WESLEYANISM AND HELL.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SrR,—In reference to the statement made by Mr. W. Tallack in last week's issue that " Wesleyanism as a whole gives an extreme prominence to hell," permit me to say that though it is over forty years ago that I became a member of the Society, and I have since listened to some thousands of sermons from its ministers and lay preachers, I can only remember one on the subject of bell, and that was delivered about thirty years ago. It has been my privilege to know personally a good many Wesleyan ministers, and it is my deliberate opinion that it would be impossible to find one to-day who either believes or teaches the doctrine of eternal punishment as it is expounded by Wesley in his sermons. It must be admitted that the doctrine is still retained among those to which ministers and lay preachers are required to assent ; but the practice of retaining outgrown and obsolete doctrinal standards is not peculiar to Methodism. She is verily guilty in this respect, but which of her sister-Churches is sufficiently free from this sin first to cast a stone at her. Happily, she imposes no theological test upon ordinary members, a circumstance that is of great comfort to many besides yours, &c., WILLIAM PAGE. Woodland Road, Chingford, Essex.
[We cannot publish any more letters on this subject.—ED. Spectator.]
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