The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 03 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 03 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
4. He may differ from us, fourthly, not only in opinion, but likewise
in some points of practice. He may not approve of that manner of
worshipping God, which is practised in our congregation: and may judge
that to be more profitable for his soul, which took its rise from
_Calvin_, or _Martin Luther_. He may have many objections to that
liturgy, which we approve of, beyond all others; many doubts concerning
that form of Church-government, which we esteem both apostolical
and scriptural. Perhaps he may go farther from us yet: he may, from
a principle of conscience, refrain from several of those, which we
believe to be the ordinances of Christ. Or if we both agree, that
they are ordained of God, there may still remain a difference between
us, either as to the manner of administring those ordinances, or
the persons to whom they should be administred. Now the unavoidable
consequence of any of these differences, will be, that he who thus
differs from us, must separate himself, with regard to those points,
from our society. In this respect therefore _he followeth not us_: he
is _not_ (as we phrase it) _of our church_.
5. But in a far stronger sense, _he followeth not us_, who is not only
of a different church, but of such a church as we account to be in many
respects antiscriptural and antichristian: a church which we believe
to be utterly false and erroneous in her doctrines, as well as very
dangerously wrong in her practice, guilty of gross superstition as well
as idolatry. A church that has added many articles to the faith, which
was once delivered to the saints: that has dropt one whole commandment
of God, and made void several of the rest by her traditions: and that
pretending the highest veneration for, and strictest conformity to
the antient church, has nevertheless brought in numberless innovations,
without any warrant either from antiquity or scripture. Now most
certainly _he followeth not us_, who stands at so great a distance
from us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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