people-endangering their salvation-and throwing the shadow of We appeal to you, our christian brethren, whether previously. to the introduction of this state of anarchy, the great Head of the Church had not blessed us with most of the evidences of a state of comparative, if not absolute, prosperity? Mutual confidence. existed, the officers of society performed the duties of their trust with united energy, the meetings for business were held in perfect harmony, and the whole machinery of the church moved in concert to accomplish the great designs of our spiritual fellowship. . No note of discord had been heard between the preachers and other officers of the church, and members of the society; and, if expressions are to be taken as the index of thought and feeling, all parties in these societies were equally satisfied and happy. 66 Besides this, the ordinances of religion were not left destitute of the scriptural evidences of the divine presence and approbation. The spirit of prayer was given in a very eminent measure to many who engaged in this exercise; numerous seekers of salvation at different times entered into the liberty of the people of God; an almost universal thirst for an increase of grace and holiness appeared to be felt by the society; an ardent and lively faith, as to the salvation of souls, the larger effusions of the holy spirit and the triumphs of the gospel, was manifest in zealous efforts to promote these objects. If this is not the work of God, then religion is a delusion! A church which ministers the gospel in power and not in word only," can present numberless trophies of pardoning love and converting grace; it administers in its ordinances peace and edification to believers, and leads them on to purity and holiness; and it can only do this by the immediate sanction and agency of God. We do not affirm on our own independent authority that this was the state of things, but we appeal to you, who are eye-witnesses, and the persons to whom our description relates, whether, in the main, it is not accurate. If true, it follows that the Methodist connexion is not so corrupt as to cause God to depart from its ordinances, or to withdraw the grace of his good and holy spirit. Whatever others may think and say respecting religion being an accident, an excitement, and the fanaticism of weak, minds, you, our beloved brethren, who enjoy its privileges, know that it is the work of God. Then what shall we think of the men who can deliberately break in on this state of holy and prosperous tranquillity? We can easily conceive how infidels or mere men of the world might consistently plant their hostile batteries for the purpose of demolishing the citadel of God, but how men professing to regard religion as his work can dare to adopt means with an express design of throwing his church into confusion, and agitation, to the manifest injury of all its interests, and the probable ruin of many souls, is a secret we cannot divine. If they can calmly reflect on the account to be given to him who redeemed the souls of these ruined men with his own blood, and must finally be the judge of all, they are in possession of an obtuseness or hardihood, which we have little ambition to share. "But all are not Israel who are of Israel." It was well known in the midst of our general tranquillity and peace, from the best of all evidence-the evidence of their whole life-that a few, and but people-endangering their salvation-and throwing the shadow of night over our fair and bright prospects-to promote objects, which on their own confession, cannot justify the means employed. We consider an incendiary who sets fire to his neighbour's house deserving of the severest punishment, not merely because he destroys his property, but because he endangers the lives of the family. It is in vain for him to say in excuse, that the laws which elevate the victim of his vengeance to respectability and leave him in poverty are unequal! Nothing, it is felt, can vindicate so great an outrage on the security of civilized life; then-what are we to think of the guilt of the men who, with the torch of discord, set the house of God on fire! Is this a less offence than the one referred to? Admitting that the church thus disturbed is a real church of God, that its doctrines are pure-its communion scriptural-its state allowing for human infirmities-spiritual and holy, and its ordinances crowned with the Divine presence and blessing; we say, admitting these things to be true, we cannot but believe in our conscience, that to throw it into a state of disorder and anarchy such as we now witness, IS THE GREATEST WICKEDNESS OF WHICH MAN IS CAPABLE. The common vices of human nature shrink into insignificance of the lowest degree, when compared with that callous, calculating, and murderous mental sin, which can coolly rend asunder the ties of Christian brotherhood, separate and divide the societies, and obstruct the progress of the Word of God. It is with deep emotion and grief that our pen records the sentiment we feel, that the blood of souls will deeply stain the skirts of the authors of this state of anarchy and evil. Another important principle to be kept in mind is, that a prosperous stato of religion is the immediate work of God. In such a state, he must live in its ordinances, bless them in their successful administration and, by his own act and grace, bestow all the privileges enjoyed by its disciples. It follows then, that to take measures either ignoranuy or wickedly, to injure such a work, is presumptuously and profanely to injure that which has not only received his blessing, but also that which is the fruit of his own operation, by the influence of the holy spirit. We appeal to you, our christian brethren, whether previously to the introduction of this state of anarchy, the great Head of the Church had not blessed us with most of the evidences of a state of comparative, if not