Plan of Agricola to ground their Scheme on. And I hope the Reader is convinced from the whole Tenor of the Account, given that the Schemes, Cunning, and Practice in general, of the ancient Antinomians are the fame with those pursued this Day by the present Moravians. And in the 1ft Appendix I hope to prove fufficiently that their Doctrine is in all Effentialities the fame. Which if I do, then surely 'twill be incontestably allowed me what I contend for, to wit, that the prefent Moravians and the ancient Antinomians, fhould be esteemed, and are the fame Sect: For as I have before urged in fome Part of this Tract, the trifling Points of Difference are but neceffary Confequences of the variablenefs of all enthufiaftic Sects. And fuch Variation, cannot with any Portion of Reason, Juftness, or Propriety, be offered as a Plea to this Charge; when it be fully proved that they agree in all ESSENTIALITIES of Doctrine, Practice, and Discipline. We find that the Antinomians in their last Rife added many Things that Agricola their Founder never perhaps thought of, or any of his Followers in the Century he lived in. We also find by the Acknowlegement of the prefent Sect in feveral Parts of their Writings and other Proofs which might be offered if we did not find this Tract Stealing vaftly beyond its intended Bounds, that they have made several Amendments themfelves: (as they call their K 3 Alter

Alterations) And thefe Amendments must be adding to or taking from the first Scheme.

MR. Cennick himself, within these two Years made feveral Alterations (as I am told) from their first Conduct. Particularly in the Beginning they drank strong Liquors at their Love Feafts, and of Course made merry. But he politically changed their Fair from Dainties to a Glafs of Water, and a Piece of plain Cake. This may, nay probably will, in a little Time be efteemed a religious and needful Ceremony: (as they do their holy Kifs.) Tho' it be a Thing merely trifling and of no Moment whether they use it or not. But would not thefe and fuch like Differences, be a weak Support to their Objections against the Charge of Antinomianifm, when they agree in all effential Points of Doctrine, Practice, and Difcipline?

THE Truth of it is; they like the Principles of that Doctrine, being fuitable to their Scheme and Difpofitions: But they hate the Name, because they know, that that Sect, under the Name of Antinomians, were rendered abominable to the World: Particularly in their last Rife. Yet, (as before mentioned)

THE Count chofe thofe Principles for his Plan about the Time mentioned, though he protested against the Name. And ever fince he has not fpared his Perfon, Labour, Learning, and Fortune (which I fuppofe not

Small)

fmall) to propagate, promote and establish that Doctrine. Has got vaft Numbers in Europe and America to think as he does. And has been, himself and his Family, in many Parts of these great Provinces of the World, perfonally labouring, and is still, to ftrengthen and establish his Undertaking. Laft Summer, being 1749, he was in London; foliciting (or Fame is a Lyar) for fome fpecial Act in Favour of his Defigns. What his Succefs was, or the Purport of his Requests, I cannot tell.

THE First, as far as I can learn, that began to revive this Doctrine in England this laft Time,* was one Peter Bobler, a Man, no doubt, of Learning and Abilities, whom (we may probably conclude) the Count thought a proper Perfon to fend over into that Kingdom to stir the Guile of Religion, and fet the People's Heads in a Ferment: In order to propagate and facilitate his Defigns. Being nefting (as far as I can learn : Having no other Authority for this Part of my Account, than what I could learn by Enquiries, pick here and there from their Writings, and conclude from the Course of their Progrefs and the Nature of Things) about Oxford; which he knew to be the propereft

*Hornius fays, that one John Eaton was the first that introduced this excellent Doctrine into England :. Antinomorum primus in Anglia fundator fuit quidam Johannes Eatonus, &c. Page 566. But Bobler feems to be the first that revived it there at this Time.

He

propereft Place for his Defigns. wrought himself into the Acquaintance of fome learned Men there, and through many other Parts of England. The Count, in the mean Time, was not idle in Germany, nor remifs in fending proper Miffionaries, Emiffaries (call them which you will, or both if you pleafe) into other Countries, making Acquaintances, getting themselves a Footing, and clearing a Paffage for their Doctrine; which they by Degrees opened Tenet by Tenet (like their ancient Brethren of New England) till they made Parties in the feveral Kingdoms they were in.

THE first (at least of any Note) in England that were unhappily taken in by these artful Tamperings were the Meffieurs John and Charles Wesley: The former of whom, I abfolutely believe to be a fincere, mcdeft, religious Man; though he unhappily chances to be more than irregularly erroneous: More the Pity!--The Poifon was by Degrees conveyed gradually to many through that great Seminary where Mr. John Wesley was a Fellow and his Brother a Student, till many were infected: But it seems took no great Head till about the Year 1736, when' Mr. Whitfield, who was bred a Servitor in that University, was ordained. And comeing into the Acquaintance of the Meffrs. Wesley's (as he very minutely tells in his Accounts of God's Dealings with him) and with feveral others who had fucked in the Seeds

of.

of their Folly and Enthusiasm about that Time in the Colleges of Oxford and several other Parts of England; he blew up the latent Sparks, by his Preachings and inceffant Labours to a Flame that will not be eafily quenched (at least in his Days). He was affifted in this by the Meffrs. Wefleys, or rather he was but a prime Affiftant to them, and many others too numerous to recite, being Things fo well known. At length, about the Year 1739, when Numbers of the Moravian Brethren came over, finding fuch Succefs in England, (ever a fertile Land and favourable Clime for the Growth of Novelty) they began to draw out their Chain of Doctrine Link by Link to the End, and produce their Antinomian Principles; which, when discovered by the Wefleys, fhocked them. Mr. John Wesley thereupon came to an Ecclaircifement of Doctrine with one Mr. Spangenberg, a principal Moravian Teacher; endeavoured, from, indeed, a Principle of very Charity, to fhew him the grofs Wickedness of the Moravian or Antinomian Principles; but to no Account, for he, like all the hardened Members of that Sect, avowed his Principles, and Numbers of his Party did the fame. Whereupon Mr. John Wesley declared off from them, as Luther did with Agricola, untill they would repent and difclaim thofe heineous Errors. Thus were they divided. Whitfield and many others

adhering