that, with all their malice and ingenuity, they have never yet been able to show one single instance in which Methodism is opposed to the word of God; and in the absence of such proof, it will be vain to denounce it as a 66 system of iniquity."

Equally vain, also, have been the efforts to injure the character and reputation of some of the best men in Methodism, by charging them with peculation and other most infamous crimes. The shafts of calumny have in every case been pointless, and have fallen harmless at the feet of those against whom they were directed. Eminent Ministers, venerable alike for years and character, possessing gifts of the highest order, and admirably qualified to conduct Methodism from a state of youth to manhood, have been the object of incessant assaults. Accused of selfishness, dishonesty, and tyranny, no names have been treated with such dishonour, no characters have been so traduced, as theirs. And if but one tithe of the things now charged upon them were true, they must have perished from society long ere this. But they survive the whole; and, like Daniel in the lions' den, each may say, "My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me." It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to find men who, during half a century of singularly uninterrupted labours, devoted themselves with such unwearied energy and fidelity to a cause which they knew and felt to be of God. Yet some ascribe these services entirely to ambition, and declare them to have been productive of nothing but evil. We pray that God may yet spare His aged servants, after this longest and fiercest of assaults upon Methodism, to see that the church, which was the choice of their youth, is more vigorous and flourishing than ever!

4. It has not been able to promote disunion among the Ministers of the Connexion. We remember that it was proclaimed far and wide last year, by one of the travelling agitators, that there was as great a commotion among the Preachers as there was among the people; and that at the ensuing Conference (1850) more than a hundred Preachers would formally separate from their brethren, and become a distinct church. So confidently was this asserted, that the names of the leader in this movement, and of many of his companions, were given without the least hesitation. Now, had there been any such division as this, the breach in Methodism must have been very serious. Indeed, it is impossible to say what would have been the result, if a hundred Preachers had formally renounced Methodism, and had adopted the pretended principles of the Reformers in a new constitution. And was not this ardently desired by the agitators? Did they not earnestly seek it? O, how tenderly were some of the Preachers touched during the last year's agitation, in comparison of the rough handling they receive now! How hard certain publications strove to excite the ambition of some, by telling them that they were far superior in intellect and capacity for government to others, who had held

sway in Methodism for a long succession of years! How diligently they laboured to set the young Preachers against the old, and those who labour in the smaller Circuits against their brethren stationed in important and flourishing towns! What appeals there have been to former prejudices! what kind and touching allusions to old grievances! what assurances of popularity if they would but come out and "beard the clique!" what prophesyings of degradation and tyranny for them if they remained in Methodism! If none of these considerations could move them, then they should be starved into a surrender; the supplies should be stopped, and they and their families should feel the vengeance of an angry people. Alas, alas! the whole of it failed. Methodist Preachers were neither to be moved by pretended sympathy, nor cajoled by flattery, nor terrified by threats and persecutions. They stood firm,-firm to themselves, firm to their principles, and firm to Christ, their great Master and Head. No two such Conferences, for numbers and for unanimity, were ever known in the history of Methodism as the Conferences of 1849 and 1850. And Methodist Preachers, by their devoted loyalty, and by their uncompromising resistance to the rebellion of the last two years, have rendered a service to Christianity, for which other churches in this country may yet have cause to be thankful.

5. It has not gained one of those objects for which it was professedly begun. And this we take to be one of the best proofs, not only of the integrity of the Conference, but of the excellence of those regulations, also, which they have established from time to time for the good order and government of the Methodist Societies. More than twelve months ago, according to the organ of the Reform party, the great majority of the people were opposed to the Conference, and were resolved upon an alteration of our laws and system; and ever since that period, according to the same organ, the Reform cause has been gaining ground. "It cannot fail: success is certain. In a little while," say the ringleaders, "all will be ours." But where are the signs of this? None of the expelled Ministers have been restored. None of our laws have been abolished, not even the abused one of 1835. The Preachers are more united than ever. And our institutions and funds are all healthy, and in good working order. Methodism still lives. Its principles are unchanged. Its record is in every place. And the great mass of its people love it more dearly than before. Surely, if the agitation has accomplished none of the things which it aimed at, after eighteen months of unwearied effort, and, according to its promoters, after a steadily-increasing majority of Methodists in its favour, reasonable men will come to the conclusion, that it must be a bad cause; and that to give it any further countenance will be to give themselves but little credit for either discernment or prudence.

Such are some of the things which the agitation has not done.

PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE.

I HAVE heard it suggested, that the moral distemper which has desolated some of the fair fields of Methodism, may be compared to the pestilence which has recently been permitted to visit this country. Mysterious in its origin, it may be truly said of the fell disease, that "it walketh in darkness," and, baffling all the skill of man, “it wasteth at noon-day." It has surprised localities which were expected to be exempt from such a visitation, and has seized upon victims in every rank and profession. The most skilful Physicians, by their rashness or neglect, have found its contact fatal. It has triumphed over the wealthy and the gay, when they have had their spirits worn by witnessing its ravages among their poorer neighbours. It has again and again visited the same place, and, finding the pre-disposing or co-operating causes still in existence, has been followed by the same fatal effects; one family having succeeded another in their habitation only to succeed them in their journey to the grave.

To arrest such a visitation at the outset is of great importance, and has been found to be more easy than to combat it when it has once gained footing. To this object the most anxious inquiry, and the most benevolent skill, have been directed. Repeated experiment has established the fact, that the march of the pestilence may be turned aside in some cases, and that its virulence may be greatly abated in all, by the use of prudent and preventive measures. Among the foremost of these are cleanliness of person and dress; the use of suitable food; due exercise and employment, engaging the mind as well as the body; great attention to the habitation, especially those corners and recesses where, through carelessness and indolence, filth might otherwise accumulate; and the avoidance, as far as possible, of any association or intimacy with persons of doubtful habits and character; it having been found that disorderly and profligate persons are the most subject themselves to the disease, and most readily communicate it to others.

