Chapter XIII: Part III (8)

6. They were all zealous members of the church of _England_, not only tenacious of all her doctrines, so far as they knew them, but of all her discipline, to the minutest circumstance. They were likewise zealous observers of all the university-statutes, and that for conscience sake. But they observed neither these nor any thing else any further than they conceived it was bound upon them by that one book, _the bible_; it being their one desire and design to be downright _bible Christians_: taking the bible, as interpreted by the primitive church and our own, for their whole and sole rule.

7. The one charge then advanced against them was, That they were _righteous overmuch_; that they were ♦abundantly too scrupulous, and too strict, carrying things to great extremes. In particular, that they laid too much stress upon the rubrics and canons of the church; that they insisted too much on observing the statutes of the university: and that they took the scriptures in too strict and literal a sense: so that if they were right, _few_ indeed would _be saved_.

♦ “abundanly” replaced with “abundantly”

8. In _October 1735_, Mr. _John_ and _Charles Wesley_, and Mr. _Ingham_, left _England_, with a design to go and preach to the _Indians_ in _Georgia_. But the rest of the gentlemen continued to meet, till one and another was ordained and left the university. By which means, in about two years time, scarce any of them were left.

9. In _February 1738_, Mr. _Whitefield_ went over to _Georgia_, with a design to assist Mr. _John Wesley_; but Mr. _Wesley_ just then returned to _England_. Soon after he had a meeting with Mess. _Ingham_, _Stonhouse_, _Hall_, _Hutchings_, _Kinchin_, and a few other clergymen, who all appeared to be of one heart, as well as of one judgment, resolved to be _Bible-Christians_ at all events, and, wherever they were, to preach with all their might, plain, old, Bible-Christianity.

10. They were hitherto perfectly regular in all things, and zealously attached to the _church_ of _England_. Meantime they began to be convinced, that _by grace we are saved through faith_; that justification by faith was the doctrine of the church, as well as of the bible. As soon as they _believed_, they _spake_; salvation by faith being now their standing topic. Indeed this implied three things, 1. That men are all by nature _dead in sin_, and consequently _children of wrath_. 2. That they are _justified by faith alone_. 3. That faith produces inward and outward holiness. And these points they insisted on, day and night. In a short time, they became popular preachers. The congregations were large wherever they preached. The former name was then revived. And all these gentlemen, with their followers, were intitled _Methodists_.

11. In _March 1741_, Mr. ♦_Whitefield_ being returned to _England_, entirely separated from Mr. _Wesley_ and his friends, “Because he did not hold _the decrees_.” Here was the first breach, which warm men persuaded Mr. _Whitefield_ to make, merely for a difference of opinion. Those indeed who believed _universal redemption_, had no desire at all to separate. But those who held _particular redemption_, would not hear of any accommodation, being determined to have no fellowship with men that “were in so dangerous errors.” So there were now two sorts of _Methodists_, so called; those for _particular_, and those for _general_, redemption.

♦ “Whitfield” replaced with “Whitefield”

12. Not many years passed, before _William Cudworth_ and _James Relly_ separated from Mr. _Whitefield_. These were properly _Antinomians_, absolute, avowed enemies to the law of God, which they never preached or professed to preach, but termed all _legalists_ who did. With them, _preaching the law_ was an abomination. They had _nothing to do_ with the law. They would _preach Christ_, as they called it; but without one word either of holiness or good works. Yet these were still denominated _Methodists_, although differing from Mr. _Whitefield_, both in judgment and practice, abundantly more than Mr. _Whitefield_ did from Mr. _Wesley_.

13. In the mean time, Mr. _Venn_ and Mr. _Romaine_ began to be spoken of: and not long after, Mr. _Madan_ and Mr. _Berridge_, with a few other clergymen, who, although they had no connexion with each other, yet preaching _salvation by faith_, and endeavouring to live accordingly, to be _Bible Christians_, were soon included in the general name of _Methodists_. And so indeed were all others who preached _salvation by faith_, and appeared more _serious_ than their neighbours. Some of these were quite _regular_ in their manner of preaching: some were quite _irregular_ (though not by choice; but necessity was laid upon them; they must preach _irregularly_, or not at all:) and others were between both; regular in _most_, though not in _all_ particulars.

14. In 1762, _George Bell_, and a few other persons, began to speak great words. In the latter end of the year, they foretold, that the world would be at an end on the 28th of _February_. Mr. _Wesley_, with whom they were then connected, withstood them both in public and private. This they would not endure: so, in _January_ and _February_, 1763, they separated from him. Soon after Mr. _Maxfield_, one of Mr. _Wesley_’s preachers and several of the people left Mr. _Wesley_: but still Mr. _Maxfield_, and his adherents, go under the general name of _Methodists_.

15. At present, those who remain with Mr. _Wesley_, are mostly _church_ of _England_ men. They love her articles, her homilies, her liturgy, her discipline, and unwillingly vary from it in any instance. Meantime, all who preach among them declare, _We are all by nature children of wrath_. But _by grace we are saved through faith_: saved both from the guilt and from the power of sin. They endeavour to _live_ according to what they preach, to be plain, _Bible-Christians_. And they meet together at convenient times, to encourage one another therein. They tenderly love many that are _Calvinists_, though they do not love their opinions. Yea, they love the _Antinomians_ themselves; but it is with a love of compassion only. For they hate their doctrines with a perfect hatred; they abhor them as they do hell-fire: being convinced nothing can so effectually destroy all faith, all holiness, and all good works.

16. With regard to these, Mr. _Relly_ and his adherents, it would not be strange, if they should grow into reputation. For they will never shock the world, either by the harshness of their doctrine, or the singularity of their behaviour. But let those who determine both to preach and to live the gospel, expect that men will _say all manner of evil of them. The servant is not above his master, nor the disciple above his Lord. If then they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his houshold?_ It is their duty indeed, _as much as lieth in them, to live peaceably with all men_. But when they labour after peace, the world will _make themselves ready for battle_. It is their constant endeavour, to _please all men, for their good, to edification_. But yet they know, it cannot be done: they remember the word of the apostle, _If I yet please men, I am not the servant of Christ_. They go on therefore, _through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report_: desiring only, that their master may say in that day, “Servants of God, well done.”

_The End of the_ Fifteenth _Volume_.

_To the_ SUBSCRIBERS.

In this volume is given a sheet extraordinary, on account of there being one less in the last. And as it will unavoidably happen sometimes, that a volume must be concluded a few pages short of the number proposed, on account of ending with a tract, yet the deficiency will be constantly made up when opportunity serves, in the course of the work.

ERRATA, Volume XV.

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