LIBRARY 
 
 AT 
 
 FRl]\€ETOIV, IV. J. 
 
 DONATION OF 
 
 S A M IJ K L A G NEW, 
 
 OK I' rl I L A D li L P H I A PA. 
 
 J C^f^^f', Division ;--|t- 
 
 J S/t(f/\ Section Sj^ 
 
■•^f / 
 
 k 
 
r 
 
 f 
 
CONTROVERSY 
 
 With the PEOPLE called 
 
 METHODISTS, 
 
 Concernlngi: the True Nature of the 
 
 CHRISTIAN RELIGION: 
 
 PROVING IT TO BE 
 
 A Religion Moral and PraElicalj 
 
 AND 
 
 Vindicating it, from the fcandalous Imputation, of" 
 
 laving: it's ProfefTors, ivithout the Condition of 
 
 an Holy Life. 
 
 Written by J O H N F R E E, Dockox in Divimty, &c. 
 
 _, . _. it I'l ■■• "i -■■ ' — '■ — * ' — 
 
 Even as our beloved Brother Paul alfo, according to the Wtf- 
 
 dom. th'it ^Li: as given unto him, hach written unto you j As alfo 
 
 in all his Epiflles, — in v^hich are some Things hard to he under- 
 
 flood, which they, which are a«/?ar«^<^ and »>7^tf^/c' vvreit, as tiiey 
 
 . do aifo the other Scriptures to their ows Dejiruftion. 2 Pet. iii. 15,16, 
 
 ^'c^7\cc7fiXi ciKh h iiccTiUTriBtU' EpiStetus, Cap. 04. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 'nnteJ and Sold by W. Sand BY near Temple-Bar, J. 
 Scott, and R. Stevens in Pater-nofter-Row, S, Par- 
 ker, and D. Prince in Oxford, and by the Author 
 at his Houle in KiNG -John's Court Bermondrcy. 1760, 
 
 [Price Bound and Lettered Five Shillino;?.] 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I. A Difplay of the bad Principles of 
 the Methodifts, in certain Articles 
 fropofed to the Confideration of the 
 Company of Salters^ &c. 
 
 II. Rules for the Difcovery of falfe 
 Prophets^ &c. ^3: Sermon before the 
 Univerfty of Oxford. 
 
 III. Dr. FreeV Edition of Mr. Wes- 
 ley Vj^r/? Penny Letter. 
 
 t* ■ 
 
 IV. His Editio7z of Mr. WESLEv'i* 
 
 Second Letter^ Sec. 
 
 V. His Remarks upon Mr. Jones V 
 Letter. 
 
 VI. His Speech at Sion-College to 
 the London Clergy. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 T O T M E 
 
 Gentlemen concerned in the Sublcription. 
 
 THE Majority of die SubscriSers in Lon- 
 don^ defiring that their Names might be 
 concealed through Fear of Suffering in their Bu- 
 Jlnefs^ by the Intrigu«>s of this prevailing Seel : 
 The Author hopes, that his other Friends and 
 Correfpondents, efpeciaily thofe in the Country^ 
 will not take it amiis, . that he did not think it 
 
 proper to publiili the Names of the reft. 
 
 ■;..\ 1- 
 
 N. B. Any Perfon -not fubfcribing may be fup- 
 plied with the Book, a^ far as the ImprefTion will 
 go, by fending a Letter^ Pofl: paid, to his Houfe 
 in King John's Court, Bermondjey. The Price 
 of the Vclum^^ when Bound and Lettered^ h Five 
 Shillinc-s: and in Bhte- Covers ¥oui' SlvXWno^^ and 
 Three-Pence. Hie fmgle Pieces may be had 
 at their former prices,-of the Bookfeilers me>i- 
 tioned \i\ the Title. 
 
A 
 
 DISPLAY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Bad Principles of the Methodifts : 
 
 IN CERTAIN 
 
 ARTICLES 
 
 PROPOSED TO THE 
 
 SERIOUS CONSIDERATION 
 
 O F T H E W O R S H I P F U L 
 
 Company of SALTERS 
 
 In LONDON, 
 
 By J O H N F R E E, Doctor in Divinity, ^c, 
 
 .*•' Their Enthufiafm led the Van to^ and was very confijlent with 
 " A theil'm . And there is ajhrewd Sufpicion^ that fome got in 
 " among them from the Beginnings and managed the weak and 
 " well meaning People ^ who were cf no religion themfelves^ 
 " btd put on a Majk to deceive. 
 
 See the Hiitory of the Montanifts, in the Ld. Bp of 
 Exeter's Book againft tne M-tiodius. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. " 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the Author, and SolJ by A4r. Sakby, ini 
 
 Fleet-Street ; Mr. J. S c o T T, in Pater-nrjier Rozu^ 
 
 and Mr. Cook, :it the Royal- Exchange. 1759. 
 
 [ Price Six-PEKCE. ] 
 
[3] 
 
 DISPLAY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Bad Principles of the Methodifts s 
 
 IN CERTAIN 
 
 ARTICLES 
 
 PROPOSED TO THE 
 
 Serious Confideration of the worJJnpful Coinpan^ 
 of the Salters, 07i account of the [ireniiciis Ap- 
 plication of a Methodift for their P'otes and 
 Inter ejl^ in Order to his bei?ig promoted to the 
 TnefdayV LeBiireJlnp at St, Dunftan's in the 
 Eaft, at prcjhit in the PoJJeJjion of the Revd. 
 Mr, B-— — — n, he being jiill alive ^ and by God's 
 Favour likely to continue to live. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 S it is pretty evident, that moft, if not all 
 of you have been applied to, for the Pur- 
 pofe above-mentioned, and fome of you may 
 perhaps, have unwarily promifed your Votes to 
 an avowed Methodift, who oy ^.jtrange Conni- 
 
 B 2 vance 
 
4 A Difflay of the bad 
 
 vance continues to adl as Curate in a Village near 
 London : 1 beg Leave, as a Perfon concerned 
 both for your Honour^ and the publick Good, to 
 addrefs you, as I conceive you v^ill adl, in one 
 or other of the following Capacities ^ and to call 
 upon you either. 
 
 Fhi'i, As Members of the eflablifhed Church; 
 
 Or Secondly y As Chriftians of fome Denon>i^ 
 nation or other ; 
 
 Or Thirdly^ As People concerned for the Ho-^ 
 nour of God ; 
 
 Or Fourthly y As ^ood Subjeds to the State ; 
 
 Or Fifthly, As Men of common PrudencCj 
 to attend to the follov^ing Articles, which 1 fliall 
 propofe to your Confideration. 
 
 Art. L If you are Members of the Church 
 of England, confider, Firft, 
 
 How you can confidently with that Profeffion 
 be concerned in promoting a Perfon to a Place 
 in the Churchy whofe whole Miniltry is an open 
 and avowed Oppofition, to one of the funda- 
 mental Articles of our Religion : 
 
 For the 2oth Article plainly declares — ^' that 
 '' it is not lavv^ful for the Church to ordain any 
 *' Thing that is contrary to God's Word ivritten^ 
 '' neither may it fo expound one Place ot Scrip- 
 
 *' ture, that it be repugnant to another' And 
 
 vet it is notorious, that the Methodifts, under 
 
 the 
 
Principles of the Methodifts, ^c. jf 
 
 the Majk of being true Sons to the Church, do 
 ever exnlain the Word Faith as it ftands in * iome 
 of St. PauN Writings, in a Manner fo different 
 from the clear Declaration of St. Ja?nes, as to 
 make the Doftrine of one Apoftle a dired: and 
 flat Contradidion to the other. 
 
 For St. James declares, that *' Faith without 
 *^ Works is dead." Ch. ii. 17. 
 
 Now what is Z)^<:7^ produces nothing. There- 
 fore a Faith, that is dead, as it produces noihingy 
 cannot produce Salvation : But St. James 
 affirms, that a Faith ^without Works is dead -, 
 therefore it is clearly St. James\ Meaning, that 
 a Faidi without Works (that is, without Virtue 
 and Moraliix) can never produce Salvation. 
 
 But the Methcdijis fo explain St. Paul, in fome 
 cbfcure Pafiaaes, as to affirm it to be the Doc- 
 trine of Scripture, that a Man ffiall be faved by 
 Faith alone, excliifive of good Works 3 by which 
 we mean Virtue and Morality : Therefore 
 according to them. Faith alone, without Vir- 
 tue and Morality will produce Salvation. 
 Now this is a dired; Contradidion to the Doc- 
 trine of St. James, at the fame Time that it is 
 *' fo to expound one Place of Scripture, as to 
 " make it repugnant to another :" And there- 
 fore an open and fcandalous Oppofidon to the 
 20th Article of the Church of England^ open I 
 
 * The Epiilles to the RomaHs and Galatiatts, where the Word 
 Faith generally iUi^ds for the ixihole of the Cnrillian Religion, while 
 ir;e Word aloney when ufed upon ttiis Occafion, excludes only the 
 OhfcTvaton o\ Jenvi/h Ceremonies : As the Word Works means not 
 Work? of Morality, but the ^ercmoRial Fart of Jei'.ip Law. Tiiis 
 is a Key :o the Whole. 
 
 fay. 
 
6 A Difplay of the bad 
 
 lay, becaufe it is the perpetual Theme, of the 
 Metkodifls. — It is not only the Dodrine, which 
 gives them the Opportunity of creepiiig into 
 Hoitjcs arfd of leading Captive , ^ they know 
 whom ; But it is aho the tumultuous Subjed: of 
 their publick Declamaticns, the old Leaven^ 
 which puts their Mobs in a Ferment, and daily 
 produces, as the Humours operate, their hollow 
 Groans, or infolent Exclamations. 
 
 It is evident then, that the whole Mi7ii/lry of 
 a Perfon Jo employed^ is an open and avowed Op- 
 pfitioli to one of the fundamental Articles of the 
 Church of England -, and therefore as Mem- 
 bers of that Church you cannot confidently be 
 concerned in the promotion of fuch a perfon. 
 
 Nor Secondly^ If you are fmcerely Chriftians 
 of any Denomination whatfoever. 
 
 For confider, in that Charader, if the Reli- 
 gion of CZ?r//^, or the Holy Scripture, which pub- 
 liilies that Religion, be chargeable with Contra" 
 t.iaions. — \¥hat muft be the Confequence ?- — 
 Why—'' that this Religion is not true!' — For 
 Iruthh 2\vj2iYStmifo?~772y and therefore v/e re- 
 ceive tr.e Scripture as Vac tpii form Word of God ; 
 becaufe by its beino- uniform Vv^e think it true : 
 But the Man, that charj>:es it with CcntradiBiony 
 charges it with Falihood. For not only every 
 good Logician, bet every Man of good Senje mull 
 know, that one Side of a Contradidion mufi: be 
 faife ; x\nd therefore he, who makes the Scrip- 
 ture contVadicl: itielf, charges it, in one Part or 
 other, with Falihood. 
 
 Pray 
 
Principles of the Methodifts, ^c* 7 
 
 Pray what could a Mahomedan^ or Iiifidcl^ or 
 the Devil himfelf do more, than load it with 
 Falfiood and ContradiBion ? 
 
 Or what is there, that a Mahomedan^ an Infi- 
 del^ or the Devil himfelf would more rejoice in ? 
 Thofe, who are Friends to the Gofpel of 
 Chrifl:, endeavour to harmonize^ its Doctrines, 
 and make the whole Scheme coniiftent with it- 
 felf, and at the fame Time, confiitent with the 
 Principles of right Reafon. 
 
 And to ferve this o-ood Purpofe, though we 
 allow, that there is no fuch Thing as ahfolute 
 Merit in the whole human Species, and that all 
 iiad been lofl: Creatures without a Saviour : Yet 
 we muft contend that there is comparative Merit, 
 Comparifon being made between Man and Man, 
 rSome Men are better than others, and this Dif- 
 ference in the Behaviour of Men is Virtue and 
 Vice. It isblafphemous to fay, that God makes 
 no Diftindlion between Virtue and Vice, or that 
 he does not love Virtue and hate Vice. But if he 
 4ove Virtue, there muft be fomething in Virtue 
 naturally amiable, and that is Merit, not ahfo- 
 lute Merit indeed, but human Merit ; Merit in 
 one Man above another : Other wife the Wicked 
 would have as good a Title to Salvation as the 
 Good : But our Saviour has exprefsly declared, 
 " Not every one, that faith unto me Lord, Lord, 
 *^ fhall enter into the Kin2:dom of Heaven, but 
 ^* he that doth the Will of my Father which is 
 ^' in Heaven. Mattk. vii. 21. And in another 
 *' Place, Matth, xvi. 27. The Son of Man 
 f fliall come in the Glory of his Father with his 
 
 *^ Angels, 
 
8 A Difplay of the had 
 
 " Angels, and then he fhal! reward every Man 
 
 " according to his Works." 
 
 What Blajphemy then and Impiety are thofc 
 Wretches guilty of, who in their diabolical 
 Threnzy, dare to contradid: our Saviours Au- 
 thority, and that too in a Paffage, which compre- 
 hends fuch an effential Article of Religion, as 
 the Judgment of the World ? Our Saviour ex- 
 prefsly declares the Works of Men to be the Oi- 
 jedt of his Judgment \ the Matter of his Co?ifide^ 
 ration^ or Attention^ before he re^wards or faves 
 tkem : But the Methodi/i, for the Perdition of 
 the Souls of his Follov/ers, ope/iiy gives our Sa- 
 viour the Lie, and fays that the Works of Men 
 are of no Confideration at all : This open Con- 
 tradidlion to the clear and exprefs Vv^ords of our 
 Saviour is openly to blafpheme the Name of 
 Chrift. Will you as Chrijiiam of any Denomi^ 
 nation encourage the open Blafphemers of the 
 Name of Chri/i? If you will ; yet furely you are 
 perfwaded, that there is a God, and as People 
 concerned for the Being and HGiiour of God^ you 
 fhould confider. 
 
 Thirdly^ That though our Saviour be of no 
 Credit, or Authority with thefe People, if fet in 
 Competition with their own Teachers-, or if he be 
 of no perfonal Credit with the Reft of the World : 
 Yet the Matter of the Doctrine here advanced, 
 concerning the Nature of a future Judgment, is 
 of fjch Moment to all Religion, that to con- 
 tradict it deftroys the effential Attributes of God, 
 and ruins his CJparadler as fudge of the World. 
 
 For 
 
Prtficiples cf the Methodifts, &c, g 
 
 For, Fir/l, If there be no DiflifiBion between 
 human Adlions, or a Diftin5lion of no Confidera- 
 tibn^ then there can be no fuch Thing as Good^ or 
 Evil : And confeqnently no Room for a future 
 Judgment at all. For where there is no Law 
 broken, there is no Harm done ^ and therefore 
 no Call for Judgment. 
 
 But Secondly^ If there be a real Diftindtlon 
 between Good and Evil ; then to fay that God 
 does not regard it, or take it into Confideratioiiy 
 but rewards or puniflies at random, is making 
 him fo foolifh as not to diftingufli Vice from 
 Virtue, or fo unjuft, as to prefer Vice before it; 
 which Deficiency would render him quite unfit 
 to be the Judge of the World. 
 
 In the firft Place therefore, accordins: to this 
 Doctrine, we are to have no Judgment of the 
 World at all. 
 
 In the next Cafe— God is reprefented as 
 unfit to be that 'Judge. 
 
 Now if this be not downright Atheifm, I would 
 be glad to know what is. Where fuch Doc- 
 trines are propagated it behoves you. 
 
 Fourthly^ To weigh well what you are about, 
 left you fliould be confidered by the State, as 
 aiding and abetting their Propagation. 
 
 Becaufe that may be offenfive to Govern- 
 ment. Atheifni has been deemed a capital 
 Crime, and Atheifts in fome Countries have 
 been put to Death, as Perfons very dangerous to 
 a State, at leaft in the Opinion oi thofe who 
 govern it. 
 
 C For 
 
to A Difplay of the had 
 
 For you muft know, that all wife Lawgivers 
 and good Magijf rates, befide that they refent 
 the Didionour done to God, confider the Pro- 
 pagation of Atheifm, as an Attempt to deftroy 
 their own CQniniojrdoealth. Becaufe, by releafing 
 Men from their natural Fears of a Deity, it dif- 
 charges them from all 7noral Obligation ; makes 
 Room for all Manner of Vice and Villainy ; by 
 which Means the Bands of Society are diflolved, 
 the Community is forced to feparate ; and the Ma- 
 giftrates themfelves,when all Government is over- 
 turned, can in that Characler fubfift no longer. 
 
 You fee then^ that this Attempt muft be con- 
 fidered as a Sort of "Treafon by Magiftrates -, be- 
 caufe it is an Attack upon themfelves : By ruin- 
 ing their Subjecfts it takes away their very Of- 
 fice 'y there being, as I obferved, no Place for 
 Governers in a Society quite difTolute and aban- 
 doned. 
 
 This then is the Confequence of deftroying the 
 Morals of a State, by the Introdu(fl:ion of direB 
 Atheifm ; And therefore, to fecure the Morals 
 of their People, Magiftrates make ufe of that 
 Inftrument which vve call Relio^ion, as bein? in 
 their Opinion , what will contribute moft to har- 
 monize and regulate Society, and produce Effedls 
 quite oppoiite to thofe, which they dread from 
 Atheilm. 
 
 But if any Form of Religion difcourages Mora- 
 lity, it can be no Inftrument for their Purpofe, be- 
 caufe it does the Work of Atheifm. And there- 
 fore they muft he as much alarmed at the Intro- 
 dudtion of fuch a Religion, as at the Introdudlion 
 
 of 
 
Principles of the Method ifts, &c. 1 1 
 
 of Atheifm ; and look upon It in the fame Lights 
 as it is attended with the fame Confequences. 
 
 Now then in this Place, once more conlider ; 
 . whether as oood Subjedls of this Realm, you can 
 openly be concerned in propagating a Dodrine, 
 which not only ends in Athetjm^ when purfued 
 to the Extent of it's Meaning, but which, if that 
 Meaning be not fo apparent to the Vulgar^ is yet 
 conlidered by the Magistrate as having the 
 fame Tendency. 
 
 Thefe important Articles being fir ft propofed 
 to your Confideration, I now appeal to you. 
 
 Fifthly^ In the laft CkaraSfer^ I mentioned 
 that of People oi common Pi'udcnce, 
 
 You mull imagine, that fome of the Govern^ 
 ment or Magijiracy of the Realm, are by their 
 Office concerned to look to the Fulfilment or due 
 Execution of all publick Trufts, For in all well 
 regulated States, there are Of/iccrs of one Deno- 
 mination or another, appointed for this Purpofe, 
 and there are in all Places fome By [landers^ to 
 obferve whether fuch Duties be performed or 
 not. 
 
 Where there is a palpable Failure^ thefe may 
 be apt to call your Honour in Queftion ; and 
 charge you with acting a very itngeneroiis Part, 
 in accepting a T^rufi^ in Order to betray it ; 
 namely, by putting into an Oiiice, v/hich fliould 
 be held by a Mini ft er of the Church of Eng- 
 land, an Enemy, who fliall undermine, not 
 only the legal Eftahlifl^imsnt c£ that Churchy but 
 alfo the Foundations of all Religion: When at 
 the fame Time, the Donor of this Lecture, 
 
 by 
 
ti A Dijplay of the bad 
 
 by the Terms of his Will, expefts from your 
 Hands, a Perfon, that fhould defend, and fup- 
 port both the one and the other. 
 
 Thefe Accufations or Murmurings of the £y- 
 ftanders may poflibly be carried to the particular 
 Magiftrate, or InJpeBor, to whom the State 
 has committed the Regulation of fuch Matters : 
 Your Characters may then be fubjeft to his Ce7i- 
 fure^ as well as to the Complaints of the People. 
 For it is the Duty of all Magiftrates to take Care, 
 in their feveral Departments, of what we call, the 
 Cojiftitiition* 
 
 To prevent the Danger, that may arife to it 
 
 from the Admiffion of fuch as are given to 
 
 change^ or difpofed to be tumultuous^ there are 
 
 certain Qualifications required of all publick 
 
 Teachers, before they are by Law permitted to 
 
 fpeak to the People. Every Preacher of the 
 
 ejtablijhed Church is to be licenfed by the Bifhop : 
 
 And every Ledlurer in particular, under the Seal 
 
 of the Archbifhop, or Bijl^op-, he is moreover to 
 
 conforrn to fuch and fuch Declarations and Sub^ 
 
 jcriptionSy and bring with him Letters Tefti- 
 
 monial, wherein among other Things, it muft 
 
 be certified by Clergymen of the eftablifkcdChnvch, 
 
 ** That from their Perfonal Knowledge, he has 
 
 *' never held or publijhed 2iny T\\m'^Zy but what 
 
 " the Church of England approves of, and main- 
 
 '^ tains.*' — And what Orthodox Clergymen will 
 
 certify this of a Methodijt ? 
 
 The Lord Bifhop of Lcndcn, in this Cafe, will 
 be the ecclcfiaftical Judge or Inspector ; and 
 :^s his Lordship has by no Means the Charadler 
 
 pf 
 
Principles of the Methodifts, ^c, ij 
 
 of a Perfon, who is likely to betray the Intereft 
 of the Church, in which he prefides as BiJ])op : 
 Do you think he will admit into the Office of a 
 Lecturer, an Office^ which in this Metropolis 
 has many Times been dangerous, a Perfon of a . 
 CharaBer fo oppofite, as that of Methodijl to the 
 Peace and Order of the eftabliilicd Church, and 
 fo juftly to be fufpefted by thinking Men of 
 every other Form of Religion ? 
 
 You have Reafon then to apprehend, that in 
 the laft IfTue your Methodijl Teacher may be re- 
 jeded by the Bifhop ; for which you yourfelves 
 may incur fome Cenfure, for troubling him with 
 fo ill a Choice. For which, perhaps the beft 
 Excufe, you can make, will be, " That you had 
 *' unwarily promifed an Acquaintance, with 
 ** whom, you had fome Dealings, or private In-- 
 '* t ere ft, that you would, at all Adventures be 
 *' ferviceable to fuch a Perfon." — Gentlemen, 
 the Carelefs or ill DiJ'poful of puhlick Places is tlot 
 Bane of this Kingdom. — Confider, therefore, 
 whether there be fuch an Obligation in this Pro- 
 mife, as (hall compel you to be Partakers in the 
 Guilt of doing this Kind of publick Hurt. 
 
 If at the Inftance of a Friend, you had chanc- 
 ed to promife to lend a Sum of Money to a Bro^ 
 ther Tradefman, whom, upon Enquiry, you 
 had found not to be quite fo honefc in his Frin-- 
 ciples, as you might expect at firft, I believe, \q\\ 
 would not be much inclined to ftick to a Promifvi 
 made thus upon a falfe Siippofiuon of a Man's 
 Integrity ; nor would your Friend, upon better 
 Infoiinationj require k of ycu.-'^That Friend 
 
 call 
 
14 ^ Difplay of the bad 
 
 can with as little Reafon require it here, and 
 as it is a Rule in Religion, to do as we woidd he 
 done byy the Pub lick have a Right to exped:, 
 that you would do for them, what in the like Cir- 
 cumftances, you would do for yourfelves ; that 
 is, depart from a Promife precipitately made, 
 and upon a very bad Foundation, 
 
 Thus much for your, own Condudl. And 
 that I have not prefumed too far, in fuppofmg^ 
 the Conduct of the prefent Bifhop of London^ 
 would be fuch as I above reprefented, you may 
 be able to judge for yourfelves, after you have 
 feen in what Light the T)o5irines and Pra5iices 
 of the Methodifts were coniidered by the late 
 Bifliop Gibfon, the immediate PredeceiTor of your 
 prefent excellent Diocefan, 
 
 The great Prefervative of Religion (fald biG 
 Lordfliip) and of Order and Regularity in the 
 Exercife of it, is the Provifion, that is made for 
 the Performance of publick Offices by Perlons 
 lawfully appointed within particular Bounds and 
 Diftrids; and if thefe be broken down, nothing 
 can follow but Diforder and Confulion^ This 
 Nation, in the Time of our Forefathers, had 
 fufHcient Experience of the Mifchief and Con- 
 tempt, that may be brought upon Relio;ion, hy 
 infpired Tongues and itching Ears; * When the 
 
 * Holy Spirit was alledged, to fanclify the great- 
 
 * eft Extravagancies and the moft ridiculous Fan- 
 
 * cies ; when the moft ordinary Adions and In- 
 ^ cidents of Life, wereafcribed to the Influences 
 
 * of the lame Spirit ; when the Dodrine of Julli- 
 - fication by Faith alone was carried into an ut- 
 ^ ter Excluiion cf the Neceility of good Works, 
 
 ' and. 
 
Principles of the Methodlftb, &c. 15 
 
 * and, under that Notion, grew to be the Diftin- 
 
 * guiihing Mark of a whole * Se6l ; and when 
 
 * the Bounds of Order and Difcipline were broken 
 ' down, and the fettled Miniftries and Offices of 
 
 * the Church depriciated and brought into Con- 
 
 * tempt, as difpenfations of a low and lefs fpiri- 
 
 * tual Nature.* 
 
 The aiming at high Flights in Religion, and 
 depreciating the ordinary Methods of maintain- 
 ing and propagating it, looks fpecioufly, and 
 will never want Admirers and Followers. But 
 furely, an Endeavour to raife Religion to greater 
 Heights and greater Abftracftions from common 
 Life, than Chrift and his Apoftles made and de- 
 fioned it, is attended with mifchievous Confe- 
 quences ; from what Principle foever it proceeds, 
 or with what Degrees of Zeal foever it may be 
 accompanied. Some it draws from their proper 
 Bufinefs, w^hich God has required them to attend, 
 and heats them by degrees into a Kind of religi- 
 ous Frenzy, and feldom fails to lead them inco 
 jpiritual Pride^ and an inward Contempt of the 
 Generality of their Fellow- Chriftians, as of a low 
 Size in Religion, compared with themfelves. 
 And others are naturally led by it, to think it 
 impojjible for them to attain thofe Heights in 
 which Religion is made to confift, and to give 
 o\er all Thoup-hts of beino; relip;ious at all. With 
 this latter View it was, that a zealous Advocate 
 for Inlidelity, fome Years fince, made it his Bu- 
 finefs to reprefent Chriftianity, and the Duties 
 of it, as of fuch an exalted Nature, as might 
 
 * Antinomians. 
 
 dif- 
 
l6 A Difplay of the bad 
 
 difcourage the Generality of People from aiming 
 at it, or thinking of it; in order to perfuade 
 them to take the fame free and unreftrained En- 
 joyment of this World, that he himfelf was 
 known to do. Whereas, nothing is more certain, 
 than that the Chriftian Religion is calculated for 
 common Life, for Low as well as High, for Poor as 
 well as Rich ; and that (as I obferved before) one 
 great Part of the Exercije of Religion, is an honeft 
 and diligent Difcharge of the Bufinefs of our 
 feveral Stations ; out of a Senfe of Duty to God 
 who has placed us in them, and in the Hope of 
 a future State of Happinefs, which he has promif- 
 ed as the Reward of our dutiful Compliance with 
 his Appointment. If it were otherwife, Chrift 
 would have introduced into the World a new 
 Religion no ways fuitable to the general Situation 
 and Circumftances of Mankind, and have required 
 fuch a Courfe of Duty, as the greateft Part of 
 them are in no Cofidition to difcharge. 
 
 There is a remarkable Paflage in a late Jour- 
 nal, which feems to carry in it a great deal of 
 that Kind di Difcouragement, which I have been 
 fpeaking of. It is Word for Word as follows ; 
 
 *' I write this, to fliew how far a Man may 
 ^' go, and yet know nothing of Jefus Chrift. * 
 ** Behold here was one -f who conftantly attend- 
 *' ed on the Means of Grace, exadt in his Morals, 
 *' humane and courteous in his Converfation, 
 '' who gave much in Alms, was frequent in pri- 
 " vatc Duties > and yet, till about fix Weeks 
 *' ago, as deftltute of any faving experimental 
 
 * Josrn. III. p. 8i, Sz. f yii.Se'w<ird, 
 
 Know- 
 
Principles of the Mcthodids, &c,' ly 
 
 " Knowledge of Jefus Chritt, as thofe on whom 
 ^' his Name was never called, and who ftiil lit 
 " in Darknefs and the Shadow of Death/' 
 
 How it could be, that a profeffed Chriftiani 
 who conftantly attended the Means of Grace, and 
 was frequent in private Duties, did, all that 
 while, kjiow nothing of Jefus Chrift, is beyond 
 my Comprehenlion. And I am much at a Lofs 
 to underftand, what was iXxxtfaving experime?2tal 
 Knowledge of Jefus Chrif, for want of which he 
 could only be reckoned among Heathens and In- 
 fidels. We ought alfo to have been acquainted 
 with the Circumftances of the fudden Ttiunnna^ 
 tion^ by which that Knowledge is fuppofed to 
 have been conveyed -, to enable us to judge to 
 what Caufe or Infuence it ought to be afcribed. 
 There is no Doubt, but God, when he pleaies, 
 can work upon the Minds of Men by extraordi- 
 nary Influences -, but fo long as there is no Icfli- 
 mony of their being the immediate Worjc of God, 
 but the whole refts, in this and other like Cafes, 
 upon the Imagination and Perfuafion of the Per- 
 fon, or Perfons concerned ; others who cannot fee 
 the Heart, nor the inward Operations upon it, 
 mufi: be excufed, if they confider it as Enthufajm 
 and Delufon, till they fee reafonable Grounnds 
 for confidering it in any other Light. 
 
 This Cafe may feem to bear fome Refem- 
 blance to the Converfion of Cornelius as record- 
 ed in the Ads of the Apoftles, but differs from 
 it in three important Points -, the firil is, that we 
 are there very certain, becaufe the Scripture has 
 exprefly told us, that the whole Affair of con- 
 
 D ^ veying 
 
1 8 A Difplay of the bad 
 
 veying the Knowledge of Jeftis Chrift to Corneli- 
 us, was ordered and carried on, under the imme^ 
 diate DireBion and Guidance of God; the 
 fecond, that the Perfon whofe Miniftry God was 
 pleaied to make ufeof, was St. Peter, an Apoftle 
 of Chrift, and whofe divine Miffion and Infpira- 
 tion were both unqueftionable ; and the third, 
 that the Conveyance of the Holy Ghoft was 
 teftified by an outward and fenfible Evidence, 
 namely, the Gifts of Tongues, 
 
 Thefe are Things, which I thought proper to 
 be laid before you at this Time, as well in Dif- 
 charge of my own Duty, as out of a hearty Con- 
 cern for your Safety in the great Affair of your 
 Souls. And as I doubt not but you will con- 
 iider them with all the Attention and Impartia- 
 lity, which Matters of that great Importance de- 
 ferve, fo I ihall not fail to make it my earneft 
 Prayer to God, that he will be gracioufly pleafed 
 to preferve you from all Error, and particularly, 
 from the two dangerous Extremes, of Luke^ 
 warmnefs, on one Hand, and Enthitfafm on the 
 other. To his Blefling and Direction I recom- 
 mend you, and remain, 
 
 Tour faithful Friend^ 
 
 Tulhaniy 
 
 Edm. London* 
 
 After fuch a Remonftrance as this, I fhould 
 think, Gentlemen^ that you have a Right to de- 
 mand 
 
PriJiciples of the Methodifts, &c. 1 9 
 
 mand back your Liberty oi Ch.o\ct^ and to infift 
 upon your Independence. But if this cannot be 
 done : Providence^ I hope, will not be wanting 
 to difappoint the Arts and Schemes of a crafty 
 Enthujiajl, and deliver you from your prefent 
 Embarajjmenty by preferving the htfe of Mr. 
 B n. 
 
 I am^ 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 With moft fine ere Regard^ 
 
 your hearty well Wijher^ 
 
 and humble Servant y 
 
 Southivark, April ^, 
 
 17C8. T T^ 
 
 /^ JOHN Free. 
 
 P. 5. To the Publick. 
 
 As the Author forefees, that the Self-fujiciency 
 and Ignorance of many of the low People among 
 the Methodijls may prompt them to fhew their 
 Skill in Divinity y and change a Word with him 
 upon this Occalion : To fave thefe Gentlemen a 
 needlefs Trouble, bethinks proper to declare ; 
 that if either of the Mr. Wefieys^ who fUl pafs 
 under that Demminationy have any Exceptions 
 to make to. v/hat is here advanced, provided 
 thofe Exceptions be drawn up, as he has fet the 
 Example, in as fhort a Compafs as the Nature of 
 Controverfy W\\\ admit, the Manner, in which, 
 all wife and good People, would choofe to man- 
 age a Religious Difpute s he will replv to thofe 
 
 Ob- 
 
20 A Difplay of the bad 
 
 Objections, appearing under their Name and ac^ 
 knoivlcdgcd to be theirs, as fairly and candidly as 
 they can expecc it from any Man differing in 
 Opinion from themfelves : But for the Reft of 
 the Combatants now ready to run a Tilt, as he 
 thinks it much better for them to ftick to their 
 feveral Trades^ he referves to himfelf the Liberty 
 of judging ; how far it may be dectnt for him, 
 to concern himfelf vv^ith fuch Antagonijls^ even 
 though they (liould fet their Names to their 
 Performances: And if he paffes them over in 
 frofoiind Silence, the Publick may conclude, that 
 he thinks themi entirely beneath his Notice : And 
 for the Propriety of this his ConducSl, he will 
 fubmit to the Judgment of any able Divines, 
 who are regular in their Way, though they 
 chance to be of a different Perfwafion from 
 himfelf 
 
 Notwithftandine this Advice, the vul^^r Metho- 
 dijls began to publilli without Delay. The firft 
 Pamphkt made it's Appearance with this Title. 
 
 Remarks and Obfej^vations on the Morality and 
 'Divinity contained in Dr, Free'^ certain Ar- 
 ticles, propofed to the Court of AJJiJlants of the 
 iDorfdpful Company of S a Iters, In a Letter 
 to the Reverend Dr, Free. Pr. i^d, Dilly. 
 
 Upon which the Critical Review for May 
 ]758. paffed the following cenfure. 
 
 This feems to be the low Performance of 
 fome pert Mechajiick, in conjund;ion perhaps with 
 
 fome 
 
Principles of the Methodiftsj &c. f i 
 
 feme weak methodili Teachers, v/ho, to fcreea 
 themfelves from Dr. Free% Animadverfions, take 
 Sanduary under the initial Letters of the Name of 
 their AlTociate. The Pamphlet abounds with 
 the Jargon of the Methodifts -, and very kindly 
 fupplies the Dodor with all the Proof he could 
 wifh, if the World wanted that Proof, to fup- 
 port the Charge he has brought againfl: them. 
 
 The Reader may take a Specimen of the Di- 
 vinity, and Morality of the Author, from his 
 atheiftically reprefenting Man as a Machine, or 
 Piece of Clock-work. Page 17. he fays— ' What 
 '^ makes a Difference in Men ? Grace, not 
 ' Merit.i — This Expreffion reduced toan affirma- 
 tive Propoiition ftands thus — ^ All that makes a 
 ' Difference in Men is Grace, not ?vlerit,' — This 
 Grace, he fays, is the Gift of God. — Very well, 
 the Gift of God, is the acft of God : Then in 
 confequence of the foregoing -, all that makes a 
 Difference in Men is the Ad: of God. A very 
 fine Dodrine 1 All the Adions of Men then, 
 whether good or bad, are to be referred to him; 
 and he is to be charged with every Thing that is 
 done on Earth by human Creatures ; while 
 Man in this Cafe is difcharsfcd from all moral 
 Obligations, nor longer refponfible, in any fliape, 
 to Laws divine or human. 
 
 This is a frelli Proof of the Truth of v/hat Dr. 
 Free has advanced aeainft them. — ' That the 
 ' Dodrines of the Methodifts tend to deftroy the 
 ' Morality of the Subjeds, and therefore ought 
 ^ to be as carefully watched by the Magiilrate as 
 ^ the Growth of Atheifm,' 
 
22 A Difplay of the bad Princiles, &cc. 
 
 For the reft of this Three- penny Piece, it is a 
 confufed Heap of Texts of Scripture disjointed, 
 mifinterpreted, and mifapplied, and is certainly a 
 curious Difplay of the Parts and Genius of the 
 Colledlor, who is withal fo good a Textuary, 
 that he thinks he detefts Dr. Free in a Blunder 
 in faying (what, behold he had never faid,) that 
 the Word alone flood in the Epiftle to the 
 Roma?2S and Galatians connected to the Word 
 Faith, We imagine, that this great Scholar muft 
 iniftake, in the Paflage referred to, the Word 
 wbiky for the Word where, an Adverb of Time 
 for an Adverb of Place ; fo we leave him to 
 triumph in his own Abfurdity : Only informing 
 the Publick, that while he is making his Re- 
 marks upon the Morality and Divinity contain- 
 ed in Dr. Free's Pamphlet, we can obferve nei- 
 ther Divinity nor Morality to be contained in 
 his own. 
 
 And therefore as be appears to be one of thofe 
 forward, but unhappy, Combatants, who were 
 for runing a Tilt, notwithftanding that he had a 
 fair Excufe for declining the Engagement, as be- 
 ing under the Standard : We advife him for the 
 future, to attend to the remaining Part of the 
 Counfet given in the Dodor's Poftfcript, that is, 
 to flick to his Trade, but never any more to 
 think of fhewing the Botchery of his Shopboard 
 acrainft the Workm.anfliip of a regular Divine of 
 the Church of Fngland. 
 
 N. B. The Author's own Ammadverfions upon this, and 
 fuch like Performances, which made their appearance 
 about that Seafon, may be k^n in the Preface to his Ox- 
 
 ford Sermon. 
 
Other Books y which have been written by the Rev: 
 Dr. Free, ^W/c'/i/^ William Sandby, at the 
 Ship oppofite St. Dunflan'i Church in Fleet- 
 Street. 
 
 I TT I STORY of the Englijh Tongue, with the 
 ^ "*■ Author's intended Dedication to his Royal High- 
 nefs Prince George ; now Prince of Wales ^ Part. I. 
 printed in 1749, and containing an Account. 
 
 I. Of the Roman or Latin Tongue, as once fopken in 
 
 Britain, 
 
 II. Of the Britijh or IVelJh^ ahd it's antient, and prefent 
 
 Limits, 
 m. Of the Pyhtas^ corrouptly called PiSJs, by the Ro- 
 mans; their Settlement in the AV/Z> of Britain; 
 the Original of their Name and the Nature Ex^ 
 tent^ and Duration of their Language. 
 IV. Of the Scots from Ireland ; and the Extent of the 
 Eerfe Language ; in order to diftinguifh it from the 
 Englijh in the North of Britain, which vulgarly 
 pafles under the Name of Broad Scotch. 
 
 2. A Volume of Sermons preached before the Univerfity 
 ofOxfordy printed in 1750. With a Preface tending to re- 
 form fome remarkably bad Practices, both mChurch 2ind States 
 to the Negle6t of which, we principally owe our prefent Mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 3. PoliticalSERMONs, and Discourses, collefted into one 
 Volume, under the Title of the Sentiments of a True Anti- 
 gallic an ; and dedicated to his Royal Highnefs the Duke, 
 1756. 
 
 4. A Jecond An TIG ALLic AN Sermon preached in the 
 Year 1756. upon the Terms of National Unanimity : With 
 Si Genealogical Table, fhewing his Majesty's antient Con- 
 nexions, with the Crowns of thefe Kingdoms, long antece- 
 dent in Time, to the Marriage of his Anceftor with the 
 Stewart Family. 
 
 5. Poems upon feveral Occafions, the fecond Edition 
 1757, containing an Ode to the King of Prujffia, an Ode 
 of Confolation to his R . H . the D u K E . Jephtha an Oratorio 
 fet to Mufick by Mr. Stanley. Advice to the Fair 
 Sex, ^V, 
 
Rules y^r the Difcovery of falfeV ko^h^t% : Orihe Danger" 
 
 ous Impofitions of the People r^/Zf^/ Methodifts detected 
 
 at the Bar of Scripture, and Reason. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached before the 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 At St. Mary's in Oxford, 
 On Whitsunday, 1758. 
 
 WITH A 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Jn V I N D I c AT I o N of c E R TA I N Articlcs propofed 
 to the ferious Confideration of the Company of 
 Salter s in London : 
 
 AND AN 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Containing authentick Vouchers-, from the Writings of rhe 
 Adethodifts^ kc. in Support of the Charge, which has 
 been brought againft them. 
 
 By J O H N F R E E, Dodor in Divinity, &€. 
 
 Ad. XX. ^o. 
 
 THE 1^ H I R D EDITION. 
 
 LONDON; 
 
 Printed for the A u t h o r, and Sold by Mr, S A N D b Y, in 
 
 Flcet-Strcct ; Air. J.Scot t, in Pater-mjier RoWy 
 
 and Mr. Cook, ^t the K--]'al- Exchange, I759« 
 
 [ Price SIx-^fi^"CE. ] 
 
[i] 
 
 t O T H E 
 
 Mofl Reverend Father iri GOD, 
 
 THOMAS, 
 
 By Divine Providence, 
 LORD ARCHBISHOP 
 
 O F 
 
 CANTERBURY, 
 
 Primate, and Metropolitan of all 
 E N G L A N Di &c. &c. 
 
 M Y Lo RD, 
 
 IS H O U LD not have Prefumed to Have troubled Your 
 Grace with this Dedicatic?!^ but that I think there 
 are fome Occafions^ when the Intereft of the common 
 Caufe, and the mutual Relation which the St^pportsrs, and 
 Defenders of that Caufe bear to each other, may require? 
 more of Intercourfe, and Co?nm7imcatiQn between Superiors 
 and Inferiors^ than may be neceflary in peaceable Times, 
 and the ordinary Courfe of Things. 
 
 Your Grace is by your Station^ as well as your Jf- 
 fe£iion^ to be efteemed the prefent Father of the Church 
 of England: And therefore, confidering both your Author 
 rlty and good Difpdfoion towards us, it is no Wonder, that 
 your Clergy fhould apply, as they fee a NeceiTity, f )r fuch 
 Indulgences^ as may forward their honeji Endeavours, and 
 which, I dare fay. Your Grace will never withhold, 
 I mean your Concurrence^ Counfel^ ahd Prote6lion, 
 
 As there feems to be this Privilege allowed YoUr Chrgx^ 
 I thought there was an ahfolute Necejfity at Prefent to ufe 
 it; and pathetically to lay before Your Grace, the Con- 
 duSf and Difpofition of an Enerny^ which through the Neg- 
 ligence of ifome Perfons, who iliould have been more up- 
 
n D E D I C A T I O fJ. 
 
 on their Guard, have by fecret Advances, fo hrjiohn upon 
 the commm People^ as to feduce many of all DenoiMnatlom 
 from their proper P^/^r/, and aided by this ,WaW Multitude 
 to threaten the Church of England, the Bulwark of 
 the Protejian Caufe, with a general Alteration^ or total 
 Subverjion. 
 
 To fuch a Pitch of Infolence are they arrived,- that Your 
 Clergy are often interrupted by thefe Entbuftajh as they pafs 
 the Streets, and told to ihc'tr Faces by the lowefl and mcft 
 ignorant Wretches, that they know nothing of the true 
 Gospel ; and what ftill fhcvvs a greater Contempt of our 
 EJiabliJhment^ we are the more fubjecl to thefe Indignities 
 and Dijliirbances^ when we appear in that Drefs^ which the 
 Laws and Cujtotns of this Country affign U5, to diftinguifh 
 us as Servants of the State^ in the now fad Capacity of Ml- 
 /iifters of tht falling Church of England. 
 
 The Vulgar in the capital Cities, and the Body of Arti- 
 sans in the liioft populous trading Towns are moltly in the 
 Hands of thefe People: And their Purfes being J.kewife at 
 their Comrfiand, they want no Advantages, that Money can 
 give them, for printifig znd di/irii?utiyrg Gratis, their ly-- 
 ing, blafphemous, and delufwe Pamphlets, to the rerhotefl 
 Corners of the Land ; while many of the laborious hanefi 
 Clergy, who do the Service of this Capital, through the 
 ill Returns of Abufes, Deprejfion, and iSeglcol, not having 
 a common Subfiftence, can have no Superfluity to expend in 
 the publick Service, and therefore can bv. no Means fup- 
 port at their own Coft, the Expcnce of Apologies and De- 
 fences from the Prefs. 
 
 Such being i\\t profl rate, miferable State of the Churchy' 
 and thofe, who ufed to defend it, ?r-A fuch the triumphant 
 State of its Enemies, I cannot fee how any Order of Men 
 in the Englijh Priesthood, though they do not ftand in 
 the Breach, can expert for their Tamencfs any better Secu- 
 rity^ or longer Continuance than the Reft : While this Tur- 
 bulence remains, they all fubfift as it were at Mercy, and in ; 
 the general Defection of the People, YcuR Grace and 
 thofe of Your Order will fare no better than thofe of our 
 own. For notwithftanding their Lying Profe/lions, at cer- 
 tain Seafons, the Leaders of thefe People fnew by their 
 Pradices, recorded in their own Writings, that they care 
 jio more for the O/Y/Zw^/ii^w of our Bishop?, than for the 
 
 Pravers 
 
t) E D I C A T i O N. iii 
 
 layers, and Sermons of the Priefts. Our Piclure-Shdps irt 
 much Pomp, exhibit with the Portraits of Mr. fFt'Jley and 
 Mr. IVhit/ield, the Effigiesoffeveral reverend Preachers of ihe 
 Gofpel, as they are there Ityled, who never appeared berore 
 youR Grach, when Bifhop of Oxford-, and fet as hght 
 ^3^ your Authority, in your high Station of Archbisho? 
 of Canterbury, and Metropolitan of all England. 
 
 In the remote Counties of England, I have (een at one 
 Time a whole Troop of thefe Divines on Horfeback, travel- 
 ing with each a Sijier behind them*, who being near the 
 Lord (as they choofe to phrafe it) opened her Mouth upon 
 Occafion to confirm what was fpoken.- 
 
 Thefe Difpofitions to Ferment and Commotion univerfal- 
 ly encouraged, and artfully improved, may at a CrIJis, fud- 
 denly bring about fuch a Change in our Church- Syff em, as 
 may much alter the Conjlitutioh of the State. My Lordj 
 permit me here to whifper a Word, that may be worth re- 
 member ing. The Kings of England will never find fo firm 
 a Support from any Eftabliihment, as they have experienced, 
 fmce the Reformation, from the Church of England. And 
 if in our Memory fome of the Priejlhcod have not proved fd 
 good Subjecls, as might have been expeded, till they have 
 been bought over with Prefer?nents, thai, were due to other 
 People, this has been entirely owing to the Mifmanagernent 
 of fome of our Statefmen, who being folely attentive to par- 
 ticular Points of their own, and Mafters of Httle more, 
 were either not fufiiciently acquainted with the Force and 
 Extent of our popular Prejudiees, or riot greatly difpofed to 
 remove them f. , . . 
 
 My 
 
 . * Sifter WiUiami being rear the Lord, cpeped her Mouth tocon- 
 Hrm what \vas fpoken. ^ee the late Bisiioi' of London*; Obfer^ 
 fvations on the Condud^ l^c. of the Methodifts. 
 
 f If they had been fo difpofed, what fo obvious as to have 
 ordered z Jho^t Account o'^ his Majesty's a/i/ie^it Pedigree , and 
 fuch Elements of oar Engl'f? Hillory as might have ihevv;! whence 
 h:e comty 2nd who w<?. T^-^/r, to have been u fed publickly lu Schools 
 and otter PI C35 of EduccticnP Thi.^ one M-thod', if taken in Time* 
 would. have long ago prevented all the Prfjudicfs of Jacobitifniy or 
 t}'ifafiHmio^ the Score cf the Succi'jffion, m ttie moft ancitnt Royat 
 Houfe of Louver ^axor.j. 
 
 For 
 
iv DEDICATION. 
 
 My Lord, I do not pretend to have any particular Li- 
 cence to fpeak thus freely to Your Grace, except that 
 from the Confiderations before mentioned, I believe it to be 
 my Duty. I beg Pardon if I am miftaken about it: But I 
 do believe it to be my Duty^ and every Man's Duty, who 
 is of my Order and Profeflion, toreprefent to Your Grace 
 the dangerous State of our national Religion : And this na- 
 turally led me juil to mention, hov^r far the Strength and 
 Profperlty of the Church might contribute, upon Occafion 
 to the Welfare and Support of the State, when it happens 
 to be in a tottering Condition. And to be particular, I be- 
 lieve, his Majesty ovved the Prefervation of his Crown" 
 and Dignity in the late Rebellion^ next to thofe, who 
 fought at Cullodeji^ as much to the Steadinefs and Activity 
 of the ivell-affecled Cle^igy of the Church of Enoland, 
 as to any Body of Men in his Dominions, notwithftanding 
 the bafe Returns, which forhe of them have fmce met witU 
 from his unprofitable Ser-VANTs. 
 
 Such being the Advantages, which the ^tate may gather 
 from the Churchy it would be ftrange if fuch an ejfential Part 
 oi QMX Conjlitution fhould be altogether neglected, becaufe 
 fome People do not know the Ufe of it. Succeeding Po- 
 liticians may be fenfible of the want of it, and curfe the Ig- 
 r.orance of their Predeceflbi s, who fufFered that Weight or 
 Counterpoife to be loft from the Orb of Government, which 
 they may in vain endeavour to reftore. 4- 
 
 But to omit dwelling on the Ufe and Excellence of the 
 Church, I return to my Subject, z. f. to confider of the 
 
 For befides the old Connexions, it would have appeared from 
 hence, that the Family of the Plantagenets were PoffeiT^rs of the 
 Crown of England, more than 200 Years before the Houfe of the 
 Stt'wards had any Connexion with the Crown of Scotland. The 
 K'ghts of this elder Houfe of Plantagenet all centered in Maud 
 Plantagenets who married Henry the Lion^ Duke oi Saxony. So 
 that the younger Houfe oi St ezvard zo\x\d haVe v\o juji Title ; while 
 her IJfue were fudfilline, which has continued in a regular SucceiTi- 
 on of the Dukes of Brun/ujic^ down to his pre fen t Majesty: 
 "While the Succeffion in England from the Time of John (which 
 drew into it the Houfe of Steward) has been often interrupted by, 
 Ufurpation^ Baftardy, Murder, and Confufion, See more of this in 
 the Author's Sermon upon the Terms of national Unanimity, /^"^j? 
 "yV. Sandby. ' 
 
 Means 
 
DEDICATION. y 
 
 Means for it's Prefeivatlon- This, which I have been re- 
 lating, being the true, but lamentable State of Things, 
 whatfoever Hopes Your Grace may conceive of remain- 
 ifig unmolefted in Tour High Station : It is impofTible, 
 that we fhbuld find Peace or Security a Day in ours. Thefe 
 People occupy the very Spot of Ground^ v/herein it is our 
 Lot to labour^ we cannot be unequally yoaked with Unbe- 
 lievers^ * the Holy Scripture forbids, that we fhould. We 
 profefs to believe inJefusChriJl^ that was born in Bethlejmm: 
 But they tell us, that f oil the ASlioyn cf this Jefus are in vain. 
 1o usy a meer Talc, and a nieer Song : That the real Chrill 
 is another, (the Creature of Enthujiafm and mad Imagina- 
 tion) which they feel beginning to be conceived in them, as 
 Virgins, and then Jlirring to be born. Our Chrijl^ we fay, 
 was horn firjl^ and then crucified ^ but theirs, it feems, was 
 crucified firft, and then born. Faith with us is a rational Af- 
 fent to the Hiflory of Jefus Chrijly as recorded in the Holy 
 Gofpel, always attended with a fuitable Praolicc: Theirs, 
 according to jomcy abhors the Name of Pra^ice^ is a Thing 
 by their Delcription never to be underftbod, the monftrous 
 Birth of deformed Fancy^ with f«ch a Variety of Faces, as 
 iiever to appear the fame, and with Ha?ids and Feet, and 
 why not Legs and Jrms ? % 
 
 My Lord, an hont^fober Mind muftbe fhocked at thefe 
 infernal Devices, thefe ftrange Idols of a new Jesus, and 
 ^ new Faith. If fuch wild Notions were propaorated on- 
 ly in our high Ways and Hedges^ they muft foon be attended 
 with fatal Confequences. But what (hall we fay, if the 
 'Heathen are come into our Inheritance, and have Permijfio'n 
 U occupy our very Churches^ Would any Earthly Power, at 
 
 * For ivhat Fellonv/hip hath Hfghteoufnefs ivith Unrighteoufnefs ? 
 And ivhat Communion hath Light iJoith Darknefs ? And mjhat Con- 
 tor d hath Chrift ivith Belial? Or ijchat Part hath he that helieueth 
 ^-svith an Infidel? Andiuhat Agreement hath the Temple of God ixith 
 Iddh ? For ye are the Temple of the li'vivg God. 2 Cor. vi. 14, i 5, 16. 
 
 f The Myllery of Cnrilt crucific;a, ^c. by Roger Balls. 
 Minifter of the Gcfpel^ from Sandvuich in Kent. Ne^wcafile: print- 
 ed for, and fold by the Publijher. 
 
 J ** If we deprive their Faith of it's Hands, Feet, and every 
 *• Idea of Afotion, wc fhall be at the greatelt Lofs to know what 
 
 See a plain Account of Faith in Jefus Clrifi, in Remarks oh 
 ftveral PafTages, in tlie .Letters on -ibaon and Jipafio. 
 
Ti r-^^ P R E F A C E. 
 
 The Preface has fcarce any other View, but to faclii^ 
 tatc the good EfFecS^s of the Sermon^ by removing fome 
 groundlefs ObjeSlions and Cavils^ which have been raifcil 
 againfl the Condu^ of the Author, on Account of the Change 
 he hath brought againft the <S^^/, in a Pamphlet lately ad- 
 drefled to the Company of S^liers^ in London. 
 
 Which Obje^ions have been tranfmitted to him chiefly by 
 enorryf/ioushcttGis, andfuch kind of under-hand Conveyance?, 
 and relate either, 
 
 Fir/i, To the Caufe of the Author's oppofing the Methd- 
 difts^ which :hey are pleafed to date from the aforefaid Pe- 
 riod, and attribute folely to Self-Intirefl, 
 
 Or Secondly ^ To the Manner of his doing it, — " that if 
 *' was virulent." — 
 
 Or Thirdly^ To the Vfe of the Word Methodlft^ as a 
 Term, which in their meek Prevarication they affect not to 
 underltand, and fometimes difclaim, being, as they fey, true 
 Sons of the Church. 
 
 Fourthly^ To the 7^/^//^r <^f the Charge, (fuppofing that 
 they are Mtthodilh) — '' that it has no Proof, and is without 
 *' Founilation." 
 
 To all thefe ObjeSfions I fhall briefly anfwer in the Order, 
 in which they itand. 
 
 • An] firjiy For the Cattfe of the Author's oppofing the 
 M.ethod'iJis^ which, they would infinuate, was folqly owing 
 to ^ elf- hit ere ft .^ and date from the Time of his Addrefs to the 
 Sabers. 
 
 Nov/ this is begging the Queftion. — For to fuppofe, that 
 my Motive to withiland them, was Selflnterefi alone, is to 
 fuppofe the Methodijis to be quite a blamelefs Set of People, 
 and therefore innocent of the Chara;e, which 1 brought 
 againft them, which Innocence however remains yet to be 
 proved, and v/ill, as I conceive, for ever remain fo. 
 
 This being the Cafe then, there might be other Motives 
 for Oppofition on my Part, befide Self-hitcrejl : And it will 
 be but candid in the Reader to hear, and judge, whether they 
 were fuch Motives, as ought in Confcience to be refifted, or 
 obeyed. It is plain, in the firft Place, that the Metbodifs 
 would delude him, in fuppoiing my Oppofition to begin 
 from the Time of writing to the Company of Salters : Be- 
 caufe it can be attefled by the Congrcgatim-.s^ to which I 
 pieach, that for a Courfc of Years, ever fmcc I have been theif 
 
 Leotunrf 
 
4f» 
 
 r^^ P R E F A C E. ■ Hi 
 
 l.e8lurer^ I have always publickly oppofed thefe Peopled 
 efpecially when they happened to be admitted into the 
 Churches, where I preach, as lilcewife, whenever it came 
 to my Turn to enter thofe, where by the Anarchy of the 
 Times, they had found eiiher Reception, or Continuance. 
 This Practice was grounded upon a Notion, that it was 
 my Duty, I thoMght, I 'aded in the Chirader of an 
 JpoJioHck Minifter of Jesus Christ, zvho was manifcft in 
 the Flejh to Deftroy the Works of the Devil \ of which De- 
 lusion is the chief. This, then appearing to be confiftent 
 with my Funcf^ion, was I to depart from my Duty^ becaufe, 
 in^theOpinion of thefe People, it happened to be my Intereft? 
 I think not— VVould any of thefe Saints be guilty of the 
 fame Thing in the fame Circumftances ? \\\ their Sphere of 
 AcStion, is itnot Meafure for Meafure /^ When they harangu- 
 ed in the Fields ; did they ever forbear to preach to the Mob, 
 forbear, left they fhould get the Pence of the Moh ? Or did 
 not the Pence and the Preaching go Hand in Hand together ? 
 
 But how little I was biaiTed by- Intereft m this Affair, the 
 Reader will judge, after I have told him Circumftances. 
 The Faft was this ; v/hen 1 came to enquire about a Lecture- 
 Jhip^ whiqh by Report, was vacant, and in the Gift of the 
 Company of 6'^/^(fr^ ; I was informed, that there were al- 
 ready two Candidates • the one, an Orthodox Clergyman, 
 the other, a Mcthcdijl \ that many of the Suiters had pro- 
 mifed the Methodift^ their Votes, feme unvjarily^ others with 
 a very fmgular Declaration, which plainly difcovered the In- 
 fluence of a lurking Accufer of our Brethren, to wit ; " that 
 ^' they would encouraa;e no Clergyinan^ but what fhould 
 " preach the true Gofpel, according to the Articles of the 
 " Church of England:' I'h's, notv/ithftanding the high 
 Difcernment of thefe Gentlemen, I knew, was not the Prac- 
 tice of the People, called M^r,W//^5, and therefore, that their 
 Xeal might be condu6fed bv Knowledze-, I thou2;ht it my 
 Z)z//y, to undeceive them, and that they ought to have been 
 undeceived by what I wrote, I leave it to any Man, who 
 profeffes himfelf a Chriftian, upon reaibnable Principles, to 
 be the Judge. 
 
 This, then, I decl-^re to be the true and principal RQihn 
 of my publifhing the Pamphlet to the Salters^ and very con- 
 fiftent it is, with the Concern I therein exprefied for their 
 HonGur and xhtpiihlick Good. For if it had been reported, 
 
 that 
 
iv r/J? P R E F A C E. 
 
 that the Orthodox Clergyman had'poflefTe^ their Eftcem more 
 extenfively ih?Ln the Met hodi/i -, I am confident, that all the 
 World, who knows me, will believe, that I Ihould never 
 have given the worfhipful Company or myfelf the Trouble 
 of an Addrefs in Print ; or even have offered the leaft Oppo- 
 lition to the other, (I mean the Orthodo}^) Gentleman. 
 
 Having tlius vindicated from jlfperfion^ and low Calumny^ 
 the Motives which gave Occafion to the aforefaid Pamphlet^ 
 I ihall now confider the ObjeSlions to the Manner of it, (^c, — • 
 as that it is written " with Bitternefs of Spirit, and extreme 
 ^' Virulence of Language, that it tells fome People," (we 
 are by and by to confider whom) of their ailing in op6n and 
 ♦' fcandalous Oppofition to the Church of England^ — with 
 ** Blafphemy, — and diabolical Phrenzy — -in giving our Savi- 
 ^' our the Lie, — vtith Impiety in releafmg Men from their 
 *' natural Fears of a Deity — and making Room for all Man- 
 ^' ner of Vice and Villainy — (by which the World is left to 
 *' infer) that they i?re not only guilty of Atheifm^ but in 
 «' fome Sort, of Treafon againft the State, ^r.*' — 
 
 But if dl this be true^ why fhould it not he fiidP The 
 ScR-iPTURE declares (Gal. iv. 18.) that it is our Duty to he 
 %ealoufy offered in a good Thing. And can there be any 
 'J'hin'g better than the Caufe of God ? 
 
 W" he re this is concerned I am not to regard the Perfons 
 of Men, or treat with Gent lenefs^ Meeknefs, Mildnefs^xho^e^ 
 who with the Pace of Meeknefs^ are doing the Work of 
 Athsijls^ but I am rather to fliew the Sincerity of my Faith^ 
 by (what they are pleafed to confider as it's Reproach) the 
 iieartinejs of the Zeal, wherewith I oppofe them. This 
 will Jay me under a NeccHity of ufing fuch IVords^ whether 
 they found agreeable or not, as by the common Confent of 
 Mankind belong to fuch and fuch Perfons^ or fuch and fuch 
 Thingz. ' Which is the Pra6tice of all honeft Men, and which,* 
 as they found Occafion, was the Praitice of Chrift, and hi^ 
 Jp0es^ 
 
 * This is a Fer/e of EpimenUes, a Greek Poet, which St. Pe::! 
 has irf rted into his Epiftie : If the Reader has a Mind to fee tiie 
 Meaning of it in EyigUJh Vcrfe^ it is much to this Purpofe ; 
 
 Eternal Liars all the Cretans are : 
 
 Aiidjuch (till Beaji'^is thou mull never fpare, Titus ?. 1 2. 
 
T/jf P R E F A C E. V 
 
 Said St. Paul to Titus ; and therefore he bids him to rebuke 
 them (harply. Suppofing then, that I may obferve the fame 
 Conduct towards the fame Soft of People, IJland fajl in 
 t the Liberty wherewith Chrift hathmadc me free^ {Gal, v. i.) 
 to pull off the Cioak of Hypocrify from thefe deluding 
 Wretches, and hold out to the World, as I detect them, 
 the undeniable Tokens of their Bafenefs, and Deceit. 
 
 Of which the Reader may take a Specimen^ from their 
 Manner of forming the above Ohjetllon. For what I have 
 faid of — *' fcandalous Oppofition to the Church of England 
 « — Blafphemy — Impiety — ^r." — is charged upon the Fro- 
 fejfton of Methodifm in general^ I ufe no perfonal ReflecStions 
 
 upon Mr. V , nor any Inventive again ft him, but in the 
 
 CharaSler of a Methodiji : The Man that infmuates the 
 Contrary, is guilty of a wilful Attempt to deceive the Pub- 
 lick ; but a wilful Attempt to deceive, is in the Phrafe of the 
 Englijh Tranflation of Scripture — a Lie. I think the Perfon 
 here concerned cannot but acquiefce in this ExpreJJion ; Be- 
 caufe he feemed offended at, what he calls, tinferiptural ] ar- 
 gon, and therefore I ufe this Word, as plain enough to be 
 underftood, and as being withal a fFord of Scripture. 
 
 But not to leave the Argument for the Sake of attending fo. 
 fcrupuloufly to the DiStion^ I muft obferve again, that all the 
 *' Defamation, Obloquy and Reproach, v/ith which I have 
 *' been faid to treat this Reverend, and %vorthy Clergyinan^^ 
 amounts only to the Charge oi Methodifm, which in another 
 Place is reputed a very honourable Charge, at leaif, in the 
 Opinion of this Apologid : But if fo, I can fee no Reafon, 
 why he ihould complain. For if Defamation be the greateft 
 Jionour, what can be I greater Honour than Defamation ? 
 An ordinary Reader perhaps, may be a little at a Lofs, as to 
 the Grounds, upon which he is to affent to this, not know- 
 ing whether it be the common Senfe of a Meihodiji, or nis In- 
 fpiration. * 
 
 But it feems we muft not bear too hard upon the Name of 
 Methodifi, fmce they take it to be a v^xy ftmph invffenfive 
 harmlefs Appellation.— So may the Name olfefuit appear ta 
 Jefuits, or that oilnquifitor to Inquifitors, and if you look to 
 ihtfirji Meaning of J^e Words, there mav be no Harm in 
 either j but yet on Account of certain bad Arts and PraS2ices 
 attributed to Men of thcfe De«ominatio?is, they are neither of. 
 
 f This, I hope, is a M-^per Rep'y to the Porfons who thought 
 ^hemfelves wit'.y in che App::ca::oa of my Name. them 
 
vJ T)5^ P R E F A C E. 
 
 them, here confidered as amiable CharaSfers. And for thp 
 fame Reafon, though a M£thodiJi may preter.d to have a. 
 good Opinion of his Name, it may turn out in the I^nd to be 
 not quite fo harinlefs as fome, which he, or I could mention. 
 As for Inftance — little Mechankk — great — School — Boy, 
 or little — School — Master. 
 
 And therefore, fmce we have hit upon it, let us here 'vs\ 
 the third Place, dwell for a fhort Time, upon the Subjef^, 
 jmd fee what we can make of the Name of Methodist. 
 
 To the Reproach of our Univerjlty, we are obliged to con- 
 fefs, that the Enthu^afm of the Met hodij^sbegzn at Oxford. 
 The Name was firft given to a few particular Perfons, who 
 affected to be fo uncommonly Methodical, as to keep a Diary 
 ofthemoft infignificant and trivial Adlions of their Lives; 
 fuch perhaps, as how many Slices of Bread and Butter they 
 eat with their Tea, how many Dijhes of Tea they drank, 
 how many Country-dances they called at their Dancing-Club ; 
 or after a Fajl, the Number of Pounds they might devour of 
 a Leg of Mutton. For upon thefe Occafions they eat like 
 Lions — which afforded Matter for Speculation among their 
 Neighbours, as they could not ealily comprehend, how 
 People, by making themfelves fo uncommonly voracious ^ 
 could be better prepared for any Offices of Religion. 
 
 From what conftitutional, or other Caufes it might happen, 
 would be tedious to enquire ; but it was not long before 
 thefe Gentlemen, from indulging their Whims in private, 
 began to dogmatize in a puUick Manner ; they encreafed 
 their Society by engaging fome raw young Scholars, and felt 
 a ftrong Inclination for new modellings retrieving, ?nending, 
 or in one Word, reforming almoft every Circumfiance, or 
 Thins;, in the Svftem of our w^//^/?^/ Reli2:ion. 
 
 And as they were the very fame Gentlemen, who had been 
 *whimftcal in Private, that were now grown dogmatical in 
 Publick, the People liill called them the Methodists— 
 by which was then, and is now generally underflood by all, 
 who are not of their own Perfwafion. 
 
 A Set of Enthiifiafts, who under the 
 
 The Definition Pretence of being true Members of th^ 
 or Chnrachr of Church of England, either prevert its 
 thofe Pcop'e, ex- DoCTRiN ES relating to Faith, and JVcrks, 
 plamjng, what is ^^^^ ^^^ c^^^.^^^ ^^ Salvation, fo as to make 
 ulually meart by , ^ . . ^u tt i o v. 
 
 M£T K D I s T s . ^ "'"* ^'^P^^S^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ "/^ V ^^riptures ; or 
 
 elfe offend againll^he Order and Dis- 
 ci PLiNfi 
 
Tk PREFACE. vii 
 
 €:iJ'tiN$ of the Church, or farther, even attack the Prtn* 
 tiples o^ natural Religion, and ftill under the Pretence of be- 
 ing Members of the Church o{ England^ or at leaft Chriftians. 
 
 This is a Defcription of their Chamber. And as a Shib^ 
 holeth to diftino;uiih them, whenever they pretend to conceal 
 themfelves under fuch a fair Profeirion, one may throw out 
 this,, or fuch like Prcpofition, 
 
 By the Terms of the Gospel, g'OJfd Works are ahfolutely 
 necejjary to obtain Salvation through Jefus Chrijl^ and affirm 
 the fame to be the Dotirine of the Church of England : If 
 they have not the Face to deny it to be the Senfe of Scripture, 
 they will immediately fall to quibbling or raifmgfuch Diffi- 
 culties from fome Parts of the Book of Common Prayer or 
 Homilies, as fhall (hew, that they will not allow it to be 
 the Do£trine of the Church. For whether it is, that they 
 'think, that by this Method they fhall hamper their Adverfar^ 
 fconer, they feem to pay an higher Regard, on thefe Occa- 
 fions, to /Articles and Hc?7iili€Sj than to the Scripture itfelf^ 
 though the Compilers of thofe Articles and Homilies pretend 
 to no Authority but from Scripture^ and had Honefly enough 
 to declare, that they required no Regard to be paid to their 
 Articles any farther^ than as they fhould appear to be con^ 
 Ji/lent with Scripture-f and maintained fuch Interpetations of 
 that Scripture^ as ihall keep it confi/ient with itfelf. This is 
 the Foundation upon which they build their Stru6ture, never 
 intending it fhould be put to any fuch Ufes, as might weaken 
 this Foundation ; and therefore to c-bnvince thefe People, 
 that even this boafted Retreat will afford them no Shelter, 
 and that they muft turn out again, as having ho Right of 
 Sanduary with us, one may fhew them to themfelves, and 
 to the World, by affirming it to be the Doctrine of the Church 
 tf England, that good JFcrks are ahfolutely neccjfary to SaU 
 vatiouy and by Arguing thus from the very Articles. 
 
 Ma' or, \ '^Vhat are ahjoluteiy nccejfary to a faviiig Faith^ 
 •^ * 7 are abfolutely neceffary to Salvation. 
 
 Miner. '* 9^^*^ Works are abfolutely neceffary to a faving 
 \ Faith. 
 
 Conclufgrt \ ^^^'^^'^^'^^ Good Works are abfolutely necefiary 
 -^' c to Salvation, 
 
 Proof of the Minor ^ 
 
 Major^ 
 
Vili The P tLU F A CE. 
 
 M ' \ What are infeparable from Tifaving S^ith^ are 
 
 •' ' \ abfolutely neceflary to a faving Faith. 
 
