liberty and glory. He chose a forerunner, raised an army, was anointed king, coined money inscribed with his own name, and proclaimed himself Messiah and prince of the Jewish nation Adrian raised an army, and sent it against him. He retired into a town called Bither, where he was besieged. Barchocheba was killed in the siege, the city was taken, and a dreadful havock succeeded. The Jews themselves allow, that, during this short war against the Romans in defence of this false Messiah, they lost five or six hundred thousand souls. This was in the former part of the second century. where Messiah should be born, and where he | from heaven to restore his nation to its ancient should principally impart his doctrine, is determined; Mic. v. 2; Isa. ix. 2; and was literally fulfilled in Jesus.-3. The house or family from whom he should descend, is clearly ascertained. So much is said of his descending from David, that we need not refer to particular proofs; and the rather as no Jew will deny it. The genealogies of Matthew and Luke, whatever varieties there are between them, agree in tracing his pedigree to David. And though, in both, it is traced in the name of Joseph, yet this appears to be only in conformity to the Jewish custom of tracing no pedigree in the name of a female. The father of Joseph, as mentioned by Luke, seems to have been his father by marriage only; so that it was, in reality, Mary's pedigree that is traced by Luke, though under her husband's name; and this being the natural line of descent, and that of Matthew the legal one, by which, as a king, he would have inherited the crown, there is no inconsistency between them.-4. The kind of miracles that Messiah should perform is specified; Is. xxxv. 5, 6. He actually performed the miracles there predicted, his enemies themselves being judges.-5. It was prophesied that he should, as a King, be distinguished by his lowliness; enter ing into Jerusalem, not in a chariot of state, but in a much humbler style; Zech. ix. 9; this was really the case, Matt. xxi.-6. It was predicted that he should suffer and die by the hands of wicked men; Isa. xlix. 7; liii. 9; Dan. ix. 26. Nothing could be a more striking fulfilment of prophecy than the treatment the Messiah met 3. In the reign of Justin, about 520, another with in almost every particular circumstance.-impostor appeared, who called himself the son of 7. It was foretold that he should rise from the Moses. His name was Dunaan. He entered dead; Isa. liii. 11; Psal. lxviii. 18; xvi. 10; his into a city of Arabia Felix, and there he greatly resurrection is proved by indubitable evidence.— oppressed the Christians; but he was taken pri8. It was foretold that the great body of the Jew-soner, and put to death by Elesban, an Æthioish nation would not believe in him, and that he pian general. would set up his kingdom among the Gentiles; Is. liii. 1; xlix. 4-6; vi. 9-12. Never was a prophecy more completely fulfilled than this, as facts evidently prove. Lastly, It is declared that when the Messiah should come, the will of God would be perfectly fulfilled by him, Is. xlii. 1; xlix. 3-5. And what was his whole life but perfect conformity to him? He finished the work the Father gave him to do; never was there such a character seen among men. Well therefore may we say, Truly this was the Son of God. See article CHRISTIANITY, JESUS CHRIST. There have been numerous false Messiahs which have arisen at different times. Of these the Saviour predicted, Matt. xxiv. 14. Some have reckoned as many as twenty-four, of whom we shall here give an account. 2. In the reign of Theodosius the younger, in the year of our Lord 434, another impostor arose, called Moses Cretensis. He pretended to be a second Moses, sent to deliver the Jews who dwelt in Crete, and promised to divide the sea, and give them a safe passage through it. Their delusion proved so strong and universal, that they neglected their lands, houses, and all other concerns, and took only so much with them as they could conveniently carry. And on the day appointed, this false Moses, having led them to the top of a rock, men, women, and children, threw themselves headlong down into the sea, without the least hesitation or reluctance, till so great a number of them were drowned, as opened the eyes of the rest, and made them sensible of the cheat. They then began to look out for their pretended leader, but he disappeared, and escaped out of their hands. 4. In the year 529 the Jews and Samaritans rebelled against the emperor Justinian, and set up one Julian for their king; and accounted him the Messiah. The emperor sent an army against them, killed great numbers of them, took their pretended Messiah prisoner, and immediately put him to death. 5. In the year 571 was born Mahomet, in Arabia. At first he professed himself the Messiah, who was promised to the Jews. By this means he drew many of that unhappy people after him. In some sense, therefore, he may be considered in the number of false Messiahs. See MAHOMETANISM. 6. About the year 721, in the time of Leo Isaurus, arose another false Messiah in Spain; his name was Serenus. He drew great numbers after him, to their no small loss and disappointinent, but all his pretensions came to nothing. 