the Methodist communion; and this, too, from 'what he has personally known;' for so Dr. Green himself understands him.

After premising that he omits the discussion of doctrinal points altogether,' our 'friend' remarks, that, as to 'method' in preaching, we disclaim it;' and therefore he talks of our 'manner.'-'One of the first characteristics' of our preaching, he says, is that it communicates little or no instruction.' This he ascribes to two causes :-the illiteracy' of the preachers, and 'the little value they place upon evangelical truth, as a means of conversion and sanctification:' and adds his persuasion, that, 'however in theory some of this denomination may value learning and biblical truth,-practical Methodism, speaking of it at large, disregards both!'-Nay, he adds a positive assertion, that,

'With the multitude of the denomination, the best possible recommendations for the Gospel ministry are, strong lungs, excitable feelings, a ready flow of words, and a great show of zeal :'

All of which might consist not only with gross Calvinism, but with gross impiety. Yet the multitude' of our 'respectable and pious branch of the church of Christ,' he affirms, considers these 'the best possible recommendations for the Gospel ministry!'-So says our 'friend;'-and Dr. Green underwrites for him.

One other trait which he 'ventures' to add in the picture which he draws of our 'respectable' church, is,

"That there is no class of Protestant Christians so generally ignorant of the Bible, or of the connection and bearing of its solemn and eternal truths, as those of this denomination.'

Of the Methodist circuit riders,' he asserts that 'every thing said by Adam Clarke, they receive as Gospel,'-'the little reading they have, being chiefly of his works; and they appear quite adepts in the Syriac, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages.'-He even once heard a shoemaker assert, in the pulpit, that Paul was a Methodist!'-This to be sure was monstrous. But quere:-does not Dr. Green think that Paul was a Presbyterian?-The sneer at the 'hatter' also (why not at the tentmaker and the fisherman too,) we shall pass over with simply remarking, that we are so far from being ashamed that there are many among our brethren in the ministry, who were brought up in honest industry, and in respectable mechanical or agricultural pursuits, that we rejoice in the fact, knowing as we do, from the best of all proofs, the fruits, that very many of these have been specially honored as the most willing, able, and successful messengers of the Lord, in spreading the Gospel among the poor and destitute, and in winning souls to Christ. And if Dr. Green's correspondent will venture to let himself be known, we have little doubt that there may be some who have once been even 'shoemakers' or 'hatters,' or of other mechanical professions, who would have no occasion to be ashamed or afraid to speak with him in the gate, before the people. We should really like to know, too, who the 'person' is that possesses the distinction of being 'quoted as authority wherever known,' whom Dr. Green's correspondent heard assert, 'that John Calvin was one of the greatest enemies of the human race.' Such an authority' must be one of more weight than is often met with.

Another characteristic of their preaching,' continuing his portrait of us, he says, is 'abuse of other denominations of Christians." In this place he uses the word 'abuse,' he informs us, 'in its legitimate sense;' and adds:

"This is a sin, as far as I know, coëxtensive with Methodism.-If there are individual exceptions I have not met with them. Nor is it an occasional sin, nor a sin of infirmity; it is habitual, and a sin in whose commission they delight.'- 'Nor is this abusive warfare confined to one denomination-it is indiscriminate. It is waged with the Baptist, the Episcopalian, the Presbyterian :-none of any Shibboleth escape but those of Wesley.'

The remarks of our 'friend' on 'a hireling ministry,' have an ample answer in Mr. Merritt's review above referred to. So also has the following friendly and consistent picture of our 'respectable and pious branch of the church of Christ.'

'Wherever, under the labours of our ministers, [the Presbyterian,] God is pouring out of his blessed Spirit, they [the Methodists] are sure to be there. If harmony prevails, the great object is to disturb it.'-' And this course they pursue, until, too often, the candle of the Lord is extinguished, the windows of heaven are closed, and the Spirit of grace withdraws his saving and converting influences.'

Again :

'The time was, when our Methodist brethren made a great show of charity.-It was, when they were far less numerous than they are at present; and when they were compelled to conceal their real feelings, in order to make any progress. And this show of charity, under certain circumstances, is not unfrequently made even now. When they enter a place where any other sect is dominant and popular they are very conciliating in public; they preach only on the acknowledged doctrines; they talk much about charity, and brotherly love; and yet too often, are at this very time, profuse of their invective in private. Indeed it is not going beyond the truth to say, that there are not a few of them who can assume almost any hue, to suit circumstances.

