CONTENTS OF VOL. V. A Plain Account of the People called Methodists The Nature, Design, and General Rules of the United Societies in London, Bris- 176 The Principles of a Methodist farther explained: occasioned by the Rev. Mr. Church's Second Letter to Mr. Wesley: in a Second Letter to that gentleman 292 A Letter to the Bishop of London: occasioned by his Lordship's late Charge to 355 .......... A Short Address to the Inhabitants of Ireland. A Second Letter to the Lord Bishop of Exeter A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Baily, of Cork A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Potter.. A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Downes A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Horne.. A Letter to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Gloucester A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Fleury SECTION II. Of the Nature and Design of our Afflictions and Mortality SECTION III. The Argument taken from the Calamities and Sinfulness of Man- ..... SECTION IV. Some Consequences of the Doctrine of Original Sin.. SECTION V. A General Argument taken from what God has declared concerning Mankind, at the Restoration of the World after the Deluge SECTION VI. The notion of Adam's being a Federal Head, or Representative of PART FOURTH.-Extracts from Dr. Watts and Mr. Hebden ESSAY FIRST.-Do the present Miseries of Man alone prove his Apostasy from PART SIXTH.-The Doctrine of Original Sin, Explained and Vindicated.. PART SEVENTH.-The Doctrine of Original Sin, extracted from Mr. Boston's Of Penance.... A Short Method of Converting all the Roman Catholics in the kingdom of Ire- land: humbly proposed to the Bishops and Clergy of that kingdom...... The Advantage of the Members of the Church of England over those of the A Letter to the Printer of "The Public Advertiser:" occasioned by the late Act passed in favour of Popery. To which is added, A Defence of it, in Two Letters to the Editors of "The Freeman's Journal," Dublin..... LETTER I.-First Letter to the Editors of "The Freeman's Journal," Dublin... 819 AN EARNEST APPEAL ΤΟ MEN OF REASON AND RELIGION. Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? JOHN vii, 51. you 1. ALTHOUGH it is with us a "very small thing to be judged of or of man's judgment," seeing we know God will "make our innocency as clear as the light, and our just dealing as the noon-day;" yet are we ready to give any that are willing to hear a plain account, both of our principles and actions; as having "renounced the hidden things of shame," and desiring nothing more, "than by manifestation of the truth to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2. We see (and who does not?) the numberless follies and miseries of our fellow creatures. We see, on every side, either men of no religion at all, or men of a lifeless, formal religion. We are grieved at the sight; and should greatly rejoice, if by any means we might convince some that there is a better religion to be attained,—a religion worthy of God that gave it. And this we conceive to be no other than love; the love of God and of all mankind; the loving God with all our heart, and soul, and strength, as having first loved us, as the fountain of all the good we have received, and of all we ever hope to enjoy ; and the loving every soul which God hath made, every man on earth, as our own soul. 3. This love we believe to be the medicine of life, the never-failing remedy for all the evils of a disordered world, for all the miseries and vices of men. Wherever this is, there are virtue and happiness going hand in hand. There is humbleness of mind, gentleness, long suffering, the whole image of God; and at the same time a peace that passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind; Each prayer accepted, and each wish resign'd; Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to heaven. 4. This religion we long to see established in the world, a religion of love, and joy, and peace, having its seat in the inmost soul, but ever showing itself by its fruits, continually springing forth, not only in all innocence, (for love worketh no ill to his neighbour,) but likewise in every kind of beneficence, spreading virtue and happiness all around it. 5. This religion have we been following after for many years, as many know, if they would testify; but all this time, seeking wisdom, we found it not; we were spending our strength in vain. And being now under full conviction of this, we declare it to all mankind; for we desire not that others should wander out of the way as we have done before them; but rather that they may profit by our loss, that they may go (though we did not, having then no man to guide us) the straight way to the religion of love, even by faith. 66 6. Now, faith (supposing the Scripture to be of God) is payμarwV ελεγχος 8 βλεπομένων, “ the demonstrative evidence of things unseen,” the supernatural evidence of things invisible, not perceivable by eyes of flesh, or by any of our natural senses or faculties. Faith is that divine evidence whereby the spiritual man discerneth God, and the things of God. It is with regard to the spiritual world, what sense is with regard to the natural. It is the spiritual sensation of every soul that is born of God. 7. Perhaps you have not considered it in this view. I will, then, explain it a little further. Faith, according to the scriptural account, is the eye of the new-born soul. Hereby every true believer in God "seeth him who is invisible.” Hereby (in a more particular manner, since life and immortality have been brought to light by the Gospel,) he "seeth the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ;" and "beholdeth what manner of love it is which the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we," who are born of the Spirit, "should be called the sons of God." It is the ear of the soul, whereby a sinner "hears the voice of the Son of God, and lives;" even that voice which alone wakes the dead, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee." It is (if I may be allowed the expression) the palate of the soul; for hereby a believer "tastes the good word, and the powers of the world to come;" and "hereby he both tastes and sees that God is gracious," yea, "and merciful to him a sinner." 66 It is the feeling of the soul, whereby a believer perceives, through the 'power of the Highest overshadowing him," both the existence and the presence of Him in whom "he lives, moves, and has his being;" and indeed the whole invisible world, the entire system of things eternal. And hereby, in particular, he feels "the love of God shed abroad in his heart." 8. By this faith we are saved from all uneasiness of mind, from the anguish of a wounded spirit, from discontent, from fear and sorrow of heart, and from that inexpressible listlessness and weariness, both of the world and of ourselves, which we had so helplessly laboured under for many years; especially when we were out of the hurry of the world, and sunk into calm reflection. In this we find that love of God, and of all mankind, which we had elsewhere sought in vain. This we know and feel, and therefore cannot but declare, saves every one that partakes of it, both from sin and misery, from every unhappy and every unholy temper. Soft peace she brings, wherever she arrives; 9. If you ask, "Why then have not all men this faith? all, at least, who conceive it to be so happy a thing? Why do they not believe immediately?" |