1. Caziba was the first of any note who made a noise in the world. Being dissatisfied with the state of things under Adrian, he set himself up at the head of the Jewish nation, and proclaimed hunself their long-expected Messiah. He was one of those banditti that infested Judca, and 8. In the year 1138 the Persians were discommitted all kinds of viclence against the Ro- turbed with a Jew, who called himself the Mesmans; and had become so powerful, that he was siah. He collected together a vast army. But chosen king of the Jews, and by them acknow-he, too, was put to death, and his followers treated ledged their Messiah. However, to facilitate the with great inhumanity. success of this bold enterprise, he changed his naine from Caziba, which it was at first, to that of Barchocheba, alluding to the star foretold by Balaam; for he pretended to be the star sent 7. The twelfth century was fruitful in false Messiahs; for about the year 1137, there appeared one in France, who was put to death, and many of those who followed him. 9. In the year 1157, a false Messiah stirred up the Jews at Corduba, in Spain. The wiser and better sort looked upon him as a madman, but the great body of the Jews in that nation believed in him. MESSIAH On this occasion almost all the Jews in Spain were destroyed 10. In the year 1167, another false Messiah arose in the kingdom of Fez, which brought great troubles and persecution upon the Jews that were scattered through that country. 11. In the same year an Arabian set up there for the Messiah, and pretended to work miracles. When search was made for him, his followers fled, and he was brought before the Arabian king. Being questioned by him, he replied that he was a prophet sent from God. The king then asked him what sign he could show to confirm his mission. Cut off my head, said he, and I will return to life again. The king took him.at his word, promising to believe him if his prediction came to pass. The poor wretch, however, never returned to life again, and the cheat was sufficiently discovered. Those who had been deluded by him were grievously punished, and the nation condemned to a very heavy fine. 12. Not long after this, a Jew who dwelt beyond Euphrates, called himself the Messiah, and drew vast multitudes of people after him. He gave this for a sign of it, that he had been leprous, and was cured in the course of one night. He, like the rest, perished in the attempt, and brought great persecution on his countrymen. 13. In the year 1174, a magician and false Christ arose in Persia, who was called David Almusser. He pretended that he could make himself invisible; but he was soon taken and put to death, and a heavy fine laid upon his brethren the Jews. 14. In the year 1176, another of these impostors arose in Moravia. But the reign of delusion is short, and his fate appears to have been similar to that of his predecessor. 15. In the year 1199, a famous cheat and rebel exerted himself in Persia, called David el David. He was a man of learning, a great magician, and pretended to be the Messiah. He raised an army against the king, but was taken and imprisoned; and, having made his escape, was afterwards seized again, and beheaded." Vast numbers of the Jews were butchered for taking part with this impostor. 16. We are told of another false Christ in this same century by Maimonides and Solomon; but they take no notice either of his name, country, or good or ill success. Here we may observe, that no less than ten false Christs arose in the twelfth century, and brought prodigious calamities and destruction upon the Jews in various quarters of the world. 17. In the year 1497, we find another false Christ, whose name was Ismael Sophus, who deluded the Jews in Spain. He also perished, and as many as believed in him were dispersed. 18. In the year 1500, Rabbi Lemlem, a German Jew of Austria, declared himself a forerunner of the Messiah, and pulled down his own oven, promising his brethren that they should bake their bread in the Holy Land next year. 19. In the year 1509, one whose name was Plefferkorn, a Jew of Cologne, pretended to be the Messiah. He afterwards affected, however, to turn Christian. 20. In the year 1534, Rabbi Salomo Malcho, giving out that he was the Messiah, was burnt to death by Charles the Fifth of Spain. MESSIAH 21. In the year 1615, a false Christ arose m the East Indies, and was greatly followed by the Portuguese Jews, who were scattered over that country. 22. In the year 1624, another in the Low 23. In the year 1666 appeared the false Mes- The year 1666 was a year of great expectation, and some wonderful thing was looked for by many. This was a fit time for an impostor to set up; and, accordingly, lying reports were carried about. It was said, that great multitudes marched from unknown parts to the remote deserts of Arabia, and they were supposed to be the ten tribes of Israel, who had been dispersed for many ages; that a ship was arrived in the north part of Scotland with sails and cordage of silk; that the mariners spake nothing but Hebrew; that on the sails was this motto, The Twelve Tribes of Israel. Thus were credulous men possessed at that time. Then it was that Sabatai Sevi appeared st Smyrna, and professed himself to be the Messias He promised the Jews deliverance and a pros perous kingdom. This which he promised they firmly believed. The Jews now attended to no business, discoursed of nothing but their return, and believed Sabatai to be the Messias as firmly as