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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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happiness , : b $ tf rather that of m austere officer fpr ^ iddiug the most blameless recreations to those tind £ r his command . What ostentation in that ; multiplicity of religious services
Wil&a oqwpies every hour of the day and evening of the Sunday ; in those readings of the Scripture which last for hours , notwithstanding the enfeebled attention , the wandering thoughts and the weariness which are the
necessary result $ in those endless prayers , filled with the useless repetitions which Jesus Christ forbids ! The Christian , obedient to the precept of his Master , conceals himself whilst he is doing good ; he loves and prays in the privacy of the heart $ Methodism places itself on the house-top , crying
aloud , " How is it with thy soul ? Turn hither a&d bent Id me , a pattern of the Christian lit 3 : " this alone would prove that it is erroneous . Could the pastors of Geneva
conscientiously ally themselves with the Methodists ? Or , can they avoid ap * plauding themselves for their resistance ^ notwithstanding it has subjected them to so much calumny and ill usage ? 3 rdly , Effects of Methodism .
Christianity is a chaia of love for in * , ed to bind together all the children of ijien : it is a social religion , which holds every member of society respec ^ table / bec&use each has a soul formed in the image of God ; it reproaches of
not with th ^ appellation Greek or Gentile 5 the Samaritan acts as neighbour eve » to hie enemies ; Methodism , on the contrary , divides mankind , placing 3 great gulf between the two pities , which cannot , without the aid of a , miracle , be passed over .
Methodists , and those who adhere iiot to t ^ e Methodists , these are the great divisions ; these are the two castes between the members of which no concord can subsist , until the distinction he completely done away . Methodism or condemnation , such is the ultimatum of these zealots .
Christianity unites * Methodism causes division ; Christianity fdrbears , Methodism condemns ; Christianity blesses <* U mankind , Methodism blesses them only yhv , march under its standard , wWl ^ t it casts sus picion on others . CSbrfetiajaity draws together in kindly umiW those who have been enemies ; Methodism separates even the mem-
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bers of the same fantfly : ; since the English have transplanted it into Geneva , disunion baa taken place amongst old friend ? , children have beea
alieitated from their fathers , and women froxn their ' husbands ; minds have been distracted , and fanatics have committed suicide $ judging- of the tree by its fruits , its root is full of venom . Methodism is anti-social , since it is of
an exclusive spirit , and in this respect it is notoriously anti-christian ; though moved with tenderness for the unknQwn Pagan > s living at the extremity of the earth , for whose conversion to its own principles it raafces exertions , it beholds with pitiless eye the
Christian who Js st ^ fFering a » d dying at its door if he be unable to adopt those principles . Heaven be praised , the eyes of men are opened in many places : various cantons of Switzerland , prepossessed in favour of nien who introduced
themselves as friends of Christianity , and as such were eagerly welcomed , were in at short time undeceived . The South of France , Lyons > Colnaar , Strasburg , Sedan , Rouen , Paris , saw what was the effect of the labours of those
continental missionaries who profess to preach the gospel , whilst they are treading under foot its fundamental laws , by speaking evil of its ministers , exciting distrust , doing mischief and occasioning disquiet , in the naj ^ e of the Prince of Peace , the best friend of man . The Church of England well knows that the Methodists are restless
neighbours and comfortless companions : they introduce themselves into a house with the apparent gentleness of the lamb , but soon their pride makes itself manifest , and they
dispossess the father of the family of his legitimate authority . Who then can wonder that the pastors of Geneva should strive to preserve their flock from this leprosy , or to cure those who have been infected ?
Conclusion . When the Methodists commenced the execution of their plan on the Continent of Europe , they went first to Geneva , for reasons which I have
elsewhere alleged , their pretext being , the scanty faith of the pastors of that ^ churchy a pretext which , whilst it obtained for them the credit of zeal , gave no uneasiness to the Protc&tants
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132 Pr&fesmr &henem $ re * & Summary oftM lute
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1824, page 132, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2522/page/4/
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