 ^. J Good Works are infeparable from a faving 
 
 \ Faith, 
 
 (^ J r 5 Therefore Good Works are abfolutely necejjar^ 
 
 •' L to a faving Faith. 
 
 Proof of the Minor, 
 
 jiyT : . 5 What necejjkrily fpring from a faving Faith^ 
 
 •^ ' ( are infeparable from 2i faving Faith, 
 
 Tij- \ Good Works 7iecefjarily fpring from a faving 
 
 t Faith, 
 
 r ^ h /7.« 5 Therefore, Good Works ate infeparable from a 
 iuoncizi/ion. S r • -r- • i -' * 
 
 ^ C a lavms: raith. 
 
 Here the Minor needs no Proof, if we ate to give Credit 
 to the twelfth * Article : Unlefs People make any Diftindtiori^ 
 between a true and lively' d.nd 2l faving Faith, which yet I 
 never heard of. This may be the Way then to difcovef 
 the Original Adethodijis^ who it feems for Diji Indian's 
 Sake affe6l to call themfelves Methodijis af the Church of 
 England. 
 
 By which however they plainly inform uS, that there are 
 others of their Body, who do not profefs to belong to our 
 Communion : And therefore it is juft to infer that the Me" 
 ihodi^fls, who take our Name, do notwithftanding difavow 
 fomething^ which thefe difavow; and embrace fomething, 
 which they embrace ; and therefore by acknowledging them 
 as Namefakes 2LnA Brethren, give themfelves the Lie, (which 
 they are not afhamed to do) when they fay, that they are 
 entirely with us, and of no other Communion. 
 
 For fach Coalition is Communion, and thefe Connexions, 
 and Communications will be the Caufe, why Dijfenters 
 
 * It appears then by this Article of the C\\}ixc\i of England t 
 that good Works are abfolutely n-^ceffary to Salvation. And there- 
 fore the Word alone in the preceeding Article, is not to be con- 
 lidered as a Particle totally exclujive^ but xzih^r conclu]i-ve, and de- 
 noting Eminence, as making Faith the Cronvn-ivork of Salvation, 
 by the fame Figure as when we fay, in corrimon S; eecb, fuch an 
 one is the only Man, by which we mean the chief Perfon for fuch a 
 Pnrpofe. This Interpretation cannot be denied, unlefs thefe People 
 intend to make {he Articles contradict each other, as ihey do the 
 ^criptutts. 
 
 ID»y 
 
r/^^ P R £ F A C E in 
 
 tnzy be called Methodlfts^ though they are not the primary 
 Objecls of my Definition^ though they may not be allowed as 
 fuch by the ^r/^/Wv/ Methodist, nay, though he and they 
 may be fo far at Variance, upon form Points^ as to be en- 
 gaged in Controverfy^ one againft the other. I fay nowith- 
 Itanding this, the World Will call thefe Mcthcdifis^ and I 
 think ^vQity jujily. For really they know not what elfe to 
 call them : They imagine that they went out from them at 
 the firft ; they find that they ftill hold feme fimilar Tenets^ 
 have perianal or corporate Attachments, and only upbraid 
 each other, as fwerving from feme Dodlrines wherein, as 
 in a common Caufe, it was expected, that they fhould have 
 been agreed ; though otherwife Dijfenters by Name, and 
 perhaps of feveral Denominations. 
 
 The World then calling them Methoaifls^ nay perhaps 
 the very dijjenting Congregations, to which they belong, 
 giving them that Title, Cuftom obliges me to do the fame^ 
 though ftridly fpeaking they are not of xhcfirji Order, but 
 rather what we may call Methodijiical^ than Methodiji. 
 
 If I take Notice of any of thefe People, or their Writings, 
 it is in this fecondary Charader, as they are connected with 
 Methodijh: For in their old Charader as Dijfenters \ fmcer 
 they meddle not with me, I give them no Difturbance, they 
 are tolerated by the Laws of the Land to dilTent from us, 
 and are, or fhould be^ under the Dire£iion of their proper 
 Pajlors. * 
 
 Who, if they be Men of Prudence^ and concerned for 
 the general Credit of Religion, will think it their Duty, as 
 we think it ours, to prevent fuch Delufions from paffing 
 under the Name oi Chrijlianity^ as may bring it into utter 
 Contempt, and hinder every wife Community from giving 
 it either Ej^.ahlifhment^ or "Toleration. 
 
 To compafs that End, was the Labour of all thofe /?/- 
 fidel Books, which- for the laft thirty Years, learned and 
 pious Chriftians have been employed in anfwering, fo that 
 it would be a Circumftance deplorable indeed, if what Athi^ 
 ifls and Infidels begun, ncminal and deluded Christians 
 fhould have PermiiTion, to combine, to finifli. 
 
 And thus much of the Origin and Na?r.e, and the more 
 general Divifions of the Methodiftsy appearing as Churchmen^ 
 or Dijfenters.^ and of the Marks whereby they may ufually 
 b? diiiineuifhed, 
 
 C If 
 
X fR^ P R E F A C E. 
 
 If any of the Founders of this Se6l, affifted by a grear<»r 
 Share of Learning and Sagacity than the Reft, or happier 
 Mutability of Genius, or the Advantage of independent 
 Circumftances, which will enable Men to fpeak the Truth, 
 have found a fair Opportunity to renounce and difclaim the 
 Opinions, with which they once were charged, I think as 
 they depart from the Notions, they may be permitted, if 
 they defire it, to lay afide the Name, and take another. 
 
 While on the contrary, the Snakes in our Bofom, who 
 whether by NegleSl^ or Col/ujion -drc crept iino our Churches, 
 as they (hall appear by their Converfation and JVritings to be 
 of that Tribe \ notwithftanding their double Dealmg, in 
 denying it, ought conftantly to be comprehended under that 
 Denomination, and ihcwn to the World in their proper 
 Charader. 
 
 For thefe are all Methodijh : And rather more danger- 
 ous, as they raife no Sufpicions of that Sort among the de- 
 luded common People, while they alllime legal 7 ities, and 
 pafs with them for ReSfor of — Vicar of — Majhr of — l^c* 
 ■and add, that they only preach the ^rz/(? Goipel, and are the 
 true Minijiers of the Church of England* 
 
 No wonder then, that they fhould be fo much difturbed at 
 the Author's Pamphlet/which charges them with fuch Doc- 
 trines^ as he proves to be contradictory to tiie Ccjpel^ con- 
 tradictory to the Church of England^ full of Blajphcmy^ and 
 hnpieiy^ and ending in downright Jtheifnu 
 
 This leads me to the fourth Thing, which I prcpofed to 
 fpeak to, in the Preface, namely the Alanner of the Charge^ 
 which was brought againft them in the Articles^ propoicd to 
 the Salters, which Charge they foy, has no Proof, or 
 Foundation. 
 
 I ha\'e received fome anonymous Letters^ and one almoji 
 anonymous Pamphlet from the Alelhodijis^ very exprefs to 
 this Purpofe. They ftvle themfelves rndeed Alcmbers of the 
 Church of England^ as I have j uif obferved lo be their Prac- 
 tice : But bcfide that their Speech, or Doctiine all along be- 
 trays them, the very Occafun of their Writmg difco vers 
 their real CharacSlcr. For they would never have wrote to 
 me, if it had not been in Defence of a Perfon, wiiom I 
 treated as a Methcdiji^ and as they have given themfelves fo 
 much Trouble to defend a AleihodtJ}^ it it> a Proof fufficient,« 
 that they are People of the fame Pcriuaiioii, 
 
 Having 
 
r/:^^ P R E F A C E. xi 
 
 Having thus difcovered to the Reader, who thefe Ohjec- 
 icrs are, it may not he aniifs to acqilaint him with the ■prin- 
 cipal Articles oF the Charge, which they objea t6 ;^and then 
 he will foon be able to determine, whether that Charge be 
 at all weakened by tbeir Outcry, orwhcther, on the contrary, 
 it be not totally confirmed from the very Papers, that con- 
 tain their Objections. 
 
 I. Among other Things then, I had faid in the Pamph- 
 let, aforementioned—'' tTiat the Mcthodijls openly oppofed 
 *' ?ifundatnentalAvi\Q\z of the Church of England by fo ex- 
 *' pounding Scripture as to make it contradict itfelf." 
 
 II. I had cha ized them likewife with " B/afphetny and 
 «« hnpiety, or diabolical Phrenzy, ia daring to contradiaour 
 *' Saviour's Authority, and that too in a Railage, which 
 " comprehcn Is (uch an eiTential Article of Religion, as the 
 " Judgment of the World." 
 
 III. Further I h:id obferved, " th?.t to contradia our 
 « Saviour in the Do^rine there advanced, concerning the 
 " Nature of a future Judgrftent, was not only fuch^ an Of- 
 " fence to him, as was before mentioned, but that it tended 
 «* likewife to deftroy the ejfhitlal Attributes of God and ruin 
 *' fcis Characler as Judge of the World." 
 
 In Support o'ii\\Qfirjl Accufation, I had faid, it was no- 
 torious, "that x\q- Mcthodijh explained the Word •/'^/V/;, 
 " as it (lands in fo:r.e of St. Paids Writings in^a Manner fo 
 "different fDm the clear Declaration of St. '^^amcs, as to 
 " make the D()arine of one Apoftle, a Hat Contradiaioa 
 « to the other, and that they afHrmcd it to be the Dodrine 
 « of Scripture, that a Man Ihall be faved by Faiih alone, ex- 
 " ch'frus of good Works ;» by which we mean Virtue and 
 
 " xMoR.\LITY." 
 
 Th s Praclice of theirs I faid was notorious. They up- 
 braid mc however for not giving a y^^^c/^/ Proof ot this ho- 
 ioricty: But I believe few^ Men of common Senfe ever at- 
 tempted to prove a Thing -that was Notorious, till fuch 
 Time, as contrary to their P^xpeCtation, they met v/ith 
 People of fuch notorious Impudence, as to deny it. And 
 then F.pecial Inft nos may be necefTary ; not fo much for 
 the Com'iction of others, as for a Reproof the Delinquents, 
 and that this mav have the greater Force, I fliall here give 
 the Re-ukr thi-.^ kluTs ow.n Account of the Tiling, whereby 
 he wi;l be ena'-ied to judge him^ by his own Evidence. 
 
 :h 
 
xii The F REF A C E, 
 
 You obje£t (fays he) Pag. 5. of the Articles to the Salters 
 •—That, '* it is notorious, that the Methodijis^ under the 
 *' Mafk of being true Sons of the Church, do ever explain 
 *' the Word Faith, as it ftands in fome of St. Paul's Writ- 
 *' ings in a Manner fo different from the clear Declaration 
 *' of St. James^ as to make the Doftrine of one Apoftle a 
 ** direct and flat Contradiction to the other".^-To this he 
 replies, 
 
 " Sir, I affirm this Charge from Beginning to End, to be 
 *^ notorioujQy falfe. One Circumftance is wanting there, 
 *' the Proof, the Proof Doctor. Where is that Proof to 
 *' fupport thefe AfTertions? Which of the Methodijls do 
 ^' this?" 
 
 Why he tells me very triumphantly, p. 18, that for his 
 own Part, he is one, and I leave it to the Reader to deter- 
 mine, whether he does hot fairly comprehend the reft. 
 ^' Therefore we conclude (fays he) that a Man is juftified, 
 "" his Sins pardoned, his Perfon accepted to God's Love 
 ^\ and Favour, and his Title to Glory evidenced to him 
 *^ by Fa'iih zvithout rhe Deeds of the Law^ either natural^ a- 
 *' remon'ial^ or inoral (faith the much admired Burkety^ Sic. If 
 this be not exclufwe of good Works, no Language can ex- 
 prcfs it. 
 
 Eat was there ever fuch hardened and unfeeling Impu^ 
 denu or Stupidity TlZ this!— For a Perfon to deny a Thing 
 with fuch a Degree of Confidence,* and loudly to demand a 
 Proof of it; and then a little after, with his own Mouth, 
 and of his own Motion, in fuch a particular Manner to con- 
 fefs it to be Fa6t, and that he hinifelf is of the fame Opinion. 
 
 It is no Pv'Iatter to me, whether this Man exprefs his C^«- 
 clnjion in his own TVordsy or the JVords of Burket. If he 
 admire this Frofejjion o^ Burksi's^ by admiring, it is plain he 
 liloesit, end by liking, he makes it his own : And as fuch, 
 it would hiive been taken by all Men of common Senfe, if 
 (exclufive of the high Admiration) he had only fet it here in 
 SuppoFt of bis own Opinion. For if it does not exprefs his 
 Opinion, it could not have been cited to fupport it : And 
 therefore if it is cited to fupport it, if exprefies his Opinion. 
 And that it fnould be fo taken, he ad^ls fomething yttjlrongery 
 the Meaning of which in plain Ejiglijh is, that we arejuftifi- 
 ^i| by Chrijiy on Account cf our Sin and fVichdncfs ; and not 
 
 by 
 
rhe PREFACE. xiii 
 
 by being Holy^ J^fit and Righteous Perfons, For which he 
 quotes Rom. iv. 5. 
 
 I fay then, the Faith of thefe People, which they pre- * 
 tend to gather from St. Paidy is quite oppofite or contradic- 
 tory to that of St. JameSy for he fays that Faith without 
 Works is deady and produces no Salvation, they fay that it 
 produces Salvation, and is quite alive. 
 
 So much in Support of my firft Charge, '' that the Me- 
 *' thodijhy under the Mafk of being true Sons of the Church, 
 *' do ever explain the Word Falth^ as it {lands in fome of 
 '' St. Paul's Writings in a Manner (or Senfe) fo different 
 *' from that of St. Jatnes^ as to make the Do61:rine of one 
 *' Apojlle a dire£l: and flat Contradi^ion to the other.'* 
 
 Which is likewife openly and avowedly to oppofe 2i fun- 
 damental Article of the Church of England \ I fay Funda- 
 mental^ that they may learn for the future, that the Articles 
 are of very different Importance^ and claim more or lefs of 
 our Regard, in Proportion to the Clearnefs and Importance 
 of their feveral Subjects, 
 
 Under t\iQfecQnd Accusation here mentioned, which 
 charges them with Blafphe?nyy and diabolical PhreJizy in dar- 
 ing to contradict our Saviour's Authority — T obferved, that 
 ?* our Saviour exprefly declares the Works of Men to be the 
 ^' Obje6t of his Judgment, the Matter of his Conftderation or 
 *' Attention^ before he rewards or faves them : But the Me- 
 «' thodijl for the Perdition of the Souls of his Followers 
 *' openly gives our Saviour the Lie, and fays that the Works 
 ♦' of Men are of no Conftderation at all." 
 
 What I here affirm however is mofl devoutly called in 
 Queflion, by one of my anonymous Correfpondents ; who 
 with great Simplicity^ ov vtvyjleady Hypocrify^ wonders, that 
 I {hould charge the Methodifls with denying the Necejftty of 
 good Works, in Order to Salvation^ and defires me to re- 
 tracSl it, as an unjufi: Afperfion. 
 
 Though at the fame Time another is Blafphemous enough 
 to tell me, that our Works will never be brought to the Bar of 
 God. In direct Oppofition, as- I obferved, to our Lord's 
 Declaration, thn at his Tribunal,hc /hall reward every Man 
 according to his JVorks, 
 
 If the firfl mentioned of thefe Gentlemen, doubts the 
 Truth of what is here related, as he feems to be a civilPQr- 
 fon, he fhall have the Perufal of the other's Letter, if he 
 
 pleafwS; 
 
XIV The PREFACE. 
 
 pkafes; and then for the Affair of RetraSftng^ he fhall be 
 my Cajuifl in my Stead : But if this Propofition cannot fo 
 conveniently be complied with, he may be fatisfied by the 
 Declaration of my Friend in Prhit^ who comes fo near the 
 Sentiment of the other ; that one would take him to be a 
 Commentator upon the former's Do6lrine. For C7ie fays, 
 *' that oar JVorks will never be brought to the Bar of God ;'* ■ 
 The other tells us, that all St. James requires of us, is that 
 ive Jhould pow our Works to Men. This Gentleman may 
 perceive then, that two of his Brethren 2LXt pretty fimilar in 
 their Evidence^ and both againft him. Having ufed this 
 Paflage as a Te/iimony^ let us dwell a little upon the Senfe 
 and Tendency of fuch an Interpretation. St. James he fays, 
 fpeaks of our IForks as the Jujlification of our Faith in the 
 Sight of Meny and that the fieiving of them which he fpeaks 
 of, has no Relation to fhewing them to God. — If this be 
 not a DiJii?2£fion without a Difference, it is a Diftlnction 
 very irreligious. Is there any Thing that Men can fee, 
 which God does not difcern? And if he difcerns, does he 
 not difcinguifh ? Strange Things, muft be replied here, to 
 make a Difference in the Cafe, and prove that fhewing our 
 Works to Man, is not fhewing them at the fame Time to 
 God. For if it be not fo, God mufl be blind, or indolent, 
 and have lefs Apprehenfion that fomeof his Creatures : And 
 therefore I have no Opinion of this, which my impudent 
 Friend czih a Protejiant Diftin^SlLon. If it be the Diltincli- 
 on of ProteJlants^ they muil be Protef^ants of his own Com- 
 plexion : For we, who are truly of the Church of England 
 abhor it ; knowing it to be the old * Difllncfion of the Epi^ 
 curcan Atheist, and thus ex pre/Ted by Lucreiius^ moi.e 
 than One Hundred Years before Chriji was born. 
 
 Omnis enim per fe Divom Natura^ necefje ejl.^ 
 Immortali Mvo fumma cwn Pace fruatur^ 
 Semota ab nojlris rebus fejunSlaque longe. 
 
 Lucret. De Rerum Natura Lib. I, 
 
 And thus much for the Rcafoning of the MoihocUfrs^ and 
 the Validity and Uniformity of their Relations. Out of three 
 
 * See the firft Difcourfe in a Vnhj?ne of SermorF, preached by 
 the Aurhor, b(f)re the Univcrfr.y at Oxford, ani pr:ntej in 
 London, in the Year i7;o. 
 
 of 
 
The PREFACE. iv 
 
 of my Correrpondents ; two of them have witnefTed againft 
 each other. Tzvo in Conjun^ion againft a third,^ and xht frfi 
 againft hijufelf. — Very pretty Evidence indeed ! 
 
 Such Advocates muft furely give Credit to a Caufe : And 
 I pray God to grant, that Atheijm may never meet with 
 better. For I believe the Reader Will not fcruple to give 
 them the Title of Atbeifts : After I have produced one Tejti- 
 mony more Irom fuch Sort of Writers j wherein God is re- 
 prefented as being Jngry with People, for attempting to be 
 
 virtuous. For that there is not, in the Eftimation of the 
 
 divi72e Being, any Diftindion between Vice and Virtue. 
 The Paflages are thefe : " He who attempts to do any 
 Thing eafy or difficult, under the Notion of an Aft of 
 believing, or any other A6f, in Order to his Acceptance 
 with God,, only heaps up more Wrath againft him- 
 felf." — * — And again, 
 
 *' "The w^hole New Teftament fpeaks aloud, that as to 
 the Matter of Acceptance with God, there is no Diffe- 
 rence between one Man> and another: — No Difference 
 betwixt the moft accomplifhed Gentleman., and the moft 
 infamous Scoundrel: — No Difference betwixt the moft 
 virtuous Lady., and the vileft Proftitute : — No Difference 
 betwixt the moft Reverend Judge, and the moft odious 
 Criminal ftanding convicted before him, and receivino* 
 the j nil Sentence of Death at his mouth :^— In a Word, 
 no Difference betwixt the moft fervent Devotee, and the 
 greateft Ringleader in Profanenefs and Excefs." 
 Tnow, not to criticife upon the Folly of this Coxcomh^ 
 for his awkward Aftedatioii of the fine Converfation-tcrmi 
 of Gentleman and Lady ; and introducing the Ideas of world- 
 ly Vanity and Politenefs, into an awful Scene, from which, 
 in the Nature of the Thing, they have been for ever ex- 
 cluded. — I fa}', to omit this Folly of the Coxcomb^ or Dulnefs 
 of the Bloockhead^ I have fomething to obferve of much 
 greater Confequence. 
 
 For after a Declaration of fuch fhocking Principles in a 
 Manner fo explicit^ fo pcrticidar., fo publick as this : One 
 miglit folcmnly appeal — (for fuch Things are too bad to be 
 overlooked or concealed}— to his Majesty as Deferider 
 
 * See an Account of Faith in Jefus Chrid in Rrmaiks on f6Fe- 
 
 of 
 
xvi The PREFACE. 
 
 of the Faith — to both Houfes of Parliament^ who as ^^nd'- 
 tors of the Realm, are to look to all nationlQonQ.^n\^^ and 
 eonfequently to the Religion of the Nation^ as by Law 
 eftablifhed, — to the JudgeSy as thofe who are to notice, what 
 Matters may /hake the Laius^ and dangeroufly affeSf the 
 State — to the two Houfes of Convocation^ as Guardians and 
 Interpreters of the Doctrines of the Church of England^ — * 
 whether a Man who can ^\]Lo\\{h fuch Do6irine as this, ought 
 to be permitted to bear the Name^ or execute the Office of a 
 PrieJ^ of the Church of England P 
 
 For, if what this Man affirms be true^ then is our Savi- 
 our a Liar^ in fuppofing a Dijiin^ion to fubfift between hu- 
 man Adions, and faying, that he will reward every one ac^ 
 cording to his Works. — If what this Man affirms to be true ; 
 th(!|^_J.s no ejjential Difference between Virtue, and Vice^ and 
 therefore no Occafion, here on Earthy for national Priejl* 
 hoods to enforce Virtue^ and preach Repentance. 
 
 No Occafion for my Lords, the Judges. — Becaufe there 
 is no Difference between them^ and the mofi odious Criminal, 
 
 No Occafion for King or Legijlature^ to prefcribe Laws, 
 and Rules^ and Ordinances ; becaufe all Things being thus 
 equal in the Sight of God, Lawgivers^ who are only fubor- 
 dinate, have no Right to make a Difference in Oppofition to 
 his Syflem^ nor any Caufe to fhew, why they fhould decree 
 Rewards and Honours to what is only imaginary Good, or 
 Infamy and Vengeance to imaginary Evil. 
 
 When I had advanced thus far, I received a little Pamphlet 
 from the Reverend Mr. John Wejley., entitled, A Letter to 
 the Reverend Dr. Free^ calling likewife for proofs upon this 
 Occafion. Thefe which I have laid before the Reader, I 
 imagine will give him fatisfa6lion, both as to the Validity of 
 my Affertions, and as to the Confequences, which 1 impute 
 to the Publication of fuch Do6lrines, which he allows^ 
 Page 7. to be very true^ provided they (the Methodifts) held 
 fuch Pofitions: And therefore all the Reply I need to 
 make at prefent, to this fmall Performance, may be com- 
 p ehended in a fingle Sentence. 51? w/V, that if he be not 
 herc'oy convinced, that thefe Pofitions as he calls them, are 
 heiu, and by People who pafs under the Denomination of 
 MeihodiftSy and will pleafe to fignify that want of Convic- 
 tion, in a private Letter, by the fame Hand, v/hich convey- 
 ed to me, the former Papeis, he iliall have the Civilty of 2 
 
 particular 
 
Ihe PRE FA C E. xvii 
 
 jiirticular Anfwer Paragraph by Paragraph, if he think 1^ 
 neceflary. 
 
 But for fome of the other poor Wretches, who have given 
 themfelves the Trouble of fending;, and me the Trouble of 
 receiving their miferable Compofitipns, as they are fuch, as 
 St. Paul diQktlheSy People vi^ho know not what they fdy^ nor 
 whereof they affirm ', I do not fee that the Rules of Chriftian 
 Charity y or common Prudence oblige me to take any further 
 Notice of them, efpecially, as they forfeit the Claim of the 
 Condefcenfion due to Men 6f lov^ Eftate, by appearing in 
 their own Conceit, to be fo much wifer aind more confider- 
 able than myfelf. 
 
 ^Having faid thus much, to give the Reader fome Ijiea of 
 the 7/W; and Circumjiances^ and the Temper of the Perfons 
 with whoni I engage^ I refer him' to the Sermon^ to learn 
 the Reft. 
 
 Southward, 
 June I j^, 1758, 
 
 . P, S. The Reader is defired to t?^Q Notice*, that the- 
 Author's Controverfy with the Methodijis confifts at prefent 
 of Six Pieces, which make an 0^/^^^'<? Volume, bound to- 
 gether in the following Order. 
 
 •I. A Difpla:y of the bad Principles of the Meth'cdijls in 
 certain Articles propofed to the Confideration of the Com^ 
 pany Qi Salter s^ &c. 
 
 ^ ■ . ■ ■ • 
 
 II. Rules for the Difcovery of falfe Prophets, l^c, A Sermom 
 
 before the Univerfily of Oxford. 
 
 III. - Dr. Free's Edition of Mr. Wefef^ Firft Penny Letter, '^Ci 
 
 IV. His Edition of Mr. JVej{ley\ Second Letter, ^V. 
 
 V. His Remarksupon Mr. Jones's Letter. 
 
 VI. His Speech at Ston-College to the Lcndcn Clfl:rgy" 
 
 D I Eplft. 
 
Other Books, which have been written by the Renji 
 Dr. Free, a7id foldby William Sandby at the 
 Ship oppofite St. Dunftan'i Church in Fleet- 
 Street. 
 
 I TT IS TORY of the EjtgUfh Tongue^ with the 
 -*-*■ Author's intended Dedication to his Royal HFgh- 
 nefs Prince George ; now Prince of IVales^ Part. I, 
 printed in 1749) and containing an Account. 
 
 I. Of the Roman or Latin Tongue, as once fopken in 
 
 Britain, 
 
 II. Of the Britijh or Welfiy and it's antient, and prefent 
 
 Limits, 
 III. Of the Pyhtas^ corrouptly callc^d PiSfs^ by the Ro- 
 ' MANS; their Set;lemei,t in the AV/^ of Britain 5 
 the Original of their Name and the Nature Ex' 
 tent^ and Z)z^r^^/^« of their Language. 
 IV; Of the Scots from Ireland ; and the Extent of the 
 Eerfe Language 5 in order to diftinguifh it from the 
 Englijh in the North of Britain, which vulgarly 
 pafles under the Name of Broad Scotch. 
 
 2. A Volume of Sermons preached before the Univerfity 
 oiOxfordy printed in 1750. V/ith a Preface tending to re- 
 form fome remarkably bad Pra6lices, both inChurch and State '^ 
 to the Negled of which^ we principally ou e our prefent Mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 3. PoliticalSEF^MONSf and Discourses, colleiled into one 
 Volume, under the Title of the Sentimefits of a True Anti- 
 gallic an i and dedicated to his Royal Highnefs the Duke, 
 1756. 
 
 4. A Jeco'tid Antigallican Sermon preached in the 
 Year 1756. upon the Terms of National Unanimity : With 
 a Genealopcal Table, fnewing his Majesty's antient Con- 
 nexions, with the Crowns of thefe Kingdoms, long antece- 
 dent in Time, to the 1\lan iage of his Anceflor with the 
 Stewart Family. 
 
 5. Poems upon feveral Occafions, the fecond Edition 
 1757, containing an Ode to the King oi' Fruffia^ an Ode 
 of Confolation to his R. H. the Duke. Jephtha an Oratorio 
 fet to Mufick by Mr. Stanley. Advice to the Fair 
 Sex, ^c. 
 
[O 
 
 I Epift. of St. John iv. i. 
 
 Beloved believe not every Spirit^ but try the 
 Spirits whether they are of God -y becauje many 
 Jalfe Prophets are gone out into the World, 
 
 THO, there is nothing of greater Benefit 
 to Mankind than true Religion, yet 
 there has been infinite Mifchief done 
 under the Colour of it; when it has been made to 
 ferve the Purpofes of wicked and defigning Men : 
 Or what is equally fatal, when it has covered the 
 Folly y or fandiified the licentious Sallies of fome 
 deluding Zealot. Which ever of thefe can artfully 
 join their Caufe to the Caufe of God, is generally 
 fure to meet with Profelytes. For the Caufe of 
 God is what all good Men are willing and eager 
 to efpoufe, while few have had an Education, 
 which can enable them without the Affiftance 
 of others, to difcern the Nature of the Thing 
 propofed, under that interefting and facred 
 Name, and how little Connexion there may 
 really be, between the Caufe of God, that alarms 
 them, and the fundry fpecious Follies and Intri- 
 gues of Men. 
 
 By this Means, the pityable Vulgar, whofe 
 Misfortune it is, to be deluded bv Shews and 
 Forms, have often received the Cheat or Mad- 
 man, with the fame Reverence which they 
 
 woiUd 
 
% :^ S E R M O N before the Unlverjtfy; 
 
 would pay to a Saint or a Prophet ; and have 
 been conducted by them as implicitly. 
 
 Some Centuries fince, before true Chriftianity 
 had got footing amongft us, our Anceftors were 
 miferably under the Yoak of Impoftors, and 
 abufed without End, by lying Miracles, and pre-- 
 tended Revelations. Indeed ^11 along ever fincc 
 we have been a Nation, the Spirit of Enthufiafm, 
 hath with fome Variation in it's Shape, appeared 
 amongft us, at certain dark Times, and^r^/y In- 
 tervals, in the Conflitution of the State^ or the 
 Conftitiition of the People. For thefe Things are 
 fome hbw connedted in Nature, When the 
 Ignorance of the Vulgar grows frantick, and is 
 joined by an uncommon Ferment in their Pa/JionSy 
 they foon grow weary of old Rules and Orders. 
 It matters not whethef they be Civil or ReligiouSy 
 that they firft intrude upon. Since the fame 
 reftlefs Folly, that oppofes the one, can hardly 
 Ipave the other without Difturbance. Thofe, 
 who rebel againft their lawful Governers, fel- 
 don fpare their lawful Teachers, and thofe who 
 de ry their lawful Teachers, do fometimes avow^ 
 edly, and always virtually oppofe their lawful 
 G.ovtrners. For why, in a Church by Law^ 
 eftabliflied, every Minijler is in his Province, a 
 Civil Officer, as well as Ecclejiajlical^ and 
 confequently every Combination againft the 
 cftablijhed Priefthood, is at the fame Time an 
 Attempt a^iainll the* civil Government, and a 
 
 * A RT. XXXIV. C the Church of E^jgknd, Whojoever through 
 hii pi ivate judgment. {5V. 
 
 ' • • ■' real 
 
cf Oxford on Whitfunday, Qf^r. j 
 
 real Attack upon the Conftitution, Indeed fuch 
 Attacks may not always deferve the Notice of 
 the Magiftrate, fo far as to provoke hi in to 
 Punifhment, efpecially where the Adverfary is 
 infignificant, and the Conjlitiition is in other 
 Refpe(fls firm, and out of Danger. Punifhr 
 ment, where there is no Call for it, would be 
 mifapplied, and has fometimes been the Means 
 of making fmall Difturbances, and weak En- 
 gines confiderable : But when w^hat was a^ 
 firft weak, is fuffered through Negligence to 
 grow fo extenfive in it's Operations, as to want 
 only a little 'Encouragement and Diredfiony to 
 give a Change to the whole Syjlemy both of our 
 Ecclefiajiical and civil Polity, the Cafe is very dif- 
 ferent y and will demand of the Legijlature, their 
 moft ferious Confideration. In the mean Time,* 
 it cannot be improper, in a Nation hke ours, 
 where every Malignity of Speaking and Writing, 
 carries with it a moft fuccefsful Infedtion, I fay it 
 cannot be improper for that Set of Men, whofe 
 Bufinefs it is, to reprove and rebuke with all long- 
 fufferingy to be watchful upon thefe Emergencies. 
 and not to pafs over even that fooli fid People^ 
 that dwell in Sichem\ but to prevent, wherever it 
 may be apprehended, every Religious Complain- 
 ing in our Streets, For this Reafon, as it is a 
 Precept beft calculated for thofe Occafions ; 
 when the Difeafe affeds the Skirts of the People, 
 and the Complaints arife from the deluded Multi.v 
 tude, I chufe to dwell upon the Pailage in my 
 Text : Becaufe it contains for the lower Sort ; 
 would they duly attend to it, Matter of fuch ex- 
 celleat Advice, and timely Information. 
 
 Behvedy 
 
ij. Various Meanings of the 
 
 Beloved, &c. 
 
 Now, becaufe the Term every Spirit, fup- 
 pofes fome Variety among them, and becaufe, in 
 Order to a Trial, they are to be feparated and 
 diftinguifhed ; this Diftindlion may be beft ap- 
 prehended, perhaps, by conliderlng, as I (hall, in 
 tht Jirji Place. 
 
 The various Meanings of the Name and Ap- 
 pellation, and what is the Import of the Word 
 Spirit, as it flands in different PafTages of Scrip- 
 ture. 
 
 And becaufe It is here fuggefted, that Prophet 
 alfo, is the Name for a Perfon of a doubtful 
 Chara6ter: I fhall, in the /^^i?;^^ Place, be care- 
 ful to explain. 
 
 Some of the moft remarkable Meanings, that 
 are couched under that Appellation. 
 
 And then in the third and lajl Place, after 
 thefe Explications of the Terms; one may be 
 able, with greater Variety and Accuracy, to lay 
 down certain Rides for the Difcovery, and Con-; 
 vidlion oifalfe Prophets, 
 
 Firft, Then, I am to coniider the various 
 Meanings of the word Spirit, as it flands in dif- 
 ferent PafTaaes of holy Writ. 
 
 1. The Word Spirit is called In the Hebrew 
 {nr^ Riiack', jn the Greek Scriptures {^ntiA-x^ 
 Pnemna. The Word in it*s primary Significa- 
 tion, means the Air we breathe; or fimply the 
 Wind^ Thus it is faid, ^* the Breath of Man 
 
 * Pf. dxivr. 
 
 ^GCth 
 
tVord Spirit in Scripture] ^ 
 
 gMh forth. The Prophet Daniel -f fpeaks of 
 the Jour [Ruchee or) Winds of Heaven. 
 
 2. Befide, thisjirji Meaning, the Word hath 
 ftill, in feveral Acceptations a Refpeifl only to 
 material Objecfls ; but in a metaphorical Senfe, as 
 when it means the Temper of the Man, and the 
 Habit of the bodily Conftitution : Thus we read 
 of the Spirit ofjealoufy^ meaning a jealous Tem- 
 per, a Spirit of Infirmity^ meaning a long Sick- 
 nefs. % 
 
 3. Befide the Bodily Temper, it reprefents the 
 Frame and Conftitution of the Mind. Thus 
 Job fays, the Spirit of my Underftanding, forces 
 nic to anfwer, i. e. the Temper of my Mind, or 
 the particular Apprehenfion, I have of Things^ 
 obliges me to reply to you. In a Senfe not very 
 unlike this, the Spirit of Prophefy, is fometimes 
 to be underflood, as meaning no more than the 
 natural Bent and T/;7^//r^of theUnderflandingj 
 a Propenfity to fome ABs of the Prophetick Office. 
 Thus St. Paul admonifhing that unruly Order> 
 tells them, that it was in their Power, to govern 
 their prophetick Temper, and condudl themfelves 
 by the Rules of Decency, For that the Spirits of 
 the Prophets are fibjebt to the Prophets, The 
 word Spirit, does fometimes denote aifo the 
 Diforders of the Mind, as well as thofe of the 
 Body. Thus the Spirit of Error, means the 
 natural Blindnefs of the Undeiftanding, which 
 obliges People to be ahvays ftumbling. A Mad- 
 
 t 4 Dan. % See Appendix, No, x. 
 
 man. 
 
6 Various Meanings of the 
 
 man, in the Old Teftament, is called SpirJfurfl. 
 ^be Days of Vi fit at ion are come, faith HcJ'ea, Ijrael 
 Jl:all knew it, the Fool is the Prophet, and the 
 Madman is the Man of the Spirit. And in the 
 New Teflament, we read of the Wind of vain 
 Docfri?2e, which hath no better Meaning than 
 that Pafiage oi Jeremiah v. 13. where he fays, 
 the Prophets Jkall become Windy and the Word oj 
 the Lord is not in thetn, 
 
 4. The word Spirit, hy 2i Metaphor , means 
 the 5cz//of Man, his immaterial znd better Part. 
 
 5. It means other immaterial Beings as God 
 and the Hcly Angels; the Devil and his Angels. 
 
 6. It may figniiy the tm?naterial Infue?ice of 
 God'b Holy Spirit, or that of any other Spirits 
 upon the Souls of human Creatures, fometimes 
 with a Prefage of Futurity; at other Times it 
 fignifies a bare hiipidj'e from any of thefe, upon 
 the Will of a Man fo as to alter for the prefent, 
 his Behaviour, and this not attended with any 
 Prefage of Futurity. 
 
 7. Again, by the Word Spirit, the Scripture 
 frequently exprefles the Influence of God's Spirit: 
 alone, whether that be Ordinary or Extraordi^ 
 nary, and the various Degrees of either. There 
 is generally though, fomething particular in the 
 Phrafe, by which each Kind, and the various 
 Degrees of each Kind may be diftinguifned. 
 The extraordinary Influence, is fignified by 
 fuch Exprelnons as thefe, I "will pour out of my 
 Spirit — 1 vi-as in the Spirit — The Spirit of the 
 Lord ca?ne upon him — and this er.traor dinar -^ In- 
 fluence 
 
IVorJ Spirit in Scripture, j 
 
 fluence is not always to the fame Purpofe, or for 
 the fame Continuance, and never exerted but 
 upon verv hi^h and uncommon Occaiions. The 
 ordinary Influence amongft Chriftians, feems to 
 be underftocd in fuch Fhrafes as thefe, bzrn of 
 the Spirit, fhewing it to be a fecond Nature, and 
 like other Things, which are born with us, in 
 it's Intent, lafting. And in this View, we receive 
 that other Precept, ^oicIj not the Spirit. Spirit 
 in this Senfe is that Gift of God, which in all 
 Aaes of the Church, hath been cemmcn to all good 
 Chriltians. There is nothing extract diriary^ or 
 miraculous in it's Operations. It is no more a 
 Wonder in the Jpiritual, than the Blowing of 
 the Wind in the iiatunil World ; it is always 
 fomew^here. And becaufe it was to be of common 
 \J(c^ our Saviour gives us the followini^ De- 
 fcriotion, and his infinite Wifdom, ivho knew 
 ivbat 'is: as in Man, knew for what Purpofe he 
 did it. * TJje Wind thiveth -d:here it lifteth, and 
 then hearefi the Sound thereof^ but canji not telly 
 ivhence it cometh and n-hither it goeth, fo is every 
 one that is born of the Spirit. By the Words in 
 the Clofe of this Speech, it is plain, cwr Saviour 
 meant it as an Aliufion or Comparifon, There 
 muft be a Similitude therefore between the 
 Spirit,3.nd the Emblem , under which our Saviour 
 reprefents it. Of the Emblem itfelf, he fays, we 
 are in part ignorant. The IVind bk-i-eth ivhere it 
 lijicth, and thou hcarejl the Sound thereof, but 
 canft not telliL'hcnce it comctb nor 'a^hither it goetb 
 
 * John ill. S. 
 
 E ^Bv 
 
8 Various Meajihtgs of the 
 
 w-Bv this Sound of the Wind, which we are 
 faid to apprehend, are meant it*s outward I'enfi- 
 ble Effeds : The; Noifecaufed by the Refiftence 
 or Fall of fuch Objedts, as it blows againft, of 
 which FfFefts our Reafon and Senfes^ our ufual 
 Faculties are the Judges. But what is that, of 
 which we are ignorant ? Why the Manner of 
 its coming, and going* ^hou canft not tell 
 whence it cometh^ nor whither it goethy and here- 
 in chit fly lies the Similitude, for it is added, fo 
 is every one that is born of the Spirit » The 
 Marks of the Spirit therefore given us by our 
 Saviour are fenfihle in the common Road, and 
 if there be a Similitude in the Cafe, are to be 
 difcerned in the fame outward Manner,.as the 
 Fall of a Tree, or the Wreck of a Ship, or any 
 of thofe Accidents, which are known to be 
 Marks and EfFeds of a Tempefl, Now'thefe 
 Things are vijible^ and open alike to our own 
 Obiervation, and often to the Obfervation of 
 other People, who are Judges in part, as well 
 as we, of every good Word and Work, that is 
 nianifeft before .them ; Which good Words and 
 Works are 4:he only infallible Teftimony of this 
 Kind of Infpiration. Our Saviour fays not a 
 Word of any unintelligible inward Feelings, 
 diftorting Agonies ^ or frightful Convidfions, For 
 thefe he knew might proceed from bodily Dif- 
 orders -, and Enthufialis have no Mark to dif- 
 tini-uifh, when they do not. Whereas a good 
 Life can proceed but from one Caufe ; and 
 
 there« 
 
TFoj^d Spirit in Scripture, q 
 
 therefore is a folid leftimony that "* God is ninth- 
 us ; a Teftimony not only convincing to oar- 
 felves, but to all that are round about us. Judf^e 
 therefore, from the Propriety and Safety of the 
 one above the other, Vv'hich our Saviour intend- 
 ed as the Mark of God's Holy Spirit; wlicther 
 a precarious Conceit of a diftempered Fancy, 
 which may not abide by a Perfon the Compafs 
 of a Day, which finks with the Alteration of the 
 bodily Temper, and of the Grounds of which 
 he can never convince another -, or. that which 
 depends upon a reafonable Convicftion backed by 
 the joint Affent, and general concurring Suffrage 
 of Mankind. 
 
 Tl^fe fecm to be the mofl remarkable Mean- 
 ings of the Word Spirit, as ititands in different 
 Pailages of Holy Writ. They are, we find, 
 widely diffetent from one another; and in 
 
 * But not content with this, the Methodids have C3rr*ed th?ir 
 CurioJity^Q f rjn huntinsr for extr-ordiiiarv Marks^ an.- Ret'elaticns^ 
 whereby to know tfiC State of t'le Soul j that one of their Teachers, 
 in Order to gratify their Humour, ^rd rake as great an A'i/ <r,taoe 
 of it as he couid, is fiiid to have forged a Lett'^r, d^tp.i from the 
 Manfions abonje, which he re^d without. Sname in the Pulpit, to the 
 Vto\>\e ci ^t.Sa'viour^s, SoufhiJoark. See it in the Appendix, N). z. 
 
 But that thefe Saifits my learn to wean theoife'ves from a Curi- 
 ofity no where authorized in Scr.pturc% let them remember ; that 
 to determine upon thf/W State of Min's Snul, is only his Pnro- 
 gativty who is the Sovereign Judge or t e VVor- J. 
 
 And yet through the Licenrioufnefs of th {t Time?, every the 
 meaneft Pcribn in ccrnmon Lire, ^very 6o2iV,ngo}d ^Vovtan, every 
 over-grown Apprentice, every new-fainted Magdalene, emouragfed 
 in their blafphemous Pradices by thofe Impofio^), ihall place £hem- 
 felves upon the Tribunal of the Almighty, and deal out Damnation 
 to their Fellow- Creatures, 
 
 Tnis is fuch a Prefumption, as is \txy offenfive to the Honour of 
 God, and the Order of Society, and theretore very deftrving of 
 fublick Cenfure. 
 
 Number 
 
io Vanous Meaning of the 
 
 Number fufHcient to perplex ignorant PeopleV 
 who read with warm Heads, and a Luft of mif- 
 applying, under the Condud tob of Teachersy 
 who are to build their Succefs oil fuch Advant- 
 ages. The fAegoing DtjlinSions as they plain- 
 ly fhew, that it is not every Spirit^ that is to be 
 credited, may be a Means of preventing that 
 Confufion, which otherwife muft arife from the 
 promifcuousUfe of a Term, which admits of fuch 
 a Variety of Interpretations. 
 
 I now proceed to a critical Examination of 
 the Word Prophet, which Examination does 
 therefore take the y?'a',W Place ^ becaufe general- 
 ly fpeaking we muft firft difcern the Spirit of a 
 Man, of what Kind it is, before we can^udge 
 of his Qualifications as a Prophety or know iti 
 what Rank to place him, {upp«fing him in any 
 Degree capable of that Denomination. 
 
 The Hebrew Word (na:) is moft probably 
 derived from the Word (^n) * Boh to enter. 
 Whence this Name imports, the Perfon, that en- 
 tered, fignifying thereby his Entrance into fome 
 facred Place 'f- which was prohibited to the Peo- 
 ple, 
 
 * Nimh. xi. 8, 9. In tfie Oriental Languages the Letters ^^ 
 A, W, I, are often put for one another. This is as much a Rule 
 in the Hehreiv as the Arabick. In the Derivatives ROi propheta^ 
 and nb<0 Introitusy there is a f for better found's fake mile :d of a 
 1. Wnile again in the word nXiSl Prophetia the Radical Lettef 
 has it's true Form, and plaialy ihews the Word's Original. 
 
 -f- Thus at Deiphos^ 
 
 H/AEr^ Tu y iqu. TMV leu c4?vAo»^ f/t^sXfif 
 Oi TrXricr'iov ^a.(T(7eci r^iTTo^og, ^eve, 
 
 At7\(puy «gir£/V Euripid. Jon. 
 
 At 
 
Word Spirit in Scripture. 1 1 
 
 pie, to whom at his coming out he reported 
 fome Oraclcy or made fome Harangue, From 
 this laft Part of the Prophetick Office, one of 
 the Rahbies took Occafion to derive the Name 
 from (ni3) a Root, which fignifies Elocution^ 
 Oratory, Preaching. 
 
 The Word in the Greek Scriptures, which we 
 retain in our Language, namely Prophet^ figni- 
 fies in it's Original, a Foreteller of future Events, 
 but in it's ufual Acceptation among the Greeks, 
 the Chief of the Priefts, the Perfon, who pre- 
 fided in the Temple over the Refl, as chief 
 Maiter of Religious Ceremonies, whether he 
 gave out Oracles or not. Thus much of thd 
 Original, and moil: obvious Acceptations of the 
 Words (N>n3) Nabih and Prophet, let us now 
 enumerate fome of their peculiar Meanings, in 
 particular Places of Scripture, as far as may con- 
 cern our prefent Purpole. Be it obferved pre- 
 viouilv to this, that the Name Prophet in the 
 Hebrew i taken from one Verb^ foon gave Rife to 
 another \ 2. Thing common in other Languages*, 
 and the Meaning of the new Verb extended not 
 only to the principal Office of a Prophet, but 
 alfo (according to the Genius of the Hebrew 
 Language, which is barren in Words) to the 
 minute Actions of Perfons in that Chara<5ter, 
 and fo if a Perfon wore the Garb of a Prophet, 
 
 At the TempiC of Jubltr-r Ammon, there w?re the f^me Ceremonies, 
 
 S[rabo. Lib. r7« 
 * Nil, Thus in Gree^ from '^^o(pvf^i comes Tr^o^^TJ^?, and 
 K03, thence aiiocher Verb 'rr^o^nriiu, 
 
 eat 
 
J 2 Various Meamigs of the 
 
 cat like a Prophet, or prayed in their Manner^ 
 he was faid in the Hebrew to ad: the Prophet, 
 which we in Englifi improperly render to Pro^ 
 phefy. It was neceffary to make this Remark, 
 becaufe otberwile, when People read in the 
 Bible, that fuch an one prcphejiedy they may be 
 induced to think, that he was adling in the high^ 
 eft Part of that Character ^ and foretelling future 
 Events : When perhaps confidering the Perfon's 
 whole Conduct, and Hiftory, we lliall find but 
 little Reafon to believe his divine Infpiration. 
 
 Thus for Inftcincethe Prophets oi Baal ^ when 
 they offered up the Sacrifice, which was to de- 
 cide the Controverfy between them and Elijah 
 are faid to have ^ prophefied until the Time of 
 offering the Evening Sacrifice ^ by which is meant 
 only, that they were fo long in paying their Ido- 
 latrous Devotions. For thus the Text explains 
 itfelf. And they took the Btdlocky that was given 
 them, and they drefjed it, and called on the Name 
 of Bial from Morni?7g even untill Noon, faying 
 O Baal hear us. But there was no Voice, nor 
 a?7v that anjwered, ajid they leaped upon the 4.ltar^ 
 *which was made. And it came to pafs at Noon, 
 that Elijah mocked them, and they cried aloud, and 
 cut thewfelves after their Marnier with Knives and 
 Lances^ till the Blcod gufied out upon them. It is 
 plain from hence, that People have been faid to 
 prophefy, when they have had ?20 Share of divine 
 Infpiration, when they have not been foretelling 
 future Events, but only performing their ordi- 
 
 * I Kings xvili*. 26, 27, 2Sc 
 
 nary 
 
. . Word Prophent in Scripture. \ ^ 
 
 nary Devotions, or doing fome Act in the Man- 
 ner, or in the Form of 'Prophets of this or that 
 Denomination. 
 
 In this Senfe it is, that Saul v/as faid to Pro-^ 
 fhefy^ and to be amojigH the Prophets. The Pre^ 
 dialing Prophets termed in the New I'ellament, 
 thofe who have fpoken, \- e. v/ho foretold future 
 Events, and were therefore called Seers^ fuftained 
 alfo another Office of a civil Nature. They were 
 generally at the Head of feveral Seminaries, and 
 Schools of young Men, whom they taught to 
 follow their own Way of Life, and Form of 
 Devotion, and of whom they were therefore faid 
 to be the Fathers , Becaufe they broitght them 
 up in this Way, and were fometimes fucceed- 
 cd by them, in the holie/i Part of their Func- 
 tions. Whoever frequented thefe Aflemblies, and 
 joined in any of their Actions, was faid to 
 be oj the Sons of the Prophets, to prophefi and to 
 be among the Prophets. And this, according to a 
 learned and ingenious •f Interpreter, is the Mean- 
 ing of Saul^ Prophefying, and moft likely to 
 be the true Meaning. 
 
 For tho' it be added, '^ that the Spirit of the Lord 
 fiall come upon thee, and thou jloalt be turned into 
 another Man, yet this is not to be underftood of 
 the divine Influence, with the Prefage of Futu- 
 rity; but only of an ImpiiJfe upon the fFill, fo as 
 to alter, for a Time, his Behaviour. For .S^Wby 
 the Tenour of his Life was not efieemed over 
 Devout, but rather a Defpifer of Religious Cere- 
 monies; and therefore by his fudden Attachment 
 
 t Warhurton\ Divine Legation of Vicfn, Vul. lil pai'C 310 
 3 Sam.x. u. * I Sam, X. 6. 
 
 to 
 
14 Various Meanings of the 
 
 to them, might well be faid to be turned into ano^ 
 ther Man. though there was no other Change in 
 his Charader. Bat if from this Phrafe, the 
 spirit of the Lord fid all come upon Thee^ there 
 remain yet a Sufpicion to any one that Saul in 
 his Frophetick Temper, was rapt into Futurity^ 
 let us (ee the Force of the Expreffion in other 
 PafTages of Scripture. 
 
 It is faid of Jephtha, that the Spirit of the 
 "Lord came upon him, and in Confequence of this 
 v/hat did he ? ^ Why he pajjed over Gikad and 
 Manafch, pajjed over Mizpeh of Gikad, and 
 from Adizpeh of Gileady he pajfed over unto the 
 Children (ff Amnon. And if we read his Cha- 
 radler, he is faid to be a 7nighty Man of Valour^ 
 end the Son of an || Haidot : But he is no where 
 faid to have been a Prophet, This Spirit of the 
 Lord then here mentioned was not the Prophe- 
 TICK Spirit. 
 
 When xht pr editing Prophet is defcribed the 
 Expreffions -f- are more pompous ; thus we 
 read of the Vifion of Ifaiah, the Sen of Amos, 
 which he faw concerning Judah ^;2^ Jerulalem, 
 &c\ The Word of the Lord came unto David's 
 Seer. Thefe Terms Vv^ere applied to none but 
 fuch as faw into Futurity, and had the miracu- 
 lous Gift of reprefenting to the People Things 
 to come ; and in Token of :{; this Gilt, either 
 they wrought Miracles ; or appealed to the Com- 
 pletion of f<^me Fa6t foretold by them; which 
 when it came to pafs, was to the People one 
 
 * JaJges xi. 29. II xi. I. f I Ifai. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 :i: I Kingsxviii. 36, 37, 38, 
 
Word Prophet in Scripture, i 5 
 
 Sign of the Reality of their Millions. * In thefe 
 Terms, Micaiah oppofcd the falfe Prophets, 
 who were dekiding the King of IfraeL He tells 
 Zedikiah one of his Opponents, thit he fliould 
 have Conviction enough of \\h'\Micaiah'6) heing 
 infpired, Wbeji he fl^qidd go into an inner Cbcrmber 
 to hide himfelf. And he tells the King, that if 
 he did return at all in Peace, the Lord hath not 
 fpoken by me^ and he faid hearken^ O People^ every 
 one of you. Such Circumftances as thefe are 
 generally the Marks of a Prophet, in the moft 
 proper and exalted Meaning of the Word. 
 
 Where there are no fuch Cir cum/lances added 
 in Scripture, the Word Prophet is nothing 
 akin to miracidoiis divine Infpiration, but is to be 
 connecfted with fome of the lower Ideas of the 
 Prophet^ Office, fuch as have been before de- 
 fcribed, or fuch as obtains moft frequently in the 
 New Teftament, which fhali be here, in the 
 laft Place, more particularly explained. The 
 Idea, I mean, is that of the Prophet in the Office, 
 of an Orator or Preacher, Thus we read in 
 Nehemiah, thou haft appointed Prophets to 
 preach of xh^t in Jerulakm, /. e. to make Speeches. 
 In which Senfe 1 obferved' before, that one of the 
 Jewilh Rabbles underftood the Hebrew Word, 
 and in which Senfe the Greek Word in the New 
 Teftament + is generally to be taken : Thus it 
 is faid of Judas and Silas^ Legates from the firft 
 Council^ upon the Controveriy with the Gen- 
 tiles, that being Pr(:5/?/6^/5, /. e, eloquent Preachers^ 
 
 * 1 Kings xxii. 25 and 28. -f A(5ls xv. 32. 
 
 F they 
 
1 6 Various Meanings cf the 
 
 they exhorted the Brethren %vith many Words and 
 confirmed them. The Reafon for their inter- 
 pofmg, according to th^ liifiorian^ is taken 
 from the Nature of their Office. There muft 
 have been a Fitnefs then in their Office for this 
 Purpofe ; a natural Connexion between it, and 
 the Bufinefs, which called upon them to exert it: 
 But their Bufinefs was to fet People right in a 
 Matter oi Debati and Reafon : The Notion of a 
 Prophet here then was only that of Reafoner, 
 For otherwife thefe Prophets might have ufed 
 divine Authority witli the People (a fliorter Me- 
 thod than the Ufe of io many Words) to have 
 C07ifirmed them, 
 
 St. Paul's Defcriptlon of the Prophets in the 
 
 New Teftament, as a common Order fubfifting in 
 
 the Church, puts it paft a Doubt, that they were 
 
 only an Order oi Preachers \ without any Thing 
 
 viiraculous in their Charadiers. For he fays they 
 
 were not defigned by God Ahuighty, for a Means 
 
 of Conviction to Infidels, likethofe, who had the 
 
 miraculous Gift of Tongues. But had they 
 
 been in an extraordinary Manner divi?2ely in- 
 
 fpired, they would have been as much a Wonder 
 
 as the other. It is a plain Proof then, that they 
 
 pretended not to miraculous divine Infpiration. 
 
 * Tongues, /. e, the miraculous Gift of fpeaking 
 
 divers Languages, was for a Sign to the?n that 
 
 believed 7iot^ but Frophejying fervetb not for (the 
 
 Miraculous Conviction of) Unbelievers^ but for 
 
 them, which believe. And all that the Apoille 
 
 * 1 Cor. xiv. 2 2. 
 
 fays 
 
Jf^ord Frophtt 122 Scrip fun. 17 
 
 fays of this Service was, tb^f * /V 'was fp caking to 
 Men to Edification^ Exhortation^ and Comfort, 
 And whether they did this well or not, the other 
 were to judge, -f If another had a better Appre^ 
 henfion of the Thing, the firft Treacher was to 
 hold his Peace : For he adds %. the Spirits of the 
 Prophets are SiibjeB to the Prophets, A plain 
 Proof, that thefe Spirits were none but their 
 oivn. For a diftin^l Being has a diftind: Will-, 
 and we cannot force the Will of another Man, 
 much lefs that of another Spirit, which in the 
 Cafe of Infpiration, mujl be in all its Faculties 
 our Superiour. Upon the whole then, it ap- 
 pears that the ordinary Church-Prophets of the 
 New Teflament, or thofe, who fpoke in the Af- 
 fembiies, had no Pretence to miraculous divine 
 Infpiration. One would wonder therefore, by 
 what irreligious Boldnefs, and Blafphemous 
 Prefumption, § our Preaching Prophets now-a- 
 days pretend to it. If it was not necelTary in 
 the hifancy of the Church, they can never with 
 Reafon fay, that it muft be neceflary now, in 
 Places, where Churches are grown to Maturity, 
 and by Law efiablified. With what View this 
 Opinion is maintained one cannot favourably 
 conceive. Whether it be the Dejign of thefe 
 People to undermine the Name, and Faith of 
 Chriftians is bed known to God and their Con- 
 fciences, but that they do in Fadl join Hands 
 with Infidels is certain, by their fixing upon Re- 
 ligion thofe very Falflaoods and Abfurdities, 
 
 * Ver. 3, f Ver. 29. X^z. § See Appendix No. III. 
 
 which 
 
x8 Rules for the Difcovery ^ 
 
 whicKin the Efteem of the Infidel Party * tend 
 directly to its Difo-race and Ruin. Whatever 
 their Defigns may be, we fliall be able at leafl: 
 to torm lome Opinion of the Nature and Ten- 
 dency of their Condud:, after that I have in the 
 lall: Place laid down. 
 
 Certain Rules for the Difcovery and Convidil^ 
 on of fahe Prophets. 
 
 The Means of difcovering a falfe Prophet, 
 are either his Words or Anions. 
 
 St. John -f* in the Verfe following the Text, 
 bids us form a Judgment of a Man by the Mat- 
 ter of his DoBrine, Hereby^ faith he, know we 
 the Spirit of God, And in the Old Teftament, 
 the Matter of a Man's Docirine is made the Tefl 
 of- his Mifiion in Oppolition to the Power of 
 working Miracles, [Deut, xiii.) If there arife 
 among you a Prophet or a I) reamer of Dreams^ 
 and givcth thee a Sign or a Wonder : And the Stgn 
 or the Wonder come to pa fs^ wherepf he fpake un- 
 to thee faying, let us go after other Gods — a)id let 
 us ferve them, l^hou fialt not hearken unto the 
 Words of that Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams, 
 Tor the Lord your God proveth you — Te fl^ali walk 
 after the Lord your God y and j ear him, and keep 
 his Commaiidments^ and obey his Voiee, — And that 
 Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams jhall be put to 
 Death, brcaufe he hath fpoken to turn you away 
 from the Lord your God, To the fame PurpofeSt. 
 
 * See an Infi'iel Book entitled, Chijliamty not fcuy.ded on A^-gif^ 
 ment 'y wherein tiie Aut-or prete.-.d? r dctnd Rcl-^ on upon the 
 Prir-cipies oi Metkidifti, and txp^fts ic wua the atmoit Scoriu 
 
 f I Ep. -i 
 
 Paul 
 
of falfe Prophets. t^ 
 
 PnuJ admoniflies the Galatians, when fome had 
 troubled diem and were perverting the Gofpel of 
 Chrifl. Thowe or an Angel froniHeaven^ faith he^ 
 preach any other Gofpel than thaty which we have 
 preached unto you ^ let him he accused. Before 
 our Reception therefore of any Prophet-, it is 
 indifpenfahly our Duty in the firft Place, to look 
 particularly, to the Matter of his Speech, or Doc^ 
 trine y as one Means of forming a right Judg- 
 ment concernino; him. 
 
 And the Marks we are to look to are fuch as 
 thefe. 
 
 T . Whether his Account of hi mf elf he not above 
 his real Charade r ? 
 
 2. Whether his other Dodrines be not for their 
 Matter falle and incredible ? 
 
 3 . Whether what he fays^ upon any Subjedl, be 
 in Point ^' Propriety and Diicretion, fuited and 
 agreeable to a Prophet's Name, and the Dignity 
 of an holy Fundion ? 
 
 And in judging of thefe important Articles^ 
 we are to be guided as the Matter fliall require* 
 
 Either by the common Principles of Rea- 
 fon 
 
 By the Holy Scripture taken 'n the gene -a 1 as 
 the Word oi God: — Or by particular Pafjages 
 coiledted from the lame. 
 
 Oi in Caies, where thefe are fiient, and our 
 own Reafon*not capable of judging ; it is (iifeft 
 to follow the Advice of the Schcois of the Pro^ 
 phetSy and the lawful Pw///j(?^^ of the Nation. 
 
 Fir/i, We are to coniider, whether the Pio- 
 
20 Rules /or the Dijcovery 
 
 phet's Account oj himfeify be not above his real 
 Charadter. 
 
 The different Degrees of fuch as promifcu- 
 ouQy bore the Name oi Prophet in Scripture have 
 been before diftinguifhed. Thofe, which we 
 have gTnerally moft Occafion to note are, or 
 would feem to be, of the Order of haranguing 
 Prophets, or thofe, which preach to the People. 
 But as there is much Reafon to doubt whether 
 many, that are thus employed, have any juft 
 Title to exercife that Office, it may be proper in 
 xhtjir/l Place, to examine their Claim even to 
 this, and determine its Merits. 
 
 Every publick Teacher of all Orders and De- 
 grees of Men amongft us, ought to receive his 
 Ccmmiffion, either from Gofpel — Ordinances, or 
 be authorifed * by Powers and Privileges grant- 
 ed by the Laws of the Realm, to this or that 
 Society, And whoever affumes the Office of a 
 preaching Prophet or Teacher, not warranted 
 by Gofpel Ordinances, or countenanced by the 
 Laws of the Land ; is, with Refpedt to the 
 Gofpel y an Antichriflian Teacher and jalfe Pro- 
 phet^ and with Refpedl to the State a Mover of 
 Sedition^ and a mutinous Difturber of the pub- 
 lick Peace, that acfls in Contempt, and Defiance 
 of the Laws eftablifhed. This is the Cafe of 
 thofe who intrude themfelves as haranguing 
 Prophets, not having a convincing Teftimony, 
 th^'t they are truly called, or countenanced by 
 due Authority. 
 
 * Art. xxiii. <^f the Church of England — It is not lawful for any 
 Man to take udqu ^m the Oftce, ^c. See Ap. No. IV. 
 
 With 
 
of falfe Prophets* 2 1 
 
 With regard to thofc, who receiving proper 
 Orders to inftru6t the People, do yet vainly 
 magnify their Office beyond the Truths and add 
 fomething fiBitious to their Charadler, by high 
 Pretences to miraculous Infpiration, they too are 
 falfe Prophets as well as the former. — Vov in 
 Virtue of their Office no miraculous Infpiration 
 was ever promifed them -, nor upon that Ac- 
 count ever granted in the apoftolick Age, when 
 the Church, if ever, ftood moftin need of it. 
 
 Thefe Circurnfiances are to be regarded, when 
 we confider in \htfrft Place, whether the Pro- 
 phet's Account of himfelf be not above his real 
 Charader. 
 
 When we look to his other Do6lfines^ we may 
 judge in great Part by the Principles oi Reaforiy 
 whether they be true or falfe y or whether the 
 Man be turning us from the Lord our God. 
 For he is actually engaged in this diabolical 
 Employment, if he mifreprefents the divine Na- 
 ture, making him fo "^ fooltjh as to overlook the 
 obvious Diftindlions of Vice and Virtue ; and fo 
 unjiift as to fet no manner of Eftimation upon 
 Virtue y nay even to accept of Vice before it. 
 Such Doiflrines we can condemn by the Light of 
 Reajon, independent of Revelation, 
 
 And by the Character of the Holy Scriptures, 
 taken in general as the Word of God, we may 
 judge of a falfe Prophet by fuch Marks as thefe. 
 
 -f If he makes the Scriptures contradiSl them- 
 
 * See Appendix, No. 5. 
 
 f Art. XX. The Church may not fo expound one Place of Scrip- 
 ture, that it be repugnant to another, ^c, 
 
 fehes^ 
 
ttz ./ Riiks for the T>lfcnver^ 
 
 Jehes^ or deduces from thence any DDdrlncS 
 deftru6live to moral Virtue, and the Peace and 
 Happinejs of Human Society. 
 
 For we know by the Light of Rcajon^ (and 
 upon the Footing of Reafon, we receive the 
 Scripturts as the Word of God) that the Scrip- 
 ture cannot CGntradi5i itfelf. Therefore if it fay, 
 that Chrtjl will render *o every Man according to 
 his JVorks, Matt. xvi. 27.) and that jF^///j with- 
 out Works is deady it can never be fuppofed to 
 mean, that Faith can fave a Man without p-ood 
 Works. If the Scripture uttered Contradidions^ 
 it were not fit to be believed. For one Side of a 
 Contradidti-on mud be falle. But we know that 
 the Text of Scripture is to be believed, and there- 
 fore by the general Character of Scripture, as the 
 Word of God, we know, that he who charges it 
 with Contradidlions is a falfe Prophet. 
 
 And by the fame Character we know that no 
 Dodlrines can come from it, deftrudtive to moral 
 Virtue, or the Order^ Peace, and Happinejs of 
 Society. 
 
 Upon thefe Points too, even the particular 
 Paffages of Holy Scripture exprefly oppofe the 
 Dodlrine of our modern Prophets. With Regard 
 to moral Virtue ; there are Paifages, Vvhich en- 
 join it as * indij'pe7t[ably necefiary to future Hap- 
 pinefs : And with Regard to our domejiick and 
 civil Condu(f]:, it is prelcnbed that 'we jiudy to be 
 quiet ^ and to do our oivn Bufnefs. It we do not 
 iL'ork, we are not to eat. And it is only while 
 
 * Heb. xii. 14. 
 
 WC 
 
g/* falfe Prophets. ^^ 
 
 tve are merry^ and at leifure that St. James ad- 
 vifes us to hQji?igij2g of Pjahis, 
 
 And thus we may make the Scriptures the 
 Touch-ftone for the Trial of falfc Dodtrine. 
 
 Where thofe are filent, and our own Reaf.n 
 not capable of judging, it is fafeft to follow the 
 Advice of the Schools of the ProphetSy and the 
 lawful Friejlhood of the Nation, for when we 
 cannot tell how to preferve our Health, we ap- 
 ply to the regular Phyfxiany and when we are 
 to feek in Matters of Right to fome approved 
 Counfeller : And therefore by Parity of Reafon, 
 when we are in Doubt in Religious Matters, we 
 fhould confult our regular and approved Paftors^ 
 who are appointed by Laws divi?ie and human, 
 to be our Guides and Directors on fach Subjects. 
 The Jal/e Prophets are fo fenfible, that the Opi- 
 nion of thefe will lie againft them, that it is ge- 
 nerally one of their firfl Artifices to decry, and 
 abufe the fiational Clergy. It will be well worth 
 while to obferve upon fuch Occafions, whether 
 their Attacks are not againft fome of the beft and 
 ablejl 3 fuch as among the wifer and better Sort 
 of all Denominations, have always born for Piety 
 and Learning, * the higheft Reputation. If this 
 be the Cafe, it is almoft an infallible Mark of a 
 Falfe Prophet. For what other Opinion can we 
 have of thofe Men, w^ho oppofe the beft and ableft 
 of God's Minifters, but that their Dodtrines are 
 oppofite to the Dodrines of thefe, and confe- 
 quently in Proportion as falfe, and as much to 
 
 * Se? Appendix, No. VL 
 
 G be 
 
24 lR.ules fir the Difcovery 
 
 be avoided, as thole of the other demand ouf 
 Attention ? Thus far the Rules of Judging, whe- 
 ther the Dodrines of a reputed Prophet be fal/e 
 or mcredible. 
 
 To difcern in the third Place, whether what 
 he fays upon any Subjeft, be in Point of Pro- 
 priety and Difcretion, fuited and agreeable to a 
 Prophet's Name and the Dignity of an holy Func- 
 tion t We need only bear in Mind that Precept 
 in Scripture. If ciny Man/peak^ let him [peak as 
 the Oracles of God \ not only conformably to their 
 "Dodlrine^ or in their Words^ but according to 
 their Alanncr -, with' that Fitnefs of Expieflion, 
 and prudent Sentiment, which remarkably ap- 
 pear in the Holy Scriptures, though written in 
 dijiant Times, and originally to People of an- 
 other Language, Now if this be required of 
 every Speaker, we muft furely expert it in an 
 high Degree of all, who affecfl to be confidered 
 as more fignificant than ordinary, and decry the 
 reft of their Brethren. In their Difcourfes, and 
 Writings, there fliould appear fuch a Degree of 
 proper Eloquence, fuch Authority ^ Order and 
 Decency^ as might render their Speech and 
 Treachingy a Kind of Standard to Chriftian 
 Orators. 
 
 Were this a Trial in a Court of judicature, a 
 Perfon might not only arraign upon every Arti- 
 cle, but be minute in Point of Evidence : Par- 
 ticularly upon the prefentHead, there might be 
 produced lome extraordinary E>.amples of the 
 furprizing Weaknefs of fome, who would pafs for 
 injpired Teachers. The ExpiCl^ons indeed 
 
 have 
 
of falfe Prophets, z$ 
 
 have been already noted in a proper Manner 
 another Way, * but if they had not, they muft 
 here efcape a particular Cenfure. Becaufe their 
 Folly and Impropriety is fo extreme, that in a 
 Place fo ferious, as this, they cannot be men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Having faid thus much of their DoBrine^ 
 which is generally the moft glaring JDiagnoHick 
 oi falfe Prophets, I have only fome few Rules 
 to add for judging of them by their Condudl 
 and Anions upon the fame Principles^ that 
 we examined their Dodrines, and Ihall then 
 conclude. 
 
