tion and discipline? And is it not possible, by the help of God, to secure the good, without any pernicious admixture of the evil?

With respect to the manner in which I would treat such cases, I speak with diffidence, but not with reluctance. If I saw any so affected, I would choose to converse with them apart from the promiscuous congregation. I would strive to ascertain the reality of their professed convictions; would carefully guard them against all self-trust; and would teach and exhort them to believe, simply and entirely, in our Lord Jesus Christ. I would then join in prayer with them, that God would, by his Holy Spirit, inspire them with the grace and power of true faith, and grant them his peace. I should also feel it to be my indispensable duty to place them afterward, if they were not so placed before, under a regular course of Christian inspection and instruction. If you discover any thing unscriptural, or seriously defective in this method, you will confer a great obligation upon me by favoring me with your views; for, in matters of so much consequence, I earnestly wish to do right.

I agree with you that mere addresses to the feelings should be sparingly used. We are furnished, in the preaching of the Apostles, with a model, sufficiently plain, of the most suitable and useful style of pulpit instruction. To my own mind, that passage contains a very full and forcible directory on this subject: "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Happy they who are enabled thus to "preach not themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord!"

My sheet is now nearly filled. I trust I have replied to your inquiries with plainness and freedom. If I have inadvertently omitted any point, or if I have it in my power to supply you with any farther information, I shall with great pleasure write again. Meantime, with fervent prayers for your personal happiness, and ministerial success, I am, my dear sir,

Your affectionate servant in the Gospel of Christ,

We hope, in a future number, to be able to present something farther on the same subject, and from the same source. Were some of the Observers,' and 'Spectators,' and monthly Christian Advocates,** in this country, as candid and courteous in their inquiries and remarks as this eminent' clergyman of the Church of England, they would, in whatever manner they might be answered, at least do less discredit to themselves, and to the cause of our common Christianity.

* Dr. Green's Presbyterian Christian Advocate, for instance.

ز

WESLEY'S WORKS.

The Works of the REV. JOHN WESLEY, A. M., sometime Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. Third Edition. With the last corrections of the Author. London: Published by John Mason, 14 City Road. THE whole of this first complete and standard edition of the Works of the Reverend John Wesley, is by this time, we presume, before the British public. We have received it here entire, except the last volume, of which we are in daily expectation.* When the question of preparing and publishing this edition was under discussion in the Wesleyan Book Committee, in London, the representative from our General Conference, the Rev. Dr. Capers, had the pleasure to be present, and advocated proceeding with it immediately. The measure, he informs us, was finally adopted with the kindest reference to our being in a state of readiness to reprint the work as fast as the sheets could be obtained from their press,and deserves to be considered as exemplary of the brotherly affection which subsists between the two great bodies of Methodist ministers in Great Britain and the United States. The British Conference, he adds, and its Book Committee, consider the present work as one of great importance, besides the bare matter of putting into the possession of those who desire it a complete copy of the prose writings of our venerable Founder.

Of the First American Complete and Standard Edition of these Works, one half is already stereotyped, and partly printed. The first and second volumes of this edition contain Mr. Wesley's Sermons. Fifty-three of these sermons were published by Mr Wesley in the year 1771, in four duodecimo volumes, and, with his Notes on the New Testament, constitute the standard of those doctrines which the Wesleyan Methodists believe to be the doctrines of the Bible, and to which reference is made, as such, in the trust-deeds of all the English chapels. They are designed especially to elucidate the great doctrines of experimental and practical religion; and in this view are unequalled by any other discourses in the English language.'t

The residue of the sermons are eighty-eight in number. Many of these were originally written for insertion in the Arminian Magazine, and were afterward revised and republished by Mr. Wesley in a separate form. Several of them were preached before the University of Oxford; and others on various special occasions. A large portion of them relate to subjects connected with personal religion; others are miscellaneous; and the subjects of the whole series are very complete and greatly diversified; forming, in fact,

*The delay of this volume, we are informed by the London publisher, has been occasioned by the preparation of a copious Index.

Wesleyan Methodist Magazine.

one of the best bodies of divinity in our language. They are written in a style of great purity, simplicity, and energy. Most of them are also models of brevity, as well as of perspicuity and chasteness; and the whole of them are extremely interesting and instructive. They should be read not only by every Methodist, but by every one who is desirous to see, at large, what the doctrines of the Wesleyan Methodists are; and by every preacher, travelling and local, by every exhorter, by every class leader, in short, by every official member of the Church, they should not only be read, but be studied, next after the Holy Bible itself.

The third and fourth volumes comprise Mr. Wesley's Journal, from October, 1735, to its close in October 1790, a few months before his death ;-embracing a period of somewhat more than fifty-five years. This edition contains, also, what we deem very important, the manuscript corrections, made by Mr. Wesley himself, and left in his library at the time of his death. In regard to the whole of this part of the Works, which we have lately enjoyed the pleasure of reading throughout, we fully concur in the sentiments expressed in the following quotation from the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine :

'Mr. Wesley's Journal forms by far the best history of Methodism, from its commencement to the death of its Founder. It is written with admirable simplicity, and not only details the labours of one of the most zealous and influential ministers of Christ, but embraces many singular incidents, biographical sketches, and valuable observations upon books and men. The immense variety of subjects which it contains, renders it as entertaining as it is instructive.'

