Some instances of this have appeared already. Many more will appear in due time.

7. Your fifth, (Fourth Journal, Vol. II. p. 26.) charges me with an affectation of prophesying. Your first proof of it is this-It was about this time the soldier was executed. For some time I had visited him every day. But when the love of God was shed abroad in his heart, I told him, do not expect to see me any more.-I believe Satan will separate us for a season. Accordingly, the next day, I was informed, the commanding officer had given strict orders that neither Mr. Wesley, nor any of his people, should be admitted.' I did believe so, having seen many such things before: yet without affecting a spirit of prophecy.

But that I do claim it, you will prove, secondly, from my mentioning the great work which God intends, and is now beginning to work over all the earth.' By what art you extract such a conclusion out of such premises, I know not. That God intends this, none, who believe the Scripture, doubt. And that he has begun it, both in Europe and America, any who will make use of their eyes and ears, may know without any "miraculous gift of prophesying."

8. In your sixth section, you assert, "That I lay claim to other miraculous gifts," (page 45, &c.) As you borrow this objection from Mr. Church, I need only give the same answer I gave before. (Letter to Mr. Church, Vol. XII. p. 325.) “I shall give" (says Mr. Church) "but one account more, and that is, what you give of yourself." The sum whereof is, 'At two several times, being ill, and in violent pain, I prayed to God, and found immediate ease.' I did so. I assert the fact still. "But if these" (you say) "are not miraculous cures, all this is rank enthusiasm."

'I will put your argument in form:

He that believes those are miraculous cures, which are not, is a rank enthusiast.

But you believe those to be miraculous cures, which are

not:

Therefore you are a rank enthusiast.

Before I answer, I must know what you mean by miraculous? If you term every thing so, which is "not strictly to be accounted for, by the ordinary course of natural causes:" then I deny the latter part of the second proposition. And unless you can make this good, unless you can prove the effects in question are strictly to be accounted for, by the ordinary course of natural causes, your argument is nothing worth.'

Having largely answered your next objection relating to what I still term a signal instance of God's particular providence,' (Letter to Mr. Church, p. 322,) I need only refer you to those answers, not having leisure to say the same thing ten times over. Whether I sometimes claim, and sometimes disclaim miracles, will be considered by and by.

In your seventh section, you say, "I shall now give some account of their grievous conflicts and combats with Satan," (page 51, &c.) O, Sir, spare yourself, if not the Methodists! Do not go so far out of your depth. This is a subject you are as utterly unacquainted with, as with justification or the new-birth.

But I attend your motions. "Mr. Wesley," you say, "was advised, to a very high degree of silence.-And he spoke to none at all for two days, and travelling fourscore miles together.-The same whim," (you go on,) "has run through several of the religious orders.-Hence St. Bona ventura says, That silence in all the religious is necessary to perfection.-St. Agatho held a stone in his mouth for three years, till he had learned taciturnity.-St. Alcantara carried several pebbles in his mouth for three years likewise, and for the same reason.-Theon observed a continual silence for thirty years.-St. Francis observed it himself, and enjoined it upon his brethren. The rule of silence was religiously observed by St. Dominic." I have repeated more of your words than I otherwise should, in order to shew to a demonstration, that a man of a lively imagi nation, may run a parallel to any length, without any foun dation in nature.

You begin, "The same whim" (which led Mr. Wesley to

observe an absolute silence for two days)" and so run on to St. Bonaventura, St. Agatho, and I know not whom." But did Mr. Wesley "observe an absolute silence for two days?" No; not for one hour. My words, I spoke to none at all for fourscore miles together,' (Fourth Journal, Vol. II. p. 81.) imply neither more nor less, than that I spoke to none concerning the things of God,' as it is in the words immediately preceding. And you know this as well as I. But it is all one for that. Wit, not truth, is the point you aim at.

My supposed inconsistency, with regard to the Moravians, which you likewise drag in (as they say) by head and shoulders, I have shewn again and again, to be no inconsistency at all: particularly in both the letters to Mr. Church,

10. Well, but as to conflicts with Satan. "Nor can Mr. Wesley," you say, "escape the attacks of this infernal spirit, namely, suggesting distrustful thoughts, and buffeting him with inward temptations." Sir, did you never hear of any one so attacked, unless among the Papists or Metho dists. How deeply then are you experienced both in the ways of God, and the devices of Satan?

