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METHODISM AND THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, 



MUCH has been said in a loose and general way about the friendship 

 of the Methodists for the Church of England ; and said, too, in some 

 instances, by high authorities, in a manner indicating a full belief that 

 the help of the Methodists in behalf of the Establishment might safely 

 be calculated upon in a time of danger. We have no wish to deal 

 unjustly towards the Methodists or indeed with any other sect or 

 party in any respect whatever ; but we must be allowed to say, that 

 whoever entertains an expectation of the Church being assisted in a 

 crisis by any except her own members, will, in our opinion, be disap- 

 pointed ; and we think it right that this should be known beforehand, 

 that no false estimate may be taken of the number and strength of either 

 her friends or her enemies. It may, indeed, be allowed, that the Me- 

 thodists have no ill feeling against the Church ; that they have no desire 

 for her extinction, nor even any wish to injure her. But this is not 

 peculiar to them : there are other sects, or at least many individuals 

 belonging to other sects (which is all that can be said of the Methodists, 

 who are by no means unanimous in their profession of approbation of the 

 Church, whatever representations may have been made on the subject 

 by certain of their teachers), who, regarding the Church as a Christian 

 body, would not have her destroyed; nay, who sincerely desire her 

 prosperity. Yet the Methodists have somehow succeeded in persuading 

 Churchmen that they are, if not Churchmen too, so entirely free from 

 <a spirit of rivalship with the Establishment, as to stand entitled to the 

 character of being, par excellence, the friends of the church, in the sense 

 of seeking her welfare and having her good at heart. 



This is a point of no slight importance just now when there ought 

 to be no mistake as to who are the real supporters of the church and 

 being, moreover, one on which we think a great deal of misconception 

 exists, it is our intention to bestow some pains in setting the matter 

 in a proper light, without prejudice or partiality. 



As preliminary to what follows, we may be allowed to remark, that, 

 besides being, friends of the completest liberty of conscience being 

 enjoyed by all sects, we have some esteem for Methodism especially; 

 regarding, as we do, the system to have been the means of promoting 

 true religion in this country, and of stirring up different denominations 

 and the Church, too to the performance of works of usefulness, 

 We do not, therefore, intend it to be interpreted, that one word of 

 disrespect is here uttered towards that community, as such however 

 much we may object to the double and, as we conceive, inconsistent 

 character which has been assumed, of being devoted Wesleyans and 

 sincere Churchmen at the same time. With this understanding, then, 

 we proceed to inquire Can the Methodists fairly be considered as 

 Churchmen, or as honest allies of the Church ; and can their assistance 

 be safely relied on, in defending the Church in the hour of danger ? Our 



