_Bishop._ I am informed by Sir Gerrard Napper, Mr Freak, and Mr Tregonnel of your doings. What say you? _Wesley._ I have been with those honoured gentlemen, who, being misinformed, proceeded with some heat against me. _Bishop._ There are the oaths of several honest men, who have observed you. _Wesley._ There was no oath given or taken. Besides, if it be enough to accuse, who shall be innocent? I can appeal to the determination of the great day of judgment, that the large catalogue of matters laid against me are either things invented or mistaken. _Bishop._ Did not you ride with your sword in the time of the Committee of Safety, and engage with them? _Wesley._ Whatever imprudences in civil matters you may be informed I am guilty of, I shall crave leave to acquaint your lordship, that his Majesty having pardoned them fully, and I having suffered on account of them since the pardon, I shall put in no other plea, and waive any other answer. _Bishop._ In what manner did the church you speak of send you to preach? At this rate everybody might preach. _Wesley._ Not every one. Everybody has not preaching gifts and preaching graces. Besides, that is not all I have to offer to your lordship to justify my preaching. _Bishop._ If you preach, it must be according to order; the order of the Church of England, upon an ordination. _Wesley._ What does your lordship mean by an ordination? _Bishop._ Do not you know what I mean? _Wesley._ If you mean that spoken of Rom. x., I had it. _Bishop._ I mean that. What mission had you? _Wesley._ I had a mission from God and man. _Bishop._ You must have it according to law, and the order of the Church of England. _Wesley._ I am not satisfied in my spirit therein. _Bishop._ Not satisfied in your _spirit_! You have more new-coined phrases than ever were heard of! You mean your conscience, do you not? _Wesley._ _Spirit_ is no new phrase. We read of being “sanctified in body, soul, and _spirit_,” but, if your lordship like it not so, then I say, I am not satisfied in my _conscience_, touching the ordination you speak of. _Bishop._ Conscience argues science, science supposes judgment, and judgment reason. What reason have you that you will not be thus ordained? _Wesley._ I came not this day to dispute with your lordship; my own ability would forbid me to do so. _Bishop._ No, no; but give me your reason. _Wesley._ I am not called to office, and therefore cannot be ordained. _Bishop._ Why, then, have you preached all this while? _Wesley._ I was called to the _work_ of the ministry, though not to the _office_. There is, as we believe, _vocatio ad opus, et ad munus_. _Bishop._ Why may you not have the office of the ministry? You have so many new distinctions! oh, how you are deluded! _Wesley._ May it please your lordship, because they are not a people that are fit objects for me to exercise office-work among them.