“Some of my writings, you say, ‘you have read.’ But allow me to ask, did not you read them with much prejudice? or little attention? Otherwise surely you would not have termed them perplexing. Very few lay obscurity or intricacy to my charge. Those who do not allow them to be true do not deny them to be plain. And if they believe me to have done any good at all by writing, they suppose it is by this very thing, by speaking, on practical and experimental religion, more plainly than others have done.
“I quite agree, we ‘neither can be better men, nor better Christians, by continuing members of the Church of England.’ Yet, not only her doctrines, but many parts of her discipline I have adhered to, at the hazard of my life. If, in any point, I have since varied therefrom, it was not by choice but necessity. Judge, therefore, if they do well, who throw me into the ditch and then beat me, because my clothes are dirty.
“I remain, reverend sir,
“Your affectionate brother,
“John Wesley.”[422]
Another letter, written four days after the above, deserves attention, as showing the position occupied by Wesley as a minister of the Church of England. It also was addressed to a clergyman.
“Liverpool, April 6, 1761.
“Dear Sir,—Let who will speak, if what is spoken be true, I am ready to subscribe it. If it be not, I accept no man’s person. Magis amica veritas. I had an agreeable conversation with Mr. Venn, who I suppose is now near you. I think, he is exactly as regular as he ought to be.[423] I would observe every punctilio of order, except where the salvation of souls is at stake. Here I prefer the end before the means.
“I think it great pity, that the few clergymen in England, who preach the three grand spiritual doctrines,—original sin, justification by faith, and holiness consequent thereon,—should have any jealousies or misunderstandings between them. What advantage must this give to the common enemy! What a hindrance is it to the great work wherein they are all engaged! How desirable is it, that there should be the most open, avowed intercourse among them! Surely if they are ashamed to own one another, in the face of all mankind, they are ashamed of Christ! Excuses, indeed, will never be wanting; but will these avail before God? For many years, I have been labouring after this: labouring to unite, not scatter, the messengers of God. Not that I want anything from them. As God has enabled me to stand, almost alone, for these twenty years, I doubt not but He will enable me to stand, either with them or without them. But I want all to be helpful to each other; and all the world to know we are so. Let them know ‘who is on the Lord’s side.’ You, I trust, will always be of that number. Oh let us preach and live the whole gospel!
“I am, dear sir,