“Permit me to foretell thy _doom_, (Which has in _part_ been that of _Rome_,) Thou wilt be clean abhorred: The _nation_ will expose thy shame, Cast out as dung thy putrid name, The vengeance of the Lord! For while her _orders_, and her _rules_, Are made the _standard_ of thy _schools_, And all beside of blame: What other portion canst thou hope, But that the wise should give thee up, Her _ape_—without her _name_?” The book throughout is written in the same severe,—almost savage style. Remembering this; and also remembering, that numbers of Methodists had already turned Dissenters; and that separation from the Church of England was still the great question agitating the Methodistic mind; no wonder that the subject was re-discussed in the conference of 1756, and that a most important correspondence followed. While in Ireland, Wesley wrote to a clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Clark, of Hollymount,[271] in the following terms. “CASTLEBAR, _July 3, 1756_. “REVEREND SIR,—I still believe the episcopal form of church government to be scriptural and apostolical. I mean, well agreeing with the practice and writings of the apostles. But, that it is _prescribed_ in Scripture, I do not believe. This opinion, which I once zealously espoused, I have been heartily ashamed of, ever since I read Bishop Stillingfleet’s ‘Irenicon.’ I think he has unanswerably proved, that neither Christ nor His apostles _prescribe_ any particular form of church government; and, that the plea of _Divine right_ for diocesan episcopacy was never heard of in the primitive church. “As to _heresy_ and _schism_, I cannot find one text in the Bible, where they are taken in the modern sense. I remember no one scripture, wherein _heresy_ signifies ‘error in opinion,’ whether fundamental or not; nor any, wherein _schism_ signifies a ‘separation from the church,’ whether with cause or without. I wish, sir, you would reconsider this point, and review the scriptures wherein those terms occur. “I would take some pains to recover any one from error, or to reconcile him to our church, I mean, to the Church of England; from which I do not separate yet, and probably never shall; but I would take much more pains to recover any one from sin. One who lives and dies in error, or in dissent from our church, may yet be saved: but one who lives and dies in sin, must perish. I would to God, we could all agree both in opinions and outward worship; but, if this cannot be, may we not agree in holiness? This is the great desire of, reverend sir, your very humble servant, “JOHN WESLEY.”[272] Nineteen days before the Bristol conference was opened, Charles Wesley addressed the following to the Rev. Samuel Walker, of Truro. “BRISTOL, _August 7, 1756_.