1. FOR many years I have earnestly advised, both in public

and in private, all in connexion with me, who have

been brought up in the Established Church, to continue therein and of confequence to attend the public service of the Church, at all opportunities: and my reasons for so doing I published to all the world, more than twenty years ago.

2. But a few months ago, I was favoured with a letter, which required me to review my fentiments. It is figned by feveral members of our Society, men of a loving fpirit, and of an unblamable converfation: and it is worthy of the greater regard, as they speak not only in their own name, but in the name of many who wish to have a confcience void of offence, both towards God and towards man.

3. Part of it runs thus:

Having read many of your books, and heard many of your Preachers, and being in connexion with you, we have from time to time been advised by them and you, constantly to attend the Church. But we find that neither you nor your Preachers, have given any countenance to the doctrines of Calvinism. This induces us humbly to afk the following questions.

First, Whether you would have us to go to that Church where the doctrines of Calvinifm are continually inculcated? And where the doctrines taught by you, Christian Perfection in particular, are continually exploded?

Secondly, Whether you think we shall be profited, in any degree, by hearing such Preaching?

Thirdly, Whether it is not a means of filling our hearts with prejudice either against those Preachers or against the Truth?

Fourthly,

Fourthly, Whether hearing them does not expofe us to temptation from thofe who continually afk, How did you like the Sermon to-day? We cannot diffemble; and if we do not, we offend them.

If you please, you may give us your fentiments in the Arminian Magazine,

4. It is a delicate, as well as important point, on which I hardly know how to anfwer. I cannot lay down any general rule. All I can fay at prefent is, "If it does not hurt you, hear them if it does, refrain. Be determined by your own confcience. Let every man in particular act, as he is fully perfuaded in his own mind.

Nov. 19, 1781.

JOHN WESLEY.

Some Account of Mr. PATRICK HAMILTON.

MR. PATRICK HAMILTON was brother's fon to James

Hamilton, earl of Arran, and fister's fon to John Stuart, duke of Albany, which raised more attention to his doctrine, holy life, and sufferings. Having travelled into Germany, he became acquainted at Wittenberg with thofe eminent fervants of Chrift, Martin Luther, and Philip Melancthon, whereby he greatly increased in knowledge and learning; from whence he went to the university of Marpurg, which was then newly erected by Philip Landgrave of Hesse, where he was intimate with other learned men, especially with Francis Lambert. He was the first that publicly set up conclufions to be dif puted there, concerning faith and good works. By reafon of

his learning and integrity of life, he was had in admiration by many; but the zeal of God's glory did so eat him up, that he could not reft till he returned into his own country.

In process of time, the fame of his doctrine came to the ears of James Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrew's, who invited him to St. Andrew's, where after divers days conference, he had his liberty, the bifhop feeming to approve his doctrine, acknowledging, that in many things there needed a reformation in the church. Yet, fearing their kingdom should be endamaged, they laboured with the king to go on pilgrimage to St. Dotheffe in. Rofs, that fo, by reason of his abfence, no interceffion might be made to him.

The king being gone, Mr. Hamilton was feized by the bifhop's officers, and carried to the caftle; and the morrow after he was brought forth unto judgment, and condemned to be, burnt. The articles for which he fuffered were about pilgrimages, purgatory, prayers to faints, and for the dead. And that his condemnation might have the greater authority, they caused it to be fubfcribed by all thofe that were there prefent; and, to make their number great, they took the fubfcription of the very children who were of the nobility. Immediately after dinner, the fire was prepared, and he was led to execution; yet most men thought it was only to terrify him, and to cause him to recant. But God, for his own glory, and for the manifestation of their brutal tyranny, had otherwife decreed: for he fo flrengthened him, that neither the love of life, nor fear of this cruel death, could move him to fwerve from the truth.

At the place of execution he gave to his fervant, that had long attended him, his gown, coat, cap, and his other garments, faying, After this, thou canst receive no commodity of me, except the example of my death, which I pray thee to bear in mind; for, though it be fearful before men, yet it is the entrance into eternal life, which none fhall poffefs who deny Jefus Chrift before this wicked generation: and fo

being tied to a flake, they fet fire to fome powder, which with the blaft foorched his left hand, and the fide of his face, but did not kindle the wood, till they ran to the caftle for more combuflible matter; which being at laft kindled, with a loud voice he cried, Lord Jefus receive my fpirit! The fire was flow, and put him to the greater torment. But that which moft grieved him, was the clamour of fome wicked men fet on by the friars, who continually cried, Turn thou heretic; call upon our lady; fay falve regina: to whom he answered, Depart from me, and trouble me not; and speaking to one Campbell, a friar, that was the ringleader, who ftill roared on. him with great vehemence, he faid, Wicked man, thou knoweft the contrary, and haft confeffed the contrary to me; I appeal to thee before the tribunal feat of Jefus Chrift. After which words he refigned up his fpirit unto God, in the year of Chrift 1527. A few days after, Campbell the friar died.

MR

Some Account of Mr. WISHART.

R. WISHART firft preached in Rofs, and then in Dundee; where, with great admiration of all that heard him, he expounded the Epiftle to the Romans, till, at the infligation of the Cardinal, one Robert Mill, a principal man. there, and formerly a profeffor of religion, inhibited him from preaching, requiring him, that he fhould trouble their town no more, for he would not fuffer it; and this was spoken to him in the public place: whereupon he mufed awhile, with his eyes bent unto heaven, and then looking forrowfully upon the fpeaker and people, he faid: "God is my witness that I never intended your trouble, but your comfort; yea, your trouble is more dolorous to me, than it is to yourfelves; but I' am affured, that, to refufe God's word, and to chafe from you' his messenger, fhall not preferve you from trouble, but fhall

bring you into it: for God shall send you minifters that shall neither fear burning nor banishment. I have offered you the word of falvation; with the hazard of my life I have remained amongst you: now ye yourselves refuse me, and I muft leave my innocency to be declared by my God: if it be long profperous with you, I am not led by the Spirit of Truth; but if unlooked for trouble come upon you, acknowledge. the caufe, and turn to God, who is gracious and merciful: but, if you turn not at the first warning, he will vifit you with fire and fword." Then went he into the Weft-country, where he made offers of God's word, which were gladly received by many, till the Bishop of Glasgow, by the infligation of the Cardinal, came with his train to the town of Ayr, to resist Wishart. The earl of Glencairn, and fome other gentlemen. hearing of it, came thither alfo with their retinue, and when they were all come together, the bifhop would needs have the church himself to preach in; fome oppofed, but Wifhart faid, let him alone, his fermon will not do much hurt, let us go to the market-crofs; and fo they did, where Wifhart preached fuch a fermon, that his very enemies were confounded. After that Wishart remained with the gentlemen in Kyle, preaching fometimes in one place, fometimes in another; but coming toMauchlin, he was by force kept out of the church. Some would have broke in, but he faid to one of them, brother,Jefus Chrift is as mighty in the fields as in the church, and himself often preached in the desart, at the sea-fide, and other places: 'tis the word of peace God fends by me, the blood of none fhall be fhed this day for the preaching of it; and fo going into the fields, he flood upon a bank, where he conti-. nued in preaching to the people above three hours; and God wrought fo wonderfully by that fermon, that one of the most wicked men in all the country, the laird of Sheld, was converted by it, and his eyes ran down with fuch abundance of tears, that all men wondered at it. Prefently news was brought to Wishart that the plague was broke out in Dundee,