The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 1 (of 3)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 1 (of 3)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Methodism; Wesley, John, 1703-1791
sin whatsoever;” and likewise “denounced eternal death and damnation
on all who cannot conform to their ridiculous ideas.” “Whilst adopting
to themselves the reputation of being the chief favourites of heaven,
the confidants and imparters of its secrets, and the dispensers of its
frowns and favours, they were really furious disciples of antichrist,
reverend scavengers of scandal, and filthy pests and plagues of
mankind.” Such are specimens of the meek language used by the reverend
vicar of Dewsbury.
We have already noticed one production of the fiery and furious
Joseph Trapp, D.D., published in 1739. The publication of that
produced others, in 1740. One was entitled, “The true Spirit of the
Methodists, and their Allies, fully laid open; in an answer to six
of the seven pamphlets, lately published against Dr. Trapp’s sermons
upon being ‘Righteous over much’”: pp. 98. The anonymous author says,
that one of these six pamphlets is full of “false quotations, lies,
and slanders,” and concludes with “an ungodly jumble of railing and
praying.” The Methodists are branded as “crack-brained enthusiasts and
profane hypocrites.” “The criterions of modern saintship are the most
unchristian malice, lying, slander, railing, and cursing.” Whitefield
is pronounced “impious and ignorant.” The “false doctrines and
blasphemies of the Methodists, their field assemblies and conventicles
in houses, are contrary to the laws of God and man, of church and
state, and are tending to the ruin of both.”
Another pamphlet, of 127 pages, was by Dr. Trapp himself, and entitled,
“A Reply to Mr. Law’s earnest and serious Answer (as it is called)
to Dr. Trapp’s discourse on being righteous over much.” The reverend
doctor, as inflammable as ever, pronounces the Methodists “a new sect
of enthusiasts, or hypocrites, or both; whose doctrines and practices
tend to the destruction of souls, are a scandal to Christianity,
and expose it to the scoffs of libertines, infidels, and atheists.”
This is not an unfair specimen of the whole 127 pages. William Law,
however, was far too stout an antagonist to be silenced by Dr. Trapp.
His “Serious Answer” to Trapp’s sermons, and his “Animadversions”
on Trapp’s reply, whilst written in the highest style of Christian
courtesy, are witheringly severe. They may be found in Wesley’s
collected publications, edit. 1772, vol. vi.
Another doughty anti-Methodistic champion was the celebrated Dr. Daniel
Waterland, chaplain in ordinary to his majesty, canon of Windsor,
archdeacon of Middlesex, and vicar of Twickenham; one of the greatest
controversialists of the age, who died at the end of the year of which
we are writing, and whose collected works have since been published in
eleven octavo volumes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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