[Sermons 134-141]

[Most of these Discourses, it will be observed, were written before Mr. Wesley obtained correct views of the way of salvation; and as they were not published either with his knowledge or by his appointment, he should not be made responsible for the sentiments which they contain. That on the resurrection of the body was only revised and abridged by him; and it is probable that some others of them were not his composition.

The first Sermon of the series, however, entitled, "True Christianity Defended," is every way worthy of its author. It seems to have been intended as a kind of Concio ad Clerum; and contains a faithful exposure of that departure from the pure doctrines of Protestantism which then prevailed in the Church of England, and of that laxity of discipline and of morals which was so awfully manifest in the University of Oxford, as well as in general society. To deliver such a sermon before that learned body must have required no small degree of pious resolution; and is a striking display of that spirit of sacrifice by which Mr. Wesley was actuated. -- Edit.]

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Footnotes:

[1] Most of which were first inserted in the Arminian magazine, and afterwards revised, and published in four volumes, Duodecimo, in the year 1788.

[2] Consisting of eighteen discourses, which were written for insertion in the Arminian magazine, but which were never revised by Mr. Wesley after their publication.

[3] Consisting of seven discourses which were published by Mr. Wesley only in a separate form, and were never, by him, embodied in any collection of his sermons.

[4] Consisting of eight discourses which were published from Mr. Wesley's manuscripts after his death, but never designed by him for publication.