 Remarks on this Subjed:, may be reduced to 
 certain general Heads, as firjl. 
 
 It may be enquired whether a Man*s Condudl 
 be con lift ent with CGinmon Senfe, For as it hap- 
 pened in the Days of the Prophet Hofea^ it may 
 happen in ours, that a Fool fhould affed to be a 
 Prophet, and' the Madman talk of Infpiration : 
 And then by fcanning their Conducft, we may 
 learn their Weaknefs. And if it appear, that 
 God hath difqualified any Perfon for perform- 
 ing the common Offices of Life^ with that 
 Difcretion^ which the world requires, it can 
 never be imagined, that he fliould make Choice 
 offuch ^^/t'^^/'z;^' Inftruments to fliare \i\s fecret 
 Counfels, or plan his glorious Difpenfations -f-. 
 Such People indeed are generally by their own 
 Difcourfe of as high Importance as the greateft 
 
 * See .4pp-nd.'X, No. VII. f See Appendix, No. y\\\. 
 
 Pro* 
 
25 Rules for the Difcovery 
 
 Prophets, big with as mighty Things, and as 
 much concerned in their Produdlion. We are 
 at Liberty however to diftelieve them in both 
 Cafes. Firjt^ for want of Evidence, from other 
 Quarters, that the Things are probable : And in 
 the next Place, becaufe confidenng the lemper 
 and Spirit of the Men, we know, that there 
 is no Credit to be given People in their Con^ 
 dition . 
 
 Befides Examining the Conjijlency of their 
 Schemes vv'ith common Senfe, We muft confi- 
 der, whether thev be conducted with common Ho- 
 ne/Jy. For no AdminiHration can be looked up- 
 on, as coming from God, or carried on under, 
 his Diredion, if it be fupported by fuch Methods, 
 or tend to fuch Purpofes, as the good Part of 
 Mankind dilapprove of, and abhor. 
 
 The End of all Impojlors however difguifed 
 or dilTembled, is everfome Kind of worldly Gaiii 
 or Point of Intereji. In the Courfe of their 
 CondiLcly it is difficult for them, to conceal their 
 Views entirely. If they are adluated by the Love 
 of Fame or Popularity ; their Defign will be- 
 tray itfelf by Ojlentation and Vanity : If filthy 
 Lucre be the Motive, the Love of it will appear, 
 either by the Ufe they make of it, or the Means 
 di getting it. For Inftance, if it be gathered by 
 Arts inconfiftent with common Humanity, if 
 *wrung from the Poor^ to whom it fhould be gi- 
 n)en, diftraind from the Mite of the helplefs Wi- 
 dows^ and picked from the Bread of we^^ping and 
 defrauded Orphans, 
 
 Befides 
 
of falfe Prophets, 27 
 
 Befides Inhumanity in the Methods of getting 
 Wealth, One may obferve in fuch People a Kind 
 oi Artifice^ not only to be abhorred of a Chrillian^ 
 but to be defpifed of a generous Heathen : An 
 Artifice, which the Scripture anciently hath 
 charged on them, that ^Vr^^///i;g- into Houfes and 
 leadifig captive filly Women laden with Crimes * 
 /. e. applying to the weakefl: of our Species in 
 their weakefl: Moments, an Argument that they 
 are afraid of human Nature^ where it appears 
 Jieady and upright^ armed with its proper Strength 
 and the Ufe of a right tJnderjlandiyig. § Their 
 Defigns even here are not without a Mark to 
 make them vifible, becaufe their Haunt is gene- 
 rally where their Prey is expedted, and in the 
 Place where the Carcafs lies, there like the 
 Eagles they gather together. 
 
 U fuch Men as thefe there be, and fuch Men 
 
 as thefe, it is loudly complained there are^ can 
 
 we look upon them as any better than Impojtors? 
 
 Can we reconcile fuch Practices with their 
 
 vaunted Speeches ? — Is it to thefe the Holy 
 
 Spirit (whofe Errand is never trivial) de- 
 
 * The Scripture adds, that they are e'ver-/ear»h/^, and never 
 coming at the Kno-Mledge of the Truth : Which fliews fuch a D-'er^-e 
 pf Weaknefs, as abfolucely to require the Management of other 
 People. And therefore as St. Pau/ calls the Husband the Head of 
 the fVife, I fhould advife any indultrious Tradefman, who happens 
 to be tied to one of thefe _///y Creatures, to exert ;is Authority, and 
 infift upon being both her Husband, and her Priefi. For if Ihe fall 
 into b d Hands, fuch Agitations of the iVlmd m.y drive her to D f- 
 tr. ftion, or give great DiiVarbance to his own Pe^cs, and that of 
 his Family. 
 
 S This alludes to the Situation of their Conventicles and Meet- 
 ing- Houfes. 
 
 fcends 
 
28 . "Rules for the Difcoveryy &c. 
 
 fcends continually with as much Pomp^ as when 
 on the Day of Pentecoft^ he rufhed from Hea- 
 ven to infpire Christ's true Apostles — or is it 
 for the Honour of the Chrijtian Name, that 
 they will have thefe their Follies condemned, as 
 they are by their SupertcurSy and -dW/bier Cbrif-^ 
 tians yet publiilied in G^/^ and AJkalon, to make 
 themfelves at once the Scorn and Tools of In- 
 fidels ? 
 
 It has been the Concern of two vimlant and 
 pious * Prelates^ and it is die Bufinefs of every 
 inferior Paftor and Curate to guard his People 
 from this infinuating and reftlefs Leaven. It is 
 in the mean Time the Duty of the People, to 
 pray for fuch a Portion of God's Holy Spirit ^ as 
 may enable them to diilinguiih between the 
 empty Sounds of vvdld Entbujiafniy and the Solid 
 Truths of the Word of God. That fo the Reli- 
 gion of Christ, which hath hitherto been a 
 reajbnable Religion, may not offend xhtjenfible 
 and good Part of Mankind^ by being dijguijed 
 among the Vulgar^ or deformed, by the qffen/ive 
 Dodlrinesoi BlaiphemouSy or Ignor ant ^ oi delude- 
 ing^ or deluded yitn. 
 
 Now to God, the Father, Son, and Holy 
 GhoH: be afcribed all Honour and Glory, Might, 
 Majefty, and Dominion, now and for everr 
 more. 
 
 * Dr. Gibson, late Bl-'hop of lo?idon, and Dr. LavIkgton, 
 the prt^fewt L.^r^ Bilhoput Exeter. 
 
 The END of the Sermon. 
 
 A P. 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 THE 
 
 APPENDIX: 
 
 CONTAINING, 
 
 Some Specimens of the Blafphemous Do^rines, and 
 Delufions cf Methodists, and Methodiftical 
 fVriters^ noted and cenfured in the foregoing Sermon. 
 
 NUMBER I. 
 Of Mock Possessions ^;;i Inspirations. 
 
 THERE have been Reports lately of ftrange Experiments 
 tried by the MethodtJIs upon Women in Hyjlerick Fits, 
 and young Perfons in Convulfwns^ under Pretence of exorci- 
 fing ; or treating; that Weakyiefs, as the Pofjejfion of a Devily 
 which is only a^ Bodily Dz/^r^^r: But theie Things bemg 
 tranfaded in private, and fome of their Conventicles at cer- 
 tain unfeafonable Times of Meeting, being clofe fhut up, 
 contrary to Law, the World is only left to infer ; that 
 fomethino- is doing, which will not admit dipuhlick Infpedi- 
 on, though they cannot tell the Particulars, but imagine the 
 Bufmefs To be of this Sort, as the common People among 
 the Methodifts are full of fuch Notions, and their Teachers 
 countenance the fame in Print, Mr. Wesley fpeaking 
 of a Child abouty^^;^« Years old, gives us a Relation, which 
 fhews he believed her Cafe to be a Poffeffon of one Sort or 
 other, he calls it the Spirit^ or Revelation of the L^r^, but 
 
 it is ftrangely worded, " The next Sunday Night, the 
 
 Lord revealed himfelf (fays he) to her in an amazing Man- 
 ner, and for fome Hours fhe was fo wrapped up in his Spirit^ 
 
 that we knew not where {he was -finking to nothing 
 
 in the Difcovery of his Majefty, and Glory in Jefus Chnft, 
 
 her eternal Portion-^ and, by the uncommon Earnefinefs, 
 
 ilie Spirit ?ave her to wreftU for the Churches, ihe thought 
 ^ ^ '• c that 
 
^6 BlafphemieSy and T)elufiom 
 
 that an uncommon Work will be wrought on the Earth. 
 Many fuch Inftances of the Out-pouring of the Spirit have 
 
 we among us. 
 
 See the late Bifhop of London's Obfervations on theCon- 
 du6l, if^c, of t\i& Methodijis^ Pag. 19. 
 
 And P. 10. for Evidences of the Co-operation of the Holy 
 Spirit, by fudden * Agonies, f Roarings and Screamings, | 
 Tremblings, || Droppings -down, § Ravings and Madnefies ; 
 into which their Hearers have been caft ; according to the 
 Relations given of them in the Journals referred to ? 
 
 * Mr. Whitfield's Journal VI. />. 36.— VII. p. 57, 
 69, 75. Mr, Wefefs Journal III. Pag. 26, 41, 45, 
 
 59, 64, 95. t Mr. Whitfield's Journal VIL 
 pag. 74. Mr. Wejleys Journal III. pag. 4c, 44, 50, 
 62, 79, 83, 92, 93, 94. X Pag, 41, 43, 50, 58, 
 61, 93. II Mr. Whitfield's Journal VII. pag, 12, 
 
 60. Mr. /i^>/7^/s Journal III. pag, 41, 43, 46, 50, 
 58, 59j 61, 64, 65, 83. § Pag, 44, 50, 88, 90, 92, 93» 
 
 NUMBER 11. 
 
 TTERE follows as an Inftance of ^/r^^ Revelation^ 
 the famous Letter, which was read in Sermon-time at 
 St. Saviour's, the biggeft Church in Southwark, and then 
 crouded with Methodijis, by one Mr. yones, who fmce the 
 Death of Dr. Slocock, has had Permijfion to a<Si: as Chaplain 
 there, it is taken from the printed Copy, publickly fold in the 
 Borough, for the Edification of fuch of the Parifiooners as were 
 abfent, they being generally excluded their Seats by the law- 
 lefs Rabble, who are his Followers. 
 
 From the Manfions ahovti 
 My dear Chrijlian Friend and Brother, 
 C U C H you was, when I was cloathed with Mortality, 
 ^ and fuch you are yet, though I am now in an unembo- 
 died State. The Change there is made as to me, makes no 
 Alteration as to the Relation there is between us. We are 
 both Members of Chrift's myftical Body. We were both 
 Members of the Church militant together, and we fhall 
 both join the Church triumphant. J am only come hither 
 a little before you, foon (hall I fee my dear Fido, and my 
 other dear weeping Friends, and rejoice with them for ever* 
 Don*t be afraid. Jefus Chrift is a faithful Saviour. He will 
 keep thit which you have committed to him. You may 
 tiult him both in Life and Death. Death is the moft trying 
 
frQ7n ite Writings of the Metfiodlds. ^ t 
 
 Seafon ; but here the dear Mediator will not fail you. I 
 am an Evidence of it. There is a Solemnity in Death 
 which cannot be exprefled, yet the PafFage is fafe. Oh what 
 a glorious Change ! What new fbrprizing Scenes appe^tr ! 
 No fooner was my Breath gone, but a Convoy of miniftrihg 
 Spirits, who were attending, condu6ted me to the Manhoris 
 of Glory ; where the ever-adorable Jefus, with a Smile in- 
 conceivably tranfporting, invited me to take PofTeilion of 
 that Happinefs which he purchafed at fo dear a Rate as his 
 own Blood. And now, my Brother, think, yea think if you 
 can, what I now feel, what I nov^ enjoy! Did Paul^^y it 
 was better to be with Chrift than in the Body ? I now knov7 
 it. Did the diftant View of Glory, make Mofcs refufe the 
 Grandeur o^ Egypt ? No Wonder, when it is fo great, fo great 
 that none can tell it. Oh the Exchange I have made ! Oh 
 the Happinefs that Grace has exalted me to ! I am ndw no 
 more watering my Couch with Tears, but filled v>ithFull- 
 nefs dfJoyS which will remain for evermore. I am now no 
 more fipping at the Streams, but drinking a full Draught at 
 the Fountain-Head. I am no more clogged with a Lump of 
 Clay, or pining under Diforders and Pains of Body; lain 
 fet at full and perfect Liberty, and am got where Sorrow ne- 
 ver comes. I am now perfect in Holinefs. I am no rnc?e 
 fubje6t to Sin ; every Faculty of my Soul is freed from the 
 fad Contagion, and all find fweet Employment in" the noble 
 Services of Heaven. Now I fee clearly that myfterious, but 
 glorious Scheme of Salvation through Jefus Chrift ; its Beau- 
 ties ravifh my Soul, and fill me with Admiration. I now fee 
 the various Beauties of Providence, and find the highcft En- 
 tertainment in the Views of v/hat once (o much puzzled and 
 perplexed me. I now ^tt\ a divine Ardor filling my whole 
 Soul, and running through every Service, without that Sloth- 
 fulnefs and Indolence which once attended me, and was but 
 feebly complained of, I am no more that formal, indifferent, 
 languishing Creature I was on Earth, but my Soul now feels 
 the Fire of Divine Love, which burns with a perpetual and 
 Uninterrupted Flame, being fed with the conftant and glo- 
 rious Manifeftations of the Love of him that fittcth upon the 
 Throne and the Lamb. Here I have found your dear Pa- 
 rent, and many of my dear and valuable Friends. Vv'hat a 
 numerous Aftembly, and all harmonious. Here's no Envy, 
 no Jealoufy, no Shynefs or Coldnefs, but perfect Love, 
 and a fweet Contention, who Ihall ftrike the loud*ft String, 
 
 H and 
 
3 i Blafphemles and Delufioftis 
 
 amd fing Grace ! Grace ! the loudcft* Here arc no depr<?* 
 elating Speeches of Jefus Chrift, no Attempts to rob him of 
 his Gk>ry ; but all as with one Voice cry out, IVerthy is iht 
 Lamb to nceivey &c. Oh where am 1 got ! What is my 
 Happinefs ! Beyond Exprcfllon ! I was once a Warrior, 
 now a Conqueror, yea more than a Conqueror. No more 
 upon Mount Pijgah. I have got over Jordan. I am be- 
 holding the Glory of Chrift ; and, in fine, my Veflel is as 
 full as it will hold. My Pen cannot dcfcribe the Glories of 
 Paradife. Oh my Friend, be trimming your Lamp. Haften 
 the Time, fly away ye lingering Moments, and brine my 
 dear Fido^ and my other dear Fricndsj to the Arms of Jefus, 
 to fee and enjoy what I enjoy^ 
 
 And now what wait I for ? To fee my dear Friends with 
 mc, to fee the Number of God's Elcc^ compleated, to hear 
 the Trumpet found on the glorious Refurre6tion Morning. 
 What is my Employment but to love, adore, and praifc 
 throughout Eternity I Farewel till I fee you here. Go on 
 your Way rejoicing. Chrift has your Inheritance fafe in 
 Ills Hands, and you ftiall furely have it. Oh love him, love 
 him more and more, andlay outyourfelffor him. My Love 
 to your dear Companion ; tell her to prcfs forward, and ihc 
 .ihall not be difappointedw Adieu, adieu* 
 Tour eternally affe^Unate Friend^ 
 jtnd triumphant Bfother^ 
 
 Samuel Hayward* 
 
 Remarks updn the Lett EtL, 
 As this Letter has thus undergone a double Publicatlmf 
 the First from the Pulpit^ the othKr from the Pr//x, we 
 muft imagine, that the Puhli/her was heartily concerned, 
 that the World (hould believe the Contents of it. But if foj 
 let us enquire whether he believed the Contents of it him- 
 felf, to wit ; that it came from the Place from whence it 
 was datc^, i. e* the Man/ions ahove^ that it was a true and 
 real Defcription of TranfadVons in the other Worid^ penned^ 
 and compofed and communicated by the Miniftry of the Spirit 
 of a Perfon departed, as it is plainly, and ir» direct Terms 
 ttjferted in the Letter itfelf. 
 
 If he did believe all this, he is a Madman and a rery 
 dangerous Leader to fuch of his Followers as are in the fame 
 Condition : But if he did not believe it, then his Character 
 ■ftuft appear much blacker ; be^aufe^ if he was not mady the 
 
 Vfhoic 
 
from the Writings of the Methodifts. 33 
 
 ^holc Affair was the EfFe6l of fome Deftgn^ and that a y^ry 
 bad one, impious with Refpe6l to God, and villainous with 
 Refpc^l to Men, as being no other than to try ho\7 far th? 
 (ommon PeopU might be impofed upon, and made fubicrvient 
 to evil Purpofcs. 
 
 But if it be a r«r/^^Thing to lead thofc, who are deprived 
 of their Bodily Sight from the (A^t Way, that is direft before 
 them : How much more unpardonable muft it be, to feduce 
 a Number of poor blind Souls from the Paths of right Reafon ? 
 and when they were expediting to hear, what they call the 
 true Gofpel oi CuKisTy to make fuch a cruel Experimect 
 upon thf^'iT' Credulity, by prefenting them a Revelation of an- 
 other Sort, and in the pretended Character of their Fajlor^ 
 and Guide, to afcend the Pulpit, and deliver that, as an 
 Oracle oj God, which he knew in his Heart to be an abami* 
 nable Lie, 
 
 With what Horror muft all hamjl t^tl^ fenfible Men ber 
 hold this Hypocrite-, in the vcvy Adf of Delufion^ lifting up 
 bis Eyes to Heaven, and thundering out Damnation to othwrs^ 
 while he himfelfwzs offending againll common Honefly, 
 
 Were there no Officers of the Parifh to take Notice of hU 
 Conducft, and report it to his Superiors ? 
 
 No Superior to rcftrain fuch an Impostor as this ? who 
 could thus abufe his Truft, and proftitute his Chara^tr as 
 a Prieji of th« Church of England to fcrve the vilejt 
 Purpofes, to delude the People he undertook to inflrucl, 
 and make Religion a Jeft, by mixing it with lying Tale$ 
 and /)r^/<r/?^/^^ R E V E L A T I o N s . 
 
 NUMBER nr. 
 
 An Account of pretended extraordinary Infplrationf 
 vouchfafcd to Mr. Whitfield, and accompanying him in 
 his Office as a Preacher, 
 
 Journal I. Pag. 44. " In the Midft of my Difcourfe, the 
 *' Power o{ the Lord Jejus came upon me — Pag. 46. God 
 *' gave me particularly toward the Clofe of my Sermon to. 
 *' ipeak with divine Energy. — Journal Vll, Pag. 66. The 
 •' Lord gave me the Text, I preached on, juft before the 
 •' Meeting, direded me to a Method as I was going up the 
 *' Pulpit Stairs, and enabled me to difcourfe with an uncom- 
 ^ men Clearnefs, Freedom and Power, — Heard of one that 
 •' received the Holy Ghojl immediately upon my preaching 
 ♦* Chrii, — tbe Divine Prcfcnce was ftrong upon me." ^e* 
 Lird Bijhop cf Londoiii ObfervatiQm, Pag. I4"> I5« 
 
 N U M- 
 
34- Blafphemki atid Dehftom 
 
 NUMBER IV. 
 
 r 
 
 Ks^twithftandlng their ProfeJJtons of Obedience to tliQ 
 Church of England^ it is evident, that they have attempted to 
 fet up a new Form of Church-govemment over Associa- 
 tions, and 7rwnthly and quarterly Meetings, under the 
 t)ire6tions of Superintendent^^ ExhQrtersy and Moderators 
 througli the Kingdom: In Contempt of the Authority of our 
 Bishops, and without 2iny Authority froin the State. 
 .. ',' Our Saviour was much with me, teaching and helping ' 
 «5 me ( Mr. IVhitfield ) to fill my Place of Moderator in a 
 ^\ particular Manner." Then for Visitations — "in the 
 *' mean Time I vifit the Clafles, I have fettled Stewards and 
 ''' Vifitors^ — a Viftior of eight Counties, — I think to move 
 ^\ h^nce and vifit the Churches in Wiltjhire, 
 
 Obfervations^ Pag. 20, 21, 22. 
 
 N U M B E R V. 
 
 lAthetftical Doctrines and Propositions tending to 
 cfceftroy the ejjhit'ial Attributes oiGoiy^ 2.ndi xum\\\s Chara^cr 
 as Jl'DGE of the World : ^trngd^ixtEkly co7itradi^ory to our 
 Saviour's Declaration, that he will reward every Man accord- 
 ing to his Works, and quite deftru6five to the Morality^ and 
 tkerefoVe) to the well-being of a State. 
 J-'*«"'*Be perfuaded that there is no clogging Salification^ 
 *-^ r\S iP'^rth to be poiTefTed, no Duty to be performed^ in 
 *^ Order to your full Participation of phrift and his Riches : 
 '* Only believe, and they are all your own : Not by legal 
 " Works, and laborious perquifites." Theron and Jfpafio', 
 Vol. 3- Dial. 1 6— Pag. 29, one would think by this, that 
 it Is juft the fame, whether we do right or wrong — No fay 
 They if you attempt to do right, you do very wrong. 
 
 " He who attempts to do any Thing eafy or difficult, 
 *' under the Notion of an A€t of believing, or any other 
 " A6^, in Order to his Acceptance with God, only heaps 
 '' up more Wrath agaiiift himfelf." — And again, 
 
 *-' The whole NewTeftament fpeaks aloud, that as to 
 *' the Matter of Acceptance with God, there is no Dift'erence 
 *' between' one Man and another :---No'Difference betwixt 
 *' the molt accomplifhed Gentlerfian, and the moft infamous 
 «' Scoundrel: ---'No Difference betwixt the moft virtuous' 
 <' Lady, and the vileft Proftitute :- — No Difference betwixt 
 " the moft Reverend Judo e, and the moft odious Criminal^ 
 ^' ftandino; convided before him, and receiving the juft 
 • '- " ^ - , " ben- 
 
from the Writings of the Methodlfts. 3 5 
 
 f^ Sentence of Death at his Mouth :— -In a Word, no Dif- 
 f* ference betwixt the moft fervent Devotee, and the 
 5' greateft Ringleader in Profanenefs and Excefs.'* A plaia 
 Account of Faith <^ Sec, 
 
 NUMBER VI. 
 
 Abufe of the Clergy in general and of the great Light* 
 of the Church in particular, 
 
 « Mr. TVhltfield (Journal IV/ Pag. 38.) addrefTing him- 
 felf to his Brother Teachers, and fpeaking of the eftablifhed 
 Clergy, defires that they would not fuft'er the " Sheep to 
 *' be as though they had no Shepherd, or worf^ than none, 
 
 " thofe blind Leaders of the Blind" 1 believe there are. 
 
 few Clergymen, but what have better Eyes than he,- * 
 
 But however he fays Pag. 32. *' This Afternoon 1 was 
 *' carried out much in my TefHmony againft the unchrijlian 
 *.' Principles and Practices of the Generality of our Clergy*' 
 — I hope our Principles are better than thofe in the forego. ng 
 Number, for if fuch be true — It is no Manner of Concern,' 
 what may be our Pra^ice, or theirs either. 
 
 Abufe of the great Lights of the Church. 
 
 Mr. IFhltfielcTs Journal Pag. 19. It cannot be expre/Ted 
 how many carnal Hearts were difturbed by my Teilimony 
 againft Archbifhop Tillotfon. — But before I have done, I 
 do not defpair of feeing' People bring his Works, as they 
 once brought the Books of curious Arts, and burn them be- 
 fore all. Men. —Journal VII. Pag. 2. The Man*s Wife was 
 a 'great Aclniiref of Archbifhop 77//(?//^«, but having her 
 Eyes now opened to difcern Spiritual Things, can no longer 
 take up with fuch Hulks, fit only for carnal, unawakened, 
 unbelieving Reafoners, to eat. 
 
 After having laid down his own Scheme he pdds, this 
 the Author of the whole Duty of Man^ was wholly ignorant 
 of; otherwife he would not have laid fuch a Foundation — 
 There is no Hopes of bringing People to a right Knowledge 
 of the Gofpel, till their favourite, though erroneous Authors 
 are difcountenanced and laid afide, Whitfield\ Letter from 
 litw Brunfwick. See ObfervatioJis^ Pag. II, I2, 13. 
 
 NUMBER VII. 
 
 A Specimen of the Religious- amorous, or melting and 
 
 r(iplur'ius Expreflions, Mn Whitfield 2Sk'>, the IVovien^ how 
 
 they feel thenifelves when their Lovers approach them — See 
 
 •'■-•' London 
 
36 Blafphemies and'Delufiom 
 
 London Mag, for July 1739. " Their Difciplci arc not onljr 
 *' Lambs— h\it dear Lambs— />«rr, dear precious Lambs— 
 «* poor little Lambs,— fwect Lambs, — O what a fwcctLovc- 
 *' feaft we had \z{k IVednefday-mghtl a fwect Love- feaft, 
 *' the Holy Ghoft came down with fuch Power, that the 
 ** dear Lambs could fcarce contain themfelvds. — a choice 
 ** Love-feaft — a precious Love-feaft,~I (end you a thoujand 
 «< KifTes.^-^Pity ! that f-:ch an in/pi red Apostle ftiould 
 prove To extravagantly /co///^ and ridiculous. 
 
 He fends his wanton Lambs a thoufand KiiTcs : 
 PrayJ to the Majiers F-^S'ir^ or to the Mijes? 
 
 NUMBER VIIL 
 
 Imagination of fome great Work, of which God 
 
 makes them the Inftrumcnts. 
 " Mr. TVeJley (Journal IL pag. 39.) fpeaking of the Con* 
 verfation he had with fonie Moravians in Htllandy adds* 
 ** The reft of the Day we fpent with all the Brethren and 
 •< Sifters, in hearing the vopnderful Work which God is he- 
 ** ginning to work all over the Earth. — And to the fame 
 Effed Mr. IVlntfield (Journal IIL p. 107.) Nothing con- 
 firms me more in my Opinion, that God intends to work a 
 great Work upon the Earthy than to find how his Children of 
 all Denominations every where wreftle in Prayer for Me. 
 
 71? the fame Purpofe are the Declarations in the Letters. 
 
 I believe that God haL.i a great Work to do on the Earth, 
 No. I. Vol. 3. pag. 30. 
 
 I believe, our Lord is going to do z great Work indeed. 
 No. 2. Vol. 2. pag. 49. 
 
 I am fure God is going to do great Things among uK 
 
 NUMBER IX. 
 
 An Account of the pretended extraordinary Dcfccnt of the 
 
 Holy Ghoft upon Mr. Whitfeldy and his Aflcmbly. 
 
 Pag. 72. I was much carried out ; I felt the Power of 
 
 God come upon me, and I fpokc with Demonftration of 
 
 the Spirit to the Hearer's Souls. 
 
 Jour al VL Pag. 23. Before I had done, the Power 
 of the Lord came upon the Congregation, the Holy Ghoft 
 ov«r{hadowed th^m, and a gracious melting was vifiblc ia 
 moft that heard. 
 
 Pag. 30. Towards the Conclufion of my Difcourfe, 
 God's Spirit came upon the Preacher and the People. 
 
 N U M-. 
 
from tht Wrltingi of the Mcthodifts, 37 
 NUMBER X. 
 
 A Specimen of fome Papers j^ivtn up \ti St, SM%/i9kr*t Church, 
 ftcwing the Notions of the poor People to c»rrt/p9iiJ with thcdclufirc 
 Artificti of their Leaders, expofcd io the Numbirs aforegoing. 
 The Grammar^ and Speliini arejuft u they came, from t\it^%uiji 
 Qhildrtn of God. 
 
 Sir, The Prayers of this Congregation (and yours in particular) 
 is dcfired for fcvcral notorious Sinners and efpecially for one hert 
 prcfcnt (who has been partly awakened by the iate preaching of the 
 Reverend Mr. Jones) that the Lord would be pleafed to ihcw him 
 the State and Condition of his Soul. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation is Defircd for a young Man 
 who haveing been made fenfible of his Sins thought to Get an 
 Intereft in Chrift which God haveing not thought fit to G'wt him, 
 he has falh'n^ like the Sow to bis Vomit and like the Dog that wu 
 wafhed to Wallow in the Mire. 
 
 Prays is EarnelHy Defird for a woman who In Providence it Calld 
 from the word and into a ctfr»«/ Family that the Lord would be 
 Pleasd to ktep her near to hirafelf from the Power ofTemtation 
 and gire her Zeal for his Glory. 
 
 Prcas are deiad fra tow Wiow thcat the Lord jefui wold be thet 
 Speritul husband. 
 
 The prayers of this Congregation is defircd for t parfon that 
 ilefires to know hur Intreft In the I/frd Jesus Christ. 
 
 The Prayers are defired for A Backflider diflreflcd ia Soul that 
 god for Chrill sake would one* nora to redore her. 
 
 Your pr:iycrs are defire by a tvo«mafi that ihe miy neuer i«ast 
 til fhe reast inchfist. 
 
 Prayers is defircd for on« who hear the word beg that the word 
 may come with/«%v/r to his foul. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation it Deiired for % woman that 
 God would mannifefi himfclf unto her and Shtnu btr the Trae 
 State of her S»u/ and grant that the Reffiduc of her life may b« 
 Dedicated wholly to his Servis. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation is Dcfir'd for a Young man 
 who has taken hold sf the Plow but the Devil and his Companion* 
 wants to tempt him to look Back. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation is Defir*d for a Young man 
 who the Dcvill is very Bufy with. 
 
 The prayers of this Congregations is defired for a grate Sinner 
 that Wonts to Repent but cannot beg the prayers of all good chriftian 
 ihat it may pleas the all almighty fpr to tack a way her hart of 
 Stone aud give her a hart of Hech. 
 
 Your prayers are defire for to old peeple that know nothin of god 
 The Prayers of the Congregation are dcfired for a Woman un- 
 der a deep Senfe of Guilt and Sin that Lord Jefus would be pleafed 
 t« mamfi/i himfclf to her. ^^re, What is here meant by manififi? 
 
 Sir 
 
38 Blafpheinies and DeluJi'onSy &cci 
 
 Sr a young man who has been a Slave to Sin 25 years and trt« 
 Lord has Lately vifited him and by free grace has brought him back 
 defines to Return thanks for the fame. 
 
 Prayers arc Defired for one Who Defires to know Chrift Expe- 
 rementaly and the Ponver of his Refurreflion. 
 
 For a poor man that is in deet and is greet!/ deftreft by his cre- 
 teters that the Lord would be pleasd to Hop there hands. 
 
 Sr your prayers are desierd for one that Cannot pray for hur 
 Celef 
 
 Sir your prayers are defired for thofe how are a going a long 
 journey to fee a dear Relation that it would plafe god to prfervc 
 them in there journey and give them an agreeable fight with hearts 
 vnited'm his praife for all the Benefits wedaely receive. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation is Defir'd by a Young man 
 for the Connjerfion of his father Mother and Sifter and having a 
 Young Brother he Begs of God that as he Grows in Years fo he 
 may Grow in Grace. 
 
 The prayers of this Con^gregation is defired for one that the 
 Lord wold be pleafed to give her the Spirrit of prayer and Supple- 
 cation. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation is Defir'd by a Young mn for 
 Converting the of his Sifter who was once a follower of Chrift but 
 now follows the World the flefti and the Devil. 
 
 The Prayers of this Congregation are defired for a Youth who is 
 deprived of many Opportunities of hearing the Word, that the Lord 
 would be pleafed to reftore them unto him again. 
 
 One who humbly defires to know chrift and the power of his 
 refurre6lion. 
 
 Sur yourpryers ar defired for on that is dangris il and is no faving 
 nolig of Chrift. 
 
 ^u.-sre. How were they qualified to judge of This. 
 1 ^e Reader may fee by the Papers here publiihed, that thefe 
 poor Prr^'e refolve the Whole of Religion into faTifted Man if £5- 
 
 TAflONS, RfiVELATIONS, ANTICIPATIONS* FeELINGS, Or Ex- 
 
 PE -.iNC£s ; ^^Jiicn all end wpaj/tve Quietism. The only atffi've 
 
 P *f .hfyr Re' JO ion feems to be what they call hearing the Word i 
 
 t • ^ ''"^ - erally mean the Non/en/e of fome impudent En- 
 
 i :s Authority to delude the reft. As to the Prac- 
 
 ' f\ jo<:iul DuT lEs, ard moral Virtue ; it is plain, that 
 
 ■:s rarely fo much as mentioned in their System, which 
 
 ;a;ed m their own Words, and aticfled by their own 
 
 F J N I S. 
 
Dr. F R E E's 
 
 EDITION 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Rev. Mr. Joh^ fFe/le/s 
 
 Firft PENNY-LETTER, tff. 
 With Notes upon the Original Text, 
 
 Addreffed to 
 
 Mr. fTE SLE r-y 
 
 And Likewife 
 
 A Dedication to the Reverend Author. - 
 
 The SECOND IMPRESSION. 
 
 J»^ it came to pa/s at Nooriy that Elijah mocked them. 
 
 I Kings xviii. 27. 
 
 The Lips of Truth Jhall he ejlahlijhed for ewr: hut a lying Tongui 
 is but for a Moment, Prov. xii. i g. 
 
 Juflin. Martyr. Refponf. ad 22. Q^ ad Orthodoxos. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the Author, and fold by Mr. Sandby, at the Ship, 
 oppofite St. Dun/fan's Church in Fleet-Street-, Mr. Scott and 
 Mr. Stevens, mPater-noJkrRo'vji Mr. Cooke, atthe Roval 
 Exchange-, Mr. Parker and Mr. Prince in Oxford^ and Mr. 
 Frederick in i&rt//^. 1759. 
 
 [Price Six PENCE,] 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 CfOwards the End of my Preface to the Sermon preached 
 -*- before the Univerftty of Oxford, on Whilfunday lafiy I 
 public kly told Mr, Wefley, '< that in Cafe he were not con- 
 <' vinccd by the Extra£is there printed^ that the People^ wh» 
 *' pafs under the Denomination of Method ifts openly main' 
 <* tainedfuch Opinions, as I had charged upon them^ &c. 
 *• he Jhould have the Civility of a particular Anfiuer^ &c/* 
 imagining when I ufed the Word Civility, that I Jhould have 
 no Occafton to depart from my Purpofe^ by Reafon of any Dif- 
 ingenuity on the Part of Mr. Wefley, more than what had 
 appeared in hisfirji Letter : But having fince received a Se- 
 cond, wherein there is likewife fuch a ftrange Mixture of 
 San6lity and Prevarication, fuch praying.^ fneeringy canting, 
 and recanting^ expunging^ forging^ I cannot think myfelf 
 JlriSfly bound to adhere in every particular to myfirfl Intention. 
 Nor is it fair to expert from a Man concerned with fuch an 
 Adverfary, that he Jhould keep the fame unalttrable fieady 
 Countenance though he maintain the fame Argument ; the 
 Reader therefore muji impute the Variety of Humour in my 
 Remarks^ to the various Shifts and Evaftons of the Proteus, 
 with whom I engage ^ it being necejfary to purfue^him in all his 
 Forms y tilH Jbew him in thaty which may probably be his lafi. 
 
[ "i ] 
 
 THE 
 
 DEDICATION 
 
 To the Reverend John Wesley, M. A. late Fel- 
 low of Lincoln College in Oxford-, Founder of 
 the Methodifis^ at the Foundery, on Wind-Mill- 
 Hill, near St. Luke'i Hofpital in London, tfr. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 AS you are a Scholar, you muft know, that it is no 
 uncommon Prad^ice in the learned Wodd, for Per- 
 fons, who have a particular Efteem for an Author^ 
 to be defirous of putting out the moft elaborate and elegant 
 Editions of his Works, and dedicating them likewife to 
 uch as are fuppofed to be his greateft Admirers. 
 
 For this Reafon, as I imagine, that there is no Body 
 fonder of you than yourfelf, I dedicate this new Edition of 
 your laft little Pieces to you : The Gems are fmall indeed, 
 but I hope, they will receive fome Luftre from the Pains, 
 which I have beftowed upon them. 
 
 I confefs however, that next to obliging you, I was wil- 
 ling likewife to feize fo fair an Opportunity of fervingmy- 
 felf. For we Sinners^ being humble Imitators of you 
 Saints^ feel fomethingof the like Paflions, and are adVuated 
 by a Love of Fame as well as you ; 
 
 Sicfulgente trahit conJiriSios Gloria Curru 
 
 Non minus ignotos generofts Hon 
 
 And therefore being not quite fo capable of attaining it, by 
 compajfing Sea and Land^ and performing Signs^ and Won- 
 ders^ as you have done, I was willing to lay bold of your 
 Clo3k, ovjlick in your Skirts 3. little, that in your Afcent 
 to the aerial Templ« of Renown^ I alfo might be ihewn 
 
 A 2 to 
 
iv The DEDICATION. 
 
 to this Generation^ by being To remarkably honoured with 
 your good Company. , 
 
 And now. Sir, having frankly told you the Motives, 
 which urged me to this Dedication ; that it was to pleale 
 you, and acquire fome Degree of Reputation to myfelf by 
 fuch extraordinary Connections : It only remains, that I 
 make fome Apology for my new Manner of Addreffing 
 you, and tell you, as I have hinted to the Publick, that 
 you have been the Occafion of all this, by firft fhewing an 
 Example of furprizing Levity yourfelf. For you muft cer- 
 tainly be in Jeft ; and jefting too with the mod facred 
 Things, when you fet out with fuch a folemn Account of 
 your " Fear of God, your Truth and Love^ that you durji 
 *' not return Evil for Evil, or Railing for Railing," and 
 yet a little after talk in fuch a different Strain ; nay, rave 
 and rant, and domineer, and fcold : There is no Body 
 doubts, but that you were in E?.rneft here, and therefore 
 the former Part, however folemn, muft be all a Jeft. 
 
 To be fure this CharatSler of yours is fuch, as requires 
 fome Skill to fix : Butnotwithftanding, I think that I have 
 hit upon it. What do they call the Name? Mi/Ao?, vTtcK^Unq, 
 Mimusy Hypocrita ? You muft know — for you are very 
 well acquainted with the Greek ; Cojialio, I think, ren- 
 ders it by Hijirio, that is a Comt^dian or Player, one that 
 a£ls a perfonated Part to get a Penny by it. For Perfona \% 
 a Mafk, and Perfona traglca is ftill a Mafk, though per- 
 haps with a grievous Countenance* 
 
 For my Part, I choofe to appear without the Mafk ; and 
 fo, Sir, as I am of a fociable Difpcfltion, and can laugh 
 with thofe, who are difpofed to laugh 5 ♦^hough I may not 
 carry my Jokes fo far as you, upon fome Subjeds, yet 
 where the Matter will bear it, we will lay afide this Seve- 
 rity a'little, this Wormwood and the Gall, which you com- 
 plain of, and ufe occafionally a little Merriment : Which 
 Method perhaps may difcover to the World, on which Side 
 the Truth ftiall lie, as eff'e6lually as a ferious Argument. 
 I am therefore for the Sake of Truth in this, or any other 
 Manner, 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Southwarky Tour very humble Servant, 
 
 Nov, 4, 1758. 
 
 ^ .^ JOHN FREE. 
 
I 5 ] 
 
 Letter to the Rev. Dr. Free. 
 
 By J O H N W E S L E Y, M. A. 
 
 Divided into Chapter ^nd Verfe by the Editor. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Contents. Mr, Wefley quotes a Pajjfage from Dr. 
 Free'j Pamphlet to the Salters ; acquiefces in the Dolor's 
 Opinion^ as far as he underfands it : But afterwards 
 reads wrong, or wilfully mi flakes in his reading ; Reafons 
 from this Miftake ; and fo Blunder hegets Blunder and his 
 Brethren, to the End of the fir Ji Chapter, 
 
 TuLLAMORE, May 2, 1758. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 I. A Little Tra(3: appearing under your Name was 
 jr\ Yefterday put into my Hands. 
 
 JDr. Free'i Notes upon Mr, Wefley'j Letter^ 
 
 addrejjedto Mr. Wefley. 
 
 « 
 
 C H A P. I. 
 
 'Reverend Sir^ 
 Y^OUR Letter bears date May 2, 1758. 
 * from a Place called Tulhimore, as I am 
 informed, in Ireland — a little unlucky ! For 
 whether it be owing to the Climate, or not, 
 you make, what they call a Bull at firft fet- 
 ting out : And to afford you ibme Diverfion, 
 
 you 
 
6 Dr, Free's Notes. 
 
 you will fee him baited by and by, in the Note 
 upon the third Verfe of this Chapter. 
 
 Dr. FreeV Note upon Chap. i. Verfe i. 
 
 Obfecro, Populares ! The World is hereby 
 defired to take Notice, that by his own Con- 
 feflion, the Reverend Mr. JVeJley generated 
 this memorable Pfeud-apofioUck Epiflle in the 
 Compafs of one Day, in the Year of our Lord 
 ly^S.id Populiis curat Scilicet. And he makes 
 this Declaration— that his Followers may learn 
 to admire his Infpiration or higenuity ^ and en- 
 tertain at the fame Time, a proper Contempt 
 of the Meannefi or Slownefs of his Adverfary, 
 Though Tully fomewherc fays Opiyiionum Com- 
 menta delet Dies. In this Senfe, I believe Mr. 
 Wejley's Epiflle may be the Being of one Day; 
 and confidering the Fate of fome ingenious 
 Writers, I draw fome Comfort too from ano- 
 ther Paffage of the fame Author, to this Ef- 
 fedl, Aristoteles ait omties ingeniofos ejje mC'- 
 lancholicos libenter igitur mejateor tardiorem, 
 
 Mr. Welley*^ Letter. * 
 
 2. You therein call upon me, To fpeak, '' if I have 
 *' any Exceptions to make to what is advanced," 
 
 3. And promife to " reply as fairly and candidly as I 
 *' can expe£t, provided thofe Exceptions be drawn up, as 
 *' you have fet the Example^ in a fhort Compafs, [^and in'] 
 '' the Manner wherein all wife and good People would 
 *' chufe to manage a Religious Difpute." *. 
 
 4. " In a fhort Compafs," Sir, they will certainly be 
 drawn up, for my own Sake, as well as yours. 
 
 5. For I know the Value of Time, and would gladly 
 employ it all in what more immediately relates to Eternity. 
 
 ♦ P. 22. 
 
 Dr. 
 
JDr. Free's Notes. ^ 
 
 Dr. Free'j Note. 
 
 Thefe Verfes contain a very imperfedl, as 
 well as unfair Reprefentation of the Words of 
 Dr. Free ; as will appear to any one, who has 
 read his Pojifcript to the Articles propofed to 
 the Company of Salters ; for the Paffage is 
 really this : 
 
 P. S. To the PublicL 
 
 " As the Author forefees, that the Self-fuf" 
 " ficiency and Ignorance of many of the low 
 *' People among the Methodijh may prompfi 
 " them to fhew their Skill in Divinity^ and 
 " cJyange a Word with him upon this Occafion : 
 " To fave thefe Gentlemen a needlefs Trou- 
 ble, he thinks proper to declare ; that if 
 either of the Mr. Wejleys^ who ftill pafs un- 
 der that Denomination^ have any Exceptions 
 to make to what is here advanced, provided 
 thofe Exceptions be drawn up, as he has fet 
 the Example, in as ihort a Compafs as the 
 Nature oi Controverfy will admit, the Man- 
 ner, in which, all wife and good People, 
 would choofe to manage a Religious Dif- 
 pute," &c. 
 Now, Sir, how comes It to pafs, that you 
 reprefent what was ^ddre&djoint/y to you ^nd 
 your Brother, Sisfolely direded to yourfelf ? This 
 is by no Means a fair Rotation, and your falfe 
 Dealing is much aggravated by the Interpola- 
 tion of the Words — [and ifi] which affords 
 you an Handle for fome idle Declamation — 
 
 whereas 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 <c 
 <c 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
8 JDr. Free's Notes. 
 
 whereas the Original has not any fuch Words 
 as — [and in\ the Manner" — but runs thus, — 
 *' in as fhort a Compafs as the Nature of Con- 
 " troverfy will admit, the Manner," &c. 
 This material Change muft proceed either 
 from I?2atte?itio72^ Ignorance^ or bad Z)^/?^?/. 
 
 If it proceeded from Inattention ; it muft 
 fhew great Contempt of the Publick not to 
 read a Thing over before you committed it to 
 Print : If it proceeded from Ignorance 3 as you 
 affedl the Patriarch or Apojlky you may be 
 afhamed not to have your Wits as much about 
 you, as when you was a School-boy. For to be 
 fure you then knew the Meaning oi Appofition^ 
 and underftood your Grammar j you {hould 
 not have forgot it here, oportebat fuijfe Memo- 
 rem, Laftly, if it was through bad Dejign^ 
 that you made this Alteration, why then you 
 cannot be really an hojjeji Man. And to fay 
 nothing of what the World may think of you, 
 it is my Opinion, that if you want HoneJi)\ 
 Jefus Chrift will never own you for his Dif- 
 ciple, let your Pretences to Religion be what 
 they will. 
 
 Mr, Wefley'j Letter. 
 
 6. But I do not promife to draw them up in that Man- 
 ner, whereof you have fet the Example. 
 
 7. I cannot; I dare not ; For I fear God, and do re- 
 ally believfe there is a Judgment to come. 7"herefore I dare 
 not return Evil for Evil ; neither Railing for Railing. 
 
 8. Nor can I allow, that your Manner of treating this 
 Subjed^, is that " wherein all ivife and good People, would 
 <' chufe to manage a Religious Difpute." Far, very far 
 from it. 
 
 9. I fhall rejoice, if a little more Fairnefi and Candor, 
 fhould appear m your future Writings. 
 
 10. But 
 
Mr, Wefley*s Letter. 9 
 
 10. But I cannot expeftit ; for the «;>r^ fuccus loligi- 
 fjis. Wormwood and Gall feem to have infected your very 
 Vitals. 
 
 Dr, Free*^ Nofe. 
 
 The Tra6t of mine, which Mr. WeJIey fo 
 belabours in thefe Verfes, is that entitled Cer- 
 tain Articles propofed to the ferious Confidera- 
 tion of the Company of Salters in London^ Sec, 
 Of which the Reader may fee a Vindication in 
 the Preface to my Sermon before the Univer- 
 fity oi Oxford : And therefore I hope he will 
 excufe me here, if I take no farther Notice of 
 this notable Paffage. 
 
 Mr. Wefley'i Letter. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Contents. Mr. Wefley tells a Story about his convtnc ^ 
 ing BiP)op Gibfon — confejfes his Weaknefs \ ■prays to the 
 God i?/' Truth and Love to ajjifi him — Promifes a Thing 
 which he is not able to perform^ tells a Fib about anfwer- 
 ing an ObjeSfion^'—lofes his Underjlanding and talks with- 
 out Coherence or Connexion y denies a notorious F a 5i Support- 
 ed by the moji evident Proof, and ends with afalfe ^^Jfertion. 
 
 I. '^ I ^HE Quotation from Bifhop Gibfon, which takes 
 A up Five out of Nineteen Pages, 1 have particu- 
 larly anfwered already *. 
 
 2. And in a Manner wherev/ith I have good Rcafon to 
 believe, his Lordfliip was entirely fatisfied. With his 
 Lordfhip therefore 1 have no prefent Concern: My Bufi- 
 nefs now is with you only. 
 
 3. And feeing you are *' now ready," (as you exprefs 
 it) " to run a Tilt,''' I mufl make what Defence I can. 
 
 4. Only you muft excufe me from Meeting you on the 
 fame Ground, or fighting you with the fame Weapons. 
 
 * In a Letter to the Right Rev. the Lord Bifliop of London. 
 
 B JDr; 
 
lo Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 C H A P. IL 
 
 Dr, Yrtt's Notes, 
 
 'C'Riend Wejley^ from a Man defirous, as thou 
 would ft feem to be (but a little before) of 
 employing all thy 'Time^ in what relates to jE- 
 iermty, is not this an idle and invidious Reflec- 
 tion ? What Matter is it, as to the Argument, 
 how many Pages of my Pamphlet are taken 
 up by the Quotation from Bifhop Gibjon ? If 
 what Bifhop Gibjon fays be true, the " Godof 
 '* 'T?-uth and Love,'* whom thou invokeft but 
 a little after would never have diredled Thee, 
 to have refled;ed upon me for minijlring to 
 the "Itrutb by introducing the BiJJoop^ Tefti- 
 mony. 1 thought it better than my own ; and 
 is it confiftent, in the very Minute, that thou 
 makeft fuch ProfeJ/ion o? Candor and Chriflian 
 Charity y to be thus farcajlical upon my Humi- 
 lity ? The Pharifee in the Gofpel, thanked 
 God that he was not a SirDier, and if this be 
 your Practice, I thank God, that I am not 
 fuch a Sai77t, For there is much of human 
 Frailty in this Condud:, which is quite incon- 
 fiftent with thy Chriftian PerfeSion. I have 
 now done with my Plainnefs, Sir, and ihall 
 henceforth keep my Diftance. 
 
 As to your Anfwer then, to the late Bishop 
 of London^ for which you refer us to your 
 Letter — you fliould have told us the Page : 
 For r cannot find it — No! — No! — no fuch 
 Anfv^^er, I allure you — I can find no fuch 
 Anfwer. 
 
 And 
 
jDr. Free's Notes. ii 
 
 And therefore I am the more aftoniflied 
 how you could tell us that the Bifiop was fo 
 entirely fatisfied with it. For my Part I want 
 Satisfadion upon the Subjed:, and am foriy to 
 hear you cannot meet me on the fame Ground^ 
 or fight with the fame Weapons, that I do. 
 Foj: had this been the Cafe, I fhould have 
 given y or received Satisfadion, before this 
 Time. My Ground is fure Ground, Sir, and 
 my Weapons fuch as will feldom fail me. 
 Whereas you make ufe of fome little Inftru- 
 ments befide the "Truths which will always 
 break in your Hands, and leave you at the 
 Mercy of your Adverfary. 
 
 't^' Mr, Wefley'i Letter. 
 
 5. My Weapons are only Truth and Love. May the 
 God of Truth and Love flrengthen my Weaknefs ! 
 
 Dr. FreeV Note. 
 
 I fliould like this Declaration much better, 
 if I could think, that fuch a Principle fteadily 
 influenced your Pradice : But as you have 
 mifreprefented me fo grofsly in your Quota- 
 tions, and fo defignedly 5 and now trifle thus 
 with your folemn Proteflations^ I have Reafon, 
 (though I may be forry to fay it) even in this 
 Particillar, to doubt of your Incegrity, not- 
 withrtanding your ferious Mention, of what 
 ought to affed every thinking Man, our Re- 
 lation to Ete'rnity. 
 
 E 2 Mr, 
 
1 2 . Mr. Wefley's Letter. 
 
 Mr. Wefley'i Letter. 
 
 6 I wave what relates to Mr. V — 's perfonal Charac- 
 ter, which is too u'ell known to need my Defence of it : 
 As like wife the Occurrence (real or imaginary I cannot 
 tell) which gave Birth to your Performance. 
 
 Dr. Free'j Note. 
 
 I take an Opportunity from this Fajfage^ to 
 inform the Publick^ that the Reafon, why I 
 gave myfelf tlie Trouble of printing Mr. IV'^ 
 Letter in this Manner, was not barely for the 
 Sake of exa?ni?ting it myfelf, and, as I faw Oc- 
 cafion, to anfwer it : But alfo to fet this Gentle- 
 man and his Adherents an Example of fair 
 Dealing in Controverfy 3 to which they fei;m 
 to be entire Strangers. For what Reader, but 
 would imagine fi-om thefe Words of Mr. Wef- 
 
 kfsy that his Fiiend Mr. F had fuffered 
 
 in his perfonal Character by my Writings ? 
 The Trafit to the Salters is eafily read over. 
 Let any one judge from the Reading, whe- 
 ther I have concerned myfelf with this Mr. 
 
 F any otherwife than in his Character of a 
 
 Mefkodifty a CharaBer^ which on Account of 
 his Connexion with the Methodifis^ and his 
 preaching their DoBrines^ had even in the 
 Efteem of his ow^n Hearers^ been juftly fixed 
 upon him. Of the Influence of this puhlick 
 CharaBer upon the perfonal^ Mr. Wejley ihall 
 hear a little more hereafter 5 fince, in his Z^- 
 f(97?^i Letter, he has revived the i2.n\tObjeBion'y 
 but this by the Way. I am only led to take 
 riotice here, of his Manner of Quotation, 
 
 of 
 
Dr, Free's Notes.^ 13 
 
 of which I would defire the unprejudiced 
 Reader to be alfo obfervant, that he may be 
 the better able to do me Juftice. 
 
 Mr. Wefley'j Letter, 
 
 7. All that I concern myfelf with is your Five vehement 
 Affertions, with Regard to the People caU'd Mcthodifts. 
 Thefe I (hall confider in their Order, and prove to be to- 
 tally falfe and groundlefs. 
 
 8. The firft is this, + *' Their whole Miniftry is an 
 *' open and avow'd Oppofition to one of the fundamental 
 <' Articles of our Religion." How fo ? Why " the 20th 
 *' Article declares, We may not fo expound one Scripture, 
 *' that it be repugnant to another, J And yet it is noto- 
 *' rious, that the Methodijls do ever explain the Word 
 " Faith as it ftands in fome of St. Paul\ Writings, fo as 
 '* to make his Do(Strines a diredl and flat Contradiclion to 
 « thatof.St. Jamesr 
 
 Dr. Free'i Note. 
 
 So then, Sir, you chufe to enter the Lifts, 
 
 not upon your own Account, or for particular 
 
 Opinions of your own^ but as a Champion for the 
 
 Caiife of the People called Methodt/is? In the 
 
 Words of my Pcjijcript above- cited, I fpoke 
 
 with Hefitaticn, as if I did not know, but that 
 
 you had been difpofed to have quitted tljat 
 
 Profeffion, this afforded you an Opportunity 
 
 of difavowing it, if you would ^ but as you 
 
 take to it fo very formally, by declaring your- 
 
 felf their Advocate, what a Weatjier cock 
 
 muft the V/orld think you, when in youv Je- 
 
 cond Epijlle you renounce the very Ntwie^ and 
 
 declare, that you are no fuch Perfon. But of 
 
 this hereafter.*—- 
 
 To 
 t P. 4. X p. 5. 
 
14 Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 To he^ or not to he? ay ! there* s the ^ejiicn^ 
 Which Wesley'^ Meditations can't refolve. 
 Conviflion tells him he has gone ajlray ; 
 But yet the Fence the fatid Pence of Brass 
 PFhich at the Found'ry, weekly load his Palm, 
 Incline himjlill to act the Methodist ;■ 
 
 Act, 7"^ DISOWN, — -Jlrangeinconfijlent Partf 
 Tf'ljich Chara5fers the double-minded Man^ 
 UNsrABLEjlili^ yet varioufly the fame, 
 
 Mr. Welley'i Letter. 
 
 9. This ftale Obje£):ion has been anfwered an hundred 
 Times, fo that I really thought we fhould have heard no 
 more of it. 
 
 10. But fmce it is required, I repeat the Anfwer once 
 more. By Faith we mean. The Evidence of Things not 
 feen: By juflifying Faith, a Divine Evidence or Convic- 
 tion, that Chrift loved me and gave Himfelf for, me. St. 
 P<?i^/ affirms, that a Man is juftified by this Faith ; which 
 St. fames never denies ; but only afTerts that a Man can- 
 not be juflihed by a dead Faith, And this St. Paul never 
 aiiirms. 
 
 Dr. Free'i Note, 
 
 Mr. V/cjlej is here affronted at what he calls 
 a fiale Objedlion. No wonder, for when 
 Things grow ftale, they fometimes grow very 
 ftrong, and if held to your Nofe they will be 
 ftill more offenfive : How to get out of the 
 Smell of this Objeftion is the Difficulty. To 
 fay, that it has been anfwered an hundred 
 Times, Is only telling a ftals Lye. It is plain 
 tome, Sir, that you cannot anfwer it now 3 
 and 1 am afraid your Apology will appear to 
 the Reader no better than Nonfenfe. For 
 your Words are, Verfe 10. " by juflifying 
 *' Faith^ we mean, a Divine Evidence or Con- 
 
 '' vidtion, 
 
Dr. Free's Notes. i j; 
 
 *' Vidion, that Chrift loved me, and gave 
 " Himfelf for me,'* Now for the Confe- 
 quence ! — Ergo — ** The Metbodijls do not ex- 
 *' plain the Word Faith^ as it ftands in fome 
 " of St. Pauls Writings, fo as to make the 
 " Dodtrine of St. Paul a diredt and flat Con- 
 
 *' tradidioti to fhat of St. JamesJ' Is this 
 
 what you call Connexion ? — — 
 
 I'll tell you one Thing, Sir, Silver arid Gold 
 I have no?7ey for that as well as the Brafs gene- 
 rally goes to the Shops of the Methodists, 
 but fuch as 1 have^ I will give u?2teyoUy there- 
 fore, I fay, if you can make this la77ie Argu- 
 ment walk, and bring it to the Growth of a 
 regular Syllogifmy I don't know but I may ho- 
 nour you with another Dedication, Et eris 
 mihi niagnus Apollo. 
 
 But befide the Fault in the Argument ^ Sir, 
 here is a Whim or Conceit in the Phrafe, which 
 muft not pafs without Notice. For if one 
 were to be inquifitive about Chapter and Verfe^ 
 pray. Sir, in which of St. PauN Writings, is 
 it exprefsly faid, that Jefus Chrift; died in par- 
 ticular for Mr. "John Wejley ? Don't you fee, 
 that there is fomething mighty odd in the 
 wording of this Paflage ? For by the Phrafc it 
 amounts to this ; St. Paul afiirms, that a Man 
 is juftified by having a Divine Evidence or 
 Convi^iion, that Jefas Chrift gave himfelf for 
 Mr. ^ohn Wefleyl — Are you then in. your 
 Senfes ? Or do you think, that other People 
 have loft theirs, that you can venture to talk 
 fuch Stuff to them as this ? 
 
 From 
 
1 6 -Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 From what Moravian have you borrowed 
 thtfe Singularities ? I have heard indeed, (I 
 don't fay, I know it to be true) that you have 
 extraBed nQ2iV 14 Volumes all ^uintcfjences^ to 
 be fure, from the Fanaticijm of the Germans^ 
 the EngliJJjy and other Nations. For all Na- 
 tions and Religions have their Fanaticks. 
 
 And thus ^ you dim your Eyes^ andJiuffyoKr Head, 
 With all fuch R.eading, as was never read? Pope. 
 
 Mr. Wefley'j Letter. 
 
 11. " But St. James declcLves, Faith without Worh is 
 *' dead. Therefore it is clearly St. jfajnes's Meaning, that 
 ** a Faith which is without Virtue and Morality, cannot 
 '' produce Salvation. Yet the Methodijis fo explain St. 
 *' Paul as to affirm that Faith without Virtue or Morality 
 *' will produce Salvation." Where ? In which of their 
 Writings.? This needs fome Proof: I abfolutely deny the 
 Faa. 
 
 12. So that all which follows is mere Flourlfh, and falls 
 to the Ground at once: And all that you aver of their * 
 ^* open and fcandalous Oppofition to the 20th Article," is 
 no better than an open and fcandalous Slander. 
 
 Dr, FreeV Note, 
 As you are pleafed to call my Argument in 
 this Place a Flourijh, I muft reply, Sir, that 
 it is but a fiiort Flonrijlj on your Side. For I 
 refer the Reader to the Preface and Appendix 
 of my Sermon preached at Oxford, where to 
 the Misfortune of your Caufe, he will find this 
 open and fcandalous Slander, ^s.Tou term it, 
 fupported by a Cloud 0/ WitnelJes, and Fafts too 
 ftubborn to yield to ^ny flin:Jy Lie. 
 
 Mr, 
 • P. 6, 
 
Mr» Wefley's Letter, 17 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Contents. Adr, Wefley continUiS to produce from Dr, 
 Free' J Pamphlet to the SaIters/^«^ mangled a -id di jointed 
 Quotations, relating to the DoS.nnes of the Mtihcdiiis^ 
 of which Do^rineSy as he pretends, he never heard before ; 
 or at leafi does not remer^iber them, and therefore def ires 
 his Opponent to refrejh his Memory, 
 
 I. TTOUR fecond Aflertion is this, « the * MethodiJ}, 
 X " for the Perdition of the Souls of his Followers, 
 *' openly gives our Saviour the Lie, loads ihe Scripture 
 " with Falftiood and Contradiclion : (And pray what 
 " could a Mahomedan, or Infidel, or the Devil himfelf do 
 *' more.) Yea, openlv blafpheme the Name of Chrifi, 
 " by faying. That the Works of Men are of no Confide- 
 *' ration at all ; that God makes no Diftinction between 
 *« Virtue and Vice, that he does not hate Vice or I've 
 *' Virtue, What Blafphe7ny then and hvpiety are thoCe 
 «« Wretches guilty of, who in their diabolical Phrenzy, 
 " dare to contradidl our Saviour's Authority, and that in 
 *< fuch aneflential Article of Religion V 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 JDr. Free'j Note, 
 
 npHIS firft Verfe, as likewlfe the greateft 
 Part of this Chapter, being made up of 
 Extracts from my firft Pamphlet to the Com- 
 pany of Salters thrown together in a very irre- 
 gular Manner, the Reader is defired to perufe 
 them as they ftand in their proper Places, in 
 Order to form a juft Notion of their Extent 
 and Meaning. And for the Evidence, which 
 Mr. V/eJley fo often calls for to fupport thefe 
 Paffages, I refer the Reader^ once for all, to 
 
 C the 
 
 * P. 7» 8i 9- 
 
1 8 Dr, Free's Notes. 
 
 the Preface of my Sermon, and to the Appen- 
 dix containing the Blajphe?mes and Delufions of 
 the Methodijis, particularly Number V. and 
 to what I have farther to fay in my Notes up- 
 on Mr. Wejlcy^ jecond Letter, which Notes 
 are juft now publiflied, under the Title of a 
 perpetual Comment, 
 
 Mr. Wefley'i Letter. 
 
 2. Here alfo the Methodifts plead not guilty, and re- 
 quire you to produce your Evidence : To (hew in which 
 of their Writings they affirm, That God "will not re- 
 " ward every Man according to his Works ; that He 
 *» makes no Diftinclion between Virtue and Vice ; that 
 *' He does not hate Vice or love Virtue." Thefe are Po- 
 rtions which they never remember to have advanced. If 
 you can, refrefli their Memory. 
 
 Dr. Free'j Note. 
 
 I cannot fay whether it has been any Re- 
 Jrejhment or not : But I beHeve by this Time 
 you feel that I have rubbed up your Memory, 
 upon this Subjedt, in the Preface and Appen- 
 dix to my Sermon. Number V. And in my 
 Edition of your fecond Letter. 
 
 Mr. Wefley'j Letter. 
 
 3. You aflert. Thirdly, the Methodijls, by thefe Pofi- 
 tions, " deftroy the eflential Attributes of God, and ruin 
 
 *' his Chara£ler as Judge of the World.'* Very true 
 
 if they held thefe Pofitions. 
 
 4. But here lies the Miftake. They hold no fuch Pofi- 
 tions. They never did. They deteft and abhor them. 
 In arguing therefore on this Suppofition, you are again 
 heating the Air. 
 
 Drl 
 
Dr, Frce's Notes.' 19 
 
 Sir, you muft certainly be miftaken here. 
 For inftead ot beating the Air ^ I think, that I 
 am beating the Methodifts, But perhaps you 
 mean by this, that you Prophets are become 
 Wind, and the Word oj the Lord is not in you ; 
 if fo, indeed, I may be beating the Air^ in 
 beating the Methodijis. 
 
 Mr, Welley'i Letter, 
 
 5. You afTert, Fourthly, The Methodijlsi^:^^ teach and 
 " propagate * downright Atheifm (a capital Crime ; and 
 '« Atheifls in fome Countries have been put to Death,) 
 *' Hereby they make Room for all Manner of Vice and 
 *^ Villainy, by which Means the Bands of Society are 
 *' diflblved. And therefore this Attempt muft be confi- 
 " dered as a Sort of Treafon by MagiJiratesJ'^ 
 
 6. Again we deny the whole Charge, and call for 
 Proof: 
 
 7. And, blefled be God, fo do the Magiftrates in 
 Great-Britain. 
 
 8. Bold, vehement Afleverations will not pafs upon them 
 for legal Evidences. 
 
 9. Nor indeed on any reafonable Man. 
 
 10. They can diftinguifti between arguing and calling 
 Names. 
 
 1 1. The former becomes a Gentleman and a Chriflian : 
 But what is he, who can be guilty of the latter ? 
 
 jDr. Free'i Note, 
 
 You may deny as you will, Sir, and as you 
 think confiflent v/ith your Credit : But the 
 Charge is fupported by Fa^, and fuch Prccf 
 has been given of it, as none but thofe, who 
 
 C 2 have 
 
 * P. 10, u. 
 
cc 
 
 20 , Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 have lofl: all Senfe of Skcime, as well as Under-' 
 flandlng can offer to deny. 
 
 The Reader may fee by the T eft monies pro- 
 duced in the Pre] ace and AppeJidix to my Ser- 
 mon,' what Ajjurance\ have from their own 
 Writings, that the People v/ho pafs under the 
 DcncminatiGn of Methodists, nay, who call 
 thenfdvcs Meti^odists, have maintained fuch 
 Propofitioijs as th.efe, viz, 
 
 *' That Men are (ahfohtteJy and finally) 
 *^ juftihcd without the Deeds of a?iy Law 
 ^^ whatever, either natural^ ceretnonial or 
 ** 7uord'f to the utter Exclufion of all good 
 Works, 
 
 That there is no Diference betwixt 
 the moft fervent Devotee and the greateft 
 " Ringleader in Prophanenefs, &c. 
 
 '' That he, who attempts to do afiy Thing 
 eafy or difficult, under the Notion of an 
 A& of believing, or any other Adl, in 
 Order to his Accepta?2Ce to God, only heaps 
 *^ up more Wrath again ft himfelf/' — 
 Such Fernicious Pkinctples, I faid, tended 
 to dedroy our Notions oi the effential Attri- 
 butes of God, and ruin his Char aoier, as Judge 
 of the World. And in the Articles to the 
 Salter s. Page 9. in fupport of my Affertion, I 
 argued thus ; 
 
 '' Fir/i, If there be no DiJlinBion between 
 '' human Adions, or a Dijiinction of no Con- 
 ^* fideratwn, then there can be no fuch Thing 
 '"■ as Good, or Evil: And confequently no 
 '' Room for a future Judgment at all. For 
 ^' where there is no Law broken, there is no 
 
 '* Harm 
 
 cc 
 
cc 
 
 cc 
 te 
 <c 
 <c 
 
 (C 
 
 <( 
 <c 
 cc 
 
 Dr, Free's Notbs. 21 
 
 " Harm done 3 and therefore no Call for 
 Judgment. 
 
 '' But Secondly y If there be a real Dlflinc- 
 tion between Good and Evil 3 then to fay 
 that God does not regard it, or take it into 
 Confideration^ but rewards or puniflies at 
 random, is making him fo fooliili as not to 
 diftinguifh Vice from Virtue; or fo unjuft 
 as to prefer Vice before it \ which Defi- 
 ciency would render him quite unfit to be 
 the Judge of the World. 
 *' In the firft Place therefore, accordins: to 
 " this Dodtrine, we are to have no Judgment 
 '' of the World at all. 
 
 ** In the next Cafe God is reprefented as 
 
 unfit to be that "Judge, 
 *' Now if this be not downright Atheifm^ 
 I would be glad to know what it is/' 
 Thefe are the Proofs, Sir, which I fuhmit 
 to the Examination of any Man alive, who 
 enjoys the Ufe of his Under/landing, If you 
 can call fuch plain Tejti monies and fair Reafou^ 
 trigs ovAy^ " bold and vehement Afieve rat ions,'' 
 Men of coinmon Se7ife will doubt your f lonefiy ; 
 and the learned will be apt to apply to )ou and 
 your T^ribe the Rcfiection of the Roman Orator, 
 h'^cet concurrant omnes plebeii [concionatores] 
 non modo nihil iinquam tarn elegant er explicabunt^ 
 fed ne hoc qiiidem ipfum quam fubtiliter concinjuni 
 Jit^ intellegent. Allow this then to be Argii- 
 tng^ Sir^ to fave your own Credit as a Scholar, 
 and to be confiflent with the Conceffioii 
 which you made [V. ^,1 but a little before. 
 
 That 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
22 JDr. Free's Notes. 
 
 That ij the Methodijls held fuch Pofit{ons\ 
 they would thereby '' deilroy the effential 
 *' Attributes of God, and ruin his Chara^er^ 
 *' as Judge of the World.'' 
 
 This Charge againft the People of your TDe- 
 nomination being thus fupported by FaB : It is 
 no Matter to the Publick, whether from a- 
 mong the Methodifts^ you are one of the iden- 
 tical Perfons concerned, or not. It may be 
 fonie Advantage indeed to you to 'fcape a 
 Scowerifig^ but in the mean Time the fame 
 Hurt is done to the Cojjimunity^ whether it be 
 done by Mr. Wesley'5 Gang^ or be done by 
 Mr. WeJIey, And I would advife you, if you 
 would avoid all Sufpicion of evil Communica- 
 tion and Correfpondence with fuch Sort of 
 People, to fpeak no longer in their Defence. 
 For it is apparent that under the Name of Me- 
 thcdi/is, fuch Perfons and fuch Opinions do ac- 
 tually exift. And as I faid to the Vv^orihipful 
 Company of S alters^ I fay once more to you, 
 *' Atbeiim has been deemed a r^/>/V^/ Crime, 
 ** and Atheifts in feme Countries have been 
 *' put to Death, as Perfons very dangerous to 
 '* a State, at leaft in the Opinion of thofe, 
 *' who govern it. 
 
