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slip； till I was entirely out of their hands。 。 。 。 Although many strove to
lay hold on my collar or clothes； to pull me down； they could not fasten at
all： only one got fast hold of the flap of my waistcoat； which was soon left
in his hand； the other flap； in the pocket of which was a bank note； was
torn but half off。 。 。 。 A lusty man just behind； struck at me several
times； with a large oaken stick； with which if he had struck me once on the
back part of my head； it would have saved him all further trouble。 But every
time； the blow was turned aside； I know not how； for I could not move to the
right hand or left。 。 。 。 Another came rushing through the press； and
raising his arm to strike； on a sudden let it drop； and only stroked my
head； saying； 'What soft hair he has！' 。 。 。 The very first men whose hearts
were turned were the heroes of the town； the captains of the rabble on all
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occasions； one of them having been a prize fighter at the bear gardens。 。 。 。
〃By how gentle degrees does God prepare us for His will！ Two years ago； a
piece of brick grazed my shoulders。 It was a year after that the stone
struck me between the eyes。 Last month I received one blow； and this evening
two； one before we came into the town； and one after we were gone out； but
both were as nothing： for though one man struck me on the breast with all
his might； and the other on the mouth with such force that the blood gushed
out immediately； I felt no more pain from either of the blows than if they
had touched me with a straw。〃John Wesley； Works； vol。 3； pp。 297； 298。
The Methodists of those early dayspeople as well as preachersendured
ridicule and persecution； alike from church members and from the openly
irreligious who were inflamed by their misrepresentations。 They were
arraigned before courts of justicesuch only in name； for justice was rare
in the courts of that time。 Often they suffered violence from their
persecutors。 Mobs went from house to house； destroying furniture and goods；
plundering whatever they chose； and brutally abusing men； women； and
children。 In some instances； public notices were posted； calling upon those
who desired to assist in breaking the windows and robbing the houses of the
Methodists； to assemble at a given time and place。 These open violations of
both human and divine law were allowed to pass without a reprimand。 A
systematic persecution was carried on against a people whose only fault was
that of seeking to turn the feet of sinners from the path of destruction to
the path of holiness。
Said John Wesley； referring to the charges against himself and his
associates： 〃Some allege that the doctrines of these men are false；
erroneous； and enthusiastic； that they are new and unheard…of till of late；
that they are Quakerism； fanaticism； popery。 This whole pretense has been
already cut up by the roots； it having been shown at large that every branch
of this doctrine is the plain doctrine of Scripture interpreted
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by our own church。 Therefore it cannot be either false or erroneous；
provided the Scripture be true。〃 〃Others allege； 〃Their doctrine is too
strict； they make the way to heaven too narrow。' And this is in truth the
original objection； （as it was almost the only one for some time；） and is
secretly at the bottom of a thousand more； which appear in various forms。
But do they make the way to heaven any narrower than our Lord and His
apostles made it？ Is their doctrine stricter than that of the Bible？
Consider only a few plain texts： 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart； and with all thy mind； and with all thy soul； and with all thy
strength。' 'For every idle word which men shall speak； they shall give an
account in the day of judgment。' 'Whether ye eat； or drink； or whatever ye
do； do all to the glory of God。'
〃If their doctrine is stricter than this； they are to blame； but you know in
your conscience it is not。 And who can be one jot less strict without
corrupting the word of God？ Can any steward of the mysteries of God be found
faithful if he change any part of that sacred depositum？ No。 He can abate
nothing； he can soften nothing； he is constrained to declare to all men； 'I
may not bring down the Scripture to your taste。 You must come up to it； or
perish forever。' This is the real ground of that other popular cry
concerning 'the uncharitableness of these men。' Uncharitable； are they？ In
what respect？ Do they not feed the hungry and clothe the naked？ 'No； that is
not the thing： they are not wanting in this： but they are so uncharitable in
judging！ they think none can be saved but those of their own way。'〃Ibid。；
vol。 3； pp。 152； 153。
The spiritual declension which had been manifest in England just before the
time of Wesley was in great degree the result of antinomian teaching。 Many
affirmed that Christ had abolished the moral law and that Christians are
therefore under no obligation to observe it； that a believer is freed from
the 〃bondage of good works。〃 Others； though admitting
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the perpetuity of the law； declared that it was unnecessary for ministers to
exhort the people to obedience of its precepts； since those whom God had
elected to salvation would； 〃by the irresistible impulse of divine grace； be
led to the practice of piety and virtue；〃 while those who were doomed to
eternal reprobation 〃did not have power to obey the divine law。〃
Others； also holding that 〃the elect cannot fall from grace nor forfeit the
divine favor；〃 arrived at the still more hideous conclusion that 〃the wicked
actions they commit are not really sinful； nor to be considered as instances
of their violation of the divine law； and that； consequently； they have no
occasion either to confess their sins or to break them off by
repentance。〃McClintock and Strong； Cyclopedia； art。 〃Antinomians。〃
Therefore； they declared that even one of the vilest of sins； 〃considered
universally an enormous violation of the divine law； is not a sin in the
sight of God；〃 if committed by one of the elect； 〃because it is one of the
essential and distinctive characteristics of the elect； that they cannot do
anything that is either displeasing to God or prohibited by the law。〃
These monstrous doctrines are essentially the same as the later teaching of
popular educators and theologiansthat there is no unchangeable divine law
as the standard of right； but that the standard of morality is indicated by
society itself； and has constantly been subject to change。 All these ideas
are inspired by the same master spiritby him who； even among the sinless
inhabitants of heaven； began his work of seeking to break down the righteous
restraints of the law of God。
The doctrine of the divine decrees； unalterably fixing the character of men；
had led many to a virtual rejection of the law of God。 Wesley steadfastly
opposed the errors of the antinomian teachers and showed that this doctrine
which led to antinomianism was contrary to the Scriptures。 〃The grace
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of God that bringeth salvation hath appeare