http:// boar.org.uk/abiwxo1WesleyDodd.htm
Latest edit 19 Aug
2007
The Bourne Archive
Bourne People
John
Wesley and William Dodd.
John Wesley
(1703-91) came from Epworth,
which lies towards the far end of
[From] REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. [Vol. 3. pp. 265-7]
Thur. 5.[March, 1767] I at length obliged Dr. D. by entering into
the lists with him. The letter I wrote (though not published till two or three
weeks after) was as follows:
To
the Editor of Lloyd's Evening Post.
Sir,
Many times the publisher of the Christian Magazine has attacked me without fear
or wit; and hereby he has convinced his impartial readers of one thing at
least, that (as the vulgar say) "his fingers itch to be at me;'' that he
has a passionate desire to measure swords with me. But I have other work upon
my hands; I can employ the short remainder of my life to better purpose.
The occasion of
his late attack was this: - Five or six and thirty years ago, I much admired
the character of a perfect Christian drawn By Clemens Alexandrinus Five or six
and twenty years ago, a thought came into my mind, of drawing such a character
myself, only in a more scriptural manner, and mostly in the very words of
Scripture: this I entitled, the "Character of a Methodist," believing
that curiosity would incite more persons to read it, and also that some
prejudice might thereby be removed from candid men, But that none might imagine
I intended a panegyric either on myself or my friends, I guarded against this
in the very title-page, saying both in the name of myself and them, "Not
as though I had already attained, either were already perfect." To the
same effect I speak in the conclusion, "These are the principles and
practices of our sect these are the marks of a true Methodist, (i.e. a true
Christian, as I immediately after explain myself). By these alone do those, who
are in derision so called, desire to be distinguished from other men,"
p.11. "By these marks do we labour to distinguish ourselves from those
whose minds or lives are not according to the Gospel of Christ," p.12.
Upon this
Rusticulus, or Dr. Dodd, says, "A Methodist, according to Mr Wesley, is
one who is perfect, and sinneth not in thought, word, or deed."
Sir, have me
excused. This is not according to Mr. Wesley. I have told all the world I am not perfect, and yet you allow me to be a
Methodist. I tell you flat, I have not attained the character I draw.
Will you pin it upon me in spite of my teeth?
"But Mr. Wesley says, the other Methodists have." I say no
such thing. What I say, after having given a scriptural account of a perfect
Christian, is this: "By these marks the Methodists desire to be
distinguished from other men: by these we labour to distinguish
ourselves." And do not you yourself desire and labour after the very same
thing?
But you insist,
"Mr. Wesley affirms the Methodists, i.e.
all Methodists, to be perfectly holy and righteous." Where do
I affirm this? Not in the tract before us. In the front of this, I affirm just
the contrary, and that I affirm it anywhere else is more than I know: be
pleased, Sir, to point out the place; till this is done, all you add (bitterly
enough) is mere brutum fulmen. And
the Methodists, so called, may still declare, (without any impeachment of their
sincerity,) that "they do not come to the holy table trusting in their own
righteousness, but in God's manifold and great mercies."
I
am, Sir, yours, &c.
John Wesley.