we Christians believe any article of faith. A right reverend person, then in Turkey, mecting with a Jew of his acquaintance at Aleppo, he asked him what he thought of Sabatai. The Jew replied, that he believed him to be the Mes sias; and that he was so far of that belief, that if he should prove an impostor, he would then turn Christian. It is fit we should be particular in this relation, because the history is so very surprising and remarkable; and we have the account of it from those who were in Turkey. Sabatai Sevi was the son of Mordecai Sevi, a mean Jew of Smyrna. Sabatai was very bookish, and arrived to great skill in the Hebrew learning He was the author of a new doctrine, and for it was expelled the city. He went thence to Sa lonichi, of old called Thessalonica, where he mar ried a very handsome woman, and was divorced from her. Then he travelled into the Morea, then to Tripoli, Gaza, and Jerusalem. By the way he picked up a third wife. At Jerusalem be began to reform the Jews' constitutions, and abolish one of their solemn fasts, and communi cated his designs of professing himself to be the Messias to one Nathan. He was pleased with and set up for his Elias, or forerunner, and took upon him to abolish all the Jewish fasts, as not beseeming when the bridegroom was now come. Nathan prophesied that the Messias should ap pear before the Grand Seignior in less than two years, and take from him his crown, and lead him in chains. At Gaza, Sabatai preached repentance, to MESSIAH MESSIAH gether with a faith in himself, so effectually, that | January, 1666. He had a long and troublesome the people gave themselves up to their devotions voyage; he had not power-over the sea and and alins. The noise of this Messias began to winds. The Vizier, upon the news, sends for fill all places. Sabatai now resolves for Smyrna, him, and confines him in a loathsome prison. and then for Constantinople. Nathan writes to The Jews pay him their visits; and they of this him from Damascus, and thus he begins his let-city are as infatuated as those in Smyrna. They ter: "To the king, our king, lord of lords, who forbid traffic, and refuse to pay their debts. Some gathers the dispersed of Israel, who redeems our of our English merchants, not knowing how to captivity, the man elevated to the height of all su- recover their debts from the Jews, took this ocblimity, the Messias of the God of Jacob, the casion to visit Sabatai, and make their complaints true Messias, the celestial Lion, Sabatai Sevi." to him against his subjects; whereupon he wrote And now, throughout Turkey, the Jews were the following letter to the Jews. in great expectation of glorious times. They now were devout and penitent, that they might not obstruct the good which they hoped for. "To you of the nation of the Jews, who expect the appearance of the Messias, and the salvation of Israel, peace without end. Whereas we are informed that you are indebted to several of the English nation, it seemeth right unto us to order you to make satisfaction to these your just debts, which, if you refuse to do, and not obey us herein, know you that then you are not to enter with us into our joys and dominions." Sabatai remained a prisoner in Constantinople, Some fasted so long, that they were famished to death; others buried themselves in the earth til their limbs grew stiff; some would endure melting wax dropped on their flesh; some rolled in snow; others, in a cold season, would put themselves into cold water; and many buried themselves. Business was laid aside; superfluities of household utensils were. sold; the poor for the space of two months. The Grand Viwere provided for by immense contributions. zier, designing for Candia, thought it not safe to Sabatai comes to Smyrna, where he was adored leave him in the city during the Grand Seignior's by the people, though the Chacham contradicted absence and his own. He, therefore, removed him, for which he was removed from his office. him to the Dardanelli, a better air, indeed, but yet There he in writing styles himself the only and out of the way, and consequently importing less first-born Son of God, the Messias, the Saviour danger to the city; which occasioned the Jews to of Israel. And though he met with some oppo- conclude that the Turks could not, or durst not, sition, yet he prevailed there at last to that de- take away his life; which had, they concluded, gree, that some of his followers prophesied, and been the surest way to have removed all jealousy. fell into strange ecstacies: four hundred men and The Jews flocked in great numbers to the castle women prophesied of his growing kingdom; and where he was a prisoner; not only those that young infants, who could hardly speak, would were near, but from Poland, Germany, Leghorn, plainly pronounce Sabatai, Messias, and Son of Venice, and other places; they received Sabatai's God. The people were for a long time possessed, blessing, and promises of advancement. The and voices heard from their bowels: some fell into Turks inade use of this confluence; they raised trances, foarned at the mouth, recounted their fu- the price of their lodgings and provisions, and put ture prosperity, their visions of the Lion of Judah, their price upon those who desired to see Sabatai, and the triumphs of Sabatai. All which, says the for their admittance. This profit stopped their