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SECTION III.

A short View of Mr. Wesley's Writings and Controversies, by Dr. Whitehead.

MR.

R. Wesley's writings, like his other labours, in the design and execution correspond with the general review of his character before given. He never wrote merely to please, or to get money. His object constantly was, to inform the understanding, and mend the heart: to discourage vice, and promote virtue. He never published any thing with a view to promote a party-spirit. A great degree of candour and liberality runs through all his publications; and in matters of mere speculation, he endeavoured to shew the necessity of Christian love, and mutual forbearance among those who differ in opinion. In his controversies, he combated opinions, not men. And this he did, in general, with great moderation. He maintained, that even right opinions, make but a small part of religion: that, a man may hold the truth in unrighteousness, and therefore perish with the greater condemnation. But, a man whose heart, from a living faith in Christ operating as a practical principle, is influenced to the love of God and man, and whose life is correspondent to it, cannot err dangerously, though he may hold some erroneous opinions. And he thought, that we ought to contend for this Christian temper and practice, much more earnestly, than for any speculative notions, not essentially necessary to obtain them. This made him earnest to contend for practical truth; and had a happy influence on all his writings.

I do not mean to enter into a critical review of Mr. Wesley's writings. I intend only to point out the chief of his own works, shew his design in publishing them, and how far the execution corresponds with the design. For if an author well and duly accomplishes all he undertakes, it is the utmost that ought to be expected from him.

The following is an abridgment of his own words, in explaining the general design he had in publishing his Notes on the New Testament. "It will be easily discerned-from the Notes themselves, that they were not principally designed for men of learning, who are provided with many other helps:

but

but I write chiefly for plain unlettered men, who understand only their mother-toague, and yet reverence and love the word of God, and have a desire to save their souls.

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I have endeavoured to make the Notes as short as possible, that the Comment may not obscure or swallow up the Text and as plain as possible in pursuance of my main design, to assist unlearned readers. For this reason I have studiously avoided not only all curious and critical inquiries, and all use of the learned languages, but all such methods of reasoning and modes of expression, as people in common life are unacquainted with. For the same reason, as I rather endeavour to obviate than to propose and answer objections, so I purposely decline going deep into many difficulties, lest I should leave the ordinary reader behind me.

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I once designed to write down, barely what occured to. my own mind-But no sooner was I acquainted with that great light of the Christian world, Bengelius, than I entirely changed my design, being thoroughly convinced, it might be of more service to the cause of religion, were I barely to translate his Gnomon Novi Testamenti, than to write many volumes upon it. Many of his excellent Notes I have there fore translated: many more I have abridged. Those various readings which he has shown to have a vast majority of ancient copies and translations on their side, I have without scruple incorporated with the text; which after his manner, I have divided (though not omitting the common division into chapters and verses) according to the matter it contains, making a larger or smaller pause, just as the sense requires. And even this, is such a help in many places, as one who has not tried it can scarcely conceive.-I am likewise indebted for some useful observations to Doctor Heylin's Theological Lectures and for many more to Dr. Guyse, and to the Family Expositor, of the late pious and learned Dr. Dodderidge.— I cannot flatter myself so far as to imagine that I have fallen into no mistakes, in a work of so great difficulty. But my own conscience acquits me of having designedly misrepre sented any single passage of Scripture, or of having written one line with the purpose of inflaming the hearts of Christians against each other. Would to God, that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms, which have divided the Christian world, were forgot: and that we might all agree to sit down together, as humble, loving disciples, at the feet of our common Master, to hear his word, to imbibe his Spirit, and to transcribe his life in our own."

After such a declaration as this in the Preface, the reader ought not to feel himself disappointed, if he find no deep and learned discussions of abstruse subjects in Mr. Wesley's Notes

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on the New Testament. They are what he intended they should be, briefly explanatory and practical: but, at the same time, judicious and pertinent. I have sometimes thought, that if most of the very short Notes were inserted in the text by some judicious hand so as to form a paraphrase, and the rest to be retained, the work would be more useful to common readers than in its present form.--Mr. Wesley's Notes on the Old Testament, taken chiefly from Henry, and Poole, are not held in the same degree of estimation as those on the New Testament.

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Mr. Wesley's sermons in eight volumes, were written in the same spirit, and with the same benevolent design as the Notes just mentioned. He tells us in the Preface, I design plain truth for plain people. Therefore, of set purpose I abstain from all nice and philosophical speculations, from all perplexed and intricate reasonings and as far as possible from even the shew of learning, unless in sometimes citing the original Scripture. Nothing appear here in an elaborate, elegant, or rhetorical dress. I mention this, that curious readers may spare themselves the labour of seeking for what they will not find." The first four volumes were written in the earlier part of Methodism; several of the sermons being preached before the University of Oxford, while he held his Fellowship. The subjects are important, and the discourses written with great animation and strength of language.

The last four volumes were written chiefly for the Arminian Magazine, and collected and re-published in 1788. These are generally more practical than the others; and have been admired for their composition, and for the simplicity, accuracy, and ease of the style in which they are written.

