field took the lead; and out of that new state of things which was induced by the blessing of God upon their labours, nearly all our great religious and philanthropic institutions have arisen, and a thousand meliorations have been introduced into general society. By the same means the Scriptures have been translated into an almost incredible number of languages; copies of that holy book have been put into extensive and unparalleled circulation; many spiritual churches of God have been raised up among the Heathen; perhaps millions of sanctified human spirits have already passed into the heavens; and how many more will thus pass, by the same means, in the ages to come, is only known to the divine mind. It is idle to say, that other men might have been raised up to accomplish the same work. The work is the Lord's; and he chose the despised instruments whom the Observer has contemned. I envy not the feelings of that man who can rejoice in the success even of the Bible Society, and the Church Missionary Society; and yet watches for an opportunity to insult the memory of those faithful and self-denying Ministers of Christ, but for whose labours, for any thing we know to the contrary, those institutions would never have existed. Let the unbeliever go out of his way to throw a nettle upon their graves, or to inscribe a libel upon the tomb that encloses their ashes; but a "Christian Observer" may surely find work much more appropriate to the character he has assumed.

Our "Watchman," having condemned Mr. Wesley, proceeds next to sit in judgment upon the "followers" of that eminent man. Thus he speaks concerning them: "The better educated persons in the Methodist body, (for I will confine my present remarks to the followers of Mr. Wesley,) I would trust, have outgrown these extravagancies; but I fear they are still rife among their less intellectual companions; and that the leaders of the communion have not duly set themselves to counteract such delusions. It is indeed with pain that I state, that

something of a fanatical spirit (I speak not of gross absurdities, like those above alluded to of the Irvingites) runs throughout the whole texture of Methodism, and that it requires the master-mind of another Wesley to separate them. I would not speak of these things in the tone of Bishop Lavington's unjust, ungenerous, and irritating publication, The Enthusiasm of Methodists and Papists compared ; ' but still I believe that they exist, and to an extent which makes me, as a friend to simple scriptural truth, dread the extension of this system. I write not to stir up angry controversy; but, if possible, to turn the attention of the leaders of the Methodist body themselves to the subject, that they may endeavour to correct the evil. At present I fear I must say, that in too many cases they encourage it, by a mode of speaking and writing which is not consistent with scriptural sobriety; which, if I may say so without unnecessary offence, is extravagant and fanatical."

Our "Watchman " here intimates that his object in writing is very praiseworthy, and his manner unexceptionable. He does not wish "to stir up angry controversy," not he; nor controversy" of any kind; he would be glad if the Methodists would sit down under his reproaches in silence; and that the world might be induced to shun so dangerous a people; for he "dreads the extension of the system" which they believe and teach. He, so kind and benevolent, "would not speak of these things in the tone of Bishop Lavington's unjust, ungenerous, and irritating publication;" he will do nothing more than direct attention to the Bishop's work, assume the truth of his Lordship's "unjust, ungenerous, and irritating" charges, and repeat them with a grave and solemn countenance, taking not the slightest notice of Mr. Wesley's replies. Bi-. shop Lavington's character, as a man of honour and veracity, was seriously implicated in his charges against Mr. Wesley; and the reader will perceive, before he arrives at the conclusion of this paper, that the "Watchman" is in a similar predicament.

This is an age of novelty; and almost every man that can make a speech at a public meeting, or write an article for a Magazine or a newspaper, has some plan of "Reform " to propose, both in regard to Church and State. The "Watchman" wishes to effect a "Reform" in Methodism, though he does not exactly specify its nature; but the mode of accomplishing it, as suggested by him, is curious. Mr. Wesley was the founder of "this system;" he was "credulous," thusiastic," "fanatical;" the child resembles its parent, for "a fanatical spirit runs throughout the whole texture of Methodism;" yet the "Watchman" "would trust," that "the better educated persons of the Methodist body have outgrown these extravagancies." Still, however, "this system" exists; and its " extravagancies," it is feared, are rife among the less intellectual" of its professors; and "the leaders of the communion have not duly set themselves to counteract such delusions." What, then, is to be done ? Why, "it requires the master-mind of another Wesley to separate" the "fanatical spirit" of Methodism, which "runs throughout its whole texture," from the system itself. A hopeful suggestion truly! that a "mind" like that which had the weakness to originate and sanction the evil should effectually correct it; and that the greater "fanatic" should restore to perfect sobriety his less "fanatical" disciples! This is like employing a modern Radical to convert all our Whig politicians to Toryism; or like sending Messrs. Irving and Armstrong on a mission to correct the errors of the modern Millenarians. What will be proposed next?