relater, were certainly true, being effects of dia-mouths, and no complaints were for this cause bolical delusions, as the Jews themselves have sent to Adrianople. since confessed. Sabatai, in his confinement, appoints the manNow the impostor swells and assumes. ner of his own nativity. He commands the Jews Whereas the Jews, in their synagogues, were to keep it on the ninth day of the month Ab, and wont to pray for the Grand Seignior, he orders to make it a day of great joy, to celebrate it with those prayers to be forborne for the future, think-pleasing meats and drinks, with illuminations ing it an indecent thing to pray for him who was shortly to be his captive; and instead of praying for the Turkish emperor, he appoints prayers for himself. He also elected princes to govern the Jews in their march towards the Holy Land, and We may observe, by the way, the insolence of to minister justice to them when they should be this impostor. This day was a solemn day of possessed of it. These princes were men well fasting among the Jews formerly, in memory known in the city of Smyrna at that time. The of the burning of the temple by the Chaldees: people were now pressing to see some miracle several other sad things happened in this month, to confirm their faith, and to convince the Gen-as the Jews observe; that then, and upon the tiles. Here the impostor was puzzled, though same day, the second temple was destroyed; and any juggling trick would have served their turn. But the credulous people supplied this defect. When Sabatai was before the Cadi (or justice of peace,) some affirmed they saw a pillar of fire between him and the Cadi; and after some had affirmed it, others were ready to swear to it and did swear it also; and this was presently believed by the Jews of that city. He that did not now The Jews of that city paid Sabatai Sevi great believe him to be the Messias was to be shunned respect. They decked their synagogues with S. as an excommunicated person. The impostor S. in letters of gold, and made for him in the now declares that he was called of God to see wall a crown: they attributed the same titles and Constantinople, where he had much to do. He prophecies to him which we apply to our Saviour, ships himself to that end, in a Turkish saick, in He was also, during this imprisonment, visited by and music. He obligeth them to acknowledge the love of God, in giving them that day of consolation for the birth of their king Messias, Sabatai Sevi, his servant and first-born Son in love. that in this month it was decreed in the wilderness that the Israelites should not enter into Canaan, &c. Sabatai was born on this day; and, therefore, the fast must be turned to a feast; whereas, in truth, it had been well for the Jews had he not been born at all; and much better for himself, as will appear from what follows. MESSIAH METHODIST 24. The last false Christ that had made any considerable number of converts was one Rabi Mordecai, a Jew of Germany; he appeared in the year 1632. It was not long before he was found out to be an impostor, and was obliged to fly from Italy to Poland, to save his life. What became of him afterwards, does not seem to be pilgrims from all parts, that had heard his story. | quire into the truth of these matters. When the Among whom Nehemiah Cohen, from Poland, legates arrived at Smyrna, they heard of the was one, a man of great learning in the Cabala news that Sabatai was turned Turk, to their very and eastern tongues, who desired a conference great confusion; but going to visit the brother with Sabatai, and at the conference maintained of Sabatai, he endeavoured to persuade them that that, according to the Scripture, there ought to Sabatai was still the true Messias; that it was De a twofold Messias; one the son of Ephraim, a not Sabatai that went about in the habit of a poor and despised teacher of the law; the other Turk, but his angel or spirit; that his body was the son of David, to be a conqueror. Nehemiah taken into heaven, and should be sent down was content to be the former, the son of Ephraim, again when God should think it a fit season. and to leave the glory and dignity of the latter to He added, that Nathan, his forerunner, who Sabatai. Sabatai, from what appears, did not dis-had wrought many miracles, would soon be at like this. But here lay the ground of the quarrel: Smyrna; that he would reveal hidden things to Nehemiah taught that the son of Ephraim ought them, and confirm them. But this Elias was to be the forerunner of the son of David, and to not suffered to come into Smyrna; and though usher him in; and Nehemiah accused Sabatai of the legates saw him elsewhere, they received no too great forwardness in appearing as the son of satisfaction at all. David, before the son of Ephraim had led him the way. Sabatai could not brook this doctrine; for he might fear that the son of Ephraim, who was to lead the way, might pretend to be the son of David, and so leave him in the lurch; and, therefore, he excluded him from any part or share in this matter, which was the occasion of the ruin of Sabatai, and all his glorious designs. Nehe-recorded. miah, being disappointed, goes to Adrianople, and informs the great ministers of state against Sabatai, as a lewd and dangerous person to the government, and that it was necessary to take him out of the way. The Grand