Wesley Corpus

'Allow Mr. Wesley,' you say, 'but these few points, and he will defend his conduct beyond exception.' That is most true. If I have, indeed, 'been advancing nothing but the true knowledge and love of God'; if God has made me an instrument in reforming many sinners, and bringing them to 'inward and pure religion'; and if many of these continue holy to this day, and free from all willful sin, then may I, even I, use those awful words, 'He that despiseth me, despiseth Him that sent me.' But I never expect the world to allow me one of these points. However, I must go on as God shall enable me. I must lay out whatsoever He entrusts me with (whether others will believe I do it or no), in advancing the true Christian knowledge of God and the love and fear of God among men; in reforming (if so be it please Him to use me still) those who are yet without God in the world; and in propagating inward and pure religion righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 10. But you believe I only corrupt those who were good Christians before, teaching them to revile and censure their neighbors; and to abuse the clergy, notwithstanding all their meekness and gentleness, as I do myself. 'I must declare,' say you, 'we have in general answered your presence with all meekness and temper; the railing and reviling has been chiefly on the side of the Methodists' . Your first charge ran thus: 'How have such abuses as these been thrown out by you against our regular clergy, not the highest or the worthiest excepted!' (Remarks, p. 15). I answered: 'I am altogether clear in this matter, as often as it has been objected; neither do I desire to receive any other treatment from the clergy than they have received from me to this day.' See letter of Feb. 2, 1745, sect.1.15.