[Footnote 731: In a letter to Mr. Walker, of Truro, 1756.]

[Footnote 732: To the same effect in his _Short History of Methodism_
Wesley wrote, 'Those who remain with Mr. Wesley are mostly Church of
England men. They love her articles, her homilies, her liturgy, her
discipline, and unwillingly vary from it in any instance.']

[Footnote 733: See also Wesley's _Works_, vol. xii. p. 446, &c.]

[Footnote 734: For this reason, among others, not much has been said in
this sketch about Wesley's opinions, because they were different at
different stages of his life. Moreover, though Wesley was an able man
and a well-read man, and could write in admirably lucid and racy
language, he can by no means be ranked among theologians of the first
order. He could never, for instance, have met Dr. Clarke, as Waterland
did; or, to compare him with one who was brought into contact with him,
he could never have written the _Serious Call_, nor have answered
Tindal, as Law did.]

[Footnote 735: 'I retract several expressions in our hymns which imply
impossibility; of falling from perfection; I do not contend for the term
"sinless," though I do not object against it.' And in a sermon on the
text, 'In many things we offend all,' 'We are all liable to be mistaken,
both in speculation and practice,' &c. 'Christian perfection certainly
does admit of degrees,' &c.]

[Footnote 736: But, as a staunch Churchman, he agreed with the Baptismal
Service. In his _Treatise on Baptism_ he writes, 'Regeneration, which
our Church in so many places ascribes to baptism, is more than barely
being admitted into the Church. By water we are regenerated or born
again; a principle of grace is infused which will not be wholly taken
away unless we quench the Spirit of God by long-continued wickedness.'
The same sentiments are expressed in his sermon on the 'New Birth.']

[Footnote 737: See _inter alia_, T. Somerville's _My Own Life and Times_
(1741-1841). 'He [J. Wesley] had attended, he told me, some of the most
interesting debates at the General Assembly, which he liked "very ill
indeed," saying there was too much heat,' &c., pp. 253-4.]

[Footnote 738: See Tyerman, iii. 278.]

[Footnote 739: Southey, i. 301, &c.]

[Footnote 740: So said Charles (see Jackson's _Life of C. Wesley_).
John, however, gave a different account. 'My brother,' he said to John
Pawson, 'suspects everybody, and he is continually imposed upon; but I
suspect nobody, and I am never imposed up