absolute, prosperity? Mutual confidence existed, the officers of society performed the duties of their trust with united energy, the meetings for business were held in perfect harmony, and the whole machinery of the church moved in concert to accomplish the great designs of our spiritual fellowship. No note of discord had been heard between the preachers and other officers of the church, and members of the society; and, if expressions are to be taken as the index of thought and feeling, all parties in these societies were equally satisfied and happy. Besides this, the ordinances of religion were not left destitute of the scriptural evidences of the divine presence and approbation. The spirit of prayer was given in a very eminent measure to many who engaged in this exercise; numerous seekers of salvation at different times entered into the liberty of the people of God; an almost universal thirst for an increase of grace and holiness appeared to be felt by the society; an ardent and lively faith, as to the salvation of souls, the larger effusions of the holy spirit and the triumphs of the gospel, was manifest in zealous efforts to promote these objects. If this is not the work of God, then religion is a delusion! A church which ministers the gospel in "power and not in word only," can present numberless trophies of pardoning love and converting grace; it administers in its ordinances peace and edification to believers, and leads them on to purity and holiness; and it can only do this by the immediate sanction and agency of God. We do not affirm on our own independent authority that this was the state of things, but we appeal to you, who are eye-witnesses, and the persons to whom our description relates, whether, in the main, it is not accurate. If true, it follows that the Methodist connexion is not so corrupt as to cause God to depart from its ordinances, or to withdraw the grace of his good and holy spirit. Whatever others may think and say respecting religion being an accident, an excitement, and the fanaticism of weak, minds, you, our beloved brethren, who enjoy its privileges, know that it is the work of God. Then what shall we think of the men who can deliberately break in on this state of holy and prosperous tranquillity? We can easily conceive how infidels or mere men of the world might consistently plant their hostile batteries for the purpose of demolishing the citadel of God, but how men professing to regard religion as his work can dare to adopt means with an express design of throwing his church into confusion, and agitation, to the manifest injury of all its interests, and the probable ruin of many souls, is a secret we cannot divine. If they can calmly reflect on the account to be given to him who redeemed the souls of these ruined men with his own blood, and must finally be the judge of all, they are in possession of an obtuseness or hardihood, which we have little ambition to share. "But all are not Israel who are of Israel." It was well known in the midst of our general tranquillity and peace, from the best of all evidence the evidence of their whole life-that a few, and but people endangering their salvation-and throwing the shadow of night over our fair and bright prospects-to promote objects, which on their own confession, cannot justify the means employed. We consider an incendiary who sets fire to his neighbour's house deserving of the severest punishment, not merely because he destroys his property, but because he endangers the lives of the family. It is in vain for him to say in excuse, that the laws which elevate the victim of his vengeance to respectability and leave him in poverty are unequal! Nothing, it is felt, can vindicate so great an outrage on the security of civilized life; then-what are we to think of the guilt of the men who, with the torch of discord, set the house of God on fire! Is this a less offence than the one referred to? Admitting that the church thus disturbed is a real church of God, that its doctrines are pure-its communion scriptural-its state allowing for human infirmities-spiritual and holy, and its ordinances crowned with the Divine presence and blessing; we say, admitting these things to be true, we cannot but believe in our conscience, that to throw it into a state of disorder and anarchy such as we now witness, IS THE GREATEST WICKEDNESS OF WHICH MAN IS CAPABLE. The common vices of human nature shrink into insignificance of the lowest degree, when compared with that callous, calculating, and murderous mental sin, which can coolly rend asunder the ties of Christian brotherhood, separate and divide the societies, and obstruct the progress of the Word of God. It is with deep emotion and grief that our pen records the sentiment we feel, that the blood of souls will deeply stain the skirts of the authors of this state of anarchy and evil. Another important principle to be kept in mind is, that a prosperous stato of religion is the immediate work of God. In such a state, he must live in its ordinances, bless them in their successful administration and, by his own act and grace, bestow all the privileges enjoyed by its disciples. It follows then, that to take measures either ignoranu, or wickedly, to injure such a work, is presumptuously and profanely. to injure that which has not only received his blessing, but also that which is the fruit of his own operation, by the influence of the holy spirit. We appeal to you, our christian brethren, whether previously to the introduction of this state of anarchy, the great Head of the Church had not blessed us with most of the evidences of a state of comparative, if not absolute, prosperity? Mutual confidence existed, the officers of society performed the duties of their trust with united energy, the meetings for business were held in perfect harmony, and the whole machinery of the church moved in concert to accomplish the great designs of our spiritual fellowship. |