 ** For that all wife Lawgivers and good 
 Maojjjrates, befide that they refent the 
 Diflionour done to God, confider the Pro- 
 pagation of Atheifm as an Attempt to de- 
 ftroy their own Commonwealth. Becaufe by 
 " releafing Men from their natural Fears of a 
 '^ Dcitv, it difcharges them from all 7norGl 
 *' Obliiiation ; makes PxOom for all Manner 
 
 '' oi 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
Dr, Free's Notes. 21 
 
 " of Vice and Villainy, by which Means the 
 *' Ba7idsoi Society are diffolved, the Commu- 
 '' niiy is forced to feparate ; and the Magif- 
 *' trates themfelves, when all Government is 
 " overturned, can in that Character fubfift no 
 *^ longer. 
 
 *' You fee then, that this Attempt muft be 
 *' confidered as a Sort of T^reajon by (wife) 
 *' Magiftrates -, becaufe it is an Attack upon 
 *' themfelves : by ruining their Subjeds it 
 " takes away their very Office ; there being, 
 *' as I obferved, no Place for Governors in a 
 Society quite diffolute and abandoned. 
 " This then is the Confequence of deftroy- 
 ing the Morals of a State, by the Introduc- 
 *' tion of dire^ Atheifm : And therefore to 
 fecure the Morals of their People, Magi- 
 ftrates make Ufe of that Inftrument, which 
 we call Religion, as being in their Opinion, 
 *' what will contribute moft to harmonize 
 *^ and regulate Society, and produce EfFeds 
 " quite oppofite to thofe, which they dread 
 " from Atheifm. 
 
 " But \i ajiy Form of Religion difcourage 
 Morality^ it can be no Inftrument for their 
 Purpofe, becaufe it does the Work of Athe- 
 ifm. And therefore they muft be as much 
 '* alarmed at the Introduction of lucb a Reli- 
 "-^ gion, as atthe Introdudion of ^i'/Z^t'.^^;;; and 
 " look upon it in the fame Light, as it is at- 
 *' tended with the fam.e Confequence." 
 
 Now the Form of Religion introduced by 
 the Methodifis is fuch, as thus difcourages Mo- 
 rality ^ and to be confiftent with their Profef- 
 
 fion. 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
24 -Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 fion, their Teachers often call the Divines of 
 the Church of England^ by Way of Derifwn^ 
 Moralists: Yet Mr. Wejley reprefents our 
 Magiflrates themfelves as well aftefted to 
 this Sort of People. 
 
 What I have to obferve upon this Repre- 
 fentation is, firji^ that I cannot believe it to be 
 true : zndfecondfy, that if it be true, and any 
 of our MagiJIrafes 2.rt no better principled than 
 is here reprefented, that then they are by no 
 Means v^ife or good Magiflrates, and confe- 
 quently not fit to hold or difcharge any OfHce 
 of Importance in this Country. 
 
 As to the Reprefentation, therefore; not- 
 withflanding, that Mr. V/eJley ufes the Term 
 Magistrates as imiverfal^ or at leafl z^;?//;;^/- 
 ted^ yet probably he may be able iofpecify no 
 more than the Sheriff of Bedford^ who ap- 
 pointed him to preach the AJjize Sermon : Or 
 the London Sugar-baker, who, according to 
 the News-Papers, publickly nominated Mr. 
 yo?ies the Impofior^ for his Chaplain. 
 
 If this Officer was guilty of fuch an Infult 
 upon the Church of E?2gland, to which he 
 pretended occafionally to conform, I do not 
 doubt, but that he will be properly noted by 
 his Fellow-Citizens^ as a Perfon not very fit to 
 hold or difcharge the Trufl to which he has 
 been promoted. For had this Man been ac- 
 quainted with any Thing beiide his Sugar 
 Pans, or formed the leafl Idea of the Office, he 
 pretends to ferve, he muft have been fenfible, 
 that it frequently belongs to the Bufmefs of an 
 Englijh Sheriff to beprefent at the Execution 
 
 of 
 
Dr. Free's Notes. 25 
 
 of the Laws againft notorious Crvniiiah, For 
 Inftance, Cheats and hnpojiors by the Laws of 
 'England are reckoned notorious Criminals. I 
 think Bracion calls a Traitor Sedu^or, and had 
 Mr. "Jones been formally convicted as a Cheat 
 and hnpojlor^ and ordered by the Court to 
 have been led down Cheapjide by the Sheriff oi 
 London, to the Royal Exchange, with the * 
 Letter from the MajifloJis above pinned to his 
 Back and Bread, and there to have fi-iffered 
 the Penalties, which the Laws inflid; why 
 the Sheriff would have found it his Duty to 
 have attended his Chaplain upon this Occaiioft. 
 By which the World would have been apt to 
 conclude, that either through Ignorance he 
 knew not how to condu^thimfelf in the Office 
 to which he was promoted, or elfe that he 
 made ufe of his Authority to countenance De- 
 ceit in Breach of his Oathy as being in Breach 
 of the Laws of E?2glajid. 
 
 For Deceit, which is defined by the Law- 
 yers, to be a fubtie Trick and Device where- 
 unto you may draw all Manner of Craft and 
 Cclhijion ' and ao-ainft which there is a \¥rit 
 called Breve Decepticne is an Offence both at 
 common and jlatute Law. It is generally pu- 
 nifhed by Whippings or the Pillory, 
 
 Religious Deceit, or Deceit by Prophecy 
 hath other Penalties, " For if any Perfon 
 fhall adv'ifedly and diredly advance, puhlijh^ 
 zrA Jet forth hy\Nv\ti\v\^, Printing, Singing, 
 or any uther open Speech or Deed, any tond 
 fantaflical, or falfe Prophecy, thereby to 
 
 D '' make 
 
 ■ See it in th« Appendix tc Dr. Fail SsrmQn. 
 
 cc 
 
<( 
 
 tt 
 cc 
 
 26 Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 ' make any DilTention, or other Difturbances 
 / in the Realm, he ihall for the firji Offence 
 ** be imprijoned for a Year, and forfeit ten 
 
 Pounds y and for the fecond Offence be im^ 
 
 frifo?7ed for Life y ?.udi forjeit kis Goods; 
 
 h2\f the Forfeitures to the King, and half 
 
 to /?/;/;, who (liall fne for them in any Court 
 
 of Record.'* 5 Eliz, c. 15. 
 
 Thefe being the Lp.ws and Co?iflitutio?is of 
 this Kingdom, one would afk this Sheriffs how 
 he could confiftently with his Oath:, make 
 choice of fuch a fuklick Deceiver for his 
 Chaplain ? For a Claufe of the Oath is. — 
 *^ lunll tru y arid diligently execute the good La'ws 
 *' and Statutes cf this Realm, and i?! all Things 
 '^ well and truly behave my f elf in my Office, jor 
 *' the Honour of the King, and the Good of 
 " his Subjects, and df charge the fame accord- 
 *' ing to the heft cf my Skill and Power : So help 
 *' me God." 3. Geo,c, 15. *Sf5. 18, 19. 
 
 If thefe be the Laws, this the Oath to ob- 
 ferve thofe Laws, and this the Gondii^ of the 
 Magi jir ate, who took it : We have Reafon to 
 apprehend, what v/ould be the Fate of this 
 KiNGDOxM ; were the Magijlratis, as Mr. 
 Wefley reprefents, all fo well difpofed to fa- 
 vour the Methodi/h, 
 
 C H A P. 
 
Mr. WefleyV Letter. IZj 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Contents. Mr. Wefley fupfofes an IrfallihUity in the 
 Church of England like that of the Church cf Rome 5 
 talks cf the Articles as a Ruk of Faith preferable t: the 
 Holy 'Scriptures ; makes no Difference hctvjeen fundamen- 
 tal Articles afid difputable Points of Faith. Accufes Dr. 
 Free cf writing againj} the Articles, hut cannot jhew the 
 Place ; domineers like a PcedagcguCy till he is quite cut of 
 Breathy hut recovering hinrfelf to fay fcmething cf Arabia 
 and Japan, is feized with a Fit cf Mcekmfs, uttering 
 among his laji Words Fairnefs, Candor, Chrift. 
 
 I. \70U afTert, Laftiv, That any who chufr a Metho- 
 JL dip. Clergyman for their Ledurer, * '^ put into that 
 *' Oit.ce, which flhiould be held by a Mlnifter of the Church 
 " of England^ an Enemy who undermines not only the 
 " /c'^^/£ftablifhmcntof "that Church, but alfo the Foun- 
 
 " dation of all Religion." 
 
 2. Once more we muft call upon you for the Proof : 
 The Proof of thefe two Particulars, Firft, that I, John 
 JVefley^ am " an Enemy to the Church, and that I under-_ 
 *' mine not only the legal Eftablifhment of the Church rf 
 «« Ejigland, but alfo the very Foundations of all Religion." 
 Secondly, That "Mr. F— is an Enemy to the Cnurch, 
 " and Is undermining all Religion, as well as the Efta- 
 «' blifhment." 
 
 3. Another Word and I have dorie. Are there 
 «' t certain ^alif cations required of all Lc^uyen^ before 
 ''■ they are by Law permitted to fpeak to the People ?" 
 And is a Sufcripticn to the Thirty Nine Articles of Reli- 
 <rion, one of thefe Qualifications ? And is a Perfon who 
 does not " conform to fuch Subfcription" difqualified to 
 be a LeSurer? Or, who " has ever held or publijhed any 
 " Thine contrary to what the Church of England mdl.n- 
 
 »< tains ?" 
 
 4. Then certainly you, Dr. John Free, are rot " per- 
 '' mitted by Law to fpeak to the People ." Neither are you 
 " qualified to be a Le£lurer'' in any Church \n London or 
 England, as by Law ejlahlijhed. Fof you fl.^tlv deny and 
 openly oppofe'more than One or Two of thofe Articles. 
 You do not in any wife conform to the Subfcription vou 
 
 made, 
 
 ♦ P. 13. t P- '4- 
 
't% Mr, Wefiey's Letter. 
 
 made, before you was ordain'd either Prie'fl or Deacon. 
 You both hold and publijh (if you are the Author and Pub- 
 lifher of the Traft before me) what is grofly, palpably 
 '' contrary to what the Church of England maintains,'* 
 in her Homihes as well as Articles : 
 
 c. 7'hofe Komilies to which vou have alfo fubfcribed, 
 in fubfcribincrthe ^6th Article. You have^ubfcribed them. 
 Sir : But did you ever read them ? 
 
 6. Did you ever read fo much as thp Three firfi: Homi- 
 lies ? I beg of you, Sir, to read thefe at leaf}-, before you 
 write again about the Do6lTine of the Church of England. 
 
 7. And would it not be prudent to read a few of the 
 Writings cf the Methodijh^ before you undertake a farther 
 Confutation of them ? At prefent you know not the Men 
 cr their Communication. You areas wholly unacquainted 
 both v/Ith them and their, Doctrines, as if you had lived all 
 your Days in the Iflands oi Japan,- or the Deferts oi Arabia. 
 
 8. You have given a furious iifTault to you know not 
 whom : And you have dene it, you know not why. 
 
 9. You have not hurt me thereby j 
 
 10. But you have huri: yourfelr : Perhaps In your Cha- 
 railerj certainly in your Confcience. 
 
 11. For this is not doing to ethers as you would they 
 fliould do unto you. When you grow cool, I truO; you 
 will fee this clearly : And will no more accufe, in a Manner 
 fo remote from Fairnefs and Candor. 
 
 Rev Sir, 
 ycur Servani for Cu'RJ'ii ^s Sake J 
 
 JOHN WESLEY. 
 
 Dr, Free J NcUs upon Chap. IV. of Mr, Wef- 
 
 ley'i Letter, 
 
 TN my Remarks upon this Chapter, I dial 1 
 •*- take the Liberty to confider and difpatch, 
 in the fiift Place, a few fcattering Objedions 
 at the End of it, relating to my Knowledge of 
 the Mttbodifis, and Behaviour to Mr. Wefley ; 
 that I may not be interrupted when I come to 
 fpeak upon a more important Subjedt, that is, 
 
 the 
 
Dr. Free's Notes. 29 
 
 the different Nature, Defign and Obligation 
 of the different Articles of the Church of Eng^ 
 la?2d, and the Cafe of the Subfcribers to the 
 Articles and Homilies. Where befides the 
 Importance of the Subjed: ; the Errors of Mr. 
 ?f>/?67 appear to be more particularly grofs, 
 and confidering, that he is fuch a Pattern of 
 Chriftian Meebiefs delivered with fome Degree 
 of Arrogance. 
 
 Firft then, for my Condudl to you Mr, 
 Wefley. You tell me that by writing the Pam- 
 phlet to the Salters, / have not hurt you, tho' 
 you fay, that it is not doi'ng to others, as 1 would 
 tkevfioula do unto mc. As for hurting you in. 
 particular ; the Defign of that Piece was iini" 
 ve^iah and calculated as far as you were con- 
 cerned, not to hurt, but to convince you: 
 Unlefs Convidion gives you Fain ; if fo, you 
 muft be fubjedl to fome perverfe Paffions, or 
 ftrono- Prejudices. For Difpajfionate Reason, 
 clear of thefe Incumbrances, finds a Pleafure 
 in Convidion, as it defires always to be in- 
 
 ' formed. ; 7 t->i r 
 
 And for doing, as I would be done by. Fleafe 
 to confider at the Time you wrote this Letter, 
 what Dealings in the literary Way, I had with 
 you. Why truly only this Communi cation \ I 
 had with all good Manners faid, that if either 
 you or your Brother had • any Exceptions to 
 make in the Manner there expreffed, and as I 
 expeded, I would reply, ^c. as fairly and 
 candidly as you could exped from a Man dif- 
 fering in Opinion from yourfelves. Now then. 
 Sir if vou put the QucAion, whether I (hould 
 ' ' ^ take 
 
30 JDr\ Free*s Notes. 
 
 take Offence at fuch a civil Challenge? I declare 
 upon my Honour^ that I fliould not. I have 
 therefore thus far done by you, as I would be 
 done by. 
 
 And further than this. I made no other 
 Addrefs to.you in your ow^n Perfon^ nor con- 
 cerned myfelf any farther with your Writings 
 in particular, than juft tranfcribing a PafTage 
 from Bjthop Gibfon\ Paftoral Letter, which 
 contained, it feems, an Extract from one of 
 your Journals. This alfo I believe no Man, 
 befide yourfelf, would ever have confidered 
 as an Offence, at lead I fliould not; unlefs 
 there had been fome Interpolation or bafe Omif" 
 fiofi, which had perfedly altered the Senfe, a 
 Circumftance, which no doubt you would have 
 complained of, if I had afforded you any 
 Caufe. But vou had no Caufe for fuch Com- 
 plaint, and might have been ufed with the 
 fame Tendernefs throughout, if you had not 
 forfeited my Efteem by quibbling with Tefti- 
 monies which you cannot deny, and your fig* 
 nal Diflionefty in Mifquotation. 
 
 Inftances of which I fliall produce to your 
 Shame, when I come to examine your fecond 
 Letter : FalOiood and Hypocrify, Sir, have no 
 Title to Civility from me. For in my Opinion, 
 that Man countenances Iniquity, who is civil 
 
 to it. 
 
 You tell the World, Sir, " That I have 
 " given a furious A flault, to I know not whom: 
 *' And 1 have done it, I know not why." — 
 &>, I attacked the Methodifts, becaufe, Peo- 
 ple, who pafs under that Denomination, pro- 
 pagate 
 
Dr, Free's Notes. 31 
 
 pagate a dangerous Sort of Atheifm^ and talk 
 Blafphemy : This was the Reafon why, and I 
 think, a fubflantial Reafon : And for the Per- 
 Jons whor/2y — I could not be fo much a Stranger 
 to them, as you reprefent, fince I have pro- 
 duced the Writings of fome, and both the 
 Names and Writings of others. 
 
 Muft it not then appear even to yourfelf, a 
 ftrange Flight and Abfurdity, to tell the Pub-- 
 licky that I know no more of the Methodiftsy 
 and their Communication^ than the Inhabitants 
 of Arabia and 'Japan ? When you cannot but 
 remember, that I have often had Opportuni- 
 ties of hearing your Opinions from your own 
 Mouths. As your Brother was of the fame 
 College with myfelf; and you, of the fame U- 
 7iiverfity, And when your younger Apoftle 
 Whitfield obtained (I fuppofe upon aPro- 
 mife of better Behaviour) Priefi's Orders at 
 Oxford y from the Bifhop of Gloiicejler ; being 
 of the Prejhytery of the Cathedral^ I was obliged 
 to lay my Hand upon his Head, and yet you 
 tell me that I know neither the Men nor their 
 Communication. 
 
 But, I think for this Sally^ you have re- 
 ceived a fufficient Check, from a Pamphlet 
 entitled, Confiderations on fome Modem Dciirines 
 and Teachers ; of which, iince you take no 
 Notice of it in your fecond Letter, I will give 
 you a Specimen here. 
 
 " Tills, fays the Author, ^' is a tip-top ca7it 
 
 * Page 12, 6fr. of the Pamphlet eqtitled Considerations 
 ou fome Moderu Do^rir.es and 'Teachers, humbly addrefled to the 
 worthy Inhabitants of St. Albany Wood-Jlreety and St. Ola^ocy 
 ^iher-Jireei^ kz. By C. Grange, an Inhabitant, Ifjc. 
 
 \\^ Expref- 
 
3^ Df". Free's Notes. 
 
 *' Expreffion of the Methodifts, and I have 
 " heard it made ufe of by the Brethren, when 
 " any attempted to interpret Scripture contrary 
 *' to their Liking — I fpeak thus freely, becaufe 
 " the Doctrines thus charged upon the Aff/^o- 
 ** dijh^ are falfe Dodrines f — Mr. Wejley him- 
 " felf; continues he, proves thofe Doflrines 
 *' to be falfe, bv his fo ftrenuouflv contending;* 
 ** and affirrning the Methodifis do not teach 
 ^' them/'— This Gentleman however teflifies 
 the contrary.—^' For pondering a little upon 
 ^' thefe Things, fays he, brought to my Re- 
 men^sbrance, that ten or a dozen Years ago, 
 or more Time \ believe has elapfed fince, 
 paffing near the Borders of the FQundcr)\ 
 Curiolity led me to fet my Foot over the 
 Threiliold, when I beheld one of the Lay- 
 Brethren up aloft and ready to exhibit ; and 
 I have had fomething like an Impreffion up- 
 on my Mind ever fmce, that his whole Ha- 
 raiigue was upon the Excellency of Faith^ 
 *' exclufive of IVorh ; and that a Hym?7, or 
 *' whatever it miight be called, was fung upon 
 *' the Occafion, which had the fameTenden- 
 " cy, tv/o particular Lines of which were 
 " ftill fredi in my Memory." 
 
 " But that I might not accufe any Perfon 
 *' wrongfully, I borrowed of an Acquain- 
 " tance one of their Hym?2'Books, where 1 find 
 *^ the very Words, being the two laft of their 
 *' Hym?i 3 2d, intitled, Christ the Friend of 
 ** Siimers, The Words are : 
 
 *' Believe^ and all your Sins forgiven ; 
 " Only believe, and yours is Heaven. 
 
 '« Other 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 <c 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
jDr. Free*s Notes. 33 
 
 ** Other of their Hynms^ have the fame Ten- 
 ^' dency ; ia the 44th, it is faid ; 
 
 " Look, and be fav'd by Faith alone.'* 
 
 By this then it fliould feem, that the Exchi^ 
 f.on of good Worksy notwithftanding the pre- 
 fent Profeffions to the contrary was once in 
 Fafliion at the Foundery itfelf. 
 
 This being fo univerfally the Cafe, Sir, it 
 is no Wonder I ftjould affirm of the Methodijh 
 in general, that their whole Minillry was an 
 open and avowed Oppofition to the 2cth Arti- 
 cle of the Church of England, For thofe who 
 preach the Dodirine of Salvation without good 
 Works, muft father it upon fome Parts of 
 Scripture. Becaufe natural Religion has no 
 fuch Abfurdities. But if they father it upon 
 Scripture, they make fome Parts of Scripture 
 contradidrthe Reft, which is charging Scrip- 
 ture with FaliTiood. For what is Contradic- 
 tion cannot be true. 
 
 I then afiert for this Reafon, and for others 
 which have been mentioned, Sir, that thofe 
 who chufe a Clergyman for their 'LeBurer\ 
 Priejiy or Parfon^ Vv'ho fhall be the Author, 
 Retailer, or Publifher of fuch Dodrine^ either 
 by Printing, Preaching or Singing, *' put into 
 " that Office, which (hould be held by aMi- 
 " nifler of the Church of England^ an Enemy, 
 " who undermines not only the /c^^^/Efcablilli- 
 *' ment^butalfo the Foundation of all Religion." 
 
 And if either you, or your Friend Mr. F—, 
 have openly vilified and fet at naught Morality^ 
 and fuch Ads of Piety 2.^ publick Devotion^ you 
 
 ' E in 
 
24 jDr. Frec's Notes.' 
 
 in fuch Hymns as have been jufl nov/ attefted 
 to be fung at your Foimdery^ and each, or either 
 of you, in your Writings or Sermons, why 
 then, Sir, as you afk me the Queftion, you are 
 fo far, both included in the fame Condemnation. 
 
 Such, Sir, are the Confequences of oppof- 
 ing a fundamental Article of the Church of 
 RnTland, which was eflabliflied with a View 
 to fecure the holy Scriptures from the Reproach 
 of being a Syftem of oppofite Dodlrines, and 
 Contradidions. Queftions refpeding difputa- 
 ble Points not very clear, and therefore not 
 very effential to Salvation, fhould never be 
 draw^n into Articles of Faith, or made to re- 
 quire the abfolute unconditional AfTent of all 
 Men. If in Times of publick Hurry and Con- 
 fufion, or to favour any particular Party, or 
 throu'^h the mere Ignorance of the Compilers 
 fuch Articles have crept into a Syftem, and 
 for the Sake of Peace have been fuffered to 
 remain, I do not find, that by Men of Senfe, 
 they have been confidered as any better than 
 temporary Inftitutions, which may be negleft- 
 ed, oppofed, or even expunged, if carried be- 
 yond their due Meaning, and made the Caufe 
 of Difturbance. 
 
 The Writers of the * IVeekly M^fccllany, in 
 which Paper, the Father of a certain Perfon 
 was fuppofed to be concerned, reprefent it as 
 the Opinion of Chillingworth, Laud, Sheldo?2y 
 Stillii'^Jl^ety that there was a wide Difference 
 betwe'en the Obligation of fome of the Articles 
 of the Church of England above others, that 
 
 ♦ Weekly Mifcelhny, vol. 2. Page 83. 
 
 they. 
 
Dr, Free's Notes.^ 35 
 
 thev are not all of them Articles of Faith 
 fundamentally neceffary to Salvation : This al- 
 lows a Liberty of Interpretation to Men ap- 
 proved of, and licenfed by the Governors cf 
 the Church, as capable of being entrufted with 
 that Liberty : And they do Religion a Service 
 if by their Learning they are enabled to ufe it, 
 in fuch a proper Manner, as to reconcile its 
 Difficulties. 
 
 And now, Sir, after this Preface, which I 
 hope may tend to your Information and Refor- 
 mation ; what have you to fay about Dr. Free^^ 
 Preaching againft the Articles? Does he preach 
 againft \\'\q fundamental Articles ? as has been 
 charged upon you and your Affociate Mr. V — . 
 If he has he deferves the fame Treatment, and 
 will ftand or fall by his own Laws. Does he 
 preach againft any Articles ? You do not give 
 any Inftance where. Till you can find the 
 Place, therefore I reply to you in the Words 
 of St. Bernard^ for the Honour of God, and 
 in my own Defence. — Mibi pro niinimo eft^ ut 
 ah illhjudicer^ qui di cunt bonum malum ^ ^ma- 
 lum bonufn^ ponentes lucem tenebras^ & tenebras 
 lucem^ libens excipio in me detrahentium Ungual 
 male die as ^ & vene?7atajplcula Blajphemorum, ut 
 ad ipfum non perveniant. 
 
 But it feems I muft ftop here to fay my Ca- 
 techijm. For fpeaking of the Homilies, in fi]- 
 rious Zeal, you afk me — You have fubfcribed 
 them. Sir, but did you ever read them ? - T 
 believe, I might — but now you talk of read- 
 ing — Si fatis dehaccbatus es, Leno, — Did you 
 never read the Story of the Caliph, who, w'hen 
 
 E 2 the 
 
36 Dr. Free*s Notes.' 
 
 the ^arazeus had got Pofleflion of Alexandria^ 
 was follicited by fome of his Officers, at the 
 earneft Entreaties of the Townfmen, to fpare 
 their antient Boaft and Glory, the Ptohmcean 
 Library, the noblefl: in the World : To which 
 the Mu[jelman replied, that the Books in the 
 Library either contained the fame Matters as 
 ihQ Alcoran y or they] did not. — If they con- 
 tained juft the fame things as the Alcoran^ 
 they were ufelefs , but if oppolite, they ought 
 by no Means to be preferved 3 which lat- 
 ter Article, not being very clear, it was the 
 World's Misfortune, that they fiiould be 
 burnt. — Now not to make a Comparifon 
 between the Worth of the Ftolomaan Library 
 and our Article's and Homilies^ the Inference I 
 would draw from the Hiftory, is this, that as 
 a Chriftian^ I ought to be allowed to think as 
 highly of the Bible^ as this 'Turk did of the 
 Alcoran^ and therefore by Parity of Reafon, I 
 fay, that the Articles and Homilies^ either con- 
 tain the fame Things as the Scriptures, or they 
 do not : If they contain the fame Things as 
 the Scriptures, then I have them in the Scrip- 
 tures.— But if they contain Things different 
 from, that is, oppofJe to the Scriptures ; then 
 they may be negleBed at leaft, 'if they ought 
 not to be burnt.'— ^\jX^ Sir, as you have here 
 clapped your Wings and crowed fo much, I 
 muft not difmjfs you yet, till I have made you 
 a little more fenfible, that there was no room 
 for 'Triumph, You tell me in y omv feccjid Let- 
 ter, that y^2/ once thought of the Articles^ &c. as I 
 do now, but fay with a retreating Sneer, " that 
 
 '^ fome 
 
Dr. Free's Notes. 37 
 
 " fome of you were perverted by reading the 
 " HomilieSy after your Return from Georgia*" 
 Pray, Sir, how was it that you came to con- 
 ceive one Way of the DoBrines or Articles of 
 the C6^/r^A of England before you went to 
 Georgia^ and another Way afterwards. I fup- 
 pofe from a Child you have known the holy 
 Scriptures, I am clear, that when you became 
 a Man, you was obliged to ftudy them ; in 
 Confequence then, I gather that you firft in- 
 terpreted the Articles by the Scriptures^ they 
 being your Guides before the Homilies ; but 
 afterwards, when you cha?iged your Opinion, 
 that Change was owing, it feems, to the Ho- 
 milies ; fo then the Homilies taught you to un- 
 derhand the Articles one Way, and the Scrip- 
 tiires taught you another. But, Sir^ can you 
 with any Face, as a Froteftant^ fet one of thefe 
 Guides in Competition with the other ? Do you 
 think that i\\Q Ho??jilies'3iXQ more infallible th^n 
 the Scriptures, If this be your Meaning, the 
 Protestants in E7igla?2d and in Ireland v/iil 
 be a little alarmed at iuch popijh Notions ; tho* 
 you may delude them in other Shapes : Are 
 not you aware. Sir, that its Pretences iohifal- 
 ability make one grand ObjeBion of the Fro^ 
 tejlants to the Church of Rome ? How could 
 you imagine then, that the Homilies of a Fro- 
 teftant Church fuppofed by its own * Synod^ or 
 Cmvocation to be 2i Jallible Church, fhoutd be 
 efteemed as a Rule of Faith preferably to the 
 holy Scriptures^ from whence they profefs to 
 derive all their Authority ? 
 
 * See /Articles of Religion the 6, 19, 20. 
 
 We 
 
cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 38 D?\ Free's Notes. 
 
 We are not required by the Compilers of the 
 Articles, to entertain an higher Opinion of 
 the?}2 or their Authority than they entertained 
 themfelves : Pleafe to confider then, as their 
 6w?2 Words exprefs it, what was the Eftimation 
 or Value, which they fet upon fuch G;;;^^- 
 fitions or Conveiitions as thefe. 
 
 They tell you, that particular Churches 
 
 had erred, and might err hereafter, and con- 
 
 fequently that the Church of E?2gla??d being 
 
 one of thofe particular Churches might err 
 ** as well as the reft." 
 
 " That the fundamental Maxims, which 
 *' we are to adhere to upon a Sufpicion of the 
 *^ Churches Error, and which were to deter- 
 *' mine the Meafure of our Affent were firft, 
 ** that the Church ^?2ay ?20t ordain aJiy thing 
 *^ that is contrary to God's Word written : In 
 *' the next Place, that it fo explain each Part 
 ** of Scripture, as to keep the Whole confif- 
 '' tent with itfelf.'* 
 
 Thefe are the Conditions on which we fub- 
 fcribe to the Articles, and when, and where the 
 Condition is made void, the Obligation ceafes. 
 
 I have given you here. Sir, the true Spirit 
 of Protejlantifm, the only vital Spirit, which 
 in all wife Meny and in all wife EJlabliJl:'me?2ts 
 however they may differ in Modes of Faith 
 and Worfhipy is ftill invariable and the fame^ 
 One might produce to this Purpofe the Opi- 
 nions of feveral of the ableft Divines abroad^ 
 but I fhall content myfelf with that of the /;/- 
 genioiis and judicious Ostervald, fome time 
 Minifter of Neiiffchatel in Switzerland. 
 
 '' Cecy 
 
Dr, Free's Notes. 39 
 
 *^ Cecy merite d'ejlre examine^ mah avec Atten^ 
 *^ tion^ & fans Frejicge, Icy^ il faut fe clef aire 
 " de l" ejprit de parti ^ & reconnoiflre de bonne 
 *^ foy les dejauts ou il y en a. Autrement^ Ji 
 *' chacun demeure dans la 'Prcoention en faveur 
 ** de la Societe dont il ed Memhre^ on ne rcme- 
 *^ dier a jamais d rien. Car^ fuppofe qiiil y ait 
 " des difaiits, — ne [era ce pas le tnoyen de cano- 
 '^ nifer les abusV — L'eftat de L'eglise. 
 
 Thus much, Sk, of the Authority of 
 the Articles^ which gave a SajiBicn to the Ho- 
 milies. You may fee (and not only You, fed 
 cmnes^ quotquot eftis, cujitfcunque Ordlnis^ Sacri- 
 ficuli minor es) from the Account, that our 
 Reformers give of theml'elves, that the Subfcrip- 
 tion they require is not implicit^ blind^ and ab^ 
 Joint e^ but in the Nature of the Thing a condi- 
 tional ^\5'Q^CRi'2TiC)]<i, that it fuppofes an Opi- 
 nion in the Perfon fubfcribing, that the Men, 
 who then prefided in the Church, and may 
 prefde^ ^xc fallible ^zwi, m9.y err -, and that you 
 aflent to the Doctrines of this fallible Church, 
 fo far and no farther, than as they fliall appear 
 to be confiflent with themfelves, and coiififtent 
 with the holy Scriptures. 
 
 In this Senfe I fubfcribed to the Articles 
 myfelf 5 and I find the reft of my Brethren, 
 with whom I can converfe freely, in the fame 
 Sentiments. 
 
 This being the State of the Cafe, Sir, the 
 Minifters of the Church of England, who, at 
 this Day are many of them m.uch better Scho- 
 larSy and much greater Mafters, both of Scrip- 
 ture 2Ci\^ Reajon^ than fome of our Reformers 
 
 were, 
 
40 Dr. Free's Notes. 
 
 were, have a Right to fcan the Merit of their 
 Compofitions^ efpeciaiJy in dijpiitable Matters, 
 where their Skill might reafonably be called 
 in Queftion : But no Minijler has a Right to 
 preach againfi: thofe Articles^ which eftablifh 
 the Bei?7g, and Attrilmtes of God. Becaufe 
 this is doing the Work of Atheijm, There-r 
 fore, I fay it again, and I fay it aloud, that if 
 there be any Government in 'England^ fuch Peo- 
 ple will be for ever excluded from any piiblick 
 Fundion. 
 
 Thefe are Points, Sir, v/hich if you had 
 joined to an honeft Heart, the Learning of a 
 Divine^ and the Sagacity of a conjiderate Man, 
 you might have determined many Years ago 
 in your own Breaft 5 had not the Itch of Fame 
 and Popularity, the romantick Projedt of be- 
 ing the Founder of a Sed:, and the opening 
 Profpecls of Advantage and Succefs, prompted 
 you firil to go a madding Yourfelf, and where- 
 ever you found People, that were like-minded, 
 to feduce them to take the fame v/ild Courfes 
 after you. 
 
 I have lent you the Clue to regain the Paths 
 of T^rutb and Sobernpfs^ if you pleafe : But if 
 you do not choofe to make ufe of it, as you 
 are gone out from us, I may probably leave 
 you to enjoy your Errors 3 after giving you ano- 
 ther Round of An'nnadverfions^ which you will 
 find flicking in the Sides of your fecond Let- 
 ter. 
 
 "Ihe E N D. 
 
Dr. F R E E's 
 
 EDITION 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Rev. Mr. Joh/ TFeflef'. 
 
 SECOND LETTER, 
 
 With Frolegomena for the better Information of 
 the fbudious Englijh Reader : And a perpetual 
 Comment upon the original Text, addreffed to 
 the Reverend Author. 
 
 Simili frondejcit Virga MetaUo 
 
 V1RGIL4 
 
 r/go> ^E^oTa 'FTO(,\dot.y(i)yr,(Ta <7 lyoj. 
 
 Tragcedus Fetus, 
 
 L O N D O N: 
 
 Printed for the Author ; and fold by William Sandby, near 
 Temple Bar ; J. Scot, and R. Stevens, in Pater-xofier-rot^ '^ 
 S. Parker, in Oxford; and at the Royal Exchange, 1759. 
 (Price One Shilling.) 
 
[3] 
 
 laiiiiM I I — — ^i— — III 1^ 
 
 / 
 
 PROLEGOMENA, 
 
 O R, 
 
 FORE-READINGS, ^c. 
 
 SI N C E it has happened through the Arti- 
 fice of our modern Teachers, who make it 
 their Bufinefs to difturb weak Minds, and to 
 draw Money from the Difturbance ; that many 
 well-difpofed People of the lower Clafs, to 
 whom Providence had allotted other Sort of 
 Cares, have been feduced from attending the 
 Duties of common Life, their proper Calling, 
 to fpend their Time in reading religious Dif- 
 putes, and perplex themfelves with the knavifli 
 Subtleties of crafty Men; I thought it would 
 be no unkind Office, feeing that they will be fo 
 engaged, to help them a little through the 
 Difficulties of their new Employment, by 
 laying before them fome of thofe Rules and 
 DiJiinBions, which the Learned have thought 
 proper to obferve, in order to guard themfelves 
 i^om iht Errors oiCojitroverfy, which, with- 
 out fuch Marks and Dired:ions> would be a 
 Wildernefs to the Underftanding, and a Laby-^ 
 rinth that never ends. 
 
 The EngUfn Reader then is to underftand, 
 that in every Difpute, there are fome Things 
 
 A 2 granted 
 
4- Prolegomena, 
 
 granted on both Sides, while others remain to be 
 
 iieter mined, - —- :::. 
 
 The Things granted are called in the Greek 
 3tJo>Eya, in the hatin Data, by which 
 Name, through the Difufe of our own Words, 
 they are fometimes called in Englijh ; or elfe 
 Axioms or Maxims ; as Things of prime Evi- 
 dence, and worthy of all Men to be received- 
 
 Now the Maxims^ ov Things granted in this 
 Controverfy between me and Mr. WeJIey, with 
 jRefpedt to the Credit of theChriftian Religion, 
 for which we both profefs a common Concern, 
 I take to be thefb, that follow. 
 Maxims refpeBing the Credit of the Chriftian 
 
 Religion. 
 
 Maxim ifl-. That the Religion of Jefus 
 Chrif^ or the Gospel, is a true Religion. 
 
 Maxim 2. That JefusChrifl2SiS\i\%Apofiles 
 preached one and the fame Dodlrine. 
 
 Agreeable to thofe Texts of Scripture, "^efus 
 Chriji the fame Yefterdny, to Day, and for ever 
 {Heb, 13. 8.) For tho' the Enthufiafts of that 
 Age, faid, I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos ^ 
 &c. (i. 6V. I. 12.) Yet it appears from the 
 very fame Scripture, that Chrifl is not divided. 
 
 Maxim 3. Thar fa ppofing there were not an 
 Uniformity betv/een the Dodlrine of Chrifl, and 
 his Apoftles\ in fuch Cafe the Authority of 
 Chrift himfelf, being the &on of God, would be 
 fuperiour to that of any one Apoflle, or of ^// 
 his Apcjlles put together, (For the Servants are 
 not above their Lord.) 
 
 Maxim 4. That theChriftian Religon being 
 iruey it cannot be oppofite to the Laws of God. 
 
 MAXiM 
 
dr Fore-readirigs, &c, r 
 
 Maxim 5. That the Religion of the Gofpel 
 conz2Lins pra^ical Rules 2ind Precepis, as well 
 as the ReHgio72 of the Jews^ and the Religion^ 
 or Law of Nature. 
 
 Maxim 6. That the Precepts or Laws of 
 the Gofpel were delivered by Jefus Chrift, in 
 Order to have them obeyed. For otherwife ic 
 would have have been Fooliflmefs to have de- 
 livered them. Becaufe to do a thing to no 
 Purpofe, and with no Defign is Folly, 
 
 Maxim 7. That if Cbrl/i defigned, that the 
 Laws of the Gofpel fhould be obeyed, they 
 muft not be fuch as exceed the Powers and 
 Facultie: of human Nature, but fuch as Man- 
 kind in general, may in fome Sort, obey. For 
 to command Things Impojible, is to command^ 
 what can never be obeyed. 
 
 Maxim 8. If what the Gofpel commands 
 be not impoffible^ then there muft be in Man- 
 kind fome Degree of Liberty or Power of 
 Adlion fuitable to the Thing commanded, and 
 which may enable them to perform it : For 
 otherwife the Laws of the Gofpel, tho' pojjible 
 to other Beings, would be impoJfLble to Men^ 
 if they were thus abfolutely dellitute of all 
 Power to obey them. 
 
 Maxim 9. Moreover the Laws of the Gofpel 
 to be pradicable, and to command Obedience 
 from Mankind^ muft be confiftent with each 
 other. 
 
 For Inftance, if the Gospel in one Place 
 {hould command a Man ro jiand Jlock flill^ and 
 in another Flace^ command him to move bis 
 
 Limbs 
 
6 Prolegomena, 
 
 Limbs a little, and endeavour to get forward* 
 A Man could not leli, in this Cafe, how to 
 obey the Gospel: Becaufe receiving both 
 Precepts upon the f me Authority, he is as 
 much obliged by the *fame Authority to obey 
 the one, as to obc^y the other: But fince to 
 tncve, and tojland jlil^ at the fame Time, arc 
 inconfiilent, it is imjcjjible wi>enaMan is com- 
 manded to do both together^ that he (hould do 
 tither. And therefore the Gofpel^ to command 
 Obedience, muft be confijient with itfelf ; thofe 
 who make it otherwife, render it ufelefs, fcan- 
 dalous, and ridiculous. 
 
 Maxim id. The |^^;2^rj/ Tenor of the Gof- 
 pel, or the colledlive Body of its Precepts^ and 
 likewiftf of it's DoBrines^ is not to give Way 
 to a Jingle Text. For at this Rate a Part 
 would out weigh, and be greater than the 
 whole. 
 
 Maxim ii. Further any "Text of the New 
 Teftament, which (hall contradi(5t the general 
 ^e?ior of the Gospel, and the Light of Nature^ 
 cannot be true. 
 
 ., (Corollary.) And therefore as the Gofpel 
 was before allowed to be true, any T'ext al- 
 ledged as capable of fucb Contradiftion muft 
 be a T^ext that is m.fiiterpreted. 
 
 Maxim 12. The Fveligion of Chrift being 
 allowed to be triie^ and confequently uniform^ 
 the Mijinterpreters of Scripture, who thus 
 biify themfelves in finding ContradiBions in it, 
 and publiQiing the fame for Dodirines of the 
 
 Gqspei;^ 
 
cr Fore-readings* t^c. If 
 
 Gospel, muft be ignorant, or diflioneft Men^ 
 or both together. 
 
 Maxim 13. Ignorant and dijloonejl Men are 
 not fit to be teachers, or Preachers. 
 
 Maxim 14. Preachers mifinterpreting the 
 Gofpel through Ignorance or DiPooneJiy^ or both 
 together, hurt the Caufc of Chrijlianity, and 
 ftrengthen the Caufe of Infidels^ who triumph 
 in the Weaknefs of fuch Paftors, and make 
 their ConceJJiom and Doctrines an Handle to 
 expofe Religion. 
 
 Maxim 15. Preachers thus mifinter- 
 preting the Gofpel j and appealing to the Au- 
 thority of the Church of England^ in Support of 
 fuch Mi/interpretations^ highly difgrace the 
 Dodtrine of Church of England. 
 
 The End of the Maxims. 
 
 As a farther Prevention of Error, It may 
 not be improper to fubjoin to thefe a few De- 
 finitions or Explications of certain Theold^ 
 gical Terms and Phrafes, which being capable 
 of various Meanings, the Methodift Teachers 
 ufe them undefined, that their Mquivocation 
 may confufe the Minds of their Hearers, and 
 render them more fubfervient to their delufive 
 Purpofes. To prevent which let the Reader 
 obferve. 
 
 Explication, i. 
 
 That the Word Grace in Scripture 
 primarily fignifies Favour, It has other Mean- 
 ings indeed elfe where, fuch 2iS Beauty, Decency^ 
 Decorum, but among Chriftians Favour is its 
 general Meaning in religious Matters. 
 
 Ex- 
 
$ Prolegomena, 
 
 Explication 2. Retaining this Senfe, but 
 ufed Rhetorically^ or by a Figure y it may fland 
 for the whole of the Chriftian Religion^ becaufe 
 that is a favourable Religion. In St. Paul\ 
 Writings, the whole Chriftian Difpenjation is 
 often called by the Name of Grace^ to diftin- 
 guijfh it from the Law of the Jews-y which as 
 it laboured with many Ceremonies y is therefore 
 by Way of Oppofition or Difejieeniy for its La^ 
 borioufnefsy ftyled Works, 
 
 Explication 3. When the Apoftle fpeaks 
 of fuch Works, or being faved without them^ 
 he does not mean Morality or Chrijlian Virtue^ 
 but yewijh Ceremonies, 
 
 Explication 4. Of the Derivation of the 
 Word Grace. It comes from the Latin Gratia^ 
 which is ufually put to explain the Word (x«§»0 
 Karis in the Greek Teftament: This Greek 
 Word (xa^i?) Khar is has feveral Meanings: It 
 is fometimes rendered into Efiglffh by the 
 Word Charity y tho' in Itfelf it fignifies fome- 
 times Gracefulnefsy fometimes Kindnefs, and 
 Affeciion y to which laft Senfe it is generally 
 reftrained in Scripture. Thus the Grace of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrijiy in Greeky fignifies the Fa^ 
 i:our or AffeSlion ofjefus ChriJK but docs not 
 fpecify any particular Marks or Degrees of it* 
 
 Explication 5. The Word JufUfication^ 
 as ufed by fome School Divines, has two Mean- 
 ings ; it is either initial^ ox final: If this Diftinc^ 
 tion be not obferved, the Word yujlification 
 muft lead People, as indeed it has, into many 
 ^a-?gerous'£.vxQV^, 
 
 Exr 
 
or Fore-readingSj &c. g 
 
 Explication 6. hiitial Justification 1^ 
 proper to Profelyfes, and means little, if any 
 Thing, more than their ConvcfJiGJi to the 
 Chriftian Faith. Good Works may follow this 
 AJd^r/ of Justification, but if they do not, it 
 is all undone again; the Man rdapfes from his 
 jz/Jiified Siitc^ may continue in his 'Relapfe^ and 
 notvvithftanding fuch aSWY of JustifiCx^tion 
 may be daimid at laft, fo improper in this Cafe, 
 is the \5{^ of a Phraje^ to which People are 
 fo apt to fix an Idea of Salvation. 
 
 Explication 7. Obferve therefore, that it 
 is with a View to this imperfect Senfe of tha 
 Word only, that our 12th }l?'ticle of Religion 
 affirms, that good Works w^hich are the Fruit 
 of Faith do follow after fujlification^ by which 
 the Authors meant no more than Coiroerfion^ 
 and fo far they are right. For a Man muftbe 
 converted to the Chriiiiian Faith ^ before he can. 
 praBife it. If he continue in a Courfe of Virtue, 
 and obferve the Precepts of our Saviour to the 
 
 lali, that Continuance in well-doine, which 
 
 ... ^ 
 
 follows his initial or fj'Jl fuf if cation^ will pre- 
 cede^ or go before ih^fnaL 
 
 Explication 8. Further, it deferves par- 
 ticular Notice, that it is only the;^WJufLifica- 
 t!on (which happens not till Death) that caa 
 enfure Salvation: and that thefe feveral Sorts 
 of Jiijiif cation fo effentially differ, that good 
 'iVorh, which follow the Initial^ do always go 
 before the Finals and under tlie Fc.vour of 
 Chrift-, and the Application df his Merits^ are 
 tlie Caufe or Ceudition of our Salvation. For in 
 
 B fom^ 
 
1 Prolegomena, 
 
 fome Hefpe^Tls a Condition is a Catifcy as you 
 will fee in the following Inftance. 
 
 Suppofe a poor Labourer be permitted 
 to inhabit a Cottage upon the Wafle, upon Con- 
 dition of his paying a 'Pepper-Corn the Year for 
 Rent, to the Lord of the Manor : The Ac- 
 hio^j:ledgment is fmall indeed for an Habitation, 
 but yet for all that, under the Favour of the 
 Lord, this fmall /Acknowledgment, or Obferva- 
 tion of the Condition is the Cauje of holding it. 
 l!he End of the Explications. 
 
 'J'he State of the Controverfy between Mr, 
 Vv efley and me. 
 
 Having f:;id thus much of the Maxims^ or 
 Data^ which I exped; to be granted in this DiJ- 
 pute^ and added an Lxplicatioii of the 'Terms^ 
 which are moil capable of Mquivocation^ or 
 mifjfe, I proceed to fpeak of the Articles in 
 ^lefiion, \vich may be divided mio t^o Classes : 
 becaufe they are Ibmewhat of a different Na- 
 ture^ and debated at different Tifnes, 
 
 The firft in Time are thofe contained in a 
 Pami)hlet. which I had occafion to addrefs to 
 the Company of Sailers in London, who were 
 then foUicited to choofe a Metbodijl to a Ledlure 
 in the City. 
 
 Mr. Wejlc\\ upon the Perufal of this Piece, 
 writes me his fir ft Letter, denying " that the 
 Meihodifis held any fuch Opinion?, as in this 
 Pamphlet I had charged upon them ; but 
 allowing withal, that if they did hold fjch 
 Opinions, their fatal Tendency was fuch, 
 
 as 
 
 cc 
 
or Fore-readings, ^c 1 1 
 
 *' as I there reprefented." The Reader is to 
 note, that this was thtjirjij zx\d principal V dint 
 in Controverfy, '* whether they held fuch 
 " Opinions or not." 
 
 This Letter from Mr. WeJIcy was not re- 
 ceived till I was publifliing my Sermon, 
 preached before the IJniveriity of Oxford^ en- 
 titled, '' Rules for the Dlfcovery of falfe Pro- 
 " phets," &c. in which, or in the Dcdicatio?i 
 Preface^ or Apperidix to the fame, having 
 brought fuch Proofs as literally, and to a Title 
 fupported the Accufation in the former Treatile ; 
 (for I had been urged to this Service by fome 
 namelefs Opponents, who to.fliew their Partp^, 
 were defirous to be before-hand with Mr. 
 We/lcy) I thought it would be fufficient to ac- 
 quaint him, as I did at the End of the Preface 
 to my Sermon, then in the Prefs, '' that if he 
 " were not thereby convinced, that fjch Po^ 
 ^^ Jiticns], as he calls them, were held by People, 
 '' who pafs under the Denomination of Me-- 
 " thodijisj and w^ould pleafe to fignify, that 
 •* want of Convidiion, in a private Letter, by 
 " the fame Hand, which conveyed to me the 
 *' former Papers, he Ihould have the Civility of 
 *' a particular Anfwer, Paragraph by Para-. 
 '' graph, if he thought it neceffary, &c." 
 
 Mr. JVejJey did not choofe hov/ever to give 
 me this private Information, but for OPcenta-^ 
 tion, I fuppofe, or to preferve his Credit with 
 the Seft, by ftill appearing to be their Advocate 
 in Print, he ^v^:XA\^'^ '3, fccond Letter -, he affigns. 
 indeed other Motives for the Publication, the 
 
 B 2 Propriety 
 
1 2 Prolegomena, 
 
 Propriety of which, I fhall confider in my Com- 
 ment upon the Place, wherein they Hand. 
 
 What I have to obferve here by Way of 
 Introdu(?:ion, concerning this fecond Letter from 
 Mr. Wii/Iey, is that it produced not only my 
 Reply to his 7%^, in the Form of Annotations, 
 but that it has alfo afforded fome new Matter 
 for Coritrovcrly^ not quite fo material indeed, as 
 that relating to the main Queftion, about the 
 Principles of the Methodifts^ which was the fok 
 Objccft of Debate at firft. 
 
 Whereas now beflde this, here are Objedions 
 raifed, either agamftthe Truth of iovazFadlSy 
 related in the Dedication or Preface to my Ser- 
 mon, ccncerning the Rife and Rrogrejs-^ the 
 H if cry and State of Methodifm ; or againlf my 
 Manner of treating thefe Subjects, fuppofing 
 v/hat i had faid upon them, to be true. 
 
 As to thefe new Matters then fince called in 
 ^ieficn^ or mifreprefented by Mr. Wefey^ I have 
 only to obferve, that they fhall be examined in 
 their Places, and fet in a true Light, yet not fb 
 as to hinder the Readers, vievv^ of the main 
 Quefdon, to wit. 
 
 " Wliether the Methodifs held or publiflied 
 " fuch Dodtrines, as I had charged upon them 
 -. in my Pamphlet to the S alters ^'^ which in 
 the fccond Edition, 1 call a Display of the 
 bad Principles of the Methodifs, I have in- 
 formed the Reader that this was the Piece, 
 which moved Mr. JVcfcy to write me h\s>frf 
 Letter^ Vv'herein he undertook to make an 
 Apology for all the Methodifs in general, with-. 
 
 out 
 
^r Fore-readings, <y^. i^ 
 
 out diftlnguifhing Particulars^ but in his fecond^ 
 he appears to have contra^ed his Defence, and 
 craves Allowance only for himfelf, his Brother^ 
 and his ^ondam affociate Mr. Whitfield^ and 
 then fneaks off, leaving all the Reft to Mercy, 
 who are fo far from making any Defenfe 
 againft the Charge, that they confefs the Fadi^ 
 and glory in the Acciifatmu 
 
 So that theReader is likely to find this Point 
 very clear, viz. '' that the Generality of the Me- 
 " tkodijis hold to this Day, theblafphemous,and 
 *' atheiftical Principles, that I mentioned 3 " and 
 notwithftanding that Mr. Wejley at prefent, 
 profefTes to have renounced them, as * horrid 
 arid deteftabky yet I am afraid it will appear in 
 the Courfe of the Evidence, that he was for- 
 merly pretty deep in the fame Opinions ^ and 
 confequently, that I was much to be juliified 
 in charging in general, thQ fame Principles u^on 
 People, who had confelTedly been oi thtfam^ 
 Denomination. I have indeed in great Meafure 
 anticipated the Buiinefs of a Reply to his fecond 
 Letter, by the full Evidence I gave upon thefe 
 Articles in my Anfwer to the firji : However 
 the Reader may not be difpleafed to fee addi- 
 tional Teftimonie^ upon this Head; as he may 
 defire likewife to be better informed about the 
 new Matters, which have been ftarted fince \ 
 fo bearing this State of the Controverfy in Mind^ 
 he may now, if he pleafes attend the Exami- 
 nation of Mr. Wtfleys particular Arguments and 
 p , . . 
 
 * firft Letter to Dr,-Free, Ch. ;ii. v. 4. Dr. rree's Edition. 
 
14 ^ or Fore-readings, G?^. 
 
 ObjeBions^ which moftly deferve Ridicule, at 
 other Times a little y^r/Wi Remonftrance. 
 Sic Sermojte opm ejl modo trifti fapejocofoy HoR. 
 In either Cafe, I believe I fhall have it in 
 my Power to avoid Prolixity , as Mr. Wejleys 
 Letter is not only fliort, but excepting its Falf- 
 hoods, in many Paflages fo infignificant, as not 
 to merit Obfcrvation^ or Anfwer^ 
 
 The 
 
[15] 
 
 *" ■■ ■ ■ ■ -. .■ .■.- 
 
 The Reverend Mr. "Wesley^s 
 
 Second Letter to Dr. Free, ' 
 
 divided into Chapter and Verfe, by the Editor. 
 
 C H A P. I. 
 
 ^he Contents Mr. Wesley fets out 'with a Paradox : He ex- 
 frefjes his great Dejire to Unje peaceably ijoith all Men, but choo/es 
 to Jhenjo that Dejire by carrying on the War for the Methodilts ; 
 under the Pretence of being publickly called upon to 'vindicate him- 
 felf though that be the Renjerfe ofnvkat n.vas demanded by his Op^ 
 ponenty and out of the Courfe of the Difpute ; '^jjhich ^required a 
 general Defenfe of the Methodifts, ivhich at firfi he undertook, hut 
 in this Letter, after afeixi idle Cavils, is obliged to drop. 
 
 Fonmon Caille, Augud, 24, 1758. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 I. T N the Preface to your Sermon lately printed, you men- 
 X tion your having received my former Letter, and add,'* 
 That *' if the Proofs you have now brought do not fatisfy me as 
 to the Validity of your former AiTertions . If I am not yer convin- 
 ced, that fuch Pofitions are held, by People who pafs under the 
 Denomination of Methodifs, and will ftgnify this by a private 
 Letter, I fhall have a more particular Anfwer." I deiire to live 
 peaceably with all Men ; and fhould therefore wifii for no more, 
 than a private Anfwer to a private Letter, did the Ailair lie be- 
 tween you and me. But this is not the Cafe : You have already 
 appealed, to the Archbiihop, the Unlverfity, the Nation. Before 
 thefe Judges you have advanced a Charge of the higheft Kind, 
 not only again me, but a whole Body of People-, Before thefe I 
 therefore mull either ccnfefs the Charge, or give in my Anfwer. 
 
 Dr. Free's Comment upon the Revd« 
 
 Mr. W E S L E Y 's 2d Letter addreired to 
 
 Mr. Wejley. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 TAving in the Courfe of this Difpute, in 
 ^ great Meafare exhanfced my Stock of 
 Compliments, and being un willing to offer yoit- 
 
 a few 
 
1 6 Mr. Weiley*s SeCbnd Letter. 
 
 2. But you fay, " I charge Blafphemy, Impiety, &c. upon 
 the Profeffion of Methodifm in general. I ufe no perjonal P>.e- 
 fledlions upon jc^^, or any Invedive againft you, but in the Cha- 
 radter of a hPthid'hl'' That is, you firfl fay, ♦' All Methodifii arcj 
 Pickpockets, Rebels, Blafphemers, Atheills ;" And then add, ♦' I 
 ufe no Rcwecticns upon jo//, but in the Lharader of a Methodift.'** 
 But in the Charafter of a Pickpocket, Blafphenier, Atheiil.'' 
 ]None but ? What can you do more ? 
 
 Dr. FreeV Comment ^ &c. 
 
 a few FlowerSy unlcfs I had found Materials 
 fufficient for a compleat N'ofegay, I have omit- 
 ted, for this Time tliQjhveet Savour of a De- 
 dication, and fubftituted in it's jftead, afliort 
 but ufeful Entertainment, which I callmyPre- 
 legomena. I addrefs it indeed to the Reader \ 
 but under the Rofe, as it contains, what I take to 
 be a true State of the Controvcrjj^ it may keep 
 us from Rambling, and be of fome Service to 
 Tcu and Me, as we fhall find, perhaps if we 
 have Recourfe to it upon fome particidar Oc-r 
 cafions. 
 
 For Inftance now, in your prfi Letter yon 
 fay, '^ all that you concern yourfelf about is my 
 *' fivc vehement Ajfertions with Regard to the 
 *^ People called Methodifts\ — and yet in your 
 fe con d yow affirm that — '' if athoufand Sets of 
 Men, '■'- pafs imder that Ijcmmination, they are 
 " nothing to yoa. — '' You are no way con- 
 cerned for their Principles or Prafiice." ^c. 
 
 If you apply to the Frolcghnena, I believe 
 you will fee that this is changing the Contro- 
 verfy; and that you are fome how cr other 
 got on the raxngSide of the Poji. And there- 
 fore would it not have been better to 
 
 havg 
 
Dr. FreeV Comment ^ &c\ ly 
 
 have followed my Advice, and given me 
 your Opinion^ or Recantation in Private, than • 
 thus to have fummoned, as you declare you do, 
 xhQArchbiJhopy xh^UfiiverJity nay the whole Na- 
 tion togt^tv, to hear you contradiB yourfelf ? 
 
 From this (hort View of a Scheme fo ill laid 
 and fo cojitradidlory, it becomes very difficult to 
 underftand your Exordium, which in the Na- 
 ture of the Thing, fhould have given us a clear 
 and diftinft Idea of what you propofed to 
 maintain, and the Manner, wherein you in- 
 tended to draw up your Defence. 
 
 " Before thefe Judges', You tell me (that 
 is before the Archbifhop, the Univerfity and 
 the Nation) " that I have advanced a Charge 
 of the higheft Kind not only againft you, but 
 againft an whole Body of People, ^c. 
 
 The Charge, Sir, how high and of what Kind 
 foever has been and may be again, and again 
 made- good, if you think it prudent ever again 
 to require it : but obferve Sir, that you may 
 not wrap yourfelf up in yourDelufions, and think 
 that no body fees you becaufe you fee nothing 
 yourfelf, obferve I fay, that theWord Charge, as 
 you here ufe it, appears to have a double Mean- 
 ing. 
 
 All the Charge that I know of againft you 
 in particular is that of being the Father of the 
 Methodifts: And can you difown the Title here, 
 when in your -f* Pamphlet called the CharaBer 
 of a Methodifi, you take to the Thing fo cor- 
 dially yourfelf? Any otherv/ife than in this 
 
 _ t P. I' ~"* 
 
 C Capacity^ 
 
i8 Dr. Free'i Comment^ &c. 
 
 Capacity y where yourName is not mentioned, the 
 Charge is not againft you, but the&^ in general, 
 all who bear thcName:, and come within thcDe- 
 ■jinition^ which, to fix their Character, I gave of 
 the Methodijisj in the Preface to my Sermon. 
 
 This then being premifed about the Charge^ 
 let us hear how you proceed in the Defence, — 
 *' Before thefe," you fay (that is the Aic- 
 dience^ which in your Imaginatmi attend you, 
 the Archbijhop, the Umverjity^ the Nation. 
 In Vacuo ScJJor Plaiifcrque Theat7'o,) 
 
 You muft either- CO nfefs the Charge, or give 
 in your Anfwer". It may be necelTary there- 
 fore to allc you which Charge you mean, the 
 Charge againft yourfelf in particular, or the 
 Charge againft the Metkodijls in general , as 
 likewife what you would underftand by your 
 Anfwer^ whether an Anfwer for yourfelf^ or an 
 Anfwer for them. 
 
 For after much fhuffling and cafting about 
 for Expedients, it is plain at laft, that you admit 
 the Charge againft thcjii,, and give in the An-- 
 fwer only iov yourfelf. For you fay* (Chap ii.) 
 " I fhall not concern myfelf with any Thing 
 '' in the Appendix but what relates to me in 
 " particular". — very well ! 
 
 This (liort Enquiry then being made, to 
 know more precifely what you' would be at, 
 namely that you no longer anfwer for the Me- 
 thodi/h in general, but on\y lo^: yoiafef^ orthofe 
 in Partner ftp with yciirfef : Let us now try 
 the Caufe upon this Iffue, and hear how you 
 begin yowv Apology^ why truly not by ftating 
 
 * Chap, ii. Veife 4. of thia Edition. 
 
 your 
 
€C 
 
 CC 
 
 cc 
 
 CC 
 CC 
 
 z/pon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter, 1 9 
 your 0W71 Opinions, but by a Method the mod 
 remote from your Purpofe in the World. ^ 
 
 By running foul of my Writings and making a 
 Blundering or bafe Misquotation from thence 
 where the Subjed affords not any Thing for 
 your Vindication, and has no Manner of Rela-i 
 tion in particular to yourfelf, the whole Paffage 
 referring very clearly to the Cafe of Mr. Ven, 
 For the Reader's Satisfadion I will produce 
 thevery Words* '' WhatI have faid of fcandalous 
 Oppofition to the Church of England— ^\^i- 
 phemy, Impiety, &c, is charged upon the 
 FrofeJJion of Method! fin in general, I i-^fe no 
 perfonal Refleaions upon Mr, V— nor 
 any Invedive againft him, but in the Cha- 
 of a MethodiJf\ Thefe are my Words con- 
 fined and limited as well by the hiitial Letter 
 of his Name, as by the Senfe and Argument, to 
 the Lidividual Mr. Ven, And yet yoU 
 reprefent it to the Reader as tho' I had faid 
 in this Paffage, that '' I nfe no perfonal Re- 
 " fledions upon T^^if."/— Pray, Sir, how comes 
 It about that you fo fuddenly take the Shape 
 of Mr. Ven, or that Mr. Ven fo fuddenly takes the 
 Shape of Mr. Wepy ? This untimely Appearance 
 of two Softas upon the Stage at once, has difco- 
 vered too much of the Plot, and at the fame 
 Time fo puzled the y^^7/c;z, that it isimpoffible 
 fovih^ Aiidie7ice, (and confider whom, you re- 
 prefent that Audience to be) to know which is^ 
 performing his Part, unlefs you leave them 
 
 # Preface to the Sermon before the Vui'verfiiy of Oxford, p. 7. 
 
 C 2 fonie 
 
20 Dr, Frees Comment ^ &c. 
 
 fomc Marky whereby to diftinguifli for the fu- 
 ture yourfelf from your f other felf. 
 » 
 Certe^ adepoly qiium ilium contemplo^ & For- 
 
 mam cogJiofco tuam ; 
 ^emadmodum in Speculu?n infpexi ; nimis 
 Jimilis eji Tui. 
 
 Upon the whole, this was a capital Miftake. 
 The Spirit of Deception played you a Trick 
 here, Sir, to difcover to us, or leave us fo much 
 Room to fufpeft, that you had fuch a notable 
 Coadjutor as Mr. Wen^ and that you were forced 
 lay your infpired Noddles together and club for 
 fuch a Produdlion as this, and then as in mofl 
 promifcuous Generations, be puzled yourfelves 
 or puzle the World, to know which was the 
 real Father. 
 
 , Verfe 2. As to the Offence you take at my 
 calling Mr. Ven^ or Tou^ a Methodijl^ (for at 
 prefent we cannot tell which is which,) and 
 afking me what I coidddo fnpre ? I think by your 
 own Acount, that I could do jnore^ and that the 
 Matter does not deferve fo much of your Re- 
 fentment as it might, if Things were aggravated. 
 
 For if the Methodifis have been branded 
 with all the igno?m?20us Names, you here repeat, 
 fuch as Pick-pocketSy Rebelsy BlafphemerSy 
 Atheijisy I certainly ufe IIt7n or Tou with the 
 greater Civility, if in the Room of thefel give 
 • you xkie gentler Appellation. For I would by 
 no means prefs you with the Name of Tick- 
 pockety as I have a Sufpicion, that it would 
 
 caufc 
 
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter 21 
 
 caufe Offence ; it not being clear to me, that 
 you have any vifible Way oi getting Money ^ that 
 the Law allows ^ may I alk you ? Are you 
 within the Act of toleration ? I do not dwell 
 upon this : Neither have I Time to examine 
 Mr. Whitfield % Accounts, or to enquire whether 
 the Orphan-houfe in Georgia be now made the 
 private Property of a pa7'tictdar Yo^vion} Or 
 whether the Fools-pe^ice that were gathered in 
 the Fields, under the Pretext of ferving that 
 Charity^ were intended by the JDonors to be con- 
 verted into private Property, any more thaa 
 the Situation and Mateyiah of fome large 
 
 "Ta^ 
 
 bernacles here at home ? ThePerfbns, who have 
 been concerned this Way are thofe, to whom 
 fuch hiqiiifition properly belongs. In my Ser- 
 mon before the IJniverfity of Oxford, I only 
 laid down Rules for the Difcovery of falfe 
 Prophets, which Rules I left to other People to 
 apply as they faw Occafion : For I am not of 
 the Grand jury^ nor bound to prepare the In- 
 -didtments, or find the Bills. 
 
 For my Part, I am very forry you introduced 
 the Word Pick-pocket, for I do not remember, 
 that in all our Correfpondence, I ever honoured 
 you with fuch a Name. I muft ailc you one 
 Qucftion too, about the Word RebeL — I have 
 complained indeed of the Principles of the Me^ 
 thodijh as dangerous to ^;/y State, and parti^ 
 cularly our own Corfiitution, but v/here did I 
 ever exprefly call a Methodifi a RcheP. I am 
 afraid this is another of the dijlmiefi Liberties 
 which you make no Scruple to take in altering 
 my Words and Phrafcs — ^A Rebel is a 
 
 Traitor 
 
22 Mr. Wefley*s Secmd Letter. 
 
 3. But this, you fay, is the PraQice of all honeji Men^ and a, 
 Tart of the Liberty rjohere^vith Chrift hath made you free. Nay 
 furely there are fome honeft Men, who fcruple ufing their Op- 
 ponents in this Manner. At leaft, I do ; Suppofe you was an 
 Atheift, I would not bring againfl you a railing Accujation. I 
 would ftill endeavour to treat you n^oith Gentlenefs and Meeknefs, 
 and thus to jhenx) the Sincerity of my Faith. I leave to you that 
 cxquifite ** Bitternefs of Spirit, and extreme Virulence of Lan- 
 guage," which you fay is your Duty^ and term Zeal. And cer- 
 tainly Zeal, Ferver, Heat, it is. But is this Heat from Above ? 
 Is it the Offspring of Heaven ? Or a Smoke from the Bottomlefs 
 Pit ? 
 
 JDr. Free's Comment^ &c. 
 
 traitor y who appears in Arms, — I never yet 
 laid fuch a Thing as this to the Charge of the 
 Methodijis. They never, that I knov;^ of, ap- 
 peared in Arms; though if the Government 
 have not a watchful Eye upon them, as their 
 *Turhdence zndiNtimbers go onto increafe, it is not 
 fo unlikely but they may : If there fhould hap- 
 pen to be a Confufion in the State, what fo 
 probable a Courfe, for a forreign Enemy to 
 take, as to gain over ; or if a hwafion fucceeds, 
 command their Leaders to join their Party ? 
 
 As to their Beha'viour in other RefpeBsy I 
 have allowed you already, that fome People 
 may be better, than their Principles would in- 
 cline us to think of them^ and that is all theCo?2- 
 cejjion I can make, for I muft flill contend, that by 
 their Principles^ thofe People are capable of 
 doing any Thing, who profefs, as fome of the 
 Methodijis in their Writings do, to make no 
 Diftinftion between Good and £1;//, and rail at 
 the common People in their Harangues for 
 liill regarding, what they call their nafly ftink" 
 
 ing 
 
Dr. Fret s Comm^if, &c. ^ 23 
 
 irjg good Works, fo mean is their Opinion of 
 moral Virtue. 
 
 Ferfe 3. Sir, of your Letter difcovers in 
 -the Beginning howhoneftyou are in 'making 
 Extrads from the Writings of your Opponents 
 and obliges me in Juftice to the Reader, and 
 myfelf to produce at Length the Paffage, you 
 have thus perverted in the Preface to my Ser- 
 mon, my Words are thefe. *' But if all this 
 " be true why fhould it not he fa:d the Scrip- 
 ture declares {Gal, iv. 18.) that it is our 
 Duty to be zealoujiy offeBed in a good T^hirw 
 and can there be any thing better than the 
 " Caufe of God ? Where this is concerned I 
 am not to regard the Perfons of Men, or 
 treat with Gentlenefs^ Meehiejs^ Mildnefs.'' 
 Thofe, who with the Face of Meeknefs are 
 doing the Work oi Atheijis^ but I am rather 
 to fhew the Sincerity of my Faith, by what, 
 they are pleafedto confider as it's Reproach,' 
 the Heartinefs of the Zeal, wherewith I op- 
 pofe them. This will lay me under a Ne- 
 ceffity of ufing fuch Words, whether they 
 found agreeable or not, as by the coramon 
 Confentoi Mankind belong to fuch and fuch 
 *^ Perfons, or fuch and fuch Things, which is 
 " the Pradice of all bG?ieii Men, and v/hich, 
 ^' as they found occafion, was the Practice 
 **• of Chrijl and his Jpojilcs;' &c. 
 