You add, with regard to a case mentioned in the Fourth Journal, (Vol. II. p. 33,) "Though I am not convinced that these fits of laughing, are to be ascribed to Satan, yet I entirely agree, that they are involuntary and unavoidable." I am glad we agree so far. But I must still go farther; 1 cannot but ascribe them to a preternatural agent: having observed so many circumstances attending them which can not be accounted for by any natural causes.

Under the head of conflicts with Satan, you observe farther, "Mr. Wesley says, while he was preaching, the devil knew his kingdom shook, and, therefore stirred up his servants to make a noise: that, September 18, the prince of the air made another attempt, in defence of his tottering kingdom: and that another time, the devil's children fought valiantly for their master." I own the whole charge, I did say all this. Nay, and if need were, I should say it again.

"

You cite one more instance from my Fourth Journal, "The many-headed beast began to roar again." So your head is so full of the subject, that you construe even poor Horace's Bellua multorum capitum into the devil! These are all the combats and conflicts with Satan, which you can prove I ever had. O, Sir, without more and greater con+ flicts than these, none shall see the kingdom of God.

11. In the following sections, you are equally out of your element. The first of them, (Sect. 8, p. 75, &c.) relates to spiritual desertions; all which you make the subject of dull ridicule, and place to the account of enthusiasm. And the cause of all you give in the following words, " We may look upon enthusiasm as a kind of drunkenness, filling and intoxicating the brain with the heated fumes of spirituous particles. Now no sooner does the inebriation go off, but a coldness and dulness take place.'

"

12. As wildly do you talk (Sect. 9, p. 79, &c.) of the doubts and fears incident to those who are weak in faith. I cannot prevail upon myself, to prostitute this awful subject, by entering into any debate concerning it, with one who is innocent of the whole affair. Only I must observe, that a great part of what you advance concerning me, is entirely wide of the question. Such is all you quote from the first, and a considerable part of what you quote from my second Journal. This you know in your own conscience; for you know I speak of myself during the whole time, as having no faith at all. Consequently, the "risings and fallings" I experienced then, have nothing to do with those " doubts and fears, which many go through, after they have by faith received remission of sins."

The next words which you cite," thrown into great per plexities," I cannot find in the page you refer to; neither those that follow. The sum of them is, that at that time I did not feel the love of God, but found deadness and wanderings in public prayer, and coldness even at the holy communion." Well, Sir, and have you never found in yourself, any such coldness, deadness, and wanderings? 1 am persuaded you have. And yet surely your brain is

always cool and temperate! Never" intoxicated with the heated fumes of spirituous particles!"

13. If you quote not incoherent scraps (by which you may make any thing out of any thing) but entire connected sentences, it will appear that the rest of your quotations make no more for your purpose than the foregoing. Thus, although I allow that on May 24, (Second Journal, Vol. I. p. 274,) 'I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried to God and they fled away; that they returned again and again; I as often lifted up my eyes, and he sent me help from his holy place:' it will only prove the very observation I make myself. I was fighting both under the law and under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered: now I was always conqueror.'

That some time after, I was strongly assaulted again, and after recovering peace and joy, was thrown into perplexity afresh by a letter, asserting, that no doubt or fear could consist with true faith: that my weak mind could not then bear to be thus sawn asunder;' will not appear strange to any who are not utter novices in experimental religion. No more than that one night the next year, I had no life or spirit in me, and was much in doubt, whether God would not lay me aside, and send other labourers into his harvest.'

14. You add, "He owns his frequent relapses into sin, for near twice ten years. Such is the case of a person who tells us, that he carefully considered every step he took; one of intimate communication with the Deity." Sir, I did not tell you that: though, according to custom,, you mark the words as mine. It is well for you, that forging quotations is not felony. My words are, 'O what an hypocrite have I been (if this be so) for near twice ten years! But I know it is not so. I know every one under the Law, is even as I was ;' namely, from the time I was twelve years old, till considerably above thirty.

"And is it strange," you say, "that such a one should be destitute of means to resolve his scruples? Should be ever at variance with himself, and find no place to fix his foot?"