They appear to believe that all but themselves are very worldly minded. In the avowal of this opinion they make no hesitation whatever. They point to their broad hats, and plain bonnets, and straight coats, as evidences of their crucifixion to the world, and of their want of conformity to its fashions and vanities; and they refer to the more becoming, though not more expensive dress of others, as a convincing testimony that their hearts are filled with vanity. So much do they permit their minds to dwell upon these trifling matters, that they suppose their friends, who attach themselves to other churches, are and must be actuated only by worldly motives. They also think and proclaim, that the ministers of other denominations make their sacred vocation merely a profession; and enter it because they like it better than law or medicine, and have no other object than to make a living. And so much do their 'itinerants' dwell upon these subjects, that the common people among them are fully persuaded, that there is nothing like true devotion beyond the circle which encloses Methodism. On this subject I speak not theoretically. I testify what I do know.'

Immediately afterward he states that when he was surrounded by Methodism,' and was inquiring to what body he should attach himself, his ears were continually filled' with what he pronounces to have been untruths' uttered by these Methodists, though he believed all that was told him, until he learned from experience that they violated the ninth commandment !'- Query:-Were these the Methodists among whom he received his first religious impressions;' and with whom he often 'held sweet counsel?' If so, we again beg the favor of his name and address; that we may have the accuser and the accused face to face, and judge for ourselves, and let the public judge, which it is that violates the ninth commandment. Nay, we demand this of him, as a matter of right and justice. If he shrinks from it, we have no fear of the inference which will be drawn by a discerning public.

We shall subjoin some farther specimens of our 'friend's' diatribe:'Their meetings are conducted with great confusion, two or more praying at the same time;' &c.--Hence too they conclude, that the worship, where similar confusion does not exist, is a formal service; and that the denominations which oppose it, are all destitute of the power of godliness. This is the datum on which they arrive at their conclusion; on which they exclude all but themselves from the reigning power and influence of Divine grace.—Believing that genuine piety is found only among themselves, they seem as desirous to proselyte from other denominations, as to convert a sinner from the error of his ways.- -'According to their reckoning, where there is no Methodism there is no religion. In the west and south, the prayer is frequently heard-"Lord, revive Methodism; may this wicked people be converted to Methodism; may Methodism have free course and be glorified." What but a disbelief of the total want of piety among other denominations,

connected with the most abject ignorance, can account for such absurd, I had almost said impious, conduct?'

"The feeling above described is also obvious from the manner in which they locate their preachers.-Their object frequently is, not to find out destitute places and to supply them, but to find out where there is a probability that some of their vociferous and fluent declaimers can distract a supplied and quiet people, and make Methodists. I say not that this is their uniform object; for many of the younger brethren are sent into the woods, until they catch the pitch; but I assert it to be frequently their object.'.’—————' And this is only a specimen of their conduct throughout the country.-I make not these statements by way of complaint against the Methodists; but I do make them for the purpose of placing their true character before the public.'

Are their ministers as a body more given to the duties of their calling, than those of other denominations? We venture to say, not near as much.''Some of them are considered decidedly the best jockies, in the part of the country where I reside.

One of them is a shrewd, active merchant, famed for his cunning. Another is a windmill pedlar, making money rapidly. Another is a partner in a large factory, who thinks more about the market than the pulpit. And with just such enumerations I could fill at least one of your pages. So far are they in fact from being less worldly minded than others, that I believe a candid and full examination would prove them to be the most worldly men in the Christian ministry.'

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From the general tenor of Dr. Green's articles, his readers must of course understand the above remarks as having reference to our regular itinerant ministry; for as to our local ministers it is certainly no new discovery that they may be merchants, or partners in factories, or in any other lawful and laudable business. If any of them, however, are more ning' than their masked accuser, they are entitled to credit at least for their cleverness.-As to being 'jockies,' if meant in a bad sense, as we presume, and the accuser feels entirely safe, as the representative of his denomination, in casting the first stone in this matter, let him take off his mask and give his specifications, and we will meet him in a comparison of denominations, odious as it may be, to any extent that he may desire. But if it be merely meant that many itinerant Methodist ministers are good judges of that valuable animal, the horse, for which they have such constant use, we not only admit it, but say that it would be a great shame to them if they were not. It is very probable, too, that from this known fact some of them may frequently be called on to give advice to particular friends in making purchases or exchanges; and in this way their very acts of kindness may be made the groundwork of such accusations as those of this secret and heartless calumniator. In a Presbyterian minister, however, the same knowledge and judgment, which are tortured into a crime in a Methodist minister, would be deemed a valuable accomplishment, and one of which a friend might occasionally very innocently avail himself. Of this there was an instance in the late Rev. Dr. Mason.