 As for your profeffed Civility to Atheifts I 
 think you may be alliamed of it: For in my 
 Opinion a Govermyient would be fcandalous 
 both before God and Man, that fhould fuffer 
 them to/rcJ^^^j/t' their Opinions, or treat them, 
 
 if 
 
 
 <c 
 <c 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 C( 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
24 . Mr. Wefley's Second Letter 
 
 4* O Sir, whence is that Zeal which makes you talk in fuck 
 St Manner to his Grace of Canterbury ? I lay before you the Dif- 
 tojit'ton of an Enemy njjho threaten our Church ^ith a general Al- 
 teration or total Subverfion : Who interrupt us as ^ue nx>alk the 
 Streets y (Whom ? When? Where?) in that^ay Drefs^ nvhich dif 
 tinguifkes us as Servants of the State, {^Altogether Servants of the 
 State ?) in the 7io^v fad Capacity ofMinijiers of the falling Church 
 £,^ England. Such being /l^ proftrate, miferable Condition of the 
 {j,h\xrQh, and fuch the X.n\im^\\2int State of itsYjXi^miQS, none of the 
 Englifh Priellhood can expe^ better Security or longer Continuance 
 than the ref, l^hry all /ubjiji at VitYCy. — Tour Grace and thofe of 
 your Order <vjillfare no better than thofe of our own. Sir, are you 
 in earneft ? Do you really believe Lambeth is on the Point of being 
 blown up ? 
 
 Dr, Free*5 Comment^ C?r. 
 
 if they difcovered themfelves, with Gcntlenefsy 
 or Meeknefs: And as for that exqilifite Bitter^ 
 nefs of Spirit and extreme Virulence of Language 
 which you have the Modefty to fay, I efteein 
 my Duty-y 1 muft tell you, fince you will not 
 apprehend, that thefe Phrafes are none of 
 mine, but the impudent Imputation of your 
 own Party. 
 
 P'erfe 4. My Zeal (fince you afk me whence 
 it is) which impelled me fo earneftly to ad- 
 drels his Grace of Canterbury, proceeds from 
 my Concern for the Church of England. 
 
 I fee it deferted by fo??ie People at the JM;/, 
 who, if they were Confitutionijis^ would think 
 themfelves in Duty bound to preferve the po- 
 litical Syftem of England, of which the 
 Church and Clergy are a Fart : The Fio/atmi 
 of thefe is a Violation of the Co7ifiitution\ 
 and therefore I put them in Mind, that in this 
 Department, we are the Legal Servants of the 
 State, and as fuch ought not to be injured, 
 
 fenfiblc 
 
upon Mr, Weiley's Second Letter. 25 
 
 fenfible though, at the the fame Time, tha 
 we fuftain a much higher Charadlcr, namely 
 that of the Embaffadors of "Jejus Chrifi) but 
 to what Purpofe would it be to mention fuch 
 a Circumftance to People, whofe Behaviour 
 ^afFordsyou the ftrongeft Reafon to fufpedl how 
 little they regard him. As for the Minijiers of 
 State in England, is not long ago fmce fome 
 of them were taxed with a Jira?ige Inclination 
 to the ^' Jews. 
 
 Others have the Credit of being Authors 
 of a very extraordinay 4: Law, which compells 
 the Clergy without their Confent, firil: obtained 
 (their h^\x\^x\o Convocation then fitting) to per- 
 form a certain Ojfice at the Hazard of their 
 Lives and Liberties; which is a kind of Treat- 
 ment very imchrifiian: Others again, who 
 have borne high Offices and been >f Secretaries 
 of State have been open Patrons of li]fidelity. 
 The religions Frinciples therefore of thefe 
 People being unfettled and unknown, (as yours 
 may be) it would be idle to apply to them in 
 fuch their loicertain Charader, but as they 
 alwavs profefs to be Servants of the Coji/htntion, 
 and of his Majejly King George ; I there- 
 fore appeal to them, in what they profefs-, de- 
 firing them to be confiftcnt with their FrofeJJion ; 
 being afiured, that they will hurt his Majejiy 
 very much, if they appear to ufe his Authority, 
 to hurt the Church of England. 
 
 The Infults offered to the regular Clergy in 
 
 * The Jevj'Blll. \ Mr<yria^-A:i. I Bollu^hrcki. 
 
 D " every 
 
26 Dr. Free'j Comment^ ^c. 
 
 every Place, where the Methodijh have been 
 permitted to encreafe, have been for fome 
 Years pafl fo notorious, that every one, who 
 refides in fuch Places, muft wonder at your 
 want of Modefty in making thefe Things a 
 Queftlon. I am perfaaded that you yourfelf 
 are not a Stranger to the — whom? "when? 
 ivhere ? as you term it. You are well ac- 
 quainted with Brijhl . Did you never hear, 
 that Dr. 'Tucker now Dean of Gloucefler, when 
 it was his Fortune to be engaged with the 
 Methodijh^ as it is now mine, gave this Ac- 
 count of their Behaviour? 
 
 Some of Mr. Whitfielis Followers have 
 ifij lilted and rrcUed me in p^Jjing along the 
 Streets^ and declared, that they looked up- 
 on me as the E?iemy g/God^ and his Reli-- 
 gicn. This was owing to Mr. Whitfield'^ 
 pointing at me fo often in his Prayers, and 
 " defcribing me in his Harangues to the 
 " People, &c." See more of this in the Lon^ 
 ^c// Magazine. For July 1739. Pag. 341. 
 
 Of fuch Abufes offered to the Clergy in 
 iheje Parts^ as well as Brijiol^ there have been 
 Inftances too many to be here recited, for they 
 would fill a Volume of themfelves. Nay, the 
 Outraj^es are fometimes foexcedive as to be at- 
 tended not only with great Danger to the Per- 
 fon who is the Objedl of their Fury, but alfo 
 with fuch an infolent Breach of theP^^^^r^as ihews 
 that in their religious Phrcnzy, thefe People fet 
 the LawsdiTid M^-'-gifi rates themfelves ^.iDeJiance. 
 \Ve fee this in the Cafe of the Revd. Mr. 
 
 C— 
 
 
 (C 
 
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter, 27 
 
 C — who after Preaching at St. Olaves was 
 not only infulted in the Church, but purfued 
 by thele People on the Lord'^ Day^ like fo 
 many Hcll-homidi quite over London Bridge. 
 What their Behaviour was to me at Bermond- 
 fey Church is related in the Renionftrance to 
 the Bipop oiWincheJter perfixed to my Speech 
 to the London Clergy. And befides the Riot 
 then committed by their colleffive Body; they 
 have often met me lingly fince, threatening 
 me with the Confequences of giving Oppofition 
 to their Caiife, and fignifying amongll other 
 Things, that they had it in their Povvxr to 
 hurt the Income of my LcBureJJnp at Newington, 
 and that I muft expe6t to feel their Poiver and 
 Lijhence in that Qiiarter. 
 
 Was it a Wonder, Sir, that in Times like 
 thefe I fhould fay, that the Clergy '' fubfift: at 
 *' Mercy" or teil his Grace, " that in a 
 general Defedion of the People his Grace^ 
 and thofe of the Epifccpal Order, would 
 fare no better than oiirJelvesJ' You afk me 
 indeed upon this very trrur/ipha?iily. — " Sir, 
 '' are you in earneft ? Do you think that 
 '' Lambeth is on the Point of being blown 
 tf ^ip." — Since you will have it then, lee me 
 tell you, Sir, that this >S;z6'rr carries with it an Air 
 of Confidence and Complaceyicy -^ which had bet- 
 ter been concealed. For it difcovers your in- 
 ward AJjurajKe of Siiccefs, which however 
 covered upon fome Occafions, is at other 
 Times puliped in a very particular Manner, 
 You may imagine, that we Ibmetimes fee the 
 
 D 2 publick 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 ir 
 
 4 » *-» 1 
 
28 Dr. Free's Comment^ &c. 
 
 publick News Papers^ which are continually 
 made the Trumpeters of the Succefs of your 
 Part)\ and the Increafe of your Power and 
 Fame. 
 
 When one of your Saints departed, the G^- 
 zetteer of IVedneJday Jaii, 1759. Informed us, 
 " from Abergavenny^ that 2iGe?itle%vo7na?ioi xhzt 
 *' Place to teftify her Regard for the Memory 
 '* of the late Worthy^ the Reverend Mr. James 
 *' Hervey^ went into Mourning, though no 
 " Ways related to him." — From Mr. Whit- 
 fields great Booths we had a pompous Article 
 on Saturday tht 20th of Oclober^ ^7593 in the St. 
 yamess Evening Poft. 
 
 How that the Day before " the Reverend 
 " Mr. Whitfield preached three Thankfgiving 
 " Sermons, two in the Morning at the 'Taher- 
 " 7iacle^ and one at his Chapel at Tottenham 
 ^' Court, to numerous Audiences of Perfons of 
 '' Difcindion." By which it appears that being 
 without Law^ he did not think it Decency to 
 wait till his Majesty appointed the Day of 
 Thdjikfgivi/ig ; but pert, forward, an Etitkii- 
 thufiiaflick founds his own Trumpet, fets up his 
 own Standard, and is attended in his Irregula- 
 rities by numerous Audiences of Perfons of 
 DifLinction : Though if there be fuch a 
 Number of them, it may be fome Importance 
 to the People of England to knov/ who thefc 
 Perfons of Dlilindtion w^cre. — But to return 
 IVIi*. W' — is not fin^^ular in this Pradlice. There 
 is fomething of the fame Magniiicence in your- 
 felf. When your Grace leaves your Cafile 
 
 ' of 
 
vpon Mr\ Wefley's Second Letter. 29 
 
 of * Mock-fim-man in Ireland^ to return to En- 
 gland^ it is given out as an Event as conliderable 
 as the Return of a Lord Lieutenant, 
 
 And when the other Mock-ArchbiJJjop^ Mr. 
 Whitfield returns from his Vifitation in Scotland^ 
 he publiflies it more than once. The Daily 
 Advert i I er of Friday October ^ 27, 1758, has 
 this Paragraph. '' For this Month paft, we 
 '' hear, the Reverend Mr. Whitfield has been 
 " preaching twice a Day to very large Audi- 
 ** tories, in various Parts of Torkjlnre^ Laiica^ 
 ^^ JJjtre^ and Stafford/hire ^ and is expedled in 
 '' Town this Week." — And again Saturdav^ 
 Ovtoher^ 28. *' On 'Lhitrfday Evening the 
 " Reverend Mr. Whitfield came to Town from 
 *' Scotland^ and the North of E?2gland, and we 
 " hear, preaches To-morrow at T'ottejiham 
 " Court Chapel^ and the Tabernacle in Moo? fields.'* 
 — That is, in plain Englifld^ giving us to un- 
 derfland, that in all thefe Counties or Places^ he 
 had been feducing many of his Majesty's 
 poor SubjeBs from their proper Pafiors, and 
 (which is the Confequence of their Revolt) 
 leaving them in a State of Cabal and Fermcjit. 
 Thefe are the Proceedings, which in my 
 Opinion threaten the Church of England, 
 with a general Alteration, or total Sub-verfion, 
 in which Cafe, I apprehend his Grace, and thole 
 of his Order, would be in fome Danger, as well 
 as the inferior Clergy, in this Crifis though, it 
 feems you have your Eye upon the Palace at 
 Lambeth, which I had never mentioned : but 
 
 * This Letter of Mr. lVeJley\ is dated from FoH-mo?i Caille. 
 
 howe\'cr, 
 
30 Mr. Wefley's Second Letter: 
 
 5- You go on. In the remote Countries o/'England, I ha'vefeen 
 a It: hole Troop of thefe Dl'vines on Horfeback, travelling ^with each 
 a Sijier behind him. O Sir, " what Ihould be great, you turn to 
 Farce." Have you forgot, that the Church and Nation are on 
 the brink of Ruin ? But pray when and where did you fee this ? 
 In what Year ? Or in what Country ? I cannot but fear, you 
 take this Story on truft : For fuch a Sight, 1 will be bold to fay, 
 was never feen. 
 
 Dr. Free's Comment, &c. 
 
 however, as you afk me whether I think it on 
 the Point of being If/own up. I anfwer very feri- 
 oufly, that I fuppofe, when he has gotPoJ/eJion of 
 it, John by Divine Providence, will take Care 
 
 of THAT. 
 
 Verfe 5. " You fay, O Sir, what fliould be 
 " great, you turn to Farce/' — By the Commas 
 about this Sentence, I faw that it was meant as 
 a Rotation, and had Reference to fome Author , 
 but 1 could not prefently recoiled: from which 
 of our Englijh Divines you gathered it, at 
 Length I was informed that it belonged to 
 a Poem of Mr. Priors, called the Ladle, and 
 that the Couplet of Verfes flood thus. 
 
 Whatfiould be great, you twn to Farce. 
 I would the Ladle in your 
 
 This Ladle Sir, which you kept in PettOy 
 confidering how the Author has placed it, will 
 make but an odd Appearance in a Theological 
 Treatife. It is really furprizing to fee how 
 Dolors differ ; fome of them, as I have heard 
 have written de Virginibus velandis, and others 
 it feems de nudandis Vetulis, But did you 
 really take your Quotation from the Paffage 
 
 above- 
 
Dr. Free'i Comment y &c. 3 % 
 
 abovementioned ? If fo, it is a Farce indeed. 
 But it is a Farce of your own makingy and 
 wherein you are likely to be the principal 
 Actor. Let any one conceive the Apojiolical 
 
 Mr. John Wesley. How old are you ? 
 
 Well, fuch a one as JVeJley^ (5 Tr^ia^t^T*,?) the aged, 
 with the fame demure Countenance, that you 
 wear in your new Pidlure, where your are re- 
 prefented as a Firebrand', — (Who bid you 
 call yourfelf a Firebrand?) I fay with the 
 fame demure Countenance fixed in deep Con- 
 templation upon fuch an Object as is here re- 
 prefented, — [quod Ego nu?2quam vidiy neque 
 ^elim) and I defy Mr. Hogarth with all his 
 Humour to entertain us with a Scene^ which 
 fhall have more of the higjj Ridiculous. 
 
 But, Sir, your Merrimenty though at your 
 own Expence muft not divert me from my 
 ferious Purpofe. I look upon the Times to be 
 dangerous, and feditious, when a Parcel of 
 fanatical People, Men and Women-preachers 
 fhall thus travel the Country difturbing his 
 Majefly^ poorer Subjeds, and giving them ill 
 Impreffions againft the National KtYigioUy as 
 it is taught by their regular Minifters. 
 
 If the fame Liberty was allowed to a i:'rcop 
 of Popip Priefts, the Country, and that juftly, 
 would be up in Arms about it -, and therefore 
 I fee no Reafon, why People, who wifli well 
 to the Conftitution, fliould fo quiedy behold 
 the Incrcafe, and turbule?it Proceedings of the 
 Methodi/ls. Since their Enthufiajm is in many 
 Refpeds //////^/r, in other Refpeifts worfe than 
 Popery, and as capable of being heated to at- 
 tempt 
 
32 Dr, Free*j Comment^ &c, 
 
 tempt any Revolution in the State. In fup- 
 port of this Affertion I appeal to the Obferva- 
 tion of a worthy Dutch Clergyman, who 
 though, what we call a Diffe?2ter or Frejhy- 
 terian^ yet being a truly fenfible ^ Man and 
 alarmed at the Growth of thefe People abroad: 
 (For all Religions ought to be aware of them) 
 fpeaks forth the Words of T^ruth and Sobernefs 
 upon this Occafion. '' When Fa?2aticijm' {ays 
 he, " has got the upper Hand, and works 
 with all ifs Forces, it is not only able to cor- 
 rupt Religion, but to overthrow civil So- 
 ciety, The Spirit, which animates it, is too 
 eminent, too divine, to fubjed: itfelf to any 
 human Power : On the Contrarj^ all muft 
 buckle to, and obey it's Orders. A Fanatick 
 in his J^r earns ^ often fees' an earthly King- 
 dom, where the Faithful are to exercife an 
 abjolute Power over the World. Now if 
 he IS, fupported by a powerful Party, why 
 fliould he not take it into his Head that 
 the ^Ti??ie is comeV The Author proceeds 
 farther and for the Convidlion of his Brethren 
 bids them caft their Eyes upon the Impieties 
 and Excefles committed at Muiajlcr, of which 
 the Reader mav fee more in my X Remarks up- 
 on the miracidous Letter read in the Pulpit by 
 Mr. Jones. When I behold Things fimilar to 
 thefe in Fjigland, we may begin to be afraid 
 of the like Conlequences. And as you affed 
 to doubt. Sir, of the Truth of fome FaBs 
 
 * Mr. Sthijfra on Fannticiim P. 44. tranriaied by Mr. Rimius. 
 X Remarks on Mr. Jo7:css Letter, p. 54, to 59. 
 
 here 
 
Mr, Welley's Second Letter, 33 
 
 6. With an eafy Familiarity you add, My Lord^ permit nie here 
 to ivhijper a IVord (Is not this Whifpermg /«Pm//ibmething newf) 
 that may be worth remembering. In our Memory feme of the 
 Priefthood ha've not prcvedfo good Subje£ls as might ha<ve been ex- 
 pe^edy till they have been bought over with Preferments, that 
 were due to other People. PVleaning, I prefume to yoarfelf. 
 Surely his Grace will remember this, which is fo well n.vorth re- 
 tncmbringy and difpofe of the next Preferment in this Gift, where 
 it is fo juftly due. If he does not, if he forgets either this, or 
 your other Directions, you tell him frankly what will be the 
 Confequence. We ?nuji apply to Parliajnent : p. 6. Or to his Ma- 
 jelly. And indeed how can you avoid it .? Yoi it n.mllbe ufing 
 hiifi, you think, extremely ill, not to give him proper Informationy 
 that there are now a Set of People, offering fuch indignity to his 
 Crown and Government. 
 
 Dr, Free's Comment^ &c, 
 
 here related and attempt to turn them to a 
 Jeft, by afking when .? where ? in what Year, 
 and what County I faw this Cavalcade of Men 
 and Women Preachers } I will anfwer particu- 
 larly. The Tear was 1753, the Day of the 
 Months O^ober 8th or 9th, the Place's Name 
 was Gijburn in the County of Tork: The 
 Mercury^ or chief Speaker of this Company of 
 Deaconejjh and travelling Apoftles^ was a Man 
 who had loft an Arm^ I don't fay where he had 
 loft it, but perhaps by this Defcription, you 
 may know him. 
 
 /;/ Vcrfe 6. You think, that you obferve a a 
 *' eafy Familiarity' in my faying to the Arcb- 
 blJJzGp^ ^' My Lord permit me," &c. Sir the 
 Word permit^ has been ufed here in Englajid to 
 a c7-owned Head, and fure that is good enough 
 for an ArchbiJJjGp^ w^iich is good enough for a 
 King. 
 
 Where then is the Familiaritx ? If I aik Pei'-^ 
 
 E viijjion 
 
34 -Dr. Free'i Comment y &c, 
 
 -niijfion to approach ; it implies, that I find my 
 Self at a Dtjlance : And how a Pvlan can ht fa- 
 miliar ^ that keeps kis Dijlance^ I profefs I can- 
 not difcern : You may be affifted by a Jealoiijyy 
 which may enable you to fee Things in another 
 Light : I am not acquainted with vour Co?2- 
 tiexions Sir, fo leaving this Subjedl, let us ex- 
 amine your IVbifpei'iizg in Fri7it^ which you 
 obferve to be "-^fomething new.'' Something 
 7iew I believe it is : For I never heard of it 
 before. But I know it to be no new Thing j 
 to fee thdit in Pri/7t, -which a Man, at fome 
 Tinie or other, may have def.red to ivhijper. 
 And therefore to this Ckaffoi V/it, let us apply 
 the Biirning'glafs of Reason, and you fliall 
 fee \X.fmoaky and vanifh in a Moment. 
 
 Where have I ever faid " My Lord permiit 
 " me to whifper" iyi Print} You perceive now, 
 I fuppofe, that this is your Interpolation ; and, 
 that the Novelty and Nonjerfe are likewife all 
 your own. But how came you to fatber your 
 Abfurdities upon me .; when at tlie End of 
 your Letter you fay, that you are my Servant 
 for Chri/fs Sake ? If this be the Way, you fcrvt 
 me for Clmfi\ Sake : your Ckrifian Religion 
 is a very cdd Religion 5 1 defire no fuch Ckrifiaii 
 Service. 
 
 As for my next Words, fince you are not fo 
 jiifly as to give them either a fair ^.ctation^ or 
 candid ConjiricBion^ I muft tell you, that by Fre- 
 fermerits due to otkerPcople^ I meant cA^rr People 
 befide myfeif, who are negledied to this very 
 pay. I CO allow however, that in Ccnfidera- 
 tion of my Fathers Sufferings in the Time of 
 
 ^ K. 
 
upon Mr. Wefley's Sceond Letter 3 r 
 K. George xhtjlrji: And becaufe in the late 
 Rebellion^ I fo ftrenuoufly took the Part of his 
 prefent Majesty, fupported his Caufe, defen- 
 ded his Government, and made out his Pedi^ 
 gree and Title to the Crown, better than all his 
 then Minifters of State, when put together, (for 
 which I was at that Time no more coniidered 
 notwithftanding the Importance of the Service, 
 than I have been now for writing for the 
 Church oi E?2gla}2d), I did exped: after all, that 
 I fliould h2iVQfome Preferment at /o7nc Time or 
 other : But Tho??2as Holies, Duke of Neivcajlle^ 
 I believe was then Seceta?y of State; and 
 Philip now called Earl Hardwick was then 
 "Loi'^ Cha?2cellen They fay, that they went at 
 that Time, to refign together : But I believe 
 they did not, and 1 am fenfible as well as Mr. 
 Fitt and the >iIation, that they are in Power 
 Jim, which I take to be the true Realon why 
 I have been fo long negleded and oDprefTed, 
 and that one of your Sort lliould have it now 
 in your Pov/er to play \\xcjejuit, and laugh at me 
 for having thus miiapplied m.y Time and La- 
 b»iir in defending the prefent Kixg, and the 
 prefent Church-EsTx^BLisHxMENT. 1 am o- 
 bliged to you to be fure for opening my Eyes a^* 
 little, I fuppofe you meant among other Things, 
 that it (hould lave me for the future fome ex- 
 pence in Paper and Print, and teach me co re- 
 folve with Plorner^ Soldier, 
 
 IVhen bleeding Greece again 
 Stjall call AciiM.LES, fhe jhall call in vain. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 So 
 
36 Dr, Free' J Cofnmenf, &c» 
 
 So let it pafs : But as Mattel's feem to reft 
 with thefe Lay?ne72^ I do not think it was right 
 in you to draw his Grace of Canterbury into 
 your CGnii??7(lrumy and refle(fr upon him. For 
 the World will be apt enciigh to do that, with- 
 out your Affiftance, if therebe Occafion. And 
 therefore I think it would have became you 
 better to have fyzx^Ayowr Refleclicfis and ftuck 
 to your Argument: For by introducing this 
 Epifode you have fo far forgot yourfelf that I 
 fliall convift youof a fliocking Falfhood in the 
 next Sentence ; where you fay, that '' / 
 *' frankly tell the Archhijl:op^ if he forgets 
 *' to diipofe of the next Preferment in his 
 *' Gift, 'where it is fo jullly due, we 'miijl apply 
 '^' to Parliament,'* The Words in my Dedica- 
 tion, Sir, have clearly another meaning; I 
 fuppofe you will be ailiamed to fee that they 
 are only thefe ! -j- 
 
 " My Lord, an hon eft y^&r Mind muft be 
 " Ihocked at thefe infernal Devices, thefe 
 '' ftrange Idols of a neiv Jesus, and a ne^io 
 *' Faith. If fuch wild Notions were propa- 
 '' gated only in our higb Ways and Hedges^ 
 they muft fcon he attended with fatal Con- 
 fequences. Ei)t what (hall we fay, if the 
 '' Heathen are come into ciir Inheritance, and 
 
 ' \\:\v*t Permifion io occupy our very Churches ? 
 t' Vv^ould any Earthy Power, at War with a- 
 ^' nother, fuffer the Enemy to ere(fl their Bat- 
 '' tcriiS within their Walls? Or truft them 
 
 j- Dcuicalion toD:. i^/Vi's Scmicn zx Oxford new Edition. ^^. 
 
 V. a::d vi. 
 
 with 
 
 cc 
 
 c 
 < 
 
Mr. Wefley's Second Letter ^ 7 
 
 7, However we are not to think, your oppofing the Methodifi^ 
 Was owing to Self-intereji alone. Tho' what if it was ? V/as 1 to 
 4icp art from my Duty^ becaufe it happened to he my Inter c/i P Did thefe 
 Saints e'ver forbear to preach to the Mob in the Fields for fear leaji 
 they Jhould get the Pence of the Mob? Or do not the Pence and the 
 Preaching, ^0 Hand in Hand together ? No, they dent: For many 
 Years neither I nor any connefted with me, have got any Pence, 
 as you phrafe it, in the Fields. Indeed, properly fpeaking, they 
 nenjer did. For the Colleftions which Mr. Whitfield made, it is 
 well known, were not for his own Ufe, either in whole or in 
 part. And he has long ago given an Account in Print of the 
 Manner wherein all that was received, was expended. 
 
 8. But it is not my Defign to examine at large, either your 
 Dedication, Preface, or Sermon, I have only Leifure to make a 
 few, curfory Remarks on your Defnition of the Methodifls (fo cal- 
 led) and on the Account you give of their firll Rife, of their 
 Principles and PraSiice: Juft premifmg, that I fpeak of thofe 
 alone, who began (as you obferve) at Oxford. If a thoufand 
 other Sets of Men pafs under that Denomination, yet they arc 
 nothing to me : As they have no Connexion with me, fo I am 
 no Way concerned, to anfwer either for their Principles or 
 Praclice ; Any more than you are to anfwer for all who pafs un- 
 der the Deno7nination of Church o/' England-Men. 
 
 Dr. FreeV Comme?2t, C^c, 
 
 '' with the keeping of the Citadel? — We 
 ^^ CANNOT AS Priests of the Church of 
 '' England stand still, and behold such 
 '' A Piece of Treachery as this. We 
 
 mufl: apply to oar Ccnimanders^ If Your 
 
 Grace, and my Lords the Bishops have 
 not Power fufficient to afford us Redrefs, — 
 We muft apply to Parliament." This is very 
 different from your Account. Where is the 
 Word Frefcrmeiit? 
 
 Verfe 7. The Subftance of the next Verfe, 
 as the Occafion required, has been confidered un- 
 der the Ysfovd Pickpocket, which you unfortu- 
 -nately put in my way, Page the 20. of this Com- 
 ment. There foFQ you and the Ilcader may 
 confiilt t'nat Paii-^gc if you plcafc. For I de- 
 
 llglit 
 
38 Mr, Wefley'j Second Letter. 
 
 9. The Account you give of their Rife is this. 7he Metha-- 
 oifts hfgan at Oxford. '1 he l^ame nj:ai Jirjl gr^-ven to afe^w Per- 
 jcnSy nv/jo n.vere fo unconwiorJy Methodical ^as to keep a Diary of th^ 
 riofl trinjial Adiions of their Li'vef, as hoijo many Slices of Bread 
 and Butter tbe\i eat, hoixi many Difhes of Tea they drank., hoio 
 r//??y Counti'y- Dances they danced at their dana^tg Club, or after 
 a Fall:, ho^.x} mafty Pounds of Mutton they d-j^vourcd. For upon 
 thefe Occafiois they eat like Lions, hanging made themfelves uncom- 
 monly 'Voracious. Of this not one Line is true : For, i . It was 
 from an antient Seft of Phyficians, whom we were fuppofed to 
 refc'inble in our regjular Diet and Exercife, that we were origi- 
 nally lliled Methodiffs. 2. Not one of us ever kept a Diary of 
 the mojl trl-oial Aftions of our Lives. 3. Nor did. any of us ever 
 jet down, what cr how much we eat or drank. 4. Our Dancing- 
 Club never exifted : I never heard of it before. 5. On our Fci/l- 
 Days we ufed no Food but Bread ; on the Day following we 
 icA as on common Days. 6. Therefore our Voracioufnefs and eat- 
 ing like Lions is alio pure, lively Invention . 
 
 jDr. Free^j Comrnent^ &c, 
 
 light not in repeating Grievances, and I be- 
 lieve it will be quite as agreable to you, to 
 have thefe Matters forgot. 
 
 So v/e will proceed to Verfe 8. of this Let- 
 ter, which I have already obferved, contains a 
 Contradicftion to the Profeiiion you made in 
 in your frrji, 1 have only a fmall Remark to 
 offer here upon the Manner of Expreiiion ^ 
 you fay with regard to the other Methcdijis^ 
 that '* you are no way concerned to anfwer 
 *' either fov jheir Principles or Practice^ any 
 " more than I am to anfwer for all, ic7;c pafs 
 " imder the T>enominatton oi Qhxxxch. of England 
 " Men." I beg your Pardon, Sir, I think our 
 Cafi is fpmew^hat different. For in the firjl 
 Place, I never gave Pvife to any of the di[or- 
 dcrly People of the Church of England. &- 
 condh. I never ht>t them Ccmpa?i\", And T^hird- 
 i\y 1 never took upon me to is:rke in their De- 
 
 J'enc% 
 
Dr. Free's Comment ^ &c. 39 
 
 fence. And therefore by Reafon of thefe Co??- 
 nexions you are much more anfwerable for the 
 P?^i?2ciples and FraBices of the Methodijh^ than • 
 I am for the Con dud: of the dijorderly People 
 of the Church of England, with whom I have 
 no fuch Connexions. 
 
 Notwithflanding your quibling and praevari- 
 cating (in P^erfe the 9.) I muft inhft upon it, 
 that the Account I give of the Rife of the Me^ 
 thodijis at Oxford is in every Circumftance very - 
 true. The Perfon, who gave you this Name, 
 knew nothing in all Probability of any fuch 
 antient Se5l of Phyficians as you m.ention : 
 Nor was there any S-militude between your 
 Profeliion and theirs, that could induce him to 
 diftinguifli you by that .Title. _ Neither did you 
 ever at that Time of the Day pretend to de^ 
 rive the Origin of your Namie from that Occa- 
 {ion yourfelves : But having fince dipped into 
 Dr. Freind's- Hiftcrv of rhv/ick and met with 
 fuch a Scci of Phy/icians^ you thought it w^ould 
 look better if you affeded to be tlieir P.ela- 
 tions, choofing rather to draw upon you the 
 Denomination oi ^acks^ than that the World - 
 fhould remember your being riick-vamed from 
 the ivhirnfical Method of keeping a Dinrv of all 
 vour Adions. Which however Iknowtobe 
 Fad, havino; feen at that Time a 'i'ournal of 
 that Sort in the Hands of one of your Djfdples. 
 And that the Reader may be convinced of the 
 fame from other Teftimonies, he will not only 
 fee the Word Diary in the Dealings cited bv the 
 Lord Bifliop of Exeter in his Book entitled the 
 Enthufialh of the MdhodiUs and FavilU cocn- 
 
 parcd 
 
 J. J 
 
40 Mr. Wefley'j Second Letter. 
 
 lO. You go on. // nvas not long, before theje Gentlemen hegan 
 to dogmatize m a publick Manner ^ feeling afron Inclination to nsvv- 
 inodel almofi e^jery Circu?nfiance or Thi72g in the Sjjiem of our Na-. 
 tional Religion. Juft as true as the reft. Thefe Gentlemen were 
 ib far from feeling any Inclination at all, to ne^w-model any Cir- 
 cumftance or Thing, that during their whole Stay at Oxford^ 
 they were High -Churchmen in the ftrongeth Senfe : Vehemently 
 contending for ^v^xy Circumftance of Church-Order^ according 
 to the Old-Model. And in Georgia too, we were rigorous Ob- 
 fervers of every Rubric and Cannon : As well as (to the bell of 
 our Knowledge) ever Tenet of the Church. Your Account 
 therefore of the Rife of the Methodifts, is a Millake from Be- 
 ginning to Ejid. 
 
 T>r, Free's Comtnent^ &c. 
 pared, part 2. p. 1 3 of the fmall Edition : But alfo 
 find the Pra^ice Arongly recommended by *Mr, 
 Hervey^ as a Method he had been advifed to by 
 anoUFricnd ( moil: probably yourfelf) in order to 
 fhew People, how often they were amufed with 
 'TrifeSy and therefore the Trifles muft be re- 
 glftered. And if there be any Difference be- 
 tween trivial Aolions^ and being employed on 
 *TrifleSy it is fach as, I confefs, I cannot difcern. 
 As for the Dancing-Club at Chrifl-Churchy how 
 came your Brother to make a Toe7n upon it, if 
 it never exiiled ? And for your Voracioufnefs, 
 I think, it might well be faid, that you eat like 
 'LionSy if iiJDG of you could devour a Leg of 
 Mutton. 
 
 Further you fey, Verfe 10. " That thefe 
 ** Gentlemen wcvt io far from feeling any In- 
 *' clinaticn to ?2rd}-modeL &c. that durins^ their 
 ** v/ho!e Stay at Oxjcrdy they were Htgb-^ 
 ** Churchmen in the flrongefl Senfe:" Part of 
 this may be true in one of the ftrc7ig Senfes. 
 For otherwife one of your firft Adherents would 
 fcarce have been ready with fo much Alacrity 
 
 I ■ i„ _ . . 1 I - , II I — r jw 11 ■ n 
 
 7 heron and Jj^qftc, vol. 2. p. 280. 
 
 to 
 
l)r. Free's Comment^ &c. 41 
 
 to have played the Chaplain to a certain Fcrfon^ 
 whom they called bis Royal Highnefs, at a certain 
 Place. This, as you are Oitrue King George's 
 Man, can be no RefleBicji upon you ; but as 
 you are idMugoi old Models, I am obliged juli 
 to afk you, which of the old Models you mean : 
 Becaufe I remember, thatthe Gentleman afore- 
 laid, at the Time you mention, vehemently 
 contended for mixing Water with the TVrne in 
 the Holy Sacrament, which I fuppofe you may 
 not think quiteyi;/dYf/^r>'now, andam therefore 
 perfuaded you will allow me to put you in ?v'Iind 
 of this as a ?iew Model, fince I believe it to be 
 none of our Sa'viovrs I?i/iituti on ; and to con- 
 clude that, inftead of being a Miftake, all this is 
 true from the Beginning to the End. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Contents, Mr. Wesley begins ^lihl'mg at my Definition; U 
 guilff of fca7idalou% Miiqiiotations om after another, ly ^hich 
 means he gets guite he^wildared in his o^vjn Mi (lakes : drops ihe 
 the name of Methodifl, that they may ha-je no Namcjakes ; takes 
 it up again, difliuguijhing the Sc^ ir.to Originals and Non-ori- 
 olnals ; excepts agafnji //?^ Non-originals, as their Tefiimoty hears 
 a^ainji him, yet =v:hen he comes at length to the main ^ejiion alont 
 their Principla, n.vitnefj'cs the jame 'Thing a^ainji himjelf. Talks 
 .rvAldofthe Monthly Reviewers, Conncdirigthcm ivith on' Roger 
 Ball^ a Method: jU ccjn^'ains cf my Se-Tr4ty, thovgh guilty of fa 
 much Difonefiy in mif citing my Works, and :hen reiirst in Ccn.' 
 fufion to appeo'- m mors. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
[42 ] 
 
 C H A P. ir. 
 
 l.Tproceecj to your Definition of them : By //?'<? Methodifts tea: 
 
 JL t^J^'^ ^'"^ ^^ fio^^'-' under ftoody a Set of Enthuiialh n.'sho preUna- 
 
 ,.ihg to be Members of the Church of England, either offend agahft 
 
 the Order f7?/rt'Difcipline of the Church, or per'vent its Dofirines 
 
 relating to Faith and Works and the Terms of Sahatio/:. 
 
 Another grievous Miilake. For whatever is f:on.v, by the Me- 
 thcdifis then n.'jas not iindtrftood^ any Set of Enthuftajlsj or not En- 
 thufjalh, offending againji the Order tf»</ Difcipline of the Church. 
 They v/ere tenacious of it to the laft degree, in every the leaft 
 Jot and Tittle. Neither were they thm u'lderfiocd oi freuert its 
 DoJirine.'y relating to Faith and Vvorkb, and the Terms of Saliva- 
 ticn. For they thought and talk'd of all thefe juft as you do now, 
 'till fome of them after their Return from Georgia were per-verted 
 into ditferert Sentiments, by reading the Book of Homilies. 
 Their Prrverfion therefore (if fuch it be) is to be dated from this 
 Time Confequently, your Definition by no Means agrees with 
 the Perfons dehned. 
 
 Dr. Free's Commeiity (s'c. 
 
 In this Chapter you take a moft unwarrant- 
 able Liberty, in altering and curtailing my De^ 
 JinitioTL of a Methodiji, and introducing it as mine 
 in that imperfe(ft Form. This you had no 
 Right to do, as it was to ftand or fall by its 
 own Meaning ; and that remaining entire, and 
 not clfe, you were at Liberty to difpute, if you 
 could, what I had eftabliflied therein as the 
 Marks and Ckaradfcrs^ that denote a Mefhodift, 
 This vou attempt indeed, but how infignificant 
 your Objedlions are, you will foon difcern ; for 
 \f you were fo tenacious to a Title at your lirft 
 fetting out of the Order and Difciplirie of the 
 Li.'urch of England^ why did any of you fo long 
 
 ago 
 
Mr. We/Iey's Second Letter. 45 
 
 ;?. However, As a Shibboleth to dijlinguijh them at pre/e>2t* 
 "johen tbcy pretend to conceal themfeliies, thror.v out this or Juch like 
 Propcjition, "•* Good M'orksy are nectjfary to Sahation** You might ' 
 hfive i'pared yourfclf the Labour of proving this ? For who is 
 there that denies it; Not I : Not any in Connexion with mei 
 So thi.t this Shibboleth is jull good for nothing. 
 
 And yet we firmly believe, That a Man is juftified by Faith,, 
 without the Works of the Law : That to him that worketh not, 
 but b>?iicvcih on him that juftifieth the Ungodly, his Faith, with- . 
 out any Good Work proceeding, is counted to him for Righte- 
 oufnefs. We believe (to exprefs it a little more largely) t,ha.t we 
 are accounted Righieous before God. only for the Merit of 
 ChriJ}', by Faith, 'and not for our own Works or Defervings. 
 Good Works lolio.v after Jufti^.cation, fpringing out of true, 
 living Jaith. fo that bv them living Faith may be as evidently 
 known, as a Tree difcerned by the Fruit. And hence it follows, 
 that as the Body without the Soul is dead, fo that Faith which 
 is witfiout Works is dead alfo. This therefore properly fpeak- 
 ing is not Faith ; as .i dead Man is not properly a Man 
 
 Dr, FreeV Ccmmenf^ &c, 
 ago begin to diftinguifh yourfelves by a riotous 
 Preactiing in the Fields, when it is abfolately 
 forbidden by the Laws of the Land ? As to your 
 Conceffion concerning the powerful Change 
 that was wrought in /or/ieofyoii, by reading the 
 Homilies^ after your Return from Georgia^ I want 
 it not in this Argumervt, having Proof enough 
 without it, and for its Merit in another View, 
 you have bad my Sentiments ah'eady in the 
 Notes upon your firji Letter, p-ag. 39 of my 
 Edition, to which I refer the Reader, that I may 
 not fwell this Pamphlet beyond all Size, hy 
 needlefs Repetitions. 
 
 Verfe 2nd. Notwithllanding your Remarks 
 upon my Shibboleth (Verfe 2.) I fancv, it will 
 anfwer the Purpofe very well, for 1 find, that 
 you do not care ^o proncunce it. You lay indeed, 
 that I Height have fparcd mvlclf the Trouble 
 
 F 2 ^ of 
 
44 Dr. F'ree^s Comment^ &e. 
 
 of proving this Proposition, " thai good Works 
 " are abiolutely necejf'ary to Salvation' " For 
 " who is there denies it? not Tou!' And yet 
 you endeavour to contradiB it in the next Para- 
 graph. For otherwife, you are guilty of idle 
 knavifli Sophijlry^ by introducing the Sentence 
 with, arid yet ; that is, by a Phrafeof Oppojitioriy 
 where you pretend to mean no Oppofition, to 
 which Oppofition notwithftanding, what imme- 
 diately follows, in all Appearance correfponds. 
 For Vv^ho is there amongll us now, that thinks 
 ChriJiia?2S are to obferve the Ceremonies of the 
 yewiJJj Law^ ? And therefore, if by the Works of 
 the Law^ you mean, that a Man is juftified ^without 
 the Works of the Law of Jesus Christ ; you 
 affirm, and deny in the fame Breath; it being 
 a direct Contradi Ellon to the Pixfofition^ which 
 juft before, you faid, I might have Jpared niyfelf 
 the Trouble of proving^ as it is like wife a Contradic-^ 
 fion to our Saviour's own Declaration, that he 
 ivill reward " every Man according to his Works ;" 
 the very Thing 1 charged upon the Methodifts 
 as abominahle^ Vv^hich you have all along on your 
 own Part pretended to deny, and yet appear 
 to hold it at the laft. Sir, are you fuch a Stranger 
 to your own Opinions, as not to know yN\\2Xyoii 
 hold} or what yow do ?20t hold? In this dlfor- 
 dered and bewildered State, are you fit fovDlf 
 putaiion ? 
 
 Again, If in the next Sentence by ^^him^ that 
 njoorketh not^' you do not mean the NcgleB of 
 cBnal Obedience^ and do not think, that without 
 fuch Obcdiejice^ Abraham was accounted Righ- 
 teous 
 
t^pG?i Mr. Welley's Second Letter. 45 
 
 teous, then it is very idle to oppoji this Text to 
 my DoBrine^ if it contain in it no Oppofition : 
 But if on the Contrary, you fo underftand the 
 Words "workdh not^ as to infer from thence that 
 Abraham obtained Salvation without any WorkSy 
 then you are again guilty of the Charge I 
 brought againft the other Methodijls ; and though 
 but the Minute before, you affeded, to difown 
 it, are now again ^ if doing any Thing, adually 
 preaching Salvation without Obedience. And 
 indeed, unlefs it were to countenance fuch an 
 Opinion, why fhould you fay in the very 
 next Sentence, *' We believe (to exprefs it a 
 " little more largely) that we are accounted 
 " Righteous before God^ only for the Merit of 
 Jefus Chrifl," without adding, that though this 
 be the file Attornment for our Imperfedions, 
 yet, that we cannot be faved without Obedience: 
 For otherwife. Sir, the Word Only\ taken as you 
 call it, more largely^ and in its fidlExtefit^ would 
 exclude from our Rigkteouf?iefs all Morality, and 
 all Obedience^ which is once again the Doctrine 
 I charge upon the Methodijls -y and at the fame 
 Time that it is, as I contend, a Perverfon of 
 the Dodirine di the CZ''iY/T/5 of England. For 
 I have already explained, the Force of this Ex- 
 preffion as it is ufcd in the Church of Knglandy 
 in a Note upon the Preface to my Sermon^ ^ 
 and fliewn that in this Senfe, and upon the like 
 Occafions, the word Only does not iignify e:--- 
 
 * Ser?r.Gn bef:u-e the V7ii"jerftty of Ox for D^ Prt^ice, png. vi i. 
 
 new Editior:. 
 
 ch^lveJy 
 
46 D r, Frcc's Comment^ &c, 
 
 clufrcely but co?JcIuJively^ meaning oii^Vi primarily 
 gr chiefly^ being put to denote Fre-ernincnce^ as 
 it is to be underftood in the Communion-Servke* 
 ^^ Thou only O Chrift with the Holy Ghoft, 
 *^ are moft high," &c. For if the word OfJy 
 were here to be idktn JlriSIly and exciujively, it 
 would fignify ^' thou Only O Chrift, ^without 
 " the Holy Ghoft, art moft High in the Glory 
 ^' of God the Father." 
 
 Further, the word ^ufiijication^ as you have 
 ufed it here^ Cdinnoivatzn Jinaiyujlijication^ (the 
 Nature of which I have explained in the Pro- 
 legomena^) but only Conver/ion, If it means the 
 former, you relapfe again deeply into the fame 
 Error w^ith the other Metbodijisy from which 
 within the Compafs of two or three Sentences 
 you pretepdtd fo vehemently to demand anAb-r 
 folution. For if a Man were to htfifiallyjujli-r 
 Jied before he grew virtuous, good Works would 
 be utterly excluded from any Way eftedtinghis 
 Juftification. Becaufe if they only follow after 
 it, they could not be the conditional Caufe of 
 cfFefting it, which excludes Morality from any 
 Share or Operation in the Bufmefs of Salvation : 
 And if by Juftification you mean only the 
 initial "Jiijlification^ oxConverfwn^ then theWord 
 has here a very dehijive and dangerous Ten-^ 
 dency amongft common People, as it is fo Con- 
 necfled, unleis you had added withal the pror. 
 ptrDi/tin^iom and Explications. 
 
 I refer the Reader therefore to the 
 Maxims and Explications in tny' Prolego- 
 mena, particularly Maxim the 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 
 lOyii^ J 2 ^ind Explicaiion the 3, 5, 6,7, 8, &€, 
 
 And 
 
Mk WefleyV SecofiJ Letter. 47 
 
 3. You add, The original Mclhodifts affe^ to call them/il-ve 
 IVIethodifts o/*/-^f Church o/" England : Byivhich they plainly in- 
 form uSf there are others of their Body., 'who do not profefs to belong 
 to it. Whence nve may infer, the Mcthodifts nvho take our Natne^ do 
 yet by accnoivledging them, at Namefakes and Brethrtn, gi've them- 
 felnjes the Lky njohen they Jay they are oj our Communion ! Our Name! 
 Oar Communion ! Apagecum if a tud magnifcentid ! How tame 
 it, I pray, to be your Name, any more than Mr. Fenn^s ? But 
 waving this: Here is another Train of Miflakes. For i. Wc 
 do not call ourfehes Methodifls at all. 2 That we call oul-felves 
 Members of the Church of England is certain. Such we ever 
 were, and fuch we are at this JDay. 3 Yet we do not hy this 
 plainly inform you, that there are others of our Body, who do 
 not belong to it. By what Rule of Logic do you infer this Con- 
 clufion from thofe Premifes. ^ You have another Inference full 
 as good. Hence 07ie may infer, That by achionvledgifig Them, as 
 Namefakes and Brethren, they give themjelves the Lie, nvhen they 
 fay they are of our Communion, As we do not take the Name of 
 Mtthodifs 2X. all, fo we do not acknowledge any Namefakes la 
 this. But we acknowledge as Brethren all DifTenters (whether 
 they are called Methodif or not) who labour to have a Con- 
 fcience void of Oftence, towards God and towards Man. What 
 lies upon you to prove is this : Whoever acknowledges any Dif- 
 fenters as Brethren, does hereby give himfelf the Lie, when he 
 fa}^s he is a Member of the Church of England, 
 
 Dr. Free J Comment^ &l\ 
 
 And now what are we to think of all thefc 
 Sayings^ and Uiifayings^ this incoherent Series 
 of jarring Propofitionsfoftrangely put together } 
 Have not I detedled you at your old Trick of 
 entanglinglhtDoBrines of theChurch oi England^ 
 \Y\i\\AbJurdities and Contradi5lio7n r Can you be a 
 Friend to that Church, who affed thus to fhew 
 yourDexterity in formingDifficulties, from fome 
 of it's improper and ill-chofen Phrafes, which 
 through Time perhaps have loft or chang'd 
 their Meanings and thus by your Cobweb- Sc-^ 
 phiftry to expofe it to the Derifion of its Ene- 
 mies ? 
 
 If 
 
48 JDr. Freehs Comment, &c. 
 
 If this be your Condud: with Refped to the 
 Church, Sir, it is noWonder that the next Ferfe 
 (3) affords a notable Specimen of your Ini- 
 quitous Dealings, with Refpeft to me. For 
 your Co72vi^io?iy I fliall firft produce the Pqffhge^ 
 which you have fo disfigured by a falfe Quota- 
 tion, as entirely to alter the Meaning. My 
 Words are thefe * " This may be the Way 
 *' then to difcover the Original Methodifts^ 
 *' who it feems for DiftinBions Sake affcft to 
 " call themfelves Methodijis of the Church of 
 " Rjigland. 
 
 " By which however they plainly inform us, 
 *' that there are others of their Body, who do 
 '' not profefs to belong to our Communion : And 
 " therefore it isjuft to infer that the Methodifts 
 " who take our Name, do notwithftanding 
 " difavow fomething, which thefe difavovi^^j 
 *' and embrace fcmethhig^ which they embrace ^ 
 *' and therefore by Acknowledging them as 
 " Namefakes and Brethren^ give themfelves the 
 *' Lie, (which they are not afhamed to do) 
 " when they fay, that they are entirely with us, 
 " and ofno other Coinmunionr 
 
 Thefe are my Words, Sir, this Paragraph is 
 mine, and I do not fee that you could find any 
 thing to contradift in this: Though after the 
 Mifinterpretation you have madeinmifcitingit, 
 what a Parcel of Nonfenfe is here of your own 
 coining, which you would impudently afcribe 
 to me ? You afk me ignorantly enough as well 
 
 • Pa'^e viii. of the Preface to my Sermon at Oxford, the Third 
 
 Ediuon. 
 
 to 
 
upon Mr. WtQcy's SveokJ Leffer 4^ 
 
 ks well as difhoneftly by what Rule of Logick, I 
 infer this Conclufion from thefePremiffes? I an- 
 fwer by none in theWorld. For none but aMan 
 that was an entire Stranger to Reafon, could 
 ever have made it, let me bring you to a Senfe 
 of Shame if I can, if you are not part Feeling. 
 Are thefe my Premijfes ? Sir, or are thofe my 
 Words at the End of the other Conclufion ? am I 
 tofollowyouinyourBlunders, andto bcdiredled 
 by aMan, who is fo bewildered, that he knows 
 not what he is about ? Let ilie afkyou, Sir, how 
 you came to be fo bafe ? As to put in thefe 
 Words, " of our Commimio?i' when my Words 
 were " of no other Commimio?i'' Had you made 
 fuch an Erafeme?tt^ and Alteration in Papers, 
 conveying property, your Z///^' might have been 
 inDanger. Do you think that anyPerfon, who, 
 has any Regard for his Reputation, will have 
 any farther Dealings in Contrcverfy with one, 
 that can be guilty of fuch foul Play as this ? To 
 fuch Reproach, Sir, is your Condudt liable whea 
 examined by the Rules of Co7?jmon HoneJIy : 
 And if there be this Defed of conunon Ho?2efiy ? 
 What are v/e to think of your Religion, 
 your Chrijlian Religion "^ Can we believe, that 
 when capable of this Falflioodyou were under 
 the Influence of that? No, Sir, that would 
 have deterred you from fuch an Attempt. And 
 as a Chrijiian you would have reafoned thus \ 
 " I am going to do by Dr. Free as I would, by 
 *' no Means, be done by : I am going to alter 
 *' his JFords, and fnifreprefcnt his Meaning tn 
 " Print ', which Is mifreprcfenting him, as hs 
 
 G ' ^* as 
 

 (C 
 
 50 Dr, Free 5 Comment^ &c. 
 
 *' as I can to <^// the World-, at leaft this Pamph- 
 " let of mine will go into the Hands of Him- 
 " dreds of the deluded Methodijls^ whofe Preju- 
 dices will never let them perufe any Reply ^ 
 which Dr. Free may puhlifh in his Defence y 
 and fo I fliall fix all thefe poor People at leaft 
 in a wrong Notion of his Meaning znd Ujtder- 
 *^ Jlandingy — A pretty Soliloquy ! — And could 
 . you as a Chrijlian do all this ? — No, Sir ! The 
 Chrijlian Religion would not permit you. And 
 therefore from henceforth you oblige me to con- 
 iider you as ari Heathen Man^ and a Publican^ 
 how much foever you may complain of -my 
 Severity, I cannot leave this remarkable Para- 
 graph without making a diftindl Remark upon 
 a very fingular Paffage, towit \ — '' That you do 
 *' not call yourfelves Methodifs at all." — Why 
 did you then, write the CharaBer of a Metho- 
 dijl? " You fay that it is certain you call your- 
 *' felves Me??ihers of the C&/r<:Z? of England!" 
 — Thus much by my Defiiiition of a Metho- 
 dist you find I know. — " Such, you ever 
 *' w^re, and fuch you are at this Day." — But 
 how can this be, Sir, when your Meeting at the 
 Foundcry^ if licenfed at all, muft be licenfed as 
 a DissEiSiTiNG Meeting , o f fo m e Denomiiiation 
 or other ? And again, — when the People you 
 often employ ^o preach there, and elfewhere, 
 have never had Epijcopal Ordination and confe- 
 quently oppofe the 23. Article of the Church oi 
 Envla}id^ Vv^hich proves, that you are not of the 
 Church of England: — And that you are ftill 
 
 Metko' 
 
Mr, Weiley'i Second Letter, ^i 
 
 4. However you allow, there may be Place for Repentance 
 For if any of the Founders of this SeSi^ renounce the Opinions they 
 once Hx:ere charged nvith., they may be permitted to lay ajide the Namt' 
 But what are the Opinions which you require us to renounce ? 
 What are, according to you, the Principles of the Methcdifs ? 
 
 You fay in general, They are contradidory to the Gofpel, con- 
 tradidory to the Church of England, full of Blafphemy and Im- 
 piety, and ending in donjcnright Atheifm : 
 
 1 . For I . They exponnd the Scripture in Juch a Manner y as to 
 make it contradid itjelf: 
 
 2. With Blafphemy, Impiety and Diabolical Phrenzy, they 
 ccntradid our Saviour, by denying that he ivill judge Men, according 
 to their Works. 
 
 3. ^y de7iying this they dejiroy the ejfcntial Attributes o/* GoD, 
 and ruin his Charader as Judge of the World. 
 
 In fupport of the Firft Charge, you fay, // is notcrious, and 
 feix) Men of Common Senfe attempt to prcve nvhat is notorious, 'till 
 they ?neet wcith People offuch notortous Impudence as to deny it. 
 
 I muft really deny it. Why then you will prove it, by Mr. 
 Ma/onh own Words. Hold, Sir : Mr. MaJo}2^s Words prove 
 nothing. For we are now fpeaking of original Methodifis. 
 But he is not one of them : Nor is he in Connexion with them ; 
 neither with Mr. Whitfield nor me. So that what Mr. Mafon 
 fpeaks, be it right or wrong, is nothing to the prefent purpcfe. 
 Therefore unlefs you can find fome better Proof, this whole*' 
 Charge falls to the Ground. 
 
 Well, here it is. Roger Balls — Pray, who is Roger Balls P Na 
 more a Methodift than he is a Turk. I kno-w not one good 
 Thing he ever faid or did, befide the telling all Men, I am na 
 Methodifi-i which he generally does in the iiril: Sentence he fpeaks, 
 when he can iind any to hear him. He is therefore one of your 
 own Allies. And a Champion worthy of his Caufe ! 
 
 If then you have no more than this to advance in fupport of 
 your Firft Cbarge, you have alledged what you are not able to 
 prove. And the more heavy that Allegation is, the more un- 
 kind, the more unjuft, the more unchriftian, the more inhuman 
 it is to bring it without Proof. 
 
 5. In fupport of the Second Charge, you fay. Our Saviour- 
 declares cur Works to be the Object of his fudgynevt. But the Me- 
 thodift, for the Perdition of the Souls of his Follovjers, fays ouy 
 Wsrks are of no Confideration at all. 
 
 Dr. Free's Comment^ &c. 
 Methodijls, and within the Terins of my Def?!:- 
 tion^ fhall be proved to every Body's Satisfac-- 
 it on J except your own. 
 
 G 2 Verjd' 
 
52 Mr. Wefley's Second Letter. 
 
 Who fays To ? Mr. Whitfeld? Or my Brother ? Or I ? We 
 fay the diredt contrary. But one of my anonymous Correfpon- 
 dents fays fo. Who is he ? How do you know he is a Metho' 
 diji ? For ought appears, he may be another of your Allies, a 
 Brother to Roger Balls. 
 
 Three or Threefcore anonymous Correfpondents, cannot yield 
 one grain of Proof, any more than an Hundred anonymous Re- 
 marks on Iheron and Afpafio, Before thefe can prove what the 
 Method'ijls hold, you muft prove, that thefe are Metho dljh : 
 Either, that they are original Method'ijls^ or in Connexion 
 with them. 
 
 jDr. Free'.; Co?nme?2ty &c. 
 Verfe 4. and 5. Suppofe we fet about it now ? 
 Indeed I have not your Orders or DireBion for 
 it, juft yet; but to be plain ; as I am not quite 
 fatisfied with your Manner of laying out a Sub- 
 jed:, I am not always bound to follow it ; nor 
 do I choofe it here: and therefore I attack a 
 diflantPaffage firft, and tell you, that I think, I 
 have taken a right Step, by frovi72g^ firft what 
 Opinions the accufed Parties hold in order ioprove 
 that they are Methodifts. You fhall fee in the 
 Courfe of the Difpute whether I am miftaken 
 or not. It may be neceffary firft to premife^ 
 tliat in this Chapter you raife a Difficulty about 
 the promt Jcuous Ufe of the Word Mcthodijl^ dif- 
 tinguiiliing them, for the geater ExaBnefs^ in- 
 to Originals and Non-originals. In the firft 
 Clafs you put yourjelf^ your Brother^ and Mr. 
 IVhitfield^ as People of \k\tfame Opinion^ — In 
 the other then, as you only make an Excep- 
 tion for ^^/^r/?/)^ and Cc. we are at Liberty, \ 
 fnppofe, to rank all the reft; fuch as Mr. 
 ir'Hervey, Mr. Rornaine^ Mr. Venn, Mi. Elliot,- 
 Mr. ^ones, Roger Balk^ whofe Lay-Pro fefl^on, I 
 know not; and the Ckck-viaker Mr. Majon. 
 
np07i Mr. Wefley's Second Letter - 53 
 
 &;c. Should we not add another Layman fup- 
 pofed to be a A^ — L — , who in his Anfwer to 
 Dr. Free difcovered (a Thing more furpriz- 
 ing than the Longitude) the Medium between 
 T^ruth and Falfiood^ and tells us * that fome 
 •^ Accoimts oi Things (though containing many 
 Propofitions) *' may be received as neither 
 " true novfalfe, this muft be a Coiyurer to be 
 fure ; (hall I add him to the reft ? 
 
 Well you tell me, that " before thefe can 
 * ' prove "what theyi ethodists hold-, I muft prove ^ 
 ** that thefe are Methodists," &c. that is I 
 fuppofe you mean, that I cannot from their 
 Dodrines prove, what the Methodifs hold, 
 till I ha ve iirft proved thefe People to be 
 Methodifs — An Hferon-Proteron may be a Fi- 
 gure in Rhetoricky but it makes a ftrange Fi- 
 gure in LoGiCK, vo fee the Conelufion before 
 the Premifes. By your Leave I muft afic the 
 Audience, before wliom you fay, you are 
 making your Defence, (that is, the Arch-bis- 
 hop, the University, the Nation) whether 
 this be a Scholar-like Arrangement of the Pro- 
 pofuio?is, which you require me here to prove. 
 Fori think, that lought^/// to fliew, that the 
 Dodlrines, which thefe People hold, are the 
 Dodrines of the Methodifls^ and then the Pro- 
 fofiticn^ which you would have me prove ffU 
 muft be lafi in Sense and Reason and follow 
 the other as a Consequence : For the Argument 
 will ftand thus, " they hold fuch Opinions <kc.^* 
 
 L ay >;: anh An(\yev to Dr. Free. Fag. i6, 
 t Letter from the Ma^Jl-ns above. 
 
 an«-l 
 
54 Dr, Free'i Comment^ &c. 
 
 and therefore they are Methodijls, For fuppofe 
 I was to prove a Man to be a Papist. Muft' 
 I not firft ihew, that he holds the Opinions 
 of a Papist ? Or can I any way (hew, that he 
 is a Papist, without his holding the Opinions 
 of a Papift? I think not. — My Lord Arch- 
 BSHOPj Gentlemen of the University, and 
 YE Men of common Serife throughout the Na- 
 tion — I appeal — (fince he will have it fo) to 
 you all to know, whether Mr. We (ley has not 
 put a very injudicious Tafk upon me ? And 
 whether I may not be permitted to go on in 
 my own Way^ fince he appears fo incap:.ble of 
 djrefting me? Now then, having, as I fuppofe, 
 obtained this PermifTion : Remember your 
 Names Originals, and Non-originals, as 
 you flood before ; and my Definition fliall hold 
 the Place of an IndiBment. — But is this my 
 Definition Sir ? — No ! — My Definition ftood 
 thus. — 
 
 " A Set of Enthufiafis, who under the Pre^ 
 " tence of being true Members of the Church 
 ^' of Englaiid, either prevert its Doctrines 
 " relating to Faith and Works^ and the Therms 
 " of Salvation, fo as to make them repugnant x.o 
 '* xkizYid^"^ Scriptures \ or elfe offend againft the 
 " Order and Discipline of the Church, or 
 ^^ farther, even attack the Ffinciplcs of iiatural 
 ** Religon, and ftill under the Pretence of be- 
 " ing Members of the Church oi England^ or 
 •' at 'leaft Chriftians." 
 
 ..And now. Sir, pardon me if by the Prac- 
 tices^ in which you ftill pcrnfl, and by the O- 
 
 pinions: 
 
upon Mr. Wefley's Second Letter. 5 j 
 
 -pinions^ you have held or hold, I prove you to 
 be a Methodiji: and that I comprehend in this 
 Definition^ Difcription or JndiBmenty the Cha- 
 racter of you the great Original, the o- 
 ther ORiGiistALS, the Non-originals and af- 
 terwards of the Secundarians^ Subalterns and all 
 the reft : For I believe, that every Perfon will 
 find his Place herein, who is, or has been e- 
 fteemed or called either Methodijlical or Metho- 
 dijt. 
 
 But Firfi^ again ft you Gentlemen, who are 
 Originals^ fuppofe I call in the Evidence 
 of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of 
 Exeter^ the reputed Author of a -f- Book en- 
 titled the Efithufiajm of the Methodifls and Pa- 
 PisTS compared. What fays his Lordfliip of 
 the Revd. Mr. John Wejley, Mr. Whitfield and 
 the reft ? Why he proves you to be Enthufiaflsy 
 from your own Journals and Accounts of 
 God's Dealings: Among other Paffages, to 
 the fame Purpofe; fuppofe we conlider thefe. 
 Mr. WhiifiAd fays, firft Dealing Pag. 16." God 
 filled me with fuch unjpeakable Raptures^ 
 particularly in St. Johns Church, that I was 
 carried out beyond myfelf" Again Mr. 
 Wefiey fays, 3 Journal Pag. 19 '' My Soul 
 «' was got up into the Holy Mount, I had no 
 <' Thouo-hts of comins: down a^-ain into the 
 «^ Body." 
 
 By thefe Paflages then, it appears that you 
 arc both Enthujicijls \ which mart make good 
 
 the 
 
 
^6 JDr. Free'i Comment ^ &c, 
 
 the FIRST Article \x\ my Definition*. I fliall 
 now make it appear likewife, that you are En- 
 thiifiafts perverting the Dodtrines, and offending 
 iigainft the Difcipline of the Church c/'England 
 &c. For the Church oj England does not al- 
 low of any irregular and unqualified Teachers 5 
 it does not allow it's Paftors to preach in ir- 
 regular Places ; or to call themfelves Difie?2ters : ■ 
 This is offending againft its Discipline: and 
 for offences againft it's Doctrine, I reckon 
 them to be fuch Opinions as thefe. * Mr. Whit- 
 field izy^^ " it is a dreadful miftake to deny the 
 '' Doctrine of AJjurayices^ he knows Numbers 
 " whofe Salvation is written in their Hearts as 
 *' with a *Sz/;z-B^^;7?." — 8 Journal^ Page 17, 
 Mr. iVefiey fays, '^ Juftification the fame as 
 " Regeneration and having a living Faith,— 
 " this always in a Moment — Faith and being 
 born of God — an infiajitaneous JVcrk^ as 
 Lightenijig, — My being born of God was 
 an injtantaneous Aft, enabling me from that 
 Moment X.obe 7nore than Cc?iqucror over thofe 
 Corruptions, which before I was always a 
 Slave to," — 'fiournal 2. And again Jotirnal y 
 At that Hour, one who had long con- 
 ** tinued in Sin from a D^^^Wr of finding Mer- 
 " cy received a full clear Senfe of his pardon- 
 '^ ine Love, and Poiver to Sin no more," Now 
 cill this is diredly oppofite to the 16 Article of 
 the Church of England, which fuppofes in 
 the beft of Men a Pojjibility of Sinning and 
 
 Ep. of E;Keter\ Bo^k Part l. P. 32. 35, 34. 
 
 that 
 
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter, 57 
 
 land that they may after fuch their Failings be 
 reftored. 
 
 But befide the Oppofition of this Do6lrine to 
 that particular Article of our Church : 1 ob- 
 ferve by thefe Accounts of an inftantanecus liv^^ 
 ing Faith, and of being irrejiftibly born of God ^ 
 that the Man is reprefented as no longer a Ra- 
 tional Being, or moral Agent. For all thefe 
 Operations are defer ibed as entirely the Ads of 
 God. The Man then in thefe Cafes is alto- 
 gether pajjive and not capable of ariy Works. 
 And therefore if this be the JVefieyan, or Metho- 
 dift kind oi Faith ^ it is a kind of Faith, from 
 which the Man's own Actions are utterly ^a- 
 cluded: (very fimilar to Mr. Herve y's Doftrine, 
 as you will fee hereafter) For being more than 
 Conquerers^ not by the Ajjifiance^ but by the en- 
 tire Force and Agency of another Power, he 
 has no longer Occafion to work out his Salvation 
 with Fear and 'Trembling, So that T!ext of 
 Scripture is fuperfeded, as well as all other Scrip-- 
 tare, which is a Ride of Conduct 3 and with it 
 another fundamental Dodrine of the Church of 
 England, which fuppofes a Man's good Ac- 
 tions to be his, by faying, that they are pic a/in g 
 in Gods Sight, For if the Adions were God's 
 Adions it would be iuft as much Senfe as fay- 
 ing, that God was pleafed with God, or that he 
 diverted himfclf with his Ingenuity in moving 
 our Limbs, and determining our weak mc- 
 chanick Powers to every particular Adion. AikI 
 thus God is reprefejited as the Maftcr of the 
 Shew, and we a^^ trie PipilI'. :hat SQu^ak 
 
 li a::d 
 
58 Dr. Free*s Comment ^ &c. 
 
 and Da72ce, but at his Direction : From fuch 
 frightful Akfurdities in a National Reli- 
 G I ON ! Good Lord deliver us. 
 
 But beiide this Doctrine of a State of 
 nnfmning and unalterable Perffction in this 
 Life; which is fet forth as th^fudden and /r- 
 rehjlible Giit of God, and which reprefents 
 Man as a Machine, fo totally po[[eJled and ac- 
 tuatcd by Divine Power as to leave no Room 
 for human Frailty, or human Endeavours: 
 You have been accufed of advancing another 
 IjGclrine as dejiruciive of Morality, even that, 
 which I charged upon the Metbodijls from the 
 iiriL, and which all the V/orld is now con- 
 vinced they hold. " The Dodrlne of Saha- 
 " tio72 by Faith alc7ie as it is underflood to ex- 
 '' chide the Necefjity of good IVorh!" Even in 
 this Pamphlet w^here 1 had faid '' they were 
 *' abjolutely neceffary to Salvation," in repeating 
 my V/ordSj you drop the Word ahfolutely 3 and 
 in the next Paragraph, fo connect fome £.v- 
 frach from the Articles as confidering the dou- 
 bJe./Meaning of the Word Jujiificatmi mull ac- 
 5^.)rd!ng to vulgar Apprcfifion look mod favoura- 
 'bie to fuch an Opinion : *Tis true you pro- 
 felled to deny it before \ nay you have wj'itten 
 againll it, as I am informed, thei-efore this 
 veering about again looks very inconfiilent. 
 Tijat y^>u were once inclined to fuch an Opinion, 
 I think, Sir, is pretty evident. Mr. C Grangey 
 :^: you remember, tePdues in the ^4 Page ofmv 
 . .:s upon yoiii: firil Letter, that he heard 
 
 one 
 
upon Mr, Wefley*s Second Letter, ^g 
 
 one of tlie Lay-brothers^ whom you hady?/ up 
 cloft to harangue in your Conventicle at the 
 Founder V, inculcating the fames and tells us 
 the Hymn, which was Sung upon the Occa- 
 fion. 
 
 Believe and all your Sins forgi'-Ocn^ 
 Only believe and ycurs is Heaven, 
 
 He fays that other of your Hymns have the 
 fame Tendency, and mentions particularly the 
 44. Look and be fav'd by Faith alo?ie. 
 
