oughtest to know.-May the Lord effectually in cline thine heart to take a contrary course, and to seek wisdom where alone it can be found, even from the Lord, "the Father of lights, and the

giver of every good and perfect gift," who hath invited and commanded thee to ask, that it may be given thee!

VI. I would observe that there is nothing in this narrative, which can reasonably be condemned as enthusiasm.

It is allowed that enthusiasm, properly so called, frequently accompanies religious zeal; that in some of its operations it is a grievous evil, and in all attended with many inconveniences; and that it ought very carefully to be guarded against by every religious professor and zealous preacher. It would also be in vain to pretend that the late revi vals of religion, which have been indiscriminately stigmatized with the name of Methodism, have been, in opinion and practice, entirely free from this enthusiasm. For, what revivals of religion ever were free from scandals? Where the Lord sows his good seed, there the enemy will be sure to scatter his tares.-It must be confessed that some of the most eminent instruments in this work, whose names, when prejudice shall vanish, will be handed down with honour, as burning and shining lights, to the latest periods of the church, have, by the greatness of their zeal, through human frailty, been betrayed into sentiments, expressions, and deport

ment, in some instances, justly to be censured as enthusiastical; of which their enemies have not failed sufficiently to avail themselves. --But, whatever indiscretions and mistakes particular persons who have preached these doctrines may have fallen into, this doth not, in the judgment of candid and impartial persons, in the least affect the general cause, or prove the doctrines erroneous. We would not contend for the credit of individuals, or the interests of a party, but for the doctrines of God's word, and of the established Church of England. These will continue true and important, though many of those, who have zealously and successfully preached them, may have justly incurred the charge of enthusiasm: and I would confidently insist on it, that a man may be led to the belief of these doctrines, in a way of sober rational enquiry, and zealously preach them, without being an enthusiast.

It would be very well, if some of those, who so readily accuse whole bodies, of apparently religious persons, of enthusiasm, would favour us with their determinate definition of an enthusiast. In its original meaning the word has a very favourable sense, and implies, that, by a divine influence upon the soul, a man is filled with an ardour and warmth of zeal in the cause he is engaged in.-Now, "it "is good to be zealously affected always in a good "thing:" and, if our ardour of soul be from the Spirit of God, according to the revealed will of God, and for the glory of God, it is the noblest,

most desirable, most heavenly, and most beneficial exertion of the human mind.-In every thing but religion, an ardour, described by the term enthusiasm, is allowed and commended: a poetical, a military, or a patriotick enthusiasm, even when it carries men beyond the strict bounds of cold reasonings and exact prudence, fails not to meet with admirers. Our zeal may be fervent in every thing without censure, unless we be zealous for the glory of God, and the salvation of immortal souls! But there is an enthusiasm of this sort which forms the highest elevation, and the noblest effort of the human mind. Such an enthusiasm animated the apostle Paul in all his self-denying labours and sufferings, and filled his writings, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, with the most ardent zeal for the honour of his dear Saviour, and affection for the souls of men. Such an enthusiasm he expresses, when he says, (2 Cor. v. 13, 14.) "Whe"ther we be beside ourselves it is to God, or whe"ther we be sober, it is for your cause; for the "love of Christ constraineth us." Of this enthusiasm I wish I were far more guilty.-But on the other hand, there is danger of a counterfeit pernicious enthusiasm; and about that we are at present enquiring. Now, I apprehend, that in order to constitute this culpable enthusiasm, some one or more of the following things must appear. Either the ardour of soul excited proceeds from a heated imagination, or from a delusion of Satan,

instead of being produced by a divine influence; or the cause in which this ardour is employed is the cause of error and wickedness, instead of the cause of God and truth; or it exerts itself in unjustifiable measures and practices. For if our ardour be warranted by the word of God, if it do not tend to the dishonour of God, and if it be confined in its exercise to the rules and precepts of the word of God:-how intense soever it may be, I can see no cause to censure it; unless men can be too zealous for the glory of God, and the salvation of souls.

But whatever be the distinguishing criterion of enthusiasm, I suppose it will be difficult to fix a charge of it upon any thing for which I plead in this narrative. I never was taught by impulses, impressions, visions, dreams, or revelations; except so far as the work of the Spirit, in enlightening the understanding for the reception of the truths contained in the Holy Scriptures, is sometimes stiled revelation. Other revelation I never expected. Not but that the Lord is sovereign, and may do what he will with his own; and if he pleases, may, and I suppose sometimes does, go out of the ordinary course, for the conversion of a sinner, or the guidance of a perplexed, or the comfort of a distressed, soul; but I never took one step in dependence on any such extraordinary interpositions, nor ever encouraged any person so to do. And surely it will not be called enthusiasm,

by any but avowed infidels, to believe God's word to be the standard of truth, and his promises to be faithful, and in this belief to seek for the knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel, in the manner above related. In this way I have been taught no new truths; but, as I believe, have been shown the meaning, use, tendency, consistency, harmony, wisdom, and glory of those truths, which are contained in the sacred volume; but which be fore,, through pride and ignorance, I perverted, neglected, reviled, and counted foolishness.--Nor do I make any pretences to infallibility. God hath not, I trust, left me so unstable, as to float about in the uncertain stream of opinion, and to be "tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lay in wait to deceive."-As to the grand doctrines of the gospel, which I have marked out as necessary to salvation, they are neither so uncertain nor so difficult, as men would persuade us: their uncertainty and difficulty arise wholly from our pride, prejudice, love of sin, and inattentive ignorance of our own hearts. There is really much difficulty in bringing vain man to cease from leaning to his own understanding; and in prevailing with him to trust in the Lord with all his heart, and to be willing, in the humble posture of a little child, to be taught of God. Nothing but a deep conviction of guilt, a fear of wrath, and a sense of our lost condition by nature

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