'He was a good judge of a horse, and being invited to look at one for a clerical friend, discovered that his knees had been marked by the ground, and said, that was a good sign for a minister, but not for his horse.'

So says the 'Philadelphian,' which some Presbyterians may admit to be good authority, though, perchance, Dr. Green may not.

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As a specimen of the effrontery, we might say the absolute impudence, of our accuser, we will barely mention that, among the factitious methods of obtaining and retaining a character for piety, with which he charges us, and which he says, 'may all be assumed for the sake of impression,' one is, the making of 'long and public prayers.'-Such a charge from a Presbyterian-Risum teneatis amici? Surely our 'friend' must be jesting; or else forgot whose portrait he was drawing.

The following is the account given of the means used at our camp meetings, amongst others, to make up the round sum of 450,000 members.

'The names of all who are in any way excited are taken down by the ministers; and at the breaking up of the meeting, they are declared to have united with the Methodists. And a notice is written and sent to the "Advocate and Journal," stating that at such a camp meeting so many were converted.

It is true that the "discipline" requires an apprenticeship of six months, before they are admitted to full communion: but this is merely a theory of the "discipline," which is but rarely practised.'

'I could state a great many facts, respecting these camp meeting converts. Whilst some, I freely admit, have honored their profession and their Saviour, by a life of godliness, I have known many others return to the beggarly elements of the world. Four or five years since, in the town adjoining that in which I live, about one hundred were converted; or, to use Methodist language, "got religion" at a camp meeting. At this time, scarcely one of them maintains a character for piety. Á few of them yet "hold on," but the rest "have fallen from grace." It is presumed that these backsliders, with all in like circumstances throughout the country, go to swell up the round sum of 450,000 members. It is not a very uncommon circumstance, to hear an individual exclaim at these meetings that he has "got religion," and to see him, before he has returned home, get drunk. And a more common circumstance is, to see them "brought out with power," and to hear them pray and exhort and shout, and in the course of a few months afterwards, to hear them say that "religion is all a hoax." To these things I can testify. And yet it is presumed that every name placed on the ministerial books at the meeting, goes to make up the round sum of 450,000 members.'

Our 'friend' seems not to have been aware that before he had finished his essays we had exceeded the 'round sum' of 450,000 members, which seems to have haunted him so incessantly; and that without including the 'backsliders' &c, we already number more than 500,000.-Alas! poor Ahithophel!

Again :

Ibi omnis effusus labor.-All your labor's lost!

"The "circuit riders" pursue a plan, well adapted to increase their numbers without adding to the amount of piety. The fact is, that almost every “circuit rider" is a Methodist recruiting officer. The moment any thing like seriousness occurs in a place, the "rider" furnishes himself with pencil and paper; and with ane in his pocket and the other in his hat, enters the meeting. After a noisy exhortation, he passes round the room, asking man, woman, and child, if they wish to be prayed for; and if so, to give in their names. Without any hesitation, they generally answer his question in the affirmative, and give their names. In the course of a few weeks, some of them become the hopeful subjects of grace. The preacher visits them, and they tell him the fact. "Oh! yes," he replies, "I have been praying for you, and I knew the Lord would convert you." If the brother or sister expresses a desire to join some other church, he makes no hesitation in saying, “You have been converted by Methodist prayers, and now you should join the Methodist church." If this is not clear demonstration to the individual he is addressing, he produces the paper, on which the name was at first enrolled, as evidence that the conversion was the result of Methodism.'

The following passage is rather beyond our comprehension.

'During the last winter, a petition was sent to Congress from the town of my residence, in favour of Sabbath mails; and I am credibly informed--and I mention it with pleasure—that it was subscribed by the most reputable members of the Methodist Church.'

