, where it would take, I believe, a roe of lawyers to find
out the immorality of the crime (if any) alleged against,
and for which some were expelled from this church. And
some of us, no doubt, are not unacquainted with the sarcas-
tic style that is often used to undervalue and overthrow the
influence of such an one, a manifestation of the deepest ap-
parent sorrow and sly kind of slander the most poisonous—
this can spread the whole length and breadth of a circuit or
district in one single round.
In a few weeks, a hundred miles off, may be heard that such
an one is turned out, disaffected, backslidden, and self-willed.
Poor fellow ! we are sorry for him! And a catalogue of such
can be represented with a serious visage. This, to the listener,
may act on his mind like the report of the death of his friend,
but be soon forgotten. He is gone! So the thoughtless one
goes on unconscious of danger on the brink of the same
ruin. A method of provoking an unsuspecting one to some
wrong act seldom fails. But the member once out, settles
the harsh; no more a trustee—the preacher has clear sailing.
. All that remains now to be done is for him to call a meeting of
the remaining trustees, and his noble self to “nominate” one
or more persons to fill the places of those whose offices have
teen vacated. And now, by this huge body, (only think) “ theFHILOMATtt’L RESEARCHES.
remaining trustees and the preacher”—all of one mind, or they
might have had to bear indignation too—“they proceed to elect,
and by a majority of votes (how prodigious!) appoint the person
or persons so nominated ; and in case of equality in the votes,
for or against, the preacher then has the casting vote. “ O, tell it
not in Gath !” I am sure, if it was not for the name of the thing,
the preacher might as well attend to all himself, and do without
trustees entirely; for I think, in this case, this “ nominating”
and “meeting ” and “ voting ,” looks like nonsense, for the
preacher here is virtually every thing, and there is none left
besides that can be considered more than a cypher ; and there
is not one in any department of the church that wisely dare say
his soul is his own when he has one of those real old-fashioned
"Methodist preachers, as they are called, over him.
There can be those found in this church who now think this
arrangement of property is the real bond of Methodism, the ce-
menting power of this system ; but, allowing this to be a fact, it
would unchristianize them as a connection.
The bond of Christianity is nothing more nor less than love,
the image of God’s redeeming mercy formed in, and the sole
principle of, the heart, by the Holy Ghost, the only sure and
steadfast tie that can hind his children together. “ He that is
born of God loveth him that is begotten of him”—it cannot be
otherwise, place them where, and call them what you please.
“ As face answers to face in a glass, so does the mind of man
to man they can tell “ the turtle's voice.”
1 anticipate that my remarks to many will be as sudden to
their secure feelings as the explosion of a cannon ; yet, at the
same time, I am persuaded there is nothing here, comparatively
speaking, with what may be expected, when all coverings shall
be removed under which iniquity in all her base deformity is
now hid. I am aware that some will entertain fears that this
plain style of writing will injure the cause among the wicked,
give them occasion to ridicule religion, and make a mock of
truth. 1 must confess I have lost many of those same fears.
The “ wicked,” as we call them, have a direct interest con-
nected with this subject, and as much at stake as any of us, and
many of them are well persuaded of this fact; and as they are
not yet excluded from this kingdom of grace entirely, it gives
me pleasure to see them have something to say on this subject
also. We often allow ourselves to have wrong impressions to-
wards many of those we call, and no doubt justly too, “wicked,”
as connected with ourselves. There is danger of getting on
the old ground that the pharisees occupied, and saying, “WePhilomath’s researches.
37
:'h&ive Abraham to our father.” This boasting (if vain) may
prove our ruin; “for God is able of those stones (whom we
'stile wicked) to raise up children to Abraharh.” And I
have no objection if the wicked should raise the cry both td
'God and man against those “ who stand in the door of the
’kingdom of heaven, and will neither go in themselves, nor
suffer others to enter that would,” and thus virtually rbb &
generation of our fellow beings of that rich PeivaM which is
'at God’s right hand.
Spiritual wickedness and religious error have produced anfl
proved the worst species of wickedness this earth has ever
'seen.
I am not insensible to another objection against this ef-
fort for truth, namely, “ You pull down all and build up no-
thing.”
In answer to this, I would State, I puli down nothing^
^(judge ye yourselves) my endeavor is to remove the cover-
ing from that which mars peace and virtue; and I know
when this is done, it Will unavoidably fall of its own cor-
rupt weight ; do to it or for it what you may, it will only
‘hasten its destruction '; 'paint it as Jirie a*nd in as glowing
"colors as you please, and give it ever so high names, this
will make it top heavy, so that it cannot stand. It only
Wants to be known to be detested.
