The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 15 (of 32)Wesley, John
History
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 15 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
_Fanaticism_, if it means any thing at all, means the same with
_Enthusiasm_, or religious madness, from which (as was observed before)
_these doctrines_ are distant as far as the east from the west. However,
it is a _convenient_ word to be thrown out, upon any thing we do not
like; because scarce one reader in a thousand, has any idea of what ♦it
means. If any part of this doctrine is held by the _Quakers_, there is
the more reason to rejoice. I would to God they held it all: though the
doctrine itself, would be neither better nor worse for this.
♦ “is” replaced with “it”
_Popery_ in the mouth of many men means just nothing: or at most,
“Something very horrid and bad.” But _Popery_, properly speaking, is
_The distinguishing doctrines_ of the church of _Rome_. They are summed
up in the _twelve articles_ which the council of _Trent_ added to the
_Nicene_ creed. Now who can find the least connexion between any of
these, and the doctrines whereof we are speaking?
2. Others alledge, “Their doctrine is too strict. They make the way
to heaven too narrow.” And this is in truth the original objection,
(as it was almost the only one for some time) and is secretly at the
bottom of a thousand more, which appear in various forms. But do they
make the way to heaven any narrower, than our Lord and his apostles
made it? Is their doctrine stricter than that of the bible? Consider
only a few plain texts. _Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy strength.――For every idle word which men shall speak, they shall
give an account in the day of judgment.――――Whether ye eat, or drink,
or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God._ If their doctrine is
stricter than this, they are to blame. But you know in your conscience,
it is not. And who can be one jot less strict, without _corrupting the
word of God_? Can any steward of the mysteries of God be found faithful,
if he change any part of that sacred depositum? No. He can abate
nothing, he can soften nothing. He is constrained to declare to all men,
“I may not _bring down_ the scripture to your taste. You must _come up_
to it, or perish for ever.”
3. This is the real ground of that other popular cry, concerning “the
uncharitableness of these men.” Uncharitable are they? In what respect?
Do they not feed the hungry and clothe the naked? No, that is not the
thing. They are not wanting in this. But they are so _uncharitable_ in
judging! They think none can be saved, but those of their own way. They
damn all the world beside themselves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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