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vered at the opening of the Wesleyan University, in

Middletown, Conn.,.Sept. 21, 1831: by the Rev. Wil-
bar Fisk, D. D., Present

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THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE,

AND

Quarterly Review.

VOL. XIII, No. 1. JANUARY, 1831. NEW SERIES-VOL. II, No. 1.

LORD JOHN RUSSEL AND THE METHODISTS.

TIME was [says a writer in the Imperial Magazine] when the Founder of Methodism published its tenets at the hazard of existence-when, baring his head before the fiendish multitude, he stood exposed to their murderous missiles, on the market cross, or in the public field, to proclaim his divine commission. Like his "meek and lowly" Master, he was "no respecter of persons ;" and the all but roofless cottage, and the broken chair, were the temple and rostrum from whence the St. Paul of Modern Christianity often made his fervid appeals. And, verily, we need not be amazed at the prevalence and progress of that creed which was confirmed by its establisher surmounting every opposition-the casualties of "flood and field”—the rigour of the elements, and the hate of mankind. It is a natural reverse of the scene that we now behold in the "solemn temples" of Methodism replete with the adornments of architecture, and recognised by crowded assemblies. So material an enhancement of the weight and value of the opinions of Wesley, has stirred up some polemical enemies of great popularity in rank and letters; and those doctrines, whose peculiarities, half a century ago, were known to, or noticed by, only the vilest of the community, have now found superior antagonists in the coroneted historian, and the courtly poet.'

The courtly poet' alluded to in the above passage, we presume to be Dr. Southey; and the 'coroneted historian,' Lord John Russel;-both of England. The recent attack on Methodism by the latter, is contained in his 'Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe, from the Peace of Utrecht.' At the time of publishing these Memoirs, Lord John Russel was a member of parliament. Since then, in consequence of the demise of the king, another election has been held, in view of which, his lordship, in an address to his constituents, is said to have evinced some apprehension of inconvenience from his attack on the Methodists, and to have publicly disclaimed any intentions of severity toward them. How much credit is to be attached to such a declaration, made at such a time, and in such circumstances, we shall not undertake to udge. It seems on the face of it, inconsistent enough with passages which will hereafter be VOL II.-January 1831.

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eited from his animadversions. Yet, being an honorable man, we are of course bound to believe that he did not mean what, otherwise, every body could not but understand to be the import of his plain English. We must say, too, with a British reviewer, that we think his lordship would have served his character more effectually by announcing his kindlier intentions through the medium of the press,' and, we add, after the election. As it is, we fear that he was but another instance of

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'A man convinced against his will,'

Yet of the same opinion still.'

We shall subjoin an article from the pen of Mr. Sandwith, who is, we are informed, a distinguished surgeon, of Bridlington, England. His production, notwithstanding the diverse character of his professional pursuits, evinces a familiarity with theological critisism, and with the true genius, structure, and tendency of the religious system to which he is attached, which does him the highest credit, and entitles him to the warmest thanks of the whole Methodist community, for the triumphant manner in which he has wielded his polemical pen in their defence. His manner is not less marked by the moderation of Christian forbearance, than are his researches by extent of knowledge, and acuteness of investigation. He calmly compares the statements of his author, exposes the monstrosities of his misinterpretations and inconsistencies, and then leaves it to his readers to pronounce the judgment: -an example which we earnestly wish might be more generally followed by Christian polemics. Mr. Sandwith introduces his subject thus:

Modern politicians may despise theological researches; but Bacon, Grotius, and the worthies of a less degenerate age, gave such inquiries their deepest attention. The distempers of the State are moral as well as political; and they who neglect the study of the former forfeit a nation's confidence. But a shallow acquaintance with the subject is even worse than utter ignorance. How far either of them may have influenced the business of legislation, it is not our province to inquire. With a few splendid exceptions, however, such as Mr. Wilberforce's inestimable work on religion, the liberalism of the age has lamentably vitiated the literary productions of our statesmen. In this censure, Lord John Russel's "Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe, from the Peace of Utrecht," are deeply implicated. His lordship has attempted in his history of the eighteenth century, to blend some notice of the state of religion and literature with the narrative of civil and military transactions. "The Ecclesiastic," a periodical devoted to the defence of the Church, has shown but little sensitiveness to the interests of truth in "expressing" its "pleasure at the talented manner in which the noble author has performed this important part of his task." For the views which the book unfolds, are a wide departure from sound divinity; and the principle on which his lordship has undertaken to

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