Wesley Corpus

A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Free 1. A LITTLE tract appearing under your name was yesterday put into my hands. You therein call upon me to speak, if L have any exceptions to make to what is advanced: and promise to reply as fairly and candidly as I can expect, "provided those exceptions be drawn up, as you have set the example, in a short compass, and in the manner wherein all wise and good people would choose to manage a religious dispute." 2. "In a short compass," Sir, they will certainly be drawn up, for my own sake as well as yours: For I know the value of time, and would gladly employ it all in what more immediately relates to eternity. But I do not promise to draw them up in that manner whereof you have set the example. I cannot, I dare not; for I fear God, and do really believe there is a judg ment to come. Therefore, I dare not "return evil for evil," neither "railing for railing." Nor can I allow that your manner of treating this subject is that "wherein all wise and good people would choose to manage a religious dispute." Far, very far, from it. I shall rejoice if a little more fairness and candour should appear in your future writings. But I cannot expect it; for the nigrae succus loliginis, "wormwood and gall," seem to have infected your very vitals. 3. The quotation from Bishop Gibson, which takes up five out of nineteen pages, I have answered already; and in a man ner wherewith I have good reason to believe his Lordship was entirely satisfied. With his Lordship, therefore, I have no present concern; my business now is with you only: And seeing you are "now ready," as you express it, "to run a tilt," I must make what defence I can. Only you must excuse me from meeting you on the same ground, or fighting you with the same In "A Letter to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London." weapons: My weapons are only truth and love. May the God of truth and love strengthen my weakness 4. I wave what relates to Mr.