 This Opinion then, if you have not renoun- 
 ced it, will bear hard againll: you, and if you 
 have even given it uo^ yet coniidering the Evi- 
 dcnce v/e have juit gathered from the Lord 
 Bishop oi Exeter s difplay oi yoMV Journals^ 
 which contain your Enthusiastick Flights 
 and Fancies ; and your itrange Notions of Fa i th, 
 as though in fome Subjeds attended with fuch 
 a Pejifection, as implies an Annihilation cF 
 human Agency: You mud forgive me, if I 
 find you guilty of the ludidimetit^ 'awdi by the 
 Terms of my Definition, pronounce You, 
 ■ and^// the Originals, v>'hich you defcribe to 
 be in the Ja772e ivay of thinkings to be figCtfjO-* 
 Difi,*j« For it appears that You 
 
 ■ 1 J |— 
 
 " A Set of Entljii/iafls, who under the P;r- 
 *' te?ice of beinp true Members of the Church 
 
 o 
 
 *' of England, either prevert its Doctrines 
 '^ relating to Faith and Wcrks^ and the I'crms 
 -' of Salvation, fo as to make them repugnant 
 -' to the Holy Scriptures: or clie offend ii^^-'ainft 
 "- theORrri^ and DiscirLiNE of the Church, 
 
 '' or 
 
cc 
 cc 
 <c 
 
 60 Dr, Frec's Comment ^ &c. 
 
 or farther, ev-en attack the Principles of na- 
 tural Religion, and ftill under the Pretenfe 
 of being M embers of the Church of Eng- 
 land^ or at leaft Chriftians/* 
 And having affirmed this of You and your 
 declared Associates, from the Knowledge 
 you have given us in Writing of your Belief zni. 
 PraBice-, let me now examine how far this 
 Appellation may fuit the Rest: I fhall al- 
 low them the Title^ as by their DoSrines^ they 
 may appear to merit it; juft in the fame Man- 
 ner, as I gave it you. Mr. Hervey\ then (whom 
 as I have heard, you called the Father of 
 Metkodijm in your Ca?ignization Sermon) whether 
 that be true I cannot tell ; but Mr. Hervey (for 
 whorci iYiQ Gazetteer oi Jan, 10. 1759, tells us 
 the Woman at Abergave?2?i)\ though unknown 
 to him went into Mourning at his Death: If 
 llie hadunderftoodhis Doftrine fhe might have 
 mourned for that — This Mr. Her^uey) though 
 our Saviour had declared, Matth. xvi. 27. 
 To Him, to Me, and every Man alive, that he 
 iJDtll reivard every Man according to his Works ^ 
 had the Frefumption to new-model the 'Terms of 
 the Gospel and to reply. 1 '' We are I grant 
 " jufiified by Works — kit not cur own.'' If 
 you alk him, Whofe then? he anfwers, " TZy 
 " V/orhoi Chrift^' fo that the Man is required 
 by his Scheme in Oppofiticn to our Lord'^, to 
 do juft nothing for himfelf. And therefore here 
 is no more room for Mo7-ality in this Syfie^n 
 than there v^^'as ia Your State of urifrrjiiiigVv.R- 
 
 FECriON. 
 
upon Mr, Welley'i Second Letter, 6 1 
 
 FECTioN. The fame § Mr. Herijey adds in a- 
 nother PalTage (where he introduces one oi his 
 Sort of C/6r////^z;wreafoning thus.) — " Tis true, 
 " I cannot fullfill the Conditions, and 'tis e- 
 " qually true, that this is not required at my 
 " Hands — Jesus Christ has performed all 
 ^' that was ConditionciryT — What is become 
 then of our Lords Declaratioyi and all his In- 
 jiinciions? Why this 77ew Cbrijiian Religion 
 hath fet the old one quite afide : And makes no 
 manner of Account of any human Adions. For 
 that there is not in the Eitimation of the divine 
 Being any Diftindion between Vice and Vir- 
 tue. — To this Purpofe, hear the Paffages be- 
 fore produced from the ano7iymous Rernarker on 
 Theron and Afpajio^ he may be one of your 
 own People for ought I know ; but w^ho .he is, 
 or what his Name may be, does not concern 
 the Argiimejit^ provided that he has made his 
 Quotations fair and rights fo as to fpeak 
 the Meaning of the Author; that the World 
 may judge of this 3 the PalTages are thefe, that 
 follow. 
 
 " He who attempts to do any Thing eafy 
 ^' or difficult, under the Notion of an Adl of 
 '' believing, or any other Ad, in Order to his 
 '' Acceptance with God, only heaps up more 
 *' Wrath againft himfelf " — And again, 
 
 " The whole New Teftament fpeaks aloud, 
 *' that as to the Matter of Acceptance with 
 
 § Page 56 
 
 " God, 
 
62 Dr, Free J Comment^ &c. 
 
 ' God, there is no Difference between one 
 *' Man and another : — No Difference betwixt 
 ' the moft accoiTjplifhed Gentleman, and the 
 * moft infamous «SVcw;?<:/r^/:— No Difference 
 *' betwixt the moft virtuous Lady, and the 
 *' vileft Proftitute : — No Difference betwixt 
 *^ the moft Reverend Judge, and the moft o- 
 *' dious Criminal ftanding convidled before 
 ^^ him, and receiving the juft Sentence of 
 '' Death at his Mouth: — In a Word, no Dif- 
 " ference betwixt the moft fervent Devotee, 
 " and the greateft Ringleader in Profanenefs 
 " and Excefs." 
 
 In another Place he fays, — ^^both G^race and 
 " I'ruth ftand in diredl Oppofition to Work?, 
 *'' all Works v/hatever, whether they be JVorks 
 ^^ of the LaiVy or Works of the Gcfpel, done in 
 *^ a State of Nature, or ujider the Injhicnce of 
 " Grace. — vol. i. P. 273." 
 
 Thus much for 'T'kcron and Afpafio, and the 
 Doctrines of the weak and crazy Mr. Hervey, 
 one of the reputed Fathers of Methodifm, 
 whofe laboured Anikhrifian Theology, and 
 religious Blafphemy have been fo zealoufly 
 propagated through the Land, and revered as 
 the Bible, by the Metkodifs, Now for the 
 Opinions of Mr. Tioraaine, -, becaufe you are fo 
 apt to aflc me, '' WIjo fays fo? Who is he, hom 
 *' do y oil know he is a Meihodift? — I muft beg 
 leave to refrefh your Memory, by referring 
 you to a Tittle Tieatife, faid to be your own, 
 entidcd a Letter to a Gentleman at Brifiol, 
 which contains Remarks upon a Pamphlet 
 
 alcribcd 
 
iipo7i Mr, Wefley's Second Letfef 6 3 
 
 afcribed to Mr. Romaine, Let us hear fome of 
 your Converfation, 
 
 Mr. Romaine, But a Man is not juftified by 
 " Works ^ but by the Faith j/'Chrift. This ex- 
 " eludes all Qualifications. 
 
 Mr. JVeJley. Surely it does not excuhide 
 the Qualification of Faith ^ &c. 
 
 Mr. Rornaine. But '' our Church excludes 
 " Repentance and Faith from dejerving any 
 *' Part of our Juftification. Why then do yoii 
 ** infill upon them as ^alificatiGns requijite to 
 '^ our Juftification." 
 
 Mr. Wejley, Becaufe Chrijt and his Apoftles 
 do fo. . Yet we all agree, they do not deferije 
 any Part of our Juftification. They ae no 
 Part of the meritorious Caiife ; but they are the 
 Conditions of it. This and no other is " the 
 " Dodlrine of Scripture, and of the Church of 
 *' England!'' Both the Scripture and " our 
 " Church allow, yea infift on thefe ^alijica- 
 " tions or Conditions!' 
 
 Mr. Rornaine, *' But if Repentance and 
 " Faith would not be valid and acceptable 
 " without the Righteoufnefs of Chrifiy then 
 " they cannot be neceflary Qualifications for 
 *' our Juftification." 
 
 Mr. Wejley. I cannot allow the Confequence. 
 They are not acceptable without the Righte- 
 oufnefs or Merits of Chrijh And yet He Him- 
 felf has made them necefary Qualifications 
 thro' his Merits. 
 
 But the grand Qbjcdlcn of this Gentleman 
 lies a::^ainft the Dr'iJ. next i-arai^rarh ; the Sum 
 
 of 
 
64 -D^. Free*i Comment^ &c. 
 
 of which is: '' The Merits of Chrift were 
 '' never intended to fuperfede the Neceffity 
 *' of Repentance and Obedience" (I would fay, 
 Repentance and Faith) " but to make them 
 *' acceptable in the Sight of God, and to piir- 
 " chafe for them" (I would add that obey Him) 
 '^ a Reward of immortal Happinefs." 
 
 I am not afraid to undertake the Defence of 
 this Paragraph, with this fmall Variation, 
 agalnfi: Mr. Chapman^ Mr. Nyberg, Count Ziti" 
 %endorf\ or any other Perfon whatever. Pro- 
 vided only that he will fet his Name to his 
 Work: For I do not love fighting in the Dark. 
 
 And I (as well as Dr. 7". affirm, That '' to 
 " fay more than this concerning Cbrijfs im- 
 " puted Merits," to fay more than, that ''they 
 '' have purchafed for us Grace to repent and 
 *' believe, Acceptance upon our believing, 
 '' Power to obey, and eternal Salvation to 
 " them that do obey Him :" To fay more than 
 this '' is blafphemous Antiiiomianifm^' fiich as 
 '' Mr. Cahin would have abhorred, and does 
 " open a Door to all Manner of Sin and Wick- 
 ed nefs" 
 
 "I muftlikewife affirm,Thattotalkof i:V//z/.W 
 FJghtcGiiJhefs in the Manner many do at this 
 Day, is making the itnaginary 'Tra?2sfer ^/ Chrifl's 
 Rightcczifnefs ferve as a Cover for the Unrightecuf- 
 ncfs of Mankind, Does not Mr. Cb-p-n do this 
 at Briftcl ? Does not Mr. M—rd—n, 2X London ? 
 Let them fhudder then, let their Blood run cold, 
 who do it: Not theirs, who tell them that 
 thev do fo/' ThusfarMr.7/^^?^vagainilMr./?. 
 
 Eli! 
 
tipm Mr, Wefley's Second Letter 65 
 
 JE« / Nofter laudo^ in melius qumiiiim mufatus 
 nb illo^ why could not you write as well when 
 you wrote to me ? You here condemn Mr* 
 Ro?naine's Opinions, as contrary to Reafon and 
 Scripture ; and the Articles of the Church of 
 England, But did not you know that thefe 
 Pvlen were Methcdifts ? Ridiciihim, non enim cogi- 
 taras. They may not be Wejleyans indeed, as 
 Wejlcy fhews himfelf in this Letter to a Gentle^ 
 man, but notwithftanding that, they are all 
 Alethodifts to a Man-, if you are not already 
 fenfible of it^ you muft fee it prefently, idem 
 hoc tiite meliiis quanto inveniffes 'Tkrafo ? 
 
 For by the Way, will not this Remark, 
 which you have made upon the tie^iu Terms 
 and Phrafes, ufed by Mr. Romaine^ bear a little 
 hard upon your Friend Mr. Ve?2n? Has not he 
 printed a Sermon under the Title of Imputed 
 Right eon fnefs^ and Obedience not to be feparated^ 
 You obferve, that there are no fuch Terms in 
 the Article y as, ON LT through Chrifl's imputed 
 Righteoufnefi : We remark alfo, that fuch 
 Terms do not accord v/ith the Church Liturgy. 
 For I do not remember, that it any where ufes 
 this Langitage of LmpuTx^vtion. It calls the 
 Death of our Lord indeed, " a full perfed: and 
 •^ fufficient Sacrifice Oblation and Satisfadlion 
 " for the Sins of the whole World" which ena- 
 bles him to intercede^ and nominate fuch as ful- 
 fill his CcjiditionSj or, are in their fcveral Cap- 
 tivies, the proper ObjcBs of llEDirMPTioN. 
 But here is not a Word oi Imputation. Ycu and 
 Mr. Fe7m, may poffibly fettle that Point be- 
 
 1 tween 
 
66 jDr. Free i Comment, £?c. 
 
 tweeriyou, but here is another J/;;^//i'^//W-Man 
 who cancels all Obligation to Obedience. What 
 ihall we do with him ? 
 
 Mr. Elliot, late Chaplain to the Hofpital at 
 Hydc-F ark-Corner , in a Sermon, entitled £72- 
 coiiragement for Sin?i7iers, &cc. After giving us 
 his Account of /;;2/jz//6'^ Righteoufnefs, pag. 10. 
 lays, '' Laftly it is concluded,, that we are Jii/ii" 
 " ^ed by Faith 07ily, whereby all Works of every 
 '^ Kind, are fi:ut Out, as being wholly umiecejjary 
 *' and lifelefs in this great Matter^ even a Sinner's 
 *' Jultification before God." And it is plain, that 
 he means final Jaftification by what follows. 
 yames ii. Ch. and 23. v. is alledged by this Man 
 and others, as the Ground or Foundation for 
 this Doctrine of />>^^2i(/6'^Righteoufnefs,^^r^- 
 ham believed God, and it was imputed to him for 
 Right eoiifnefs. But \i thefe poor Feople could read 
 their T^eft anient in the ofignal Greek, (and till 
 they can, they are not fit to be 'Teachers) they 
 would fee that there is no fuch Word as im- 
 puted there, the Greek is ixoy'.cr^T, computed, con^ 
 fidered, acccimtcd, reckoned, and never bore any 
 other Signification, in that Language : that it 
 fliould here be rendered by imputed, is wholly 
 owing to the Ignorance, or Bafencfs of fome 
 Translators. For \s\^ genuiiie Interpretation 
 of the Pafiage is, Abrahaim put his Confideiice 
 in God, and for this he was accounted aju/l, or good 
 Man, and was called the Friend of God. But I 
 only offer this by Way, as one Instance of a 
 thoufand, tliat might be produced to fliew how 
 the Doctrines of thefe People are founded en- 
 tirely 
 
upo?2 Mr, Wefley^s Second Letter, 67 
 
 tirely in Ignorance and Deception^ and have no 
 Place in the true Goospel. This Man hath 
 lately publiflied a Vi?tdication of the fame Scr- 
 mon, under the Tittle of Sin destroyed, &c. 
 By which I fuppofe we are to underftand, that 
 there is now no fuch Thing as Sin, I have 
 not feen this Pamphlet myfelf, for it is by no 
 means pleafing to rake in fuch Filth. 
 
 But by the Account of it in the Monthly Re-^ 
 view for OBober^ it appears to be full of the 
 fame jQiocking Principles, which the Author 
 impudently attributes to the Articles of the 
 Chmchoi England', And to ihew how well 
 this tallies with the Opinions of your acknow- 
 ledged Affociate, and Fellow-methodifi: Mr. 
 Whitfield, I have heard, that this Man has been 
 prayed for, at his Tabernacle as ^ Brother 
 under Perfecution. 
 
 The next upon the Lift, I think is Roger 
 Balk, but you difclaim all Acquaintance with 
 him, and make him an Ally of my ov/n, is not 
 this extremely Jocular ? For I cannot fay, that 
 I ever heard of Roger, or knew there v/as fuch 
 a Being in the World, till a good Woman, 
 who fent me your Affize Sermon, accom.pa- 
 nied it with a Piece of his wonderful Compo- 
 fition. I exprefled my Concern to fee you in 
 fuch Company : But yet I think we muft fet 
 him dov/n for a methodiflicarvtVio\^\ if not a 
 Methodijl. I cannot fay indeed whether he calls 
 himfelfof the Cfer^r/^' of England: But he 
 profefTes to be a Minijler of the Gospel, and 
 under that Prcfeffion difcards the oU Jesus 
 
 Christ 
 
6S Dr, Free's Commeyit^ &c, 
 
 Christ, that was born in Bethlehem^ and all 
 his Injundions and Commands, as of no worth 
 at all, if compared to a certain yefus^ which 
 he carries about him, a Chrifais Efzgajtrimu- 
 tkus, et Gafuimargus^ which' " he J eels within 
 *' him ftirmig to be horn' And upon his bring- 
 " ing him forth, he calls out lujtily here's a 
 *' G6r//Hndeed, that will do you all (ome good' -- 
 O brave Kcger ! But if you think he has been 
 guilty of a Mifdemeanor, his Evidence fliall be 
 fet afide,as we can fpare him -, to make Room 
 for the next. I hope you will admit of him, it 
 is W, M. (thatis WilUamMajon) Clockm aker, 
 oi'Rotherhithe Wall. He is 'very bold and faith ^ 
 that he the faid William Mafon, '^ is a Metho- 
 *^ dift of the Church of England, &c. And 
 *' he concludes ffor himfelf and Brethren) that 
 *' a Man is juflified, (his Sins pardoned, his 
 " Perfon accepted to God's Love and Favour, 
 *' and his Title to Glory evidenced to him) 
 " by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law^ 
 *' either natural , cereinonial^ -f* or moral ^^ &c. 
 But you cry Hold! " Mr. Majhh Words prove 
 " nothing," why fo ? Is not Mr. Mafon a Man 
 of Veracity ? I think this is cruel Treatment, to 
 baulk the Gentleman fo, and make him bluili 
 before fuch an Audience. You reply, that you 
 are fpcaking of thzcj'iginal Mcthcdi/ts, and '' he 
 *' is not one of them." This DiftinBicn is novv^ 
 of no Service, he fays he is a Mcthcdift of the 
 
 "* p- 13. Myftery of Chrill crucified. 
 
 ■f Remarks &c. in a Letter to Dr. Frec, p. i8. 
 
 Church 
 
Mr. WefleyV Second Letter. 69 
 
 16. Will you fay, " Ifthefe were not Methodip thtmkXvc^^ 
 they would ' not defend the Methodijli?'''' I deny the Confe- 
 quence : Men may be far from being Methodijisy and yet willing 
 to do the Methodtjis Juftice. 1 have known a Clergyman of 
 Note fay to another, who had juft been preaching a very warm 
 Sermon, " Sir, I do not thank you at all for this. I have no 
 Acquaintance with Mr. Whitfield or Mr. Wefiey. And I do not 
 agree with them in Opinion. But I will have no more Railing 
 in my Pulpit." 
 
 T)r. Free'i Comment^ &c. 
 Church of England. And did not you at the 
 Beginning of this Letter, make that the Cka- 
 radierfiick of the original Metbodijh; that 
 they were tenacious of its Kubricks, &c. yes, 
 but " he has no Connexion with Mr. Whitfield 
 " or Jc^j" fo then now Connexions with Ton 
 and .Mr. Whitfield make the Methodifis. Then 
 is not Mr. F^/^;^ of the Number.?^ And with 
 Regard to Mr. Mafion^ I have really been in- 
 formed, that he had fo far Connexions^ as to be 
 one of vour Hearers, at Mrs G/Vs Meetino;- 
 Houfe in Sonthwark. 
 
 Ah think at leaf}, thy Flock defeyve thy Care ; 
 
 Plants of thy Hand, and Children of thy Prayer, * Pope- 
 
 Verfe i6. But without dwelling upon this; I 
 fhould have thought, he had been a Methodijl 
 by his 'writing for the Cause, as you doy and 
 appearing fo zealous, as to be before Hand 
 with Mr. Wifiley himfelf; but you fay, that 
 this is no Confequence : For you knew '' a 
 Clergyman of Note.^ who faid to another, 
 *^ after he had been preaching a very warm 
 *' Sermon, that he would have no more Rail- 
 *' ing at Mr. F/hil field, or Mr. Weficy in liis 
 '' Pulpit." — And yet he was no Method? iW 
 Sir, 1 cannot believe it, I take this old Thief 
 
yo Dr. Frets Commenf, dSc. 
 
 to have been a Methodiji in Disguise: One 
 of thofe, who eat the Bread of the Church, 
 and betray its Caufe ; or leave it to be defen- 
 ded by the poor Creatures, that ftarve by it. 
 I am countenanced in my Opinion, Sir, by a 
 Man of the beft common Senfe that ever 
 wrote, who fays: Ni hcecita ejfent^ nonciim illis 
 flares Phcedria, And Divine Wifdom itfelf has 
 affured me, that he, who is not against 
 A Thing,, is for it. 
 
 But as you and I cannot agree about thefe 
 I muft for other ReafoiiSy which the World 
 will ajfent to, if you do not; pronounce 
 Mr. Mafon and the reft of the People afore- 
 named, whether they have at prefent perfonal 
 Connexiojiswi^ you, who are Originals or 
 nor, (a Circiimjlance not efjential to the Cha-- 
 raBer^ if they are conne(fLed in Opinions) to 
 be all Methodists. For they are ■—» — 
 
 " A Set of Efithiifiafts^ who under the Pre- 
 ^^ fence- of being true Members of the Church 
 "of England^ either prevert its Doctrines 
 " relating to Faith and Wcrks^ and the I'errm 
 " of Salvation, fo as to make them repiig7iant\.o 
 " \ki^Y{o\^ Scriptures ', or eife offend againft the 
 *' Order and Discipline of the Church, or 
 *' further, even attack the Pri?2ciples of 'natural 
 **Religon, and ftili under the Pre^'ence of be- 
 '* ing Members of the Church oi England, or 
 **at Icaft Chriftians." 
 
 And now Sir, you fee what is become of 
 vourr/jVa*Vi/z/.\QuTBELE,that the People, who 
 held and publiiiied thefe dangerous Doctrines, 
 
 though 
 
Dr, Free'j Comment ^ &c, 71 ' 
 
 though proved upon them, and though thev 
 profelTed at the fame Time, and gloried in the 
 Name of Metbodi/isy were not to be called fo : 
 becaufe for the prefent, they were not in 
 Cojinediion with You : What is that to the 
 World , or Me? It is enough for us, Sir^ 
 that they all correfpohd fo well with theZ)g/?- 
 riition. You cannot be ignorant of a noted 
 Maxim in LogicL — ^.od ccjivefiit Defaiitioni 
 convenit Definito — " What anfwers to the 
 " Definition^ anfwers to the Tubing defined. 
 (Well, the T^biizg defined was a Methodist) 
 and you and thefe People anfwering to the 
 'Defimition^ you and thefe People anfwer to the 
 Tbing defined \ and therefore you and thefe 
 People are all Metbodifls. And are as eafily 
 difcovered by the Marks, as a fi?'ay-Ho?fie at 
 Coimtfy^Fair, 
 
 Mr, Wefley's Secojid Letter, 
 
 17 From the Principles of the Method ifls you proceed to 
 their Pradlice. They hunt^ fay you, for extraordinary Marks and 
 Revelations. <vjherehy to kno-jj the State of the Soul. The Marks 
 by which i know the State of aay Soul, are the inward Fruit 
 of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Poace, Mseknefs, Gentlenefs, Good- 
 nefs. Long- Suffering, Temperance, Patience : Shewn not by 
 Words only, but by the genuine Fruit of Hclinefs. 
 
 Again. Thsy magrufy their Offxe heyo?id the Truth, by high Pre- 
 tences to miraculous bfpration. To this AfTertion v\e have an- 
 fwered over and over, we pretend to no other hf^iraiion than 
 that which not only every true Gofpel Miniiler, but eveiy real 
 Chriiliah enjoys. 
 
 Again. T^he End of all ImpoRors is fonie Kind of ixjor Idly Gain: 
 And it is d'lficult for them to conceal their Views entirel\\ The 
 Loi'e (t/^ filthy Lucre ^will appear, either fy the Ufe chcy make of 
 it, or the Means of getting it. As to the U/e made of it, you 
 are filent. But as to the Means of getting jt, \ou fay, Ceiides, 
 Inhumanity wringing/r£?w the Pcor^ the helplfs rfidovjs, the ^veep- 
 
 Verfe 
 
72 Mr, Welley*^ Semtd Letter. 
 
 i?2g Orphans, (The Proof! the Proof!) they creep into Hou/esy an 
 lead capti-ve Jilly Womm., laden 'with di-vers Lujis. 'Tis eafy f^ 
 Jay this, and ten Times more. But can you pro^e it? And 
 ought you X.0 fay it, 'till you can ? 
 
 I fhall not concern myfelf with any Thing in your Appendix^ 
 but what relates to me in particular. This Premifed, I ob- 
 ferve on No. i. There are feveral Inftances in my Journals, of 
 Perfons that were in Agonies of Grief or Fear, and roared for 
 the Difquietnefs of their Heart : Of fome that exceeding trem- 
 l;/ed before God, iperhcips/ell doivn to the Ground, and of others 
 whom God in his adorable Providence, fuiFered to be lunatic 
 and fore vexed. The particular Inftances hereof, to which you 
 refer, have been largely vindicated already, in the two Letters 
 to the Rev. Dr. Churchy as well as that to the late Biihop of 
 Lo7don, 
 
 In the fix following Numbers I am not concerned. The 
 ei<rhth contains thofe Words from my fecond journal, ** The reft 
 of the Day v,'e fpent in hearing the <v:ondsrful Works, which 
 God is heginniiig to work all over the Earth." On this likc^ 
 wife I have fpoken at large, to Dr. Church and Biihop Gihfon. 
 The Sum is : It is a goeat Work when one notorious Sinner is 
 throughly changed in Heart and Life. It is wonderfully great, 
 when God works this entire Change, in a large Number of 
 People : Particularly when it is done in a very fhort Time : But 
 fo He hath wrought in Kingfwood, Cornwall, Newcaftle. It is 
 therefore a truly r^vonderful Work which God hath now more 
 than begun to work upon Earth. 
 
 Dr. Free's Comment ^ (ic. 
 
 Verfe, ij. By Apologizing only for yourfelf 
 \\\ this Place: It is plain, that you acknow- 
 ledge the Charge againft the other Methodijis, 
 ofhu7iting after extraordinary Marks j;/^ Kt-^t- 
 hXionSs, /iii)hc7rby to hiow the State of the Sou!. 
 The Reader may lee a Proof of all this, by 
 perufing Mr. jo?2eis miraculous Letter from 
 the Ma'n/Io?is akve, and the other l^efimQ72ies 
 printed in the Appendix to my OA^/ir^ Sermon. 
 And as you profefs Connexions with Mr. 
 7Vkitfield\ you and your Company of Comedians 
 oui^ht to be told of k afrcfli, as it is no longer 
 
 ago 
 
Mr, Wefley J Second Letter, 73 
 
 I have now, Sir, briefly anrwered for myfelf, which if re- 
 quired, 1 will do more at large. But 1 truft, it does already ap- 
 pear, to every impartial Reader, that of the many and heavy 
 Allegations you have brought, with an unparalled Bitternefs of 
 Spirit, and an Acrimony of Language almoft without Precedent, 
 you have not yet proved One. How far you are to be com- 
 mended for this (unlefs by Meflrs. Balls and the Monthly Re- 
 ^ieivers) it is not for me to judge : Let all Lovers of Truth, of 
 Humanity and Candor determine. At prefent I have no more 
 to add, than that I befeech the Father of everlafting Com- 
 panion to fliew more Mercy to you, than you have ihewn to. 
 Reverend Sir, 7^our Servant for ChristV Sake, 
 
 John Wesley. 
 
 Dr, Freehs Cmment^ &c. 
 
 ago than about the 8th. of this Month, fince 
 Mr. V/hitfield \nmk\i cxhihiicdi a Farce of the 
 like Nature, before Sir Ch — iJ— and his Fa- 
 mily. One would have thought that zNcrth- 
 Country Baronet fhould have been a Man 
 of keener TJnderJianding than to have perjuaded 
 his Dependents^ or co?nmanded his Serva?2ts to 
 give Ear to fuch Delufions. For the Subjed: 
 of the diforderly Harangue^ it fecms, was this, 
 (if not in the very Words, to the fame Fur- 
 pofe) ''That it i^asthe Duty of Christians 
 " to he continually as inquijitive after New?, from 
 '' Heaven, as it is the Ciillom of Politicians 
 
 7 7 • • ^ 
 
 '' to be aiways tjiqmring what is dcjie on Earth. 
 'Which ?.fter all xS?.^ impudent "^ Evasions and 
 Affidavits fliews us the /r//^ Meaning of 
 Mr. fones\ Letter, fmce one of your Origi- 
 nals could thus pubiicldy irxulcate amons: 
 bis Followers, the dckiiive Notion of 7!^ fettled 
 ^-^ omnium c aft on 2.rA Correfpondence betv/een the 
 
 * See the Audiors Remarks upon Mr. Jonps\ Letter and 
 the A^]da^us. S:o. ?ag. 21. &c. Sea. UJ. 
 
 K 2 in\:i/Jl?le 
 
';4r -Z^^'- Free's Comment^ &c, 
 
 mvifible World, and this. Does Mr. Jones ^ 
 Lr -i TER pretend to mere t^-Crimineahuno'Dij'ce 
 Cmnc.^ — o little Diiference is there between 
 you Or iGiNALS, and the Non-originals, 
 that you may well be comprehended under 
 the lame Definition. And therefore from this 
 recent Inflance, it appears, that the Obfer- 
 vation in my \ Sefinon was juft, where lay- 
 ing down Rules for the Difcovery offa/fe Pro- 
 phets, I admonidied m.y Hearers to take 
 Notice, whether they did not magnify their Of- 
 fice beyond the 'Truth y by highFrete^ices to 7?tira- 
 cuhiis Inspiration^ &c 
 
 To this Aflerticn you fay, you have an- 
 fwered ever and over: but if this be the Cafe, 
 you fee there is ftill Qccafion to anfwer again. 
 And hov/ well you have anfwered before^ pro- 
 vided he v/ill take this Relation with him, the 
 Reader has my ixzQ Confent to enquire, if he 
 pleafes ; I would advife him alfo at the fame 
 Time to perufe Mr. Stokes ^ Letter to the injpired 
 Mr. Jones y upon alike Subjedt, to wit; when 
 be had his Text immediately from God, Vvdiich 
 Will expofe the weaknefs of all fuch Apolo- 
 gies. 
 
 For the Matter in the next Faragraph^ as 
 it came in Queftion before, it has been re- 
 plied to (p. 21 of this Pamphlet) already, 
 in the following Sentences, I obfervc that you 
 drop your Chicken ?vlr. Whitfield, which 
 till now you had taken under Wing, leavin^^ 
 all vour Incumbrances to fliift for vourfclf The 
 
 i Sermon before the Uaiverfiry of Oxford. P?.2-. 1 1 new Edit. 
 
 Apo- 
 
upon Mr, Wefley'i Second Letter, ^- 
 
 Apology for the Roarers will never do you 
 any Service, they roar fo loud, that you cannot 
 be heard. And for the wonderful Work, as it 
 ftands recorded, it remains a Wonder ftill. You 
 claim indeed fome Merit for reforming fome 
 bad People. I anfwer do that which is goody 
 Sir, and you fhall have Praife of the fame. 
 But is not here a ftrange Dwindling or falling 
 off from the magnificent Account of Thino-s, 
 which 1 took Notice of in the ^ppejidix to 
 my Sermon? Does not this put you in Mind 
 a little of the Story related by /Elian, concern- 
 ing Socrates and Alcihiades, when ^the latter 
 entertained fuch an high Conceit oi xki^ Extent 
 of his Poireiiions, Socrates, fays the Hiftorian, 
 took him into a Room, where there was a 
 Map of the World. He bid him lock for 
 Attica, or the Athenian 'Territory which for 
 it's fmallnefs could fcarce be {Qth-, and for his 
 own PofpJJiofis, they were 720 where to be found 
 Taking this Story along with you, pray con- 
 fider what Proportion does Kingjwccd, Corn- 
 wall, or Newcajile, bear to all the Earth. 
 Your joining the Meihodlji Roger Balls 
 with the Monthly Reviewers, I am afraid, 
 will do me an injury with thofe Gentlemen ; 
 as it muft put them in Tviind, how I once ex-^ 
 alted ike Horn of William Romaine againft 
 them, through which, he has fince^'been 
 tooting his Solomons Song. I fiy I am afraid, 
 that this was meant as an Artyice to move 
 that forrnidable Body to another Engagement 
 with me, in order to take me off your Hands : 
 
 As 
 
76 Dr. Free'j Comment^ &c. 
 
 As you have feit what they can do, and know, 
 that they and i are net always Friends. If 
 this fliould come to pafs, you will be fufficiently 
 revenged no Doubt for my Severities -, which 
 however are meant for your good. For not- 
 withflanding your dijldonejl Quotations; and 
 though for the prefent, I am obliged by the 
 Times to take my Leave of you, yet in any 
 Thing, that may contribute to your Eftablifh- 
 ment in the Truth, you may perhaps find me 
 occafionally, 
 
 Your very Humble Servant, 
 Scuihwark^Nov, 14, John Free. 
 
 1759- 
 Apjort Observation upon Ap fear an ces^ 
 
 i^n^I Mr. Wefley's Maimer 01' njjrittng^ in this. 
 
 Controvcrfyy addrelTed to the Pi-hlkk. 
 
 The Reader muft perceive, from the His- 
 tory of thefe People, and the Accounts they 
 give of their Opinions and of th^mfelves, that 
 their Growth and Increafe muft be afcribed to 
 other Crtufes, than the Truth of their Do6lrine. 
 Since it appears beyond Contradiclion, that 
 their Notions in Religion, are many of them 
 contrary to the L-gkt of Nature, tkvo. Attri- 
 butes of God, and \Xit fundamental DoBriiies of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 As their Syftem is thus ^eneralh fliockino: 
 and deteftable in \x{€'.i\ no Art of Man can 
 ever make it worthy of an?//(?/W Afient. And 
 theicfcre it is, that we fee their great Apolcgiji 
 Mr. JVc/Icy, thus fnifting from one Opinion to 
 another, as he is reduced to Difticiiltles, chang- 
 ing 
 
upon Mr, Wefley's Second Letter. 77 
 
 ing his Pofture, and even denying his Charac- 
 ter to gain fome little Adva?2tage in his Defence. 
 In one Place he is no Methodift at all, in ano- 
 ther. He is a Mtthodift from the BegtJining^ 
 ^nAthe Father of it. In his^r/? Letter, he engages 
 to refute my '' five vehement Pofitions againft 
 "the Methodift s^'mthis, "hehasnoCc;^^^r;2at all 
 " for th^wPrinciples orFrcSticer In the/r/?Let- 
 ter he declares, that ih^Methodifs would be high- 
 ly blameable if they '' held fach Pofitions, but 
 *' that they deteft them, that they never did/' 
 And yet if the Letter to a Genthnan be his, it 
 appears, that he, has v^ritten againft the other 
 Af^/fo^^j for holding fuch Opinions, himself. 
 In his Charadier of a * Methcdift 3 they are 
 fuch Latitudinaria72%y "as not to afient to this, 
 " or that Scheme of Pvcligion ; they thijik, and 
 " let thiiiki'm this Letter, the Note is changed, 
 " they are rigid Members of the Church of 
 " England. This muft be a wretched Caufe, 
 which in it's Defence, fliall lead a Man of 
 Parts and Learning into fuch Inconfftencies^ 
 that from hence forv/ard, as a Writer of 
 Apologies, we muil deem him quite extindt. 
 
 "Thus all Things ha^e their Stages and their Date ; 
 And Man's Dc-vices Hill fubmit to Fate, 
 This great Arch-methodist, who heretofore ; 
 Roar'd till he {hook the Bogs | of Tullamore, 
 And making Converts compafidSca and Landy 
 Now falls to pieces, like a Rope of Sand. 
 
 * Pamphlet of Mr. WeJIeys pag. i 
 I A Place in Ireland^ from whence Mr. Weslby dated 
 his firft Letter to Yiv. Free. 
 
 F I N I S. 
 
In this Pamphlet, fome of the captal Errata may be thus cor* 
 
 refted. 
 pag. 1 8. In the Note at the Bottom of the p. nad v. 7 of 
 this Edition. 
 19. In the Note at the Bottom, read pag. iv. 
 25. Line i, forth a read that, 1, S. for is not, read it 
 is not, 1. 14. for their, read there. 
 
 28. Line 5. read Jan. 10. 1. 23. for an, read and En- 
 thullaftick. 
 
 29. Line i, read Mack fun- man: 
 31. Line 8, readiine new Pidure. 
 
 63. for ae, read are. Infert at Bottom, Dr. Tucker^s, 
 65. At Bottom, read Captivities. 
 
 69. For 16, read 6. 
 
 70. For or nor, read or not. 
 
 71. For 17, read 7. ^ 
 
 72. the fame (the Author craves the learned Readers 
 
 Indulgence for the reft.) 
 
V 
 
 Dr. F R E E's 
 
 REMARKS, 
 
 UPON 
 
 Mr. Jofjes's LETTER, 
 
 And the Affidavits relative to the Compo- 
 fing, then publifhing from the Pulpit; 
 and afterwards printing that fcandalous 
 Forgery, the pretended Letter from the 
 Manfions above. 
 
 ^oquo diffiiglas pavens^ Mahilt^ 
 Nojirum non poteris latere Nafum, 
 
 Lilly's Gram^ 
 
 * ' Id vifo^ tune^ an illi infaniant ? 
 
 Ter. 
 
 L O N D O Ni 
 
 Printed by E.-Owen, in Holborn, for the Author ; 
 And fold by W. Sandby, at the Ship^ oppofite St. Dunftanh 
 Church in Fleet-ftreet. 1759. 
 
 [Price One Shilling^ 
 
[ iii ] 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Right Reverend Father in GOD, 
 Benjamin, Lord Bifliop of ^/;^- 
 chejler^ &c. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 HE following Pamphlet owes its Original' to 
 a very uncommon Event, no lefs than a Let- 
 ter from the other World ; about which, - 1 
 have had a Difpute with one of your Clergy, to whom 
 your Lordfiiip was pleafed to give a particular Ordi- 
 nation, and introduce by your Authority (for I am 
 confident it will appear, that he has no other) to be 4 
 Preacher in the great Church of St. Saviour^s South- 
 wark, where through your Lordfhip's hidulgence firft, 
 and now perhaps by the InterceJJtGn of, thr Lord knows 
 who, he has Permijfion to exercife on the fiy? Day of the 
 JVeek^ that gainful, but unlawful Trade of amazing^ 
 confounding, deluding or da?nning fome Hundreds of higf 
 Majesty's poor illiterate, and difordcred Subjects, who 
 are here v/ith all perfevering Impudence openly encou^ 
 raged to defpife their proper Pallors., and wander fronjt 
 their own Parifh-churches. 
 
 My Lord, You cannot be fo much a Stranger, \ 
 think, to what pafies in your Diocefs, efpecially in this 
 great and populous Borouyh, as not to have heard of 
 the l^etter fro?n the Manftons aho\xe, which vv^as commu^ 
 nicated to this lower IVorld in the Church aforefaid — > 
 the mojl rem. r!:able Rei-^lation perhaps, that has hap- 
 pened thefe hundred Years I For, it feems Mr. foJies 
 declares, that before he came there, it was more than 
 fo long, fince the People of that Place had heard of 
 the Gofpel of Chrifi, 
 
 The Connexion between your Lordfhip, and the in- 
 ijpired Faftor^ to whom we owe the Publication of thi* 
 
 A 2 pr>:- 
 
[ iv ] 
 
 precious Specimen of new Gofpel-preachingy made ?ne 
 think it my Duty to lay it before your Lordihip, tho', I 
 confefs, 1 do it with fome Degree of Reluctance and 
 Concern. 
 
 Becaufe, I knov/ it muft give your Lordfhip not a 
 little Uneafmcfs^ to reflect, that at your venerable Years, 
 after having maintained through Life the Character of 
 a ftrenuous Advocate for reajonable Chriflianity, your 
 Lordfhip (hould be fo unfortunate as to defeat your 
 own Purpofes, and then fo unable to help yourfelf as to 
 be confidered by the undifcerning World, whileThings 
 remain \Vi. their prefent State as the Patron^ and Protcclor 
 of Enthufiafm^ and Deceit, 
 
 My Lord, as this your Situation is unplcafmg to 
 yourfelf, fo it is ungracious to the Eye of every Be- 
 holder to fee that Samfon^ who could not be bound 
 
 down by the Cords of the Convocation^ fo perplexed in 
 the Brieis, and hampered in the Nets of our new 
 Protejlant Popery^ as to want the AlTiffance of that very 
 Convocation^ and the oldConJiitution^ to deliver him from 
 the Jnjults and Mockery of a fmgle Enthufiafl. 
 
 There was a Seafon, my Lord, when the Minifters 
 of the Gofpely and your Lordfhip, among the refl, were 
 not afham.ed to preach up Right P^eafon^ and the Fit- 
 nefs of Things^ and after the Example of their Lorq 
 and Master, to deal out every Mans Salvation accord" 
 ing to his IVorks : but now the Gospel (variable as the 
 Humour of the Times, if we will let it bj fo) is to take 
 another Form, it's Precepts are to be ftruck out, as 
 with a Spunge : and xXx^'Tcnns of Acceptance^ the Pub- 
 lication , of which coft your Lordjhip fo much Pains and 
 Care^ and gained you fo much Glory^ are now no 
 more. 
 
 The Laws of the G:?//*^/ are confidered -asyezvifihAws^ 
 and treated with the fameNegle(5t: and becaufe theChurch 
 of England mCiUs upon their divine Authority, and prciTcs 
 their Obfervance as neceffary to Salvation; fhe is left 
 as folitary as a Ccttage in a Vineyard^ or a Lodge in ^ 
 Garden of Cucumbers. The Terms and Conditions.^ your 
 Lordjoip once enforced, are become odious, Becaufe the 
 Offirvation of Conditions implies [omc Merit in it -, but if 
 
 Gon 
 
[v] 
 
 God huth fo ordained it; how can it be othervvife ? 
 God's Ordlrumces thcle Conditions are, written 
 in the Gospel in the largcft eharaders, and thofc, 
 who opoofe them are truly Antkhriji, as magnifying 
 themfelves in his Houfe againft his Authority, and op- 
 pcfwci themfek'cs to God himielf. 
 
 Oh ! my Lord, (you will pardon my Groaning^ 
 
 'but I think we have more Reafon to groan than the 
 Mcthodijh.) What a ftrange Face of Things is here? 
 And if ihefe erratick Stars, to whom the Scripture at- 
 tributes the Blackncfs of Darhicfs, fhould reach their Me- 
 ridian^ what a difmal Face of things are thofe to behold ^ 
 who fhall furvive a little longer ; your Lord(hip's De- 
 clination towards the Eve of Life, as the Clouds are now 
 gathering, leads me rather to felicitate thaii condole 
 your occidental Situation. 
 
 For my Lord, as far as I have been able to make Od- 
 fervations onEnglijh Hiftory, and I believe I have ftudied 
 it as much, as any of my idle Countrymen, I never knew 
 an Innovation^ fo extenfiye as this, begun in the Churchy 
 but it ended in the Alteration of the State. Thefe People 
 iiiy, that a Door is opened : But let us remember when 
 a ftrong Door is once flung off the Hinges, if it be a 
 little unweildvj it is not eafy to life it on again, and that 
 then there will be a wide Entrance for great Confufion. 
 
 If your Lordfhip fhould chance to get out of the Way 
 oitk\\s Mob and Hurry ^ by another ^iranjlation, I thinlc 
 the reafonable Part of Mankind, who live to fee that 
 Chano-e, may comfort themfelves upon your Departure, 
 as Tully did himfelf and Friends upon the Lofs of HoR- 
 
 TENSIUS, 
 
 Sed quoniam perpeiua quadam fdicitate nfids ilk cejjtt e 
 vita^ fuo ?nagis^ qiiamfuorum civium tempore,^ turn occidii^ 
 cum lugcrc facilius Rempublicam pojjet^ ft viveret^ quam 
 juvare : vixitque taindiu.^ quam liciiit in civitate hene^ hea~ 
 teque vivere : nojlro incornmodo^ dctrnncntoque^ fi eji ita nc- 
 ceffe^ doleamus : illius vero mortis opportunitatem hencvo- 
 lentia potius^quam mifericordiaprofequa?nur^ ut^ quotiefcun- 
 que de clariffuno^ ^ heatiffimo viro cogitemus^ illu?n potiuSy 
 quam ncfmctitfn^ diligere videamur, 1 wifh in this, and 
 every other Trial, if any other await your Lordiliip ; that 
 you mav find the Means of Confolation, and am, my 
 Lord, Tour ever rcfpeofful^ and obedient Son and Servant^ 
 
 SoiuU<ark,Feb.io,iTS9^ JOHN FREE. 
 
(6 ) 
 
 R E M ARKS on Mr. Jones's Letter, &c. 
 
 'Ere one to analyze this notable Jpo^ 
 logy for Reading in the Fulpit ac 
 St.Saviciirs, the yZ'j;;; Letter from theMan- 
 fions above, the Argument, fiich as it is,, 
 being reduced to an Epitome amounts- 
 to this. 
 
 " That Mr. Jones would have the Woild 
 " forgive fuch an Attempt upon their Ua- 
 '* derilanding, becaufe (Page 8.) he confef- 
 " fes himf.lf to be a foolilh Man." It will 
 be nJitural I fuppofe for the Publlck to en- 
 quire upon this Declaration, whether he 
 takes this whole Defence of his, with all its 
 Decorations, to be a /hi/io!e Apology? a 
 perplexing Kind of Queuion ! For if he 
 lays, that it is Jen/idle^ they will hr.r Jly be 
 prevailed upon to think it his own, as coming 
 confejfedly from a fcolifh Man : And if he 
 fiys, that it is not jenfible : Would they not 
 be perfwaded, that it would have been bet- 
 ter for him never to have appeared at all 
 in his own Defence ? However, as the 
 Thing is printed, they are to confidtr its Me- 
 rltu And in Oider, to this, I fliall briefly lay 
 before them. L The Letter it felf, and my 
 former Pvcmarks upon it, as printed in.tlie 
 Nute^ and Appendix of my Sermon U. I 
 fiiall examine Mr. y^/7c.j's own Account of 
 tiie Mcans^ by which he got Poff.iiion of 
 
 the 
 
(7 ) 
 
 the Miraculous Letter, and prove, that It was 
 not capable of being applied to the Ufes 
 which he pretends, and therefore, that his 
 real Defign nuift be of another Sort, and 
 fuitable to the Letter, which was to delude 
 the People. IIL 1 fhall offer Remarks upon 
 the Cr<:d\t odht JJidavits, and their De- 
 ficiency in difcovering Mr. Hayward de- 
 ceafed to have been the Author or Contriver' 
 of the Letter. IV. 1 Ihall confider the heavy 
 Complaints about the Charge of Forger)' and 
 Impojlure^ and then conclude with Mr. 
 Stinftra\ Reflexions on the temper and Ef- 
 fe^s oi Enthuftafm mgeneral 2iS it has (hewn 
 itfelf in all Religions, &c. 
 
 Section L Contains the miraculous LefUr 
 ^jvith Dr. Free*j former Remarks upon it^ 
 as theyjiand in the Noi^, and Appendix of 
 his Sermon, 
 
 N my Sermon before the Vniverfity of 
 Oxford, on JVhitfunday, 1758, I obfer- 
 ved (Page 9) that our Saviour in his Ac- 
 count of the Operatio72S of the Spirit, fays 
 not a Word of any unintelligible inward 
 Feelings, di\i\.on\ugAgonieSy or irightful Co?!- 
 vul/ions. For thefe he knew might proceed 
 from bodily Diforders ; and Enthufafs have 
 no Mark to diftinguifh when they do not. 
 Whereas a good Life can proceed but from 
 
 Qne 
 
 I 
 
( M _ 
 
 one Caufe ; and therefore Is zfoiid "fejlimoriy 
 that God is with us, ZSc, 
 
 Upon the Words Jol'id T^eJlimon)\ is the 
 following Note. 
 
 But not content with this, the Methodijls 
 have carried their Ciiriojity io far in hunt- 
 ing for extraordinary Marks^ and Revelations^ 
 whereby to know the State of the Soul ; 
 that one of their Teachers, in Order to gra- 
 tify their Humour, and take as great an Ad- 
 vantage of it as he could, is faid to have 
 forged a Letter,- f?^cm the Manfiom above ^ 
 which he read without Shame in the'Pulpit, 
 to the People of St. Saviour s SoutlmarL 
 
 NUMBER II. 
 
 From the Appendix of Dr, Free's Sermom 
 
 TT ERE follows as an Inftance of dire^ 
 •*■-■' REVELATiON,the famous Letter,which 
 was read in Sermon Time at St. Saviour s 
 the biggeft Church in Southwark, and then 
 croudedwithM<f/ZW//?j,by oneMr.yo;^^5,who 
 fmce the Death of Dr. Slococky has had Per^ 
 miffioJi to adt as Ckaplaifi there, it is taken 
 from the printed Copy, publickly fold in 
 the Borough^ for the Edification of fuch of 
 the Parijhioners as were abfent, they being 
 generally excluded their Seats by the Rabble, 
 who are his Followers. 
 
 From 
 
(9) 
 
 Fir^m the Manfiom above ^ 
 My dctir Chrijlian Friend and Brother^ 
 
 SUCH you was, v/hen I was clgad/d 
 with Mortality, and fuch you are yet, 
 though 1 am now in an unbodied State. 
 The Change there is made as to me, makes 
 no Alteration as to the Relation there is be- 
 tween us. We are both Members of Chrifl:*s 
 myftical Body. We were borh Members of 
 the Church militant together/ and we iliall 
 both join the Church triumphant. I am 
 only come hither a little before you, foon 
 fhall I fee my dear Fido^ and my other dear 
 weeping Friends, and rejoice with them for 
 ever. Don't be afraid. Jefus Chrifl is a 
 faithful Saviour. He will keep that which 
 you have committed to him. You may 
 trud him both in Life and Death. Death 
 is the moft trying Seafon ; but here the dear 
 Mediator will not fail you. I am an Evi- 
 dence of it. There is a Solemnity in Death 
 which cannot be expreffed, yet the PafTage 
 is fafe. Oh what a glorious Change ! What 
 new furprizing Sceiies appear ! No fooner 
 was my Breath gone, but a Convoy of mi- 
 niftring Spirits, who were attending, con- 
 duced me to the Manfions of Glory j where 
 the ever adorable Jefus, with a Smile incon- 
 ceiveably tranfporting, invited me to take 
 Poffeflion of that Happinefs which he pur- 
 chafed at fo dear a Rate as his own Blood. 
 And now, my Brother, think; yea think if 
 
 B yon 
 
( lo ) 
 
 you can, what I now feel, what I now en- 
 joy ! Did Paul fay it was better to be with 
 Chrifl: than in the Body ? 1 now know ic. 
 Did the diftant View of Glory, make Mojcs 
 refufe the Grandeur of Egypt ^ No Wonder, 
 when ic is fo great, fo great that none can 
 tell it. Oh the Exchange I have made ! Oh! 
 the Happinefs thac Grace has exalted me to! 
 I am now no more watering my Couch with 
 Tears, but filled with Fulnefs of joys which 
 will remain for evermore. I am now no 
 more fipping at the Screams, but drinking 
 a full Draught at tlie Fountain-Kead. I 
 am no more clogged with a Lump of Clay, 
 or pining under Diforders and Pains of 
 Body 3 I am fct at full and per fed Liberty, 
 and am got where Sorrow never comes. I 
 am now perfedl in Holinefs. J am no more 
 fubjed; to Sin ; every Faculty of my Soul is 
 freed from the fad Contacrion, and all find 
 fweet Employment in the noble Services of 
 Heaven. Now I fee clearly that myfterious, 
 but glorious Scheme of Salvation through 
 JefusChrift ; its Beauties ravifli my Soul, and 
 till me with Admiration. I now fee the va- 
 rious Beauties of Providence, and find the 
 higheft Entertainment in the Views of what 
 once fo much puzzled and perplexed me, 
 1 now feel a divine Ardor filling my whole 
 Soul, and running through every Service, 
 without that Slothfulnefs and Indolence 
 v/hich oncee attended me^, and was bur 
 
 feebly 
 
( lO 
 
 feebly complained of, I am no more that 
 formal, indifferent, languiflnng Creature I 
 was on Earth, but my Soul now feels the 
 Fire of Divine Love, which burns with a 
 perpetual and uninterrupted Flame, being 
 fed with the conftant and glorious Maniief- 
 tations of the Love of him that fitieth upon 
 the Throne and the Lamb. Here I have 
 found your dear PareiH^ and many of my 
 dear and valuable Friends. What a nume- 
 rous Affembly, and all harmonious. Here^s 
 no Envy, no Jealoufy, no Shynefs or Cold- 
 nefs, but perfed: Love, and a fweet Conten- 
 tion, who fhall ftrike the loudeft String, and 
 fino: Grace ! Grace 1 the loudeft. Here are 
 no depreciating Speeches of JefusChrlft, no 
 Attempts to rob him of his Glory ; but all, 
 as with one Voice, cry out. Worthy is the 
 Lamb to recehe^ Sec, Oh where am I got ! 
 What is my Happinefs ! Beyond Expreffion ! 
 I was once a Warrior, now a Conqueror, yea, 
 more than a Conqueror. No more upon 
 Mount Pifgah, I have got o'^ttjorda?!, I 
 am beholding; the Glory of Chrift 5 and, in 
 fine, my Veffel is as full as it will hold. My 
 Pen cannot defcribe the Glories of Paradife* 
 Oh, my Friend, be trimming your Lamp. 
 Hailen the Time, fly away ye lingering Mo- 
 ments, and bring my dear Fido, and my o- 
 ther dear Friends, to the Arms of Jefus, to 
 eeand enjoy what I enjoy. 
 
 B 2 And 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 And now what wait I for ? To fee my 
 dear Friends with me, to fee the Number 
 of God's EhCt compleated, and to hear the 
 Trumpet found on the glorious Refurredtion 
 Morning. What is my Employment but to 
 love, adore, and praifc throughout Eterni- 
 ty ? Farewcl till I fee you here. Go on 
 your Way rejoicing. Chrill: has your In- 
 heritance fafe in his Hands, and you (hall 
 furely have it. Oh love him, love him 
 more and more, and lay out yourfelf for him. 
 My Love to your dear Companion ; tell 
 her to prefs forward, and fhe fhall not be 
 difappointed. 
 
 Adieu, adieu, 
 
 Tour eternally affeBionate Friend^ 
 
 And triumphant Brother^ 
 
 Samuel Hayward. 
 
 My Flrjl Remarks upon the Letter. 
 
 As this Letter has thus undergone a dou- 
 ble Publication^ the first from the Pulpit^ 
 the OTHER from the Prefs, we mufl ima- 
 gine, that the Piiblijher was heartily con- 
 cerned, that the World fliould believe the 
 Contents of it. But if {o, let us enquire 
 whether he believed the Contents of it him- 
 felf, to wit ; that it came from the Place 
 from whence it was dated, /. e. the Man^ 
 Jims above ^ that it was a true and real De- 
 fcription of T^ranfaBiom in the other World, 
 
 penned* 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 penned, and com po fed and cGmmuicateJ by 
 the Mlniflry of the •S'piric of a Perfon de- 
 parted, as it is plainly, and in diredt Terms 
 ajj'erted in the Letter itfelf. 
 
 If he did belie^oe all this, he his a Mad- 
 7nan^ and a very dangerous Leader to fuch 
 of his Followers as are in the fame Condi- 
 tion : But if he did not believe it, then his 
 Chai'aBer mull appear much blacker; be- 
 caufe, if he was not mad, the whole Affair 
 was the EfFed of fome De/-g?i^ and that a 
 very bad one, impious with Refpect to God^ 
 and villaijwus with Refped: to Men, as 
 being no other than to try how far the 
 common People might be impofed upon^ 
 and made fubfervient to evil Purpofes: 
 
 But if it be a cur fed Thing to fead thofe, 
 who are deprived of their Bodily Sight from 
 the fafe Way that is diredl before them : 
 How much more unpardonable mufl it be 
 to feduce a Number of poor blind Souls 
 from the Paths of right Reafon? and when 
 they were expefting to hear, what they call 
 the true Go/pel oi Christ, to make fuch a 
 cruel E>:periment upon their Credulity, by 
 prefentiiig them a Revelation of another 
 Sort^ and in the pretended Charader of 
 their Pafor^ and Guide, to afcend the Pul- 
 pit, and deliver that as an Oracle of God, 
 which he knew in his Heart to be an abomi- 
 nable Lie, 
 
 With 
 
( H) 
 
 With what Horror muft all Imiejl and 
 fenfible Men behold this Hypocrite -y in the 
 very AB of Delufwn, lifting up his Eyes 
 to Heaven^ and thundring out Damnation 
 to other Sy while he himje]fv^2,^ offending a- 
 gainft common Honejfy, 
 
 Were there no Officers of the Parifli to 
 take Notice of his Condudt, and report it 
 to his Superiors? 
 
 No Superior to reftrain fuch an Impostor 
 as this? who could thus abufe his Truft, 
 and proftitute his CharaBer as a Priejl of 
 the Church of England to ferve the vi- 
 kfl Purpofcs, to delude the People he un- 
 dertook to inftru^, and make Religion a 
 Jeft, by mixing it with lyi?ig Tales and pre^ 
 tended Revelations. 
 
 Section II. Containing an 'Examination 
 of Mr. Jones'i o'jcn Account of the Means, 
 by which he got Fofjcjjlon of the miracu- 
 lous Letter^ and of ilx Ufe he made of it 
 among the People : by which it will appear y 
 that he could not read fuch a firange De- 
 z'ice in the Pulpit ^ but with a very bad 
 Defign ; namely y to make a Trial, how 
 how far he could delude the ig?2ora?2t Part 
 of the Congregation, 
 
 np H E preceding SeBion contains, what I 
 
 formerly urged againft Mr. fones, and 
 
 his rairacuious Letter. When it was pub- 
 
 liilied 
 
( IS ) ^ 
 
 lidied from his Copy with thofe Remarks 
 upon it, in the Appendix to my Sermon, 
 his Friends in the Borough were in a great 
 Ferment and Confufion ; and the firft £.v- 
 aife then formed and propagated in the 
 Hurry was, that Mr. Jones had dreamed, 
 on the Saturday Night, of receiving fuch 
 a Letter, or of having a Converfation with 
 Mr. Hayivard deceafed, the fame in Sub- 
 fiance v/ith what is contained in the Letter ; 
 which afFeded him fo much, that on the 
 Sunday Morning he wrote it down, and 
 it ftill harrafling his Imagination, he could 
 not forbear reading it in the Afternnon to 
 the People. 
 
 There was another i?6^cr/ at the fame 
 Time, which fhewed, that this Letter was 
 then fpokeof as coming immediately in fome 
 Shape or other from Mr. Hay ward. For 
 it is faid, that Mrs. Hayward, the Widow 
 of the deceafed, hearing of the Liberties, 
 which Mr. Jones took with the Name of 
 her dead Hufband, and being grieved at the 
 fame, went to a certain worthy Magiftrate 
 to inquire, if there was no Remedy at Law 
 againll him ; fince the Matter related was 
 fuch, as (he could in no wife believe; her 
 Hufband having never intruded any fuch Let- 
 ter to her Care, or given the lead Intima- 
 tion, that any other Perfon had been en- 
 trufted with it. And 1 have been, fince 
 well informed, that tho' Mr. Hayward died 
 
 ac 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 at his own Houfe, fiie.perfifts to this Day, 
 to declare, that (lie know& nothing about it. 
 Moreover, At the Time when my firft Re- 
 marks were publiflied, there was no men- 
 tion made of any intermediate Me [fen- 
 gers or Coadjutors, I'uch as Meffrs. Pear^ 
 Jo?iy Webber, or others ; the Plot all lay 
 very fniig between the deceafed Mr. Hay^ 
 liard and Mr. Jones ; and there it had been 
 .better, that it fhould have relied ; if Mr. 
 TTavward had chanced to have been like 
 to other dead Men, a Perfon that told no 
 Tales. 
 
 But now, as Mr. Jofies has put his De- 
 fence upon another Footing, I proceed to 
 erramine it in its prefent Form. 
 
 Fie confeiies, that *' he read this very "Let- 
 *^ ter in Sermon-'T'inie, in the Pulpit ; in the 
 Manner, that I have related : but denies, 
 *' That he -was concerned, direcUv or indireBl\\ 
 *' in the Printing of it \' gives his own Ac- 
 count, how he came to the Po[JeJ]ion of it, 
 and the Ufe he made of ir,and to clear him- 
 idi from the Sufpicion of Forgcj-y, would 
 have us believe, that Mr. Hay ward was the 
 Author, upon the Strength of the Depofi- 
 iions, which he has procured for that Pur- 
 pofe. Thefe are the Heads of his Defence, 
 
 As for denying his being concerned in 
 the Printing of it, he mufl not expedl to 
 be credited ; unlefs he hadykw7/, in his ov^'n 
 Perfon, or produced others to Jivear, that 
 
 it 
 
( 17 ) . _ 
 
 it was done entirely without his K?2Gw!eJge or 
 Confent : becaufe it is reported, by Perlons 
 of Veracity, that printed Copies of this Let- 
 ter were diflributed to the -f* Congregation 
 as they came out of St. Saviour ^ Church, 
 which affords a Arong Prefumption, that 
 this Way of pubHdiing it had at leaft his 
 Permiffion, or Approbation. 
 
 Thus much, by the Way^ concerning the 
 Friiiting of it ; now let us hear, what he 
 has to jQiy about the Author of the Letter, 
 and how it came into his Hands. He tells 
 you, * " That Mr. Hayward, a Dijfmting 
 " Miniller, towards the Clofe of his lafl 
 " Illnefs, wrote it, and gave it to a Friend'^ 
 — Very well ! — Pray, who was this Friend 
 of Mr. Hayward'^ ? Why is not his Na?Ne 
 mentioned throughout the whole Narra^ 
 five, fince the Appearance of this Principal 
 Perfon is fo material^ that his Teftimony 
 would have gone much farther than Mr. 
 Fearjmi\ has done, to fix the Forgery upon 
 Mr. Hayward^ and prove that Mr. Jones 
 was clear of the liril Confpiracy^ namely, the 
 Compojition of the Letter ; the Want of this 
 material Witnefs then, makes a great Defi- 
 ciency in the Evidence^ and throws a dark 
 and difmal Cloud upon the Whole, — 
 
 * Mr. Jones's Letter to Dr. Free. Pag. 5. 
 t In like Manner his late Letter, to nie, was hawked 
 about among his Followers at the Church-Door, on the 30th 
 oi January lail, and will any one afle^t to doubt, v\hcih."r 
 thii v.as done with his jifprohation > 
 
 ■ C Well! 
 
€4 
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 Well I — but Mr. Hayward gave this Let- 
 ter to this Frte72d of his, (which is no where 
 to be found out, being no where defcrlbed, 
 or named, and who perhaps never exiiled,) 
 wMth an Injundion to fend ir, hut not till 
 after his Deceafe — ^are. Why not {\A after 
 his Deceafe"^ unlefs it was to favour the 
 Deception of bringing News from the Man-- 
 fens above ? Well ! — '' 'To Mr, Pearfon, a 
 " Linnen- draper in Cheapfde. The Letter, 
 accordingly, - foon after Mr. Hayward's 
 Deceafe, was received by Mr. Pearfon^ 
 and he not a little furprifed at the kind 
 drtifice his P after had ufed to con\ ty fiich 
 Ipiritual yld^cice and Comfort!' — But I 
 don't fee any Matter for Surprife^ if the Let- 
 ter be confidered as a Fable -, for then the 
 Artifice or Trick was very mean, and filly ; 
 and the fpiritual Advice and Comfort juft 
 none at all : bccaufe in this View, it was 
 all a Ficlion, from Beginning to End. 
 
 Now for the Ufe he made of this Letter 
 
 ter, let us hear how he relates it himfelf, ^^he 
 
 procured, he fays, a Copy, "which agrees ''Jinth 
 
 that, which 1 have printed in every Re/pecf, ex^ 
 
 cept theWovd FiDO,'which ftands in the Room 
 
 of Mr. Pearfyns Chriftian Name, which 
 
 w-as in the Original!' — he owns this Letter 
 
 {ijfcd'fed him. — Pray how did it affedt him ? 
 
 ^■<?^ii.^ as a Fable or as a Truth? If, as a Fable -^ 
 
 '\ he was affeded, as other Hypoc7'ites may 
 
 .. pretend 10 be,, by a filly Lye; — —but 
 
- <c 
 
 (19) 
 
 if he was affefted with it, as a Truth i 
 why then he publifhed it as a true Lettevy 
 that is, as a Letter, really fent from the 
 Manfiom above, which is confefling the 
 Fadl, that I charge him with. 
 
 As for what he now fays on the other 
 Side, " that he told the People dijluiBly and 
 plainly, that the Minister ivrote it before 
 be died, and gave it to a Friend to convey 
 
 to Mr. P ajter his Deceafe!' there 
 
 is good Reafon to think, that it is entirely 
 falfe, and that he never told the People 
 any fach Thing. Becaufe his Deponents 
 have not fworn, that he made any fuch De- 
 claration ; a Circumftance, which would 
 never have been omitted in the Affidavit of 
 Meffieurs ColUfon, Adams and Roberts-, if 
 they could any way have been prevailed 
 upon to have vouched it to be true. 
 
 But now for the Motive, which indu- 
 ced him to attempt this ftrange Publication 
 of the Letter. — '' He thought it ivould not be 
 '' amifs to read it in the Pulpit -f* — and in- 
 troduced it in the following Manner — Jje 
 '' took Occajion to J peak oj the [olid Comforts 
 " real Religion, injpires again]} the Fears of 
 " Death' — And would have it believed, that 
 he produced the Letter to this End ; name- 
 ly, to (hew the Supports and Jblid Comforts^ 
 
 \ Mr. Jones's Letter to Dr. Free, Pag, 7. 
 
 / 
 
 C 2 iji^hich r j 
 
 ^ J 
 
( 20 ) . 
 
 'which real Religion infpires ogatnjl the Fear 
 of Death — for that the Author of that Let- 
 ter was then, *' in the near and certain Prof- 
 feB of it V — But how could he argue thi^ 
 from the Letter^ when the Letter repre- 
 fents the Man to be in Heaven. He could 
 not be in two different States at the fame 
 Time ; if he were on Earthy in the near 
 and certain ProJpeB of Death, as Mr. J ones 
 friys, he told the People, that he was^ — 
 then, the Letter contradicicd Mr. Jonep, 
 by faying, that- he was in Heaven, Is it 
 pofiibie, that any one iLould go about to 
 frove the Truth of what he iays, by al- 
 Jedging fomething, that abfolutely contra- 
 d'lBs it? From Mr. ''yones^ own Account it 
 ^-ippears, that his Introduclion to the Letter, 
 and the Letter itfclf were contradidor-^ ; 
 and therefore it is impofjible^ that the Let- 
 ter fliould ferve as a Proof of the Intro^ 
 duBion, It is plain then, that the Story is 
 incredible in itfelf, and never can be made 
 credible by any 'I'ellimony whatever. It may 
 difgrace any Man's "Tcjiimony, but no Man's 
 '■Tejiimo?iv can procure it Re/peBj or Credity 
 where it is fo deficient in itfelf. 
 
 Well !^ After giving us this incredible 
 
 Account of the Squabble in the Pulpit, 
 between the Letter and himfelf about which 
 fhould be mod believed by the Congrega- 
 tion — -—-he pleads *' tl^t ^L^hen it is cc?i' 
 
 ^^ fdcred how JavGtirabk a Reception Mrs. 
 
 " Rowt's 
 
* Rowe'-s'- Lett en from the Dead to the 
 
 * Living have met with from PerJ'ojis of all 
 ' Ranks y Dr. Free ??/ighty furely, have paffld . 
 
 '' it by y at leajl but Jlightly cenfured ity as 
 *^ a pardonable Crime!' 
 
 Thefe Letter ^ of Mrs. Rowe's, if fo fa- 
 vourably received, as he reprefeiits, were 
 yet never received in any other Light, I 
 fuppofe, than as ingenious, Fables, and thus 
 much may be faid of JEfof^ Fables, Don 
 ^uvedo's Vifions, or any orher inftrudtiv^ ; 
 Romance ; but thefe are never carried in- 
 to the Pulpit, There is a great deal of 
 Difference then, between the private Ufe 
 of Mrs. Rowe's Letter^, which are con- 
 feffedly Fabulous , and a Letter promifed to 
 a Ferjbn before a Man's Deceafy expcBcd 
 by the Living after his Death, tranfmitted . 
 and received at the Time appointed y and 
 then read to an ignorant Multitude as actu- 
 ally dated from the Manfom above. Foe 
 thefe are tombous and uncommon Circum- 
 ftancca, and {\\^\^ a bold Effort towards the 
 Jniroduciion and Revival of thofe Miracle Sy 
 which never could gain Credit in this Coun- 
 try^ but in Tiimes of deep Popery y to which 
 thefe PraBices may foon give a freili E- 
 ftahlijhment. 
 
 Further, befides the utter JJnfuitahk" 
 nej's of the Letter to ferve the PurpofCy for 
 which Mr. ^ones pretends to have made 
 L'f? of it, there are CircumjlanceSy both in 
 
 his 
 
( 22 )_ 
 
 his owa Account^ and In the Affidanjits, 
 which {hew it's Intention to have been oif 
 anojfier Sort. 
 
 It is there faid, that this Letter was not 
 cxpefted to appear till after the Perfon's 
 Deceafe. For ii'by ? Becaufe a Perfon could 
 not, with any Propriety, pretend to give a 
 real and exadl Detail of the Joys ofHeaveji^ 
 till he was fuppofed to have arrived there* 
 This is an additiojial Proof, that there was 
 a Dejign in the Cafe; the T^ime of delivering 
 the Letter was to give it an Air of really- 
 coming from ih^^other World : for other- 
 wife no Caufe can be affigned, why it 
 might not as well have been delivered, while 
 the Man was in This, 
 
 I fay this Management of Times and Ap- 
 pearances, fo as to make them coi?2cide 
 exadlly in their Order y the one after the other^ 
 is fuch a Regulation of Circu?njtances as evi- 
 dently fliews a DeJIgny and a Dejign that 
 was a very badon^y The Evidence of which 
 is not a little confirmed by the FraBice and 
 CharaBer of the Perfon then performing his 
 Part, to wit, a notorious Gatherer of the 
 Moby who were then adlually furrounding 
 him, fubfervient to hisPurpofe, and all agape 
 to fwallow his Delufions. I think the Ccn^ 
 fideration of thefe Circiimilances will enable 
 any of the weakeft Underftanding to judge 
 of the prefent ^.eflion. For (hould any of 
 thofe DeceiverSy which are vulgarly called 
 
 Gamblers 
 
[ 23 ■] 
 
 Gamblers be detected at a Gami?ig Houfe in 
 the Ufe oifalfc Dice could any Body doubt, 
 but that his Defign was to defraud and cheat 
 with them ? In jufl the fame Manner fliould 
 ^fpirittial Decefuer^ as notorious in his Way, 
 be deteded with his l^okem of Deceit in 
 his Hand, and aBually ufing them, would 
 any but Fooh, or his Brother Knaves pretend 
 to doubt, whether his Rjid and Defign was 
 Deception ? In Truth there are fome Adiions^ 
 which fpeak their own Defign, without any 
 additional Explication -, and again fome ^o^ 
 kenSy which you cannot miftake the Ufe of. 
 
