After a faithful, and friendly examination of each other (between which and the Popish Auricular Confession, with which some have erroneously or unkindly [♦]parallel’d it, there is scarce the most distant resemblance) they concluded with praising God and prayers suited to their several conditions.
[♦] “parrallel’d” replaced with “parallel’d”
But besides this, he met with the whole society two or three times a week, when with praises and prayers, there was always a word of exhortation preached or read. And it pleased God, to testify his approbation thereof, by the singular display of his presence amongst them; by replenishing their souls with abundance of his grace and heavenly benediction.
*And, “O (adds he) how wonderfully did we experience the power, and love of God, whenever we made prayer and supplication to him! We had a heaven among us; a paradise within us! The Lord poured such peace and joy into our hearts, and we were often so happy that we did not know how to part. We lived as brethren, and strove together for the hope of the gospel. We were of one heart, and of one mind, in the presence of God. And is not this the communion of Saints?”
So dear the tye, where souls agree
In Jesu’s dying love;
Then only can it closer be,
When all are join’d above!
Mean time, his hitherto undisturbed repose, began to be sorely assaulted. His relations now took a second alarm. “They thought (says he) That I was turned heretic altogether.” To forsake the church of Rome, and declare himself a member of the church of England, was bad enough, and with them matter of much displeasure; but to become a Methodist beside![¹] This they judged the very consummation of apostacy, and gave him up as undone for ever. And it was not only his kindred, who so judged of him, “But (adds he) my neighbours in general were like-minded with my relations, and not only those of the church of Rome; but several likewise who called themselves Protestants. They were extremely angry that I should, as they called it, ‘change my religion.’”
[¹] In reality this is no alteration of the case; it is in this respect no more than a name: a true Methodist (for they are not all Israel who are called Israel) being no other than a true Churchman. They make not so much as a pretence to be a distinct, independant body of people. They are properly a religious society, (not a new thing in England) consisting, for the most part of professed members of the church of England; whose only design is to promote among each other, and mankind in general, the genuine religion of Jesus Christ.