1792. MEMOIRS OF MR. JOHN WESLEY. 275 



lifhed, in three parts, " The enthufiafm of the method- 

 ifts and papifts compared :" The third part of this per- 

 formance containing a perfonal charge of immoral con- 

 duft. Mr. Wefley, in his vindication, publiflied a letter 

 to his lordlliip, which produced a reply from the latter. 



Bifhop Warburton's attack is contained m his cele- 

 brated treatife, intitled " The doftrine of grace : or the 

 office and operations of the holy fpirit vindicated from 

 the infults of infidelity, and the abufes of fanaticifm ; 

 concluding with fome thoughts, humbly offered to the 

 confideration of the eftablillied clergy, with regard to 

 the right method of defending religion againft the at- 

 tacks of either party," 2 vol. fmall 8vo, 1762. There 

 is much acute reafoning, and much poignant and 

 fprightJy wit in his " do£lrine of grace ;" but there 

 is too much levity in it for a grave bifliop, and too 

 much abufe for a candid chriitian. On this occafion, 

 Mr. Wefley publiflied a letter to the bifhop, in which, 

 with great temper and moderation, as vvell as with 

 great ingenuity and addrefs, he endeavoured to fhelter 

 himfelf from his lordfliip's attacks, not only under the 

 authority of the holy fcriptures, but of the church it- 

 felf, as by law eftabliflied ; and arguments, on this lafl 

 ;\uthority, it muft be allowed, could be urged, with- 

 out much impropriety, in an addrefs to a right reve- 

 rend prelate of that churcli. 



On his return from Georgia, Mr. Wefley paid a vi- 

 fit to count Zinzendorf, the celebrated founder of the 

 fe£l: of Moravians, or Herrnhuters, at Herrnuth in Up- , 

 perLiifatia, In the following year, he appeared again in 

 England, and with his brother Chailcs, at the head of 

 the methodifts. He preached his firfl: fi.eld lermon at 

 Briilol, on the 2d of April 1738, from which time his 

 difciples have continued to increafe. In 1741, a feri- 

 ous altercation took place between him and Mr. Whit- 

 field. In 1744, attempting to preach at an inn at Taun- 

 ton, he was regularly filenced by the magifl;rates. Al- 

 though he chiefly refided, for the remainder of his life 



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