dict his own translation. Besides, he often contradicts bimself. Of this we have already given some proof in our fourth section.

6thly. Mr. Wesley several times asserts, that the scriptures teach no election, except it is that men are elected after they believe. We I will show the reader how he establishes this assertion. Notwithstanding he had undertaken to explain all the New Testament in order as it comes, some texts he perverts, and others he contradicts. But there are some others which he does not notice at all. When the Bible says to believers, God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.* Mr. Wesley says, "from the beginning of your hearing the gospel." The apostle says to the saints at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy,t &c. Wesley says, "whom he foreknew as believers." This he contradicts; for the Bible says, that he chose them that they should be holy; or to be believers.

The Bible says "come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Again; the Bible says, all they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the Lamb's book of life, from before the foundation

Thes. ii. 13. + Eph. i. 4. + Mat. xxv. 24.

of the world. And the same writer says, Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast in the lake of fire. All these Scriptures, and some others of like import, Mr. Wesley does not notice in his notes on the New Testament, but passes them over in silence; and then he tells us that the Scriptures teach no other election, except that men are elected after they believe. If there were one Scripture text which says as he does, why did ae not tell us where it could be found? If we are in an error in this matter, we trust that we should be glad to know the whole truth, and for that, we ever rely on the word of God, always trusting that the Holy Ghost means what the Bible says. Mankind have iniquity enough to answer for, without adding that daring sin, of charging God with not meaning what he said in his word, which would amount to having told a lie. If Mr. Wesley and the Lord, are each to be understood, according to the natural meaning of their words, they certainly appear to us to differ very materially in their opinions; because the Bible every where speaks of an elect, or chosen number, to salvation; and, in every place where it tells the time when they were chosen, it says, that they were chosen from the beginning, and from the foundation of the world, &c. but never, in a single instance, says, that they were chosen after they believed.

7th. Mr. Wesley is as expert in adding to the Bible, as he is in omitting some of it, and more so. In order to make out that true believers may fall from their justified state, and finally be damned, he is obliged to add a great many sentences to the Bible, as though the Holy Spirit had not taught the inspired penman correctly, what they ought to write, and when they ought to stop.

We hope the reader, who may be friendly to Mr. Wesley, will be kind enough to bear with us; the case requires plainness, because we consider immortal souls to be at stake. Dear Methodist reader, you, or your writers, say many things against John Calvin, and other old protestants, yet we bear it with feeling little or no resentment. And you may speak against any of our writers, and expose their sophistry, (if they have used any ;) and if you reason fairly, we will attend with pleasure: because if they have misled us, we wish to know it, before we reach the eternal world.

But to return. The apostle Paul, in an epistle, (or letter) written to the saints at Ephesus, and to all the faithful in Christ Jesus, when he was speaking of the privilege to which they had been called, together with himself, says-through whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."

This was as strong a declaration of the doctrine of decrees and election as could be made by words therefore, hear Mr. Wesley's notes on it-" through whom we Jews have obtained an inheritance," &c. The Ephesians were so far from being Jews, that the apostle tells us that they were Gentiles.* Besides, his own explanation does not destroy the doctrines taught in the text; although he afterwards endeavours to distort it from its natural meaning.

Further. Christ says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my words, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation."t Wesley adds, unless he make shipwreck of the faith. Christ says, "whosoever shall drink of the water I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." Wesley adds, "provided he continue to drink thereof." Christ says, that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."§ Wesley adds, "I will give him pardon, holiness, and heaven, if he endure to the end." Christ says, This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." Wesley adds, "if they en

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Chap. ii. 11. † John v. 24. ‡ John iv. 14.

John vi. 37. || John vi. 39.

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dure to the end: but Judas did not."* (Consequently Christ did not execute the will of the Father.) Christ says, "my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." Wesley adds, "provided they abide in my love."

If we were disposed we could follow Mr. Wesley through a multitude of such additions, omissions, and distortions, of the natural meaning of the word of God, as we have already noticed in this section: but we desist. Yet we would ask, if Christ meant as Wesley says, why did he not direct the inspired writers to say so? Then we might all have believed as Mr. Wesley did, and also all have believed the Bible. But as the Bible now stands, it and Mr. Wesley, certainly, by their words, contradict each other; and if his explanation be correct, the bible itself is of no use to teach us the mind and will of God. If men may be allowed to take such liberties with the sacred text, as to leave out, or not notice, some expressions, and add to others, and explain others so as to mean an entirely different thing from what the words naturally convey: if this may be done, we do not conceive why the Bible cannot be made to

In his notes on the next verse he contradicts him self. † John x. 27, 28,

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