If the comparison hold good, we have in it some suggestions for a sanitary system in Methodism. The plague has begun. We mourn over the desolations it has occasioned. It has spread from places ever doubtful as to their healthfulness to the most favoured spots. Not only the ignorant and careless, but those who were esteemed wise and well-informed, have become its victims. Even Ministers, the physicians of the church, have fallen by it; those who appeared to be superior to its influence, in the first instance, have, in the course of time, been wearied into it; and who can say that he and his family and dearest connexions shall continue to be exempt?

It is time, then, we looked about us. Let us look to ourselves. Any impurity of character, any earthliness of motive, is a pre-disposing cause. Judas Iscariot cared not for the poor, though he had care of the bag which contained the alms, and was a thief, before Satan entered into him and hurried him to betray his Lord. Let us look to

:

our moral and spiritual aliment. There is a glut of food for the mind in the world's market; but much of it is unwholesome. Take heed what ye hear the enlightened understanding will reject all doctrines on politics and religion which are clearly contrary to the precepts and examples of holy Scripture. There is enough in the word of God, and in the faithful expositions of that word, whether of doctrine or of prophecy, to occupy the thoughts of the Christian, without wasting his attention and time on the vain speculations of men, who seek an unauthorised pre-eminence in the world and in the church. The very neighbourhood of such trash is not safe. The man who has due care for his soul's health, will not allow it in any corner of his house, lest, in some rush of the pestilence, he or his dearest relations may become its victims, through the existence of the pre-disposing cause. The fate of some of the eminent and wise who have been cut off, should act as a caution against the wantonness or neglect with which they regarded the plague. And, if called to occupy the office or position of some who have suffered, how carefully should we examine into, and remove, all occasion for its return! In short, the evil cannot safely be trifled with when it has once obtained an entrance, it hastens to an ascendency, and defies the most skilful and vigorous treatment; a recovery is generally followed by a long period of weakness and premature decay. It is never succeeded by a renewal of the constitution; the convalescent never reaches his former vigour, though he may be snatched from immediate ruin, Preventive measures are our life. We know not when, or how, or by what means, the disease may break out: experience affords no certain rule in this respect; it may visit our dearest friends, our nearest neighbours; but we shall not be safe under any circumstances, unless we make the sanitary system part of our daily study and practice.

Sussex, March, 1851,

DISCIPULUS,

THE POPERY OF WESLEYAN REFORM. (No. I.)

We have lately heard much concerning the POPERY OF METHODISM. We see nothing of the character or conduct of Popery in genuine Wesleyan Methodism; but we see much in the spirit and actions of our pretending Reformers that is, undoubtedly, very closely allied to it. We have not time or space, in our present Number, to express, at length, our thoughts in support of this general statement; but a moment's reflection in unprejudiced minds upon what is passing among the self-styled Reformers of Methodism will produce full conviction of its truth.

In the first place, they deny, practically, the right of private judgment to others; for, while the large and overwhelming majority of Wesleyan Methodists are satisfied with it as it is, and desire no alterations to be made that would affect its constitution, these men are clamorous for revolutionary changes, and imperiously demand that they shall be

instantly made. Freedom of thought and opinion, which Wesleyan Methodism allows to every one, these men of professed liberality refuse to those who differ from them; and if the many will not submit to the few, they are denounced as a clique, the dominant party, and as tyrants and despots. Protestant liberty allows all men to judge for themselves; but Reformed Methodism would crush all free exercise of the human mind, and force, if it were able, all men to think with it. In proof of this may be named the Popish spirit of fierce and cruel persecution it has shown from the beginning. Its commencement was in strictly inquisitorial proceedings,—accusing, trying, and condemning parties in "Fly-Sheet" secrecy. The names of the confederated accusers were unknown: their accusations were so preferred that no defence could be made; the heaviest censures and denunciations were published to the world, and all by masked inquisitors. Since then, if anything has been said in defence of the accused by open witnesses, they have been threatened, persecuted, and condemned. Yea, to force submission, even where conscience was felt and pleaded, the most violent means of coercion have been employed. Ministers, who plead their conscientious objections to the proposals made, are to be starved into submission. All supplies for their maintenance are to be immediately stopped; and they and their families are to be thrust out into the world destitute of homes, clothing, and food; and all this by men who express their love for Methodism, and their immovable determination to adhere to it. Are these the rational means of Protestantism, or of liberal men? Undoubtedly they manifest the real spirit of Popish persecution. But it is said, that "to act thus is necessary; for nothing else will accomplish what is desired." In this, then, appears another prominent feature of Popery; for it is doing evil that good may come. Few, if any, persons that we have met with, or heard of, have attempted to justify such compulsory proceedings on scriptural or Christian grounds. They invariably plead the necessity of the case. But to do so is undoubtedly Popish. It is, in substance, to declare, that "the end justifies the means."

We cannot, at present, elaborate these statements by the numerous facts and illustrations that have recently appeared; but every observant Methodist can do so for himself. We can only say to all who have allied themselves with this POPISH APOSTASY, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

AN INVITATION TO RETURN TO METHODISM. EXTRACT OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE LATE REV. DANIEL ISAAC, DURING THE AGITATION IN THE YEAR 1830.

I MUST beg leave to make a little inquiry as to your religious experience. Many of you were converted and brought to a saving knowledge of the truth under our ministry, and in the use of those means of grace which are under our superin