Seignior, being informed of this, sends for Sabatai, who, much dejected, appears before him. The Grand Seignior requires a miracle, and chooses one himself; and it was this: that Sabatai should be stripped naked, and set as a mark for his archers to shoot at; and if the arrows did not pierce his flesh, he would own him to be the Messias. Sabatai had not faith enough to bear up under so great a trial. The Grand Seignior let him know that he would forthwith impale him, and that the stake was prepared for him, unless he would turn Turk. Upon which he consented to turn Mahometan, to the great confusion of the Jews, And yet some of the Jews were so vain as to affirm that it was not Sabatai himself, but his shadow, that professed the religion, and was seen in the habit of a Turk; so great was their obstinacy and infidelity, as if it were a thing impossible to convince these deluded and infatuated wretches. This may be considered as true and exact an account of the false Christs that have arisen since the crucifixion of our blessed Saviour, as can well be given. See Johannes à Lent's Hist. of False Messiahs; Jortin's Rem. on Eccl. Hist. vol. iii. p. 330; Kidder's Demonstration of the Messias; Harris's Sermon on the Mes siah; The Eleventh Volume of the Modern Part of the Universal History; Simpson's Key to the Prophecies, sec. 9; Maclaurin on the Prophecies relating to the Messiah; Fuller's Jesus the true Messiah. METHODIST, a name applied to different sects, both Papists and Protestants.-1. The Popish Methodists were those polemical doctors who arose in France about the middle of the seventeenth century, in opposition to the Hugue nots, or Protestants. These Methodists, from their different manner of treating the controversy with their opponents, may be divided into two classes. The one comprehends those doctors whose method of disputing with the Protestants was disingenuous and unreasonable; and who followed the example of those military chiefs, who shut up their troops in entrenchments and After all this, several of the Jews continued to strong-holds, in order to cover them from the use the forms in their public worship, prescribed attacks of the enemy. Of this number were the by this Mahometan Messias, which obliged the Jesuit Veron, who required the Protestants to principal Jews of Constantinople to send to the prove the tenets of their church by plain passages synagogue of Smyrna to forbid this practice. of Scripture, without being allowed the liberty During these things, the Jews, instead of mind- of illustrating those passages, reasoning upon ing their trade and traffic, filled their letters with them, or drawing any conclusions from them; news of Sabatai their Messias, and his won- Nihusius, an apostate from the Frotestant reli derful works. They reported, that, when the gion; the two Wallenburgs, and others, who Grand Seignior sent to take him, he caused all confined themselves to the business of answering the messengers that were sent to die; and when objections; and cardinal Richelieu, who confined other Janizaries were sent, they fell dead by a the whole controversy to the single article of the word from his mouth; and being requested to do divine institution and authority of the church. it, he caused them to revive again. They added, 2. The Methodists of the second class were of that, though the prison where Sabatai lay was opinion, that the most expedient manner of rebarred and fastened with strong iron locks, yet ducing the Protestants to silence, was not to he was seen to walk through the streets with a attack them by piecemeal, but to overwhelm numerous train; that the shackles which were then at once by the weight of some general prinupon his neck and feet did not fall off, but were ciple, or presumption, or some universal arguturned into gold, with which Sabatai gratified ment, which comprehended or might be applied his followers. Upon the fame of these things, to all the points contested between the two the Jews of Italy sent legates to Smyrna, to in-churches; thus imitating the conduct of those METHODISTS military leaders, who, instead of spending their time and strength in sieges and skirmishes, endeavoured to put an end to the war by a general and decisive action. Some of these polemics rested the defence of popery upon prescription; others upon the wicked lives of Protestant princes who had left the church of Rome; others, the crime of religious schism; the variety of opinions among Protestants with regard to doctrine and dicipline, and the uniformity of the tenets and worship of the church of Rome; and thus, by urging their respective arguments, they thought they should stop the mouths of their adversaries at once. METHODISTS increased their fund to eighty pounds per annum. This, which one should have thought would have been attended with praise instead of censure, quickly drew upon them a kind of persecution; some of the seniors of the university began to interfere, and it was reported "that the college censors were going to blow up the godly club." They found themselves, however, patronized and encouraged by some men eminent for their learning and virtue; so that the society still continued, though they had suffered a severe loss, in 1730, by the death of Mr. Morgan, who, it is said, was the founder of it. In October, 1735, John and Charles Wesley, Mr. Ingham, and