From the London Evangelical Magazine for 1793.

TO THE READER.

SINCE the death of the late Mr. WESLEY, many controversies have taken place between the hearers of the late Mr. WHITFIELD, and those of Mr. WESLEY, respect, ing the sentiments of each, it has been thought adviseable to republish, literally, this Pamphlet, that all may be enabled to judge for themselves.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Prefixed by M. WHITFIELD to the First Edition

THE Reader will find the following pages a full an swer to two little tracts lately published, entitled, Serious Thoughts upon the Perseverance of the Saints, and Predestination calmly considered.

PREFACE.

I Am very well aware what different effects the publishing this Letter against the dear Mr. Wesley's Sermon will produce. Many of my friends, that are strenuous advocates for Universal Redemption, will immediately be offen ded. Many that are zealous on the other side will be much rejoiced. They that are lukewarm on both sides, and are carried away with carnal reasoning will wish this matter had never brought under debate. The reasons I have given at

one hand

the beginning of the letter, I think sufficient to satisfy all of my conduct herein. I desire, therefore, that they who hold Election would not triumph, or make a party on (for I detest any such thing;) and that they who are prejudiced against that doctrine, be not too much concerned or offended on the other. Known unto God are all his ways from the beginning of the world. The great day will discover why the Lord permits dear Mr. Wesley and me to be of a different way of thinking. At present I shall make no enquiry into that matter beyond the acconnt which he has given of it himself in the following letter, which I lately re ceived from his own dear hands.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,

"LONDON, AUGUST 9, 1740

"I Thank you for yours May 24th. The case is quite "plain. There are bigots both for Predestination and a"gainst it. God is sending a message to those on either "side; but neither will receive it, unless from one who is of "their own opinion. Therefore, for a time, you are suffer"ed to be of one opinion, and I of another. 'But when his "time is come, God will do what man connot, namely, make "us both of one mind. Then persecution will flame out, "and it will be seen whether we count our lives dear unto “ourselves, so that we may finish our course with joy. "I am, my dearest Brother, ever yours. "J. WESLEY."

Thus my honoured friend. I heartily pray God to hasten the time for his being clearly enlightened into all the Doctrines of Divine Revelation, that we may thus be closeby united in principle and judgment, as well as heart and affection. And then, if the Lord should call us to it, I care not if I go with him to prison, or to death. For, like Paul and Silas, I hope we shall sing praises to God, and count it our highest honour to suffer for Christ's sake, and lay down our lives for the brethren.

A LETTER

FROM THE REVEREND

MR. GEORGE WHITEFIELD,

TO THE REVEREND

MR. JOHN WESLEY.

BETHESDA, IN GEORGIA, DECEMBER 24, 1740.

Reverend and very Dear Brother,

Was

GOD only knows what unspeakable sorrow of heart I have felt on your account, since I left England last. Whether it be my infirmity or not. I frankly confess, that Jonah could not go with more reluctance against Nineveh, than I now take pen in hand to write against you nature to speak, I had rather die than do it; and yet, if I am faithful to God, and to my own and others souls, I must not stand neuter any longer. I am very apprehensive that our common adversaries will rejoice to see us differing among ourselves. But what can I say? The children of God are in danger of falling into error.-Nay, numbers have been misled, whom God has been pleased to work upon by my ministry, and a greater number are still calling aloud upon me to shew my opinion.. I must then shew, that I know no man after the flesh; and that I have no respect to persons, any farther than is consistent with my duty to my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

This letter, no doubt, will lose me many friends. And for this cause, perhaps, God has laid this difficult task upon me, even to see whether I am willing to forsake all for Him, or not. From such considerations as these, I think it my duty to bear an humble testimony, and earnestly plead for the truths which, I am convinced, are clearly revealed in the word of God. In the defence whereof I must use great plainness of speech, and treat my dearest

friends upon earth with the greatest simplicity, faithfulness, and freedom, leaving the consequences of all to God.

For some time before, and especially since my last departure from England, both in public and private, by preaching and printing, you have been propagating the doctrine of Universal Redemption. And when I remem ber how Paul reproved Peter for his dissimulation, I fear I have been sinfully silent too long. Oh! then, be not angry with me, dear and honoured sir, if now I deliver my soul, by telling you, that I think, in this, you greatly

err.

It is not my design to enter into a long debate on God's DECREES. I refer you to Dr. Edward's Veritas Redux, which, I think, is unanswerable, except in a certain point, concerning a middle sort between elect and reprobate, which he himself in effect afterwards condemns.

I shall only make a few remarks upon your sermon, entitled Free Grace. And before I enter upon the discourse itself, give me leave to take a little notice of what, in your preface, you term an indispensable obligation to make it public to all the world. I must own, that I always thought you were quite mistaken upon that head. The case (you know) stands thus: when you was at Bristol, I think you received a letter from a private hand, charging you with not preaching the Gospel, because you did not preach up Election. Upon this. you drew a lot. The answer was- -Preach and print. I have often questioned, as I do now, whether, in so doing, you did not tempt the Lord. A due exercise of religious prudence, without a a lot, would have directed you in that matter. Besides, I never heard that you enquired of God, whether or not Election was a Gospel doctrine. But I fear, taking it for granted it was not, you only enquired whether you should be silent, or preach and print againt it? However this be, the lot came out-Preach and print; accordingly, you preached and printed against Election. At my desire, you suppressed the publishing the sermon whilst I was in England! but soon sent it into the world after my departure. Oh, that you had kept it in! However, if that sermon was printed in answer to a lot, I am apt to think, one reason why God should suffer you to be deceived was, that

hereby a special obligation might be laid upon me faithfully to declare the Scripture Doctrine of Election, that thus the Lord might give me a fresh opportunity of seeing what was in my heart, and whether I would be true to His cause or not; as you could not but grant, He did once before, by giving you such another lot at Deal. The morning I sailed from Deal for Gibraltar, you arrived from Georgia. Instead of giving me an opportunity to converse with you, though the ship was not far off the shore, you drew a lot, and immediately set forward to London. You left a letter behind you, in which were words to this effect" When I saw God, by the wind "which was carrying you out, brought me in, I asked "counsel of God. His answer you have inclosed." This was a piece of paper, in which was written these words"Let him return to London."

When I received this, I was somewhat surprised. Here was a good man telling me he had cast a lot, and God would have me return to London. On the other hand, I knew my call was to Georgia, and that I had taken leave of London, and could not justly go from the soldiers who were committed to my charge. I betook myself with a friend to prayer. That passage on the first book of Kings, chap. xiii. where we are told-« That the "Prophet was slain by a lion, that was tempted to go back 66 contrary to God's express order, upon another Prophet's 66 telling him God would have him do so:"this passage, I say, was powerfully impressed upon my soul. I wrote you word that I could not return to London. We sailed immediately. Some months after, I received a letter from you at Georgia, wherein you wrote words to this ef fect" Though God never before gave me a wrong lot, 66 yet perhaps, he suffered me to have such a lot at that ❝ time, to try what was in your heart" I should never have published this private transaction to the world, did not the glory of God call me to it.It is plain you had a wrong lot given you here; and justly, because you tempted God in drawing one. And thus I believe it is in the present case. And if so, let not the children of God, who are mine and your intimate friends, and advocates for Universal Redemption, think that doctrine true, because you preached it up in compliance with a lot given out from God.