And as it respects my building, or even directly helping
1to build any earthly tower, I trust 1 shall with His children
be delivered from such folly. But I would rejoice if God
'should make me an instrument to aid in clearing away the
rubbish which human darkness has thrown round the one
already built, which is Jesus Christ, the only friend of the
dinner, who has always proved himself “ a strong tower,” into
which if any one will run, by faith in his merits, he is safe.
Yes, “He is the shadow of a great rock in a weary land”—
“ rivers of water in parched ground”—“ a living fountain
springing up unto eternal life”—“ a shield and buckler”—
"“the bread that came down from heaven, of which if a mart
'eat he shall never die.” He is just such a High Priest
;as becometh us, being touched with the feelings of all our
infirmities—holy, harmless, and made higher than the hea-
vens-—all that we want in heaven or on earth; for if we
are his, and He is ours by a living, simple faith, taking him
according to his own word, as we would a friend, we are
joint heirs with him also to an inheritance, incorruptible, ua^
438
philomath’s researches.
defiled, and that endures with the throne of God. This
only would I know at the expense of all the rest.
But it will be thought that I would destroy all law by
those arguments, prostrate, order, and throw all into anar-
chy. “ Destroy all law /” No; this is the only way to estab-
lish every law, both human and divine, restore order, and utter-
ly destroy anarchy. Nothing can be done till the love of God
is shed abroad in men’s hearts, and they created new creatures in
Christ Jesus. This is the sum total of all law and order, and
where it is not, misery and confusion always reign in defiance of
every other substitute.
Our notions of church and other laws and regulations are not
always right. We stick to some things through thick and thin,
even if it should carry all to perdition, and never allow ourselves
to use discretion and judgment, according to the circumstances of
the case in hand, but as the old story goes, of the man riding on
horseback to mill with the grist in one end of the hag and a stone
in the other, the only argument in favor of so doing, is, that our
fathers have done so, as if they alone were blessed with reason
and revelation, and thus we must support and not even gainsay a
state of things that in this our day is slaughtering its thousands
before our eyes, because it answered our fathers’ purpose, and
they spoke well of it in their day.
I would rejoice in any law, order, or custom, that can produce
the desired effect. Necessity, with sound judgment and com-
mon sense, should always dictate. This is seen in that great
servant of God, Moses, the lawgiver of the Jews ; he had to
adopt this necessity in cases “ which were not known be-
fore from the beginning.” For impure conduct on the part of
some of their wives, he suffered such to give “ a bill of di-
vorcement and put them away,” so that this punishment might
be a terror to such as would do evil, and a praise to the virtuous
and chaste. For this purpose God has ordained law among
his creatures, and that, in the reasoning powers of their minds,
all their regulations] should suit the [emergency of the case
so as to produce the above effect. There is no need for law
to put away a virtuous wife ; this is her praise. And the want
of such a law was not known till their hearts became so hard
and corrupt as to violate virtue. But if this law was used by a
base husband to put away a virtuous wife, to gratify an impure
passion of his soul, would you think that it was then ordained of
God, in this broad light ? No, laws are only ordained for pure
purposes^-never M to justify the wicked for a reward, nor tq
take away the righteousness of the righteous from him”—aphilomath’s researches.
39
law that does this is worse than no law at all. Laws are
only ordained as above, and this ordination is maintained in the
spirit of their administration. Remember “judgment, mercy,
and the love of God; these ought we to do, and then not leave
the other undone.” When any rule which is entitled to honesty,
either in church or state, is thus administered, it is virtually an
ordinance of God, which no one will resist that has His love the
principle of his heart, or be so unwise as to disrespect that which
is his best friend, as law is always to every honest man.
Then we will adopt the sentiment of Mr. Pope—
“ For forms of government let fools contest;
What e’er is best administered, is best.”
To close up all, a final and broad objection will be made,
which at once shows its own entire emptiness of every thing
that constitutes Christianity, and exhibits a heart inaccessible to
fine feelings. Without even reading or examining the preceding
pages, it will be said, “ They will no no good.” “ But we have
a law that condemns no man before it hears him” and if any one
can do better, they are at liberty to try,—this is no time to stand
still.APPEND T X.
Having completed the preceding chapter, I wrote as follows*.,
and sent it to the person to whom it is addressed:
Brooklyn, August 1, I83&
Brother Ostrander,—
Dear Sir: I have it in contemplation to publish c< A. Brief
I^eview of the Proceedings of. the Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, her Discipline, and the Adminis-
tration of her Government: Embracing an Historical Sketch;
of' the Difficulties existing between Washington-street Church,
and some of the Higher Powers of this Connection.”