Mr. Delamotte, son of a merchant in London, embarked for Georgia, in order to preach the Gospel to the Indians. After their arrival they were at first favourably received, but in a short time lost the affection of the people; and, on account of some differences with the storekeeper, Mr. Wesley was obliged to return to England. Mr. Wesley, however, was soon succeeded by Mr. Whitfield, whose repeated labours in that part of the world are well known. METHODISTS, PROTESTANT, origin of-It is not generally known that the name of Methodist had been given long before to a religious sect in England, or, at least, to a party in religion which was distinguished by some of the same marks as are now supposed to apply to the Methodists. John Spence, who was librarian of Sion College in 1657, in a book which he pubfished, says, "Where are now our Anabaptists and plain pikestaff Methodists, who esteem all flowers of rhetoric in sermons no better than II. Methodists, tenets of.-After Mr. Whitstinking weeds?"-But the denomination to field returned from America in 1741, he declared which we here refer, was founded in the year his full assent to the doctrines of Calvin. Mr 1739, by one Mr. Morgan and Mr. John Wes- Wesley, on the contrary, professed the Arminian ley. In the month of November that year, the doctrine, and had printed in favour of perfection latter, being then fellow of Lincoln College, be- and universal redemption, and very strongly gan to spend some evenings in reading the Greek against election; a doctrine which Mr. Whitfield Testament, with Charles Wesley, student, Mr. believed to be scriptural. The difference, thereMorgan, commoner of Christ Church, and Mr. fore, of sentiments between these two great men Kirkham, of Merton College. Not long after-caused a separation. Mr. Wesley preached in a wards, two or three of the pupils of Mr. John Wesley obtained leave to attend these meetings. They then began to visit the sick in different parts of the town, and the prisoners also, who were confined in the castle. Two years after they were joined by Mr. Ingham, of Queen's College, Mr. Broughton, and Mr. Hervey; and in 1735, by the celebrated Mr. Whitfield, then in his eighteenth year. At this time their number in Oxford amounted to about fourteen. They obtained their name from the exact regularity of their lives, which gave occasion to a young gentleman of Christ Church to say, "Here is a new sect of Methodists sprung up!" alluding to a sect of ancient physicians who were called Methodists, because they reduced the whole healing art to a few common principles, and brought it into some method and order. At the time that this society was formed, it is said that the whole kingdom of England was tending fast to infidelity. "It is come," says bishop Butler, "I know not how, to be taken for granted by many persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject of inquiry; but that it is now at length discovered to be fictitious; and accordingly they treat it as if, in the present age, this were an agreement among all people of discernment, and nothing remained but to set it up as a principal subject of mirth and ridicule, as it were, by way of reprisals for its having so long interrupted the pleasures of the world." There is every reason to believe that the Methodists were the instruments of stemming this torrent. The sick and the poor also tasted the fruits of their labours and benevolence: Mr. Wesley abridged himself of all his superfluities, and proposed a fund for the relief of the indigent; and A prosperous was the scheme, that they quickly place called the Foundry, where Mr. Whitfield preached but once, and no more. Mr. Whitfield then preached to very large congregations out of doors, and soon after, in connexion with Mr. Cennick, and one or two more, began a new house in Kingswood, Gloucestershire, and established a school that favoured Calvinistic preachers. The Methodists, therefore, were now divided; one part following Mr. Wesley, and the other Mr. Whitfield. The doctrines of the Wesleyan Methodists, according to their own account, are the same as the church of England, as set forth in her liturgy, articles, and homilies. This, however, has been disputed. Mr. Wesley, in his appeal to men of reason and religion, thus declares his sentiments: "All I teach," he observes, "respects either the nature and condition of justification, the nature and condition of salvation, the nature of justifying and saving faith, or the Author of faith and salvation, That justification whereof our articles and ho milies speak signifies present forgiveness, and consequently acceptance with God: I believe the condition of this is faith: I mean not only that without faith we cannot be justified, but also that, as soon as any one has true faith, in that moment he is justified. Good works follow this faith, but cannot go before it; much less can sanctification, which implies a continued course of good works, springing from holiness of heart. But it is allowed that sanctification goes before our justification at the last day, Heb. xii. 14. Repentance, and fruits meet for repentance, go be fore faith. Repentance absolutely must go before faith; fruits meet for it, if there be opportunity, By repentance I mean conviction of sin, producing real desires and sincere resolutions of amendment; by salvation, I mean not barely de |