Our difficulty is to understand how it affords Dr. Green and his correspondent pleasure' that the most reputable members of the Methodist Church subscribed a petition in favour of Sabbath mails.'

One of the bitter complaints of our 'friend' is, that 'the circuit riders and the class leaders' keep such a constant watch over their flocks, that they are not left to themselves; and this he says, 'is the rub.' Very likely. And were these shepherds to desert their flocks, the next cry would be that they cared not for the sheep; and doubtless this would afford a much better opportunity for the accomplishment of our 'friend's' objects. One of the main topics of his lamentations is, our 'unqualified ministry."

Another is, the evil of separating the less from the more intelligent class of Christians' and ours being the 'less,' and theirs the 'more'-ergo, ours ought not to be separated from theirs! Could any thing be clearer, more happily devised, or more logical?

'But what is, perhaps, the greatest evil of Methodism, is yet to be named. I mean its effect in begetting improper notions in regard to divine truth.

In this view of the subject, how deplorable the extension which is given to views and notions based on clouds, and borne up by vapours, which vanish into thin air before the light of reason and Scripture.'

This is his description of the doctrines of Methodism. The substitute with which he would furnish us, (as from his selecting Dr. Green's highly useful miscellany,' we presume him to be one of the old school,') we suppose, of course, would be old Calvinism.

'Where Methodism has been to any extent prevalent, it is almost impossible to make a proper impression upon the mind. You can do but little less than look upon, and weep over the wild waste that is widening around you.'

The 'proper impression upon the mind,' which it is almost impossible to make, wherever Methodism prevails, is, doubtless, that of Calvinism. This we believe to be very true; and we thank God for it; and we believe this, too, to be one of the great blessings of Methodism, 'in its progress through the country.'

Among the scenes which he says are actually exhibited in nearly every camp meeting, and in many prayer meetings and love feasts, from one extremity of the country to the other,' is that of 'twenty or thirty praying at once. Reverence and order in religious worship,' he says, we consider the characteristics of coldness and formality;' that we suppose that religion consists in a boisterous agitation of the passions! This is Dr. Green's credible witness. And to wind up the whole, as we are compelled to do, he tells us himself, that in the 'region' in which he lives, 'the intelligent and influential are generally infidels, or something as bad; and are rarely ever seen within the walls of a church :'- -And that cold chill, which is the sure precursor of spiritual death, is pervading the whole community!—And yet this man is doubtless, in his own opinion, one of the 'qualified ministry!' What need have we of farther witnesses? By their fruits ye shall know them. It is true, indeed, that, like the first fallen man, instead of blaming himself he accuses his neighbours, and charges all this on the Methodists, whom God has given to be with him; although he says they are there 'on the wane.' So that whether they wax or wane, their 'friend' contrives to put them still in fault. We have not room for farther extracts; and we regret this the less, as our readers must be sufficiently disgusted with the medley of misrepresentation, caricature, and falsehood, already

laid before them.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

An article in our number for July, contains the following sentence :--

It is perhaps not generally known that the American Bible Society also assists the American Sunday School Union with large donations. But it affords no such assistance to us.'

The General Agent of the American Bible Society has since informed us that that Society, in September 1828, unsolicitedly appropriated 200 Bibles and 500 New Testaments to the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, and received from its Secretary a letter acknowledging the receipt of the gift.' Of this we were not aware when the above sentence was published; and so far as this fact goes, we very cheerfully give publicity to it. The above mentioned donation, it will be observed, however, was made to the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church some time after the difficulty which had occurred from the refusal of a grant for our Sunday schools by the Young Men's Bible Society of this city; and after our subsequent deter mination to form a Bible Society of our own. How far it might have been intended to operate as a preventive of the execution of that measure, it is not for us to say. We must still also be permitted to think that our former statement, when accurately examined is substantially correct. The statement was, that the American Bible Society assists the American Sunday School Union with large donations; but affords no such assistance to us. Now the General Agent of the American Bible Society says himself, that in April last that society made a donation to the American Sunday School Union of twenty thousand Testaments, for gratuitous distribution among poor children in the valley of the Mississippi; while to us, in 1828, it had presented 200 Bibles, and 500 Testaments! Yet the poor children under our care in that great valley were vastly the most numerous, and our means vastly the smaller. In each instance, we add from the statement of the General Agent, the donation was unsolicited; and to each Institution there was but a single donation.

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