This subject, in a more or less degree, is directly connected;
■with you and others. I: would, therefore, offer to all such, espe- -
cially to Mr. G-----, the conference preacher, and some of the*
leading members of Washington-street church, to meet you, as
well as. others that might attend, and read to you the manuscript
before it is published, that your opinions either for or against-
may be expressed-—that nothing may be done that cannot be
done openly, as it is our privilege “ to strive lawfully,” “and?
fight not as one who beateth the air.” Your answer will be*
gratefully received.
I remain,, dear brother,
yours affectionately,,
James JVPChesney.
To Mr. Ostrander, Class Leader.
To this Ir received1 no answer.. All; serve me alike. Mor-
mons and all. These large concerns never stoop to small sub-
jects. I have cause to think, by such neglect, that I am not.
worthy of any one’s notice (of this kind.) Well, so let it be ;•
but according to an old rule, it is not much in favor of any of
them*--1“ He that is too large to investigate small matters, will
he fpund too small eyer to arrive at great ones. ”AOTENDIX. .
4kl
The same evening of the day that I sent the above commu-.
ui'eation, there was held a meeting of the official members of the
Washington-street church, the presiding elder, and a commit-
tee from each of the other churches, by agreement,, for the pur-,
pose of settling this difficulty.
From what I heard next day, 1 had concluded that this wound
was bound up and mollified with the ointment of Christian feel-,
ings, which to me was no, small* joy., I put aside my manu-
script, my troubled feelings all subsided, and again felt as if an-,
chored in the harbor of peace. I started to camp meeting at,
Huntington, from thence opened a short campaign on the south:,
side of Long Island against the Mormon influence. But how
was I disappointed, on my return to Brooklyn, when I found,
tjhings worse than at any other period. Greater hostility mani-
fest, all the three churches, it was evident, would unite against
such a foreign outrage, and this war would be as much against
all as one of them. I now felt as if “ I had taken off my coat,
and how should 1 put it on ?” The presiding elder and preacher
had now taken directly the opposite course from what I had
understood was agreed upon in the meeting. They had hired
a meeting house near Washington-street church, also a dwelling,
house for this preacher,, and had made regular preparations to.
carry through this war. Now it may be expected, that every
thing in this city that will not submit at once to the bishop, the*
presiding elder, or this preacher, shall be unmethodized without
ceremony.
In the before mentioned meeting, I believe every thing that in
conscience the church could, she offered to do. One thing, the
worst with this opposing party, was—a preacher which this,
church had employed, now occupied the preacher’s house
against him there was high displeasure, he was truly a moun-
tain. * He must be removed not only from the church, but out
of the dwelling house also. But this was too hard, so it was.
agreed to let him stay in this house till another came to occupy
it; but the charge of this church must be taken away from him,
and it was agreed to put it in the hands of the Sands-street
preacher. The elder was to remove the rejected preacher,
however, with the consent of the bishop, if it could be obtained.
The bishop was to have a letter sent him; then another preacher
sent to supply this church—all to go on as before, in harmony
and love, serving God and one another.
But, alas! it seems as if such intentions were foreign from the
designs of the masters of Israel. Now they are running their
opposition in this place against “common sense,” we might42
appendix.
think, and all the other churches; and having collected toge-
ther the broken fragments, it is expected that they must do a
great business.
I hope my friends and the public will try to excuse me on
this occasion. I desire to avoid even the appearance of arro-
gance. 1 see no other way to escape my obligations, no spot
where I can back out, unless manifesting a disposition which
would be degrading to Christianity. Seeing t6we have so sure a
foundation,” and being persuaded that I have more at stake in
another world than I can loose in this, I therefore resolve, in
the strength of my Master, to brave the indignation and danger,
abide the consequence, and send this chapter forth to a cold
world, not knowing how far they are prepared for it; yet in-
dulging a hope that in some cases it is even “ due season.” So
I submit all to the care and protection of our Great Head and
Father, who “ never despiseth the day of small things.”
N. B.—In addition to the number composing the Methodist Episcopal
Church, as given on the seventh page, you can add an aggregate" increase
the last Conference year, according to the minutes just published, 44,209
members, 64 Local Preachers, and 190 to the Itinerant ranks. We
are unable to give any special account as yet of the Centenary Collection;
however, I am told that at one of those meetings held in John-st. Church,
New York, and only a small congregation present, $3,000 were subscribed.
This seems so far very fair. Brooklyn people, we believe, have put it off
another year. This is the best way, no doubt.
(When distributed gratuitously please circulate.)POETRY.
SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF BABYLON.
The simple properties of the religion of Jesus Christ, are, sincerity, sim-
plicity, honesty, virtue, and love unfeigned, with every pure principle of
“good reportthese regenerated in the heart by the Spirit of God—the
only way they can be obtained—and constituting the moving powers of
the mind.
