Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/33

Rh singers; this was a most pleasing circumstance. My affections naturally glowing, I soon formed strong attachments, and, the of Mr. Wesley changing his candidates with every new quarter, the farewell sermons generally dissolved the whole congregation in tears, and my bosom was often lacerated with many, and deep wounds.

An order from the Bishop now arrived, calling upon the people to prepare for confirmation, and young persons were directed to wait upon their parish minister for the requisite instruction. Although the Methodists considered themselves Episcopalians, yet they were detested by the clergy of that Church; their zeal seemed a standing satire upon them; and their indignation was proportioned to the progress made by the new sect. We, however, presented ourselves as candidates for confirmation: though young, I was pretty generally known, and it soon became evident, that I had incurred the displeasure of my minister. No question was proposed to me, but his oblique reflections were abundant; I determined, however, to address him; and one day when he was cautioning those, who were honoured by his attention, against those expectations about which the wild Enthusiasts of the day were fanatically raving, such as the extraordinary operations of the spirit, &c. &c. exhorting them to consider themselves in their baptism made members of Christ, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, I ventured to ask: Did I, sir, in my baptism, receive all these advantages? In a most ungracious manner, he replied: "Undoubtedly." Then, sir, allow me to ask, What can I want more? Of what use is confirmation? "What do you mean by asking these impertinent questions?" I ask for information, I came hither to be instructed. "No, you came here to instruct me, you want to see your patron, John Wesley, in the pulpit. You have no business here." I conceive, sir, I have business here; I am one of your parish, I was warned to attend, for the purpose of receiving instruction; and to whom should I apply, but to my minister? He deigned not to answer me, but when we again assembled, I observed: I remember, sir, when we were last here, you told us, there was no such thing as a feeling operation of the spirit of God; I request therefore to know, how we are to understand that article of our Church, which pronounces the doctrine of election full of especial comfort to all godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the workings of the spirit of the Lord? "You have nothing to do with the articles, you do not understand them." I should suppose, sir, that every member of a Church had something to do with the articles