George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

Breach with Wesley 165
breach of confidence ; and that and the meddling of partisans
did more damage than the doctrines in dispute. The matter
may be summed up thus :
Wesley was wrong in the beginning
1. In attacking Whitefield's views at the taunt of an anonymous
enemy ; he struck the first blow, and struck it without suffi-
cient cause. 2. In printing and publishing his sermon because
of a lot. 3. In using irritating language to his opponent.
Whitefield was wrong— i. In yielding his mind to the influence
of inflaming representations sent to him from England, and
made to him when he returned home. 2. In exposing private
opinions and deeds. 3. In preaching his peculiar views in the
chapel of the Wesleys.
It is but a sad task to record these things, and the high
character of the chief actors makes it all the more painful.
Happily, the course of events soon took a different direction ;
and the shadow resting upon the close of this chapter and the
opening of the next will soon be seen breaking and vanishing
away.