Dialogues on the spirit of the Methodist preachers towards the Catholic religion and clergy.

Abstract

Dialogue I.

On the Spirit of the Methodist Preachers towards the Catholic Religion and Clergy.

Methodist. - Heigh ! What Namos ! Is it you walking here all alone in dumbly mood, and reverie of some dark Popish superstition, I suppose; for nothing else, I wot, can occupy your musings?

Namos. - Be not so rash and uncharitable, neighbour Methodist, but remember the words of Scripture, which you profess to make your rule of faith and conduct, and which tells you thus : "Judge not before the time ; until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then every man shall have praise from God." That is, as, he deserves it, if I understand the Apostle: the one for avoiding rash judgment, and the other according as his motives are righteous or unrighteous. And this agrees with Mr. Wesley's comment on these words, who says: "Every faithful steward shall have praise of God."

Meth. - Ah, ah ! Namos ! What, quote Scripture ? Why we have a pamphlet now in circulation, in which it is said that a Popish priest, not having a Bible in his house, when pressed by a Protestant disputant, went to the library of his college, but could not find one; pray, Namos, how do you know Scripture ?

Namos. - This is only one sample of the rest of the gross and wilful lies fabricated by your preachers, and ignorantly (I hope) circulated by you, or your brethren, to bring odium on the Catholic Church ; but how such statements can be believed by any rational man, I pretend not to Judge; this I know, however, that such statements would do more to lead me to inquire into Catholicity, and embrace it, than to deter me from it. Can you tell me, neighbour, where was the Bible kept before a Methodist or Protestant existed, and when the world was Catholic ?...[Excerpt]