Books from Roanoke College

Abernethy [??]

1858

I have read your book Sir, but I do not give you the credit you desire. You have made out a good story so have m[any?] besides you on the Same subject Your Church order is founded on Negations which may suit the unthinking multitude but not one who accepts no propositions being [formed?] unitl it is proved to that extent th[at?] the conv[erse?] never can be true

This book is I presume an[??] in interest of Methodism for the purpose[s?] of showing that this [denomi?]nation is an integral part of the church Catholic Now in regard to the piety of Methodists - I have nothing to say. They no doubt are as good as most other people but in regard to their orders they are beyond all doubt self made self constituted and self styled. If every word in this book were true and all the facts as stated it would do them no good whatever

The whole question [reduces?] [itself?] in my view to this Was John Wesley empow ered and authorized by God himself to organize and estab lish a New Church? Until this is [??] and put beyond all doubt or contradiction nothing is proven or established. The commission to found a church must come from God and must come in such a form and ways that no man not can not only x deny the fact but all suspicion on his part of the fact

must be beyond him He must admit it Such is the case with the Jewish church of the Old Testament and such the case with that of [the/this?] New by the church of Christ with all its ministry & every thing connected with had been swept away so that not a [ves?]tage of it had come down to us Still the establish ment of a Second church would have had to have been established fresh in the same manner as that church was and no other[wise?]

When the Apostles went about establishing this [very?] church of Christ on all occasions they said "we Know" and not that "we believe" It was not a persuasion but perfect and pres[ent?] knowledge Now Wesley never did and never could ris[e?] as high as this and if he did not and could not then [how?] dare he build a house (church) for God's Wesley had no such commission from God and he never did say that he had continued on [back page?]

E. G. [Jame?]son's Book