“Mr. Wesley assured us he had corrected all the _tart_ expressions in them” (that is, in Fletcher’s Letters). “Alas! _Qualia verba, quæ facta!_ Whether there are _no tart_ expressions in the Letters, let every one that hath seen them judge. But, perhaps, this learned gentleman distinguishes between the _tart_ and the _bitter_. If all the _tart_ expressions are corrected, I am sure there are enough of the _bitter_ left. “As to the Letters themselves, I shall have ‘the author’s’ pardon for noticing two particular charges against me. “1. I am supposed to want candour; as if I had put a forced construction on the ‘Minutes,’ in order to bring Mr. Wesley in guilty. Mr. Fletcher has attempted a ‘vindication’ of them; and, by breaking them into sentences and half-sentences, and refining upon each of these detached particles, he has done more than I could have expected, even from his great abilities, in giving a new turn to the whole. But, after reading his learned and elaborate ‘Vindication,’ when I cast my eye over the ‘Minutes,’ and consider the whole as it stands in context, I must own, I am just where I was: nothing _but the ‘Declaration’_ could ever convince me that justification by works was not maintained and supported by the ‘Minutes.’ “2. The charge of _inconsistency_ is supported by quotations from my sermons. To this, I beg leave to observe, that the passages quoted are not altogether in point; neither do they maintain justification by works in such direct and express terms as the ‘Minutes’ appear to do. I must, however, own that they savour too strongly of mysticism and free-will; and all I can say, on my behalf in this respect, is, that they were written many years ago, at a time when I had more zeal than light; that my present ministry, as well as my present way of thinking, is very different; and that I have frequently expressed my disapprobation of those sermons, nay wished they had been burnt.” Shirley was nettled; and, after the imperious arrogance displayed in his “Circular Letter,” he deserved to be. Fletcher’s fifth and last letter is caustical; but not more so than the occasion justified. The following is extracted from it:— “HON. AND REV. SIR,—Having vindicated both some important doctrines of the Gospel, and an eminent servant of Christ from the charge of _dreadful heresy_, I will now take the liberty of a friend to expostulate a little with _you_.