268 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
[ 260 ] false, erroneous, and enthusiastic; that they are new and unheardof till of late; that they are Quakerism, fanaticism, popery. This whole pretense has been already cut up by the roots, it having been shown at large that every branch of this doctrine is the plain doctrine of Scripture interpreted by our own church. Therefore it cannot be either false or erroneous, provided the Scripture be true.”“ Others allege,‘ Their doctrine is too strict; they make the way to heaven too narrow.’ And this is in truth the original objection,( as it was almost the only one for some time,) and is secretly at the bottom of a thousand more, which appear in various forms. But do they make the way to heaven any narrower than our Lord and His apostles made it? Is their doctrine stricter than that of the Bible? Consider only a few plain texts:‘ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.’‘ For every idle word which men shall speak, they shall give an account in the day of judgment.’‘ Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’
“ If their doctrine is stricter than this, they are to blame; but you know in your conscience it is not. And who can be one jot less strict without corrupting the word of God? Can any steward of the mysteries of God be found faithful if he change any part of that sacred depositum? No. He can abate nothing, he can soften nothing; he is constrained to declare to all men,‘ I may not bring down the Scripture to your taste. You must come up to it, or perish forever.’ This is the real ground of that other popular cry concerning‘ the uncharitableness of these men.’ Uncharitable, are they? In what respect? Do they not feed the hungry and clothe the naked?‘ No; that is not the thing: they are not wanting in this: but they are so uncharitable in judging! they think none can be saved but those of their own way.’” 376
The spiritual declension which had been manifest in England
376 Wesley ' s Works, Vol. III, pp. 152, 153.