Methodism in Earnest

James Caughey

It is true that his account of his great impression is written in very glowing style, and if not cautiously read, may be supposed to teach that he heard a voice and had a revelation from heaven. This is not the fact, as will be seen from the letter from Mr. C. at the close of this preface.

The accomplished editor of the Quarterly Review, while he admits that “the book contains accounts of the work of the Holy Spirit in the awakening and conversion of sinners, THAT HAVE THRILLED OUR VERY HEARTS,” also says, that it “claims for Mr. C. a degree of supernatural revelation, at once un-Scriptural, un-Wesleyan and dangerous.”

This assertion we simply deny. It claims no such thing, as a “revelation” for Mr. C. True, the word is unfortunately used in former editions, though it was not designed to be understood in any stronger sense than “impression,” and is so printed in this edition. But if this book does claim “a degree of supernatural revelation for Mr. C. at once un-Scriptural, un-Wesleyan and dangerous,” then the Quarterly, by endorsing the views of Judge McLean, has claimed the same thing for the Rev. John Collins. In a short notice (which we take to be the production of the editor,) of the life of that man of God, we find the following extract.[See Quarterly Review for April 1850, page 326.]

“In the early settlement of the country, Mr. Collins was riding up the Ohio river, some thirty or forty miles above Cincinnati, in company with a friend, when they~ came to the forks of the road: the left-hand road led to their place of destination; the right was more circuitous, and increased the distance; but Mr. Collins, against remonstrance, preferred the latter, from an impression which he did not particularly define. It led to the mouth of Red Oak, where the town of Ripley is now situated. As they approached this point they saw a funeral procession, which they immediately joined, and followed it to the grave. The corpse was the wife of a man who was an avowed infidel. After the grave was covered, Mr. Collins made known to the people that he was a preacher of the gospel, and would then preach a sermon to all who should remain. No one left the ground. He read, for his text, a part of the twenty- fifth verse of the eleventh chapter of St. John: `I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; ` and he preached with an irresistible power. The solemnity of the occasion, and the circumstances, which brought him to the place; added, no doubt, to the effect of the discourse No one could apply circumstances more forcibly than Mr. Collins. There were many tears and sobs in the congregation. The infidel husband was overwhelmed; and from that day and hour he renounced infidelity, shortly after became a member of the church, and lived to adorn the Christian religion.

“Mr. Collins believed in a special Providence, and he did not confer with flesh and blood, under a strong impulse of duty. And he yielded to the gentler emotions of the Spirit for good, even though he might not clearly see how the good was to be affected. The inclination to take the right-hand road was prompted, as he no doubt believed, by Providence, of which he could entertain no doubt when he saw the funeral procession, and preached to the mourning crowd. And is this too small a matter for Deity? Peter was called to preach to Cornelius; and his objections were overcome in an extraordinary manner. Philip, being prompted by the Spirit, joined himself to the chariot of the eunuch, and `preached to him Jesus.’ And who, that believes the Bible, does not believe that the same Spirit operates, more or less, upon Christians of the present day? The mode of its [sic] action may not seem to be miraculous; but it is spiritually discerned. It [sic] is a divine agency - that spirit, or light, a portion of which is given to every man. It [sic] leads to good actions and happy results. And we are commanded not to `quench the Spirit.’ Every religion, without this spirit, is cold and lifeless. John says: ‘Believe not every spirit; but try the spirits, whether they are of God.’ The revelator was `in the spirit on the Lord’s Day.’ The apostles, `after they came to Mysia, assayed to go into Bythinia; but the Spirit suffered them not.’

“This doctrine is Scriptural; and it affords the sweetest consolation to the Christian. He can readily believe, if a sparrow falls not to the ground with out his notice,’ and the `very hairs of his head are numbered,’ that there is a special providence in his ways. And this encourages him to be firm under the most trying emergencies.” - P. 62-66.

Now we contend that there is nothing claimed for Mr. Caughey in this book that is not claimed for Mr. Collins in the above extract. The only difference between the impression of Mr. Collins and Mr. Caughey, being one of place, distance, time and result. The former had an impression to take a particular road; the latter to visit a particular country: the impression of the former led to the conversion of one man; that of the latter to the conversion of thousands. Of the former impression, and its defence by Judge McLean, the Editor (as we judge,) says: “ The incident related in the following [preceding] passage, gives occasion for some remarks on special Providence, WHICH WE TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN QUOTING.” Concerning the latter impression, as recorded in Mr. Caughey’s book, he says it is “ un-Scriptural, un-Wes1eyan and dangerous.” How is this discrepancy to be explained? We explain it by the remark already made. The Quarterly has misunderstood both Mr. Caughey and his impression.

It is very gratifying to us that, while some of our editors have thus misunderstood and consequently condemned our work, such men as Messrs. Stevens, Hunter, Hosmer, Lee and others, have appreciated its value and endorsed it with eloquence and ardour. We beg leave to quote Mr. Hosmer on one point.

“Some have objected that the work is too much a glorification of Mr. Caughey. This may be; it will depend very much upon what kind of a man he is. If he is like Whitefield, or Wesley, or many other men by whom the Lord has wrought great things, it will do him no harm. But if he is only one of those erratic, superficial men, who make a great noise for a time, and then sink into obscurity it may hasten his fall. There is little appearance on the face of the work, of any thing like vain boasting. We might point out several minor blemishes in the style, but these are small considerations compared with the burden of truth, which so greatly overbalances them. The warrior cares very little for the gilding on his sword, if it only proves efficient on the field of battle. We have works enough of faultless literary finish, and yet they have no power to move the heart.”

Some have objected to the title, but no one has yet proved its impropriety. And is it improper? Does not the book sustain it, by showing what the institutions of Methodism may be made to accomplish when brought into a state of really earnest movement? We think so. As to the objections made to some of its quaint expressions, we can only say that they lie with equal, yea, greater, force against some of the old writers whose praise has often been in the mouths of these very persons. To Mr. Caughey they are natural and consequently, in view of the many unobjectionable Excellencies of his writings, and especially of their great readable-ness and usefulness, pardonable. Had we pruned this work of its idiosyncrasies, we should have doomed it to “the tomb of the Capulets.” We believed them harmless, however the rhetorician might complain; and therefore permitted them to remain. We have no fears as to its influence; and should it (as we believe it will,) inspire any portion of the church with the earnest, simple-hearted, affectionate zeal of Mr. Caughey, we shall feel fully compensated for any censure which well meaning and esteemed brethren may see fit to cast upon us.

We would call attention to other points, but the necessity is precluded by the following characteristic letter from Mr. C. himself. It is addressed to a friend who wrote to him on various points connected with his experience. We hope the reader will give it a careful perusal.