Church of England; and its great object is, to win souls to Christ, and to comfort and edify those which are already won. But, is it characterized by sober-mindedness? I take up almost the first Number that presents itself, which happens to be the Number for last May, and there I find the following."

The writer then lays before his readers some extracts from the letter of Mr. Hobson, giving an account of a revival of religion in the Penzance Circuit. The readers of the Methodist Magazine cannot have forgotten that communication. It is one of the most artless, beautiful, and touching records of the kind I ever met with; and I am sure has been read with gratitude and delight by many thousands of persons in different parts of the kingdom. Surrounded by people inquiring, "What must I do to be saved?" the writer was so pressed by pastoral duties as to have no time to weigh every word, and to polish and round his periods. Nor was such a process at all necessary. The facts speak for themselves to every pure and candid mind. Concerning the extracts from Mr. Hobson's letter, I would at present just observe, that some of them are very unfairly given. They are broken off from the connexion, so as to give the reader a very imperfect view of their real bearing; and with the comments attached to them are directly calculated to mislead. In the "Watchman's" extracts, those passages which relate to the distress of penitent persons, the fact of individuals obtaining a sense of the pardoning mercy of God, and of others receiving the blessing of entire sanctification, are printed in the italic letter; intimating, I presume, that they are particularly objectionable, and that they prove the charge of "enthusiasm" and "fanaticism." I forbear to transcribe these extracts. They would perhaps occupy more room than could be well spared in the Magazine; and the reader I trust will turn to the entire document from which they are taken. It will be found in the Methodist Magazine for May last, p. 361-365; and will

Our "Watchman" proceeds :"Take up, for instance, almost any Number of the Wesleyan Magazine. That work is, in many respects, well conducted; it often contains papers of considerable intelligence and mental vigour, as well as piety; it advocates with great zeal matters of charity and philanthropy: it is, I would hope, generally candid and friendly in its allusions towards the

amply repay an additional perusal. The Observer contains the following comments upon these extracts, and thus concludes the tirade on what is called "the enthusiasm of the Wesleyan Methodists :”—

"More might be given to the same purpose, but the above will suffice; and yet I find these words, We have nothing of mere rant, or wildfire, and as little confusion as could possibly have been expected.' If there be not something of wildfire' in the scenes above depicted, I know not what is meant by that word; and I respectfully submit to the more influential and intelligent members of the Methodist body, that revivals, or apparent revivals of religion, commenced as above, are far from being hopeful as the germ of a solid, permanent conversion, or of the fruits of matured godliness in after-life. Persons thus over-stimulated, and whose religion commences in heats and excesses, are too likely to be the victims of every new-fangled notion, and only need a Southcottian or Irvingite Preacher to lead them to the grossest delusions. If young and ignorant persons are led out to prayer-meetings upon a moor by moonlight, and excited to wailings that pierce the skies, and taught to expect instantaneous assurance of pardon and entire sanctification in a moment, and are fed upon stories of lame persons throwing away their crutches, and miraculously leaping for joy, (another very clear instance of the powerful effects of excitement, for in this instance there is no mention of prayer or faith for the blessing of healing,) can we wonder at any excesses that may ensue; and can we be surprised if of the persons thus brought within the contagion of social sympathy, some afterwards ridicule all religion, others run wild into every extravagance, others retire silent and ashamed, and few comparatively prove in after-life that the revival was really the hand of God? I do again implore the leaders of the Methodist body, who have so large a portion of the poor and ignorant members of society under their care, and to whom their zealous labours,

in the lack of service in the established Church, have been abundantly blessed, seriously to consider this matter. Are these things done, according to the apostolic command, ' decently and in order?' And how can they justify it to their consciences to allow their Preachers to inculcate such crude, overstated, and unscriptural notions as are couched in the above extracts? Many of the friends of the Church of England have wished for a comprehension which may bring the WesleyanMethodist body within her pale; but if these extravagancies of doctrine and of practice are a necessary part of the scheme of Methodism, there is no hope of such a union, and no pious and judicious Churchman would wish to introduce such doctrines or practices within her fold."