The scripture “Babylon, the mother of harlots,” brings to our view the
direct opposite, the true state of the world in its fallen attitude ; but, more
particularly, without direct regard to any name or party, that controlling
power which assumes sovereign dominion over men and things in a reli-
gious point of view, being the one “ which has made all nations drunk
with the wine of her base fornication.” It also exhibits smaller depart-
ments of like character as the legitimate daughters of this foul influence.
True, to them existence has 'been of necessity, by the illicit inter-
• course of their base mother, “with other lovers,” but they are only ac-
countable for their own conduct. If ;■ they would only walk in virtue’s
ways, and abandon wholly the spiritual prostitution of her who begot
them, it would turn to their honor and praise ; otherwise they are in like
condemnation with her—any system, power or influence that has thus begat
daughters who also follow the path of prostitution, is properly a “mother
OF nARLOTS.”
O, Babylon ! thou guilty one—where wilt thou hide thy head,
When God in majesty arise, and all thy friends are fled 1
Thy sophistry and coverings too, of scarlet, all are gone,
And crush’d beneath truth's simple car, drove by his only Son.
Do not deny thy guilty name, thou wretched one of fame ;
Disguise or magnify thyself, thou ne’er can hide thy shame *
The small infant mind can tell thee, thy voice is so well known;
Thy growling, unconcordant notes, declare they are thy own.
Ye ne’er can get thy filthy voice in harmony to sound ;
Yea, try and screw and tune thy harp, the same discord is found:
Deny thy name as often too as days and nights begin,
Thy crafty, skulking, bullying ways, to light will virtue bring.
Thy drunjcen freaks have often, too, exposed thy hideous form,
Satiated like a beast of prey who dreads the rising morn;
Thy towering looks, which scatter dread and terror to the mind,
Will soon be shown in all their forms—the folly of mankind,
Perhaps thou art a “ daughter” shrewd, a sportive, playful thing,
With innocency in thy looks, no danger can be seen ;
Yet being this hag’s progeny, as sure as thou hast breath,
Thou’d outdo this bloated “ harlot,” if she lay cold in death.
As sure as thou art related in any acts at all,
Thy doom is fix’d and settled—no power can stop thy fall :
Examine closely into it, and see where thou dost stand ;
This sentence He will execute, nqr curtail its demand.^OETB$>
44
50 ! il Come out of her, my •people,” her spirit and her ways,
'‘‘She’s now brought in remembrance,” this wrath no longer stays:;
•But, escape unto the mountain, for safety’s only there,
The drawn sword of vengeance this household will not spare.
JESUS A StJHE AND ONLY HOPE.
'The souls that move in God’s appointed way (which is ‘Christ alone,)
'has nothing to fear while they maintain an entire independent and pure
respect for His name—patient even in darkness. They have nothing t6
‘loose that can possibly be of any essential benefit to them, neither is there
any thing for them to gain that will prove of the least advantage, but what
is found in Him. He is the source of all fulness. Our folly is displayed
in not making Him our own at Once, as we would a truly able and trusty
friend in any department of this life, independent of every other consider-
ation, (whether connected with the Church, the state, 'or our every-day
‘concerns,) renouncing all his enemies, and casting our care on Him. Why
should we hold things as virtues, such as doubting, fearing, &c.* which is
‘only the scum of our own ignorance Heaven delights to see in her chil-
dren bold, unflinching and humble confidence in this rock. He is ever
faithful to his promise. “ He is able to save to the uttermost those who
‘come unto God by Him.” He never lost one that trusted inHim.
Ye children of reason, awake from your slumbers,.
The night is far spent, and the day is at hand ;
The trumpet is sounding, as the “Voice of seven thunders,”
And heard by its thousands on sea and on land.
‘Our glorious Redeemer, our exalted Savioefr,
Will lead on to conqiiest His well marshal’d band.
-Fear nought in the nation, in death or destruction,
The whole burthen lies on the arm Of your God ;
‘lie’s pledged all his treasures, without e’en reduction,
To bring us through trials—Yea, Jordan’s cold flood.
*Sify ail’s in this Saviour, this conquering Redeemer,
He rides on triumphant, a victorious God.
But one thing He asks, it is all He desires,— .
O ! “ Give me thy heart 7” then take all as thine own^
This settles the question—it’s this He admires :
You ’r heir, then, to glory, salvation.—a crOwn !
Then come to this Saviour! this loving Redeemer!
O, hang on his.promise, — thy debt He’s paid ddwft.
-He ne’er will forsake thee—He cannot forget thee—
The nations in wrath may sink under his frown—
He lives for thy safety—He died to obtain thee :
The ocean may surge, and the earth may reel round.
Then sing of this Saviour ! O, praise this Redeemer !
O, think! O ! such virtue I such love! is here found ^