The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Methodism; Wesley, John, 1703-1791
It was determined that, in future, the conferences should be held
at London, Bristol, and Leeds, by turns. As a testimony against the
corruptions of the Moravians, it was suggested, that it might be proper
to reprint Wesley’s “Letter to the Church at Herrnhuth,” with some
additions, and a dedication to the count. It was resolved to behave
towards Mr. Ingham with all tenderness and love, and to unite with
him when he returned to the old Methodist doctrine. The predestinarian
preachers having done much hurt to the societies, it was agreed—“(1)
That none of them should preach any more in our societies. (2) That
a loving and respectful letter should be written to Mr. Whitefield,
desiring him to advise his preachers, not to reflect (as they had
done continually, and that both with great bitterness and rudeness)
either upon the doctrines, discipline, or person of Mr. Wesley, among
his own societies; to abstain himself (at least when he was among Mr.
Wesley’s people) from speaking against either his doctrines, rules, or
preachers; and not to declare war anew, as he had done by a needless
digression in his late sermon.”
In accordance with this resolution, Wesley addressed to Whitefield the
following letter, which, up to the present, has been unpublished:—
“_May, 1753._
“MY DEAR BROTHER,—Between forty and fifty of our preachers lately met
at Leeds, all of whom, I trust, esteem you in love for your work’s
sake. I was desired by them to mention a few particulars to you, in
order to a still firmer union between us.
“Several of them had been grieved at your mentioning, among our people
(in private conversation, if not in public preaching), some of those
opinions which we do not believe to be true;—such as ‘a man may be
justified and not know it;’ that, ‘there is no possibility of falling
away from grace;’ and that, ‘there is no perfection in this life.’
They conceived, that this was not doing as you would be done to, and
that it tended to create not peace but confusion.
“They were likewise concerned at your sometimes speaking lightly of
the discipline received among us, of societies, classes, bands, and
of our rules in general, of some of them in particular. This they
apprehended to be neither kind nor just, nor consistent with the
profession which you at other times make.
“Above all, they had been troubled at the manner wherein your
preachers (so I call those who preach at the Tabernacle) had very
frequently spoken of my brother and me, partly in the most scoffing
and contemptuous manner, relating a hundred shocking stories as
unquestionable facts, and propagating them with diligence, and with an
air of triumph, wherever they came.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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