learning. It is to men of learning-men educated in the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, &c. that we are indebted for the translation of the Scriptures into our own language. I only wish, therefore, to distinguish between the use and the necessity of a thing; for a thing may be useful though not ab solutely necessary. A knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, is a great acquisition to a minister of the gospel; but the Scriptures now being translated into the English language, a knowledge of these though useful, becomes less necessary, and a person may be made the honoured instrument of bringing sinners to God without knowing any of them. That the acquired abilities of the Clergy are superior to those of the Methodist Preachers, is readily admitted; and it would be little to their credit, considering their time and advantages, if they were not. I wish here, how. ever, to be understood in a general sense; for there are exceptions of the great and small on both hands, which, like a little ballast, will prevent us from inclining too much to one side. With regard to the natural abilities of the Methodist Preachers, I shall say very little. The writings of several of them, and the large congregations which attend their ministry, sufficiently prove, that they are entitled to a share of common sense.

Are they to be compared as it refers to morals? It is the custom of the Methodists to expel both immoral members and immoral Preachers. Is this the case in the Church of England? Ocular demonstration says, no.

Are they to be compared with regard to christian

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experience? Every Preacher in the Methodist Connexion is required to give an account of his conversion to God and his call to the ministry, before he is permitted to travel. And before he is received into full connexion, he has to declare the same things, in the face of two or three thousand people, besides Preachers. Would the Clergy feel comfortable in passing through such a fiery ordeal? Could they all give a regular and scriptural account of their conversion to God? I prefer no charge, I simply ask the question.

Are they to be compared as it respects doctrine? Here I shall forbear going into any length, as I intend to introduce the subject on doctrines in another Letter. All that is necessary to be said here, is, that the essential doctrines of Methodism are to be met with in the Articles, Homilies, &c. of the Church of England, and that when any of them are receded from by any of the Preachers, such Preachers are expelled from the body. Is this the case with the Clergy? Are none of their sermons and publications at variance with the reading desk? Here again, I leave others to give the reply.

We are

Are they to be compared as to disinterestedness? Yes, says the writer of the "Address," surely" The Clergy may be believed, when they say, they seek not yours, but you. very sensible," continues he, "that the generality of you are poor. Nor can we expect or desire such contributions from you as you have of late paid; to whom, or to what purposes, we do not pretend to say; but certainly on account of your being admitted to the meetings or assemblies of your present

teachers."* This quotation is pregnant with meaning, and it will be well to enter into its different parts. "The Clergy may be believed, when they say, they seek not yours, but you." This, I suppose is proved by the various lawsuits about tithes by their indifference about livings-and by their willingness to work without wages. "Nor can we expect or desire such contributions from you as you have of late paid." And how, indeed, could the Clergy either desire or expect those contributions, seeing that they have full pay without them? Whatever they may desire, they have no right, at least, to expect them. "To whom" those contributions are paid, "we do not pretend to say." As information seems here to be necessary, it may be just proper to state, that they are paid into the hands of the Class-Leaders, the Stewards of the different societies, and, in some cases, to the Preachers. There is no secrecy attached to the business. An account of the income and expenditure is published to the world. For "what purposes" they are paid, "we do not pretend to say" either; "but certainly" they are paid " on account of your being admitted to the meetings or assemblies of your present teachers." This, I am sure, can be no reflection upon the people, but rather a mark of their generous spirit. For they do not only support the Clergy and the Establishment by paying tithes, &c. but they support Methodism too, by their contributions. Noble indeed! not only to support those from whose ministry they derive real benefit, but * "Address," p. 42.

+ See the Annual Minutes of Conference, and a work lately published by Mr. Jonathan Crowther, entitled, "A Portraiture of Methodism."

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those from whose ministry they never did, and, perhaps, never will, reap the smallest advantage. Nor can these contributions be any reflection on the Preachers, because they are voluntary. The people may either give or withhold. Is this the case with the revenues of the Clergy? Are the people left either to give or not to give? But to use an old proverbial expression," It is good to be sure." If, then, the revenues of the Clergy are certain, and many of them large; and if they have the constant prospect of preferment before them, is it not, I would ask, more probable that they should be governed by the principle of self-interest in getting into office, than the Methodist Preachers? The Methodist Preachers, who are supported by voluntary subscriptions-who are wholly at the mercy of the people-whose incomes will either expire with their morals, their doctrines, or the religion of their members-and many of whom have abandoned good prospects in life? The Methodists are wisely exhorted "to try the spirits," and to examine into the" pretensions" of their teachers.* It is to be hoped, whenever the trial is made, that the Preachers will be found pretending, at least, to religion in their lives, and that their spirits will be more free from a love to the fleece than the flock.

Are they to be compared in point of simplicity or plainness? Let the writer of the "Address" give the reply. "Let me," says he, " caution you against one art of delusion, which they have frequently practised; I mean the applying to you all manner of tender, wheedling expressions. They write to you, and of you, as the dearest children "Address," p. 27.

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of God, the precious lambs of Christ."* Jones on the "Canon," enumerates twenty different Styles of writing, as the affected, the perplexed, the homely, the nervous, &c. But from the specimen just quoted, in connexion with the paragraph from whence it is taken, we may venture to add to all the other Styles, this as an instance of the childish. The Methodist Preachers, it is true, make use of the term "children of God;" but they are warranted by Scripture for its use; and as to its application, they are careful not to apply it to the children of darkness, that is, to those of whom it is said, "ye are of ye are of your father the devil." Take the Methodist Preachers, as a body, and I am persuaded they will be found more faithful than flattering more plain than showy. A word from a member of the Established Church will have more weight on this subject, than any thing I can offer. The person I shall call in to my aid is Dr. Johnson, His great biographer speaking one day of the preaching and success of the Methodists, the Dr. said, "Sir, it is owing to their expressing themselves in a plain and familiar manner, which is the only way to do good to the common people, and which the clergymen of genius and learning ought to do from a principle of duty, when it is suited to their congregations; a practice, for which they will be praised by men of sense. To insist against drunkenness as a crime, because it degrades reason, the noblest faculty of man, would be of no service to the common people: but to tell them that they may die in a fit of drunkenness, and shew them how dreadful that would be, cannot fail to Address," 2007+ See vol. 1, p. 77. 41. p. ‡ Gal. iii. 26, and various other texts.