History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

METHODIST REFORM
Edward J. Drinkhouse, M.D., D.D.
APPENDIX D
The ensuing letter of Simon Sommers to Bishop Asbury will be given as literally as types can he
made to convey it, noting that in the two copies now before the writer a slight difference of address
is made, the one being Dr. Sir" and the other "Dr. Br." The former is taken as our guide, as being
slightly more legible.
August 6th, 1798
Dr. Sir,
I received your book (containing the articles and rules of discipline of the Methodist Church in
America with the Notes) as a mark of friendship. You request me to give you my opinion on the said
rules, but as I find the hook contains 187 pages, to answer each section and note would lead me
beyond the limits of a letter, therefore shall confine myself to one or two sections. Our rules are like
the invention of many other good men who have their perfection and imperfection and may be justly
compared to a pile of good grain that has so much chaff among it, which renders it unfit for market,
for I fear that so soon as the Notes are fully known our church will be in a worse situation than it is
at present. There are several things in the rules which have been disputed, and some have been
construed differently by the preachers: but now the veil is taken away, or is explained in such a
manner as is no way pleasing to the greater part of our judicious members; for in almost every part
where the clergy is mentioned from the highest order to the lowest, their authority is asserted in
pointed terms.
The Note on the section for the trial of lay members contains about seven pages, which is to he
the subject of the present letter. I shall consider it with candor both as to scripture and reason. Your
explication on the texts of scripture, brought forward to prove that the clergy have power over the
laity, I can in no wise believe to be their true meaning, because the greater part of them certainly
condemns the very thing you wish to establish, and I find them explained in a different way by some
of the most noted English divines that have wrote upon the subject. In the beginning of your Note
on this section, you say, that as we live under the gospel dispensation, we must be confined to the
New "Testament." It will be well if same of the preachers find the precepts of the old to be done
away, as there are so many severe denunciations against the Priests under the old dispensation for
usurping authority over the laity, as this fact is so well known to you, will come to the New
Testament.
The first passage you bring forward is the 18th, chapter of Matthew, and believe it to be one of
the most awful lessons to both preachers and laymen (but particularly the ministers) that we find in
Holy writ, and does most surely secure the laity from the power of the clergy in pointed terms; but
as it was then so it is now, who shall be greatest? But our Lord well knew this was Satan's work, and
for the purpose of curing this lamentable disorder (the thirst for power) he takes a little child and set
him in the midst and plainly told them, except ye be converted and become (as free from pride and