Let it be acknowledged, that the clergy, in this state, for many years past, have not been what they ought to be: yet it must be apparent to every man, that religion was more respected and revered, and had a greater influence on the manners of men in general, while the church had the countenance of the state, than it has now. -And let me ask, when God has removed the light of the gospel from any nation, (as he has from many,) whether that which made way for this, has not been the withdrawing temporal succours from the church? Mankind are, by nature, so depraved, and have such a rooted enmity to the purity and holiness of the gospel, that without the aids of government, I verily believe, in a few years, the ordinances of grace would cease in all the world. It may be said, Is not God able to support his church and gospel institutions without the help of man? No doubt, he is able. He is able to work miracles every day, and to do what he pleases without employing any subordinate, or secondary causes. But the question is, Is this agreeable to the divine constitution, and the modes of his government and proceeding in all ages of the world?-Has he not ordained the most likely means to accomplish his ends. And has he not, except in rare instances, ever made use of subordinate causes to carry his purposes into effect? Who can deny this? And have we any reason to suppose he will alter his method of proceedings, and act without instruments? In what respect was David a man after God's own heart? In what respect did he fulfil all the pleasure of the Lord? Was it not chiefly by his care for the honour, support and good order of the church, &c? Why did not God purge the land from idolatry, and set all things to rights in his church, without the instrumentality of King Josiah, if it was intended that his church should receive no aid, strength or stability from temporal rulers? 1 observe what you say with respect to the methodists, and concur with you in opinion, with regard to the countenance given by them to ignorant and indiscreet men to be public preachers, &c. And to this I impute not a little of that contempt, which is cast on the institutions of religion at present. I believe Mr. Wesley to be a wise and good man, and think his plan of methodism well devised for the promotion of vital piety. But surely his preachers in Europe are not such lame hands, as those among us. You think their profest adherence to the church amazingly preposterous and disingenuous,-I have thought there were methodists sincerely attached to the church but from some late movements, there is too much reason to call the sincerity of their profession of adherence into question*.I shall never forget these move ments. You see I have written to you with great plainness, according to your own good example. I do not desire to unhinge, unsettle or render you uneasy in your present way; no not for a moment. My wife joins in christian respects to you and Mrs. M'Robert, &c. I am your most affectionate brother, D. JARRATT. When I wrote this lettter to Mr. M'Robert, I still thought there were some methodists sincerely attached to the church; for they still continued to profess themselves to be so, and I could not be so censorious as to harbour a suspicion, that men, who made such high pretentions to religion, could be so disingenuous as to profess to be, what they in heart were not.-But it ap * What I refer to is Philip Gatch, &c. who undertook to be priests. pears, from what has since happened, that Mr. M'Robert's judgment of them was more accurate than mine.-How to reconcile such palpable insincerity to christianity, I know not, nor shall I attempt it; and yet I cannot but hope that a number of them are good men, notwithstanding Mr. M'Robert, perhaps, very justly attributed their professed adherence to the church to nothing but policy-and I suppose, when that policy failed, they fell upon another, which they liked better: but if this policy was intended for the good of souls and the promotion of religion principally, might not some allowances be made for it, tho' candor seemed to be lacking? It really grieves me to be obliged to entertain any unfavourable sentiments of my fellow creatures, and especially those of a religious order: and therefore, notwithstanding the methodists have given great cause to suspect the sincerity of their professions on more occasions than one, I feel myself disposed to put the most favourable construction on all their movements, which the nature of things will bear. Mr. Asbury is certainly the most indefatigable man in his travels and variety of labours, of any I am acquainted with: and though his strong passion for superiority and thirst for domination may contribute |