to bear witness, not only against the church of Rome, but against all denominations of Protestants, who have unhappily trod in the steps of the mother of harlots. For the clearer our light is, the more inexcusable we are. When I have disputed with sensible Roman Catholics, and among other reasons I have objected that of persecution; they have readily and smartly retorted upon me the conduct of such as were called Protestants, and whose conduct in that respect, was a very great stain to the reformation-Let every one who professes himself to be a Protestant, remember this, whether he stiles himself a churchman or dissenter, whether his creed be Arminian or Calvinian; yea, let every one who is called a Methodist, attend unto this, whether he is a stickler for the church or any thing else-Let him know that the same spirit which would drive away such as may happen to differ from him in form or sentiment only, would drive him out of the world, if it were in his power; and I must confess I should be extremely sorry, that either my life, my liberty, or my property, were at the mercy of such; I am convinced that neither one nor the other, would be long in my own power" -This sensible writer having been a Methodist himself, renders his observations the more remarkable. THE WORLD AN HOSPITAL. Men universally are moral invalids-and the world which they inhabit a large and beautiful hospital-decorated with fruits and flowers-covered with an azure canopywith the sun, moon, and stars, to enlighten it-There is a Physician who walks through this hospital to administer medicine to the patients, some of whom are very obstinate, and will submit to no course of cure which he prescribes; but as his universal practice, is to attend them for a season, and during this period, to try every method to reduce them to reason; you will frequently see patients of this inveterate habit covered with stripes which the Physician's zeal for their happiness has obliged ents". countenances—and will say-" "there go the faithful patiThe members of this class being but convalescents, sensible of much remainining weakness, and of their long resistance to the best of friends, have in general but little to say to these taunts of their enemies-they pity these poor men notwithstanding their unkind treatment, because they know that nothing less than a miracle, can prevent their precipitation into a much worse place, than the hospital which they now inhabit-a place, in which it is said there is no possibility of cure, and to which there are moreover many actual torments added. A third class are those who gave the Physician but little trouble-their hearts opened like Lydias to the gentle attractions of grace; and hence they avoided many a painful probation, through which the other classes were obliged to pass, on account of their resistance-these were cured more perfectly than the second class, and with less delay-they also walk more uprighthave neither their halt or stoop, nor yet their sadness of countenance-you never see them light or trifling; but always serene or chearful-In this state of mortality they sometimes drop a tear, but it is mixed with joy-the will of God is all things to them-they know his justice or his mercy, must be ultimately glorified in all creatures; and hence they are content-but the benevolence of their new nature leads them to wish, that all might partake of his saving health, and be eternally happy-but this wish is not unproductive-it leads them with firmness to warn the first class of their danger-ta 1 Irim to inflict-It is melancholy to tell, that some of these to the last, persevered in rejecting the remedies which he had provided, cursed him in the bitterness of their hearts, for the stripes which he inflicted to reduce their wills, and died in a state of utter enmity to the purest benevolence. A second class of patients in this immense hospital, come next under consideration-they also were extremely pertinacious-fond of their disorders, and averse to health-The Physician had with them a vast deal of trouble, before he could prevail on them even to take a cup of his mixing in their hand; some of them would just taste the contents, then push the cup from them, and decline their heads with every emotion of horrorWith these, the Physician, as I said before, had a vast deal of trouble-but by many tender instances of condescension, and many well timed chastisements; he at length effected the reduction of them all-some having withstood him five years, some ten, and some twenty-These are all now in a course of cure, and acknowledge themselves the willing patients of the best of Physicians-On this account, and on account of the visible marks of old sores upon them, which have been healed, and of several infirmities which are still permitted to bow them down, as instruments to remind them of their lóng resistance, and to keep them humble; they are frequently reproached by persons of the first class, who are still in a state of probation-These will point deridingly at their old sores; will collect together in groupes, to laugh, mock, and jeer them-will remark their halt their bent figure, or the languor of their countenances—and will say there go the faithful patients"—The members of this class being but convalescents, sensible of much remainining weakness, and of their long resistance to the best of friends, have in general but little to say to these taunts of their enemies-they pity these poor men notwithstanding their unkind treatment, because they know that nothing less than a miracle, can prevent their precipitation into a much worse place, than the hospital which they now inhabit-a place, in which it is said there is no possibility of cure, and to which there are moreover many actual torments added. A third class are those who gave the Physician but little trouble-their hearts opened like Lydias to the gentle attractions of grace; and hence they avoided many a painful probation, through which the other classes were obliged to pass, on account of their resistance-these were cured more perfectly than the second class, and with less delay-they also walk more uprighthave neither their halt or stoop, nor yet their sadness of countenance-you never see them light or trifling; but always serene or chearful-In this state of mortality they sometimes drop a tear, but it is mixed with joy-the will of God is all things to them-they know his justice or his mercy, must be ultimately glorified in all creatures; and hence they are content-but the benevolence of their new nature leads them to wish, that all might partake of his saving health, and be eternally happy-but this wish is not unproductive-it leads them with firmness to warn the first class of their danger-to |