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words, "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty;" one branch of Christian liberty I could have wished you to have treated of, is that which the Apostle Peter enjoins upon all Christians, "To be always ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." This I wished the more, as I had an opportunity of lately seeing a citation from Mr. Wesley vindicated by Mr. Crabtree, That he, Mr. Wesley, would rather be a Jew, a Turk, a Deist, or even an Atheist, than a Calvinist.
"If such be your sentiments among professors, the general part professed Calvinists, or, as Mr. Wesley views them, professed Atheists, it becomes you, for the exoneration of your own character, as well as your obedience to the divine injunction, to give a reason of your hope to many in Greenock who, if not asking you, are truly desirous to know how your hope stands with respect to these two; and I, as one, shall be truly gratified to hear it."
N.B.—For the information of the reader, this first Letter the author did expect an answer to it; but in place of an answer, the preacher fitted up for him a discourse, probably with the expectation of the author to hear it, the next Thursday evening. But though this was not the case, nevertheless he heard of it; that it was intended to say he was a fool, for attempting to write to the preacher for a reason of his hope; which called forth the second Letter, and now the publication of both, that people may have warning of these deceivers, whether they will take it or not. For while they craftily
hide their principles in their preaching, they are busily employed, as a Mr. Walker observes, with their class or drill meetings, to get the simple entangled
