rance, and however meaner agents are employed, grant me the blessed influences of thy Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."* Without confining our attention to any separate part, in things in which we see either the Methodists or Methodism interested, we only need to take a very superficial glance at the whole, to be convinced of the special providence of God in behalf of the body. Mr. W. contends, in reference to the first propagators of Christianity, that we must "Either deny the truth of all ancient and modern history, or conclude, that, in effecting this gigantic design, these humble individuals must have been aided by the supernatural interposition of Divine Providence."+ To the justice of this remark, Sir, you have already subscribed; and you have also seen how well adapted his mode of reasoning is to the case of Methodism-a system which, in many instances, has been established by very unpromising instruments. Were a child, by grappling with an athletic person, to throw him to the ground, it would be denominated an extraordinary circumstance, there being no proportion between the strength of a child and that of a person in mature life: and yet, if the man were poising himself in a chair, and in an almost tottering position, a very slight touch would lay him prostrate. The first is an illustration of Providence, which, by an astonishing combination of apparently weak means, and by an opportune application of those means, has effected, in the present age, a work the most glorious. Or, if Mr. W. will admit of no parallel here, we may conduct him a few centuries back, where, like a person whose sight has failed him, and who, being deprived of his glasses, is obliged to hold the book at a distance, he will be able to perceive things more distinctly. The sacred historians inform us of the noble acts of Solomon, while "young and tender;" and of those of Josiah, who was "eight years old when he began to reign." But the deficiencies of their * Dated April 26, 1752. Life by Boswell, vol. i. p. 151. + Page 123, 124. § 1 Chron. xxix. i; 1 Kings iii. 28; 2 Kings xxii. 1. First Letter. youth were richly supplied by the Ancient of Days. Let us next fix our eye on the page of modern history. The fathers of Trent, on the decease of Henry the Eighth, rendered solemn thanks to God, and intimated that it was no less than a miracle that he had left behind him a son only nine years of age, who would be unable to imitate his parent's example. They soon found, however, that Edward, the child, proved a Hercules, when Providence, by him, confronted the man of sin. We may ask, in the language of Job, "Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?"* Few things, I trust, Sir, if any, have been noticed in the course of this letter, which have not met with some countenance from Scripture, either in the way of assertion or example. Providence will ever be found to harmonize. with the word, as well as with itself. "Can two," it is demanded, "walk together, except they be agreed?"+ Upon this we may fix our negative. Scripture and Providence pace the road together; they are perfectly agreed, as it respects the end of their journey, at which point to meet; and, though they may appear to forsake the company of each other for a season, it is more in appearance than in reality. Let the Bible only be properly understood, and Providence will not be found wrong. Like two rods in a vessel of water, they may put on an oblique appearance; but it is totally owing to the medium, not to the objects. The moral Governor of the world will never omit, in his Providence, to maintain the reputation of his Word. So audible, in fact, is the harmony of Providence, that it can be distinguished by the ear of a Pagan. "The captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, the Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place: now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said." The correspondence between Scripture truth, and the proceedings of Providence, is such, that the latter may be designated a Visible Bible, or a Practical Commentary on the former. * Chap. xii. 9. + Amos iii. 3. Jer. xl. 2, 3. Perfectly in unison with the sentiment, that Providence never makes a visible distinction between the righteous and the wicked, Mr. W. cannot believe that God will ever "alter the progressive series of causes and effects, for the purpose of advancing the success of one portion of his creatures, or of defeating the projects of another, when occupied in their temporal and private concerns.' ** No small surprise would have been excited, Sir, if, when you were engaged with your notes on the Bible, you had met with this sentiment. It is possible it might have experienced considerable opposition in your mind, from the following facts: viz. the case of Mordecai and Haman,† and the prayer of David, which converted a wise man into a fool-" O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithopel into foolishness;" in both of which cases, God defeated the designs of the one to advance the interests of the other. Equally present to your mind would be the case of the Egyptians, of Balaam, of the king of Syria, of Saul, and of Herod., "Come on," said the king of Egypt, in reference to the Israelites, "let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply."§ Their sinful policy was steeped in blood, but the conclusion was very dif ferent from what they intended. The Israelites multipliedcollected immense treasures-made their escape-while the Egyptians suffered in a manner unparalleled in the annals of history. Balaam was commissioned to curse Israel; he was preserved on the road; on he drove, big with his design; but an over-ruling Providence prevented the accomplishment of his purpose. "And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. And Balaam said unto Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine * Page 76. + Esther. 2 Sam. xv. 31; chap. xvii. 14, 23. § Exod. i. 10. own mind." The king of Syria sent forth horses and chariots, and a great host, to Dothan, with a view to take Elisha prisoner; and yet, as the sequel proves, their work was not accomplished.† Saul, with considerable policy, gave the hand of his daughter in marriage to David, that she might become a snare to him;‡ but the stratagem was so far from succeeding, that the deceiver was actually deceived. Her love to David was strikingly displayed, when the messengers of death approached his residence. When the execrable Herod was for playing the politician-" Bring me word that I may worship him," he was outwitted, for God warned the wise men in a dream. These men were entirely "occupied in their temporal and private pursuits:" the Egyptian monarch wished to increase his revenues-Balaam was promised honours and riches-the king of Syria was desirous of gratifying a private pique-Saul was determined to establish himself on the throne of Israel-and Herod was alarmed for his personal prosperity. Plans were conceived, and works were performed by each, which, like so many "causes," were calculated to produce very different 66 effects" to those which ensued: and, as far as we can judge, the Almighty had no other design in view than that "of advancing the success of one portion of his creatures, and of defeating the projects of another." David was better acquainted with God's proceedings in the world than Mr. W. when he exclaimed, "Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it; and hath fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate."¶ The same order is observed by Divine wisdom, in the government of the church as in the government of the world. This remark is made, not because the church is included in Mr. W.'s statement, but because it shews God's regard Numb. xxiv. 10-13. + 2 Kings vi. Matt. ii. 7, 8. 1 Sam. xviii. 21. I Psal. vii. 14-.-16. to character. Religion has generally prospered most under the severest persecutions; a cause but ill adapted to produce such effects, in any other than in the hands of God. "The things," says the apostle, "which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel."* Similar to this is the remark of Tertullian, "As often as we are mowed, we are sowed." Even the errors with which the church of God has been pestered, have made truth shine more illustriously. They were the errors of Ebion and Cerinthus, it is generally supposed, that occasioned St. John to write his Gospel. Through them we have had deeper researches into truth. Their use is adverted to by the apostle, "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."+ Here we see "the progressive series of causcs and effects" altered; error advancing truth: heretics encircling the Christian character with additional lustre. If we approach nearer our own times-times in which every thing seems to be involved in mist and darkness to Mr. W. we shall see the designs of some frustrated, to promote the interests of persons better than themselves. It is familiar to most, how the bull of his Holiness, and the thundering edict of Charles V. rather furthered, than curtailed the speed of the Gospel, in the days of Luther. A remarkable story is related by Bishop Usher, whose uncle, relating it one day at table, at Christ's Church, Oxford, had it confirmed by a gentleman, who confessed himself to be the person. It runs thus: "About the third of the reign of Queen Mary, a pursevant was sent with a commission into Ireland, to empower some eminent persons to proceed with fire and faggot against the Protestants. It happened, by Divine Providence, this pursevant at Chester lodged in the house of a Protestant innkeeper, who, having got some intimation of the matter, secretly stole his commission out of his cloak-bag, and put the knave of clubs in the room thereof. Some weeks after, he appeared before the lords of the privy council at Dublin, |