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gar, and of the ignorant, both in civilized manners, and useful attainments, can a greater outrage be done to society, than to represent us as not only useless, but pernicious to that society we are expected to enlighten by our knowlege, and improve, by our. example? Is this consistent with Christian charity ? Is this the suggestion of that amiable spirit "which "thinketh no evil?" Is this one of the fruits of Christianity, whose tendency is to regulate the passions, and to meliorate the heart? How many unhappy wretches have been alienated from the public service of the Church, and have, literally, “lived with❝out God in the world," by their malicious misrepresentations? When they declaim to the ignorant that they are born of God, and affirm that it is impossible for us, who are not so highly favored, to preach the Gospel-whatever be their views, the consequences are most deplorable. They, no doubt, mean to proselyte men to their own opinions; but if they fail in the attempt, they render them indifferent so willing are too many to renounce all claim to "the things which are not seen"-to that sea sonable instruction with which it is the intention of our Church that all her children be supplied, and that rational worship, which, whilst it inspires with piety, preserves from enthusiasm.

They further allege that our people, by their attendance on divine worship, are not made better. What is this but arrogating to themselves the property of Omniscience? Admitting, however, the truth of the assertion-let them consider, before they so wantonly destroy the present, and future, happiness of men-how much worse a nation would be

come,

come, if it, universally, adopted the desperate resolution of renouncing the public worship of Almighty God.

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But it is here to be remarked, that they are, openly, counteracting the effects of the Gospel, and the design of its Author. Jesus Christ, expressly, commands; that all, who profess his Religion, commemorate His death in the Holy Sacrament. Now to prevent men, either by foul calumnies, or insidious suggestions, from attending at the Lord's Table, is to destroy the efficacy of that Divine Ordinance, upon every unhappy person whom those calumnies may have irritated, or those suggestions misguided. How this is to be reconciled with an ardent zeal for the honor of God, and the salvation of men, can only be described by their peculiar phraseology, and comprehended by their illuminated minds.

If in the cultivation of the minds of their children, if in impressing just principles, and implanting sound morals, they can shew themselves to be under a divine direction, Methodism will be allowed to have produced happy effects. But the very contrary is notorious. Many of them persuade themselves, it should seem, that their duty towards their children is completely discharged, by compelling them to attend the prayers of their family, and the preaching of their assemblies. What is the effect? Meanness and deceit take deep root in their mind, and produce a copious harvest of secret follies, and concealed irregularities. Deprived of rational amusements, wearied with long prayers, dis, “ gusted with puritanical conversation, the moment they escape from the hands of their deluded parents, they fall a prey, as is, naturally, to be expected, to every temptation.

tation. They are without prudence, and without virtue. The moral sense is not implanted at all, and a sense of Religion has been implanted in vain. I must not omit, that the children of the Methodists, if they fail to embrace the religion of their parents, are seldom attached to any mode of worship, or system of belief. From the aversion, which they have contracted at home, to folly or fanaticism, they too often conclude, that Religion itself is nothing but hypocrisy; and as they are unacquainted with the evidences, and the genius, of Christianity; as they have only a few indistinct ideas of original sin, of Grace, and justification, floating on their minds, the perusal of those pernicious books, with which every infidel is ready and eager to supply them, renders them at once degenerate in principle, and profligate in practice. Happy were it for both parents and children, if content with "asking for "the old paths they had walked therein, that they "might have found rest unto their souls! But they" perversely said, "we will not walk therein." Happy for both parents and children, if, instead of being "carried about by every wind of doctrine" they had been content to have attended the service of the Church, and to have appropriated to themselves the blessings of the Altar-they would then "have sown in righteousness, and have reaped in joy!"

For the misery which prevails in many families of the Methodists, incontrovertible reasons may be assigned. Supposing, as they do, that God can only be pleased by our abstaining from the innocent pleasures of life; proclaiming that austerity of manners, and rigor of deportment, are the most acceptable sacrifices which can be offered to Him, they shew no indulgence

to

to the common failings of humanity. How much is it to be lamented, that, although there are before their eyes so many who have made shipwreck of the happiness of their families, the adherents to this persuasion should still, obstinately, persist in following such pernicious steps!

The regulation of the moral temper, and the extinction of the malignant passions, do not, alas! seem to be essential, or even subordinate, parts, of their system. For though they persuade themselves that their heart is the actual habitation of God's Spirit, yet we do not often perceive the place of His residence adorned with those graces which are pleasing in His sight. Vehemence of temper, uncharitableness of opinion, greediness of gain-are they not among their distinguishing characteristics?

Need I mention one very material injury to saciety, arising from the preaching of Methodismthe despair of obtaining God's mercy, into which many are precipitated; the horrors they experience, by not sensibly receiving, as they are taught to expect, the forgiveness of their sins; and the very unhappy manner in which they, sometimes, terminate their existence?-thus rushing unbidden into the presence of the Almighty, and leaving, some times, numerous, and well-disposed, families to deplore their loss! This is an evil from which Methodism cannot be exculpated.

I have now fairly, and impartially, stated how much Christianity and civil Society are indebted to the propagation of Methodism. I have also, without exaggeration, laid before you some evils which Methodism has failed to correct, and some which it

has

;

has produced. I have endeavored to strip it of its misrepresentations on the one hand, and its disguises on the other. Whether the good or the evil preponderate, I leave to the determination of your own judgment. It will, however, be necessary to shew farther, why Methodism has so encreased, and by what means it is supported; but having detained you so long already, I cannot bestow on this part of my subject, the attention its importance demands.

1II. That Methodism has increased more from its flattering doctrines, than its intrinsic excellence, will, I presume, evidently appear.

After subjecting them to a certain state of probation, after permitting them to labor a certain period under the conviction of sin, during which God requires to be sought by deep sighs, melancholy groans, unceasing prayers; after threatening them with everlasting destruction, He, in one single moment, speaks unto them, saying, "in a little wrath I hid 66 my face from thee for a moment, but with ever"lasting kindness will I have compassion on thee—” when lo! the burden of their sins falls off; though "they were as scarlet, they become white as snow; "though they were as crimson, they become as "woolt." Surely there does not appear any ana

These symptoms, says Mr. Wesley, I can so more impute to any natural cause, than to the Spirit of God. I make no doubt it was SATAN tearing them as they were coming to Christ. And hence proceeded those grievous cries, &c.—Wesley's Journal, from 1741 to 1743.

+ I visited a poor woman a mile or two from the town. Her trials had been uncommon; inexpressible agonies of mind, joined with all sorts of bodily pain, not (it seemed) from any natural cause, but the direct operation of Satan, Her joys were now as un

common;

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