There, Mr. Editor, what think you of that? You, who conduct the periodical organ of Methodism with such ability, who treat the established Church with such candour and respect, who are so zealous in defending and promoting every thing that is holy and benevolent, and whose labours are directed to so good an object as that of winning souls to Christ, and of comforting and edifying them when thus won, -by giving publicity to Mr. Hobson's letter, describing a Cornish revival, it seems you have outraged almost every principle of Christian truth and order, and rendered hopeless some plan of "comprehension which certain people have wished for," and talked about. Be not frightened, however, though the "Watchman" has not only sprung his rattle, but fired his blunderbuss. Your face may be blackened, and your nerves shaken by the report; but no harm has been done.-Let us analyze this long paragraph, and see what it really contains.

Mention is here made of "young and ignorant persons led out to prayer-meetings upon a moor by moonlight." Mr. Hobson's narrative mentions one such meeting; and the reason assigned for holding it there, one might have supposed, would have satisfied any person of ordinary candour,-there was no

one.

Others are obliged to use a crutch," because it greatly assists them in walking: without it, walking would be difficult, and perhaps painful. The case of this young woman at Sancreed was evidently one of this latter kind. She had been lame many years; and was as lame after her conversion as she was before; only in the plenitude of her holy joy, she travelled about half a mile unconscious of her infirmity.

Now observe the use which the "Watchman" makes of this plain and simple fact. He speaks of "stories of lame persons;" as if there were more cases of the kind in the narrative from which he had made bis extracts; and as if they were fictions, invented for the purpose of effect. Mr. Hobson says, the young woman for the time forgot her crutch: the "Watchman " reports him as describing "lame persons throwing away their crutches." Mr. Hobson says that "the lame literally leaped for joy;"-a very possible case, and one which almost every man has witnessed a thousand times;-and the Watchman, professing to follow Mr. Hobson, represents him as giving an account of "lame persons miraculously leaping :" a very different matter! The account of this pious young woman is merely introduced in an incidental manner; and the Watchman says the Methodists "are fed upon "such "stories." Here is an evident attempt to produce an impression, that the Wesleyan Methodists fraternize with those wild religionists who, within the last few years, have done so much harm to the cause of scriptural piety, by contending for the revival of miraculous. powers in the church. When the "Watchman," therefore, refers to the case of the young woman at Sancreed, he introduces a long parenthesis, to inform the reader that this was a very clear instance of the powerful effects of excitement; for in this instance, continues he, "there is no mention of prayer, or faith, for the blessing of healing." Thus he enters a pretended caveat against Mr. Hobson's view of the subject, as if that gentleman had not obviously introduced the account for

the very purpose which the "Watchman" has here specified, and which he states to be so very clear!" I have read many books of controversy within the last thirty years; and have often witnessed the power of prejudice and excited feeling, in perverting the minds of men; but a more remarkable instance of literary dishonesty I never met with than that which is now before me. Here is a man who deliberately sits down, without any provocation whatever, and draws up a palpable misrepresentation of a plain and simple fact, for the purpose of throwing unmerited odium upon a body of Christian people; at the same time knowing that the odium was unmerited. This is a severe charge; and I would not have made it upon light grounds: but on this subject, I regret to say, I have the most unexceptionable authority,—that of the "Watchman " himself. In an early part of his lucubrations, before he had stated his direct object in writing, and had commenced his attack upon the Wesleyan Methodists, he makes the following admission: "With the extravagancies which have melted into that strange compound called Irvingism, the great body of the Methodists, and the Dissenters, to their honour be it spoken, are, I believe, almost to a man, uncontaminated; and they have not failed to represent it as a proof of the senility of both the established Churches of Great Britain, that the extravagant notions alluded to, respecting prophecy, the millennium, and miracles, have originated within their pales, and found converts among their members. " What, then, can be thought of the man who, in the teeth of his own declaration to the contrary, has the effrontery to tell the world, that the Methodists "are fed upon stories of lame persons throwing away their crutches and MIRACULOUSLY leaping for joy?" That weak and intolerant men should be found capable of writing such trash, may be easily conceived; but alas for the Christian Observer, that it should become the vehicle of calumny so unworthy either of religion, or of that ordinary respect which is due from man to man!

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