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His Appeals to Men of Reason and Religion," have great merit. The pious and learned Dr. Dodderidge intimates, that he read them with great emotion; and tells us, that having gone through them, he wrote on the back, How forcible are RIGHT WORDS." Mr. Wesley wrote them in the fulness of his heart, viewing and lamenting the wretched state of the world with regard to religion and inorality. It is almost impossible for any well disposed unprejudiced person to read them, without strongly feeling the force and justness of the observations they contain; and they have been the means of convincing some, even men of learning, who before were utterly opposed to the Methodists.

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Mr. Wesley's Treatise on " Original Sin," is, perhaps, the most laboured performance that he published. He knew, and respected the abilities and character of Dr. Taylor, his opponent. He bestowed much time and attention in a carefil investigation of the subject; but avoided entering into

minute metaphysical disquisitions. He knew that nothing could be affirmed in this way of reasoning, however true, but what another might deny with some degree of plausibility. His Treatise therefore is, an animated defence of the orthodox doctrine, in a deduction from the actual state of morality in all ages, and under every kind of restraint from evil that has been imposed on mankind; or as he expresses it, "From

Scripture, reason, and experience." And if we may be allowed the same mode of reasoning in morals, which the most approved philosophers have adopted in explaining the system of the world; if, from an uniform series of facts, we may deduce a certain principle sufficient to account for them, then Mr. Wesley has proved his point beyond contradiction. It seems as if Dr. Taylor had felt the full force of this way of reasoning, as he never would answer Mr. Wesley, and always spoke of him with respect.

In none of his publications, are instruction and entertainment more happily combined, than in the work entitled, "A Survey of the Wisdom and Goodness of God in the Creation." This was first published in two volumes; and a Gentleman, then a student at Oxford, informed me, that taking a few copies with him, as presents to some of the principal persons in the University, they expressed a high degree of satisfaction in the work and Mr. Wesley received letters from them to the same purpose. This work was afterwards enlarged, and published in five volumes, in 1784. In the fourth volume is a translation of a considerable part of Bonnet's “ Contemplations de la Nature," a work highly elegant and instructive. Mr. Wesley could not have made a better choice, as it perfectly corresponds with the general design of his own publication. In the fifth volume, Mr. Wesley has given an extract of Mr. Deuten's" Enquiry into the origin of the Discoveries attributed to the Moderns." This work was scarcely known in England, even to the learned, when Mr. Wesley published this extract from it and is but little known at present. It is certainly ingenious, and contains a great deal of curious matter.

Mr. Wesley's Survey of the Wisdom of God in the Creation, was not intended as a history of the present state of philosophy; nor an introduction to the philosophical systems that have prevailed, or do now prevail, though he gives a little sketch of them; but as a general view of the most useful and remarkable things in natural history, and an illustration, for common use, of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator. "Considered in this light, it is well entitled to public approbation and the moral reflections it contains, are as much distinguished by their justness and elegance, as by their

utility."

utility." Upon the whole, it is the most useful Christian compendium of philosophy in the English language.

He wrote a very great number of pamphlets on various subjects: among the rest was one entitled, "Thoughts on Slavery." He was one of the earliest writers on this subject, which has since undergone so complete an investigation; without, as yet, obtaining for the slaves that redress which justice and mercy demand. He has treated it, as might be expected from his general character, in a moral and religious view; but with great spirit and impartiality, and the pamphlet does him great credit. It has been supposed, that this tract had a powerful influence on some of the American States, in their late regulations concerning the trade to Africa.

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In controversy, Mr. Wesley did certainly excel. Few have equalled him, either in skill, freedom from logomachy, or in the moderation and Christian temper which every where appeared on these occasions. It does not seem, that he was fond of controversy, at least for more than thirty years before his death. He calls it in one place, if I rightly recollect, Heavy work, yet sometimes necessary to be done." Among his controversial pieces, his "Predestination calmly considered," is of distinguished excellence. "It is a model of controversy, clear and cogent; concise and argumentative; and the more convincing, because the spirit in which it is written, is as amiable as the reasoning is unanswerable. Perhaps there is not in the English language, a treatise which contains in so small a compass, so full and masterly a refutation of the principle it opposes. It does great credit to his judgment, that he so eagerly espoused, and so ably defended the mild and moderate system of Arminius.”*

Mr. Wesley entered the list of controversy against Dr. Lavington, Bishop of Exeter; Dr. Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester; Dr. Middleton, Dr. Free, Dr. Taylor, of Norwich; and several others: in all of which he acquitted himself with honour, and gained credit to his cause. But the most virulent, vulgar, and abusive of his opponents, were some of the defenders of Calvinism; at the head of whom stood Mr. Toplady: a man, not wholly destitute of abilities, but, in his opposition to Mr. Wesley, greatly deficient in the Christian temper, and the manners of a gentleman.

Mr.

Few persons among the Calvinists, seem to have any just notions of the opinion of Arminius, on the subject of Free Grace; and therefore continually misrepresent it. . Mr. Wesley was a true Arminian; and I have shewn in the Discourse delivered at his funeral, that he held the doctrine of Free Grace, as fully as any Calvinist, though in a more rational and scriptural sense.

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