But why should your grace believe, that the love of God, can be attained by very few? Or, that it can be understood by very few? All who attain it, understand it well. And did not he who is loving to every man design, that every man should attain true love? O that all would know in this their day, the things that make for their peace!
And cannot the love both of God and our neighbour be practised, without breaking in upon the common duties of life? Nay, can any of the common duties of life, be rightly practised without them? I apprehend not. I apprehend I am then laying the true, the only foundation for all those duties, when I preach Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.
2. With this letter was sent (I believe to every clergyman in the diocese) the pamphlet intitled, Observations on the conduct and behaviour of a certain sect, usually distinguished by the name of Methodists. It has been generally supposed to be wrote by a person, who is every way my superior. Perhaps one reason why he did not inscribe his name was, that his greatness might not make me afraid: and that I might have liberty to stand, as it were, on even ground, while I answer for myself.
In considering, therefore, such parts of these observations, as naturally fall in my way, I will take that method which, I believe, the author desires, using no ceremony at all: but speaking as to an equal, that it may the more easily be discerned, where the truth lies.
The first query relating to doctrine, is this.
“Whether notions in religion may not be heightened to such extremes, as to lead some into a disregard of religion itself, through despair of attaining such exalted heights? And whether others who have imbibed those notions, may not be led by them, into a disregard and disesteem of the common duties and offices of life? To such a degree, at least, as is inconsistent with that attention to them, and that diligence in them, which Providence has made necessary to the well-being of private families and public societies, and which christianity does not only require in all stations, and in all conditions, but declares at the same time, that the performance even of the lowest offices in life, as unto God, (whose providence has placed people in their several stations) is truly a serving of Christ, and will not fail of its reward in the next world?”
You have interwoven so many particulars in this general question, that I must divide and answer them one by one.
Q. 1. Whether notions in religion may not be heightened to such extremes as to lead some into a disregard of religion itself?
A. They may. But that I have so heightened them, it lies upon you to prove.
Q. 2. Whether others may not be led into a disregard of religion, through despair of attaining such exalted heights?