I HAVE, at present, neither leisure nor inclination to enter into a formal controversy: but you will give me leave, just to offer a few loose hints, relating to the subject of last night's conversation.

1. Seeing life and health are things of so great importance, it is, without question, highly expedient, that physicians should have all possible advantages of learning and education.

2. That trial should be made of them by competent judges, before they practise publickly.

3. That after such trial, they be authorised to practise by those who are empowered to convey that authority. 4. And that while they are preserving the lives of others, they should have what is sufficient to sustain their own.

5. But supposing a gentleman red at the University in Dublin, with all the advantages of education: after he has undergone all the usual trials, and then been regularly authorised to practise,

6. Suppose, I say, this physician settles at for some years, and yet makes no cures at all; but, after trying his skill on five hundred persons, cannot shew that he has healed one; many of his patients dying under his hands, and the rest remaining just as they were before he came;

7. Will you condemn a man, who, having some little skill in physic, and a tender compassion for those who are sick or dying all around him, cures many of those, without fee or reward, whom the doctor could not cure?

8. At least, did not, (which is the same thing as to the case in hand,) were it only for this reason, because he did not go to them, and they would not come to him?

9. Will you condemn him, because he has not learning? Or has not had, an university education? What then? He cures those whom the man of learning and education could not cure.

10. Will you object, that he is no physician, nor has any authority to practise? I cannot come into your opinion. I think, he is a physician who heals; Medicus est qui medetur: and that every man has authority to save the life of a dying man. But if you only mean, he has no authority to take fees, I contend not: for he takes none at all.

11. Nay, and I am afraid it will hold, on the other hand, Medicus non est qui non medetur: I am afraid, if we use propriety of speech, he is no physician who works no

cure.

12. "O, but he has taken his degree of doctor of physic, and, therefore, has authority." Authority to do what? 66 Why to heal all the sick that will employ him." But, (to wave the case of those who will not employ him : and would you have even their lives thrown away?) he does not heal those that do employ him. He that was sick before, is sick still; or else he is gone hence, and is no more seen. Therefore his authority is not worth a rush; for it serves not the end for which it was given.

13. And surely he has no authority to kill them, by hindering another from saving their lives!

14. If he either attempts or desires to hinder him, if he condemns or dislikes him for it, it is plain to all thinking men, he regards his own fees, more than the lives of his patients.

II. Now to apply. 1. Seeing life everlasting and holiness, or health of soul, are things of so great importance, it is highly expedient, that ministers, being physicians of the soul, should have all advantages of education and learning:

2. That full trial should be made of them, in all respects, and that by the most competent judges, before they enter on the public exercise of their office, The saving souls from death:

3. That after such trial, they should be authorised to exercise that office, by those who are empowered to con. vey that authority. (I believe, bishops are empowered to do this, and have been so, from the apostolic age :)

4. And that those, whose souls they save, ought, mean time, to provide them what is needful for the body.

5. But suppose a gentleman bred at the University in Dublin, with all the advantages of education: after he has undergone the usual trials, and been regularly authorized to save souls from death;

6. Suppose, I say, this minister settles at, for some years, and yet saves no souls at all: saves no sinners from their sins; but after he has preached all this time to five or six hundred persons, cannot shew, that he has converted one from the error of his ways. Many of his parishioners dying as they lived, and the rest remaining just as they were before he came;

7. Will you condemn a man, who, having compassion on dying souls, and some knowledge of the Gospel of Christ, without any temporal reward, saves many from their sins, whom the minister could not save?

8. At least, did not: nor ever was likely to do it; for he did not go to them, and they would not come to him.

9. Will you condemn such a preacher, because he has not learning? Or has not had an university education?—— What then? He saves those sinners from their sins, whom the man of learning and education could not save.-A peasant being brought before the college of physicians at Paris, a learned doctor accosted him, " What, friend, do you pretend to prescribe to people that have agues? Dost thou know what an ague is?" He replied, "Yes, Sir, an ague is, what I can cure, and you cannot.”

10. Will you object, "But he is no minister; nor has any authority to save souls?" I must beg leave to dissent from you in this. I think he is a true, evangelical minister, dizxovos, servant of Christ and his church, who wrws dazove, so ministers, as to save souls from death, to reclaim sinners from their sins: and that every Christian, if he is able to do it, has authority to save a dying soul.— But if you only mean, he has no authority to take tythes. I grant it. He takes none. As he has freely received, so he freely gives.

11. But to carry the matter a little farther, I am afraid, it will hold on the other hand, with regard to the soul as well as the body, Medicus non est qui non medetur. I am afraid, reasonable men will be much inclined to think, he that saves no souls is no minister of Christ.

12. “O, but he is ordained, and therefore has authority." Authority to do what? To save all the souls that will put themselves under his care. True ; but (to wave the case of them that will not: And would you desire that even those should perish?) he does not, in fact, save them that are under his care. Therefore what end does his authority serve? He that was a drunkard, is a drunkard still. The same is true of the sabbath-breaker, the thief, the common swearer. This is the best of the case: for many have died in their iniquity, and their blood will God require at the watchman's hand.

13. For surely he has no authority to murder souls: either by his neglect, by his smooth if not false doctrine, or

by hindering another from plucking them out of the fire, and bringing them to life everlasting.

14. If he either attempts or desires to hinder him, if he condemns or is displeased with him for it, how great reason is there to fear, that he regards his own profit, more than the salvation of souls!

I am, Reverend Sir,

Your affectionate brother,

END OF VOL. TWELVE.

JOHN WESLEY.