 For with Regard to this Letter, it is as 
 evident a Token of Deceit in it's Ki?2d, as a 
 falfe Die, in the Hands of a Gambler, 
 
 It is granted by thefe Advocates them- 
 felves, that it was a FiBion. And we can 
 make it appear, that it was a Fiftion intended 
 to delude^ and therefore an Infiriiment of De^ 
 lifion. This is evident from the vtvyfirofig 
 ExpreJ^ons, vjh'ich are made Ufe of through- 
 out to encourage the People to ^ferious Be- 
 lief oi it. 
 
 For it profefles, in moA folemn and affed- 
 
 ing Terms, " That it come from the 
 
 '* Manfons above-, it defcribes the State of 
 " Things there j the Condition of particular 
 *' Ferfons in thofe Regions of Blifs, deals our 
 *' Revelations concerning the State of others, 
 *' who were to arrive hereafter: and declares 
 *' that the Author of it was then, at the 
 
 " Time 
 
(24 ) 
 
 l^ime of that Writing in this T^riumfhcmt 
 
 State \ and fays in order to be believed, iis 
 'much as a Man ca7i jay in a Court of J a die a- 
 *' turt\ when formally called upon to give 
 
 *' his Teftimony, -That he is an Lvi*. 
 
 *' DCNCE of thefe Things." 
 
 Can any ExpreJJion in the World htjlro?!- 
 ger^^ the internal Eiji deuce or Compojition oi 
 the Letter (liews, that the Author endea- 
 \'ours as far as the Force of Words could 
 carry him, to make the Articles therein con- 
 tained to be believed. And that theF^*^^r 
 are capable of being mifled by the grofjejt 
 Errors and Deh/fions is remarkably plain in 
 the Cafe of ^ames Nayler^ who in the Year 
 3656, iox perfofiating cur Sa^ciovj\ and fuf- 
 fermg his Folh'wers to %vorlhip him, and pay 
 him divine Plonours, was fcntenced to be fee 
 in the PillorXy and to have his Tonsiue bored 
 thro' with a red hot Iron, and to be whipped, 
 and fiigmatized in the Forehead with the 
 Letter i^. that is, Blasphemer. 
 
 A.nd I make no Doubt, but that this At* 
 tempt ol Mr. 'J ones ^ and his Afjociates upon 
 the MetboJiJis^ if it had not been ftopt in 
 Time, and brow-beat by fome rroublefome 
 Enquiries and Reflexions, would have pre- 
 pared^ the Way for an whole Packet of 
 /ntciligc?7ce upon the Death of Mr. Hervey. 
 For why fliould not his Correfpondence have 
 been credited as well as Mr. Hayward's? 
 when this firit Communication as they con- 
 
 fefs 
 
(25 ) 
 
 fcfs themfelves, made fnch an ImprcJJiQii 
 upon the Minds of the People, that Co- 
 pie^ of the Letter could not be obtained 
 fad enough by writhig, and that therefore 
 they were obliged to print it, to gratify 
 their Curio fit y. 
 
 Upon the whole then, it appears, that 
 this Letter from the Manfions above was 
 a falje "Token, or an Injlrument ot Error and 
 Deception , and he, that could give it fuch 
 a ferious Recommendation as to read it from 
 the Pulpit, kno'wing it to be fuch, was 
 thereby guilty of z Jolemn Endeavour to de^ 
 hide the People, 
 
 How near this will come to Forgery and 
 ImpoJJure, I fliall confider in it's proper 
 Place ; I now proceed from Mr. Jones's 
 Account of this Matter, to examine the 
 Tejtimofiy of his Friends. 
 
 Section IIL Containing Remarhnpon the 
 Credit of the Affidavits, and their De- 
 ficiency in difcovering Mr, Hay ward de- 
 ceajed, to have been the Author or Con- 
 triver of the miraculous Letter. 
 
 n^H AT the Reader may have a fair Op- 
 portunity of judging upon the Cafe, 
 I iliall firft introduce the Affidavits them- 
 felves j and then fubjoin my Cenjure upon 
 the fame, to which he may give his Affcnr, 
 as he finds Occafion. 
 
 p N u M- 
 
( 26 ) 
 Number I. 
 
 7 A M E S Pear/on of Chenpfide, in the 
 Parifli of 'iiMicbael Le^iernCy Linnen- 
 Draper, maketh Oath, and faith, that He, 
 this Deponent, was at Lyjuingto?!^ in the 
 County of Southampton^ in the Month of 
 7///)', ^757 ; ^nd then and there did fee and 
 converle with, the late Rev. Mr. Samuel 
 Ilaywani, who was at tjiat Time, and had 
 hecn for a long Time before, in a very ill 
 State of Health. And as this Deponent was 
 converfing with, the £aid Samuel Haywardy 
 among otherThings,the f^idSafiiuelHayward 
 fald, if I (liould die, 1 have left a ^Letter for 
 You to be delivered to You after my De- 
 ceafe. And this Deppnent farther faith, 
 that after the Deceafe of the /aid Mr. Hay- 
 ward^ which happened about three Weeks 
 after the faid Converfation, He this Depo- 
 nent received a Letter by the Poft from a 
 Relation of the faid Mr. Hayward's, then 
 at Poo/, in Dorfetfbire^ which inclofed ano- 
 ther Letter fmned Samuel Hasivard, Which 
 laft mentioned Letter this Deponent verily 
 believes to be the proper Hand- Writing of 
 ti:ie faid Samuel Hay ward \ He, the faid De- 
 ponent, having many Times {*t^x\ him wTite, 
 and torrefponded with Him many Years 
 before his Death ; and which faid Letter 
 \% the fame in Suhftance with that which 
 is pubhihed in a certain late Pamphlet, laid 
 to be written by the Rev. Dr. Free, there 
 l)cing no other Alteration than in the proper 
 
 Name 
 
( 27 ) 
 Name of the Pcrfon to whom it was addref- 
 fed, And which ftid Letter the Rev, Mr. 
 ^mei is charged to have read in the Pulpit 
 of St. Saviour s Soutbivark, 
 
 LONDON. Sworn 
 
 Jan. 19, 1759, before me. James Pear/cn. 
 
 R. Ladbroke. 
 
 E 
 
 N U M B E R II. 
 
 DWARD Webber, of Leadenlall- 
 Jireet, in the Parifli of St. Peters Corn- 
 hilU Stationer, maketh Oath and faith, thac 
 He, this Deponent, on or about the thirtieth 
 of 7^/)' 1757* was at the Funeral of Samuel 
 Uavocard, together with Mr. Jamei Fearjbn 
 oi'Cheapfide, Linen- Draper. And this De- 
 ponent farther faith, that as He was return- 
 ing from the faid Funeral, in Company with 
 the faid Mr. Pf^r/i;/, the faid Mv.PearJon 
 told this Deponent, that he had received 
 from Pool in DorJet/J:ire, a Letter, which 
 the faid lare Mr. Hayward told him He 
 would leave for Him at his Deceafej and 
 the faid Mr. Pearjbn did then and there 
 deliver into the Hands of this Deponent a 
 certain Letter, figned Samuel IJayward ; 
 and which faid Letter this Deponent read, 
 and this Deponent does verily beheve the 
 laid Letter to be the proper Hand-Writing 
 of the faid late Mr. Hayivard-y He, this De- 
 ponent, having often feen Mr. Ha\%i'ard 
 write, and having often correlponded with 
 him by Letter. And this Depon(£nt further 
 
 fdidi. 
 
( 28 ) _ 
 
 faith, that the faid Letter Is the fame in 
 Subftance with that which is publillied in a 
 certain late Pamphlet, fald to be written by 
 the Rev. Dr. Free, fave only the Alteration 
 of the Name of the Perlbn to whom the 
 faid Letter is addrefled ; and which the 
 Rev. Mr. yo?2es is charged to have read in 
 the Pulpit of St. Saviour s SoutLivark, 
 
 MIDDLESEX, 
 Sworn Jan. 19, 1759. Ed-ivardlViooEr,. 
 
 Before Thomas Quarrell. 
 
 N U MB E R IIL 
 
 JJ/'ILhlAM CcUiJQn, of St. Olaves, 
 ^^ Southwarky Brewer ; Henry Adarn^ 
 of St Saviour's South'ujark, Ho Tier \ ycwies 
 Rohefts^ of the Pa'rilh of St. Savionf^ South- 
 'li/'^r/^, Coal-Merchant ; feverailv make Oath 
 and fay. 
 
 And firfl:, this Deponent, WiUiam Colli- 
 fon^ for Himfelf, faith, that fometime in the 
 Month o{ Augu[i,\\\ the Year 1757, ss this 
 Deponent beheves, he was at the Pariili 
 Church of Sc. Sa^-jiours Southicarky and did 
 then and there hear a Sermon from the 
 Rev. Mr. ^Tbomai "Jonei^ one of the Chap* 
 iains of the fud Parilli ; during which, He, 
 the laid Deponent did hear the faid Mr. 
 ''j'jnes read a certain Paper, the Contents of 
 wliich are, as near as this DeDonenr can re- 
 iiollecl, the fame in fubibnce with that 
 which tliis Deponent has unce i^^^ in a 
 
 certain 
 
(29 ) 
 
 -certain Pamplilet, laid to be written by the 
 Rev. Dr. Free, And this Deponent farther 
 laith, that he did not hear the faid Mr. 
 Jonesuic any Expreflions in Order to induce 
 the Auditory to beheve that He, rhe faid 
 M^i'.yojies^ thought the Contents of the faid 
 Paper came from the other World, or to 
 perfuade any Perfon then prefent that did it : 
 But this Deponent faith, that the Manner 
 in which the laid Mr. Jones introduced the 
 reading of the faid Paper, was as follows: 
 After fpeaking of the Comforts true Reli- 
 gion will afford Perfons in a dying Condi-^ 
 tion, and the Happinefs of a firm Perfua- 
 tion of future Blifs; He, the faid Mr. Jone-y^ 
 then holding a Paper in bis Hand, faid, He 
 could produce an Inftance of it in a Perfon 
 lately deceafed, who w^s a faithful Mini- 
 fter of Chifv'y and who left behind Him a 
 Letter to be delivered to a Friend after his 
 Deceafe ; a Copy whereof, He, Mr. Jofies, 
 faid, He had in his Hand ; with thefe or 
 the like Expreliions, He, the faid Mr. Jones, 
 introduced the Reading of the faid Letter ; 
 and this Deponent farther faith, that the 
 faid Mr. Joijes^ either before or after Read- 
 ing ihti laid Letter as aforefaid, did not, to 
 this Deponent's Knowledge or Belief, make 
 Uie ui'any Expreflions to any other Purpofe 
 than as aforefaid. And the faid Henry 
 Adam% and James Roberts do for themfelves, 
 fa) , that They were prefent w'ith the faid 
 
 JVllliam 
 
( 30 ) 
 William Collifon, at the Time and Place 
 aforefaid ; and that they do verily believe 
 that what the faid William ColliJoJi has above 
 fworn is ftridtly true. 
 
 Sworn this i8th Day of William Collifon, 
 
 January, 1 7 59. Before Mc f '^'^ ^T* 
 
 After the Perufal of thefe Affidavits^ it 
 may not be improper, for the Reader s In- 
 formation, to offer in xhc frft Place, fome 
 general Remarks upon the Nature of legal 
 Evidence , and then more particid(^r Ob- 
 servations upon the Merit of thefe. 
 
 There are two Things then neceflary to 
 
 tlie Credit of every Testimony : the per- 
 
 Jonal CuAiRACTER ofihc Witnefs is one; 
 
 the OTHER, the Cleanjefs or Probability of 
 
 the Thing related. 
 
 The Cbaradler of the Witnefs depends 
 upon the Knowledge of his Principles. If 
 thefe are fufpecled to be bady which every 
 Man may difpute in Court, as he fees Oc- 
 cafion J the fufpe(fled Party is fet afide ; as 
 a Perfon unfit to give a Teftimony, fo foon 
 as the Sufpicion of his bad Principles is 
 confirmed againft him, by the ObjeBions of 
 another Evidence. 
 
 As to the two firfljof thefe Deponents 
 yir.PearJbn and Mr. Webber-, I do not recol- 
 ledl, that I have the leait K?ioicledge of their 
 Chara&erSy or their Perjons^ and confe- 
 
 quently 
 
(31 ) 
 
 quently have no AJfurance of their Credit: 
 but I have this to obferve, that if they are 
 Methodifts ; that is, profefs the Tene'ts ol 
 feme Perfons of that Namej particularly 
 of that mad Blasphemer Mr. Hervey^ 
 whom the Methodifts in their funeral Ser- 
 mons have fo univerfally ca72onized for a 
 Saint : that then I objed: to their Princi- 
 ples ; For the Principles I mean are fuch 
 as thefe.— *' That there is no Diiference 
 '* between one Man and another : — No 
 '' Difference betwixt the moft accomplifli- 
 «' ed Gentleinan^ and the moft infamous 
 «' Scoundrel \ — No Difference betwixt the 
 *' moft virtuous Lady^ and the vileft Pro- 
 '* ftitute : — No Difference betwixt the moil 
 *' Reverend Judge, and the moft odious 
 <' Criminal ftanding convided before him, 
 *' and receiving the juft Sentence of Death 
 " at his Mouth :— In a Word, no Difte- 
 " rence betwixt the moft fervent Devotee, 
 " and the greateft Ringleader in Profane- 
 " nefs and Excefs." — this being the Cafe 
 there is no Difference between Virtue and 
 Vice^ and R^ight and Wrong. Jf thefe De- 
 ponents therefore entertain fuch Opinions, 
 and liave moreover an Inter ejim the Cau^k, 
 they may as wcIUware wro?ig^ as right. And 
 iho' fome of them fliould allow that there 
 is Jiich a Thing as wrongs yet it is of very 
 little Confequence, while they maintain an- 
 other 'T€?iet of the Mcthodijls^ '' that a/m-^ 
 
 gh 
 
t 32 ; 
 
 gle AcS of Faith abjhhei ihem' of iheij 
 Wickednels. 
 
 Believe^ and all your Sins forgiven ; 
 Only belie'-Qey ap.d Yours is Heaven. 
 , T; / ilf(f/y6c?^. Hymns* 
 
 Men of fach Principles can have nd 
 Scruple of ConJ'ci^nce to reflraln them from 
 forging any Story : nor is it to be won- 
 dered at, if after fuch an uncommon^ and 
 impudent Invention as this, to delude the 
 SiMiTE, there fliould be fome of them ca- 
 pable of the more praBicable Falfliood of 
 imitatiiig another Ma?is Writirig. 
 
 - Ail that thefe Deponents pretend to fwear 
 r6, is the Similitude of the Hand-y which 
 leads me to make- fome Obfervations, upon 
 the Deficiencv in the Matter of the Evi- 
 DENCE as well as in the Principles of the 
 /Vit?7eJ/l'Sy fuppofing them to be Methodifts. 
 
 For, with Regard to the Matter, it is 
 required of an Englij7j Evidence, that he 
 iwcar the li'bole' T?iit'b, as well as, ?iothi?ig 
 hut the 1'ruth, Whereas thefe People 
 have not brought the whole; ihcy have, 
 made their own Narration dark and de^ 
 feBire^ there is a great Gap or Chajm be- 
 tween the prime Mamvuvre or Operation 
 aiiributed to Mr. i?<7;"iC'^r J himfclf, and the 
 Came of the Perfon, who played laft into 
 ihe Hand of Mr. Pearfon : and I make 
 110 Doubt, but if this Aftair were to come 
 
 to 
 
J 33) 
 to a T'rta/, but ir would be demanded in 
 Court of this Mr. Pi'ar/m (provided his E- 
 vidence, as a Methodiji^ could it be taken) to 
 declare ; and produqe the Perfon^ who in- 
 clofed^ and fent him this Letter, For being 
 indofedy there could be no Pojl-jnark upon 
 it, to afcertain the Place it came from in 
 
 this loii:er World -Thofe from above^ 
 
 perhaps have no fuch Mark upom them. 
 — 'But we are now fpeaking of &/w^;z Cor- 
 respondence, and in this Cafe the Per/on 
 being produced who inclofed it, it will be 
 jiececefiary for him like wife to declare on 
 Oatl\ in order to prove, that it came from 
 Mr. Play ward', that he either received it 
 from him himfelf, or he muft trace it ulti- 
 mately to thofe, who had a Charge of it from 
 him in Perfon. 
 
 As the Cafe now (lands. 
 
 Here is a dead Man charged with fend- 
 ing a Letter to Mr. P ear/on^ and yet no 
 living Creature produced, who faw the de- 
 ceajed Perfon deliver fuch a Letter^ or who 
 can fay, that they took Charge of it; nor 
 indeed fo much as the Person namcdy 
 who is faid to have inclofed it. 
 
 Moreover, there is in Mr. Webber's 
 Affidavit notwithlfanding the Mention of 
 Mr. Hay ward's Funeral, fuch a /tudied. 
 Concealment of the Place, wliere he was, 
 buried, as cannot well be attributed to any 
 other Caufe, than the Defirc of avoiding 
 ■ E • • • -Queft- 
 
(.34 )_^ 
 Qneflions, tliat mighc ariie from compa- 
 ring the Circumftances of 'Time and Place. 
 
 For as to the Time of the Date, they 
 give us none ; perhaps the new Style may 
 not yet be received in Heaven. So that 
 upon the whole their Teltimony is very 
 deficient and very fcandaloiis ; as they charge 
 •a Facl^ not at all to his Credit, upon a 
 Perfon dead and defencelefs, which, with 
 all tticir afFedcd Solemnity, they have not 
 been able to prove. Bccaufe, for any T^b'ing, 
 that is depofed,, this Letter, and it's Procefs, 
 may yet have been contrived by the Eji- 
 thufiafticli Mr. Jones, or an Imp might 
 have brought it long ago from tfee Taber- 
 uaclc- — —" God knovveth" — But in either 
 Cafe it will not be Mr. Hayward's Com- 
 pofition: and thefe People contrary to the 
 third Commandment, (which being con- 
 iidered as a 'Jewijh Law, is not perhaps to 
 be regarded by Gojpel-follo\vers) will have 
 taken God's Name in vain. 
 
 And fo for the Prefent, the Witne-fjes Mr. 
 James Pearson and Mr. Edward Web- 
 ber may go out of Court -^^ that in their 
 Turn we may attend to the Evidence, or 
 crops examine^ if there be Occaiion^ JVil- 
 Ham Collijm of St. Olave's Sonthwarh^ 
 Brewer; Henry Adam of St. Saviour % South- 
 wark, Hofier ; and -yames Roberts of St. 
 'Saviour s Southwark^ Coal-merchant, feve- 
 
 rally 
 
 .1" ' ^ 
 
 I Iv^i- Jows'& Lettei-, Page ;. 
 
( 35 ) 
 rally (or rather jointly) making Oath as 
 before related. 
 
 Obfervations upon their Affidavit. 
 
 Mt. Tones flivs of this AMa-oit, that it 
 will clear him of endeavournig to make 
 People believe that the Letter came from 
 the " Manfions above."-— How fo ? w^hen 
 by his Account and by the Aflidavit, he 
 told them it came frorn^ the Manfiom a^ 
 hove. Is not this attempting to make them 
 
 believe it?- But let any one attend to 
 
 the Affidavit^ and he will foon fee how 
 little it will anfwer Mr. Jones's ExpcBa- 
 t'lGn, And firft in Regard to a Facf^ which 
 in his own Account he has fo roundly af- 
 ferted — '^ that he told the People diilind:- 
 " ly and plainly, that the Minifter wrote 
 '' the Letter (from the Manfions above) be^ 
 " fore he died, and gave it to a Friend to 
 ^' convey ic to Mr. P. after his Deceafe.'* 
 
 But thefe Arfdcvuit-meJi Avear to no fuch 
 Matter, and therefore, I think this Omif- 
 llon is a Circumfcance, fo far from giving 
 Satisfaction, that their Silence upon a Point 
 fo material, cfpecially as they were all io 
 well dij poled to ferve him, muft be to Mr. 
 Jones, as it is to the World, a terrible Dif- 
 appointment, 
 
 2^/)', By fwearing that Mr. Jones at- 
 tempted to frovc a Propofition, or make 
 
 E 2 good 
 
(36) 
 good his Argument by contraditVmg it (as 
 is before aircned in his own Account, which 
 I have ah'cady examined, Pag. 20.) — they 
 fwear to an Adion which proves him to be 
 ignorant of the very ElemExNTS, oi ^rgu- 
 mcntaiicny and void of common Scnfe. 
 
 A very ftrange Way of appearing to the 
 Ci'edit of a Man ! What a blind Leader, 
 and blind Followers are thefe r Tlie Friend- 
 fiipy they protefs would induce one to be- 
 lieve, that they came to give a ^ejti- 
 7nony^ that would do him Reputation: but 
 while they mean and profefs to do one 
 Thing they go and do another-^ but People 
 that mean to do one 'Things and again ft their 
 intc7ition 2:0 and d^o another, muft be miehtv 
 ilrfiaent in their Under ft aiiding. Here then 
 Mr. Jones's Credit depends upon the Tefti- 
 rnoijy of three Men mighty deficient in their 
 Underftanding. 
 
 And ldh\ To give You the ftrongeft 
 Proof, that they are fo, their Deposition 
 I' out radios itfelf. 
 
 . For \hty frjl fwear, that they heard Mv, 
 Jones read the Letter^ I have printed ; by 
 \hc i;e?j firji IFcrds then, thev heard him 
 declare that it came from the Manfiom a- 
 
 l^ovc and then immediately after they 
 
 fvvear as boldly, that they did not hear him 
 tife any Exprejjions io perfuade any Perfon 
 xh^n prefent that it did — So they did hear 
 him— -r^apd yet they did not hear him, 
 
 Sure 
 
(37) 
 Sure the '^ujike mull: wonder at fuch a 
 wretched Depofitio?t as this. 
 
 " You 6'ev, Sir, fays Mr. Jones to me^ 
 
 what I have offered in my Defence," • 
 
 7^6^ indeed! and I fuppofe the World 
 
 fees it, to wit \ that the only i^^^^, which 
 is clearly made out by thefe Depojkiom is^ 
 that Mr. Jones acl ually xtii the Lczttv from 
 the Man/ions dbo've^ in the Manner that has 
 been related, with which (liocking Bkf- 
 phemy and Impoiition he feems fo little af- 
 feded, that he calls the Fropagatioji of 
 thefe Lies aqd Fciljhoods promoting a Senfc 
 of Religion, and fiys, that their fole Aim 
 is the Glory of t^^"' 
 
 To gioriiy God. in this Manner^ by de- 
 ftroying all Sense of his Wifdoin^ Jufiice^ 
 T^ruth^ and oiher Attributes,, is paying 
 him much fuch a Sort of Reverence as 
 thofe Tc'i^^/ Subjecls ftew to a King, who 
 levy Forces in his own I^ame to wage War 
 agalnfi his Person, and drive him from 
 his Throne. 
 
 • How dangerous is this hifinfMHty^ whe- 
 tlier real or affecled'? After all thefe Affi- 
 davits to the contrary, he ftill fliews a Pro- 
 penlity for making this horrid Contrivance, 
 what they call the IVork of God, and won- 
 ders at my -giving them Oppofition in a 
 Thing, that tended fo much to his Glory, 
 
 In the Conclufion too, he mixes Threats 
 &nd Menaces with a pretended Frayer. 
 
 Here 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 Here is rare Hypocrify for you ! will any 
 but Fools be caught with fuch bare-faced 
 Deceit as this ? Is this the Spirit of Prayer- 
 amongft the Methodifts ? to pray and 
 threaten in a Breath ? 
 
 He fay* that I have given \\\m Advantages-' 
 If he means by this, that I have given nim 
 Advantages in Difputation, he is wel- 
 come to take them where he ca?i find them ; 
 for I believe they are only to be obferved 
 by himfelf : But if he means Advantages 
 in a Court of Law % he is welcome to take 
 them likewife, after he and his Counf;::ller 
 have confidered, what I have to fay in the 
 next Sedion upon the Subjedt of Fcrgery, 
 and Impo/lure. 
 
 Section IV. Co?itains an 'Examination of 
 
 the Grounds of Mr. JoNEs'i Complaints 
 
 about the Charge of Forgery and Impof- 
 
 -' tiarcj and what Reafojis there may be for 
 
 ^^^ him to efieem himfelf fo innocent. 
 
 TV/TR. Jones complains (Page 4 of his Let- 
 ter) that I charged hioi with forging 
 Mr. Hayward's Letter, &c. — which is 
 flraining of my Wordy a little difoneflly. 
 The Reader may fee Page 8 (of thefe Re- 
 ma]ks)that the Expreffion is — " he is /aid 
 to \\2iVQ forged a Letter, &c." that is, the 
 World charged him with the Forgery ; and 
 if they do fo ftill, can I help it? As 
 Things ftand at prefent, there is not any 
 
 great 
 
( 39 ) _ 
 
 crreat Sbeiv of a Clearaizce^ whkh I belie\;e 
 iinv one will be inclined to conkfs, who 
 ilvall perufe the following Obfervations 
 upon I'orgery and Impoflure. 
 
 The Woi^d .f OtfJCtg is derived, accord- 
 ing to fome, from the German fUtgCtJCn, 
 to ailcge^ or pretend -, according to others 
 iVom the French JForgCr io forge. If from 
 the latter, the Word originally fignifies 
 fomething made dudile or pliable in the 
 Fire, fo as to take fuch a Form upon the 
 Anvil as the Craftjman fhall pleafe to give 
 it. From this general Meaning, the Word 
 Forgery becomes applicable to any Sort of 
 Contrivance, which is attended with fome 
 cunning Device, Invention, or Deceit. 
 Hence it may fignify '^falfe Copy of a true 
 Original. Or an original Writing is a 
 Forgery^ where there is contained any Mat- 
 ter or SubjeB tending to Impofitim or De- 
 ceit : becaufe that Matter or SubjeB did 
 never exij}^ but was hammered out of the 
 Man's own Brain, to delude and millead his 
 Neighbours ; which the Law fuppofes to 
 be a Trefpafs ; becaufe Error of every Sort 
 is generally attended with fome Hurt : and 
 for this Reafon the Mofaick Law fixes a 
 Curse upon thofe, who remove a Land- 
 mark, or lead the Blind out of his IVay. Be- 
 caufe fuch Deceits may produce Errors of 
 very bad Cmfequena : the one to the Fro- 
 
 ferty. 
 
( 40 ) 
 ferty, the other to the Ferfon of the Man 
 that's injured. 
 
 It is the Importance of the Error^ which 
 makes a Forgery of great or little Confer 
 quence. If a Man dates a Letter from 
 Rome, and yet ivrites it at Oxford, a?id 
 fends it incloled in another Letter to a Corref- 
 pondent : Jo that wanting the Poft-Mark it 
 may be delivered in London, as a Letter 
 coming from Rome inclofedin another Packet^ 
 and it defcribe Things paffing there, which 
 yet are fabulous'; as for Infiance^ the Burn- 
 ing cfthe\ATiQAi^^ ^^^ Death of the Pope, 
 cr the Departure of the Pretender:" — 
 — • — why this Letter is 2i forged Letter , and 
 the Hurt it does, when pitbli(loed^ for ther 
 Hurt lies in the Fublifmng^ will be efti- 
 mated by the Damage occafioned by the 
 'Error, 
 
 Again, " If a Man invent a Letter from 
 Heaven, and fend it to another figned hy his 
 own Hand, ^/r^lealed with his own Signet, 
 givtJig the other certain Information, that 
 there is an * Eftate aBually fallen to him in 
 /Z^^ other World, and that the Steward had 
 procured him Seifin in Law^ or xi^t^ofjef 
 foiij without ^;2y Fealty, Fine, or Condition, 
 exaBed by the -f- Lord of the Manor; and 
 that fje is an Evidence of the TranfaBicn ; 
 and the other deluded by this falfe Account 
 
 makes 
 
 * The Letter from the 'hinyifions. Sec. fays, it is an L//j€~ 
 ritancf„ f God Alciighty. 
 
(41) 
 
 makes himfelf eajy about the Conditions, and 
 when he comes to take Pofleflion of the 
 Eftate Jifids himfelf excluded, and oufted, 
 and then imprifoned in moft horrid Darknefs, 
 for offending the Lord of the Manor, in ne- 
 gled'ing Homage, and other Conditions: 
 by Reajbn that his lying Correfpondent toki 
 him that the * Steward would do all that for 
 him without any trouble of kisy which the 
 Steward never faid, 7iay had left a ^, Wri- 
 ting to the contrary!' — Why here is a forged 
 Letter, and the Offence will be effi mated 
 by the Damage, or Danger, attending fuch 
 an 'Error: For this falfe Intelligence (to 
 drop the Allegory) is really Hurt to the 
 Souls of Men, deluding them in the great 
 yiffair of Salvation j/^? /izr of greater Con- 
 cern, than any earthly Lofs or Damage, that 
 our Saviour, making an Eftimate of the Da-- 
 7nagey fays, what fhall it profit a Man if 
 he gain the w^hole Worlds and lofe his own 
 *SW? Matt. xvi. 26. 
 
 And if our Law has been careful to fe- 
 cure to us, our ^^^r/^/)' Property, by pu- 
 nifliing thofe, who fliall be guilty of cer- 
 tain falfe Pra^ices to defraud us of it ^ it 
 is not to be doubted, but that it intends to 
 make the fame Sort of Pra5iices as crimi- 
 naly to diftinguifh theai by the fame inr 
 famous Name, and load tbem with ih^fame 
 heavy Puniil:iment, where the Obje& of the 
 
 * i:\\Q Me.iiator Jesus Christ, J The Gofpel. 
 
 F Fraud 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 Fraud Is deluding us in the Title^ not to any 
 temporal Po'i}\l]ion^ but to one, more ^-oalu^ 
 able, which is eternal in the Heavens. 
 ' Let us here then examine a Law of one 
 of our irreateft Princes, the famous Statute 
 of Since?' Elisabeth, and learn, what are 
 the Circumjlances^ in the "Eye of the Law, 
 v/hich make z Forgery : and then let any 
 one judge, whether the Efjmtial Articles 
 of the Crime are not to i3e found in the 
 Cafe before us ; with no other Difference 
 than the ObjeSI- : the Contrivances in one 
 Cafe being fuppofcd to rob us only of our 
 temporal Property, but in the other, the 
 Deliifion affedls our ^'/^rz/j/ Welfare. To 
 judge of this Reafoning, let any one attend 
 to the Words of the A<fl. 
 
 By which it is enaBed, *' That if any Per- 
 fon upon his own Head and Imagination, or 
 by falfe Confpiracy and Fraud with other Sy 
 Jljall willingly, fubtilly, and falfly forge er 
 make, or fubtilly caufe, or willingly alfent 
 to be forged or made, any falfe Deed, Char- 
 ter, or Writing fealed, Court-roll, or the 
 Will of any Pofon in Writing, to the hi^ 
 tent that the State of Freehold or 3!nf)eri- 
 t^nC0 of a?2y Per Jon, of any Lands, Tene- 
 ment S:> or Hereditaments, Freehold or Copy- 
 hold, or the Right, Title, or Interefl of any 
 Perfon in theja?ne may be niclefted, troub- 
 led, defeated, recovered^ or cha^'ged\ or pall 
 
 pro- 
 
(43 ) 
 pronounce, publifli, or fliew forth in E- 
 vidence the fame as truey knowing the lame 
 to be falfe or forged, to the Intent as above 
 '■ ' ■ • ; and fiiall be thereof convicfted, etlber 
 upon jAdtion at the Suit of the Party, or 
 otherwife according to the Order and due 
 
 Courfe of the Laws of this Reahn, 
 
 he JJjall pay to the Farty double Co/is and 
 Damages^ and be fet in the Pillory^ and have 
 both his Ears cut off] and his Nojlrils Jlit^ 
 and feaj^ed icith an hot Iron, and Jlmll for- 
 feit the Profits of his hand during Life^ and 
 be irnprijcned alfo during Life!' Sc6l. 2. 
 
 And all Jujiices of Oyer a?id Terminer, 
 and "Jujiices of Afiizej fall have Poiver to 
 acquire of\ hear^ and determine all Offences 
 in this Acir 
 
 Let any one only obferve in the A61:, 
 the Words — pronounce^ publifh, or fbew forth 
 
 irj. Evidence and he will fee how the 
 
 Letter correfponds to a Title. For it fays, it 
 comes in Evidence — ■'* I am an Evidence'' — 
 are the exprcfs Terms. 
 
 I imagine by this Tim.e, that the Reader 
 begins to think that Mr. Jones has been a 
 little guilty^ fince in the Reafon of the 
 Thing, and by all the Analogy of Law he 
 comes within the Intention and Letter of 
 the Statute, and that, tho* I may acquit 
 him ; yet, if he isoere tried in fonn, there 
 are Circumftances in the Statute^ which 
 would bear hard againf him. For tho' the 
 
 F 2 Ideas 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 iVcas of the conimGu Law are in theie Cafes 
 ^\\ix\^ confufed', by Reafon, that fome of 
 our Lawyers of late Years, waiitiiig the 
 Education of Coke or Selden, are not ac- 
 quainted with the primary Signijication of 
 LaW'ivords^ which conveyed ihtjlricl No- 
 tions of antient PraBice^ yet the Ideas in 
 the Statute are determinate and clear^ and 
 where the common Law is wanting in Pre- 
 cifion^ it helps irfclf out, in thefe Cafes, by 
 trying the Perfon for a Mifdcmeano-r^ as an 
 Impostor, or a, Cheat. 
 
 And upon this Iffiie Mr. Joneses deny- 
 ing himfelf to be the Jirjl Framer, or 
 ■Composer of the Letter will not ^^w/ him, 
 any more, than in the Ccrfe of Forgery 
 above related: it will be fufficient for his 
 Convidion, i\\d.ih.Q pub lijhed^ or in his ow72 
 Pfrson prcmotcd the Deceit. 
 
 For as in the Cafe oi counterfeit Money, 
 which is likewife a Species of Forgery, 
 the Perfon who utters it, knowing it to be 
 Counterfeit, as we!} as the Coiner becomes 
 a Principal in the Treafon or Plot ; fo in 
 t'he Cafe of Faljhood by Prophecy , or rr//- 
 gious FalJ]:ood'y the Perfon publijinng the 
 Prophecy^ as well as the Maker of it be- 
 comes a prtncipal Cheat. For by the 
 Ciaufe of the Statute of Queen Eliz. which 
 is printed in the 27th Page of my Notes 
 upon Mr. W^efley^ firft Letter, it is de- 
 clared, ** char if any Perfon^ fl^iall advi- 
 
 "- iedty 
 
( 45 ) . ■ 
 fedly and dlredly advance, piibliflj and 
 fet forth by Writing, Printing, Singing, 
 or any other open Speech or Deed, any 
 *' fond, fantadical, or fallc Prophecy, th^re- 
 •' by to make any Diflention, or other Di- 
 *' fturbances in the Realm, he fliall for the 
 '' firjl Offence be imprifoned for a Year, 
 '' and forfeit ten Pounds ; and for the fe- 
 ^ cond Offence be imprifoned for Life^ and 
 " forfeit his Goods ; half the Forfeitures to 
 " the King, and half to him^ who fliall 
 " fue for them in any Court of Record." 
 5 Eliz. c. 15. 
 
 This is the Law: and as Mr. Janes has 
 now furnifhed the World with Atjidavits to 
 fhew the certainty of the Fah^ hy him 
 committed, which moreover he cojifeffei in 
 Print ; I think, every Man oi Senje has Ma^ 
 termis enough to judge in this Affair for 
 himfelf^ without my inrerpofing any farther 
 upon iht Suhje5l', only 1 could wifb, that 
 after the Reader has decidedupon this par^ 
 ticidar Cafe ; as the Difiemper of the Times 
 runs fo high^ and may be nurfed and in- 
 flamed, by fome Hands, which ijoe can^ 
 not fee, he would be fo good as to give fomc 
 Attention to what I have further to relate 
 in the Conclufion, which may make him 
 more aware of our prefent Danger. 
 
 The Relations following are not my own^ 
 but, as they fitthe^//;^^^, I thought they might 
 be quite of as much Service to the Pnl?- 
 
 lick, 
 
46 Mr, Stinstra'^ Reflexions upon, 
 
 lick^ though they came from another ^/^r- 
 ter. 
 
 Conclusion, coittaiiting Mr. Stin- 
 ft ra's Reflections upon the Temper and 
 Effeds of Enthufiaim in general : to 
 'which are added fome particular Rela- 
 tions of the Troubles in Germany, and 
 the Exit of a Jlrange Emhufiaft in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 ^'n^HE lafl Means, fays the Author, which 
 I have to lay before you, for fecuring 
 you againft the Snares of Fanaticism, is, 
 that you (hould confider,that this Monster 
 has infinuated Itfelf into all Religions and 
 SeBs j and always with the fame CharaBer 
 and effefitial Qualities, though it has af- 
 fumed different Forms at different Times. 
 This Conjideration will prevent your being 
 farprifed at feeing this Spirit of Delujion 
 appear again in our Days. You will be 
 lefs amazed at the mai^oellous Things, that 
 attend it, and eafily comprehend, that thefe 
 Marvels are far from being a Proof of it's 
 Truth and Divinity^ becaufe the Fanaticks^ 
 who in this Refpeft, don't in the leaft 
 ■give way to each other^ neverthelefs main- 
 tain contradiBory Propofitions." 
 
 /' The Heathens had formerly their Fa- 
 ticks in their Priejls and PrieJleJJes^ who, 
 Vv^hen they were, according to their Opi- 
 nion, poffcfs'd or influenced by their Gods, 
 
 made 
 
Eiithiifiafm in general. 47 
 
 made the ftrongeft Motions, falling into 
 ConvuUive-Fits, foaming with Rage, and 
 running up and down like mad People: 
 All thefe Signs of Madnefs and Fury were 
 then moft vifible, when they delivered their 
 pretended Oracles, We find that the fame 
 i^pirit reigns to this Day in modern Foga- 
 nijm J and that in many Places, the blijid 
 Multitude is miferably cheated by Impojlors, 
 who perfwade them to any Tubing they pleafe. 
 Many of the Ancient Philojhphers follow- 
 incr the Chifnera's of their Imagination mov^ 
 than Reafon were caught in the fame Snares.. 
 They dreamt of, I know not what Revela- 
 tions, Illumi?2atio?2s,kcrtt Co?2verJatiom, with 
 divers Sorts of Spirits of the firft Order, 
 and imaginary Deities, They boafted here- 
 by to come at FerfeBiony and by a certain 
 magical Power, to bring " many Jurprizing 
 Things to pafs/* 
 
 *' This dangerous Pradlice communica- 
 ted itfelf from the Philofophers to the Chri- 
 ftians, among whom it foon made a fatal 
 Progrefs. Faith became fophiflicated, Man- 
 ners corrupted, and the Church disfigured : 
 So that St. Paid had more than one Rea- 
 fon to exhort the ColojjianSy to beware, left 
 any Man fliould fpoil them, through fuch 
 a philofophy and vain Deceit. It feems that 
 the Apollles themfelves, had in their Time, , 
 to ftruggle againft Fanaticifm : For what 
 NecefRty waa there elfe to admonifli the 
 
 Faitlv 
 
4^ Mr. Stin^tra'^ Reflexions ii-pon 
 
 Faithful, not to believe every Spirit. From 
 this poifonous fource, all the foolifli Opi- 
 nions of the Hereticks afterwards fprung 
 forth. The fime Spirit made Julian to 
 become an Apojiate, Fanaticifm chiefly 
 fixed itfelf in Egypt^ and continuing gra- 
 dually to make greater Progrefs; it arrived 
 at laft to its higheft Pitch, in thofe dark 
 Ages^ when the Religion of Christians 
 conflfted in nothing more than Fables^ and 
 Imaginatiom^ or ridiculous Ceremonies. 
 
 " Monachifmy or the Injlitution of Monks 
 and Friar Sy took its Rife from Fanaticifm, 
 This is the Origin of that Number oi reli- 
 gioiis Orders^ which the Church of Rome 
 is over-burthen'd'with. The Founders of 
 liiofl: of them were fuperftitious and enthu- 
 fiaftick Perfons. They eftabli{h'd their dif- 
 ferent Inftitutions upon Revelations, they 
 fancied to have received,. Fanaticifm in one 
 and the fame Centiir\\ viz, the Thirteenths 
 made appear all the Extravagancy 'tis 
 capable of, in FranciSy who preached to 
 Sivallo'-jvs and FiJJ:es? and all its Fury and 
 Barbarity in Domini cus, who was the 
 firft Author of the Ivquifition, Each of 
 them made an infinite Number of Disci- 
 ples; and thus forming two great Parties^ 
 they by their Jealoufyy En^iy, and Hatred^ 
 have oftentimes been prompted to attack 
 one another with Fiercenef and Fury. Has 
 there ever been a more ra?ik ^ndflly Fana- 
 
 tick 
 
'Enthufiafm in general. ^p 
 
 TICK than the famous Spaniard^ Ignatius 
 Loyola, Founder of that powerful and 
 formidable Order of the Jesuits, who 
 through the many villainous and execrable 
 Undertakings they have been guilty of, have 
 juflly drawn upon themfelves the Hatred oi 
 all, that love Virtue^ Religion and Peace. 
 'Tis by that fame Spirit of Enthufiafm^ that 
 Francis Xaverius^ and others, have acquired 
 fo great Power to their Society in the Indies'. 
 " The Janfenijls^ who are the greatefl: 
 Enemies the Order oijefuits can have in the 
 Church of RG?ne, have neverthelefs not been 
 more free from the Infection of Fanati- 
 cism. What Scenes have the CowouJfonifls 
 of that Party not played in our T>ays^ on the 
 Tomb of Abbot V^V Paris? Very little Time 
 however was fufficient for feeing thefe Pro-^ 
 digies vanifli into S?noke, 
 
 The fame Spirit has alfo often ihewed 
 iifelf in the Proteftant Churches: Even 
 the Times of the Reformation were not 
 free from it. The Lutherans had a Jacob 
 Boehmy with his Adherents, befides a S'wartn 
 of^xorrupted Pietifls. 
 
 ^Among the Cahinifis^ what Advantage 
 did not the crafty Cromwell draw from 
 lanaticifmy with Refpedl to the Part, he 
 chofe to act ? And how powerfully did the 
 fame Spirit operate in the laft CV;//^r^', in the 
 Smet^ oii\it§jiakcrs? Thev talk'd of no- 
 
 G thin^j: 
 
50 Mr, SxiNsTRA'i Reflexions ?^/?^« 
 
 thing but hifpiraiions^ Fijions, and Dreams -j 
 and fliewed an incredible Zeal for propagat- 
 ing their Sedt. They found but too many 
 Followers in tbofe Provinces^ and even in 
 our Communion. There are old People who 
 11:111 remember yhtoi;iette de Boiirig7wn ; ihe, 
 Labadiey and Poiret^ made in their Time as 
 much Noife as any Fanatick in our Days 
 can make. 
 
 Don't be furprifed at my telli;ig you, that 
 Mahwtet was not only an Impojior^ but alfo 
 an E7itk/Jiaji, and great Fanatick, The Hi- 
 story of his hife^ and what is contained in 
 \\\%^ Alcoran^ leave no Room to doubt of it. 
 
 The Cal^alaoi the Jews, what is it elfe 
 but a Vrodudiion of difordered Brains^ a 
 Medley of hnagifiations^ and a Chaos of 
 Dreams, on the different Orders of Spirits^ 
 and their jnarvellous Operations ? 
 
 Compare all tbefe different Appearances 
 of Fanaticijm with one another, and you 
 will find, that though it has varied in a great 
 many Refpeds, and has not always^ carried 
 its Extravagancies to the fame Degree; it 
 has neverthelefs, always had the fame dijlin- 
 guijlnng Character, and the i^unt ejjential 
 ^talities. By thefe Meajis, I am apt to be- 
 believe, you will be fecured irovafacrijicing 
 the rcafonable Faith^ w^hich you make Pro- 
 ieHion of, to its iicild and cfjimerical Opi- 
 nions. 
 
 ': Thus 
 
Entbujiafm in general. 51 
 
 " Thus I think I have made good what I 
 propofed. All that remains for me to do, is 
 to bejeech Almighty God to pour forth hlsBlef- 
 fing on this Work, that it may be to many 
 an effeBual Prefervative againft the TnfeBlon 
 oiFanaticifm, As for thofe, that actually 
 are the Sport of its Illufiom, my Exborta- 
 tions are not directed to them. I rather 
 fear that my Leter will exafperate and /;2- 
 cetife them againft me, inftead curing them. 
 Nor do I know, what means I could make 
 ufe of, with an Appearance of Succefs, to 
 bring about this laft Effedi. Good Sense 
 Solid Reason only could reclaim them : 
 But all this is to them an O^V^^ oi Contempt y 
 and fometimes even of the bigbejl Averfion, 
 The ftrongeft Arguments are in vain, as 
 foon as they imagine they/^^/withm them- 
 felves the coiitrary. They take this Eenfa- 
 tion^ or Feelings for a filfficient Anpwer to 
 all, that is objeBedio them. When a Man 
 is come once to this Pafs, w^e muft expeft his 
 Recovery only from the Grace of God-, from 
 forne lucid Iittervaly 'v^\i\c\i may give his 
 Ima<rination Time to cooly from the Affl- 
 ftance, which MedicijieszSoxA in fuch Cafes; 
 or, in {[\oxty ivoni forrowful Conviolion of his 
 Folly, produced by Experience, 
 
 " For fuch as are Brain-ficky deferve more 
 our Pity and Compaflion, than to be hated 
 
 G 2 and 
 
^2 Mr. Stinstra's Reflexions, G.V. 
 
 and pcrlecuted. Are they not indeed to be 
 lamented^ who have not the Ufe of their 
 Heafon in Things of the highejl Importancey 
 that is in Religion^ or which is the fame 
 Thing, who perfvvade themfelves that its>, 
 Ufe in fuch Matters, \%frjrhidden them? 
 
 Persecution for religious Opinions is 
 always very unjuft, and confequently is nor 
 permitted to be made ufe of again ft Fa^ia- 
 ticks ^ unlefs they dijlurh the pub lick Traiiqui^ 
 lit\\ or Dpenhj violate the Laws of the Civil 
 Society. 
 
 " Such as boaft of having ^within them- 
 felves an infallible Spirit^ whofe Decijions 
 rhevfet on the fame Level Wiih the ivrit- 
 ten IVord cf God^ and openly and defignedJy 
 Jeek to dij credit Virtue^ can have no Pretence 
 to be tolerated in our Churches^ or to hold a 
 brotherly Communion with us: For the Holy 
 Scripture is the Rule r.nd Eajis of that T^ole- 
 ration and Communion \ and as they join to 
 its Authoritv another Authority as infallible y 
 they form of their own Accord, a feparate 
 Society: And befides, this Demand can fo 
 much the lefs be granted, as their T'enct^ 
 utterly deftroy the very Nature and Efence 
 oid\\ rational Ky.i.igio^'\ See Page 98 of 
 a Pastoral Letter againji- Fanaticifm, to 
 the People of Frielland, by Mr, Stinftra, 
 mi of their Minijicrs at Hariingen. 
 
 I chofe 
 
Dr. Vkl^'s Remark?, ^c. 53. 
 
 1 chofe that this w'oxthy. For eig?2er fhould. 
 fpeak in his Tfordi the very Sentiments^ 
 which in the Dedication of my Sermon, I 
 laft Year fubmitted to the Coniideration of 
 his Grace the Archbifhop of Caiiterhury ; 
 to iliew that I am not lingular in my Opi-' 
 nion, but that by the Eftimation of others in ' 
 the like Circumftances the State of our 
 national Religion is really fuch at prefent, as 
 demands fome immediate Effort for it's 
 Preservation. 
 
 The Church muft certainly from Its ort-' 
 ginal Conjlitution have been invefted with 
 Powers to defend itfelf againil any Adver-*-' 
 fary^ at leaft againfl: thofe pretending to be 
 of its own Communion : becaufe, if it have 
 not Authority fufficient, to keep its Doc- 
 trines uniformy and prelerve its interjial 
 Peace; the ejtahlifhed 'Religion would be left 
 more defencelefs than anv of our tolerated^- 
 Societies, who have all of them a Power to 
 rejlrain^ or jeparate from them rebellious • 
 Members: ForGtherwife their Society could 
 not fubfiil:. Therefore, I fay, as xhtejiablijljd 
 Church requires in this Particular, as high 
 a Degree of the ProteBion of the State 
 as is enjoyed by Dijjaiters : an Authority 
 of this Sort muft be Jomewhere lodged in 
 our Ecclejiaflical System. And fince the • 
 People^ to whom it moft properly belongs; 
 to make this Enquiry, are many of them fo 
 
 bafiful 
 
£[4- Troubles in Germany, 
 
 bajhful and unwillmg to exert themfelves 
 upon this Occafion : I could wifli that fome 
 Gentleman of the Law, well affefted to the 
 Church, or fome Pried of E?mnence, who 
 has Leifure and Fortune would be pleafed 
 to take into Confideration, and commuicate 
 what he thinks the proper Conjlitutional 
 Means for fuppreffing this Diforder in the 
 Church, which otherwife may foon effect 
 its Downfall. 
 
 For that the Spirit of Enthujiafm will 
 not reft, but pufli on either to ifs own or to 
 our DeJiruBion \ I fhall give th^ Reader con- 
 vincing Proofs,'from the following ExtraSs 
 both of German and English Hiftory. 
 
 troubles in Germany. 
 
 TH E Boors in the Abby of Kempten in 
 SwABiArofein a Body, Anno 1524, 
 againft their Superiors, upon whom they 
 exercifed babarous Cruelties 5 they maflacred 
 many Perfons of Diftinftion, without Re- 
 gard to Sex or Age, roafted the Nobility and 
 Gentry on Spits, and forced their Ladies to 
 turn them at the Fire, ravifliing all the 
 fjuns, and other Virgins, Nor was this un- 
 paraleird Rebellion only in Swabia, but, 
 like a Plague, in a (hort Time it infedled the 
 greateft Part of G^rw^;2V ; for in Thurin- 
 GiA flourifh'd their Chief and Ringleader, 
 
 an 
 
from Enthufiafm. 55 
 
 an impudent Prleft, call'd T:homai Munzer^ 
 who perfwaded the poor and filly People, 
 that They <ivere God's redeemed ones, and 
 fiouldnot therefore abide Slaves to MeUy but 
 affert their glorious Liberty ; nay, he even 
 boafted he would catch the Cannon-Balis in 
 his Gown-Sleeve, and affured them, that in 
 Battle none of the Eleft fhould be burty with a 
 vaft deal more of fuch whimfical Stuff. 
 But at length the Neighbouring Princes ut- 
 terly routed and deftroy'd this diforderly 
 Mob, when Munzer and his Companion 
 Pfetffer were catch'd and beheaded for a 
 couple of audacious Knaves, and after above 
 looooo of the unhappy Boors were flain, 
 the Uproar was quell'd, and the rebellious 
 Difeafe by much Bloodjhed cured. 
 
 Anno i^2Z began the aew SeB of the 
 Annabaptists in Switzerland^ under Gre- 
 bel and Mans which was much oppofed by 
 ZwiNGLius the Reformer, and alfo in Saxony 
 by Nicholas Stork; and An?2o 1524, they 
 were pretty numerous in Germany and the 
 Netherlands-, but as fromTime to Time they 
 in^realed in Numbers, they fell into a vaft 
 Variety of Enthufiaftical and riciculous O- 
 pinions, which very often proved dangerous 
 to the State, as well as pernicious to them- 
 felves: For, A?2no 1533, fome of the Dif- 
 ciplcs of the fi^id Munzer, and of Mekhior 
 
 / Hoffman^ 
 
'5^ T'roubles in Gcririany, 
 
 ■Hoffman, and j.:'m Matthijon the Baker of 
 Harlem; Vii2.At ihcmfelves Mailers of the 
 City of MuN^TER in V/eflpJjaliay wWch ha- 
 ving eari\ {liook of the Popc^ Yoke, they 
 pitch'd upon it as their Place of Refuge,' 
 and Capital', and having affembled vafl 
 Numbers of their Seel from all Parts, they 
 -foon became too ftrong for the Magijlrates^ 
 whom they baniih'd with the Clergy ^nd 
 ■Burghers that would not fubmit to their 
 Madnefs. Tht Principah of this Rebellion, 
 befides the faid Matthijon^ (who called him- 
 felf Enoch,) were John oi Ley den, Knip- 
 perdolwg, Rctman^ van Kampen, and van 
 Gcelen, who plundered the Churches, and 
 the Goods of -all that fled or were drivea 
 out of Munfier^ burnt ail Sorts of Books, ex- 
 cept the Bibiey violated all the Virgins above 
 fourteen Ye^rs old, and openly declared for 
 Folygamy,<iii\^^ that ^"s^txy Thing lliould be 
 common amungft them. 
 
 Soon after the Bilhop of Munjier laid 
 Siege to the City, Matthijon was killed in a 
 Sally: Ai.id the faid John of Ley den a Tay- 
 lor, and afterwards a Comedian, having run 
 about flark naked by the Influence of the 
 Spirit, (as he faid) took upon> him firft to 
 appoint twelve Judges to govern this new 
 Pvcpublick of i/r^^/; and having maffacred 
 fifty one Perfons that confpired againft him, 
 
 by 
 
From Enthufiafm. 57 
 
 by Knipperdoling his Executioner, he pro* 
 claimed himfelf John^ King of Sion^ and 
 during the Siege was obey'd as a King, and 
 ferved in Royal State ; took to himfelf fif- 
 teen Wives, but made Matthifon's Widow his 
 Queen, and had a Crown of Gold fet upon 
 her Head ; told the deluded People that 
 God had prefented him with the three 
 Cities of Amflerdam^ Deventery and JVefel ; 
 fent forth privately about twenty-eight 
 jipojilesy who were moftly feized and put 
 to death, conftituted his Accomplice van 
 Kempen the Bifhop of Amfterdam^ and van 
 Geelen the General of the Anabaptifts, whom 
 he fent to Holland and Friezeland with a 
 great Sum of Money, (tho' both of them 
 fail'd of their Plots, and were executed with 
 their Accomplices j ) publifh'd his Book 
 call'd. The Work of Rejioration, in which 
 he affur'd his Subjefts, that the Kingdom 
 of Chrift was foon to be eftablifh'd, in 
 which the Godly or Eledl fhould reign, and 
 all the Wicked be rooted out ; and that he 
 was to prepare the World for that King- 
 dom, by fubduing it to himfelf, and di- 
 vided amongft his Followers the feveral 
 Parts of the Empire, which they were, like 
 Princes, to take Poffeffion of, as foon as 
 the Siege was raifed, and he could march 
 abroad for that Purpofe with them, 
 
 H But 
 
58 Troubles in Germany. 
 
 But this King yoh7t of Munfler^ having 
 heard of the ill Succefs of his Plot upon 
 Amflerdaniy with the Death of his faid 
 Bifhop and General, he was much per- 
 plexed in his Mind, and his Matters run 
 into the utmoft Confufion ; yet kept the 
 City as long as poflible ^ for the Siege lafted 
 eighteen Months, King John having not 
 only fortify'd it much, but furnifh'd it alfo 
 with an incredible Quantity of Provifions, 
 At laft the Famine began, and increased 
 apace, and when People faw that thofe 
 Succours, which King John had fo often 
 propheiied and affured them of, were 'not 
 like to arrive, one of his Officers offered to 
 go out for Provifions, and took the Oppor- 
 tunity of betraying the City to the Com- 
 mander of the Bifliop's Army, who, by his 
 Guidance, furpriz'd it, and took the Mock 
 King Prifoner alive on the 28th of M^^; 
 and when brought before the Bifhop of 
 Munjier^ John propofed that the Bifhop 
 might well reimburfe himfelf the Charges 
 of the Siege, by fending him about in a Cage 
 for a Show^ and by receiving a Penny from 
 every one for the Sight of him: But the Bi- 
 fhep was above any Advice from him 5 and 
 therefore on the 23d oi January^ I535> ^^' 
 dered his Body to be pinched with red-hot 
 Pincers for the Space of an Hour, and then 
 being ftabb'd to the Heart with a Dagger, 
 
 he 
 
Dr. Free's Remark. ^g 
 
 he was hang'd upon the Top of the Steeple 
 of Munjlcr between his two Friends Knip^ 
 perdoling and Mattheo. 
 
 Dr. Free's Remarks upon thefe Paflages 
 in German History. 
 
 From this View of their own History, 
 if they ever read it, one would think, that 
 all German Princes, and their Defcenda7its 
 ihould be particularly afraid of giving £;/- 
 couragement to Enthusiasm ; which made 
 fuch dreadful Havock in their own Coun- 
 try 3 it would have done the fame in Eng- 
 land, in that very Century, had not the 
 wife Princess Elizabeth been upon the 
 Throne, who confidering the Meaning of 
 Principiis ohjla — applied the Remedy in due 
 Time, fecuring the Ringleaders, as you fee 
 in the following Hiftory of William Racket, 
 related by the great Mr. Camden^ in the An^ 
 nals of her Reign. 
 
 This Hacket was a Man of the vulgar 
 Sort, born at Oundle, in the County of 
 Northampton, unlearned, infolent, cruel, and 
 fo eager upon Revenge, that he bit off his 
 honeft Schoolmafter's Nofe as he embraced 
 him in token of renewing their Love, and 
 like a Dog (as they report) eat it down be- 
 fore the poor deformed Man's Face, while 
 he intreated him to reftore it to him, that it 
 might be fowed on again whilfl the Hurt 
 wa$ yet frefh and green. So averfe was he 
 
 H 2 from 
 
6o T'he Hijlory of William Hacket. 
 
 from all Piety, that the heavenly Dodtrine 
 which he had heard in Sermons he repeated 
 amongft his drunken Companions at their 
 Cups, to be derided and abufed. After- 
 wards, when he had riotoufly wafted his 
 Eftate which he had with his Wife, a Wi- 
 dow, he fuddenly took upon him the pre- 
 tended Difguife of one of admirable Sanc- 
 tity, fpent all his Time in hearing of Ser- 
 mons, and being acquainted with the Scrip- 
 tures ; and by pretending I know not what 
 Revelations to be made him from Heaven, 
 and an extraordinary Call, he infinuated 
 himfelf into certain Divines which with a 
 burning Zeal laboured to bring the Prelby- 
 terian Difcipline of the Church of Geneva 
 into England : amongft whom was one 
 Wiggington^ a filly brain-fick Minifter, and 
 a Defpifer and Enemy of Magiftrates. By 
 this Wiggington\ Means he became fami- 
 liarly acquainted with 'Edmund Coppmger^ a 
 Gentleman of a good Family, who had per- 
 fwaded firft himfelf, and then Arthington^ 
 a great Admirer of that Difcipline, that he 
 alfo was extraordinarily called by God for 
 the Good of the Church, and that a Way 
 was revealed to him from Heaven to draw 
 the Queen and Council to a better Mind, 
 meaning, to admit of the Difcipline of Ge- 
 neva, he himfelf having been taught by 
 fomc Minifters, that God daily raifeth up 
 
 extraordinary 
 
The Hijlory of William Hacket. 6i 
 extraordinary Labourers in his Church. 
 And this (triumphing'as it were in Spirit) 
 he joyfully imparted to Hacket 5 who, by 
 his counterfeit Holinefs, his unceffant and 
 fervent Praying ex tempore ^ his Falling upon 
 the Lord's Day, his frequent Boafting that 
 he had been buffeted by Satan, and by pre- 
 tending Revelations and often Conferences 
 with God, which with moft vehement and 
 direful Imprecations, by the Salvation and 
 Damnation of his Soul he fware to be true 
 and real, found fuch Credit with thefe two, 
 that they believed and affirmed him to be 
 the beft beloved of God, and greater than 
 Mofes and Saint John. And he himfelf 
 openly avowed that he was the Prophet of 
 God's Vengeance wherefoever Mercy is re- 
 je6tcd 5 prophefying that from thenceforth 
 there fhould be no more Popes, and that 
 England fliould this Year be moft lament- 
 ably afflided with Famine, Peftilence and 
 War, Qxct^t x\\Q Difcipline of the Lord (for 
 fo he called it) and Reformation were ad- 
 mitted in the Realm. To bring in this 
 therefore, theyconfpired (as was proved by 
 their own Letters) toaccufe the Archbifhop 
 of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor of 
 Treafon, who were Men that oppofed In- 
 novations ; to kill them and fome others, if 
 they (hould give Sentence in the Star- 
 Chamber againft; thofe Minifters who were 
 
 Innovators ; 
 
62 Tfje liijlory 0/ William Racket. 
 
 Innovators ; to ftir up the Multitude to 
 Rebellion by printed Rythms, wherein a- 
 mongft other Things they maintained, that 
 it was lawful for a true Chriftian, though a 
 Country Peafant, to inform Kings how to 
 fway the Sceptre, and to depofe the Queen 
 herfelf, unlefs (he would advance the Re- 
 formation. That Hacket bare an impla- 
 cable Hatred againft the Queen appeareth 
 by this, that he had often given out that (lie 
 had forfeited her Right to the Crown, and 
 had in a Rage defaced her Arms and Pid:ure 
 drawn upon a Board, ftriking his Dagger 
 through the Breaft of it. And no Marvel : 
 for he had perfuaded himfelf that he was 
 ordained by God to be King of all Europey 
 and could not brook a Confort ; and he 
 made Coppinger and Arthington believe that 
 they were infpired not only with a Prophe- 
 tical, but even with an Angelical Spirit. 
 Who now being full of the Spirit, as they 
 thought, performed all Obedience to him 
 as their King ordained by God, and en- 
 deavoured to raife Sedition. To which 
 Furpofe in the Month of 'July they came 
 to a Nobleman, offered him the higheft 
 Command under the Queen, and prefented 
 him with a Defcription of Hackefs Life, 
 together with Arthi?igtons Prophecy : But 
 he being bafy about fomething elfe rejected 
 the Men. Not long after they told JVig- 
 
 gintofiy 
 
The Hijlory ^William Hacket. 63 
 
 gintoriy " That Chrijl had appeared to them 
 the Night before, not in that body 
 wherewith he dwelleth'in the Heavens, 
 but with that principal Spirit wherewith 
 he inhabiteth in Hacket more fully than 
 in any other : and that Hacket was 
 that very Angel which was to come 
 before the laft Day with his Fan and 
 Sheep-hook, to feparate the Goats 
 from the Sheep ; and that he {hould 
 tread down Satan under his Feet, and 
 totally fubvert the Kingdom of Anti^ 
 chrijl,'' From Wigginton they betook 
 hemfelves to Hacket^ near to whom, as 
 he lay in his Bed, they caft themfelves 
 proftrate on the Ground, and poured forth 
 moft fervent Prayers. Hacket arifing joined 
 with them, praying earneftly with many 
 Words, that the Spirit would dired them 
 to God*s Glory, and then went to Bed 
 again. 
 
 Arthington prefently advifed Coppinger^ to 
 anoint the King with the Holy Ghoft in the 
 
 Name 
 
 * Whether it was for the Business of ^«o/«///7^, 
 or not, we cannot tell, hut. on ^^ Monday the 12th 
 of February^ 1759? ^" ^^^ Evenings there was a 
 Meeting, as it is faid, of veryy?r<3?z^^ Personages, 
 at a Woman's in the Borough, who is one of the 
 People called Quakers. Jofeph Rule formerly a 
 Waterman, who goes about in a broad-trimmed white 
 
 Hat, 
 
64 The Hi/lory of William Hacklet. 
 
 Name of the Lord Jefus Chriji, Copping er^ 
 with all Lowlinefs, kiffing the Floor thrice, 
 and bending the Knee with all Reverence, 
 came to Hackety who put him back, fay- 
 ing, You need not anoint me, for the Holy 
 Ghoft hath anointed me already. Do ye 
 my Commandments. Go and tell through 
 the City, that Jefus Chriji is come with his 
 Fan in his Hand to judge the World. If 
 any ask where he is, fliew him this Place ; 
 
 and 
 
 Hat, with long Beard, and white Cloaths, and ufed 
 to preach on Walworth-Qommon againft the ejiahlijhed 
 Churchy was feen to ^//^w^upon the Occafion, Whether 
 he preftded in the Aflembly, or Mr. Jones, or Mr. 
 Jones's Wife, or either of the two Countes's, who 
 were fuppofed to come in one Coachy is uncertain ; but 
 there they were all together. The Meeting continued 
 Three Hours, the Bufinefs of it is unknown 5 but if it 
 was that of anointing, they were all well oiled in that 
 time to be fure. I make this Matter publick, that any 
 Officer of the State, who bears true Allegiance to his 
 Sovereign, and AfFeclion to his Houfe, may farther 
 inform himfelf of the Fa£t, and report it to the Royal 
 Ear, to the end that thefe Countejfes^ if they were 
 fuchy may be forbid his Majesty's Court, and like- 
 wife that of the Prince of Wales ^ and Princess 
 Dowager. 
 
 For if Women of this Rank are permitted to have 
 no6turnal Cabals with fuch Sort of People as thefe, 
 and likewife Admijfion and free Accefs at the feveral 
 Courts of our King and Prince s||, it will caufe 
 very ugly Sujpic'ions^ and be detrimental to the Inter ejl 
 of his Majesty's Succ^Jovy his Royal Highness 
 the Prince oi Wales, 
 
^hc Hiftoryo/ William Hacket, 65 
 land if they will not believe let them come 
 and kill me if they can. As it is mod cer- 
 tain that God is in Heaven, fo is it no lef 
 true that Chrijl is now come to Judgment 
 Scarce had he fpoken the Word, but pre- 
 fently they ruflied forth, crying through the 
 Streets that Chrijl was come, and what other 
 Things he had commanded them, often- 
 times redoubling with a loud Voice, Repent y. 
 Repent^ untill they were come to the *^ prin- 
 cipal Street of the City. Where, by reafon 
 01 the Throng of People, they climed up 
 into a Cart, and partly by Help of their 
 Memories, partly cut of a written Paper, 
 proclaimed aloud, "'' TXyxvHacket in a glo- 
 " rifled Body participated with Chrijl by his 
 " principal Spirit, and was now come with 
 " his Fan to propagate the Gofpel through^ 
 *^ out Eiiropey and to eftablifh a Dijcipli?2e 
 '' and Commonwealth in Engla?2d. And 
 '' thefe things they affirmed upon the Sal- 
 **' vation of their Souls to be certainly true. 
 They added farther, ** That Ilacket was the 
 *' higheft and fupreme Monarch, and that all 
 *' the King's of Europe did hold their Kincr- ' 
 ** doms of him as his Vaflals : that he alone 
 *' therefore was to be obeyed, and theQueea 
 *' to be depofed. Laftly they curfed the 
 
 arcbbilljop and the Cfjaiiceliot to the 
 
 Pit of Hell, as Oppojcrs of the fincere Re* 
 ligjon, 
 
 I Shortly 
 
66 The blaphemous Life^ and Deathy 
 
 Shortly after being apprehended, they be^ 
 haved themfelves fo ccntemptuoufly and in- 
 f )lently towards the Queen's Council and 
 the Magiftrates, that they would not un- 
 cover their Heads to them, and anfwered 
 faucily and peremptorily, that they were 
 above all Magiftrates. Hacket being after- 
 wards ifidided of Treafon confeffed himfelf 
 guilty, and by his blafphemous Anfwers. 
 ftruck the Auditors into Horror and Afto- 
 nirtiment: which perhaps, was done craf- 
 tily, to make the Judges of Opinion that he 
 was mad ; w^hereas notwithftanding by his 
 other Geihires, and a kind of compofed Gra- 
 vity, he fliewed no fign of a Mad-man, 
 Being condemned he was laid upon a Hurdle^ 
 and drawn to the chief Place of the City, 
 inceflantly roaring out with a dreadful Noife, 
 Jeho'Va Mejjlas, Jehova Me/Jias ; Behold the 
 Heaven open, behold the Son of the mofl High 
 defcefidiiig to deliver me. At the Gallows, 
 being admonifhed to acknowledge his Sin 
 agah^ift God and the Queen, the execrable 
 Wretch, inveighing moft bitterly and con- 
 tumelioufly againft the Queen, cried out 
 with a Stentors Voice, O heavejily God^ AU 
 Tnightv Jehovah, Alpha and Omega, Lord of 
 Lords, Ki?ig of Kings, God everlafing, thou 
 k'lowejl that I a?n the true Jehovah ivlmn thou 
 b ^Jl jent, Ihew fome Miracle out of the Clouds 
 to convert theje Infidels, and rejcue me from 
 mine Enemies, But if not (I trem.ble to repeat 
 
Of William Hacket. 6y 
 
 it) / m/ljk the Heavens on Fire, and with 
 tbcfe Hands pluck thee from thy Throne.HMvn^ 
 ing to the Hangman as he was putting the 
 Rope about him, Thou B^Jlard, (faid he) 
 w// thou then hang Hacket thy King? Hav- 
 ing the Rope about his Neck, he lifted up 
 his Eyes to Heaven, and grinning faid, Doji 
 thou repay me this injiead of a Kingdom ? I 
 
 come to reven^re it. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 /f Catalogue of BOOKS^ which have been 
 written hy the Rev. Dr. Free, and fold z^;^ jWilliam 
 Sandby, at the Ship, oppoftis St. Dunftan*^ Church in 
 Fleet-Street. 
 
 I . TT I S T O R Y of the jE'/^^/^Tongue, with the Author's 
 Xi intended Dedication to his Royal Highnefs Prince 
 George ; now Prince of Wales, Part I, printed in 1 749, 
 and containing an Account, 
 
 I. Of the Roman or Latin Tongue, as once fpoken in Britain, 
 
 Il.Of theBritifi or Welch, and it's ancient andprefentZ/W//. 
 