There is one portion of this Journal, from the year 1760 to 1773, which embraces a period of special importance in the history of. Methodism. About the year 1762, it pleased God to pour out his Spirit upon the Methodist societies and congregations in such a manner as had never been previously witnessed. Their numbers were greatly increased; and many of those who had long known the Lord acquired a rich maturity in every Christian grace. In London, the effects of this blessed revival of religion were afterward in a great measure blasted, by the spirit of faction and of insubordination. Unwilling to submit to the discipline of the body, many hundred persons, at the instigation of Mr. Maxfield, who was under the deepest obligations to Mr. Wesley, separated from the Society, affecting greater purity of doctrine and worship, and greater liberty, than their brethren enjoyed. In the course of a few years, most of these people were scattered; some of their leaders abandoned all profession of religion; and others attempted to reconcile spiritual enjoyments with immoral conduct. It might be well, if those who are attempting at present to promote strife and division among Christian brethren, would acquaint themselves with the separation effected by Maxfield, and with the consequent spiritual ruin of many of the unsuspecting people who were unhappily drawn into it.

faithful history of all the factious divisions which have taken place among the Methodists, and of the results in which they have involved the parties concerned in them, would teach many valuable lessons, and might serve as a warning against the dishonorable arts of some modern agitators."

**

These remarks may perhaps be found to suit some other meridian beside that of England.

At the close of the Journal, in the fourth volume, we have added Mr. Wesley's Last Will and Testament, and the Deed of Declaration, enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery, giving a designation to the Methodist Conference, and providing for the legal settlement of the chapels built for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection in England.

Next in order after the Sermons and Journal, there will follow three large volumes, each larger than any of the preceding, containing Mr. Wesley's Miscellaneous Works. The numerous attacks which were made upon Mr. Wesley, through the medium of the press, drew from him many tracts in explanation and defence of his doctrinal sentiments, and of his general proceedings; and these productions of his pen, notwithstanding their controversial character, are among the most interesting and instructive of his writings. His command of temper was most exemplary, and his logical skill perhaps never excelled; and hence, a careful study of his polemical works is well calculated to induce, especially in theological students, a habit of close thinking, and of correct reasoning.'t The Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion,' and the Farther Appeal,' which are placed first in this collection of his Miscellaneous Works, describe the state of the English nation at that time, in regard to morality and religion; and contain a powerful and triumphant defence of what were usually charged as the irregularities of Methodism. Of these productions it is said that the eminent Dr. Doddridge, after perusing them, wrote on his copy, How forcible are right words !

The Appeals' will be succeeded by numerous tracts explanatory of the doctrines, discipline, and history of Methodism; and by a great variety of very able polemical pieces, in the form of Letters, or otherwise, containing Mr. Wesley's replies to Dr. Church, the Bishop of London, Dr. Free, and others; to 'Messrs. Baily, Potter, Downes and Fleury; to Bishops Warburton, Lavington, and Horne; to the treatise of Dr. John Taylor, on the subject of Original Sin; and to Mr. William Law, on the Mysticism which he recommended in the later years of his life. The "Letter to the Rev. Mr. Fleury, Archdeacon of Waterford," bearing the date of 1771, and the "Short Address to the Inhabitants of Ireland," published in 1749, and relating to the introduction and spread of Methodism in that kingdom, were overlooked in the former edition of Mr. * Wesleyan Methodist Magazine. † Ib.

Wesley's Works. The latter of these is a very beautiful and important tract; and the former is remarkable for its keenness and severity. Ever after the publication of this letter, the Archdeacon is said to have been a decided friend of Mr. Wesley, and of the Methodists.**

After the works above named, will follow Mr. Wesley's 'celebrated Letter to Dr. Middleton, several tracts against Popery, and against the peculiar doctrines of Calvinism. Two of these have been long out of print. One of them is entitled, "a Letter to a Gentleman at Bristol:" it was published in the year 1758; and treats of the conditionality of the covenant of grace. The other is "A Second Dialogue between an Antinomian and his Friend:" it was designed to expose the tenets of William Cudworth, and was repeatedly printed during the life of Mr. Wesley. Cudworth separated from Mr. Whitefield, and was one of the most noted Antinomians of his day. After the decease of Mr. Hervey, he obtained possession of his manuscripts; and, with the concurrence of Mr. Hervey's brother, published, in the name of that excellent man, the infamous "Eleven Letters to Mr. Wesley." This was done in opposition to Mr. Hervey's dying charge: and there is reason to believe that the letters were largely interpolated by Cudworth. They breathe a spirit of deep malignity, perfectly the reverse of that which pervades the authorized publications of that ingenious and elaborate writer. This Dialogue, therefore, illustrative of the tenets of Cudworth, is of considerable importance in the history of Methodism.'+

The next of the miscellaneous works will be 'the whole of Mr. Wesley's political tracts; the life of his friend Mr. Fletcher, of Madeley; the Plain Account of Christian Perfection; Collections of Prayers; admonitory addresses to different classes of people; and a great variety of other interesting and important papers. Five of the political tracts will be new to most readers, having been out of print for a great number of years. This is also the case with an admirable pamphlet entitled, "An Estimate of the Manners of the Present Times," first published in the year 1782, and which has not been inserted in any previous collection of Mr. Wesley's Works.'t

It is perfectly well known that during the contest between Great Britain and America, in our revolutionary struggle, Mr. Wesley, from a conscientious conviction of duty as his views were, took a decided part in behalf of his own country and government. It was not as a politician that he did this, but as a Christian minister, according to the views which he then entertained; and from a belief that important moral considerations were deeply involved in the questions agitated, so far as he concerned himself with them. During that period, however, he had no communication with the American Methodists, nor did his writings of this class, we believe, ever

*Wesleyan Methodist Magazine. Ib. Ib.