in November and December laft, are inferior to any of the preceding compofitions. Certainly the Letters are not; many of which contain the height and depth of Chriftian Experience, expreffed in the most eafy and natural, yet frong and fignificant Language.

4. And there is no danger that I fhould write myself out, that I should ever exhauft my flock of materials: as I have fill by me a large number of Compofitions, both in verfe and profe, the greatest part of which never yet faw the light, nor probably ever would have done, had they not been brought out of obfcurity, by the prefent Publication. Add to this, that I have had for many years, and have at this day, a greater number of pious correfpondents, than any perfon in England, or perhaps in Europe.

5. But fill Want of Variety is objected. Yea, and it ever will be objected. For I dare not fill up any Publication of mine with bits and fcraps, to humour any one living. It is true, I am not fond of verbofe writers, neither of very long treatifes. I conceive, the fize of a book is not always the measure of the writer's underflanding. Nay, I believe if Angels were to write books, we should have very few Folios. But neither am I fond of traits that begin and end, before they have cleared up any thing. There are inferted as many articles in each of thefe Magazines, as can be treated of therein to any purpofe. If any one wishes rather to read a hundred incoherent fhreds, he may fuit himfelf in abundance of Authors,

6. Brot

6. But fo far I can comply with those who defire a little more variety, as to add two or three entirely new branches to the Magazines of the following years. Several of my friends have been frequently importuning me to write a few more Sermons. I thought indeed I might now have been fairly excufed, and have remitted that work to my younger brethren. But as they are not fatisfied with this, I fubmit to their well-meant importunity, and defign to write, with God's affiftance, a few more plain, practical Difcourfes, on thofe which I judge to be the most neceffary of the fubjects I have not yet treated of. The former part of one of thefe is publifhed this month: the latter will follow in February. And fo every two months, fo long as God Spares my life and health, Ifhall publifh another.

7. I believe another Addition will not be unacceptable to the ferious Reader. After the Life of each Preacher will be inferted part of the Life of fome of thofe real Chriftians, who, having faithfully ferved God in their generation, have lately finished their course with joy. One of these (a fpecimen of the reft) was inferted in the last November Magazine.

8. One more Article may, I apprehend, be inferted, both for the profit and entertainment of the Reader. The five volumes entitled, A Survey of the Wifdom of God in the Creation," are but in few hands: it is not convenient for many to purchase them. But particular paffages of thefe will be carefully felected, and inferted in each Magazine. I believe they will fall in naturally enough between the Hiftory and the Letters. And thefe will all illuftrate his Wifdom and Goodness, for whom all things are and were created.

9. Many

9. Many of the Portraits are not yet fuch as I defire. I will have better, or none at all: although this will imply fome delay: efpecially, with regard to the prints of those Preachers who are at a great distance from London. For I cannot truft Country Engravers.

10. Thefe things will we do, if God permit. But who knows what we may do or be to-morrow? For what is our Life? Is it not a vapour that just appears and vanishes away? O let us fecure a permanent Life! A Life that will remain when heaven and earth flee away

!

LONDON,

January 1, 1781.

NU

ADVERTISEMENT.

UMBERLFSS Treatifes have been written in this and the laft age, on the fubject of Predeftination: but I have not feen any that is written with more good fenfe and good humour, than Caftellio's Dialogues, wrote above two hundred years ago. Yet I know not that they have ever appeared in our tongue. I believe therefore the putting them into an English Drefs, will give pleafure to every impartial Reader.

JOHN WESLEY.

*

!

THE

Arminian Magazine,

For JANUARY 1781.

Of PREDESTINATION; tranflated from SEBASTIAN CASTELLIO, in Dialogues, between Lewis and Frederic.

The AUTHOR's PREFACE.

ST. Paul was no friend to controverfies. Yet when disputes

were arifen among the Corinthians, he inftructed them in their duty with regard to them. I also am an enemy to difputes, and could wish men were employed in the practice of religion, not in wrangling about it. But after opinions are broached, not only false, but also pernicious, they seem to me worthy of confutation, left men wander out of the way and endanger their salvation.

There are many opinions of this kind; fuch especially are thofe, which are held about Predeftination and FreeWill. As to Predeftination, many are perfuaded that God willeth not that all men fhould be faved; but from the begin

ning

ning created a certain number of men for falvation, and they cannot be damned: but others he created for destruction, and they cannot be faved. This opinion makes fome men fecure and proud, while they apprehend they cannot perifh, as being Elect. It drives others to defpair, while they conceive themfelves to be Reprobates.

Concerning Free-Will, their opinion is equally hurtful; becaufe, while they make man a mere flock, they leave him no room to endeavour after righteous actions. And they fall likewife into dangerous errors as to the doctrine of Faith. Induced by these reasons, I have written these Dialogues: how I have acquitted myfelf in the performance, let the pious judge, who alone are competent judges of divine things.

Lewis. With, my friend, if it is not difagreeable to you, to debate with you about a queftion which diftreffes my mind. Frederic. If you are ready to receive truth, although it fhall oppose your own opinion, you are welcome to begin the debate. But if you are refolved to adhere altogether to your own notions, all difpute will be needlefs. Lewis. Truly I think my opinion agreeable to truth, yet, I am ready to adopt a better, if a better can be advanced. Fred. Almost all perfons fay the fame: yet well nigh all, when vanquifhed by the force of truth, ftill hold faft their own opinion. Lewis. Perhaps they do not fee what is true. Fred. The greatest part do not, and the reafon is, because they do not impartially attend to the arguments of their opponents. Therefore if you wish to difpute, fee that you bring a free difpaffionate mind, a mind prepared to embrace truth wherever you find it. Lewis. I hope I have fuch a difpofition, and that you have the fame. Fred. I believe I have.

Lewis. Predeftination.

Now therefore, prepare your subject. Fred. The queftion is attended with many difficulties, and the debate would be quite needlefs, had not the bold affertions

of