 III. Of the Pj/jtasy corruptly called Pit^s, by the Romans ; 
 their Settlement in theAWi* of Britain ; the Original of their 
 Name, and the Nature Extent, and Duration of their Lan- 
 guage. 
 
 rV. Of the Scots from Ireland; and the Extent ofthcEerfe 
 Jlianguage ; in order to diflinguifh it from the Englijh in the 
 Xcrth qf Britain, which vulgarly palTes under the Name of 
 Broad Scotch, 
 
yf CaTALOGVE of books, &CC, 
 
 ^. A Volume of Sermons prfeached before tKe Univetiity 
 of 0;t/cr<3', printed in 1750. With a Pj-eface tending to re- 
 form fome remarkably bad Practices, both in Church and 
 State ;- to the Negleft of which, we principally owe our pre- 
 fent Misfortunes. 
 
 3. foZ/V/V^/SERMONSjard Discourses, colkft^d into one 
 Volume, under the Title of the Sentiments of a true Anti- 
 GALLiCAN ; and dedicated to his Royal Idighnefs the Duke, 
 
 1756. 
 
 4. Ay^roWANTiGALLicAN Scrmon preached in the Year, 
 1756, upon th« Terms of A'i3//<7/'^z/ Unanimity : With a G^- 
 ?zm;V§;zV^/ Table, ihewing his Majesty's ancient Conhexioas, 
 with the Crowns of thefe Kingdoms, long antecedent inTime> 
 to the Marriage of his Anceftor with the Sten^ard Family. 
 
 5. Poems upon feveral Occafions, the fecond Edition 1757, 
 ^onraimrjg an XDde to the King of PrufTm, an Ode of Corifo- 
 kiticn to his R.H. the Duke. Jephtba an Oratorio fetto Mufick 
 ky Mr. Stanley. Advice to the Fair Sex, 6r>. To which 
 IS prefixed a curious Account of the Origin and peculiar Na- 
 ture of V.r.glijh Poetry, in a Letter to a Member of Parlia- 
 
 HiCUt. 
 
 Controversy ifjith the Mtthodijis, 
 
 6. Certain Articles propofed to the ferious Confideratlon 
 of the Court of AlTiilants, of the worlhipful Company of 
 Saltp\s» In Lmdonj kc. Price Six-pence; 
 
 7. The Second Edition of Rules for the Difcovery of 
 falfe Prophets : Or the Dangerous Impofitions of the Peo- 
 ple called Methodljh detefted at the Bar of Scripture and 
 jkeafon. A Sermon preached before the Univerfity at St. 
 J^larfs \n Oxford, on Whitfumlayy 1758. With a Preface in 
 Vindication of certain Articles propofed to the ferious Con- 
 fideratlon of the Company of S alters in Lo7uio7i : And an Ap- 
 pendix, containing aufhentick Vouchers ; from the Writings 
 of the Mcthedifts, Sec. in Support of the Charge which h«s 
 been brought agaiiall thera. 
 
 8. Dr. Fr(e*s Edition of Mr. IFeJIe/s firft ^Penny-Letter, 
 with Notes upon the original Text, &c. and a Dedication td 
 the Reverend Author. 
 
 9. Remarks upon Mr. Jones' % Letter, ^c 
 
THE 
 
 WHOLE SPEECH, 
 
 Which was delivered to the Reverend Clergy of 
 the Great City of London. 
 
 On ^uefday the 8thofM^_y, 1759, being the 
 Day appointed for their Anniverfary Meeting 
 at Sion College. 
 
 To which is prefixed^ 
 
 A Remonjlrance to the Right Reverend the Lord Bifhop 
 of Winchefter^ complaining of Perfecntion from the 
 Methodijis : And likewife a Letter to his Lordlhip, re- 
 lating to the fame Subjedl. 
 
 By John Free, D. D. Sir John Leman's 
 Lecflurer at St. Mary Hill., in London. 
 
 NOLUMUS LEGES Anglic MUTARL 
 
 Didtuin Anglqrum ^uetemm* 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the Author, and fold by Jortathan ^cott, at the 
 Black Sivan in PaUr-noft r-R<K»^ (Price Six-pence.) 
 
( iii ) 
 
 To the Right Reaver end Father in Gcd, Bcii- 
 jamin, by Divine PermiJ/ion, Lord BiJJ:dp 
 o/'Wmchefter, <3c. &c. 
 
 7'he Remonjirance of the Reverend John Free* 
 Do^hr in Divi?iity\ &c, co?nplaini?jg of 
 Perfecutionfvm the People calledMcihodiAs. 
 
 May it pleafe your Lord/hip ^ 
 
 Y the Advice of my Brethren of the 
 CJergy, I beg leave to^ inform Your 
 Lordlhip, that in the Morning, on Sun- 
 day the 29th oi Aprils in the Parifh Church of 
 
 St. Mary Magdalene Bcrmondfey^ being then and 
 there preaching the Gofpel of Jefus Chrifty to 
 wit, explaining his own Words concerning the 
 new Commandment, which he gave to his 
 Diiciples, " to love one another^\ I was from 
 the Time of naming the Text, to the End of 
 the Sermon, in continual and mofl imminent 
 Danger of being murchered by the Methodifis. 
 They had often, fmce Ihave been a Parifhioner 
 in that Place, by the Artifice of fome of their 
 Perfuafion, who are concerned in the * Di- 
 redlion of a Charity-School^ introduced their 
 Preachers into the Pulpit at Charity Sermons, 
 
 * The Reader is dejtredto take Notice from this PaJJage', n.vhat 
 a dangerous Error it muji hcy in the Minifier and Inhabitants cf a 
 Parijhy to fuffer thefe People to be DiredorSy or^ ccen to ha^ve an 
 Hand in a Matter of fiich Confeqiience^ as the Education of the 
 Ciiarity-Children. For they may ke fure^ that Methodiils W// 
 endeavour to propagate ^lcthodi(m. And they can nc<ver gi've 
 them a fairer Opportunity than by putting it into their Ponxer to 
 in'vert the Vfe of thefe puhlick Semenaries for the lo^vjcr Clafs 
 of People y anddepri've the Church off ^reat a Part of the rifng 
 Generation, by poifoning their blinds iivVZ^ Enthufiafm in the njery. 
 Place of their Education. For inConfequence cf thisLibcriy, itfiemiy 
 they hate found the Means to put into the Hands of the Children 
 of Bermondiey alk'lQ.^hodd^ Catechifm irfead of the Catechifm 
 A 2 tQ. 
 
(iv) 
 
 to the great Difiatisfadion and Annoyance of 
 ir.any of the principal Inhabitants, and of 
 the Minifler himfjji,. who about a Year ago 
 cxpreffed his Concern to me upon their being 
 then admitted: Notwitmcanding which, in his 
 Abfence, thefe People, perfevering in their De- 
 fign to infult and undermme the Church of 
 England^ took an Occafion to make an Attempt 
 ot. the famx Nature, but being dilappointed by 
 the Church-warden^ who interpofed his Autho- 
 rity, and interrogated the Preacher about his 
 Licence, they began to Ihew the diabolical 
 Spirit of their Religion, the Moment, that I 
 delivered out m.y Text ; and upon> hearing the 
 Command of their Lord and Mafter, inftead 
 of obeying it, immediately raifed this unchriflian 
 Uproar; theieby to convince the World, that 
 where People profefs to be faved by Faith alcne^ 
 they thiuk there is no Occafion for Ohediencey 
 nor any R.egard to he paid to Laws Divine or 
 Human. 
 
 For the Infult was offered alike to the Laws 
 of God, and the Laws of the Land, The De^ 
 votion of the Congregation was immediately 
 difturbed, and the People thrown into the 
 greatefl Terror and Confufion, upon feeing 
 the Rabble making their repeated Efforts to 
 force themfelves up into the Pulpit, and to do 
 Violence to my Perfon. In this Manaer the 
 F'=:rment continued, and in it's full Height all 
 the Time of the Sermon, with fuch Vocifera- 
 tion from Men and Vv"omen, fuch continual 
 Tumult, and Excefs of Phrenzy, that v/e could 
 
 t)f the Church ^"Eng'anr^ : So that at this Rate, the Pari/h are 
 fo fufport by iheir Suhfcriptwr.s and Expence, ^what njoill be in 
 Fafi a School for the Merhodills. Rare Mavagement in People 
 ■^rcfejjing themjeh'^t to be Members of the ejlahlljhed Church ! 
 
 expeift 
 
 
(V) 
 
 cxpe(5l nothing butBloodfhed every Moment; 
 and which could never have been prevented, 
 but by the Dihgence of the Peace Officers, who 
 from Time to Time oppofed themfeives to the 
 fierceft of thefe rehgious Savages, and confined 
 fome of them in the Veftry, but new Diforders 
 flill arifmg, and requiring perpetual Attendance 
 near the Pulpit, thofe, who v/ere before in hold, 
 found an Opportunity to break away. 
 
 Sermon being ended, when after long tar- 
 rying, I ventured to go from the Pulpit to the 
 Veftry, the Church -war den informed me, that 
 they fpit upon us 2S we pafTed along, and not 
 llopping here, they purfued us into the Veftry, 
 and fullenly perfifted to remain there, till the 
 Pariihioners obliged them to retire, by threat- 
 ening to take them into Cuftody. 
 
 And when we imagined, that we might fecure- 
 ly get away, there were ftill Parties in thtChtircb 
 and Church-yard^ who gathered about the Rev. 
 Mr. Maltus and myfelf, and purfued us with 
 bitter Abufes to the very Door of his Houfe. 
 
 I think it my Duty to give your Lordfhip 
 this Information, that communicating it to the 
 Lords the Archbifhops, and Bilhops, you may 
 together be pleafed to make it an Occafion of 
 procuring fuch better Security for the Regular ^ 
 eftabliihed Miniftry of the Church of England^ 
 as their defencelefs Condition may feem to de- 
 mand, and as Prelates of your A ffedion to the 
 Conftitution, in your great Wifdom andGood- 
 nefs fhall think moftfit, 
 
 lam, Right Reverend Father^ 
 
 2'^our mcfi obedient^ 
 
 Sen and Servant^ 
 
 John Free. 
 
[vi] 
 
 LETTER to the Right Revd. 
 the Lord Bifhop of JVincheJier^ &c» 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Efide the Remonflrance, which I have here 
 ^^ inclofed to your Lorafhip, and which I 
 make in phe publick Charader of a Minifler ! 
 an infulted Minifler of the Church of ^,ngland •, 
 I have a Petition to prefer in a private Capacity, 
 as a Parifhioner of the Parifh of St. Alary Mag- 
 dalene BermorJfey \ to wit ; that I may not for 
 the future be driven from my Parifh Church, 
 either through Fear of Danger to 7nj Perfon \ or 
 of having my Mind diilurbed and offended by 
 the blafphemous Preachmg of ignorant or de- 
 lufive Men. 
 
 My Lord, I make my Requefc in this Shape, 
 not barely becaufe an Argument of chis Sort is 
 molt likely to fecure me from being annoyed 
 by thefe People, in the Place of my publick 
 Devotions, and at my very Doors : but alfo be- 
 caufe I think the Matter fet in this Light mufl 
 fliew your Lordfhip, that here is a Caie (whe-r 
 ther mine or that of another Parifhioner) which 
 if not attended to, mufl do great Injury to your 
 own Reputation. 
 
 For if your Lordfhip fliould fcruple to exert 
 your Authority at this critical Seaibn, and per^ 
 
 in it: 
 
hiit fuch Teachers as thefe to drive the fober 
 Inhabitants from their ftated Place ofpublick 
 W'orlhip, in the Manner that they have lately 
 done : the World may be apt to fufped by 
 your Silence and Inacflion that you are inclined 
 to leave it in the Power of thefe People to force 
 the Members of the Church of England from 
 it's Communion. 
 
 For there can be no Communion without a 
 Place ot Communion : and where are the 
 people to find that Place, if they are to be thus 
 excluded from their own Pariih Churches ? 
 
 I would therefore for your Lordfhip's Sake ' 
 and for my own, as a Parifhioner of the Parifh 
 of Bermondfey further requefl of your Lord- 
 fhip, in Behalf of myfelf and others of 
 my Neighbours, who are well-afFedlcd to the 
 Church of England^ that you would be pleafed 
 to fecure to us for the future, the free and quiet 
 Ufe of our Parifh-Chutch, by fending a {land- 
 ing Order to the Church Wardens, to forbid all 
 notorious Enthufiafts Accefs to the Pulpit: 
 and moreover to require of the faid Officers 
 that they ufe the Authority given them 
 by the Canon againft every ftrange Clergyman 
 who Ihall be fulpeded from the Rabble, that 
 attend him, or other Circumflances, to be an 
 Abetter of the Dodlrines of thofe malio-nant 
 Teachers, which are ufually diftinguiihed by 
 the Name of Methodijls. 
 
 Such an Order as this coming from your 
 Lordihip would give great Countenance to the 
 faithful Parilli Officer in the Difcharge of his 
 Truft, and defend him from the Slander of his 
 Enemies •, at the fame Time, that it will oblicve 
 
 thofe 
 
[ viii ] 
 thofe, who are infe6fced with f Enthufuifm^ tho' 
 it be againft their Indination, to do their Duty. 
 If your Lordlhip therefore, would be pleafed in 
 this Particular to attend to my Requeft, I Ihould 
 have Occafion, in the Capacity of a Parifhioner 
 of Bermondfey^ to write myfelf 
 
 Tour Lordjhifs 
 tno§f obliged^ 
 
 and obedient y 
 humble Servant ^ 
 
 John Free, 
 
 Bermondfey, 
 May 22, 1759. 
 
 •f This Precaution muji appear to he ^very mcejfaryyin Caji thiil 
 tfMinifter Jhould be Jo o<verfeenyfo ifnpofed upon by others ^ or J§ 
 apt to impoje upon himjelf^ as to cbaoft a notorious McthodiH /or 
 his own Church H^ardiu^ 
 
Dr. Free's speech 
 
 TO THE 
 
 London Cltr^Y ^ &c. 
 
 I 
 
 Dear Gentllemen, 
 
 y m - ^ HE Times require, that I now accoft 
 you as Fetlow-foldierSy as well as FeU 
 loW'ChriJtia72S, 
 
 You will wander perhaps at the 
 Solemnity of luch Appellations, as they feem to 
 found an Alarm in thefe Quarters, where we 
 were accuftomed to enjoy the profoundeft Peace, 
 and eat cur meat with gladnefs and fmglenefs of 
 heart. But I ufe them to befpeak your Attention 
 to Matters of fuch Importance, as, if not re- 
 garded in due Time, will efFedualiy put an End 
 to your Being as Clergy : and the place that knew 
 you^ will know you no more, 
 
 I take this Opportunity of introducing fuch 
 Difcourfe, becaufe I imagine, that the pious 
 Founder of the College, where we are now 
 affembled, had a View, by Means of this Annual 
 Feftivity to give us an Opportunity of converfing 
 together upon the State of Religion in this Me- 
 tropolis, as well as of enlarging our Acquaint- 
 ance with each other, and promoting a ftrider 
 
 B Friend" 
 
io Dr. FREE's Speech to the London -CJci'gy^^ 
 
 FriendPdip among ourfelves : a Thing very de^ 
 firable,- no donbt upon its own Account j but 
 far the more fo, as this mutual Intercourfd, 
 which refults from Friendfliip, mud be natu- 
 rally produiftive of Intelligence., and may thereby 
 enable us the better to lay our Meafures for the 
 public Good. 
 
 As this feehi? to be the Defign of the Infti- 
 iution, it can be no unfit Sealbn to put you in 
 Mind of the prefent Danger of the Church of 
 England^ which I have often infifted on in the 
 Courfe of my Contrpverfy with the Methodifts * 
 wherein, though otherwife unfupported, I have 
 from Time to Time had the Ple^ftre to receive, 
 from one Quarter or another, your Approbation 
 or your Thanks. 
 
 WHERtFORE I am the more emboldened to 
 tell you, that you have novi^ a fair Opportunity 
 of taking this Subjeft into your ferious Confide- 
 ration, of communicating your Sentiments, I 
 fhould think, without Referve, and of forming 
 fome kind of Refolution, how to proceed in a 
 Matter of fuch Importance, and which fo appa- 
 i'ently requires you/ immediate Attention. 
 
 The advanced Age of our prefent excellent 
 Dioccfan, though it may not have impaired the 
 Vigour of his Soul, has yet occafioned great bo- 
 dily Weaknefsj the natural but fad Effedl of 
 ^ime upon our mortal Fram.e 5 which has de- 
 prived us, in great m.eafure, of the Succours, 
 which we might exped: from him -, at a Time 
 iyhen we hot on^y fland in need of his Advice, 
 
 but 
 
ci/pml^le J af Sion-CollcgCyM^LyS, 1759. 11 
 
 but aifo of his Adlivity, and a real Exertion of h(3 
 Power for our Proted:ion. 
 
 In this forlorn, unfriended, and unlucky fir 
 tuation, we muft apply to the Great Shepherd 
 fcr the Divine Affiftance;- and in our qarthly 
 Meafures chiefly look to find our Safety and 
 Succefs in Union. ForConfederacy gives Stiength 
 and Boldnefs againft an Enemy, affords that En- 
 couragement from our Companions, which fc- 
 iitary Heroifm cannot fupply ; and moreover 
 adminilters a Variety of Gouafel, for the Sup- 
 port of the common Caufe^ which we are to 
 give and take without Ceremony, when there 
 comes to be fuch a prefling Occafion. This 
 immediate Necelfity for fome Expedient was 
 what prompted mc, in my lafl: * Pamphlet to 
 obferve, -'^' That the Church muft certainly, from 
 its original Conliitution, have been in veiled with 
 Powers to deiend itfelf againft any common Ad- 
 verfary, (at ieaft againfl: tbofe pretendLng to be 
 of its own Communion ;) becaufe if it have ii.ot 
 Authority fuflicient to keep its Dodirines uni- 
 form, and prefei ve its internal Peace, t]ie efla- 
 bllfhed ReUgion would be left more de£ei5.cciefs 
 than any of our tolerated Societies, who have 
 all of them a Power to reftrain, or fepaiat^ frojn 
 them rebellious Members; tor otherwile, iheir 
 Communities could not iubfifl: : thertfore, I fiy, 
 as the Eftablifhed Church requires in this Parti- 
 cular as high a Degree of the Protedion of :.he 
 ^tate as is enjoyed by Difienters: an Aiuhciity 
 
 of 
 ■:^ Dr. FREE's Remarks upon Mr. ycr:£s's Letters, p, SZ? 
 
1 2 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clergy, 
 
 of this Sort muft be fome where edged in our 
 Church-lyftem ; and fmce, many of them to 
 whom it moft properly belongs to make this En- 
 quiry, have been unwilling to excrt themfcives, 
 I exprefled my Wiihes that fome of the Gentle- 
 men of the Law, well afFedled to the Eftabiifh- 
 ment, or fome Prieft of Eminence, who had 
 Leifure and Fortune, would have been pleafed 
 to take into Conlideration, and to communicate, 
 what he thought the proper conftitutional Means 
 for fuppreffing this Diforder in the Church, 
 v/hich otherwife may foon efFed: its Dov/nfal.'* 
 
 But as it does not appear fince the Publica- 
 tion of this, that any Gentlemen have been pre- 
 vailed upon to give us their Advice ; the Talk, I 
 was willing to have fliifted off, reverts unexpec- 
 ted! v to myfelf, "and obliges me, fince Neceffity 
 fo requires, to contribute what litile Informa- 
 tion I am able, till better Lights fhali interpofe, 
 and more efFeftually difpel our Fears and Diffi- 
 culties, 
 
 Dicam equidem^ quoniam inftitui, petamque a 
 vobis ne has meas ineptias efferatis^ qucmquam mo^ 
 derabor ipfe^ ne ut quidarn magifter atque artifex, 
 fed quafi imia e togatorum numero, alque ex ufu * 
 ecclefiaftico homo inediocrisy ?jeque ommno rudis 
 i}idear iicn ipfe aliquid a meprompfijjey Jedjortuito 
 ■ in veftrtim Jermone7n incidijj'e. 
 
 Now then to the Queftion.- — What are the 
 propereft constitutional Means for fupprel- 
 iing the Diforders in the Church, occafioned by 
 
 the 
 * Forenfi, Tuil, De Or at or e^ Lib. i. 
 
qffembled at ^lon-CQWQgQ^ May 8, 1759. 13 
 
 the Methodifts ? I anfwer, that the firft and 
 principal^ the moft proper, and truly conftitutio^ 
 nal, would be the Meeting of the Convoca- 
 tion. 
 
 This is conftitutional^ in whatever Senfe we 
 underftand the Word, whether as refpeding the 
 Cuftoms and Government of the Church itlelf, 
 that is, the intrinfic Fabric of ecclefiaftical Po- 
 lity, as it flood at firfl: unmixed, and independent 
 of any Alliance j or fecondiy, as it has been 
 fince coi necSed, incorporated, and co-ejiablijljed 
 with any State, and moft particularly Vr'ith the 
 State of England, 
 
 For the life of fuch Affemblies belongs to the 
 Church in general : they have been coeval with 
 it from its Beginning ; are eifential to its Confti- 
 tution, if It exift at all, and therefore thefe f ri- 
 vileges have always been indulged to it in fome 
 Degree, more or lefs, wherever it has been for- 
 tunate enough to obtain Eftablifliment or Tole- 
 ration. Thefe Obfervations then muft put us 
 in Mind, that the Divine Auchority of thefe Af- 
 femblies is more ancient than their civil, and 
 bears Date from their iii ft Inftitution in the Timq 
 of the Apoflies, who convened them by Virtue 
 of the Powers committed to them by Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 The firft, v/hich we read of, is the Council of 
 Jerufalem^ defcribed in the Ads of che Apoftles. 
 It appears, by the Delcription, to have been of 
 the very fame Form with the Convocation in 
 the Church of England^ confifting of the Two 
 
 fuperior 
 
14 Dr. FREE s speech to the London-Clergy, 
 
 fuperior Orders, the Apoftles there mentioncij, 
 correfponding to their SuccefTors, the Bifhops ; 
 and the Elders, to our Priefts or Priefthood ^y 
 ytidas and Silas Legates to the Gentile Chrif- 
 tians, iTfQ(fa(ti ov'^i feem to have been Prolocu- 
 tors ; but, as they are called riyvfjievoi they were 
 probably of the Upper Houfe. 
 
 In the Epiftle to the Galatians, St. Paul alfo 
 feems to give a Detail of this, or as fome think, 
 of another Council, where the Matter in contro- 
 yerfy was nearly the fame : it happened, be- 
 caufe of foJ/e Brethren unawares brought in : 
 who, he fays, came in privily to /py out our Li- 
 berty^ which we have in Chrift^ that they anight 
 bring us into Bondage, He relates, who were 
 the Pillars or Prefidents of the Council ; who 
 the AffefTors^ mentions fome that oppofed him, 
 to whom he would not give Place by SuhjeBiony 
 710 not for an Hour^ that the l^ruth of the Go j pel 
 might continue to youy He tells us, thefe were 
 they, who feemed to be fomething ; what they 
 r.eally were, he does not difcover; obferving 
 that' it was a Matter of no great Confequence, 
 as God accp.pteth no Mans Perfon, and as thefe 
 People, who feemed to be fofnewhat^ when the 
 Conference v/as opened, did not think proper to 
 
 contradict him. 
 
 It 
 
 * See a further Account of them in an Ordmation Sdr- 
 mo7i preached by the Author in the Cathedral of Chij}- 
 Church in Oxford, Sept. 23, 1739, before the Right Re- 
 verend the Lord Bifhop of Oxford, now Kis Grace the 
 Lord Archbifhop of Canterbury. 
 
ajfcmhled at Sioh- College, May 8, 1759. i^ 
 
 It is worthy Obfervation here, that by thd 
 Apoftle's Account, the Caufe of thefe ecclefiaf- 
 tical Councils or Meetings was, that the T^riith 
 in Christ might conti?2ne to Pofterity, afid in- 
 deed confidering the Herejies predided to follow, 
 the grievous Wolves that were to make havock 
 of the Flock, the Ignorance of the filly Mul- 
 titude, running Giddily from one Extreme to 
 another, and often growing Refradlory, unlefs 
 reduced to order, and reflrained by the Wifdoiri 
 and Authority of fuch Affemblies^ I fay, thefe 
 Things confidered, it was almoft impofiible, 
 that the Truth in Christ fhould for any long 
 Time together, fubfift without them. 
 
 And fo fenfible of this aire all People of all. 
 Denominations of Chriftians, that with the View 
 of maintaining, what each of thefe contending 
 Parties take to be the Truth in Christ, they 
 not only admit of thefe Affemblies, where they 
 have that Liberty allowed 3 but to the utmoll 
 of their Powers fupport therri. 
 
 Wherefore a very eminent * Writer of 
 Gur Church, who has difplayed much Learning 
 and Eloquence in treating upon this Subjed, 
 very juftly obferves, '^ That fo far are the Clergy 
 of England from being unreafonable and fingu- 
 lar in their Defire of fuch Meetings, that there 
 is no Part of the Reformed Church befides, that 
 does not duly hold them; they are conftantlv 
 kept up in the United Provinces ; and even in 
 France they were never denied the Proteftants 
 
 in 
 
 * The Rigbt?5 ^£c. cf an £A^//i^ Cbhvocafiori, 
 
1 6 Dr. PREE's speech to the London-Clergy, 
 
 in the Time of Lewis XIV, lo long as the U(c 
 of their Religion was ailoved them 5 thefe Af- 
 femblies having been always eftecmed by all 
 Chriftians, as the beft and propercit Means 
 for the Prefervation of Unity, and :he Suppref- 
 fion of Errors and Diforders in the Ciiurch of 
 God. 
 
 'to draw nearer home, what we plead for 
 has been allowed the prefent Scotch Kirk 3 nay, 
 and fomething more than we plead for I hope 
 it will not be thought foreign to mv Subjedl, if 
 I ftop to give feme fhort Account ot it. Their 
 Affembly has fat often * fince the Revolution, 
 and done Bufmefs with a Witnefb : If a thorough 
 Purging of Churches and Univj rfitie.- i if exer- 
 cifing their ecclefiaftical Jurifdidion, over the 
 whole Kingdom (as well over thofe, who re- 
 nounCtd their Government, as thofc wh > o^vned 
 it) be doing Bufmefs; if to excommunic:i*^f*P 
 fufpend and deprive at Pkafure ; jf to be P. * s 
 Geneial of all the Livings of the Kingdom, md 
 to iridudt, as well as ejed, what Perfons they 
 thought fit 3 if by an Ad: of theirs (for fo the 
 Stile runs) to appoint national Fafts, and to fettle 
 general Rules for Church- Difcipline and Go- 
 vernment, without fo much as afking Leave of 
 the Civil Power, be doing Bufmefs ; then I fay, 
 the Scotch Afiemblv have within thefe ten Years 
 
 laft 
 
 * I am Informed that they fit yearly ; and that His Ma- 
 jefty on thefe Occafiofis, honours them with his Letter, - 
 appears from their Addrefs of this Year, to be k^n at the 
 End of this Speech. 
 
c?/lemblcd at Sion-College, May 8, 1759. 1 7 
 
 ■iaft pafi: effedlually done it. They have adled 
 up to the utmoft Extent of their divine Charter 
 of Privileges, and have fcarce been withiiood ia 
 ' any one Branch of it : for though the King's 
 Commiffioner has fat with tiiem, yet has he not 
 been allowed either tointerpofe in their Debates, 
 or to have a Negative upon their Refolutions : 
 No, nor fo much as to confirm them. And 
 ^vhen he pretended to adjourn or diij.^lve the 
 Synod, they protefted againfl it 3 and appointed 
 a new Meeting without any Regard to his Au~ 
 thority : and in the Intervals of their Seffions, 
 they have had a {landing Committee of their 
 Members, who have been, a§ it were, a perpe- 
 tual Affembly. Thefe are the high Favours and 
 Indulgeiices-, that have, with a liberal Hand, 
 been beftowed on our Neighbours in Scotland, 
 
 And the fame Author obferves, that thofe of 
 the congregational Way here at home, have not 
 wanted the Indulgence of a Convocation, as re- 
 gular and full, though not fc open as may be de- 
 fired by the Members of the Church oi England^ 
 
 Nay, the Privilege we claim is not deiied 
 to any the moft wild and extravagant Sedts among 
 us. The Quakers have their annual Meetinp-s 
 for eccle£aftic2:l Affairs : they are known to 
 have, and are allowed to hold them," And I 
 piay add, that, by their own Accounts, the fam?J 
 J^iberties are taken by the Methodiils. 
 
 Shall Scbifm ajid Enthufiafm enjoy their 
 iDonfultations for the Propagation of their Inte- 
 if^ii, and for the Deftrudion of ^he Church ? 
 
1 8 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London -Clergy, 
 
 and {hall an apoftolic and eftabliihed Church, 
 where its Prcl'ervition requires this Imin;inity, 
 be reftrained ; be forced to want it ? God forbid ! 
 I believe we fhail not, if we properly apply 
 for Relief 3 for, the Two Houfes of Convocation 
 are as much a Part of the Englijh Conftitution 
 as the Two Houfes of Parliament ; and there- 
 fore neither the one nor the Qther can be totally 
 difufed. It has antiently been an Objedion to 
 the Conduft of fome of our ^" Princes, that they 
 laid afide the Ufe of the Convocation ; to others, 
 that they laid afide the Ufe of Parliaments. The 
 afore -mentioned writer alfigns, as a Reafon for 
 this, that the Cafe is the fame in our Church 
 Afiemblies, as in our great Lay Conventions ; 
 the affembling of which is not only a Part of the 
 Prince's Prerogative, but of the Subject's Right ; 
 *^ That Intermiffions muft not be fuppofed to 
 take away the Right of Affembling, except they 
 are withal fuppofed to take the Right of Conven- 
 ing: fo that the provincial Inferiors may well de- 
 mand to be aflemb]ed,as foon as thofeReafons im- 
 pedient fhall ceafe,and much more, when ftronger 
 Reafons Ihall arife on the other Side, fuch as 
 would juftify the Clergy's Deiire of an extraor- 
 dinary Convention, if they had not an ordinary 
 one to claim." 
 
 These 
 
 * William Rufus. Concilia non permtfit celebran in 
 Regno fuo^ ex quo Rex faclin tjl^ jam per 1 3 Anncs, 
 Anfelm, I. 13 Ep. 46. And what the Confequence of 
 this LitermiiTion was, the Synod which met at the Be-* 
 ginning of Henry I. declare^ : Miiltis vera Annis Syrodali 
 ■ culture cejjante vitiorum vepribus fuccrefcendbus, Chrijlian a. 
 Rd'iglonh Fervor in AngUa nimis. rejrixerat^ JLadmer, p. 67, 
 
affemhlrd at Sion-College, May 8, 1759. ^9 
 
 These Obfervativins lead mc now to confider 
 the high Antiqjicyof the civil Ajthority of 
 th^/e Aircmbues of the Clergy, an J how far 
 they have received the Countenance and Con- 
 currenct jf the State in England. 
 
 They were in Ufe here in the Times of the 
 Britons^ before our E?igliJJo Anceftors arrived 
 from Gc ' many. Bcde relates, how the Bifhops 
 of the Britons f j. iiied themfelves into a Con- 
 vo..aaon to artend the Propofitions of Auftin^ 
 who came o -vT by order of Pope Gregory^ to 
 c-jnvei t tne Rnglifb Saxons^ who then v/ere Hea- 
 thens, .^ind though it may be objected, that 
 the Q\\\xx(zhPBritain^ and the BritiJJj Govern- 
 ment, fuch as it was, have both been deftroyed 
 and made way for the EngUfiy now more than 
 a th'..uland Years ago, yet this Account of their 
 Affairs fhews the Antiquity of fuch Ufages in the 
 Church of Christ, wherefoever planted among 
 different People, and for the Matter of civil 
 Eftabliflimcnr, we have no need to go to the 
 Ertiom tor Prefcription and Authority^ having 
 fuch a Sf ries of Acfs and Monuments to produce, 
 lince our own Settlement in this liland. 
 
 The EngU/h Saxons^ whofe Delcendenfs we 
 are, and whofe Laws and Cuftoms make that 
 Conftitution, of which, as far as we retain it, 
 we may juftiy boaft, gave an early Eftablifliment 
 to Cnriftianity, and eftablKhed it with all its 
 Privikges. Ethelbert King of Kent (for then 
 the EngliJJ:) were divided into feven Kingdoms) 
 firft introduced it into his Dominions, As the 
 
 C 2 Men 
 
^o Dr. FREE's Speech to the London- Clergy; 
 
 Men of Kent made the fird EngUJJo KingdomV 
 lb they were the firft Englifi Chriflians ; and 
 one of the firft Immunities granted by this Prince 
 to the infant Church of E?7ghnd vjis of the 
 very Sort, of which I am now fpeaking : foi* 
 he afforded Aujliit his Affiftance and Aathoruy,. 
 which was very great among the Britous, to 
 to procure fome of their Bifhops to give the 
 Meeting, and form a Convocation with his own 
 Ecclefiaftics. 
 
 But,, though Ethelberf was the firf!, the 
 other Monarch s of the Heptarchy were not far 
 behind him in propagating the GofjDel, and 
 lending it fuch Affiftarxe from the State, aj 
 might give Force and Authority to its Ordi- 
 nances, and prevent their feeing negledled, op- 
 pofed or overturned by the Intrigues of knavidi 
 and deiigning Men, working upon the Caprice 
 or Humour of the common People„ 
 
 In th? Year 694, Wightred his SuccelTor iri 
 the fourth Dcfcentj as foon as he cam^ to the 
 Crown, aifembled a mykel Council or mykel 
 Mote, . for regulating the Affairs of the Church. 
 There is a pompous Account of this Convoca- 
 tion, in the Saxon Chronicle, which being in 
 the Form of ihoxt Annals feldom relates an 
 Event in a Manner fo circumftantial and parti- 
 cular. The Speech of the King himfelf is very 
 remarkable; and (liews the Piety of the true 
 old * Saxon EnglifJo, Win ch 
 
 ^axcn In EngUJ}) CbaraSfers, 
 * Forthon ic V/ihtred eorthlic Cing fram hcovenllce Cing* 
 Onbryrcl & mid andan thare ?vightv.'irnifie an^^^ld of uran 
 
 alderan 
 
ftffemhied at ^lon-CoWcgt, May S, 1759. 21 
 
 Which Piety was not confined to the King- 
 dom oi Kent alone. It appears among the Laws 
 6f King Ina, that there was another Convoca- 
 tion about 547, which was honoured with the 
 Style and Title of the great Affembly of the 
 Servants of God. Magna Nervorum Dei Fre^ 
 quentia. 
 
 And in 747^ EthelbaldKXn^oithQ Mercians^ 
 held a Church-mote or Synod, wherein it was 
 ordered, that the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, 
 fliould be taught in the Englijlo Saxon * oft 
 Mother Tongue, 
 
 We read in the Compafs of a few Years more 
 of another fummoned at Whitby, by the Au- 
 thority of Ofwy King of Northumberland : at 
 which the King himfelf was prefcnt, and Cedda 
 the new made Bifhop appeared, as Prolocutor. 
 
 Thus you feethePradice was general through- 
 out the fe'{!)en EngliJJj Kingdoms in their feparate 
 
 State. 
 
 alderan Fcederan ic habbe geleornod, ^c. One may fee 
 alio in thefe Words a Specimen of the ancien? Engllfh 
 Oratory, which if exprefled I'crhatim^ as near as our 
 modern Language will admit, will fignify as follows ; 
 
 — - " For that 1 Wihtred ecrthly Kifig by the hcavnily 
 King incited^ and with the Spirit ofjuftlce fir d\ which of 
 our older Fathers I have learned^ 5cc." 
 
 Here the modern Engliftj gives us the Latin Word Spirit 
 for Andan^ and Latin Word 'Jujlice for Right wifenefs^ &c, 
 whereas the old Language borrowed nothing from foreign 
 Tongues, having fuch Plenty oi its own, cf Words the 
 icio^k e^preflivc. 
 
 * U'lherv de Scripturis ^ facris VernacuUs, p, 197. 
 
2 2 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clergy, 
 
 State. And when the Heptarchy came to unite 
 and fubmit to the Direction of one powerful 
 Pnnce, whofe Title was King of all England , 
 we had chac the Condad: of tiie fupreme Mo- 
 narch wab juft tac fame. Anno 975. 
 
 Edgar, one of our moft glorious Engltjh 
 Kings, not only convoked his Ciergy, but did 
 them the Honour to make a Speech to them 
 himiclf -f-. And that thefe Privileges we'*: not 
 violated by any of the true E^iglijI:} or Sa>:on 
 Ki' gs, till their Succeffion was intenupted by 
 the few No''>n:!n Princes api^ears trom the De- 
 fcnption ot the Office of a King of England, as 
 it ftands in ihe Laws of Edward, the Conf-ifor. 
 Rex quofi vicarius fummi regis ad hoc confliruitur^ 
 ut regnum^ terram (^ populum dominiy & fuper 
 cmnui fantlani ecclejiam ejus vcneretur & regaty 
 & ab injurio/is defendat. 
 
 It is mentioned indeed as a Rep^'oach upon 
 the Memory of the fecond King of the Norman 
 Race, that for thirteen Years in his Time, there 
 were no Convocaiions ; which Omiffions gave 
 rife to great Dilordeis in the Kingdom. 
 
 But at the Refloration of the Saxon Line, 
 Things went well again, and m their own 
 Channel. For abojt 1175, a Synod or Con- 
 vocation was holden at London^ at which, King 
 Henry the Second, the great Anceftor of his 
 preknt Majefly appeared in ferion ^ and by the 
 
 Authority 
 
 "'fr Ufhcr, dc Scrlpturis & ficrh VernacuUs^ p. 126, 
 
cjfemlledat Sion-College, May 8, 1759. 23 
 
 Auihoiity of the King and Synod, it was de- 
 creed, '' That every Fatron takii g a R ward 
 for any Prefentation, fhould for ever lole the 
 Patronage of the fame/* 
 
 In the Reign of King "John {Anno Domini 
 1255) all the Rights of the Church of Eiig-- 
 land were confirmed by the firft: Article of 
 Magna Charta ; the Words are verv ftiong ^nd 
 expreffive. — " The Church of E?7gland fhau be 
 free, and enjoy her Rights entire, and Liberties 
 inviolable. And we will have them to be fo 
 oblerved, that it may appear from hence, that 
 the Freedom of Eledions, which was reckoned 
 rr.oft neceffary for the Church of Engknd, and 
 which we granted and confiin.ed by cur Char- 
 ter, before the Dilcord between us and our Ba- 
 rons was granted of mere free Will ; which 
 Charter we frail obferve, and do will it to be 
 faithfully obferved by our Heirs for ever." 
 
 To the fame Purpofe is the Charter of Kin^ 
 Henry the Third, as it flands confirmed by 
 Edward the Firft. 
 
 " Inprimis conceffimm Deo, & hcc frajenti 
 charta nojtra confer in a^-cimus, pro nobis, (5 hare- 
 dibus no/iris in perpetmim, quod ecclepa Afigltcana 
 libera fit y & habeat omnia jura Jua tnttgra & 
 libertatesjuas i lice fas!' 
 
 And what our Kings undeiftood in thefe 
 their Charters, Oaths, and Lav/s by the Church 
 of England, was that Church or ccclefialtical 
 Conflitution, which they found eftablillied by 
 Lav/, when they came to the Crown uf England^ 
 
 From 
 
24 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clergy, 
 
 From which in all thefe Defcents, the Right of 
 Convocation as ejjential to its Conftitudon, was 
 never feparated : but remained notwithftanding 
 the Variations in Modes of Faith and Worfhip, 
 to all Effeds and Purpofes the fame. Nay, the 
 Privileges of this Affembly were ftill confirmdd 
 by fucceeding Princes, though fome of thcrr> 
 were open Enemies to the Popal Power. 
 
 In the Vlllth Year of Hmry the Sixth, it 
 was enaded, " That all the Clergy from hence- 
 forth to be called to the Convocation by the 
 Kine's Writ, and their Servants and Familiars 
 (hall for ever hereafter fully ufe and enjoy fucb 
 Liberty and Lnmunity, m coming, tarryingj, 
 and returning, as the g^eat Men o:- Commonalty 
 of the Realm of England, called qr to be called 
 to the Kinsf's Parliament hive ufed or ouo^iit tp 
 have or enjoy." "* Nay, Henry the VJlIth not- 
 withftanding his Oppoiition to the S::e of Rome^ 
 allows the Authority of the Englifi Convocation^ 
 in Subordination to the Crown: as likewife the 
 antient Conftitutions made in their provincial 
 Synods, by the Legate's Oiho or Othubon, or 
 the feveral Archbifhops of Canterbury, 
 
 And with refped to the Immunities, which 
 I am now fpeaking of, no fucceeding Times, 
 not even the great Events of the Reformatioi;i 
 in Religion, or the laft Revolution in the State, 
 have made any material Diflerence. 
 
 Queen Elizabeth, a few Days after her 
 coming to the Crown held a Parliament. 
 
 wherei;j 
 
 * Ccdolphin^ P* 5SQ. 
 
ciffemhled at Slon-College, May 8, 1759. 25 
 
 ts^hereiri it was enadted, that flie and her Succeffors 
 mi^ht corred: all Manner of Errors, Herefies^ 
 Schiims, Abufes, and Enormities, ii/ing the Ajjeni 
 of the Clergy of England ajfembkd in a Synods 
 who were to determine by the Scriptures, Coun- 
 cils, and Authority of Parliament, what was 
 Herefy. 
 
 The Revolution made no Alteration in this 
 Article ; for the ^ Coronation-Oath of King 
 William and Mary Queen Regent confirm all the 
 Rights and Privileges of the Church oi England, 
 And the Settlement of the Crown upon the Old 
 Saxon Line in the Houfe of Hanover^ which was 
 efFeded by the Policy of the faid King Wil^ 
 liam of Glorious Memory, was a Declaration 
 to the World, that in his Opinion, the Princes of 
 the Houfe of Hanover would be fuch, as would 
 follow his example, and maintain the fame in- 
 violable Attachments to the fundamental Laws 
 and Conftitutions of England, 
 
 * The Coronation-Oath of William and Mart was tendered 
 to them by the Bi/^op oiSahJlury in three Articles : The laft of 
 which has Refped to the Maintenance of the Rights and Frinjileges 
 of the Church, and was propofed in the following Words. 
 
 Bifhop Will you to the utmoft of your Power maintain the 
 Laws of God, the true Profejjlon of the Qofpel, and the ?rotefiant 
 reformed Religion as efiahlijhed by Lanv ? And will you preferve 
 unta the Bi/hops and Clergy of this Realm, and to che Churcha com- 
 mitted to their Charge, ail fuch Rights and Pri-vilegeSj as by La^ 
 do, or fhall appertain unto them, or any of them? 
 
 King and Queen. Ail this 1 promife to do. 
 
 After this, tne King and ^een laying their Hands upon the 
 Holy Gofpels, faid, the Things, ivhich 1 ha've before promifed 1 nAjiU 
 perform, and keep. So help me Gad. Then the King and Queen 
 kiffvd the E^ok. 
 
 D Such 
 
26 Dr. FREE*s Speech to the London- Clergy, 
 
 Such being the Laws oi England, and fnchthe 
 orood Opinion of the Difpofition of our Prince, I 
 would beg Leave to propofe it to your Confidera- 
 tion, whether it would not be the heft Meafure 
 we can take, to petition our Superiors, and in 
 particular our Diocefan, who is Dean of the Pro- 
 vince of Canterbury y to concur with the Clergy 
 of the City of London in an Addrefs to his Ma- 
 jefty y moft humbly befeeching him ; '^ That 
 ** he would be graciouily pleafed to permit the 
 •* two Houfes of Convocation to fit, and provide 
 " for the better fecurity of the Church of Eng- 
 ** land, now in great Danger from licentious En- 
 ^' thufiafts, under the Direction of certain malig- 
 '^ nant Preachers, diftinguiihed by the Name of 
 " Methodifts." 
 
 There can be nothing difloyal in this Attempt ; 
 becaufe, by preferving the Church, we preferve 
 one of the beft Supports that the Crown has left. 
 Queen Elizabeth thought fo. For, foon after 
 the Execution of the Impoftor Hacket for High 
 Treafon, Mr. Camden obferves, that others alfo, 
 who had hitherto in vain oppofed the Difcipline 
 of the Church of Englandy by condemning the 
 Calling of Bifliops, now employed their Tongues 
 and Pens again ft the Authority granted them by 
 the Queen in Eccleiiaftical Caufes : But fhe well 
 knowing, that in this Bufinefs her Authority was 
 fiiot at through the Sides of the Bifhops, broke 
 the Force of the Afiault without any Noife, and 
 maintained the Ecclefiaftical JurifdiCtion invio- 
 late againft all Oppofers. 
 
 And 
 
9 
 
 c^fcmhkdat Slon-College, May 8, 1759. 27 
 And to come nearer to our own Times 5 I be- 
 lieve, that his prefent Majefty has found fome 
 Support from the Church as well as Queen Eli- 
 zabeth, In the late Rebellion there was a Me- 
 morial handed about, drawn, as it was faid, by 
 Mr. Kelly, or fome Ecclefiaftick about the Pre- 
 tender, wherein they complained, and took it very 
 henioufly, '' That the Pulpits in England had 
 " alarmed the Nation, and done great Injury to 
 " their Mafter's Caufe." They had Reafon to 
 complain : For as I had a * Share in it, I was an 
 Eye^ Witnefs of th e good Effeds produced through- 
 out the Kingdom by this timely Service, whereby 
 many of his Majefty's Subjects were excited to 
 take up Arms, and form fuch Affociations, as 
 quite difconcerted and amazed the Enemy. 
 
 There were at that Juncture no thin Councils 
 amoncrft the alTociating Clergy, whatever there 
 might'^be in other Places ; no Sicknefs feigned to 
 hinder their Appearance, no fhifting to remote 
 Countries under the Pretence of feeking Safety, 
 no Change in their Faces, no ! nor refigning of 
 Places. 
 
 If the Pulpits did his Majefly this fignal Ser- 
 vice, when his Crown was in Danger, it is not 
 likely (were our Cafe but properly reprefented) 
 that his Majefty could forget the Pulpits, thofe 
 little Fortrefles, which during that Scene of An- 
 archy and Confufion held out fo faithfully, and 
 protefted his Perfon, Family, and Crown. 
 
 But befides the Hopes, we may conceive from 
 
 * Sermon before the Univtrfity o{ Oxford, AVv. 5, 1745, &c. ^ 
 
 D 2 his 
 
28 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Clercyy, 
 his Majefty's known Goodnefs, there are others 
 which arife from as long Experience of his un- 
 ' queftionable Juftice. Magna Charta fecures 
 from Violation the Liberties of the Church of 
 E7igland', the Biil of Rights gives us the high 
 Privilege to addrefs our Sovereign upon this Oc- 
 cafion ; and the fame Magna Charta affures us, 
 ^' That in a Cafe of Right and Juftice, the Kings 
 ^^ of England (hall deny no Man, and make no 
 ^^ Delay." 
 
 As there can be nothins; in this Undertakino- 
 difloyal to our Soverei:;n ; fo neither can it give 
 any Difturbance to the public Peace. The 
 Meeting of the Convocation is entirely legal, it is 
 conftitutional 5 and the great Prelate, whofe 
 Right it is to prefide in it, is onejW^hofe known Mo- 
 deration and great Prudence muft take away all 
 Sufpicion of his ever ftraining the Power of the 
 Church fo far, as to give the leaft Umbrage or 
 Difquiet to the State. 
 
 So that there is a Felicity in thefe Circum- 
 ftances prefaging an happy Meeting ; and for the 
 Bufineis in Deliberation, it is the Maintenance of 
 the- gentle inoffeniive Church of England -, the at- 
 tracting Centre, which keeps in Equilibrio and 
 Tranquillity the feveral adverfe Sedaries, which 
 otherwife by their extreme Doctrines, oppolite 
 Ufages, and high Animofity would ftart afunder, 
 barft the Bonds of the Community, and fly into 
 Confufion. 
 
 The Church then being confeffedly the Inftru- 
 mcnt of preferving Peace among all the numer- 
 ous 
 
ajfembledat Sion-College. May 8, 1759. 29 
 
 <ous Sorts ofRecufants, which fettle amongft us; 
 %o preferve the Peace of this ufeful Church is to 
 preferve the religious Peace of his Majefty's 
 whole Dominions. — Well ! and to fecure the 
 Peace of the Church, and thereby the Peace of 
 the Nation are the Ends, for which the Convoca- 
 tion is ordained to meet : Therefore, where thefe 
 are both become fo extremely necelTary, is not 
 the Meeting of the Convocation alfo neceffary ? 
 
 It may be infinuated by our Adverfaries, that a 
 Convocation fhall produce Effeds of another Na- 
 ture : but the Idlenefs of this Objedion would 
 be fully ihewed, and all Apprehenfions of that 
 Sort entirely removed, if we defired at the fame 
 Time, that the Bufmefs of the Seffion might be 
 limited to the Decifion of particular Points, which 
 moft immediately require Attention. And what 
 can more immediately require Attention than fuch 
 an Article as this ? which to the Scandal of this 
 Nation has lately been made a Queftion amongft 
 us 'y to wit ; Whether the Opinion, " That Men 
 ^' are to be faved without Morality be (as the 
 <^ Methodifts fay) a Doftrine of the * Church 
 
 of 
 
 * One Mr. Elliot a Bachelor of Arts, then Chaplain to St. George*^ 
 Hofpital at Hide-park Corner, publifhed a Sermon preached at 
 Chrift-Church, Spital-FieUs, January 21, 1 75 9, with this Title — 
 Encouragement for Sin u rs : or Righteoufnefs attainable nuithout 
 Works.^ — Very good Encouragement indeed ! The Sermon was of 
 
 a Piece with tne Title ^For he declares Page 10. *' That our 
 
 Repentance Duties, and belt. Endsavours are hereby utterly rejec- 
 ted."— This Gentleman as 1 have heard, has fmce been difcharged 
 by thf Governors. 
 
 ' But James Her<vey MaRer of Arts, Reaor of Wefon-Fa'vell m 
 
 Northampton- 
 
30 p.'. FUEE's Speech to the London-Clergy. 
 
 ** of England ?" an Opinion fo deftrucTtive to a 
 State ! fo oppofite to the Being and Attributes of 
 God. and our Saviour's own Account of a fu- 
 ture Judgment ? 
 
 You iec. Gentlemen, the Peril of the Times 
 and the Importance of the Subjcfts, which are 
 laid before you. It were to be wiflied, that you 
 
 J'TorthamptonJh'ire was permitted to go on in his own Way, till 
 Death put a ^ top to his Blafphemies. 
 
 In his Book c;ilied Theron and Afpajjo^ lie had the AlTurance to 
 declare to theWoiid an-^ong other Articles full as furpr^zing. *' That 
 the Goipti ru:.s counier to the Li^^ht of Nature.'* Vol. I. Dial. 6. 
 
 '* J h3t both Grace and Faith (land in diredl Oppoiltion to 
 •* Works 5 r;!] Works whatever. Whether they be Works of the 
 ** Law or Works of the Gofpt] ; Exi rcif^s of the Heart or Adlions 
 •' of rhe Life ; done in a State of Nature, or under the Influences 
 •* tf Grace ; they are all, and t'^tx'j of them equally fet afide ia 
 •* this great Affair. 
 
 " That the Bill of Exclufion is thus Extenfive, ^>.** 
 
 And to ccnvirce u; rh.t he takes thefe to be the Dodlrines of the 
 Church cf Englurd,' he afHrms in the xx Pagi o^ his Preface, 
 •' That be catu.ot but reflect with a peculiar Pleafure, that every 
 ** Djftri e of Note, maintained in thefe Dialogue?. anJ Letters, is 
 ** cither implied in our Liturgy^ aff-rted in our Ariules^ or taught 
 ** in our Homilies, ^r " 
 
 Again, tfijt Ignorant and Onmeiefs Impostor Mr. Jones in his 
 Eypojition^ as he c^lls it, of the Church-catechifm the ift Edition P. 7. 
 f lys, that' our troral Gentlemen in the tendereji and foftrjl Manner 
 Ticcmmcnd it to Tou, to t/ead in the prim role Paths of Virtue, and 
 not to Jkait in the flippery TraBs of P^'ice : but notnjoithfianding if we 
 be] eve CLr.BiOlts, njoe can nc^vir cotne into their Scheme^ Sec. 
 
 Whaif — vvi'l not rhe Bible permit us to tread in the Paths of 
 Virtm? Was tstx Virtue fo^infamoufly ridiculed, ox the Word of 
 G:d in openly bl.fphcTjeJ in any Ccuntrv ? and to add to the fla- 
 gr.mcy of the Detu, th s D.--ciaration is -* d-, in what he calls an 
 Ex^offion vf tlie Catechifm of the national Ccx^^'^n ? Good Heaven 
 is thf le no King in I/raeJP noChurch? no Payors of the Church? 
 nci Legrflatvre? That tor the Honour of- Goa and their Country 
 wi 1 Uep fortn, and i^op fuch optM Blafpht^my as this ? nor refent 
 fuch a villainous L/.W upon our natio::al Rel'gion, which muft 
 wake it fcandulous to ail the Cbiijiian and the Heathen World ? 
 
 would 
 
afem!?led af Sion-CoWege, May 8, 1759. 31 
 
 would begin to confer upon them without Delays 
 w^hile you are here together in a Body ; that, if 
 poiTible, fome previous Refolutions might even 
 now be formed, and Meafures concerted, which 
 might feem to have had the Sand:ion of public 
 Suffrage, or common Confent. 
 
 And more effedtually to give your Counfels 
 this Appearance ; fuppofe the Clergy of this Me- 
 tropolis were to enter into a public AfTociation, as 
 they heretofore did in this very Place, when each 
 engaged to take his Part, and all heartily united 
 in the Defence of the Church againft the Ad- 
 vances of Popery under King James II. This 
 would be attended with great Advantages ; for 
 hereby fuch as meant well, would be enabled to 
 diftinguifh Friends from Enemies : which would 
 keep them from mifplacing their Confidence, and 
 give them, in other Refpedts, greater Influence : 
 for, ading in a Body, no odium could fo eafily 
 be fixed by the adverfe Party upon particular 
 Perfons : beiides, that they muft iiand more in 
 awe of a colledied Force, and decline, through 
 Fear or Prudence, many an x^ttack, to which 
 they might be invited by the Weaknefs of iingle 
 Combatants. We may fee the Utility of this 
 meafui-e of ailociating in every Step that we can 
 propofe to take, particularly in the following 
 Infiance, which I think ought to be one of your 
 firft Refolutions. 
 
 Suppofe the City-Clergy v/ere, one and all> to 
 agree never to admit a Methodift or vagrant 
 Teacher to play the Prize-Fighter in their Pul- 
 pits, 
 
32 Dr. FREE's Speech to the London-Glergy, 
 pits, at that favourite Diverfion of the Mob, d 
 Charity-Sermon ? why then, no Church- War- 
 den who had been feduced, nor Trufltee of a 
 School of the enthufiaftic Turn, could pretend 
 to take offence at their Dodtor, as they call him, 
 for his particular Refufal : becaufe in this Cafe, 
 tho' the Denial came from a fingle Perfon, if 
 would be conlidered, as the Ad: and Deed of 
 the whole Body of the Clergy, by whom any 
 Perfon, offending againft the eftabliflied Rule, 
 niuft exped: (and the world would expecl the 
 fame) to be cenfjred and excluded the Society, 
 as a Time-ferving, falfe and unworthy Brother. 
 In a Word, fo great is the Utility of affociating, 
 that I beg Leave to recommend it as the very 
 firft Meafure you fhould chufe to purfue 3 being 
 perfuaded that no Meafures however important, 
 can ever fucceed without it. 
 
 In this ftep you may be followed by the Clergy 
 in every County, I might fay Diocefe, but that 
 muft explain itfelf ; I mean the country Clergy, 
 many of which are Men of great Learning -, great 
 Honefty, great Leifure, arid great Abilities y 
 who, in a crifis, may by their Writings prove 
 the Stay of the Church of England, This we' 
 may exped: from them : While they on their 
 Part exped, that, as our Situation is in the Capi- 
 tal, we fhould be the moft Vigilant, arid fee the 
 farthefl. And fince there is no Time for Delay; 
 Gentlemen, forgive me, if I prefs you this very 
 Day, in fome Form or other, to nlake fome be- 
 ginning. If you hefitate, the Thing is over and 
 
 paft 
 
affembled at Sion-CoUege, May 8, 1759. 33 
 paft Recovery. Remember the Words of the 
 Athenian Patriot and Orator DemofihmeSy arid 
 apply them to the Church and to yourfelves. 
 
 TO "urpdrleiv tS ?^€y^v ^ '^eiporoveiv v<^spov^ ov Tvircc^et^ 
 'srctp vfjiiv, iicrivy w avS'pss A^nvcct'oi^ S'vvdfj.&voi^ %^y^^^'^ 
 
 VOA liTOLVTCjiV hfX.^S O^VTOLTOl TCt pH^iVTX Kj TSTpCi^ca S& 
 
 Tii'oc Koupovi (a a.vS'pes 'A^mcJoii tS ^ocpcvrog l3i?\.Ticj 
 aTTcwroc fAh r]f>Loov rcc x'^P^^ 7rpO?^An(p€r o sxP'f^ '^ ^ ^'^ 
 ^^acpte^x. [Second Olynthiack.] 
 
 If vve make this Cafe our own, and it is but 
 too fimilar , it will appear that fomething ought 
 to be done immediately, or- it muft be left undone 
 for ever. By permitting thefe enthufiailick 
 Teachers to have Accefs to your Pulpits, and 
 fwallowing the delulive Maxim of your Eneriiies 
 to let them alone, till they fhall decay of them- 
 felves 5 yoii have fuffered them, like Weeds ne- 
 gleded, to grow fo high and extend themfelves fo 
 ** far, that they boaft of the Notice, nay, the Pro- 
 tedion and foftering Care of fome People in 
 Power, who may think that they have an Interell: 
 in ruining the Church of E?2gla?id : Why elfe 
 fhould they endeavour by working with fuch 
 Tools as thefe, to make its Difcipline contempti- 
 ble, and its Dodrines odious ? that fo the wife 
 and honeft Part of Mankind, may grow afhamed 
 
 E of 
 
4 Dr. FREE's Speech to the Londori-Ciergy, 
 
 of a Religion fo disfigured and deformed, 
 ^fid remove from its Gomrnunion. And thus 
 while the Name of the Church of England fub- 
 fifts, it will infenfibly take another Form, and 
 be bereaved qf all its ancient Members. There 
 may be fome Cunning in this Defign ; yet it is 
 not laid fo deep, but that it may be difcerned. 
 
 I have fhewn in my Writings, and every Day 
 produces frefh Inftances to the fame cffed, that 
 there are already Docflrines propagated under the 
 Name of Po6lrines of the Church of England^ 
 vvhich for thejr Irreligion, the heathen Nations 
 \vere afraid to own, and for their grofs Tendency, 
 even Mahometans would be afliamed to adopt. 
 
 What is it to the rational Members of a Com- 
 monwealth, (and thofe are the moft valuable 
 Members) if the publick Religion be made up 
 of Iniquity, Blafphemy and Delufion, whether 
 that Gompofition be imported from Geneva^ 
 Germany or Rome; whether it be the Invention 
 of Pope Calvin, Pope Zinzendorf, or Pope Be- 
 nediSi, The Impiety of every religious Delu- 
 fion, being ftill the fame ; the Deluiion will be 
 upon its account, alike offenfive, let the Authors 
 of it be, who they will. 
 
 Where fuch fhocking Errors are avowedly 
 propagated, and yet connived at by the People in 
 Authority, a Man will begin to look upon all jNa- 
 tional Religion as a Farce, he may be obliged 
 indeed, as in Popifa Countries to attend to it as a 
 publick Interlude or Fantomine of State : But he 
 niufl make tlie Reccffes of his own Heart the 
 
 Flacc 
 
affembledat Sion-GoHege, May 8, 1759. 35 
 
 place of his Devotion, and retire to that little 
 Chapel, or fequeftered Cell, whicl> Heaven has 
 providentially fecured from the rude Intrufions of 
 the Vulgar, and referved even in Revolutions of 
 Government, and the worft of Times for the 
 very Service of the very God, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
1 
 
in 
 
 ^^^^-'■^w^m-^^CMmiym^mm 
 
 This Addrefs is printed here to fliew tlis World, that the 
 Kirk o( Scotland k not abridged of this necefTary Prlvi- 
 Ug^. Why then eipccially in Times of Danger fhould 
 it be denied to the Church of Engla?7d? Is not his 
 Majesty bound as much to the Maintenance of 
 the Rights of One Chutch, as of the other ? 
 
 From the London Gazette. 
 tCenfigtPn, June 12. The following Addrefr^ of the Minifters 
 and Elders of the Church of Scotland ]Ta\ in^ been tranf- 
 iriitted by the High Commiflioner to the Right Honourabb 
 the Earl oi Holder-nrJJe, one of his Majeily's Principal Secre- 
 taries of State, has by him been prefented to his Majeflv x 
 which Addrefs hisMajelly waspleafcd to receive vqiv "ra'ci- 
 ouily. X 
 
 May it phafe your Mitjrjly\, 
 
 YOUR Majefty's moil gracious Letter to this A/rembly 
 was received with that humble Refpecl and Gratitude, 
 which is diie from loyal and happy SubjetTts to the bell of So- 
 vereigns. 
 
 It mull animate us with more ardent Zeal to difcharge oar 
 t)uty to God and ycur Majefty, that the Condud of former 
 Aflemblies is honoured with yoar Royal Approbation, and 
 that your Majelly is pleafed to take favourable Notice of our 
 undoubted Loyalty and Attachment to your Perfon and Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 Your MajcHy's countenancing the Meeting of this Aflembly 
 with yonr Royal Authority and Approbation, is a frefa Inllance 
 of your paternal Regard to this National Church, and of y>-;ur 
 pious Concern for the Interells of true Religion. 
 
 We have an entire Reliance on your Majeil/'s firm Refblu- 
 tion to maintain the Church o^ Scotland, as by Law eflab- 
 lifhed, in all its jull Rights and Privileges ; and we humbly 
 beg Leave to aiTure your ^l1jefty, that thro' the Grace of God, 
 we (hall be directed by the fame good Principles nnd Difpofi- 
 tions as heretofore ; by thefe we are prorated to exert oui- 
 felves to utmoft, in Defence of your Majefty's facred Perfon, 
 and in Support of that happy Conftitation and nufpicious Qo'>- 
 V'.^rnment, under which we er.joy fo many indlimable Blefling'-. 
 
 The Choice your Majefty ha-j been pleafrr-d tu liiake of the 
 
 Liit'i 
 
[ii] 
 
 Lord Catchcartt to reprefent your Royal Perfon in this AfTen:;- 
 bly, gives the higheit Satisfa6lion to us, and to every Mem- 
 ber of the Church. The repeated Proofs your Majefty has 
 had of his Abilities, Fidelity, and Prudence ; and the Know- 
 ledge we have of his Zeal for your Majefty's Service, as well 
 as aifedlonate Concern for the Welfare and Profperity of the 
 Church of Scotland., cannot but render him intirely acceptable 
 to us, and to all the true Friends of our happy Eilablifhment in 
 Church and State. 
 
 Your Majeily^s Pvcnevval of your Royal Bounty, for the re- 
 formation of the Highlands and Iflands, and Places where Ig- 
 norp.nce and Popery Itill too much abound, we accept w\^ 
 ail Thankfulnefs ; and (hall employ the moft proper and ef- 
 fedlual Means, in pur Power, for anfwering the important 
 Ends of fo pious and charitable a Donation. 
 
 To juilify the Confidence your Majefty is pleafed to repofe 
 in us, your Majefty may be aiTured, that we fhall moft heartily 
 concur in our Endeavours, to advance the Interefts of Religion 
 and Virtue, which is the great End of our prefent Meeting. 
 
 That the God of all Grace, the Father of Mercies, may 
 pojr down his chciceft Bleffings upon your Majetty's Perfon 
 and Royal Family; That your precious Lite may be long pre- 
 served for a Blelling to thiefe Realms ; That your Councils 
 may be directed by Divine Wifdom ; That your Fleets and 
 Armies, under the Condu6l of the Lord of Hofts, inay be fuc- 
 ccfsful and vidorious; and that the Calamities of War may be 
 ibon and happily terminated by a fafe and honourable Peace ; 
 That God may abundantly blefs their Royal Higneftes George 
 Prince of Waksy the Princefs Dowager of Waks^ the Duke, 
 the Princefles, and all the Branches of your Royal Family; and 
 that after a long and profperoys Reign upp" Earth, you may 
 at laft be received into that Kingdom, which cannot be mo- 
 ved ; and that a Race of Kings of your Royal Line, Guardians 
 of Religion, Liberty, and their Country, may always fway 
 the Scepter over thefe Lands, are the fmcere and hearty 
 Prayers of, 
 '^'^"' May it pleafe your Majefty, 
 
 Your Majefty's moft Faithful, 
 Moft Dutiful, and m[oil Loyal Subjefts, 
 
 The Miniftcrs and Elders met in this 
 National Aftembly of the Church of 
 Scotland. 
 Signed in our Name, in our Prefence, and at our Appoint- 
 ment, by • Ghorgl- ivAX* Moderator. 
 Edinburgh. Ma^- 26, I "59. '■■■"•/ 
 
 Biroupb 
 
Bcrozigboi South'vjarky June 15, 1759. 
 
 PROPOSALS 
 
 For Printing by SUBSCH-IPT ION, 
 In One Volume, Oda'vo, 
 
 Dr. FREE^s whole Controversy v/ith 
 the Methodifis. 
 
 Whereas the Enthufiafm oi the prefent Times, by the Encour- 
 agement of feme People in Po-juer^ and the Zeal oi it's Abhet' 
 terSi who fpare no Expence for it's Propagation, is now be- 
 come dangerous to the Conjiituiion^ and the i'tace of the 
 efcablilhed Church of England', and whereas the Reverend 
 
 -^-Dr. Free, at his o'wn Jole Charge, hath frunn Tipe to Tire, 
 occalionally publiihtd leverai ufeful Tracts and iiiiC' uri'es, as 
 a Prj?/f;-T.'^/ii;t' againfi thole popular Delufiom, which V/or>:s 
 of his, to the pubhck Lofs, are n^^w chiefly out of Pnnc : 
 Therefore Proposals have been made, and approved of 
 by fome Gentlemen in the Borough of Scuth^ark., for re-pub- 
 li'fiiing the fame, for the Benefit of the P^^ople in their 
 Neighbourhood, in the Manner following. 
 
 CONDITIONS. 
 
 IJ g *'* HE Whole to be comprifed in One Volume, Odmjo^ 
 %^ and to contain, 
 
 lit. Certain Articles propofed to the ferious Confideration 
 of the Company oi ualttrs in London, concerning the Choice 
 cf a Methodiji, Sec. 
 
 2d. Kules (or (he D:7'cc^d'ay of fal/e Proihcfs, or the danger- 
 pus Impojitions of the People called Methodijls deteifbed at the 
 Bar of Scripture and Reajm : A Sermon before the the Univer- 
 lity of Oxford : With an ample Dedication to his Grace cf 
 Cantcrhury, and a controverfial Preface, and Appendix. 
 
 3d.- Dr. Free\ Edition of the R.ev. Mr. J. V/efiey'^fi-f.y com- 
 monly called the P-'iNny Letter, &c. With Notes, and a 
 Dedication to the Reverend Author, Scz. 
 
 4th. Y^r. Free's Edition of tj-'e Rev. Mr. 7- ^^'efliys :d Let- 
 ter, &c, in the fame iVIanner. 
 
 rth Re* 
 
[Iv} 
 
 5f.h. Remarks upon Mr. 'Joneses Letter; and the Jfida'vits 
 relating to the compojmg, then publijhing from the Puipit^ and 
 afterwards printing, \)\2X fcandalous Forgery y the pretended Letter 
 from the Manfiom ahcve. Dedicated to the Ld. Biihop of Win- 
 chefler. 
 
 6th. The Whole Speech, as it was delivered to the 
 London Clergy, affembled at Sion College, on Tuefday the 8th of 
 May, 1759. To which is prefixed a Remonilrance, &c. 
 to the Ld* Biihop oUVinchcJiery complaining of P^rA'<r«//5/z from 
 the People called Methodijls, iffc. 
 
 II. The Vv Oik Ihall be put to the Prefs fo foon as the Num- 
 ber of Ft/?)? Subicribers Ihall be compleated; and printed off 
 with the greatel^ Expedition. 
 
 in. Each Subfcrlber to pay One Guinea at tlie Time of 
 fubfcrlbing, for wnich he fhall receive Six Books fewed, or 
 Five Books bound J as he (hall fignify at the Time of fub- 
 fcribing, by writing after his' Name, which of thefe he makes 
 his Option. 
 
 IV. All Perfons, who are difpofed to give the fame En- 
 couragement to this Work, as the Gentlemen in the Borough 
 of Southnx^ark., may do it upon the fame Terms. 
 
 V. The Names of the Fifty Subfcribers, who firft moved 
 and contributed to this re-publication, (hall be printed by 
 themfelves : And then the Names of fuch other Subfcribers, 
 as /hall fend them in Time> and exprefs no Objedlion to their 
 being printed. 
 
 VI. Subfcribers are defired to fend their Payments, Names, 
 and Places of Abode to the Author, at his Houfe, in King 
 John's Court, near Bermondfey Church, South^vark, to Mr. John 
 Winter, at the S^<:an, in the Borough, or Mr. J. Scott, Book- 
 
 Jeller, in Pafer-noJier-Rcw. 
 
 N^ B. Thofe, who are inclined to have fingle Books, may 
 enfily join. Five or Six together, and make the full Subfcrip- 
 tion in the Name of One of the Company, afterwards dividing 
 the Books among them, as they pleafe. 
 
X